Commerce City Sentinel Express 122922

New

HONORS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

indoor dining, personal gatherings

Group A strep causing concerns in Denver metro area Complicates

trifecta

of viruses

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With a trifecta of illnesses already hitting the Front Range hard with spikes in COVID, RSV and the u, state health o cials are now concerned with the increasing number of group A strep cases in children.

Brian Spencer, with the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, said the state health department is closely monitoring the increase in pediatric hospitalizations caused by group A strep.

Group A strep is a bacteria that can cause many di erent infections. Group A strep infections most commonly cause sore throat, a mild and common condition that doctors say can be easily treated. While rare, group A strep infections may be severe and cause diseases like pneumonia, sepsis, toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis.

“We are working with hospital partners in a coordinating role to ensure resources are available for those who need them,” Spencer said in the Dec. 15 news release.

Small drop unlikely to reverse skyrocketing home prices

Sellers, buyers play waiting game

area was gripped by historically high housing prices. ey bought their townhome about ve years ago for $285,000. ey sold for $521,000.

Storinsky.

According to the state health department, two school-age children with group A strep died in the Denver metro since Nov. 1.

e total number of invasive group A strep cases reported in Colorado among pediatric patients since Nov. 1 is now 11. Typically, Spencer said there are one or two cases reported per month in patients under 18 years old.

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Danielle and Stephan Storinsky “saw the writing on the wall.” It foretold how the housing market might change. So, earlier this year, the married couple sold their Arvada townhome.

ey timed it just right. ey capitalized before concerns about in ation took center stage. ey sold their home when the metro

“ at part’s pretty nice because now we have a decent amount of money to put down on something,” Stephan Storinsky said.

A long line of cars outside the city of Brighton’s rapid testing site at Riverdale Regional Park. The site has had to close early many days in recent weeks due to high demand. Adams County’s 14-day test positivity rate was 15.9 percent, as of Nov. 17, according to Tri-County Health Department. Brighton and Commerce City’s test positivity rates were both higher than 13 percent. Forty- ve people in Brighton and 29 in Commerce City have died from COVID-19 related health issues. To limit the spread of COVID-19, at least 15 counties moved to tighter restrictions that prohibits indoor and personal gatherings.

But now, on the other side of cashing in, they nd themselves playing a waiting game. Even with the tidy pro t they hauled in, they are struggling to nd a home at a good value.

Houses on the market today “are just not worth the price that people are asking,” said Stephan

By Ellis Arnold Colorado Community Media

e couple are living with parents, constantly keeping their eyes open for a good deal. e couple isn’t alone. While the number of available metro area houses shot upward in a year, so has the number of days those homes are sitting on the market until they sell, according to the latest report by the Colorado Association of Realtors.

One sign of the cooling real estate market are For Sale signs outside homes, an indication realtors are no longer overwhelmed

As Denver metro counties continue to inch closer to local stay-at-home orders under Colorado’s system of coronavirusrelated restrictions, the state announced a new level of rules that prohibits indoor dining and personal gatherings — a change that applies to the majority of the Denver metro area and many counties in other regions.

Local health o cials are concerned because kids and adults can get strep along with other viral respiratory illnesses like COVID, u and RSV at the same time.

county is required to follow based on the severity of a county’s local virus spread. e dial grew out of the state’s safer-athome order — the policy that came a er the statewide stay-at-home order this spring and allowed numerous types of businesses to reopen.

While strep is a common infection kids get each year, Dr. Sam Dominguez, an infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said 2022 has seen a higher number of “invasive” cases of bacterial infections.

