October 28, 2021
$1.00
An edition of the Littleton Independent A publication of
VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 49
Just a few days left to vote in Centennial Residents choosing city leaders, school board members BY MARK HARDEN MHARDEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Health Department, Arapahoe County’s public health programs are likely to remain unaffected for now. But after the end of 2022 — when Douglas County could end its agreement with TriCounty Health and when Adams County expects to move to a new health department structure — the costs of Arapahoe and Adams counties pulling away from Tri-County could be in the
The last day to vote in the fall election is Nov. 2, just a few days away. If you haven’t voted yet and you want to have your ballot counted, now is the time to act. In this year’s election, Centennial voters are choosing city officials as well as school board candidates in the Cherry Creek or Littleton districts, depending on where you live in the city. Residents are voting for four city council members by district. The mayor, who is also a council member, is elected citywide. Current Mayor Stephanie Piko is running unopposed for re-election, as are candidates in council districts 2 and 3. The races in districts 1 and 4 are contested. This week, turn to Pages 2 and 4 for Centennial Citizen Community Editor Ellis Arnold’s profiles of the two candidates in west Centennial’s council District 1. As for school board races, if you live in west Centennial, you’re picking three Littleton board members from among five candidates. In central and east Centennial, you’re selecting two Cherry Creek school board members. To help you decide how to vote, the Centennial Citizen has information on candidates and issues online at tinyurl.com/ CentennialVotersGuide. There’s you’ll find Centennial and Cherry Creek candidate Q&As on the issues, candidate profiles, coverage of candidate forums and more. For information on Littleton school board candidates, go to tinyurl.com/LittletonVotersGuide. If you’re registered to vote, you should have received your ballot in the mail weeks ago. If you don’t have your ballot, contact the Arapahoe County Clerk’s office at 303-795-4511 or email elections@arapahoegov.com. By now it’s too late to mail your ballot back. In Centennial, you can drop it off at these locations:
SEE TRI-COUNTY, P12
SEE ELECTION, P20
The Colorado Saints Chorale and Orchestra during a 2019 performance.
COURTESY OF LISA COMSTOCK
‘A message of hope’ for shaken community Choirs join together for concert on teen suicide awareness BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Arapahoe High School choirs joined with the Colorado Saints Chorale and Orchestra for a concert Oct. 23 at St. Tim’s Episcopal Church in
Centennial to raise awareness of teen suicide, something that has rocked the high school for years. Since 2013, Arapahoe High School in Centennial, a Littleton Public Schools high school, has suffered nine student suicides that included two students who took their own lives just three days apart in 2018. For Kirk R. Schjodt, director of choirs for SEE CONCERT, P5
Tri-County Health exit could mean big costs later for Arapahoe, Adams But Arapahoe public health funding to stay stable for now BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With Douglas County setting off in its own direction on public health policy but still contracting to receive all services from Tri-County
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 22
ELECTION RESULTS ONLINE
After polls close Nov. 2, visit ColoradoCommunityMedia. com for local election coverage and results.
2 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
Branch wants to ‘ask difficult questions’ on Centennial council Ex-school administrator, ‘turnaround’ leader puts focus on housing BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
This is a profile of one of two candidates in Centennial City Council District 1, representing the far west part of the city, encompassing most areas between South Broadway and Colorado Boulevard. When schools in Denver Public Schools would fall behind on performance measures such as test scores and graduation rates, Fernando Branch would step in as a “turnaround” leader to help steer the ship back on track. “It’s a very specific niche where you have to have a real sense of community — you have to navigate very complex situations that aren’t always black and white,” Branch said. Branch would come to schools that landed in a worrying status on what’s known as the state’s “accountability clock.” The clock only allows schools to receive low performance ratings for five years in a row. After that, they must come before the Colorado Board of Education, which is required to direct a course of action designed to “dramatically increase student achievement,” ac-
cording to the Colorado Department of Education. Branch’s job was to prevent schools from needing state intervention, and he tackled issues such as school culture — aspects ranging from policy conflicts to challenges arising from school demographics and personalities, Branch said. “A failing school is not a failing school because there are bad students or a failure of instruction — a failing school happens because there’s a lack” of necessary protocols, Branch said. Branch would check on whether school staff were getting feedback from administrators, taking steps to ensure teachers had the chance to look at different strategies. It was about “giving different opportunities for educators and students to authentically be themselves,” Branch said. Branch said the way he navigated looking at school performance ties into how he has run his race for Centennial City Council: A leader must “be really grassroots” and give a community a voice “to really steer the ship,” he said. “Because collectively, it’s not just one leader that’s creating all this change,” Branch said. Branch, 41, grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where he saw inequities in his neighborhood schools in the quality of education in comparison to other communities. He participated in summer programs and saw that students in other schools were learning things
differently than he was — they would have different textbooks with different curriculum or newer computers, Branch said. “I knew then it wasn’t an even playing field in education,” Branch said. He added: “I really, at that point, made my mind that I was going to pay it forward, similar to how my mentors and teachers really supported and went above and beyond for me. I wanted to do that same thing for students and youth that needed that extra push.” He came to Colorado because 10 years ago, “Colorado was, and it still is, one of the most progressive and innovative states in the country around education reform, and I wanted to be a part of the solution,” Branch said. Branch feels his experience in education would lead him to look at issues on city council from a different perspective. “I’m going to be open minded to both innovation but, also, what works? I don’t think we should change systems if they’re functioning at a really good rate,” Branch said. But he also intends to dig into details and “ask those difficult questions that may not get asked right now,” he added. Branch also worked as a teacher for 10 years and as an assistant principal for about eight years, according to him and his LinkedIn page. He serves in a philanthropic position as the senior director of partnerships and programs at the Colorado “I Have A Dream” Foundation, an organization that helps students around the Front Range get “to and through” college, Branch said. Ideas on housing, law enforcement Branch is passionate about the issue of housing in Centennial, envisioning change for developments such as The Streets at SouthGlenn outdoor mall, which faces a proposed redevelopment. The shopping center’s former Sears property is owned by Northwood Investors, which wants to add apartments there. Alberta Development Partners — which controls nearly all of the rest of SouthGlenn — wants to put in apartments and office space, and retail and entertainment establishments, where the Macy’s stands. Branch wants to target certain housing toward “civil service workers” such as teachers, police officers and firefighters, he said. “What if we, with these (housing units) in particular, we zone 30% of them for our service providers? These are people working jobs that, you and I, they’re at work before we wake up,” Branch said.
Fernando Branch
Looking to the future, those service workers who might be in their early 20s will likely get married and have kids, and “they’re not going to leave our community — they’re just going to upgrade,” Branch said. With bigger salaries, they could move into other areas of Centennial in single-family homes, Branch said. That trend would keep the city’s property values high, he added. “We can’t do that if we’re expecting a 28-year-old to pay $3,000 a month for an apartment,” Branch said. He added: “We’re going to price people out, and I don’t think that’s a smart strategy for our city.” Such a plan would also give Centennial an opportunity to think about its renters who may be living off their Social Security income, said Branch, who floated the idea of “taking another 15% to 20% of those units” and making them attainable for the city’s elderly population. Branch also serves on Centennial’s Public Safety Advisory board, according to a bio page online. Branch and other residents of Centennial give feedback to the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office and hear perspective from deputies on how law enforcement handles certain situations, Branch said. He feels that “we can do a better job of ensuring that those young men and young women, or other, feel that they’re showing up as their best selves,” Branch said, saying he wants to support officers’ mental health. “Officers, just like any other profession, need to have … their mental health and their social-emotional needs met,” Branch said. `Radical change’ In a Sept. 29 campaign newsletter, his opponent, Robyn Carnes, referred to Branch as “far left” based on a questionnaire. The candidates both were given a series of questions to answer from an entity called ActiVote. ActiVote is a program that provides “easy access to your elections and what candidates really stand for, while filtering out all the noise,” according to its website. Based on the answers, the program placed them on a spectrum, according to Carnes and Branch. “In a nonpartisan race, I’ve done SEE BRANCH, P20
Centennial Citizen 3
October 28, 2021
ARAPAHOE COUNTY
An emergency-department patient at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree in 2020. FILE PHOTO
Colo. hospital ICUs fill up amid COVID surge Polis: ‘Get protected. Get vaccinated. Get boosted.’ BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN
Gov. Jared Polis issued his most urgent plea in months Oct. 21, asking Coloradans to get vaccinated against coronavirus in order to break a continued surge in hospitalizations that left the state with only 120 available intensive care beds. Looking into the camera that was live streaming his news conference, Polis spoke directly to unvaccinated Coloradans, saying: “We want you here. We want you to be healthy. Please get vaccinated.” As of Oct. 21, more than 1,100 people were hospitalized in Colorado with confirmed cases of COVID-19, the highest number since last December. What is different this time, though, is the state has largely reopened, meaning hospitals are also filling up with victims of car accidents and other day-to-day events. During normal times, the state’s intensive care units would operate at about 68% full, said Scott Bookman, the state health department’s COVID-19 incident commander. Now, though, Colorado’s hospital ICUs are operating at around 90% of capacity, running the risk that they could be overwhelmed if the surge of coronavirus cases continues. Bookman said hospitals are postponing necessary but non-emergent surgeries — preserving capacity but delaying valuable medical care to patients who need it. Polis said the state is ready to implement crisis standards of care plans if needed, a move that would authorize hospitals to prioritize who receives treatment when their capacity is overrun. “We are nearing the capacity of our hospitals,” Polis said. Bookman echoed that concern, saying, “The trajectory of hospitalizations continues to go up, making me even more concerned about what this is going to do to the capacity of
our hospitals to be able to take care of patients.” About 79% of those currently hospitalized with COVID-19 are unvaccinated, according to data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. And those who are hospitalized and unvaccinated also skew younger. The average age of an unvaccinated person who is hospitalized in Colorado right now is 57, compared with an average age of 73 for the vaccinated. In addition to urging unvaccinated people to get the shot, Polis also said older Coloradans should receive a booster shot. He cited newly released data from vaccine maker Pfizer showing that a booster shot of its vaccine was more than 95% effective at preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Oct. 20 approved booster shots for people who received the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, to go along with a previous approval of boosters for Pfizer recipients. At press time, an expert panel at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still needed to give its OK. Pfizer booster shots have been authorized for all people ages 65 or older, along with people who have high-risk medical conditions or who work in high-risk settings. The Moderna approval is expected to follow similar guidelines. Boosters for Johnson & Johnson are expected to be available for all people who received the vaccine. People with weakened immune systems are already eligible for a booster shot regardless of which vaccine they received. The rising levels of concern in Colorado stand in contrast to what is happening in the nation at large. Across the United States, coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are falling. During the previous several months, while the virus’ delta variant tore through health care systems around the country, Colorado had managed to have some of SEE COVID, P20
