Centennial Citizen 120122

Law enforcement, community groups fight against hate crimes

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

From 2018 to 2020, reported incidents of hate crimes in Colorado more than doubled, according to statistics from the FBI.

These numbers also increased

nationwide, but in Colorado the rate is higher. Over two years, the state’s cases increased by about 132%, compared to the the national average of 17%, according to data from the FBI.

Although there is no way to definitively prove the reason for these trends and no clear solution to the problem, law enforcement agencies, legal offices and organizations across the Front Range are taking steps to better care for victims

and stand against bias-motivated crimes and incidents.

Data and underreporting

As defined by Colorado state law, a bias-motivated crime, also known as a hate crime, is a criminal offense committed “with the intent to intimidate or harass another person, in whole or in part, because of that person’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental

disability, or sexual orientation.”

Hate crimes can range from acts of vandalism to shootings, such as that which occurred on Nov. 19 at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ club in Colorado Springs where a gunman killed five people and wounded 17. The accused gunman is facing murder and hate crime charges.

In Colorado, most reported hate crimes arise from bias against a

Holiday events in Arapahoe County underway

Santa visits, ice skating and more

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

To celebrate the holiday season, the City of Centennial and Arapahoe County have planned events and campaigns for the community, including chances to support local vendors, enjoy holiday attractions and donate materials for others.

Transgender Center of the Rockies reflects on need for change

Group honors victims

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Hours before the mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, community members gathered for

event, Trans Day of Remembrance, to honor the lives of transgender individuals who were killed in 2022.

“We have to have a day to commemorate these losses and come together as a community to honor the people that unjustly died, and think about how the community

ward,” said April Owen, the director at Transgender Center of the Rockies, located in Sheridan.

Transgender Day of Remembrance, observed annually on Nov. 20, memorializes transgender and

Dec. 3: Holiday Artisan Market

Local talent and holiday attractions are coming to Centennial Center Park!

The Centennial Holiday Artisan Market, a free and family-friendly event, will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Centennial Center Park, located

Vigil outside of Club Q on Nov. 21.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATHY LEES

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HATE CRIMES

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victim’s real or perceived race, ethnicity or ancestry, according to Jeremy Shaver, senior associate regional director at the AntiDefamation League’s Mountain States Regional Office (ADL). The second most frequent category of hate crimes are those that target individuals based on sexual orientation, he said.

Several localities across the Front Range reflect the state’s increase in hate crimes, but on a smaller and less consistent scale, according to data from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, or CBI.

When examining hate crime data from governmental entities, it’s important to consider the likelihood of unreported cases, Shaver said.

According to a 2022 survey from Hate Free Colorado, a coalition of community partners dedicated to countering hate crimes in the state, the true number of hate crimes and bias-motivated incidents is significantly higher than what official government data represents.

“I think the challenge is that we know many of the frequently targeted populations in Colorado are those that also have the lowest levels of trust and confidence in law enforcement right now,” Shaver said. “And so … most of these cases end up going unreported.”

The survey found that almost 3 in 10 Colorado adults have experienced a hate crime or bias-motivated incident in the last five years. Additionally, only 18% of respondents in that category said they reported the event to the police.

Bias-motivated incidents, also known hate incidents, are not chargeable criminal offenses but still have negative impacts on individuals.

Solutions to underreporting

The underreporting of hate crimes is a large concern for some law enforcement officials, including Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown, who was recently reelected.

To encourage more trust in reporting, Brown said his office is striving to become more diverse and reflective of the communities it serves.

He also noted a program that trains LGBTQ+ staff members

within his office to be community liaisons, with a goal of creating spaces where LQBTQ+ individuals feel safer.

“It gives people an outlet to be able to express their concerns to somebody from their community and allows them the opportunity to talk to somebody that might have some similar occurrences that they’ve had in their life,” Brown said.

The Golden Police Department also has an LGBTQ+ liaison, according to Police Chief Joe Harvey.

Shaver said it’s important to think of alternate ways for victims to report bias-motivated incidents without needing to interact with the police.

“One thing that the Hate Free Colorado coalition is recommending is that the state of Colorado and local communities look at establishing hate crime hotlines … It would most likely be a victim advocate or a social worker or somebody else who would reach back out to [the victim],” he said. “It would be one way to make a report that’s not an immediate call to law enforcement.”

Over the next year, Hate Free Colorado is hoping to educate community organizations that serve frequently targeted populations to help them better respond to calls that come into their agencies, Shaver said.

Why are hate crimes increasing?

Joel Zink, a hate crimes prosecutor at the Office of the District Attorney for Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, said a potential factor in the rise of hate crimes is the internet’s role in radicalizing people.

“Prior to the internet, folks who might have had some of these extremist ideas would be geographically isolated,” he said. “But with the rise of the Internet, folks have instant access to these online echo chambers … where they can find like-minded people and bounce around these really radical ideas.”

District Attorney Alexis King, who serves Jefferson and Gilpin counties, said that “more malicious rhetoric in our overall community conversations” and “polarization” are probably the main drivers of increased hate crimes.

Shaver said legislation, such as

DATA FROM FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING

HATE CRIMES

FROM

that which eliminates LGBTQ+ topics from school curriculums, also promotes harm against communities.

“We also need to see an end to legislation and rhetoric that continues to further harm against LGBTQ people,” he said.

Some say the increase in hate crime numbers could reflect something positive: a better understanding and recognition of hate crimes by law enforcement officers.

“I do think that at least in our jurisdiction … a small part of this is attributable to training that we’re doing with law enforcement to identify these crimes earlier on,” Zink said, adding that he leads a four-hour training for new deputies at the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office.

Incoming law enforcement officers in Colorado are required to have bias-motivated crimes training, according to Shaver.

Training programs such as those through the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Hate Free Colorado and the Anti-Defamation League teach prosecutors, district attorneys and law enforcement officers across the state to better conduct hate crime investigations, Shaver said.

A 2021 change in Colorado law that expanded the definition of bias-motivated crimes may also contribute to recent rising numbers, according to previous reporting by Colorado Community Media.

Bias-motivated crime training

Each year, ADL provides training to more than 30 law enforcement agencies across the state, Shaver said. The trainings cover Colorado’s hate crime laws, how to recognize bias indicators and acknowledging individual and social impacts of hate crimes.

Prosecutors use bias indicators to determine whether bias was a motivating factor in a criminal offense.

“[Bias indicators] would include things like the defendant’s own words, prior cases and behaviors and the nature and timing of the conduct in question, among other things,” Zink said.

King said prosecutors may also

analyze a suspect’s social media activity and social connections to look for signals of bias.

In addition to learning how to recognize bias in a suspect, participants in hate crimes training programs learn how to address their own personal bias.

“We believe bias is universal — it’s not unique to law enforcement agencies — but we think it’s really important to discuss addressing bias in responding to these types of cases,” Shaver said.

Outside of hate crime-specific training, many law enforcement agencies, such as the Golden Police Department, implement regular anti-bias training for their departments.

“We not only want to train our officers how to go in and handle these [cases], but we also want to eliminate, mitigate, remove biases even from our own perspectives and how we go about doing our job and making sure that everybody feels that they’ve been treated with dignity and respect and compassion and empathy, that they’ve been treated fair and impartial,” Harvey said.

Impact of hate crimes

As law enforcement departments across the Front Range take steps to mitigate the frequency and impact of hate crimes, some acknowledge the emotional numbness that can come from facing the constant news of these incidents.