“It is common and easy to treat,” he said. “ e invasive cases are relatively rare to see.”

e state’s COVID-19 dial, which has been in e ect since September, is the set of di erent levels of restrictions that each

e state recently switched to color identi ers — levels blue, yellow and orange rather than numbered levels — to avoid confusion. Until Nov. 17, level red meant a stay-at-home order. Now, level red — “severe risk” — is the second-

For health o cials at local hospitals and clinics, this is another complication to an already stressed system dealing with higher-

Photo by Belen Ward

The City of Brighton Veterans Memorial at Elmwood cemetery decorated with wreaths for Christmas, a part of the national Wreaths Across America e ort. See more on page 3. BELEN WARD

by prospective clients.

e shift comes as mortgage rates — the amount of interest people pay on their home loans — ticked steadily upwards in recent months, making housing that’s been rising in price for the better part of a decade even costlier. e only light at the end of the tunnel lately could be a slight drop in interest rates. But a drop in home prices might not be in the cards, one metro-area realtor says.

“I think it’ll be a small increase throughout the rst half of the year and then potentially a small decrease the last half of the year,” said Andrew Abrams, a real-estate broker in Denver who has rental properties in Je erson County.

But, overall, home prices are expected to keep going up, Abrams said.

As it is, the market is stagnating. Not only are there buyers like the Storinskys playing a waiting game, but many prospective sellers don’t want to leave behind the cheaper mortgage payments they clinched before, likely on mortgage loans with lower interest rates.

“Sellers are hesitant to sell at a lower price than their neighbors from last spring and leave their low interest rate behind, and buyers are afraid what the future will bring in terms of interest rates and home prices,” opined Kelly Moye, a Realtor in the Boulder and Broom eld area, in a statement.

A short break in price hikes

A deeper dive into the data shows that the median, or typical, price of a Denver area single-family home has seen a seven-month decline.

e price sat at $587,500 in November — still eye-catchingly high, but just a 1.3% increase from a year earlier, according to the Realtor association’s December report.

By contrast, in December 2021, the change in median home price was up a whopping 18.3% from a year earlier.

Something to keep in mind is that fall months typically see a slowdown in price growth and home sales each year. But the degree of the slowdown since March “has been more dramatic than normal seasonality, and I think that is dictated by interest rates,” Abrams said.

It’s a calculation that means big changes for families looking to buy homes. Take, for example, a $600,000 home with a 20% down payment.

If the mortgage interest rate sits at 6.5%, the family’s monthly mortgage payment would be about $3,700, Abrams said. On the other hand, at the 3.5% rate locked in by buyers in years past, the mortgage monthly payment would be $2,800.

Feeling priced out

And so the Storinskys’ strategy to cash out while the market was at a high has come with a down side.

ey were “originally looking at around $650,000, but interest rates the way they are, we’re probably down into the max $600,000. But probably, more realistically, $550,000 to $575,000 is where we’ll

end up,” Stephan Storinsky said. e Storinskys are scouring the north and west metro area for a home – Lakewood, Arvada, Wheat Ridge and part of Westminster.

Danielle Storinsky, 31, a legal assistant, and Stephan Storinsky, 35, a utilities technician, said they’ve been more fortunate than many people in the market.

But the homes he and his wife have seen don’t seem worth it. e listed pictures of a place may “look great,” but in person leave something to be desired, he said.

“I’ve lived here my whole life, and I’ve seen what houses have sold for,” Stephan Storinsky said. “So for me, it’s just not worth it.”

“It’s hard to compete with people from out of state who come from California” and bring large sums of cash, he added. “Seems like you’re pricing the locals out of market.”

e Colorado Association of Realtors de nes the seven-county Denver metro area as Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broom eld, Denver, Douglas and Je erson counties. e association’s latest report is based on November data.

Long-term price drop unlikely, Realtor says

Abrams takes issue with predictions that raise the specter of a housing market crash.

“I disagree pretty strongly, and I think the practices that were done before the Great Recession are dramatically different than the market today,” Abrams said, adding that “the lending practices back then were just not nearly as strong.”

Before the Great Recession, banks were giving loans to people they knew couldn’t keep up with them, Abrams said.

Another difference: Fewer houses are on the market today, Abrams said.