Arapahoe County is the fastest-growing county in Colorado, which increases the need to update the County’s transportation infrastructure. Join us for a series of virtual conversations about transportation in Arapahoe County and how it impacts your daily life. Upcoming dates: Thursday, Oct. 28 with Jeff Baker, Commissioner District 3 Thursday, Nov. 4 with Nancy Jackson, Commissioner District 4 Tuesday, Nov. 9 with Carrie Warren-Gully, Commissioner District 1 Details at arapahoegov.com/ townhall. Upcoming Election From state and local ballot measures to city council and school board races across Arapahoe County, the 2021 Coordinated Election this November will decide issues and candidates that will shape your community’s future. Visit arapahoevotes.com
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arapahoegov.com
4 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
Carnes feels ‘called to government’ in council run Official with organization that fights sex trafficking wants to make local difference BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
This is a profile of one of two candidates in Centennial City Council District 1, representing the far west part of the city, encompassing most areas between South Broadway and Colorado Boulevard. Before the coronavirus pandemic upended life in Colorado, Robyn Carnes was doing contract work for “corporate America,” she said. As the economy took a hit, she realized that the work was not going to continue. At that point, she wanted to put her time into an organization that was making a difference, she said. She came across Rescue America, a national organization that provides a 24/7 hotline and emergency response system to help survivors of sex trafficking, according to Carnes. She’s compassionate about victims of trafficking; she said a member of her family was trafficked for two to three years. The issue of trafficking often overlaps with homelessness, said Carnes, who wants Centennial to have “a proper response.” “With the homelessness issue, I
think there has to be a plan intact, and we have to partner with other organizations to have this heart. We can’t put everything on the government,” Carnes said, adding that there are private companies that “have heart” for corporate responsibility and could play a role. The city should be “rallying those entities that really can make a difference,” Carnes said. Carnes, 43, grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa, and her husband once worked as a children’s choral conductor, she said. Her husband got an offer for a position in Colorado, leading them to move out west and eventually to Centennial. Carnes worked as a senior manager at a company called Leadership Strategies, a meeting facilitation company that offers public classes around the world as well as private, onsite classes, according to her LinkedIn profile. She now serves as vice president of expansion for Rescue America, which partners with law enforcement and receives state and private funding, according to Carnes. Rescue America’s contact information includes a Houston post office box, and the company has staff in other states, Carnes said. “I feel very called to government — government, in my opinion, is what provides the guardrails for a society to keep a society going in the right direction,” Carnes said. She’s garnered endorsements from former Arapahoe County Sheriff Dave Walcher and the board
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of directors of the Arapahoe Lodge 31 of the Fraternal Order of Police, the Arapahoe County law enforcement union. Her husband has been serving in law enforcement as well, she said. “I think there’s a true need to back the blue and truly support our law enforcement officers,” Carnes said. Her husband was part of a program called YESS — Youth, Education and Safety in Schools — which educated kids about topics such as drugs and online predators, she added. Douglas County founded YESS, she said. “We need more programs like YESS to bring (people together) and back the blue so they feel supported,” Carnes said. Voters asked about party In a Sept. 29 campaign newsletter, Carnes referred to her opponent, Fernando Branch, as “far left” based on a questionnaire. “We were both given a series of questions to answer; it was from ActiVote,” Carnes told the Centennial Citizen. She said she wasn’t planning to take the questionnaire but that she did because Branch did. ActiVote is a program that provides “easy access to your elections and what candidates really stand for, while filtering out all the noise,” according to its website. Based on the answers, the program placed them on a spectrum, Carnes said. In the newsletter, Carnes wrote: “I fall near center on the political spectrum.” Carnes has received campaign contributions from Suzanne Taheri, the Arapahoe County Republican Party chair; Heidi Ganahl, a Republican who is running for Colorado governor; Kathleen Conti, a Republican former representative in the Colorado General Assembly and former Arapahoe County commissioner; and Susan Beckman, a Republican former state representative from Littleton and former Arapahoe County commissioner and Littleton city councilmember. Asked about the lack of prominent Democrats among her campaign contributors, Carnes said it might be based on whom she asked for support. She added: “I think that if you’re going to have to plot me, I’m center, I’m a little bit center right.” Carnes said that although Centennial City Council races are formally nonpartisan — meaning candidates aren’t listed with party affiliation on the ballot — voters often don’t treat the election that way. “When I was walking neighborhoods, the No. 1 question I was asked is, ‘Are you a Republican or a
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Robyn Carnes
Democrat, or are you conservative or liberal?’” Carnes said. t Carnes also received a contrie bution from Schumé Navarro, a P candidate for Cherry Creek school “ board. Navarro also received a s contribution from Carnes. Navarro k was chosen to be secretary of the Arapahoe County Republican Party j w this year. Carnes met Navarro a year ago d because they both took part in the m Leadership Program of the Rock- s W ies, Carnes said. The Leadership Program of the Rockies is an effort to train “emerging leaders to reach a d new heights in public policy and the political process,” its website says. Alumni photos suggest it used to be called the Republican Leadership Program. “I met Schumé because we both lived in Arapahoe County … she became a friend simply because we were in the same class,” Carnes said. Navarro also has expressed support for the unproven claim that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent. Carnes said she was aware of Navarro’s election beliefs. Carnes declined to comment when asked whether she believes the election was fraudulent as well. “I am going to choose not to comment on that specific thing because, unfortunately, that’s a very divisive issue right now,” Carnes said. She added: “I think of regardless of where we live … we must … work hard to ensure that all elections are fair. And if there is room for doubt, let’s get to the root of that to erase and eliminate that doubt.” Local matters A high-profile issue in west Centennial is the proposed redevelopment of The Streets at SouthGlenn outdoor mall. The shopping center’s former Sears property is owned by Northwood Investors, which wants to add apartments there. Alberta Development Partners — which controls nearly all of the rest of SouthGlenn — wants to put in apartments and office space, and retail and entertainment establishments, where the Macy’s stands. The former Sears property is “a huge space, huge parking lot, and it’s empty, and it’s concerning,” Carnes said. SEE CARNES, P20
Centennial Citizen 5
October 28, 2021
CONCERT FROM PAGE 1
Arapahoe High School, the concert and the preparation for it allowed for an open discussion about youth suicide that he felt was needed. “This was a really great opportunity for me as a teacher to talk with my students about some of the things that they’d experienced,” Schjodt said, “and to get students’ input on how we could use our art form to bring a powerful statement of positivity and support into a community that was really hurting.” Originally scheduled for April 20, 2020, the concert was postponed due to COVID-19. Now, more than a year later, the two student choir groups, one with 31 members and the other with 40, sang to bring awareness to a topic that is personal for them. “The students in this program, they’ve been touched by the tragedy that’s taken place in Littleton Public Schools,” Schjodt said. “They know the hurt of losing someone they care about and they know what it’s like to struggle.” Camden Krumholz, a 17-year-old junior at Arapahoe High School who sang during the event Saturday, said she knew a fellow class member who died by suicide when she was in the eight grade at John Wesley Powell Middle School. She said the months of rehearsals that culminated with Saturday’s performance was rewarding
but at times challenging as students grappled with feelings of loss. “I’ve found it’s been very emotional, personally,” Krumholz said. “It’s been kind of difficult but it’s something we’ve worked through and worked very hard on.” Working with other students as they prepared for the concert spurred overdue conversations around suicide, she said. “It’s brought up a lot of great conversations that have needed to happen for years,” Krumholz said. And the students are not alone. Lisa Comstock, president of the faith-based Colorado Saints Chorale and Orchestra, which has 75 singing members and around 50 in their orchestra, said through their participation in the concert members have opened up more about losing loved ones to suicide. “My own mom suffered with depression and suicidal thoughts,” Comstock said. “Within our organization, we’ve grieved together.” Comstock said the group is emotionally connected with the high school, where all five of her children graduated from. The group has also sung with the high school choirs in the past. The chorale and orchestra has a long history of connecting with communities. Since 1983, it has put on various concerts throughout the Denver metro area to spread an uplifting message. “We work within the area to put on events that matter to them, that help them build relationships in the community or put out a
‘We work within the area to put on events that matter to them, that help them build relationships in the community or put out a message of hope.’ Lisa Comstock, president of the Colorado Saints Chorale and Orchestra
message of hope,” she said. Hope was at the center of Saturday’s concert. One of the songs performed, titled “Please Stay,” written by Jake Runestad, ushered lyrics of belonging to remind listeners that they are welcomed, loved and valued. “It’s not a somber feeling, but it’s a celebratory feeling, it’s a feeling of intent, of meaning,” Comstock said. “We’re driven to make a difference with this concert.” The concert also featured an art exhibit by Brady Smith, a young artist whose art, previously featured at the Arvada Center for
the Arts and Humanities, tells the story of the reasons why he chose not to take his own life. Comstock said that following Saturday’s concert, the chorale and orchestra intend to partner with choirs to put on suicide awareness and benefit concerts every year throughout Colorado. For Schjodt, the high school choirs director, he hopes the performance helped listeners who maybe needed the message. “The students want to share the fact that there’s hope,” he said. “Hope is real, help is real for people who are struggling … for folks who are struggling, they don’t have to struggle alone.”
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6 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
Maps mean tough choices for some lawmakers
Move or drop out? It’s a game of political musical chairs
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BY THY VO AND SANDRA FISH THE COLORADO SUN
One Democratic state senator was drawn into a district that now leans heavily in Republicans’ favor. A GOP House member, meanwhile, will run in a district that’s now solidly Democratic. And a handful of incumbents will have to decide whether to challenge their colleagues in an awkward primary or general election contest or quickly move to a new part of the state. While the new state House and Senate maps drawn by an independent redistricting commission and pending approval by the Colorado Supreme Court appear to favor Democrats’ maintaining their majority in the General Assembly, the proposals are forcing lawmakers to make tough choices that could alter the political fabric of the state for years to come. “Somebody’s ox is getting gored no matter what they do,” said Rep. Perry Will, a New Castle Republican who would live in a district that would favor Democrats by 16 percentage points. “Would I prefer to represent the district I currently do? Absolutely. Can I do a good job of representing the new one? Abso-
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Colorado state Rep. Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, joins other members and guests in the House chambers as the second regular sesPHOTO BY KATHRYN SCOTT/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN sion of the 72nd Colorado General Assembly convenes at the state Capitol in January 2020.