“Unfortunately, [hate crimes and mass shooting events] have become a common occurrence nationwide,” said Darren Weekly, who was recently elected as Douglas County sheriff. “The problem is, is I think we as a society are becoming numb to the violence … It’s a sad state of affairs for our nation.”

But even as events like this occur more frequently, Shaver said it is important to continue to recognize the impact of hate crimes on victims and communities, and work to fight against them.

“They not only impact the individual who’s been targeted or those who share that individual’s identity, but they have a greater social impact,” he said. “When somebody commits a hate crime, that really destroys a community sense of safety, belonging, inclusion, and so that has a ripple effect … and it affects quality of life for all Coloradans.”

Get in the holiday spirit!!

Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center 25690 E Quincy Ave, Aurora, CO 80016

Grab your family and celebrate the holiday season at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds. Discover five themed “neighborhoods” to explore, create and have fun!

There’s something for everyone–from holiday shopping with local vendors, to make-and-take craft activities, Santa meet-and-greet, petting farm, horse-drawn rides, games and lots of fun surprises.

Tickets: $10 (kids 2 and under FREE) arapahoecountyeventcenter.com

Share the season with neighbors in need! Donate a new, unwrapped gift and receive free admission.

Sponsored by:

DATA FROM FBI UNIFORM CRIME REPORTING PROGRAM.

DA’s o ce honored for cold case conviction

40-year-old murder mystery solved

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A prosecuting team from the 18th Judicial District was recog nized by the Colorado District Attorney’s Council for work on a cold case dating back to 1981 that led to a conviction in 2022. The team received the 2022 Outstand ing Trial Team of the Year.

The annual award is given to a team of prosecutors for remark able work in solving challenging cases from the thousands of cases brought to trial throughout the year. The Colorado District At torneys’ Council selected a team from the 18th Judicial District for their work in solving the 1981 cold case homicide of Sylvia Quayle.

The trial team includes Chief

EVENTS

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at 13050 E. Peakview Ave.

Attendees can expect holiday treats, visits with Santa, local ar tisans and performances by local school and dance groups.

Here is the schedule of musical performances for the event:

• 11:30 a.m.: Newton Middle School Choir

• Noon: Dry Creek Elementary Choir

• 12:30 p.m.: Homestead Elemen tary Choir

• 1 p.m.: Peakview Elementary Choir and Tone Chimes

• 1:30 p.m.: Amplified Arts Dance

• 1:45 p.m.: Metropolitan Acad emy of Dance

• 2:15 p.m.: School of Rock

Those interested in learning more about the event can visit centennialco.gov/Calendar/Holi day-Artisan-Market.

By Dec. 8: Partnering for the Holidays

Employees of Arapahoe County Human Services created a “Part nering for the Holidays” program that provides holiday gifts to Arapahoe County residents who

Deputy District Attorney Chris Gallo, Deputy District Attorney Grant Grosgebauer, Investigator Matt Hanagan, Paralegal Cathy Nevil, and Victim Advocate Col leen Vogel.

“Our office actually submits multiple cases, so it’s pretty cool that they chose this one out of the 30 or so other different cases that they submitted,” said Gros gebauer.

Quayle’s body was found in the early morning of Aug. 4, 1981 by her father William. As Quayle lived alone in her home in Cherry Hills Village, the attacker cut the phone line outside her house to enable her ability to call for help.

Quayle was sexually assaulted, strangled, stabbed three times, shot in the head, then left to die on her living room floor.

For nearly two decades, Quay le’s murder went unsolved until the Colorado Bureau of Inves tigation (CBI) submitted a DNA

are clients with Arapahoe County Human Services.

The program benefits children and adults in crisis, victims of abuse or neglect, or those ex periencing financial hardship, according to Arapahoe County’s website.

To reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, the county asks people to consider donating gift cards, in increments of $25, this year. If residents want to donate an item rather than a gift card, the county listed items it recommends pur chasing on its website.

People can drop off donations until Dec. 8 at two locations: Arapahoe County Human Ser vices located at 14980 E. Alameda Drive in Aurora, or the human services building located at 1690 W. Littleton Boulevard in Little ton. Gifts can also be shipped to Kala Slater at 14980 E. Alameda Drive in Aurora.

Those interested in learning more about the program or donat ing an item can find more infor mation at arapahoegov.com/415/ Partnering-for-the-Holidays.

Dec. 10: Visit the Village

From a synthetic ice rink to a petting farm, Arapahoe County’s “Visit the Village” holiday-

sample to the FBI’s combined DNA Index Systemin 2000.

Two decades after the DNA was submitted, the Cherry Hills Village Police Department be gan working with United Data Connect, a genetic genealogy company. In 2021, an investigator with United Data Connect went to Anderson’s residence and collect ed trash bags from an apartment complex dumpster. Lab results found Anderson’s DNA on a soda can from his trash bag, which matched the DNA collected at the 1981 crime scene.

Anderson was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, After Deliberation and Felony Murder. In March 2022, Anderson went to trial, however, after five days of deliberation, the jurors were unable to reach a verdict, resulting in a mistrial.

The 18th Judicial District At torney’s office brought the case to trial once again on June 30, 2022.

themed event offers a variety of activities for families to enjoy.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the Arapahoe County Fair grounds and Event Center, located at 25690 E. Quincy Ave. in Aurora.

Attractions include meet-andgreets with Santa, a petting farm, synthetic ice rink, local vendors, inflatables, and an ornament and craft station.

The event also features a “home for the holidays”-themed ginger bread house contest. To partici pate, residents can drop off their decorated gingerbread house on Dec. 7 or Dec. 8 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. To sign up to partici pate, visit arapahoecountyevent center.com/f/22.

The first prize for the contest is a two-night stay at Fairfield Inn and Suites. Judges will score entries and the winner will be announced at 1 p.m. during the “Visit the Village” event Dec. 10.

To attend the event, residents can purchase a $10 ticket for general admission, or they can have free admission to the event if they donate a new, unwrapped gift for any age. The donated gifts will support the Arapahoe County Human Services’ Partnering for the Holidays gift giving program.

A jury found Anderson guilty on both counts of murder. Due to legal precedent, a defendant con victed of a single homicide can only be sentenced on one homi cide charge.

“It’s the oldest case that’s ever been tried successfully in Colo rado,” said Grosgebauer.

The sentencing laws in effect at the time of the crime have re sulted in Anderson receiving the maximum sentence of life behind bars. He is eligible for parole in 20 calendar years. With the help of the Cherry Hill Village Police Department, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, DNA analyst Missy Woods, the trial team was able to bring forward a strong evidentiary case that led to a conviction.

“It was a true team effort. We couldn’t have done it without multiple different components coming together to make this case possible,” said Grosgebauer.

Those interested in finding more information or attending the event can visit bit.ly/visitvil lage22.

By Jan. 17: Sock It To ‘Em campaign

The City of Centennial is col lecting socks to help people expe riencing homelessness from now through Jan. 17.

There are collection boxes scattered throughout the city for people to drop off new socks of all sizes and age groups.

The collected socks benefit the Sock It To ‘Em Campaign, a Denver nonprofit serving local homeless shelters. According to the nonprofit’s website, socks are the number one clothing need of those experiencing homelessness.

Some of the main drop-off loca tions in Centennial are:

• Centennial Civic Center, lo cated at 13133 E. Arapahoe Road.

• Koelbel Library, located at 5955 S. Holly St.

• Castlewood Library, located at 6739 S. Uinta St.

• Smoky Hill Library, located at 5430 S. Biscay Circle

• Southglenn Library, located at 6972 S. Vine St.

Those interested in learning more about the campaign can visit centennialco.gov/socks.