In metro Denver, there were about 7,300 homes on the market as of Nov. 1, but in 2006, there were about 3 1/2 times more homes available, Abrams said.

Though it’s tough to predict the market amid concerns over inflation and interest rates, the metro Denver housing market could behave in a more stabilized way in 2023.

A sign calls attention to a home for sale Dec. 5 in southeast Denver.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

New homes in Elbert County are shown on the county’s website, where a notice is posted seeking a consultant to assess the county’s housing needs.

PHOTO FROM ELBERT COUNTY WEBSITE

Wreaths across the nation honor fallen veterans

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

December in every cemetery across our nation

fallen military members. e City of Brighton, Elmwood, and Fairview cemeteries join the Wreath Across America, placing wreaths on veterans’ graves at their cemeteries. is year, the e ort started on Dec.

17 and continues through Jan. 15, 2023. Sponsorships cost $15 per wreath and are matched with Wreaths Across America for Wreaths Across Day 2023. To sponsor a wreath, visit https://www. brightonco.gov/1066/WREATHSacross-AMERICA.

e deadline for matched sponsor-

ship is January 15, 2023. Volunteers help lay wreaths at the cemeteries on the graves. If interested in participating as a volunteer, contact the cemetery o ce. If you have questions, contact Rhiannon Natali at rnatali@brightonco.gov or 303-655-2090 or Julie Meketuk at jmeketuk@brightonco.gov.

Anythink nature library plans to preview

ton.

STAFF REPORT

Residents and library users can get a glimpse of Anythink Library’s plans for a new outdoor branch - and the chance to in uence those plans.

Anythink Libraries and the City of ornton have entered an agreement to build a nature library on the current Aylor Open Lands property at 136th Avenue and Quebec Street in ornton.

Now Anythink has launched Dream & Design: Exploring Nature and Architecture, an immersive experience at Anythink Wright Farms where visitors can learn about and contribute ideas for the future Anythink Nature Library. e Wright Farms branch is located at 5877 120th Blvd. in orn-

People of all ages are invited to create a diorama using natural materials, guided by a prompt related to one of the library’s ve focus areas: boundless, wellbeing, environmental stewardship, heritage and create beauty. Every two weeks, visitors are invited to respond to a new prompt, so the space will evolve over time.

e Anythink Nature Library architects and design team will use these ideas to inform the new library’s design.

e ornton City Council and the Anythink Board of Trustees signed an intergovernmental agreement in June 2022 that would lease 15 acres to the district, with plans to build a 35,000-square- foot nature library.

e other 140 acres of open lands will be programmed by the Anythink team, and reserved for nature learning and exploration. Construction will tentatively begin third quarter 2023, with an anticipated open date in 2025.

“ is library belongs to our com-

munity, and so we believe it’s crucial for our community to be represented in the design process,” says Anythink Nature Library manager Maria Mayo. “We look forward to seeing what members of our community dream up as they design spaces and experiences inspired by nature.”

Design phase of the library project is currently underway, with ve main areas of focus: creating a space that is boundless, where nature education is seamlessly provided within the library; wellbeing, focusing on the health and wellness of the community; environmental stewardship, expanding individual responsibility to the earth; heritage, celebrating the history and culture of the people, animals, ora and fauna of the West; and beauty, creating a space that is designed to inspire.

ese areas of focus are part of the prompts that guide visitors as they create their dioramas in the immersive space.

“Dream & Design invites the com-

munity to participate in the architectural design process in a completely di erent way,” Anythink Director of Strategic Partnerships Stacie Ledden said. “By engaging all the senses, the space inspires people to contemplate nature - whether that’s the Aylor property or a place in nature meaningful to them. Already the shelves are lled with hundreds of ideas, and we’re excited to see how those ideas grow and evolve over the coming weeks.”

e Anythink Nature Library will be designed to support the wellbeing of the ornton community through spaces, experiences and collections. e library will act as a natural extension of the Aylor Open Lands and will encourage people of all ages to spend time outdoors learning about stars, water, wildlife and seasonal changes to help build a culture of environmental stewardship. is natural experience is intended to spark imagination and creativity, while providing a place to practice being human.