lutely.” Democrats now hold a 20-15 majority in the state Senate, but at least nine seats will be competitive over the next two years. They hold a 41-24 advantage in the House, where nine
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seats would be considered tossups in 2022. More competitive seats — and incumbents trying to win in districts that suddenly favor the opposite party — could lead to more spending in the 2022 election. In 2018, candidates and outside groups spent more than $15 million on five highly contested Senate races, all won by Democrats. In 2020, outside groups spent $10.5 million and candidates spent $1.1 million on three key Senate and two competitive House contests. Republicans won three of those five seats. The clock is ticking The state constitution requires candidates for the General Assembly to live for at least a year in the district they run in the next election, which will be Nov. 8, 2022. This means incumbents considering a bid in a different, potentially more favorable district will have to make that decision soon. “It’s U-Haul time for some incumbents,” said Tyler Sandberg, co-founder of the conservative education policy and political action group Ready Colorado. “The clock … is ticking real fast to move to a place that’s winnable.” They may have to make that choice before the Supreme Court issues a decision on the legislative maps. After hearing oral arguments on Oct. 25, the court has until Nov. 15 to either approve the maps or send them back to the Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission for changes. “I think all of us are just waiting to see what maps ultimately are final, and then figure it out from there,” said state Sen. Brittany Pettersen, of Lakewood, who under the current maps would live in the same district as Sen. Jessie Danielson of Wheat Ridge, a friend and fellow Democrat. Pettersen and Danielson will need
i L o H d
i to decide whether to challenge each l other in a primary, move into anoth-s er district or run for another electeda office. Pettersen wants to run for U.S. House but said she would not b run against U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, a Jefferson County Democrat who isb n up for re-election in 2022. Whatever Pettersen and Daniel- R son decide, they would be in a solid a blue district, unlike in 2018, when w both faced competitive contests with hundreds of thousands of dol- s o lars in outside spending. That’s not the case for Democratic Sen. Tammy Story of Evergreen, who fi H finds herself in a newly drawn 4th District that would favor Republicans,I according to a competitiveness report t by nonpartisan redistricting staff i based on the results of eight staten wide races between 2016 and 2020. President Donald Trump won the t new district by nearly 30 percentage a points in 2016. The largest population base is Fremont County, followed by western Jefferson County, and Teller, Chaffee and Park counties. In 2024, Democrats would have a solid advantage in five of the eight open seats, while two Democratic and one Republican incumbents would find themselves in tossup districts. Democrat Sen. Chris Kolker of Centennial would wind up with a competitive margin, in District 16. ‘Whiplash for some’ Some current members of the House are also eyeing open seats. State Rep. Kevin Van Winkle, a Highlands Ranch Republican, has filed to run for the open Senate District 30 seat, which will be vacated by Sen. Chris Holbert, who is termlimited. In the state House, 16 seats would be open in 2022 due to redistricting, term limits or members running for higher office, with a relatively SEE MAPS, P7
Centennial Citizen 7
October 28, 2021
MAPS FROM PAGE 6
even advantage for the two parties. Seven Democratic incumbents face competitive battles, compared with one Republican. Five Republicans and three Democrats would also be living in the same district as another incumbent. With 31 safe Democratic seats and only 19 safe GOP seats, Republicans face an uphill battle. “Some of these races are very safe districts, and all of a sudden, are very competitive. That’s going to be whiplash for some of these representatives,” Sandberg, the GOP consultant, said. Rep. Tom Sullivan of Aurora, a Democrat who has faced recall threats over his advocacy for gun control laws, would live in House District 61, the second most competitive district under the new map. Rep. Colin Larson, a moderate Republican from Ken Caryl who has considered a run for U.S. House would also live in a competitive district. Meanwhile, two Democratic incumbents, Rep. Kerry Tipper of Lakewood and Rep. Lisa Cutter of Jefferson County, would live in House District 28, an open toss-up district. Both Tipper and Cutter also live in the open Senate District 20. But, like most lawmakers, Tipper said she hasn’t made a decision yet on if and where she will run in 2022. “(The) goal is to decide by December,” Tipper said. The state Senate is Republicans’ best hope for gaining traction, and nine seats will be open in 2022 with Republicans and Democrats having a solid shot at four districts each, with one a tossup. Eight House members and six senators are term-limited in 2022, opening up several seats. In recent years, typically four to five Senate seats and a handful of House seats have been competitive. It appears that could increase under the new legislative maps. Democrats now hold a 20-25 majority in the state Senate, but at least nine seats will be competitive over the next two years. They hold a 41-24 advantage in the House, where nine
seats would be considered tossups in 2022. “It is very hard to comment on these maps before they’re finished,” said Matt McGovern, executive director of the Democratic House Majority Project. “However, there will be a number of districts that are much closer.” ‘A bit arrogant’ After the last round of redistricting in 2011, Democrats seized control of the state House away from Republicans in the 2012 election, increasing their margins the rest of the decade. But Republicans took back the state Senate in 2014 and held it until 2018. The split chambers prevented both Republicans and Democrats from enacting what some would see as partisan legislation, from banning abortion on the right to abolishing the death penalty on the left, something that was accomplished under Democratic control in 2020. Democratic consultant Ian Silverii noted that Colorado has changed in the past decade. “Colorado 2022 is not Colorado 2014,” he said. “Despite their efforts, it doesn’t seem like Republicans were able to gerrymander the state. (The maps) seem pretty fair; we’ll find out if they are next November.” Republicans are holding out hope, however, that the new districts could lead to a majority in the Senate. Sandberg, the GOP consultant, thinks Republicans could win four, maybe even six, competitive seats in the state Senate. With strong candidates and a focus on issues like crime, cost of living and schools, Republicans could regain control of the chamber, he argues. “Democrats have gotten a bit arrogant and see Republicans as an afterthought,” Sandberg said. Competitive districts will also force lawmakers to consider a broader range of voters in their legislation. “You could be set up for a very interesting 2023 in Colorado.” This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
8 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
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Centennial Citizen 9
October 28, 2021
Reinke brothers bring Halloween fright Siblings have been into haunted houses since childhood BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As a child, Greg Reinke hated being scared. Reinke remembers being 6 years old when a neighbor gave him a fright one Halloween night. Afterward, Reinke said, he was determined to face his fears and sat in the dark in his parents’ unfinished basement waiting for the boogeyman. “I was scared to death, but he never showed up,” Reinke said. “That’s when I went ‘I got it.’” Now, more than 53 years later, Reinke and his brother, Chris, make their own boogeymen to send shivers down people’s spines. Reinke Brothers, a year-round costume store located just north of Main Street in downtown Littleton, has for years been home to a haunted mansion that attracts visitors of all ages. After a shutdown last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the store’s haunted mansion has returned in full force to offer those who dare a scare. But Reinke promises it remains a family-centered attraction. “We don’t do any blood or guts, we don’t have any chain saws, no scenes where it’s really gory,” Reinke said. “My house is more like Disney, a lot of special effects, a lot of illusions.” The mansion, which sprawls roughly 10,000 square feet and is made up of 35 individual rooms, boasts over 1,000 moving parts and sends frightened souls through various worlds including a sinister swamp and a disorienting tunnel engulfed by floating specters. As visitors enter, they’ll encounter a host of ghoulish props. A voodoo doctor waiting in the shadows. A wrinkled witch gazing into her crystal ball. Undead, life-size skeletal horses pulling a dark carriage from the underworld. The attraction is imbued with the brothers’ childhood love for makeshift haunted houses, which first began in their childhood basement in 1968.
A monstrous clown welcomes visitors to Reinke Brothers.
At the ages of 9 and 10, the brothers constructed a house of horrors made from whatever they could get their hands on: A plaster skull from their older brother, their father’s footlocker for a coffin, blankets for the walls. “We caught a shopping cart fishing and cleaned it all up because I wanted to mechanize it,” Reinke said. “I thought it would be cool if we could roll people through and have control of them (so) we put them in the basket and had a strobe light in the front.” The brothers charged one penny for their guests. “I think we made maybe 30 cents one year,” Reinke laughed. But soon their haunted house graduated from the basement and began popping up in schools and local church events as the brothers built their Halloween empire. In 1984, the brothers set up their first purely commercial haunted house off Mineral and Broadway. In 2004, they bought their current store, located off South Prince Street, where their haunted mansion is housed. And the brothers haven’t lost their knack for resourcefulness. Weaving his way through the
PHOTOS BY ROBERT TANN
haunted mansion, Reinke points out a cut-up hose acting as a sewage drain and the lids of plastic storage containers painted to look like rusted doors. A small team of artists and technicians begins every March on the mansion, which usually changes about half its rooms each year. In late September, it opens to guests. Outside the mansion, the brothers’ SEE REINKE, P24
IF YOU GO The haunted mansion is open 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 p.m. to midnight Friday, 3 p.m. to midnight Saturday and 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday. Its last day of operation is Oct. 31. Tickets are $20 on Sunday through Thursday, $25 Friday and Saturday and $35 for a VIP ticket to skip the line any day. The haunted mansion also offers a non-scary lights-on tour for $10.
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10 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
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or a few weeks each fall, usually after Colorado’s famous color display has faded in the foothills and mountains, it’s metro Denver’s turn to put on a show. On Oct. 23-24, the landscaped green belts meandering through business parks and neighborhoods near Yosemite Street in Centennial offered rich color. A water feature in the area was a draw for ducks, most of whom paid little notice when people strolled nearby. The peak color season in the suburbs is usually brief. Before long, the show fades with the season’s first snows.
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Centennial Citizen 11
October 28, 2021
LPS WELCOMES THE CLASS OF 2026! YOU’RE INVITED! LEARN MORE ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL IN LPS:
Arapahoe High School Freshman Showcase November 3, 2021 – 6:00 p.m.
Heritage High School Freshman Showcase November 2, 2021 – 6:00 p.m. Harry Voigt stands in his Lone Tree home where he practices virtually before a race. PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS
Lone Tree racer is success on track Harry Voigt finished 2nd at national championship BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Harry Voigt wanted to explain in his college application essay which life experiences helped reshape how he defines himself — from a little boy with dyslexia thinking “I was stupid” to a fearless natural on the racetrack — Voigt took his readers out of the stands and behind the wheel with him. “My eyes are focusing on the checkered flag, and it feels like I am approaching in a jet. Engine roaring loud and the smell of burning rubber as I tear around the last corner. I see all the different colored shirts of the fans and hands waving with cameras,” he wrote. The fans get louder. He feels the wind funnel up his helmet, “cooling my sweaty head.” His hands ache, and he “can barely hold the wheel much longer.” “I see the flag getting bigger and bigger, and then in the blink of an eye, it is gone. The engine grows quiet, the speed drops, and my excitement takes off,” he wrote. Heat rises from the track and fans hush as he transitions into a cool-down lap. His hands “feel as if someone was beating on them with a hammer,” and his “nose is filled with the strong smell of gasoline.” “I think to myself, wow, I just won
my first professional race at Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas,” he wrote. Taking titles That’s far from his only title. In September, the 20-year-old from Lone Tree took home second place at the National Auto Sport Association’s 2021 Spec Miata National Championships held at Daytona International Speedway. He placed first in the Teen Mazda Challenge. “It was so thrilling,” said Voigt’s mother, Pamela. “Continual goosebumps.” Racing at Daytona was a bucket list opportunity. The famous track is known for its long straightaways where drafting is crucial, Voigt said. For that reason, having a drafting partner is ideal. One car trailing another closely can increase the drivers’ speed by several miles per hour. “It’s just physics,” Voigt said. In a series of practice sessions and qualifying events for the national championships, Voigt placed well, staying among the top 10. But he had trouble finding another driver to team up with, which left him to fend for himself come race time. As the championship event got underway, Voigt hung just outside the top eight drivers, he said. “I was having to drive the absolute hell out of the car to keep up with them,” he said. The championships epitomized how strategy and fate both come SEE RACER, P29
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12 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
TRI-COUNTY FROM PAGE 1
millions, according to a consulting firm studying the benefits and drawbacks of the counties’ potential decisions to handle public health services alone. “In the short term, separate, single county public health agencies would have access to less public health revenue, and perhaps services, and would incur transition costs for start-up and (the) dissolution of TCHD,” the Oct. 12 report by the Otowi Group says. On the other hand, single-county entities “would allow counties to wholly envision a health department to be what they want and need, from the ground up,” the report adds. Douglas County had long been contemplating leaving Tri-County Health amid a rift over the health agency’s coronavirus safety orders. Douglas County’s elected leaders formalized the decision to leave Tri-County in a meeting Sept. 7, opting to form its own board of health in charge of matters such as countywide public health orders. But the county decided to continue to receive all services from Tri-County, approving an agreement on Sept. 28. Services that will continue include restaurant inspections, nutrition counseling, maternal and child health services, and disease control, among others. Adams County’s elected leaders announced that Adams will also leave Tri-County, raising the ques-
Tri-County Health Department’s headquarters in Greenwood Village.
tion of whether Arapahoe County no longer has the option to partner with Adams down the road. “Douglas County’s decisions left us no choice but to reevaluate the future of public health services in Adams County,” Eva Henry, an Adams County commissioner, said in the Oct. 19 news release. “As a result, Adams County must determine the best option to move ahead for a health board and services provided to residents.”