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gender diverse people whose lives were lost due to anti-transgender violence.

As of Nov. 16, at least 32 trans gender and gender-nonconforming people have been killed in the U.S. in 2022, according to the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. The majority of victims were Black transgender women.

During the remembrance event on Nov. 19, the Transgender Center of the Rockies held a moment of silence for all victims.

Transgender Center of the Rock ies is a program developed through Mile High Behavioral Healthcare, which offers resources to transgen der, nonbinary, gender-nonconform ing and gender diverse people.

“To invoke their memory is to honor their power,” said Petty Patty, a drag performer who emceed for the event. “If there is one call to action that you walk away with this evening, it is to mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living.”

Five killed, 17 injured in shooting at LGBTQ club

Just before midnight on Nov. 19, a gunman entered Club Q, an LGBTQ night club in Colorado Springs, and opened fire, killing at least five people and wounding 17 others un til he was stopped by two patrons, The Colorado Sun reported.

The five people killed were: Der rick Rump, a bartender at Club Q; Daniel Aston, a transgender man and bartender at Club Q; Kelly Lov ing, who was visiting the club on a weekend trip; Ashley Paugh, who went to see a comedian perform at Club Q; and Raymond Green Vance, who went to the club with his girlfriend, her parents and other friends to celebrate a birthday.

The accused shooter faces 10 preliminary charges, including five counts of committing a biasmotivated crime, according to The Colorado Sun.

The morning of Nov. 20, Owen woke up to messages about the shooting.

“It was really hard to wake up to that, because the night before, our program had put on a Trans Day of Remembrance event that I had spent five or six hours at and every one had worked really hard on and brought the community together,” Owen said. “To see that something

like this happened on that day, or on the eve of that day, was especially troubling.”

When the Transgender Center of the Rockies’ event ended on Nov. 19, Owen said some of her staff went out to celebrate that night.

“I’m just so thankful that it wasn’t the bar that they went to or the club that they went to,” Owen said.

Mental health e ects

The mass shooting at Club Q has caused a lot of fear and anxiety for LGBTQ+ people, said Owen, a clini cal psychologist by training.

“Having to be hyper-vigilant about our surroundings and won dering what is safe, it takes a lot of energy and mental effort,” she said. “This is just another added burden that this community has to face, and it’s really difficult.

“I think it’s really difficult to navigate a world that feels unsafe a lot of the time.”

Transgender Center of the Rock ies was all-hands-on-deck on Nov. 21, Owen said, offering mental health services ranging from shortterm to ongoing therapy.

“Right now, we’re obviously prepared to provide crisis inter vention, to help folks who are just struggling with this specific issue,” she said.

Owen said people expressed a range of emotions following the shooting, including sadness, grief, anger, numbness and hopelessness.

“Everybody kind of has their own individual way of processing and grieving and healing, but the whole gamut of emotions is on display,” she said. “It’s really understandable for all of that to come up and (is) valid.”

With the holidays, this time of year is already challenging for a lot of transgender and nonbinary people who may have been kicked out of their family, or have strained relationships with people they once celebrated the holidays with, Owen said.

According to the Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health, 45% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously consid ered attempting suicide in the past year, and approximately one in five transgender and nonbinary youth attempted suicide.

LGBTQ+ youth “are not inherent ly prone to suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity but rather placed at higher risk because of how they are mis

treated and stigmatized in society,” according to the Trevor Project.

Owen said there have been a couple of instances where staff have felt unsafe, noting many staff members are gender diverse them selves.

“There’s some real fears, and we’re trying to think about that moving forward,” Owen said. “We’re fortunate that nothing re ally bad has happened to us, but I don’t want that to be — there to be a change in that story later.”

The Colorado Sun reported some political scientists and activists have said an increase in recent anti-trans and anti-gay rhetoric and protests set up violence like the shooting at Club Q.

Owen said when people say an LGBTQ+ person is making up who they are, or make fun of a person’s identity, or say they shouldn’t be able to get the kind of treatments or care that will help them feel better about themselves, it sends an ag gressive, hostile message.

“I can’t say with 100% certainty that there’s a correlation,” Owen said about the possible connection between the rhetoric and violence. “But in my mind, it certainly would make sense that there would be.”

Creating a safer community

To help create a safer environ ment for the LGBTQ+ community, Owen recommended local com munity leaders talk with gender diverse, transgender and nonbinary people directly, even suggesting a town hall-style event.

“Making there be a way where those conversations are facilitated and happening would be really important,” she said.

She noted some people may not trust law enforcement, given the LGBTQ+ movement historically started at Stonewall in New York. The Stonewall riots occurred in 1969 when LGBTQ+ people pro tested in response to a police raid of the Stonewall Inn.

“I think a lot of those relation ships need to be worked on and re paired between community leaders — really trying to understand the specific needs of this community, not being afraid of them, acknowl edging that they actually exist, wanting to get to know them,” Owen said.

If people asked members of the LGBTQ+ community what needs to happen, the response would be policy and action, Owen said.

“Politics matter,” she said. “We’re

going to have to do something. We’re going to have to make things different, and it’s not enough to just care.”

During the Trans Day of Remem brance event, State Rep. Brianna Titone of House District 27, who was the first openly transgender state legislator in Colorado, high lighted the need for greater inclu sion of transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people.

“With only around 50 total elected trans folks at every level of gov ernment, there’s still a very small amount of representation. And because we lack seats at the table in so many places, we have been the target of political aggression, with trans kids taking the bulk of the at tacks,” Titone said in a pre-record ed video shown during the event.

The fastest way to make change is for LGBTQ+ people to use their voice at the state house, at protests and to “take every seat that’s avail able that you can get at the table, whenever you can.”

“We need to be seen. We need to be heard. And it’s time for everyone who has a seat at the table to bring that folding chair to those who are the most marginalized,” Titone said. “We can’t do this alone. We need allies to have these tough con versations with us and for us.”

One person showed allyship the morning of Nov. 21 by coming to the Transgender Center of the Rockies and giving a donation to its closet, called Marsha’s Closet, which offers free gender-affirming clothes.

“She gave us a donation and said, ‘I’m so sorry (for) what happened on Saturday to the LGBTQ commu nity, and I just wanted you to know there’s people that care,’” Owen said.

“That really does help. We need our allies. We need cisgender, het erosexual people to be caring about this, to have conversations about it. Let people know it matters.”

For people in the LGBTQ+ com munity, Owen recommended sur rounding themselves with people who care about them and reaching out for mental health support if needed.

“We at the Transgender Center of the Rockies are sad and angered that this happened … but our big gest focus right now is being here for the community,” Owen said.

“We hope that we don’t need this one day, right? I wish our existence wasn’t as paramount as it is, but we’ll do what we can until that day comes.”

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Thu 12/08

Morgenshtern

@ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, Englewood

Fri 12/09

Cindy & Bryce

@ 1am

Dec 9th - Dec 8th

Heather Gardens Clubhouse, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora

Teague Starbuck

@ 5pm

Sunroom Brewing, 3242 S Acoma St, En‐glewood

Pond: Gothic Theatre @ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 12/10

Smithtonian Handbells

@ 2am

Dec 10th - Dec 9th

Heather Gardens Clubhouse, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora

Daniella Katzir Music: Daniella Katzir Band at Swallow Hill! Tis The Season Of Sweet & Spice @ 8pm

Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

SOC: Cookie Decorating with Santa @ Cook Park @ 10:30pm

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E. Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

Sun 12/11

Tue 12/13

YS: Boys Basketball 9-10 @ Cook Park #1 @ 1am

Dec 13th - Mar 7th

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E. Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

YS: Boys Basketball 13-14 @ Cook Park @ 3am Dec 13th - Mar 8th

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E. Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

Jay_Martin

@ 7pm

Rocker Spirits, 5587 S Hill St, Lit‐tleton

CHADZILLA MUSIC: Deborah Solo Trio at Tagawa Gardens

@ 11am

Tagawa Gardens, 7711 S Parker Rd, Centennial

SOC: Breakfast with Santa @ Cook Park @ 5pm

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E.

Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

The Highlands Ranch Concert Band presents: "Hear" For The Holidays: A Winter Concert @ 3pm

South Sub Church, 7275 South Broadway, Littleton. HRCBPublic ity@outlook.com, 303-870-3662

Lorie Line

@ 7pm

The Schoolhouse at Mainstreet, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker

Wed 12/14

Ladies Night @ 6pm / $5

Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Thu 12/15

YS: Girls Basketball 9-10 @ Harvard Gulch @ 12am Dec 15th - Mar 9th

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

The King Stan Band: KSB's Annual Ugly Sweater Party in Paradise

@ 7:30pm

Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Mead‐ows Dr, Lone Tree

Journey Girls Live at Fraco's @ 8pm

The Toad Tavern, 5302 S Federal Circle, Littleton

Denver Gay Men's Chorus: Haul Out the Jolly @ 3pm

St Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch

Mon 12/12

Modern Swing Mondays @ 6:30pm / $10

Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

YS: Boys Basketball 9-10 @ Eisenhower #1 @ 11:30pm

Dec 12th - Mar 7th

Eisenhower Recreation Center, 4300 E. Dartmouth Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

CW & Twenty Hands High @ 7:30pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Darryl Purpose: Moth Storytelling GRAND SLAM @ 7:30pm

Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E Iliff Ave, Denver

VOICES

A giving opportunity

EDITOR’S COLUMN

We are in the full swing of the holiday season — the time for giving and helping others. Instead of getting, Colorado residents can make a difference by giving during this holiday season through the annual statewide program known as Colorado Gives Day.

Since moving here, I have been impressed with the coordinated program to get more funding to our local nonprofit organizations, encouraging residents to give to their favorite causes and having a great website to find the programs to give to.

What is Colorado Gives Day? According to the coloradogives.org website, Colorado Gives Day is a statewide movement to increase online giving. This year marks the 13th anniversary that Community First Foundation and FirstBank have partnered to present Colorado Gives Day. The date is Dec. 6. Donations are accepted at ColoradoGives. org, which features more than 2,300 nonprofits.

The website is easy to maneuver because the nonprofits you are able to donate to are separated by category. If you’re interested in the arts, there are plenty of options. Interested in helping organizations who help the disadvantaged — they are categorized.

The nonprofits out there are endless and their need for public funding support are tremendous. This year, with inflation, supply costs and everything being higher — all nonprofit organizations could use the extra support.

Now, for a bit of shameless campaigning for where some dollars can also be applied. As a local news organization that focuses on school boards, city councils and great breaking news and local, happy features — we own 24 newspapers along the Front Range and have a ton of hardworking journalists who bring that news both online and in print.

We are not exactly nonprofit, but we do take community donations and, like many, are in need of constant financial support. To see where to support your local news provider, visit the website at Coloradocommunitymedia.com/ReadersCare.

Like many newspapers across the nation, we struggle to pay continually rising print costs and keep up with the amount of news that needs to be told. Through donations in Colorado Gives Day — we can do a lot more to penetrate the local communities and tell more stories and keep the presses rolling.

According to Northwestern University journalism school, the U.S. continues to lose newspapers at a rate of two per week, dividing the nation into wealthier, faster growing communities vs. those struggling in communities without news.

Since just before the pandemic started, the U.S. has lost an estimated 360 newspapers. Since 2005, more than 2,500 newspapers have closed.

Once a newspaper closes, there is rarely a digital replacement, which creates a news desert – a crisis for democracy.

With limited access to local news, the checks and balances between government and residents get out of balance — and the misinformation streaming on socialmedia platforms will not help.

While trust in media is at its lowest for the national networks and major news organizations, similar statistics show the local newspapers are the most trusted. Colorado Community Media works hard to keep and maintain that trust. While we may not be perfect, we certainly push to do the right thing for all residents and readers.

munity Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL

THELMA GRIMES

South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TAYLER SHAW Community Editor tshaw@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Maintaining the attitude of gratitude

The executive had put out a message out to his network that he was looking to hire top-performing salespeople for his team. While reconnecting with a former colleague, he also mentioned to her that he was looking for salespeople and asked that if she knew anyone, would she send them his way.

Within just a couple of hours she had sent him the name of someone she thought could possibly be a fit. The two connected on LinkedIn and through email, eventually setting up an interview that would take place over a virtual Zoom call. When the executive and the candidate met and made initial introductions, the executive noticed a picture of legendary Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi hanging on the wall behind the candidate. So before jumping into the interview he had asked him the story behind the picture. As the candidate shared his story about Vince Lombardi’s dedication, discipline and determination and how that inspired him, the executive could not help but smile. He shared that when he was in high school, he had written his term paper on Vince Lombardi, and he chose him for the very same reasons. They had already formed a bond.

ERIN ADDENBROOKE

Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS

Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS

Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Unfortunately, as they began the interview, within about 15-20 minutes they both realized that the candidate wasn’t really a good fit for the position. However, they stayed on the call for a little longer. The candidate shared that he was a single dad of two teenagers and was trying to find the right position that would allow him to provide for his family.

They were saying goodbye when another topic came up and they had some small talk around that. The executive then asked the candidate to tell him a little more about what the perfect job would be that would get him excited to go to work every day. The candidate really loved coaching and training people and helping to develop both personally and professionally. The executive let him know that he would keep his ears and eyes open for any opportunities that sounded like a good fit.

Again, just about to hang up, the executive asked one more question. He asked the candidate, “Is there something that I can pray about for you?” The candidate bowed his head for a good minute before lifting his watery eyes back to the screen. The candidate asked for prayers for his mom as she had cancer. The executive leaned in and said how sorry he was, pausing before asking one more question. He asked the candidate what kind of cancer his mom had. He bowed his head and once

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

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Littleton Independent (USPS 315-780)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Littleton, Colorado, the Littleton Independent is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

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Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Com-

Thelma Grimes

Seniors’ Council meeting to explore cohousing

If you crave a closer community connection, but still value living independently in your own home, cohousing might be right for you. Trish Becker, executive director of the Cohousing Association of the United States, will discuss cohousing at a free Seniors’ Council meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, at the library in Lone Tree.

So what makes cohousing communities unique? According to Becker, they are intentional, collaborative neighborhoods that combine extensive common facilities with private homes to create strong and successful housing developments. Most of these communities are organized as townhouse or condominium developments with homeowners association; a few are organized as cooperatives.

Cohousing is not a financial or legal model, but rather a descriptive

NORTON

FROM PAGE 12

again took a moment to speak. As he shared that it was pancreatic cancer, his tears spilled down his cheeks.

The executive stopped and shared this, “This was never about a job interview, this was God’s interview. We were not connected to talk about any job, we were connected for a much greater purpose. My wife passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer. She fought for two and a half years, and I learned so much from that journey and experience and

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Do better

On Monday, Nov. 21, national news covered the tragic mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs. Only minutes later, national news turned toward the increasing ineffectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security as the greatest threats to the United States of America come from within, particularly from political extremists and white supremacist groups.