Flu cases, hospitalizations on the rise

O cials push for vaccinations

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Flu cases are on the rise, and according to state health officials, hospitalizations are higher this year than they have been in the past 10 years. The surge has a variety of causes, including people not getting the flu shot as consistently as in past years.

Dr. Ben Usatch, UCHealth ER director at Highlands Ranch Hospital, said COVID vaccinations brought on this onslaught of “mixed emotions” that resulted in other annual shots being affected — flu shots being one of them.

“The bottom line is flu vaccines are the best protection to get through the season,” Usatch said. “They do not hit the target right on the head, but they make a big difference.”

In reality, said Dr. Reginald Washington, HealthOne chief medical officer for Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Hospital and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, with all the flu strains, the vaccine’s effectiveness is between 50% and 70%.

But even with those odds, people fare better through the season with the shot that has nothing to do with COVID.

“Flu vaccines are not 100% effective,” Washington said, “they never have been. This year, it is 70% effective. People are just tired of being told to get a vaccine. But it does need to be updated every year.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Prevention (CDC), recent studies show that getting a flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu illness between 40% and 60% during flu season.

Even with the vaccination burnout, Colorado residents have

VIRUSES

FROM PAGE 1

than-usual cases of RSV in children along with u and COVID cases increasing.

In November, Children’s Hospital sounded alarms about the unseasonably high rate of RSV cases, noting that hospital beds were in short supply because of the severity of the respiratory virus.

Dr. Ben Usatch, the UCHealth ER director at the Highlands Ranch hospital, said his doctors and sta have treated more younger patients this year than they are accustomed to.

With the Children’s Hospital south campus just across the street, Usatch said as they have lled up beds, the Highlands Ranch hospital is receiving an over ow of young patients.

“We will de nitely take them, happy to do it,” he said. “With adults and kids, we are seeing the

already exceeded last year’s flushot numbers, according to the Colorado Department of Health and Environment, with 1.68 million getting the flu shot. Last year at the same time, 1.66 million were vaccinated. Still hospitalizations are increasing and health officials say people are not getting the shot at rates they did before the COVID pandemic.

Brian Spencer, with the state health department, provided data showing that pre-pandemic numbers had higher rates of vaccinations in Colorado. During the 2018-19 flu season, 1.9 million got the flu shot. In 2019-20 just over 2.1 million got the annual shot.

“In some states, flu cases and hospitalizations are at their highest marks since the H1N1 flu pandemic back in 2009,” said Dr. Eric France, chief medical officer of the state health department. “Flu vaccines are recommended for everyone aged 6 months and older, with rare exceptions. Flu vaccines are

the best way to prevent spreading the flu to people who are most at risk, including older adults, young children, people who are pregnant, and people with certain chronic health conditions.”

According to the state health department, it can take up to two weeks for the shot to be fully effective, which means during holiday gatherings this month, the unvaccinated can spread the flu faster.

On a national level, the CDC reported at least 13 million have had the flu already this year, with 120,000 hospitalized. There are more than 7,300 deaths reported.

According to state health data, cases in Colorado include:

• There were 306 people hospitalized with influenza during the week ending Dec. 3, for a total of 952 people hospitalized with flu since Oct. 2.

• There have been 1,700 RSVassociated hospitalizations in the five-county Denver metro area, which includes Adams, Arapahoe,

HealthOne Chief Medical O cer Reginald Washington said he has seen the e ects of the current season at both the adult and children’s level.

Washington, who serves adults at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s and children at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, said hospitals experience the trifecta of illnesses every year. is year, he said, is raising more concern as cases and hospitalizations are higher.