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The Adams commissioners were to bring forward a resolution at an Oct. 26 public hearing to provide notice of Adams’ decision to leave Tri-County, according to the news release. “Per its legal obligation, Adams County will remain a part of TCHD through December 2022,” the news release said. “Starting January 2023, Adams County will have its own health department structure in place.” Arapahoe County confirmed in early September that Arapahoe and Adams had been contemplating splitting away from Tri-County, driven by Douglas County’s intention to leave. Luc Hatlestad, spokesperson for Arapahoe County, had emphasized that Arapahoe’s consideration of leaving Tri-County isn’t because of disagreement with the health agency. Douglas County’s exit would potentially create financial or budgetary problems for the other two counties, Hatlestad said in early September. But in light of Douglas County’s decision to keep receiving services from Tri-County, the question of the financial impacts of Douglas’ exit appears to be pushed down the road. “Even though Adams and Douglas have decided to leave the partnership, it will (essentially) remain in effect through the end of 2022, so all three counties should be able to access all the services we always have during that time without making any budgetary adjustments,” Hatlestad said in late October. If Douglas stops contracting with Tri-County in 2023, there could be some kind of budgetary impact on Arapahoe, but “we have no idea what it would look like,” Hatlestad said. The Arapahoe County commissioners released a statement Oct. 19 that said the county “will begin developing the necessary transition plans as we form our own public health department.” Regarding the idea that Adams could ultimately choose to form a two-county health agency with
COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS STREET VIEW
Arapahoe, Hatlestad said: “We haven’t heard that specifically, but given the relative costs of everything, we’re staying open” to any beneficial ideas. An Adams County spokesperson couldn’t immediately be reached about whether Adams would still consider forming a two-county health agency with Arapahoe after 2022. “Similar to the majority of counties in Colorado, Adams County will follow the common practice of providing its own health department for its residents,” the Adams announcement said.
‘Some funding not guaranteed’ To start their own public health agencies, Adams and Arapahoe could run into costs up to millions of dollars each, according to the consultants’ report. “TCHD has the size, breadth and depth of staff expertise, good reputation, grant writing and management capacity, and status as Colorado’s largest health department that allows the agency to procure funding not generally available to other health departments in Colorado,” the report says. Public health agencies draw upon a variety of funding sources, and public health leaders seek grant and contract funds that are related to existing and desired programs, according to the report. Working together in a two-county “district” public health agency would potentially make Adams and Arapahoe more competitive for grants and contracts, the report says. In the single-county scenario, costs may stack up partly because developing single public health agencies “will require adding new organizational infrastructure and customizing existing infrastructure to support the unique aspects of public health,” the report says. One part of the report points to “additional needed” revenue of $3.6 million in Arapahoe and $2.6 million in additional need in Adams. SEE TRI-COUNTY, P13
Centennial Citizen 13
October 28, 2021
Spiders: It’s that time of year Common spiders that sneak into your home and how to deal with them BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
This time of year, eight-legged creatures can take a crisp fall breeze as an open invitation into our homes. James Fiala, owner of Environmental Pest Control, sees people dealing with spiders indoors during this time of year. “All spiders are going to try to get in. They try to overwinter is what they do,” he said. Fiala has some tips for unwelcome guests in your home as it gets colder. “Vacuum cleaners are very powerful pest control tools,” he said. He recommends vacuuming around the edges of your house and avoid storing things right by entry doors. “I always tell people: Minimize what you have by the foundation of the house, clear out the window wells of your house. Window wells are chronic for spiders, by the way.” Fiala says now is a great time to clean out your window wells, which you should be doing twice a year. They can serve as breeding grounds and hospitable habitats for spiders trying to overwinter in your home. He also says caulking, sealing and using weather-stripping around doors and windows can be good deterrents for insects and rodents. Fiala recommends if you see a spider that does not look friendly, do not be afraid to use your shop vacuum to get rid of it, or even break out the glue traps to mitigate future problems. Take a spin through this list of a few common spiders that could sneak into your house this fall. Funnel weaver spiders Funnel weaver spiders are the
TRI-COUNTY
FROM PAGE 12
“Some current funding lines are not guaranteed” in the single-county scenario, the report says. It also lists roughly $1.5 million as “an estimated loss of program funds and fees that TCHD currently receives as a district health department.” “This is a regional loss and the amount that affects Adams County (and Arapahoe) specifically has not been calculated. These are only revenues and don’t reflect any other potential losses such as current liabilities, penalties or other losses,” the report says. Under a section labeled “other fiscal implications,” the report says the potential transition costs involved in a separation from TriCounty could be about $62 million. “Transition costs are the reasonable costs and the expenditures, labor, and materials that would be incurred through a separation,”
There are many species of wolf spiders. They can grow up to 35 mm and are usually SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE earth-toned in color.
most common spiders found in Colorado homes this time of the year. These spiders are harmless to humans but resemble the brown recluse, which does not naturally occur in Colorado. Funnel weaver spiders are darker brown and lack the characteristic “violin” shape that brown recluses have on their backs. Ground spiders Ground spiders usually reside under rocks or logs and only come out to hunt prey. When the weather turns cold, some species of ground spiders wander indoors. They are harmless to humans. Wolf spiders Wolf spiders are gray and brown, and some species can get quite large and are mistaken for tarantulas. Wolf spiders may enter areas of new development that disturb their habitat but are generally shy around humans. Larger species may bite. the report says. The vast majority of that total — $50 million — involves an entity called the Public Employee Retirement Association, or PERA. That’s the state’s public-employee pension fund, a program that manages benefits for current and former public employees such as teachers, snowplow drivers, corrections officers and other government workers. The report calls that cost the “PERA calculated penalty for dissolving TCHD,” but it adds: “It has not yet been determined if and when this amount would be due and whether there are any financial obligations if TCHD dissolves and has no remaining assets.” ‘Counties will not have that reputation’ Asked whether the three counties would likely split Tri-County Health’s staff among their own health agencies if they all go the single-county route, Hatlestad said: “I’m sure any number of them would be appealing candi-
Widow spiders Widow spiders build their homes in dark undisturbed areas, like old animal burrows, window wells, cellars, garage corners and crawl spaces. Red and orange markings on the underside of the abdomen is a physical characteristic of a widow spider. The widow spider has a painful bite, and it contains nerve venom, which can be dangerous.
KID
Brown recluse spiders Brown Recluse spiders are rare in Colorado because of the climate. They can be found along the Mississippi Valley, and sometimes they hitch a ride on travelers into the state. The brown recluse has a characteristic “violin” marking on its back. The spider’s venom is damaging to human cells. This list is not all inclusive of the spiders in Colorado. To find more on common spiders in the area, CSU extension provides more information.
CONTEST
dates for any of the jobs in the counties.” He added: “If we all do singlecounty health departments, we’re going to be competing for talent, which is one of the reasons the costs go up.” The report says: “Some public health professionals work at TriCounty because of its size, breadth and representation — the counties will not have that reputation.” The report notes that it relied on assumptions “to create a usable analysis” and that the document “does not include a cost-benefit analysis.” Arapahoe County’s Oct. 19 statement said: “The Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners is saddened that our neighboring counties have chosen to end the productive 55-year partnership with the Tri-County Health Department.” “The Board intends to do what it can to support the many dedicated employees of Tri-County Health throughout this process,” the statement said.
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14 Centennial Citizen
LOCAL
October 28, 2021
VOICES
Top talent talks about the importance of culture
H
ere we are wrapping up the series, “The 5 C’s of Retaining Top Talent.” Now it’s time to link connection, collaboration, change and consistency to WINNING culture. And culture, according to WORDS some top performers across several industries, was the difference maker in their decision to stay in their current role, or to leave and explore finding success elsewhere. Michael Norton Mariann is considered one of the brightest in her organization. She is a thought leader and someone who loves coaching, mentoring and developing excellence in her team. Every year she receives a glowing performance evaluation and an increase in her salary. When she emailed me after the first column of this series, she shared that she was regretfully leaving her job and team that she loved. Her reason was that after watching the culture of the organization deteriorate, and with empty promises to change, she ultimately resigned.
Her email was reflective of many I have received over the past few weeks. Organizations who are losing people are losing them largely because of the perceived negative, caustic, toxic, and confrontational environment they find themselves now working in. Dave, a top performing salesperson is consistently in the top five amongst the salespeople in his company. He emailed me to say he was glad that culture was on the list. He reported that he had left a numbers driven, operations driven culture that never supported the sales team. As a matter of fact, he called them the sales prevention department. He left because he heard about the positive, high-energy, sales culture at his current company. He sought them out even though they weren’t looking for any new salespeople at the time. He says that “Luckily, and thankfully they saw me as a fit and offered me a job. The culture here rocks.” We are living in very complex times, and it seems that no matter what we do as business owners, or executives leading a company, the diverse make-up of opinions, likes, dislikes, preferences, and
attitudes of our team members makes it almost impossible to please everyone. Right now, if you happen to be at a place where the culture of the organization is eroding and people are leaving, there is still hope. There is still time to start making changes or leading differently. Although we are living and working with complexities, we can take what Albert Einstein said and focus on simplicity. Albert Einstein said, “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” Sometimes we tend to complicate the uncomplicated or over-engineer a solution. When it comes to changing culture or creating and maintaining a positive culture where people want to come to work, we can make huge advancements by focusing on the basics, some of the simplest things that our people expect from leadership, and that can go such a long way to building a thriving culture. We covered some of these over the past four weeks; connection; collaboration; change; and consistency. Employee engagement is a very clear indicator of the health of our business. And a pretty obvious indicator of whether or not
we have a positive and thriving culture. When we look around are we seeing team members who are simply checking the box, or are they engaged and contributing at their very best? Are we being transparent with what is going on, how the company is performing, and taking an active interest in each team member? Are we working under a people-focused culture based on honesty, integrity, and opportunity? If not, people will do one of two things. Show up and check the box, or they will leave. And with those two options, having them leave is almost always better. How is your business doing when it comes to culture? Is it so bad that you are in duck and cover mode? Is it so good that you hope to attract more top talent to join you? I would love to hear your story at mnorton@tramazing. com and when we create a culture where people want to work and thrive, it really will be a better than good year.
Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.
What do you do when you think of conflict?
E
ver watch that episode of “The Office” where Michael decides to teach his staff about conflict resolution? As a human resources professional and conflict coach GUEST watching that, I was both gasping COLUMN and guffawing at the same time. Of all the people to attempt it, there’s the manager modeling just how NOT to attempt to resolve conflict. At one point, he basically comLinda Newell pares conflict to a “shiatsu massage, where they dig into your body, very hard. And it is very painful. And apparently, some people throw up. But the next day, they feel great.” Most of us hate that poke-in-theeye feeling when addressing conflict. Even though I teach conflict transformation for a living, I still
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get nervous with my own conflicts, as we all do. As my mentor says, that’s why they call it being a “practitioner.” It continues to take practice for all of us. So, what is it that makes us go crazy when we get into conflict? Or for some, even when we get near it. For some of us, it may actually be a physical reaction to protect us from harm. That’s a whole course of protection techniques just in itself. For others, it might be the fear of losing the argument or appearing to be incorrect, wrong, or “found out.” But for the majority of us, we become hesitant to dig into our conflict because either we don’t have the tools to resolve it or we’re afraid of hurting (or losing) our relationships around it. But shouldn’t we be able to do both? Conflict management is about solving problems AND building relationships. What good is problem resolution if we can’t maintain the relationship?
When I was in the state Senate, I was often at odds with one of my colleagues across the aisle. Many times, he and I were diametrically opposed philosophically. However, over time, there were many occasions when we would come together and collaborate on legislation successfully. Throughout the years, we became friends and assured each other that no matter our policy differences (and sometimes heated debates on the floor), we would always respect one another and sustain our friendship. We remain friends to this day. As we recognize October as Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado, I entreat you to perhaps imagine that the conflicts in your life could be approached as just solving a problem and building a relationship. Is there a way to do both? Admittedly, some conflicts may need a stiff drink of coffee, a suite of calming techniques, or even a court-ordered mediator. And yes, some conflicts may be too danger-
ous to attempt to manage on our own. But the majority of them are possible to wade through and get to the other side. Will you throw up, as Michael claims? Maybe. But you’ll feel great the next day! For information on Conflict Resolution Month in Colorado, you can go to: conflictresolutionmonth.org. Or, for training, coaching, or facilitating conflict, feel free to reach out to me for a resource relevant for you. The reward of feeling more peace in our lives, especially right now, is well worth the practice. Former Colorado state Senator, now with a master’s in Social Justice and Ethics from Iliff School of Theology, Linda Newell is a writer, instructor, facilitator, and conflict coach. Senlindanewell@gmail. com, www.lindanewell.org, www. senlindanewell.com, @sennewell on Twitter, Senator Linda Newell or @TheLastBill on Facebook.