Enough is enough. Attacks against the LGBTQI+ community and attacks from white supremacist groups have the same root cause — ignorance and hate.

The job of the Douglas County Board of Education and superintendent is to fight ignorance and hate at the local level. Even so, five of the eight members of this group — Superintendent Kane, Director

GUEST COLUMN

term that shows the intent of these developments to cultivate a strong sense of community through extensive common facilities and active collaboration of the residents. There are currently about 180 existing cohousing communities in the U.S. and about the same number in some stage of formation. Becker is currently involved with two Front Range communities.

Cohousing residents may share meals, equipment, gardening and chores. Sharing often makes tasks easier and more enjoyable. It is a green and sustainable way of life.

Experts state that cohousing communities bring together the value

I am happy to share any of what I learned with you and your family. I am so very grateful that God planned this interview, and if you need or want anyone to talk to, I am here for you.” And then they prayed together.

Last week I talked about “More than just the attitude of gratitude,” and this week as we think about maintaining the attitude of gratitude beyond Thanksgiving, maybe we can be reminded to be grateful for those connections that are more than work-related, more than perfunctory types of calls. Maybe we can show our gratitude by leaning into those who are placed in our path and connecting with them at an entirely different level.

Peterson, Director Williams, Director Winegar, and Director Myers — seem to be on the side of ignorance and hate. Their divisive rhetoric, actions against and now inaction around the district’s equity policy, membership in groups that allow transphobic rhetoric, and endorsements of anti-LGBTQI+ political candidates speak volumes.

Directors and Superintendent Kane, do your jobs! Fight ignorance and hate, and position our teachers, administrators, and staff members in this district to educate students who will become adults who are empowered to stand up against hate and ignorance. Do better!

Kim Turnage

Parent of three DCSD graduates and 13-year volunteer in DCSD schools

Highlands Ranch

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE

The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself.

In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and nonpartisan journalism. It covers everything

from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun.com.

of private homes and the advantages of shared public space. These intentional communities focus on connectivity that facilitates social interaction, sustainable design and shared resources. Cohousing communities are established around three principles that make them different from traditional neighborhoods. They emphasize growing the community, increasing sustainability, and aging successfully. Most cohousing communities are designed to foster intergenerational connectivity, offering opportunities to live among people in all stages of life.

Becker believes that cohousing is a great way for older adults to age in place as it provides the social capital and mutual support that is linked with longer, healthier and happier lives. There are a growing number of older adult cohousing

I would love to hear your attitude of gratitude story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we can show our gratitude at a deeply human level, it really will be a better than good life.

communities in addition to the intergenerational communities. Cohousing can be an antidote to loneliness, which affects over half of Americans, and has the same deleterious health effects as smoking 15 cigarettes per day.

Please plan to attend the Seniors’ Council meeting on Thursday, January 5 at 10 a.m. at the Lone Tree Library located at 10055 Library Way. The meeting is free and open to people of all ages.

Jean Spahr is the publications chair for the Douglas County Seniors’ Council.

This column is hosted by the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County. For more information about our monthly presentations, meetings, and events visit www.MyDougCoSeniorLife.com or email us at dcseniorlife@ douglas.co.us.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

High school seniors reflect on life lessons from athletic careers

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

To paraphrase Ted Lasso, the fictional football-turned-soccer coach, one aspect of sports is helping people become the best versions of themselves, both on and off the field.

For high school seniors a few months from graduation, athletics have helped them prepare for the ups and downs and the responsibilities of adult life.

“I don’t know what my life would be like without athletics,” Clear Creek High School’s Bode Baker said. “ … It taught me many valuable life lessons and helped me grow into the person I am today.”

Baker and five fellow seniors across the Denver area detailed how sports taught them communication, trust, perseverance, how to accept failure and other valuable life lessons.

And while there are possible downsides to competing in sports — injuries, feelings of exclusion and inadequacy, and additional commitments amid already busy schedules — the seniors believed there were far more benefits.

They encouraged parents to have their children try sports at a young age, and for younger students to try any sport they’re interested in, even if they haven’t played it before.

Conifer High School’s Patrick Doty started cross country as a freshman and was the second-slowest person on the team. However, he stuck with it and now hopes to run at the collegiate level.

“I don’t want to stop running,” Doty said. “… It helps you stay physically and mentally fit. I want to keep it around in my life as much as possible.”

And, certainly, there are plenty of life lessons to be garnered from clubs, part-time jobs, volunteering and other extracurriculars that high school students balance with academics.

Brighton High School’s Jazlyn Amaya is in five clubs and sports, including cross country and swimming, and she’s learned different things from each activity. She felt being involved in a variety of extracurriculars was important, but sports can be especially effective at forcing students outside their comfort zones.

“It’s taught me to manage my time — especially in high school — and to work hard for yourself and for others,” Amaya said of athletics. “ … It was about understanding who I was, helping me realize you’re not defined by a sport or club. You’re defined by who you are.”

Building a team, finding a family Sami Zebroski’s never played an individual sport. She grew up playing recreation-league soccer and softball and now plays volleyball and basketball for Clear Creek.

In life, she tends to be more independent, wanting to fix everything herself. However, she said team sports have taught her the value of relying on and trusting other people.

“You’re going to have your biggest supporters on the court with you,” Zebroski said of volleyball in particular. “Once you go down, you kind of bring them with you. You have to be as reliable as your teammates are reliable to you.”

Trust and communication are the cores of teamwork, and Amaya said she’s improved on those throughout her sports career. She started playing recreation-league basketball, where she said that on-court connection was vital among teammates.

While sports like track and swimming are more individual, there’s still a team aspect. Teammates have to build each other up, critique each other in a kind way, and communicate their expectations effectively for relays and so on, Amaya and her peers described.

Maya Dawson and Mason Pratt, who both play multiple sports at Conifer, said they’ve made important memories with their teams over the years. Team-building, chemistry, and bonding time can help a group of athletes transform into something even greater than a team — a family.

“A lot of my non-blood family, I’ve found in sports,” Pratt said.

Having an outlet for self-improvement

There’s hardly a sport Baker hasn’t played. He started in T-ball when he was 3 or 4 years old, and now plays baseball, football, basketball and track for Clear Creek. He also competed in wrestling, boxing and cross country when he was younger.

For Baker, sports have always been an important mental and physical outlet.

“You have a bad day at school, you go do your sports and get your anger out,” he said. “It’s an opportunity for you to go out, have fun, and get away from your daily struggles.”

Pratt and Dawson also described how sports can be therapeutic, whether it’s in the camaraderie or the workout aspect. Dawson said sports forces athletes to make time in their day to take care of themselves and be active.

Conifer’s Mason Pratt dribbles the ball during a game in the 2021-22 season. Pratt, a senior who also plays baseball, hopes to play baseball at the collegiate level.

Conifer’s Maya Dawson (13) shoots a free throw during the 2021-22 season. Dawson, a senior who also runs cross country and track for Conifer, plans to study journalism in college.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF COREY NEUMEIER AND CONIFER HIGH SCHOOL

Dawson plays basketball and runs track and cross country at Conifer. She and Amaya explained how their experiences in both team and more individual sports highlight how the latter requires athletes to motivate, improve and hold themselves accountable.

Amaya made varsity cross country this year and pushed herself to work hard for her teammates, saying, “If I’m behind, I put everyone behind.”

Dawson described how teammates, coaches and other supporters can cheer on runners from the sidelines, but “at the end of the day, you’re the one getting yourself across that finish line.”

She and Amaya believed there’s power in learning to work hard, push oneself through pain, and accomplish individual goals.