Washington said while treatable, u, COVID and RSV have similar symptoms to strep, which means kids and adults could have strep along with another virus.

Douglas, Jefferson and Douglas counties, since Oct 1.

The state health department recommends:

• Adults 65 years and older should get one of three specific flu vaccine types. If one of these three products is not available, people aged 65 years and older can get any other age-appropriate influenza vaccine. People can talk to their doctors about which vaccine is best for them.

• Children younger than 9 years old who are either getting the flu vaccine for the first time or have only previously received one dose of the vaccine should get two doses of the vaccine. The second dose should be given at least 28 days after the first dose.

• Pregnant women have more serious complications if they get the flu. The flu vaccine can be given in any trimester of pregnancy.

Medicare, Medicaid, CHP+, and most private health insurers cover the full cost of the flu vaccine. Coloradans without health insurance can still get the flu vaccine for free at certain health care providers. Call ahead or schedule online with your local pharmacy or health care clinic to make an appointment for the flu vaccine.

With the trifecta of COVID, RSV and flu cases increasing, Dr. Sam Dominguez, the infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, said children should not only get updated flu vaccinations but should also have the COVID and chickenpox vaccinations.

With RSV and group A strep cases increasing, Dominguez advised parents that being fully vaccinated and keeping kids home when sick will help decrease illness this season.

Washington said besides vaccinations, practicing good hygiene in washing hands and getting tested for COVID, RSV and the flu when symptoms are persistent is important.

ington said the sooner a patient is diagnosed with strep the better, because the disease is treatable and requires antibiotics.

Local health o cials said there are some unusual circumstances that could be causing the increased rate of illness this year. ose circumstances are three years in the making as the pandemic pushed society to wear masks to decrease the spread of COVID.

Now, masks are o and some kids are being exposed to viruses and infections for the rst time and their immune systems are not used to it.

big three — COVID, RSV and u cases are running rampant. With young patients, management is di erent and you have to make different decisions.”

Currently, Usatch said the hospital is lucky if they do not see more than 18 respiratory cases in the emergency department per day.

With u and RSV season starting earlier than usual, local health ocials said it is important for parents to be cognizant of a child’s symptoms and if anything is suspected, get them tested.

Washington said there is a speci c test to diagnose all current viruses spreading across the Front Range. While there are not as many treatments for respiratory viruses, Wash-

While there is no vaccine to prevent group A strep, the state health department said there are steps that parents, guardians and caregivers (including child care facilities) in Colorado can take to help protect children and families.

Washington and Dominguez said children should be up to date with COVID-19, u, and chickenpox vaccines, as getting these infections can increase risk for acquiring a group A strep infection.

Flu vaccinations still have not gone back to pre-pandemic numbers and cases and hospitalizations are increasing. SHUTTERSTOCK

Besides RSV, COVID and the flu- Health o cials are now concerned with the increase in group A strep cases along the Front Range.

SHUTTERSTOCK

VOICES

Last chance this year to make a di erence

Iwould bet that everyone likes to help others, and no one likes to pay taxes. Well now is your chance to do both. ere are only a few more days left to leave an impact of those in need and reduce your income tax liability for 2022.

Picking out your favorite charity is the easy part. Now you get to determine how best to bene t from choosing the right amount, asset and process.

In a perfect world, we would donate regardless of a tax deduction, but it may also be helpful to be aware of what savings you can create as a result of your philanthropy.

First, identify what type of donation is best for you. e charity will bene t regardless of whether you donate cash, stocks, mutual funds, or a car. e charity can turn anything into cash tax free. erefore, if you have an appreci-

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

ated asset, such as shares of a stock or mutual fund, it is best to donate the shares rather than sell rst. is way you can avoid paying capital gains tax on the investment.

e charity does not have to pay capital gains tax.