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Centennial Citizen 15
October 28, 2021
DU’s Newman Center returns as community hub BY CLARKE READER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
For so many communities, arts centers are hubs of connection and creativity — places where people can go for entertainment and education. Which made the COVID-19 pandemic especially damaging, since so many arts centers were shut down to keep performers, staff and audiences safe. That’s the story with the University of Denver’s Robert and Judi Newman Center, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. in Denver, which went quiet for the bulk of the pandemic. But the center is returning to life, and by launching its 2021-22 season, is signaling it’s ready to be a hub for the community again. “The great thing about the Newman Center and places like it is the cultural infusion of ideas from elsewhere and the sharing of ideas,” said Aisha Ahmad-Post, executive director of the center. “This is a community home for so many different groups.” The returning season will feature performances from a range of artists, including the debut of Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with the legendary Wynton Marsalis, the Nashville Ballet with Rhiannon Giddens and flamenco greats Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca. Putting seasons together take months — even years — of effort, so many of the performers who are part of this year’s program were scheduled during the pandemic shut down, and now are finally getting the chance to connect with audiences. “A lot of these folks will be somewhat familiar to our audiences,” Ahmad-Post said. “These artists really revel in the ability to engage with each other, not just the audiences.” In addition to a source of highquality professional performance, the Newman Center is also ready to provide opportunities for children and young adults to immerse themselves in the arts through its Student Matinee Series and Musical Explorers. “When the pandemic started, we were working on reshaping the model of what we offered, and we were able to do what we could with things like virtual curriculum models,” said Luke Wachter, associate director of educational initiatives. “The direction we want to try to go in is to create really meaningful community partnerships. In the past, we existed as our own organization and entity, but we want to move our programing out-of-building and into the community.” As these efforts move forward, one of the key areas of focus is increasing equity and access for all those who want to participate. For Wachter, that means diversifying the center’s offerings, establishing new relationships and partnerships and reshaping its programs into more engaging forms. “A fundamental part of any education is providing a window into the world, and it’s equally as important for children to see themselves and their community reflected on the stage,” Wachter said. “Pairing windows and mirrors together make for a really equitable education.” As people re-enter the wider world,
The University of Denver’s Robert and Judi Newman Center went quiet for the bulk of the pandemic, but is now returning to its place in the community and will be hosting events again . PHOTO BY WAYNE ARMSTRONG/NEWMAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
NEWMAN CENTER’S 2021-22 SEASON Here’s what’s ahead on the Newman Center for the Performing Arts calendar: • Veronica Swift — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19 • Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca: Entre Tú y Yo — 2 p.m. Nov. 21 • Fiestas Navideñas with Fiesta Colorado, Mariachi Sol de Mi Tierra and ArtistiCO — 7:30 p.m. Nov. 30 • Christmas with The King’s Singers: Finding Harmony — 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9 • Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience — Jan. 4-9 • Kronos Quartet — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 • Dance Theatre of Harlem — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14-15 • Joey Alexander — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 • Nat Geo Live: Spinosaurus, Lost Giant of the Cretaceous with Nizar Ibrahim — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 • Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis — 7:30 p.m. Feb. 19 and 2 p.m. Feb. 20 • Nat Geo Live: When Women Ruled the World with Kara Cooney — 2 p.m. March 6 • Mrs. Krishnan’s Party — 7:30 p.m. March 22-23 • Nashville Ballet with Rhiannon Giddens: Lucy Negro Redux — 7:30 p.m. March 29-30 • B-The Underwater Bubble Show — 7:30 p.m. March 31 • Nat Geo Live: Secrets of the Whales with Brian Skerry — 7:30 p.m. April 5 • New Morse Code — 7:30 p.m. April 8 Get tickets at 303-871-7720 or newmancenterpresents.com/. a lot has changed, and it will continue to change. But arts centers can still be a place to build something. And Ahmad-Post wants the community to take that chance again at the Newman Center. “The same way people showed up for restaurants, they should show up for the arts,” she said. “Take a chance, buy yourself a ticket, take a partner out on a date night. When people do give us a chance, they come back over and over again.”
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16 Centennial Citizen
LOCAL
October 28, 2021
LIFE
A vital and ‘lovely job’ Theresa Cuccio has been working with NICU babies for 33 years. She is currently a NICU nurse at Sky Ridge Medical Center.
PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES
NICU nurses care for babies and families in trying moments BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
T
hey are the last people parents want to see on what it supposed to be one of the happiest days of their lives. But, in a short amount of time, they become people who parents treasure, remember and appreciate forever. These people are the nurses that take care of babies sent to the newborn intensive care unit, or NICU, after birth. When having a baby, parents plan for and think about the happy moment when the little bundle of joy arrives. When a doctor orders a baby, especially those born prematurely, to the NICU, the happiness is replaced with a quick sense of fear, confusion, and anxiety. Helping to settle and understand all of those emotions are the NICU nurses. Kirtley Ceballos, the fetal and neonatal director of patient services at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said that no matter where the hospital is located along the Front Range, nurses in every single NICU facility brings stability, kindness, understanding and the ability to educate parents on what to do now. “NICU units are not just about caring for the babies,” Ceballos said. “These nurses care for the entire family. They help moms hold these fragile babies, they interpret cries and teach parents how to understand certain facial expressions. They educate them on what they need to do.” Whether it is helping a mother start pumping breast milk to help
a baby who is too weak to latch on or teaching the new father how to overcome his fears and hold a baby that may be no bigger than his hand, NICU nurses serve as support to parents as they provide care for a baby. ‘I just loved the babies’ NICU nurses are such experts that the quickness with which they can bathe, change a diaper, and get a baby resting peacefully in a bed can be intimidating to a new parent. Longtime NICU nurse Theresa Cuccio, with Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, said because it is second nature for unit nurses to care for small babies, they just zoom through. Sometimes they forget a parent is watching with a lot of anxiety, she said. AnnMarie Buczyna, a fifth-year NICU nurse at the Level 3 at the Medical Center for Aurora, said teaching parents how to become comfortable caring for their new baby is one of her favorite parts of the job. Buczyna has worked throughout the Denver metro area with babies, including Children’s Hospital Colorado. “It’s everyday life in the NICU, but for parents it can be one of the scariest days of their lives,” she said. “NICU nurses are happy to help both the parents and the baby.” Cuccio, a NICU nurse for 33 years, said she has valued every moment of her career. The longtime nurse said in nursing school she spent a few hours observing babies in a NICU and was immediately hooked. “I just loved the babies,” she said. “NICU nursing is so much more
Young Amelia, dubbed the “Christmas Miracle Baby” by Sky Ridge NICU nurses, COURTESY PHOTO returned with her parents for an annual reunion.
unique that other areas. Here we must function as a team. You cannot do your own thing. We have a great team that comes together for the moments to celebrate and for the tough days. It is the nature of how we function, you are never on an island.” Cuccio said NICU is unique because of the family aspect. Parents have such high expectations when they come into delivery that the thought of going to NICU can be tough, Cuccio said. “You have to put yourself in their shoes,” she said. “As nurses, we are patient because we know this is not what they anticipated. These parents are thrown for a loop and the care their baby needs is differ-
ent than they expected.” ‘OK to take a break’ In a lot of cases, Buczyna said NICU nurses have to act as a voice of reason for parents. Cuccio and Byczyna said so often parents, mothers especially, come into NICU blaming themselves, thinking they cannot leave the baby for a second. “We let them know that we have the baby’s care first,” Cuccio said. “We let them know it is OK to put the baby down and walk away. It is OK to take a break.” As time passes in the NICU, Cuccio said the goal is to teach these parents to do the work in feeding, SEE NURSES, P17
Centennial Citizen 17
October 28, 2021
Vocalist to perform at Newman Center
V
ocalist Veronica Swift will perform at the Newman Center for the Performing SONYA’S Arts at the University SAMPLER of Denver’s Gates Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 19. Her program will include swing, beebop and Sonya Ellingboe The Great American Songbook. Tickets start at $19. Go online to newmancenterpresents.com or call 303-871-7720.
present three staged readings under the heading of “Theatre as Sanctuary,” exploring the idea of sanctuary: “The Christians” by Lucas Hnath, directed by Monica Holt, Oct. 29-30 at the Antonia Brico Stage at Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 N. Sherman St., Denver; “And in this Corner: Cassius Clay,” directed by donnie betts, Nov. 12-13 at the Phamaly Theatre Company Offices, 3532 Franklin St., Denver; and “My Name is Asher Lev” by Aaron Posner, directed by Ben Raanan, Nov. 20-21 at Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape St., Denver. Pay what you can, $20 is suggested, at phamaly.org.
Visions The annual “Visions Tactile Art Show” at the Arapahoe Community College Colorado Gallery of the Arts, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, features collaborative art by ACC art students and those from Colorado Center for the Blind. November 8-17; free and open to the public. Opening reception Nov. 11, 5 to 7 p.m. Masks required. Information: trish. sangelo@arapahoe.edu.
Call for artists Lone Tree Arts Center will present its annual Commissioners’ Choice exhibit, with a theme of “Pets: The Unsung Heroes of the Pandemic,” from Jan. 12 to March 27 and entries are due by Nov. 4. Information at lonetreeartscenter.org/ commissionerschoice.
Phamaly Theatre Phamaly Theatre will
Stories on Stage “What Goes Up Must Come Down” will be presented at 7 p.m. on Nov. 12 in person and virtual at Nomad Theatre in Boulder
NURSES FROM PAGE 16
changing and caring for the baby. “As nurses, sometimes the best thing we can do is take a step back and be supportive,” Cuccio said. “We work to educate them and empower them.” Cuccio said working with parents can be rewarding for NICU nurses as they watch them go from being scared to even hold their baby to being confident, and once the baby is strong enough, carrying them out proudly in the car seat. Cuccio and Byczyna said NICUs are also unique in how patients
Vocalist Veronica Swift will perform at the University of Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing COURTESY PHOTO Arts on Nov. 19.
and online. Ticket information: storiesonstage.org, 303-494-0523 ($22). Later shows will be on Sundays at the Su Teatro Theater on Santa Fe Drive. Littleton artist Littleton artist Michelle Lamb will be in an exhibit called “Paredolia,” which means receiving specific images in an unusual medium. Oct. 22 to Nov. 7 at Core New Art Space, 6851 W. Col-
come in. Some days the unit will see no babies and the following day suddenly there is an onslaught of babies being born that need the added care. The time patients are with NICU can range from six hours to months, Cuccio said. Sometimes a situation ends in tragedy and others end with a baby going home after months of treatment. Cuccio recalled a “Christmas miracle baby” who came early while her parents were visiting Colorado. The baby needed a lot of time to get stronger. Seeing that baby girl leave in the arms of her happy parents was a day to celebrate, Cuccio said. Cuccio and Byczna said they can see the impact they have on families for years after they leave
fax Ave., Lakewood, part of 40 West. See coreartspace. com. Genealogists Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society presents “Denver Graveyard Spirits: Past and Present,” with speaker Phil Goodstein at 1 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 845 E. Dry Creek Road, Centennial. Also on Zoom. Information: colum-
NICU. Each year, hospitals often do reunions where NICU nurses get to see parents and the children they have treated. Cuccio said parents are so grateful for the caring services nurses provide that they come back year after year to continue saying “thank you.” Cabello said going beyond the baby and family care, NICU nurses are the ones doctors turn to the most. Doctors value their opinions in deciding treatment options for babies because they are the ones with them the most, she said. With no plans of slowing down, Cuccio summed up her career as a “wonderful experience.” “It’s great to be a part of a new family’s experience,” she said. “It is a lovely job.”
binegenealogy.com. Plan ahead The next “Cowboy Poetry Gathering” will be at the American Mountaineering Center if Golden on Jan. 15/16. More later. While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, public events frequently are canceled or rescheduled. Check with organizers before you go.