“That feeling of accomplishment, it’s one of the best things about sports,” Dawson said. “Just knowing that you left it all out on the track.”

Learning to persevere, face failure

Whether it’s in life or in sports, Doty believes “you’re owed nothing.”

An athlete can work hard toward their goals, but the outcome might not go their way. And part of sports is learning to accept that, he described.

“It’s a nice, little reality check,” Doty continued. “ … (Sports involves) accepting that not every

day is your day.”

That’s something that, as baseball players, Pratt and Baker understand perfectly. Both described baseball as a “game of failure,” where the best professional hitters strike out seven times out of 10.

Perseverance and patience are key in baseball, they explained, with Baker saying players must keep their heads up and capitalize on success when it does come.

Pratt added: “The longer you stay attached to failure, the more you’re going to fail in the future.”

Whether it’s in an individual play, a game, or an entire season,

failure is inevitable in sports. Baker and Dawson described how their football and basketball programs, respectively, have experienced losing records throughout their high school careers.

But, working through confl ict is part of sports, Dawson stressed. Making a journey of learning “to love a sport when you’re not successful” has been one of the most valuable aspects of her sports career, she said.

“You have to fi nd the joy in your sport, in the little things,” Dawson continued. “ … I think that’s valuable too, maybe more so than points or wins.”

As they’ve persevered in their individual sports over the years, all six seniors hoped to continue their athletic careers in some capacity after high school. Whether it’s competing at the college level, playing intramurals, or taking daily runs, they want to make athletics part of their adult lives.

If that’s the case, they’ll likely learn more from their mutual teacher and continue becoming the best versions of themselves.

“I think (athletics) is a part of growing up,” Amaya said. “ … For people who have that opportunity, it’s important to take it. Giving it a try never hurts.”

Itinerant ecologist shares memories

by Doug Reagan

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Doug Reagan grabs your attention immediately! “A full moon floats over the surface of Lac de Guiers, Senegal” ... he’s out with a flashlight, “looking for the red eye shine of crocodiles.” What if he trips over one, I wonder, thinking of those big sharp teeth. He’s just arrived in Western Africa, having flown in from New York. He explains that an environmental assessment of the Senegal River basin was needed as part of a project to build a dam ...

Reagan’s new book, “The Mercenary Naturalist,” is now available, with stories about his work in various tropical locations, with assistance from various crews, views of rare and startling birds and creatures, notes about foods, customs, lush trees and plants and, of course, individual ecosystems and the people who inhabit them ...

“Dakar assaulted my nostrils,” he wrote — “unlike any city I had visited back home ... Women in long, brightly colored print dresses and matching headwraps browsed through the shops and paraded

regally among market stalls ... The beauty of gold necklaces, bracelets and ornate earrings displayed against their lustrous chocolateblack skin was stunning...”

After a good night’s sleep, he was awakened the next morning to the muzzein’s loud call to prayer for the Muslim faithful.

With his first field trip scheduled the following week, he visited the office the next day to check on supplies he had ordered shipped there. But he learned that members of the health team had been in and taken his supplies, which weren’t set aside for him. He scrounged up what replacements he could and from then on, became skilled at improvising in the bush.

The Senegal River Basin was about the size of New Mexico, Reagan says, and the first project had four components: construction of the Diama Dam near the Senegal River mouth; development of intense cropland along the lower portion of the river basin; construction of a high dam on the Bafing River to regulate water levels and generate hydroelectric power; and dredging of the lower river channel for navigation by commercial river traffic. Roads were poor and fieldwork was difficult. He further learned that because countries involved were poor, they would not be required to make even modest project modifications to compensate for impacts on the environment ...

Into the Sahelian savannah ...

The only chance of successful mitigation seemed to require plans that would cost almost nothing ... Add prolonged drought and a shortage of drinking water. Birds were a bright spot: white pelicans; redbeaked hornbills; crimson bishop finches; hoopoes, with garish orange and black crests; Abyssinian rollers, turquoise crow-sized birds with iridescent cobalt blue wing patches ... iridescent blue-green bee-eaters and more ...

Troops of monkeys, an occasional gazelle, warthogs ...

As they traveled, they made an attempt to learn some basic words in the Wolof language and Reagan tried to record animal species and learn about them from local people.

I am just talking about the first excursion. Reagan goes on to describe more expeditions — back to Africa, to a rain forest in Puerto Rico, to Sumatra, to the Amazon, Eritrea, New Guinea, the Congo, the Philippines and more. In each location, Reagan was concerned about construction or mining’s effect on the flora and fauna, as well as identifying ecological issues and problems for any local resident ... often the outlook was bleak and concern for healthy surroundings was not a factor for corporate employers or national rulers ...

Reagan takes the reader on thought-provoking journeys with him and raises questions that will

cause a reader to lose some sleep, I’m thinking. But “The “Mercenary Naturalist” provided many new ideas for this reader. I’m certain questions will keep surfacing about these amazing, lesser-known parts of our world ...

The book is available from Amazon.

Conifer senior Patrick Doty runs cross country, as seen here, and track for Conifer High School. He hopes to pursue a degree in nursing and run competitively at a Division I or Division II college.

COURTESY OF COREY NEUMEIER AND CONIFER HIGH SCHOOL

Jazlyn Amaya, a Brighton High School senior, competes in cross country and swimming for the Bulldogs. She also plans to run track this spring, after her freshman season was cancelled in March 2020.

COURTESY PHOTO

Bode Baker throws a pitch during a June 2021 game at Denver Christian. The Clear Creek senior, who plays three other sports for the Golddiggers, is considering playing baseball or football in college.

FILE PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

“The Mercenary Naturalist” recounts author Doug Reagan’s time in Western Africa.

COURTESY IMAGE

‘The Mercenary Naturalist’ is new book

Valor, Creek to vie for championship

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Valor Christian earned another shot at Cherry Creek on Nov. 26 with a 42-41 double overtime victory over Ralston Valley in a Class 5A semifinal playoff game at Valor Christian.

After Ralston Valley failed to convert an extra point in the second OT period, Valor scored on a run by Trey Scott and added the extra-point kick by Jeremy Claycamp, which ended the game and sent the Eagles (11-2) heading to Empower Field for a 5A state championship game against Cherry Creek (112) on Dec. 3 at 2:30 p.m.

Valor has lost the past two 5A title games to Creek by 21-0 scores and the Eagles have not been strangers to CHSAA championship encounters.

The Dec. 3 game will match two of Colorado’s most prominent football programs.

This will be Valor’s sixth showing in a 5A state title contest. The Eagles have won eight state titles, including one in 3A and one in 4A.

Cherry Creek has won the past three 5A state titles and will be making its fifth straight appearance in the state title contest. The Bruins have captured 12 state titles.

Ralston Valley lost to Valor during the regular season but had a 28-21 lead heading into the final 4:40 of regulation time in the semifinal contest.

Valor mounted a 71-yard drive with Gabe Sawchuk scoring on a 10-yard run to send the game into overtime.

Asher Weiner, Valor’s quarterback, passed for 74 yards and ran for an additional 123 yards. Roman Bradley rushed for 142 yards and two TDs for the Eagles.

“When they missed the extra point, we thought we had a chance,” said Valor coach Bret McGatlin. “We still needed to score a touchdown, which was big and put the extra point through. We had little time to win it.

“We are excited to have the opportunity to play for a state championship. Cherry Creek is pretty good. We’re going to see what we have to offer this next week. I know one thing, that it’s our blood and we’ll be ready to play against a real good Creek

Cherry Creek takes down Pine Creek

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s getting to be a habit for the Cherry Creek football team but one that the Bruins do not want to break.