Next, determine whether you are eligible to take a tax deduction for your donation. If you can itemize, perhaps due to high medical expenses, mortgage interest and property tax, then your charitable deduction can be added to your itemized deductions. Unfortunately, the $300 per person deduction without itemizing ended in 2021 and is no longer available. If you don’t exceed the standard

deduction, then work with your advisor to consider bunching deductions. is is where you double up on charitable gifts in one year and then take a year o donating and use the standard deduction in those alternate years.

e standard deduction for 2022 is $12,950 for single lers ($13,850 in 2023) and $25,900 for joint lers ($27,700 in 2023). If you can’t exceed these amounts on your Schedule A, you will need to beef up your charitable contributions in certain years in order to itemize.

You may also consider contributing to a donor-advised fund (DAF), where you can contribute appreciated shares of a business or investment without paying tax on the gain. Once this asset resides in the DAF, you have the rest of your life to distribute to your favorite charities as you wish. erefore, if you have a large asset you would like to

donate and take the deduction all in one year, this strategy could be a good t for you.

Retirees over age 70 1/2 are eligible to take up to $100,000 out of their pre-tax retirement plan or IRA and gift directly to a charity through a quali ed charitable distribution (QCD) and still not have to itemize.

ere may be other year-end strategies you can bene t from, such as tax-loss harvesting, maximizing your retirement contributions, or converting some of your pre-tax IRA or 401(k) to a Roth. Consider meeting with your advisor early in 2023 to start planning for next year as well.

Patricia Kummer has been a Certi ed Financial Planner professional and a duciary for over 35 years and is Managing Director for Mariner Wealth Advisors.

Behind every door is opportunity for change

La st week I was speaking with the CEO of one of our customers and he shared with me that although he has been in his role for almost two years, he feels like every door he opens presents itself with an opportunity for improvement. And although he was referring to the areas of his business, it made we wonder if the rest of us maybe looked for doors to open where we could also make improvements personally or professionally.

This time of year, I have often written about goal setting and goal achievement in the past as New Year’s Eve in all its New Year’s resolution splendor calls for us to think about what we may want to change, do differently, do better, or improve. Some take this time very seriously and have a well thought out and balanced plan for how they are going to enter the year, start strong and finish even stronger. Others take a more casual approach, maybe even waiting right up unto the clock strikes midnight before declaring their resolution.

And then there are those of us

WINNING

who simply do not believe in the nonsense of New Year’s resolutions — if we are going to make changes and improvements, we just get it done on our time and when we are good and ready.

Let’s revisit what my customer shared about opening doors and finding opportunities to improve. What would it look like if we put some intentionality behind this year’s game plan for our lives, goal setting, or business planning? Looking at all doors, every area of our personal and professional life, to identify areas that if we made some level of improvement, that it would bring us greater joy, success, wealth, vitality, or help to get us in better shape physically, mentally, or spiritually.

Maybe we start by looking to open those doors that we haven’t opened in a long time. As a matter of fact, these doors have remained locked for so long that we must give them a firm tug to

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lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief

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pry them open. These are those doors to opportunities that we have always known we should have opened long ago, but we made the decision to focus on those other areas of our lives to make changes to instead. Or our desire to change gave way to laziness, and then laziness gave way to procrastination, and procrastination eventually led to defeat.

Next, we can start with those doors of opportunities for change that we opened last year, last month, last week, or even yesterday and then for whatever reason we closed them. We had an inspiring or motivating moment, we opened the door, saw an area of life or work that we wanted to improve, and we may have even started before closing the door again. These are the easiest doors to open and re-explore as they once had our attention and intention to want to change. Something we wanted to start doing or maybe even something we wanted to stop doing, and those feelings are probably still in our hearts and top of mind.

The first doors were those hard ones, the second doors were the easy ones, and now here are the

most intriguing doors. These are the doors of opportunity we have yet to think about. Behind these doors lie untapped potential, new and creative ideas, bold steps, and big goals. By opening these doors, we become energized with new direction, inspired by what we see, and motivated by what we might become along the route of this journey.