AnnMarie Buczyna has worked in NICUs throughout the Denver metro area, including her current position at the COURTESY PHOTO Aurora Medical Center.
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18 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
‘Lotus’ sculpture installed as tribute Carmela Geselbracht left artistic imprint on Littleton BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Friends gathered on a recent sunny Oct. 14 at Hudson Gardens to welcome a sculptural tribute and remember the late Carmela Geselbracht, a former Littleton resident who was an artist, sculptor and active member of Main Street Players. Geselbracht, who moved from Littleton to British Columbia prior to her death in 2014, was a close friend of Littleton actor/director Annawyn Shamas, who led MSP, formed to produce plays at Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton, when it opened to the community. The two met through the players group. Shamas has seen the “Lotus” scultpure previously when it was part of an exhibit of local artists’ works at the Gardens. The multicolored petals include purple, Geselbracht’s favorite color. Sculptor Charlotte Zink shared a bit about “Lotus” in a note to us: “With its bright bursts of color and uplifting form, `Lotus’ is a larger than life, stylized steel flower constructed from upcycled farm parts. It colorfully blossoms and opens upwards to the sky, rain or shine. “A popular artistic motif, Lotus flowers are regarded in many different cultures as a symbol of purity,
Charlotte Zink’s sculpture “Lotus” was recently installed at Hudson Gardens in LittleCOURTESY PHOTO ton as a tribute to the late Carmela Geselbracht.
enlightenment and rebirth. Its characteristics are a perfect analogy for the human condition: even when its roots are in the dirtiest waters, the lotus produces the most beautiful flower. “Sculptures come to life in many ways: these heavy steel pieces and gear drive from a bulldozer came from an old salvage yard in East Texas and waited many years in the corner of our yard for their moment in the sun,” Zink wrote. Geselbracht was remembered as
a two-time director of the community-focused “Fiasco,” a popular, Littleton-focused musical spoof that was written and produced by area creatives for a number of years. She moved to Littleton in 1975 and “could make art all the time, solo and collaboratively,” friends recalled — in theatre, clay, sculpting ... Her MSP involvement helped expand the local theatre company. In fact, Littleton’s Town Hall Arts Center was first developed for its new life as a stage for “Fiasco” after
several years with the cast moving around the area, performing in country clubs and elsewhere. Of course, other productions also needed that stage. In prior years, actors had staged some shows in the high schools as well, but scheduling rehearsals, etc., was always difficult. The City of Littleton had recently built a new, large, modern city building and moved operations there. The older building still contained some city offices when former mayor and Littleton native Vaughn Gardinier started a committee to consider a new use — and ways to pay for it ... Many friends were involved in planning and fundraising over a number of years. Carmela had a book in progress, friends recalled. “Oh, how my visions haunt me as I gaze back on the scene,” she wrote. She was remembered in a sentimental group toast at a luncheon/ reception at the Inn at Hudson Gardens as “Smart, talented, charismatic and beautiful.” Her sister, Laura, commented that she could “smell Carmela’s perfume” when she was writing remarks to share at this event. Hudson Gardens, at 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, is open to the public, with free admission, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stroll down to the pond to enjoy “Lotus.” While the COVID-19 pandemic continues, public events frequently are canceled or rescheduled. Check with organizers before you go.
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Centennial Citizen 19
October 28, 2021
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20 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
COVID FROM PAGE 3
the lowest hospitalization and case rates in the country. Now, Colorado has the 10th-highest infection rate and 20th-highest hospitalization rate among all states, according to The New York Times’ case tracker. Since the beginning of October, about 20 people a day in Colorado have died with COVID-19. As recently as this summer, that number was around four or five people a day. More than 8,000 people in Colorado have now died due to the coronavirus. The Oct. 21 news conference was notable for the language Polis used in hoping to prevent more deaths. Repeatedly, he urged unvaccinated people to show care for themselves by getting the shot.
CARNES FROM PAGE 4
A voter drops off ballots at a ballot box in Centennial.
ELECTION FROM PAGE 1
• Arapahoe County Lima Plaza offices, 6954 S. Lima St. • Centennial Civic Center, 13133 E. Arapahoe Road • Goodson Recreation Center, 6315 S. University Blvd.
BRANCH FROM PAGE 2
my best to run my campaign that reflects the issues of our residents and to stay away from the national type of lingo around partisanness of what’s going on in elections around the country,” Branch said. He added: “People who know me and have had conversations with me (know) I’m in the center.” He continued: “I see myself as a
PHOTO BY MARK HARDEN
• Koelbel Library, 5955 S. Holly St. • Smoky Hill Library, 5430 S. Biscay Circle You can also vote in person at Arapahoe County Lima Plaza. The deadline to vote is 7 p.m. Nov. 2. For more information on how to vote, go online to ArapahoeVotes.com. After polls close Nov. 2, visit CentennialCitizen.net for local election coverage and results.
little bit of where she sees herself … I would say I’m left-leaning but very much in the center.” Branch’s campaign website says he supports “radical change for social justice reform.” The website adds: “Social justice movements are alive and should not be feared. Centennial is a beacon of hope for what is possible when city governance works with law enforcement to find the right way. We all can choose the issues that most stir our passions for justice to ensure that Centennial is leading the State
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“The obvious answer is, something needs to be done. The other obvious answer is, there’s not enough housing right now in Centennial District 1 for those who want to move here,” Carnes said. She added: “It is also very, very important to look at the housing that goes into that — it has to reflect the neighborhood that surrounds it … The current homeowners and property values, they
and the nation in this issue.” Regarding law enforcement, if there are gaps for improvement, the city should talk about it, Branch said. “I believe in Arapahoe County, the justice, equity, diversity things around hiring and implementing those trainings, they’re doing a great job” already, Branch said. “I want to support them to do an even better job.” “The steps I gave you today as far as police reform, that’s my ‘radical’ change,” Branch said. His campaign contributions show many donations from out of state, which Branch said came from friends and family.
Slightly less than 30% of Coloradans who are old enough to get vaccinated are not fully immunized. “Never in my wildest imagination did I think there would be Coloradans that didn’t want to protect themselves,” Polis said, recalling the day the first vaccine doses arrived in the state. He later added: “Show that you love yourself. Show that you support your friends and family that want you to be here for many years to come. Get protected. Get vaccinated. Get boosted.” This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
should not be ignored or sacrificed. Balance is key.” Carnes also received campaign contributions from Mayor Stephanie Piko, former Mayor Cathy Noon and Kathy Turley, the current Centennial city councilmember in District 1. Carnes called the current and former officials “all strong and smart women” who responded to her request for support. “I’m honored to receive contributions from them, and I think it’s a vote of confidence,” Carnes said. She added: “They see a strong female who wants to make a positive difference for her community.”
“I have a pretty big network … friends, family, people who know me and love me dearly,” Branch said. The trend in donations “makes total sense being a first-time candidate,” said Branch, who said his past couple months of donations have been primarily Centennial -based. Former Centennial City Councilmember Vorry Moon endorsed Branch, according to his campaign website, and Branch has also been endorsed by Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, according to Branch. “I think (the support from them) says that I’m doing this for the right reason,” Branch said. “I’m listening to the voices of the residents of the community.”
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Centennial Citizen 21
October 28, 2021
Denver poised for World Cup bid City is one of 17 in the U.S. hoping to land part of 2026 event BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
There are a lot of things that go into Denver’s efforts to land part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. There’s the overall interest in youth soccer. There’s a desire to be part of an expanded tournament field in 2026 (48 countries will earn spots), And there’s a desire to show off Denver to the rest of the nation and the world. “This will be 10 times the size of the Euro Cup,” said Manny Rodriguez, the co-chairman of the committee making the bid to bring the World Cup to town. “It’s the world’s biggest sporting event. It drew 3.5 billion viewers in 2018. Our biggest sporting event is the Super Bowl, and 150 million people tune in. ‘Soccer is the world’s game’ Three North American nations – Canada, the United States and Mexico – are
bidding to host part of the World Cup. In the U.S., 17 cities are expected to submit bids. Ten will make the first round of cuts. Eventually, three cities will win out, organizers said. Matthew Payne, the executive director of Denver Sports, said Denver has hosted other big-time sporting events, including this summer’s Major League Baseball all-star game. “We have the infrastructure. We have the stadium, the hotels, the arenas,” he said. “We’ve hosted high-capacity matches at Empower Field at Mile High (where most of the matches would take place). It’s a global city. When people visit, businesses often end up here.” Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City has hosted World Cup qualifying events, including a snowstorm-laced contest in 2013 between the United States and Costa Rica. But the home of the Colorado Rapids isn’t part of Denver’s bid. “It’s not large enough,” Payne said. “With the anticipated crowds, we’d need a place that seats above 50,000 people. The average attendance in 1994 (the last time
the U.S. hosted a World cup) was 70,000. Dick’s could be used as a training site.” Rodriguez said the economic benefit to the area could approach $360 million from hotels, restaurants, lodging and tourism-related activities. “We have 52,000 hotel rooms and 12,000 in the downtown core,” Payne said. “Most are within walking distance of the stadium. Think of the number of hotels that weren’t here four years ago. Then think of the number of hotels that will be built between now and when the World Cup comes.” “In 2026, the field expands to 46 teams. Folks who travel to see their teams play have economic power,” Rodriguez said. “They come for days at a time. Some come for weeks.” Area taxpayers won’t have to foot a bill, other than buying a ticket of admission. The altitude isn’t as big a problem as one might think. Rodriguez said three cities in Mexico are higher in elevation than Denver. The weather could work to Denver’s advantage, too. “Denver has unique things to offer,” Rodriguez said. “We have the best airport in the world. If you think about some of the coastal
Trophy of the FIFA World Cup and official ball of FIFA World Cup 2018.
cities in New York, Miami, they have higher humidity. Our average temperature is in the 80s. It doesn’t rain a lot in the summer here.” The timing of games that start in the Mountain Time Zone may not matter to people who love their soccer. “If a country is playing at 4 a.m., people will get up and watch. Or they will record it,” Rodriguez said. “People in some countries will stay up regardless of what time it starts.” Rodriguez said soccer is the No. 1 participatory sport in the state, thanks in part
to youngsters who take part in youth soccer. “Youth soccer could grow exponentially,” Rodriguez said. “This community is diverse. Soccer is going to grow with people who love the game more and more.” The target months for the 2026 World Cup are sometime in June or July. The 2022 World Cup will take place in about a year in Qatar, owing to the extremely hot summers in that part of the world. Rodriguez said next year’s event will be the first to be contested outside the summer months.
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22 Centennial Citizen
LOCAL
October 28, 2021
SPORTS
Win propels Chaparral toward football playoffs 35-32 battle comes down to game’s final seconds BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Chaparral’s Kylan Wilson (5) had 278 yards of total offense in the Oct. 21 game against Douglas County. He passed for a touchdown and ran for two in the 35-32 win for Chap. PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON
The Douglas County Huskies and the Chaparral Wolverines met in a football game on Oct. 21 at EchoPark Stadium in Parker with class 5A state playoff berths at stake. And the game featured several big plays and two all-purpose quarterbacks in Douglas County’s Antwuan (AJ) Jackson and Kylan Wilson of Chap. Chaparral, of Parker, came out on top with a 35-32 victory that wasn’t decided until the final 54 seconds of the game. That’s when the Wolverines’ Kegan Swain, an up back in the punt formation, took the snap and ran for a first down that allowed Chap to run out the remaining time on the clock. Chap, 21st in the RPI standings before the game, improved to 5-4 overall while Douglas County, of Castle Rock, which was 15th in the RPI standings that help determine the 24-team Class 5A playoff bracket, slipped to a 6-3 overall record. The Wolverines have one more Douglas County South League game remaining on Oct. 29 against rival Legend, of Parker, which was second-ranked in the CHSAANow. com poll. Douglas County wraps up the regular season on Oct. 28 against eighth-ranked Regis Jesuit, of Aurora.