The Bruins (11-2) advanced into the Colorado Class 5A state fi nals for the fi fth straight season after a 41-21 semifi nal victory over Pine Creek in a game that was played Nov. 26 at the Stutler Bowl.

Cherry Creek, which has captured 12 state overall championship trophies, will be making its fi fth straight state title appearance when it meets a familiar foe in Valor Christian (11-2) in the title game on Dec. 3 at 2:30 p.m. at Empower Field.

“It’s been fi ve straight and I didn’t want to be the one to change it,” said Bruins coach Dave Logan. “I was proud of of our bunch today. We didn’t get off to a good start. We had horrible mishaps on special teams which we have to get rectifi ed. We played hard. Credit Pine Creek, they were a physical team for sure.”

Cherry Creek and Valor Christian will be facing each other for

Cherry Creek’s Tufanua Umu-Cais (64) sacks Pine Creek quarterback Cameron Budge during the Nov. 26 Class 5A playo game.

PHOTO BY JIM BENTON

Aiden Knapke of Cherry Creek runs after Pine Creek’s Camero Budge during the Nov. 26 Class 5A semifinal playo game.

PHOTO BY JIM BENTON

41-21 game was not as close as score appeared

5A powerhouses will meet Nov. 26 at Empower Field

‘It’s been five straight and I didn’t want to be the one to change it.’

Dave

Logan, Bruins coach

FROM

the third consecutive year in the fi nals. The Bruins won in 2021 and 2020 over Valor by 21-0 each year and the Bruins defeated Columbine 35-10 in the 2019 championship game.Valor got past Creek 24-14 in the 2018 title game

“It’s always a big challenge,” answered Logan when asked about another title game. “You get this far, no team that is not a good team ever gets this far. We’ll have our work cut out for us. We have to put a good plan together for one more week.”

Pine Creek came out with plans of their own and recovered an onsides kick on the opening kickoff of the game.

However, Creek’s Aiden Knapke fell on a Pine Creek fumble at the Bruins’ 13-yard line and it took the Bruins only four plays to score on 2-yard run by Carlson

5A STATE

team.”

On defense against Ralston Valley, Bradley, Jackson Oriol and Blake Kirschke each had seven total tackles. Scott and Ethan

Tann. Creek missed the extra point but it wouldn’t hurt as they rambled to a 41-7 lead heading into the fourth quarter in a game that was not as close as the score indicated.

Freshman quarterback Brady Vodiicka threw four touchdown passes for the Bruins and three went to Ismael Cisse, which were worth 120 yards.

“We’ve played good defense all year long,” said Logan. “I thought offensively we moved the ball and were effi cient and we were able to run it and throw it. We tried to establish a little bit of balance.”

Cisse, a senior, says his team needs to keep working for next week’s title confrontation against Valor.

“We played real good,” said Cisse. “It feels good for next week. We need a good week of practice. It should be a great game. We just have to keep working. Everybody else in the community is talking behind us but we just have to keep working as a team.”

Carlson each had an interception.

In a Class 3A semifinal game, Lutheran (11-2) defeated Durango 45-28, and will play in its first state championship game against undefeated Roosevelt (13-0) on Dec. 3 at CSU-Pueblo.

Lutheran, which had four interceptions, built up a 38-7 lead in the fourth quarter.

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Cybersecurity Analyst (multiple openings) (Job Code: REF51454K) in Highlands Ranch, CO. Job duties include: Serve as the IAM (Identity and Access Management) point of contact for a set of assigned applications, and manage the enterprise end-to-end lifecycle for those applications. Complete access request processing based on the predefined sets of procedures and within agreed service level agreements (SLAs), resolve problem tickets related to corporate and commercial applications, and assist other security analysts as needed. ; Staff Network Engineer (multiple openings) (REF55524O) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Job duties include: Plan, design, implement and provide ongoing support of network systems of high complexity in extranet, commercial and corporate environments to fulfill the business needs. Design appropriate solutions based on environment, create detailed network designs, assess and test new and evolving technologies for performance and cost benefits. All positions report to the Employer’s Highlands Ranch, CO office and may allow for partial telecommuting. Qualified applicants should apply by emailing resume to uscareers@visa. com. Must reference job code.

Help Wanted

Sr. SW Test Engineer

Visa U.S.A. Inc., a Visa Inc. company, currently has an opening for Sr. SW Test Engineer (multiple openings) (REF55586K) in

Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Job duties include: Design, create and execute test plans and test cases for the Risk and Debit Processing Services applications. Responsible for reviewing requirements, assessing the appropriate course for testing, executing to those plans and ensuring all anomalies and issues are addressed appropriately.; Sr. SW Test Engineer (multiple openings) (REF55527N) in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Job duties include: Design, create and execute test plans and test cases for the Debit Processing Services applications. Review requirements, assess the appropriate course for testing, execute to those plans and ensure all anomalies and issues are addressed appropriately. All positions report to the Employer’s Highlands Ranch, CO office and may allow for partial telecommuting. Qualified applicants should apply by emailing resume to uscareers@visa. com. Must reference job code.

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Help Wanted

Now hiring Local Sales and Sponsorship Position

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Legals

Public Trustees

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION

CRS §38-38-103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0505-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On September 27, 2022, the undersigned Pub lic 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)

John A. Andrey

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. as nominee for Universal Lending Corporation, Its Successors and Assigns Current Holder of Evidence of Debt Mortgage Assets Management, LLC f/k/a Reverse Mortgage Solutions, Inc. Date of Deed of Trust October 03, 2014

County of Recording Arapahoe Recording Date of Deed of Trust October 10, 2014

Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.)

D4095176

Original Principal Amount $272,250.00

Outstanding Principal Balance $123,989.41

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust 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 63, BLOCK 3, WOLHURST LANDING, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

Also known by street and number as: 2886 W BRYANT PLACE, LITTLETON, CO 80120.

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, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale 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, 01/25/2023, 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 law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: 12/1/2022

Last Publication: 12/29/2022

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 EN TITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 09/27/2022

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) rep resenting the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Erin Croke #46557

Steven Bellanti #48306

Holly Shilliday #24423

Ilene Dell'Acqua #31755

McCarthy & Holthus LLP

7700 E Arapahoe Road, Suite 230, Centennial, CO 80112 (877) 369-6122

Attorney File # CO-22-941785-LL

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. 0505-2022

First Publication: 12/1/2022

Last Publication: 12/29/2022

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent

COMBINED NOTICE - PUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0479-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On September 9, 2022, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and De mand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

Jacqueline K. Drinkwine

Original Beneficiary(ies)

U.S. Bank National Association ND

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt U.S. Bank National Association Date of Deed of Trust October 13, 2000

County of Recording Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust November 20, 2000 Recording Information (Reception No. and/or Book/Page No.) B0150921

Original Principal Amount $50,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance $48,018.30

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust 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 13, BLOCK 7, COLUMBINE HEIGHTS - FIL ING NO. 2, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

Also known by street and number as: 11 GLENVIEW DR, LITTLETON, CO 80123.