Are there doors that are rusted shut, needing to be pried open? Are there doors that could be opened quite easily getting you back on track? Are there doors waiting for you to open, those doors of opportunity that could lead you to bigger and brighter goals and change? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can place intentionality behind seeking opportunity behind all these doors, it really will be a better than good life.

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.

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Referee protection, pay scale on CHSAA’s agenda

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e decision-making arm of the Colorado High School Activities Association will take up protection of and payment for game o cials next month.

e legislative council meeting is set for Jan. 24 at the DTC Marriott.

e proposed bylaw change applies to verbal assaults or threats to game o cials. If approved, the commissioners will work with school administrators to take necessary actions that could include banning individuals from school and CHSAA events.

Referee pay is also on the minds of CHSAA’s budget committee. Its proposal is to freeze membership and participation dues to promote an increased o cials’ fee proposal, something CHSAANow.com calls a “substantial” increase in fees across all sports over the next three years.

If approved, most o cials’ pay would increase $10 per game between now and the 2024 school year. An exception is a two-man crew for soccer. ose fees would increase $20 per game.

ere’s also a proposal to increase the mileage reimbursement for o cials to 50 cents per mile for travel more than 20 miles away for 2023. at rate would increase to 55 cents a mile in the 2024 school year and 60 cents a mile in the 2025 school year. ere are proposals to change the Sunday nocontact rule, courtesy of the CHSAA board of directors and the Continental League. e board wants to allow high-school coaches who also coach club ball to have contact with their high-school students during the o season. e league’s idea would allow

the largest change to the no-contact rule. Another hot-button item for CHSAA is the transfer rule for athletes. At present, students who transfer to schools where their club coaches are coaching can play on non-varsity teams for all sports they played

during the last 365 years. Four leagues would like to

CHSAA’s football committee wants to bring back the so-called “zero” week (starting the season one week early) with certain criteria. Wrestling teams may get an extra two tournament dates during the regular season.

William Matthes Steele was born October 26, 1931, and died December 12, 2022. He was raised in Idaho by a tight- sted father and a loving, warm mother. We gure someone did something right (most likely his mother) because William grew up to be a man who loved unconditionally, forgave easily, and loved heartily.

Bill, as he was known to most everyone, became a pilot for Continental Airlines and traveled the world where he learned countless shortcuts to almost everywhere. e straight road was never taken because that left turn meant he could most likely miss a few stop signs or at least a school zone. An avid golfer, he let his children and grandchildren drive the carts and drink unlimited amounts of soda. He single-handedly supported the supply chain for Dr. Pepper in the state of Texas for the last half of the previous century until his healthcare providers begged him to stop.

He was a handsome, tall man and Bill found lasting love with Anne Steele in 1978. Bill’s children from his rst marriage, George Steele, Robert Steele, and Lisa Leeser were in attendance along with Anne’s children Daphne Lowe and Jane Steele. eir marriage was full of ne friends, fabulous dinners, and amazing adventures for 44 years. He leaves us with 6 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He also dearly loved his

ex-son-in-law Oscar Leeser and his other son-in-law Michael Heitz was also sometimes liked.

Bill loved football, favoring the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks. He read the paper every morning in bed and watched the news every night. If he couldn’t watch PBS’s News Hour it was a bad day. But no one ever knew when Bill had bad days. He rarely, if ever complained, instead adopting trademark phrases like, “ e alternative is much worse” or “Well there you go” which many of his family found frustrating, but indeed he was frustratingly always right. If advice from Bill was given, 98% of the time it was correct.

William Steele walked tall, golfed fairly, and cared immensely. He cared about children, the environment, his family, the democratic party, his car, his beloved Kindle (thanks Amazon), growing and eating fresh tomatoes and most importantly, fairness. at simple concept was really how he lived his life to the fullest. If someone failed or disappointed him, he didn’t berate them or belittle them.