K
Antwuan “A.J.” Jackson (16) of Douglas County runs with the ball in the Oct. 21 game against Chaparral.
a Wilson and Jackson provided mostp of the entertainment in a game that h had more big plays and offense in p the first half (28-24 lead for Chap) than in the entire contest of other w g games. “The dynamics of the game came w down to number 16 (Jackson) and a our number 5 (Wilson),” said Chap coach Jeff Ketron. “That’s kind of why they’re the quarterbacks. AJ is a heck of a football player and SEE CHAPARRAL, P23
Legend, Lutheran take state softball titles Parker schools celebrate championship wins BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Two Parker high schools had banner days on Oct. 23 at Aurora Sports Park. Legend and Lutheran captured championships at the state softball championship with convincing wins in the title games. The Legend Titans, the fourth seed in the bracket, won their third Class 5A state crown in the past five years with an 8-0 win over Columbine of Jefferson County to finish the season with a 25-4 record. The top-seeded Lutheran Lions continued to show their season-long dominance with a 13-2 romp over University High School of Greeley in the Class 3A championship contest as the Lions completed a 29-0 season. Legend won back-to-back state titles in 2017 and 2018. This season’s team started slow but played well down the stretch. “We have a young team,” said Titans coach Kristen Shirk. “We fired
The Lutheran softball team holds the Class 3A state championship banner and trophy PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON Oct. 23.
on all cylinders and that was needed to win. This team reminds me of the 2017 team when we had a core of juniors and some young kids.” Legend turned the title game in its favor in the fifth inning by scoring five runs using the long ball against a Columbine team that it beat early in the season. Kaylynn English belted a solo homer. Emma Harrington followed with a two-run HR and then Afton Armijo added another two-run circuit clout.
Starting pitcher Cameron Ponich for the Titans allowed five hits, didn’t issue a walk and struck out 12 batters. “We came into this tournament with the mindset that we have to play like we have all season,” said catcher Emma Harrington. “That’s what got us through this tournament. It means so much to me. I don’t know how it will feel later. It’s crazy. It hasn’t settled in yet.” SEE SOFTBALL, P23
s t f y
Legend starting pitcher Cameron Ponich holds the state championship trophy after the Titans downed Columbine 8-0 to win the title. It was the third state title in five years for Legend.
Centennial Citizen 23
October 28, 2021
SOFTBALL FROM PAGE 22
Chaparral’s Kylan Wilson (5) looks to throw in the Oct. 21 game against Douglas County. PHOTO BY JIM BENTON
CHAPARRAL FROM PAGE 22
Kyle for us.” Wilson, the senior who also played safety and punted for Chap, had 278 total yards. He was eight of 19 passing for 207 yards and a TD. He rushed for 71 yards and two scores. “I just was doing my thing, do it all and help my team,” said Wilson. “I played so-so. There were things I could have done better but overall I played pretty good. “We’ve been in battle almost every week. We knew we needed to win this game to make the playoffs. I know AJ. I wouldn’t say he’s a good buddy but he’s an acquaintance.”
Jackson, who also played in the defensive secondary and returned punts in addition to quarterback, also had over 200 yards of total offense. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for two. Brayden Munroe of Chaparral had three receptions for 147 yards and three TDs including a 77-yard scoring reception on a pass from Wilson. The junior wide receiver also had an 88-yard kickoff return for a TD and returned a blocked field goal for a score. Camden Vogt paced the Wolverines’ defense with nine total tackles while Fransisco Lewis and Geoffrey Freeman each had eight tackles. Lewis also had an interception. “We knew if we won we’d be in the playoffs,” added Ketron. “This was a quality win over a six-win team. We’re excited.”
Emma Harrington pointed to the fifth inning as the turning point. “That inning really set us apart from the other team,” she said. “It got our energy up and the confidence in ourselves. That was the breaking point. We understood we had already played them and we could win but we had to treat it like a new game. We had to come in with a new, fresh mindset.” Lutheran, the state runnersup last year to Eaton in its first season as a varsity softball program, had the same mindset as it had all year. The Lions outscored four opponents in this year’s state tournament, 52-3, and held a 388-23 scoring advantage over the opposition during the season. Going 46-2 in two season is a good way to establish a softball program, and the school has plans to move to Class 4A next year. “In two seasons we’ve lost to one 3A team and that was in the championship,so we have two losses as a program for the first two years. That’s amazing,” said Lutheran coach Glen Maestretti. “We put a lot of pressure on our offense in this tournament to get our pitcher Hailey (Maestretti) off the mound. We only
have the one pitcher. She’s had an amazing year. She showed everybody today.” Hailey Maestretti allowed only two hits for the Lions, who gave up two runs in the top of the first inning. However, the Lions scored once in the bottom of the first and added four runs in the second, third and fourth innings to make this another mercy rule outcome. “It feels great to win,” said Hailey Maestretti. “I loved how hard we worked this season. It feels great to come out on top. Yeah, last year was on our minds. This year was going to be ours. “We felt very motivated through the whole tournament, feeling it was something bigger than ourselves. We took each step, each pitch, each game.” In other state tournament games involving South Metro teams, Horizon, of Thornton, downed Castle View, of Castle Rock, 5-3 in the first round, and Columbine trimmed Highlands Ranch school Rock Canyon 4-2. Mountain Vista, of Highlands Ranch, ousted Smoky Hill, of Aurora, 13-9, but dropped a 4-2 decision to defending champion Fossil Ridge, of Fort Collins. Legend beat Cherokee Trail 10-3, outlasted Broomfield 2-0 and beat top-seeded Horizon 7-2 in the semifinals. In the Class 4A tournament, Ponderosa, of Parker, opened with a 12-6 win over Frederick but then lost 6-1 to Riverdale Ridge, of Thornton.
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24 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E
An undead horse-drawn carriage pulls its way through the haunted mansion. PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN
REINKE FROM PAGE 9
store is a treasure trove of costumes and decor. With more than 50,000 items, Reinke said he has diversified his pool of inventory, from buying out party stores that are going bankrupt to sourcing handmade masks and decorations from locals. “The reason why I don’t buy in one specific place is then I look like everyone else, I’ll look like a Walmart or a Target, and I don’t want to do that,” he said. The novelty and breadth of Reinke Brothers is what draws customers from all over. “It’s the Halloween store we were hoping to find,” said Sarah Russett, who stumbled upon Reinke Bros last
week after coming to Littleton to watch a marching band. Milo Salisbury, a Littleton native who now lives in Aurora, said she made the trip back to her home city for the store. “It’s an adventure whenever you come in here,” she said. For Reinke, it’s the screams, and the smiles, that have kept him in the business for so long. His haunted mansion seeks to not just brew up a good scare but to tap the imagination of minds as young as his when he and his brother built their first haunted house. Reinke said he will do lights-on tours with children to show them how his haunted mansion comes to life. “(People go) why would you do that and I say, ‘Why wouldn’t I?’” Reinke said. “Maybe they’ll make a great haunted house someday.”
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28 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
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Centennial Citizen 29
October 28, 2021
RACER FROM PAGE 11
into play during a race, Voigt said. A crash took two cars out and Voigt closed the gap on the fifth. He focused on staying consistent and not making mistakes in his driving, he said. Then another car was hit by debris and had to pull off. “This stuff just sucks, I don’t want to see that,” Voigt said. Despite rising in the ranks, Voigt was still without a partner, trying to keep pace with leading drivers. Then another driver, Matt Cresci, slowed just enough for Voigt to catch up. Finally, he had found his partner. “We took off and we charged all the way to second or third in a lap or two,” he said. A three-car breakaway ensued. As the whirlwind race came to a close, Voigt and Cresci chased lead driver Preston Pardus. Pardus ultimately took first. Voigt trailed by less than a second, and secured runner-up.
After races, crews disassemble winning cars, pulling out the engine looking for any signs a competitor cheated. The intent is for each car to be equally matched so that the “race comes down to the driver,” Voigt said. During his inspection, techs discovered Voigt’s transmission had been on the brink of blowing but managed to hold up — another piece of luck that went in Voigt’s favor. “I shouldn’t have been able to finish the race,” he said. Getting started The now 20-year-old who poured his love of racing onto the page speaks with just as much passion for the sport in conversation. “I’ve learned so much about myself in racing,” he said. He was 17 at the time of his first professional win, but his love for the sport was sparked years earlier, when his father took him to a go-kart track around age 10. As he wrote in his essay, school had been difficult for him with not only a dyslexia diagnosis but ADHD as well.
Racing was different. Speed didn’t scare him, and he quickly picked up the art of racing. “Being an inch off the ground, not even exaggerating, going 90 in a go-kart,” he said. “You feel the G-forces.” He went to local tracks on weekends for fun, eventually catching the attention of an employee who told his dad he saw raw talent in the young speedster. The man suggested investing in a kart. At age 12, his parents did just that. Voigt had been working hard in school, they said, and as a reward they surprised him with his own set of wheels. Voigt began competing throughout Colorado around age 14, often alongside adults, and almost immediately won competitions. His room in the basement of his family home boasts shelves brimming with trophies and walls lined with memorabilia. The room is also where he gets in much of his practice time, using a software program hooked up to a mock race car rig. Real track time is expensive. So is the entire sport.
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Harry Voigt competes in the NASA 2021 National Championships in COURTESY PHOTO September.
Travel. Vehicle maintenance. Race entry fees. Voigt doesn’t get paid to race, but thanks to sponsors he doesn’t pay to race, either. Practicing from home helps him stay competitive without some of the financial burden, he said. At home, he climbs through the narrow gap between the seat and steering wheel and sits there for hours before a competition, racing on the screen and getting virtual coaching from a mentor who emails him notes. “The seat, the pedal and the wheel are pretty much right off a race car,” he said. A lifelong passion Racing teaches his son valuable life lessons, like
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handling pressure and being put on the spot, Voigt’s father, Brian, said. Thinking back to the September national championships, Brian said he and Pamela “always knew Harry was capable of that level of competition.” “How many times did you hear me say, ‘You’re as fast as these guys,’” Brian said to Voigt. “I’m not sure Harry always believed it.” Voigt would love to race as a career, but he’s also staying focused on earning his degree. He’s now studying business at Lynn University in Florida. Whatever the future holds, “racing will always be a part of my life,” he said. “It just seems like a part of me,” he said.