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, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale 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, 01/11/2023, 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 law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication: 11/17/2022

Last Publication: 12/15/2022

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 EN TITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 09/09/2022

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) rep resenting the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Erin Croke #46557

Steven Bellanti #48306

Holly Shilliday #24423

Ilene Dell'Acqua #31755

McCarthy & Holthus LLP 7700 E Arapahoe Road, Suite 230, Centennial, CO 80112 (877) 369-6122 Attorney File # CO-22-941248-LL

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 Re vised 1/2015

Legal Notice NO. 0479-2022

First Publication: 11/17/2022

Last Publication: 12/15/2022

Name of Publication: Littleton Independent

City and County

Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT 2022 CONCRETE REHABILITATION PROGRAM Project No. 22-01-02

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Section 38-26107, C.R.S., that the City of Centennial, Colorado (the “City”) will make final payment at the hour of 10:00 a.m. on December 16, 2022 (the “Final Settlement Date”) to the following contractor:

Silva Construction, Inc. 154 Cisne Circle Brighton, CO 80601

(hereinafter, the “Contractor”) for and on account of all work completed by the Contractor on City Project No. 22-01-02, including for purposes of this Notice of Final Settlement on (the “Project”).

1. Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has an unpaid claim against the Project for and on ac count of the furnishing of labor, materials, or other supplies used or consumed by the Contractor or any subcontractor in or about the performance of said work, may at any time up to and including the Final Settlement Date, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

2.Any such claim(s) shall be filed with the City Clerk at 13133 East Arapahoe Road, Centennial, CO 80112 prior to the Final Settlement Date.

3. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement or claim prior to the Final Settlement Date will relieve the City from any and all liability for such claim.

Legal Notice No. 530816

First Publication: December 1, 2022 Last Publication: December 1, 2022 Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice

ARAPAHOE COUNTY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENTS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 at 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the calendar of the Board of County Commissioners permits, in the East Hearing Room of the County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County will meet to consider the following proposed budget resolutions (NOTE: Due to the ongoing COVID19 emergency the hearing may be conducted through

remote access – please check the December 6, 2022 public meeting agenda at https://arapahoe.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx for specific information on how to attend and partici pate. The agenda will typically be posted by the Friday afternoon preceding the hearing):

RESOLUTION:

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commission ers adopted the 2022 Annual Budget pursuant to Statute; and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners will consider the following budget amendments to the 2022 Annual Budget; and

WHEREAS, this matter has been published pursuant to Section 29-1-109, C.R.S., as re quired by law.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County to amend the adopted 2022 Annual Budget as follows:

a. Transfer $100,000 from the unappropriated balance of the General Fund to cover additional expenditures for the County Line Landfill.

b. Transfer $2,606,857 from the unappropriated balance of the General Fund and appropriate $2,475,000 in General Fund Administrative Ser vices and $131,857 in General Fund, Information Technology for one-time costs for the newly cre ated Arapahoe County Public Health Department.

c. Transfer $38,000,000 from unappropriated General Fund Balance and transfer to the Capital Expenditure Fund, Facilities & Fleet Management for further funding of the Detention Center Expan sion project.

d. Recognize $63,500 in General Fund, Com munity Resources for additional revenue related to cost allocation due to increased grant funding.

e. Transfer $11,614 from General Fund, Sheriff’s Office and recognize and appropriate the same amount in Central Services Fund, Sheriff’s Office for the increased cost of purchasing two vehicles in Investigations.

f. Transfer $23,000 from Forfeiture Fund, Sher iff’s Office and recognize and appropriate the same amount in General Fund, Sheriff’s Office for the cost of the memorial garden statue.

g. Transfer $40,011 from the unappropriated fund balance in the General Fund and recognize and appropriate the same amount in Central Services Fund to cover the additional cost of three transport vans.

h. Transfer $400,000 from the unappropriated fund balance in the Arapahoe Law Enforcement Authority (ALEA) Fund to fund increased spending on personnel including overtime, incentive pay and salaries as well as associated benefits.

i. Transfer $82,885 from Self Insurance Liability Fund, County Attorney and recognize and appro priate the same about in Central Services Fund, Administrative Services to replace three totaled vehicles in the Sheriff’s Office.

j. Reduce the appropriation in Central Services Fund, Sheriff’s Office by $35,401 to return the reappropriated funds from FA#303400.

k. Transfer $22,511 from the unappropriated bal ance of the Central Services Fund and appropriate in the Central Services Fund, Sheriff’s Office for the emergency replacement of a non-functional dental panoramic x-ray machine.

l. Transfer $7,144 from the unappropriated bal ance of the Central Services Fund and appropriate in the Central Services Fund, Sheriff’s Office for the emergency replacement of a non-functional magnetometer.

m. Transfer $77,474 from the unappropriated bal ance of the Central Services Fund and appropriate in the Central Services Fund, Sheriff’s Office to replace a Ford Interceptor that was totaled in an accident.

n.Increase the authorized staffing level in Social Services Fund, Human Services by 1.00 FTE for an additional Program Specialist position to backfill a position that was converted to meet the need for an additional attorney position.

o.

p. Transfer $267,326 from the Grant Fund, Administrative Services and recognize and ap propriate the amounts in the following funds and departments/elected offices for the employee gas stipend:

1. $8,687 in the General Fund, Assessor’s Office

2. $31,026 in General Fund, Clerk & Recorder’s Office

3.$3,115 in General Fund, Commissioners’ Office

4.$2,244 in General Fund, Community Resources

5.$4,963 in General Fund, Coroner’s Office

6.$4,978 in General Fund, Public Works & Development

7.$447 in General Fund, Open Spaces

8.$1,804 in General Fund, Information Technology

9.$119,460 in General Fund, Sheriff’s Office

10.$33,176 in General Fund, Facilities & Fleet Management

11. $5,380 in General Fund, Treasurer’s Office

12.$25,606 in the Social Services Fund, Human Services

13.$4,941 in the ALEA Fund, Sheriff’s Office

14. $15,247 in the Road & Bridge Fund, Public Works & Development

15. $2,689 in the Sheriff’s Commissary Fund, Sheriff’s Office

16. $2,676 in the Open Spaces Sales Tax Fund, Open Spaces

17. $887 in the Recreation District, Open Spaces

q. Recognize and appropriate $1,563 in General Fund, Coroner’s Office for reimbursement from the State for toxicology.

r. Recognize and appropriate $23,675 in General Fund, Clerk & Recorder’s Office for the Colorado Election Security Grant.

s. Recognize and appropriate $1,927 in General Fund, Sheriff’s Office for donations received from Back the Blue for the purchase of K9 medical kits.

t. Recognize and appropriate $33,390 in General Fund, Public Works & Development for reimburse ment from Open Spaces for project management completed during the second quarter.

u. Recognize $17,769 in the Capital Expenditure Fund, Facilities and Fleet Management from a transfer from the Grant Fund for a reimbursement of pandemic-related facility projects from ARPA funding.

v. Recognize and appropriate $14,536 in Forfei ture Fund, Sheriff’s Office for revenue received.

w. Recognize and appropriate $2,864,450 in Homeland Security Fund, Sheriff’s Office to reap propriate prior year funds.

x. Recognize and appropriate $1,515,000 in Infrastructure Fund, Public Works & Development to recognize reimbursement from CDOT for Parker Road.

y. Recognize and appropriate $221,281 in Infra structure Fund, Public Works & Development for Rural Transportation Impact Fees and Regional Impact Fees received.

z. Transfer $235,680 from Open Space Sales Tax Fund, Open Spaces and recognize and ap propriate the same amount in the Central Services Fund, Open Spaces to purchase various vehicles and equipment for new maintenance staff.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Budget Officer shall file a certified copy of this Resolution with the Division of Local Government and with the affected spending agencies.

Recognize $32,606,857 in the General Fund, Administrative Services from the Grant Fund as a result of the reimbursement of general government expenses during fiscal year 2022 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.