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30 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
Local author’s book looks at value of life Woman writes about sibling’s death in 1974, attitudes in society BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In a recently published book, a longtime Parker resident tells the story of the 1974 death of her 10-yearold brother, who was developmentally disabled. Janet FarmerSelden’s brother, Jules Farmer — who was also deaf and Farmerblind — contracted Selden a fatal disease while in the care of Ridge State Home in Arvada. “It is a look at the value his life really had and what value came with
journal entries from her mother about the struggles the family faced in “attempting to provide the best possible life for my brother,” she said. She also used documents showing the lack of services that were available to her brother due to the severity of his disabilities. Farmer-Selden said that during her writing process, she was challenged by memories of the “negative attitudes” her brother and family experienced for “allowing him to be an active member of our family.” “This did not just come from neighbors but from some members of our extended family,” she said. The final chapter of the book is a copy of Farmer-Selden’s mom’s diary from the final days of Jules’ life. “As my mom passed away in 2002, I felt an incredible sense of responsibility in representing what she would want to communicate if she were writing the chapter herself and I felt it was only fitting that she
his death,” Farmer-Selden said. Farmer-Selden’s parents struggled to find ways to help their son to thrive despite his disabilities and often ran into challenges from the state, she said. Farmer-Selden wrote the 104-page book, titled “Value of a Life,” in part to let readers know about the legislation that came from her family’s advocacy, she said. “I wanted others to know as a society we have not really come that far in inclusion for people with disabilities,” she said. “It is my personal belief that you can measure a society’s moral compass not by the rhetoric of its public officials but by the way traditionally marginalized groups are faring and honestly, I believe that Colorado still has a long way to go especially in providing equity in services outside of the metro area.” Farmer-Selden began writing the book in November 2019 and it was published in February 2021. In her writing, she used documents and
gets the final word in this book,” she said. Farmer-Selden decided to write the book after trying to find services for her foster son, who is on the autism spectrum. “I struggled to understand why nearly 50 years after my brother’s death, Americans with disabilities are still challenged with physical environments that are not accessible,” she said. Farmer-Selden also said she believes people with disabilities lack assistive technology and internet access and experience negative attitudes from others. “We need to be conscious of the attitudes we hold regarding others who are not like us,” Farmer-Selden said. “If I can have one person act on this message, I have been successful in this effort and honored my brother and my parents.” The book, sold for $12, is available for purchase at tinyurl.com/Valueof-a-life.
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Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Public Trustees COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0053-2021 To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust: On August 24, 2021, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records. Original Grantor(s) Jo nPaul Aragon and Patricia J. Aragon O al a s Colorado Credit Union Current Holder of Evidence of Debt Colorado Credit Union Date of Deed of Trust Ja nuary 02, 2015 County of Recording Arapahoe Recording Date of Deed of Trust Ja nuary 06, 2015 Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.) D5002461 Original Principal Amount $27,599.00 Outstanding Principal Balance $26,776.00 Pursuant to CRS § 38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby o a o a s o o s have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. Lot 4, Block 14, Southglenn, Third Filing, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado. Also known by street and number as: 6730 South Downing Circle West, Centennial, CO 80122. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST. NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein,
as l o o l o a ma o sal as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 12/15/2021, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)' heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys' fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by la a ll ss o as a a of Purchase, all as provided by law. First Publication: 10/21/2021 Last Publication: 11/18/2021 Name of Publication: Littleton Independent IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 08/24/2021 Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado By: Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: Harry L. Simon, P.C. # 7942 Harry L. Simon, P.C. 10200 East Girard Avenue, Building B, Suite 120, Denver, CO 80231 (303) 758-6601 Attorney File # 6730 S DOWNING CIRCLE W The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose. © Public Trustees' Association of Colorado Revised 1/2015 Legal Notice NO. 0053-2021 First Publication: 10/21/2021 Last Publication: 11/18/2021 Name of Publication: Littleton Independent
City and County Public Notice CITY OF CENTENNIAL NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING CONCERNING THE ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN PROPERTY FOR ANNEXATION KNOWN AS THE DOVE VALLEY V ANNEXATION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to C.R.S. § 31-12-108(2), that the City Council of the City of Centennial will hold a public hearing on Monday,
legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com
the 1st day of November 2021 at 7:00 PM (or as soon thereafter as the meeting agenda permits) to consider whether the property generally known as the “ Dove Valley V Annexation,” and more particularly described in Resolution No. 2021R-44 dated September 20, 2021 (the “ Substantial Compliance Resolution” ), which property consists of a total of approximately 21.886 acres as more particularly described in a petition for annexation (the “ Subj ect Property” ), meets the applicable requirements of Section 30 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution and C.R.S. § 31-12-104 and C.R.S. § 31-12-105, and is eligible for annexation to the City of Centennial. Copies of the Petitions for Annexation concerning the Subj ect Property and the corresponding annexation map are on l a o al l so 13313 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, CO 80112. All interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard. The hearing will be held in the Centennial Civic Center, 13313 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial, CO 80112 at the above date and time. Further information concerning this matter may be obtained by calling the City of Centennial Community Development Department at 303754-3378. A copy of the Substantial Compliance Resolution is published in full below. /s/ Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO RESOLUTION NO. 2021-R-44 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO ACCEPTING ANNEXATION PETITIONS, MAKING CERTAIN FINDINGS OF FACT, FINDING SUBSTANTIAL COMPLIANCE FOR SUCH PETITIONS, AND SETTING A PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE DOVE VALLEY V ANNEXATION WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Centennial, Colorado has received and examined the l s a o s o a o s the annexation of certain real estate more fully described in said petitions and in Exhibit 1 (“ Dove Valley V Annexation” ) which exhibit is attached to this Resolution and is incorporated herein by reference (collectively, the “ Property” ); and WHEREAS, the Property includes certain properties owned by Avoric Denver Real Estate 2, LLC and the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA) and as more particularly described in the Petitions for Annexation; and WHEREAS, said Petitions for Annexation (“ Petio s a b l o o l of the City of Centennial, State of Colorado, and S
o
l
s as ollo s
1. That the Petitions contains the following: (a) An allegation that the requirements of C.R.S. § § 31-12-104 and 31-12-105 exist or are met.
(b) An allegation that the signers of the Petition, together with owner(s) submitting other valid petitions for annexation to the City, comprise more a o la o so area proposed to be annexed and own more than o a a o os ob a nexed, exclusive of public streets and alleys and any land owned by the City of Centennial. (c) A request that the City of Centennial approve the annexation of the Property. (d) The signature of the landowners that executed the petition. (e) The mailing address of the landowners. (f) The legal description of the Property and a leal s o o s al o o by the landowners that executed the petition. (g) The date that the landowners executed the petition. a a o o la o s s a that the signature of each landowner therein is the signature of the person whose name it purports to be. 2. That four (4) copies of the annexation maps corresponding to the Property have been submitted to the City with the Petitions, and that the annexation maps contain the following information: (a) A written legal description of the boundaries of the Property proposed to be annexed. (b) A map showing the boundary of the Property proposed to be annexed. (c) Within the map, the boundaries and the plat numbers of plots or of lots and blocks. (d) Next to the boundary of the Property proposed to be annexed is drawn the contiguous boundary of the City of Centennial.
and conditions within the meaning of § 31-12-112, C.R.S. Section 5. That a public hearing shall be held on Monday, the 1 day of November, 2021, at 7:00 p.m. at the City Council Chambers, 13133 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial, Colorado for the os o m a proposed annexation (Dove Valley V Annexation) complies with Section 30 of Article II of the Colorado Constitution and the applicable provisions of C.R.S. § § 31-12-104 and 31-12-105. Section 6. Any person may appear at such hearing and present evidence pertaining to the eligibility of the proposed annexation of the Property to the City of Centennial. Section 7. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption. Adopted by a vote of _ _ _ in favor and _ _ _ against this 20th day of September, 2021. By: Stephanie Piko, Mayor ATTEST: Approved as to Form: By: City Clerk or Deputy City Clerk o
o
sO
EXHIBIT 1 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF BOUNDARIES OF AREA TO BE ANNEXED Dove Valley V Annexation Map – Annexation Parcel Description:
3. That no signature on the Petitions is dated more than one hundred eighty (180) days prior o a o l o o s o a o with the City Clerk of the City of Centennial, State of Colorado.
All those Parcels of Land Located In The Northwest Quarter of Section 31, Township 5 South, Range 66 West Of The 6th Principal Meridian, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, described as follows:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Centennial, Colorado that:
Lots 4 Through 6, Block 3, and Lots 1 Through 7, Block 4, Dove Valley V, as recorded at Reception No. B3160646 in the Arapahoe County Clerk and o sO a o o o in Warranty Deed recorded April 19, 2005 under o o Sa O Together with that parcel of land described as “ Channel W1 And Downstream of Pond W-4” , in Deed recorded at Reception No. D1077983 Sa O
Section 1. That the foregoing recitals and sa o oa as sa conclusions of the City Council. Section 2. That the Petitions for Annexation to the City of Centennial of the Property commonly referred to as the “ Dove Valley V Annexation,” o s o all l o o the City Clerk of the City of Centennial on or prior to September 8, 2021, substantially comply with the requirements of C.R.S. § 31-12-107(1). Section 3. No election is required under C.R.S. § 31-12-107(2). Section 4. No additional terms and conditions are to be imposed except as provided in the Petitions for Annexation and in any annexation agreements which may be entered into by and between the City of Centennial and the petitioners, which are not to be considered additional terms
Legal Notice No. 529575-61132 First Publication: September 30, 2021 Second Publication: October 7, 2021 Third Publication: October 14, 2021 Fourth Publication: October 21, 2021 Fifth Publication: October 28, 2021 Published:Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen
# # #
Centennial Legals 10.28.21 * 1
Centennial Citizen 31
October 28, 2021
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*$100 ADT Visa Reward Card: Requires 36-month monitoring contract starting at $28.99/mo. (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees from $695.76), and enrollment in ADT EasyPay. Requires minimum purchase price of $449. One (1) Visa Reward Card valued at $100 is redeemable seven (7) days after system is installed, wherein an email is sent to the customer’s email address associated with their account with a promo code. The customer must validate the promo code on the website provided in the email and a physical card will be sent in the mail. Installation must occur within 60 days of offer expiration date to receive card. Applicable to new and resale sale types only. Card is issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. Interactive Services: ADT Command Interactive Solutions Services (“ADT Command”) helps you manage your home environment and family lifestyle. Requires purchase of an ADT alarm system with 36-month monitoring contract ranging from $45.99-$59.99/mo. with QSP (24-month monitoring contract in California, total fees ranging $1,103.76-$1,439.76), enrollment in ADT EasyPay, and a compatible device with Internet and email access. These interactive services do not cover the operation or maintenance of any household equipment/systems that are connected to the ADT Command equipment. All ADT Command services are not available with all interactive service levels. All ADT Command services may not be available in all geographic areas. You may be required to pay additional charges to purchase equipment required to utilize the interactive service features you desire. General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com/legal or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. Licenses: AL 233, 234, 458, 506, 1519, CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina; 2736-CSA, 2397-CSA, 2381-CSA; NJ Burg & Fire Business Lic. #34BF00048300, 200 East Park, Ste. 200, Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054; NY 12000305615; PA 090797; MS 1501951. DF-CD-NP-Q421
32 Centennial Citizen
October 28, 2021
FREE ADMISSION!! Holiday Craft Show & Mini-Market Third Annual
Hourly will be raffles held! Sign u
Saturday Dec. 11
Sunday Dec. 12
8am - 4pm
p chance for your cash to to win sp the sho end at w!
8am - 2pm
Douglas County Fairgrounds 500 Fairgrounds Dv. Castle Rock, CO.
Come shop for unique gifts and special items during the annual Colorado Community Media Holiday Craft Show and Mini-Market; With more than 100 exhibitors filling the Douglas County Fairgrounds, this is the best place to find that special, personal gift for friends and family. The show will feature handmade crafts in all areas from metal and leather, to flowers, baskets, ceramics, and so much more.
Bright Little Brains Rozanne Steyn Brightlittlebrains.com
Carol’s Creative Cards Carol Smith Cjaysmith.com 303-886-6730
Discovery Toys
Julie Olivett - Team Leader 303-437-7067 YourToyLady.com
Nerdy Sheep Fiber Arts Nerdysheepfiberarts.com info@nerdysheepfiberarts.com
Suelyn’s Creations
Suelyn Gnormley 720-201-3930 facebook.com/SuelynsCreations
ADMISSION IS FREE TO THE PUBL
Vendor applications being accepted now. Apply Today Contact Event Producer Thelma Grimes at tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com All applications must be approved to participate