A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 am, ursday, December 22 at Sunset Funeral Homes West. 480 North Resler, El Paso, TX.

In lieu of owers, the family asks that a donation be made in his honor to PBS El Paso…and Bill would like to ask PBS to stop the damned pledge drives, please.

STEELE William Steele October 26, 1931 - December 12, 2022

Referee Bob Pace of Colorado Springs conducts the coin toss before a 5A playo game between Mountain Vista and Legacy at Five Star North Stadium Nov. 6. FILE PHOTOS

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call

Legals

City and County

Public Notice

Public notice is hereby given that the following ordinance was introduced and passed on second reading on the 19th day of December 2022, by the City Council of Commerce City.

INTRODUCED BY: ALLEN-THOMAS, DOUGLAS, FORD, HURST, HUSEMAN, KIM, MADERA, NOBLE

Ordinance 2432 – SECOND AND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY BY THE COMPREHENSIVE REVISION OF ARTICLE VIII THEREOF CONCERNING REGULATION OF SIGNS

Ordinance 2449 – SECOND AND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE IN SPENDING ON VEHICLE LEASES FOR THE YEAR 2023 AS PART OF THE CITY’S MASTER LEASE PROGRAM AGREEMENT WITH ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT

Ordinance 2453 – SECOND AND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE IMPOSING A MORATORIUM UPON THE CITY’S PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR APPROVAL OF NEW SERVICE PLANS FOR RESIDENTIAL METROPOLITAN DISTRICTS

Ordinance Z-981-22 – SECOND AND FINAL READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE AND ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO BY REZONING THE PROPERTIES GENERALLY LOCATED AT THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF E. 54TH PLACE AND QUEBEC STREET FROM MEDIUMINTENSITY INDUSTRIAL DISTRICT (I-2) TO REGIONAL COMMERCIAL DISTRICT (C-3)

Copies of said ordinances are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, City of Commerce City at 7887 E. 60th Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022, for public inspection during the hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. During instances of the city facilities being closed, electronic copies may be requested via email to dgibson@ c3gov.com.

BY ORDER OF CITY COUNCIL CITY OF COMMERCE CITY

BY: Brittany Rodriguez, Assistant City Clerk

Legal Notice No. CCX813

First Publication: December 29, 2022

Last Publication: December 29, 2022

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public notice is hereby given that the following ordinances were introduced on first reading on the 19th Day of December 2022, by the City Council of Commerce City and will be considered on second and final reading on the 6th Day of February 2023.

INTRODUCED BY: ALLEN-THOMAS, DOUGLAS, FORD, HURST, HUSEMAN, KIM, MADERA, NOBLE

Ordinance 2456 – FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2023 BUDGET OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO BY THE RECOGNITION OF THE ADAMS COUNTY OPEN SPACE GRANT FOR FAIRFAX PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $700,000 AND THE AUTHORIZATIONOF THE EXPENDITURE THEREOF.

Ordinance 2457 – FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2023 BUDGET OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO BY THE RECOGNITION OF THE ADAMS COUNTY OPEN SPACE GRANT FOR STAMPEDE PARK IMPROVEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $375,000 AND THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE EXPENDITURE THEREOF.

Copies of said ordinances are on file in the Office of the City Clerk, City of Commerce City at 7887 E. 60th Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022, for public inspection during the hours 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. During instances of the city facilities being closed, electronic copies may be requested via email to dgibson@ c3gov.com.

District (“District”) of Adams County, Colorado, will make final payment at its offices at 6595 E. 70th Avenue, Commerce City, Colorado 80022, on January 17, 2023, at the hour of 3:00 p.m. to Vortex Services, LLC of Wheat Ridge, Colorado for all work done by said Contractor(s) in construction work performed for the District.

Project Contractor: Vortex Services, LLC

Project Name: 30”/36” Irrigation Transmission Line from Belle Creek to Landmark

Project Location: This project is generally located from E 104th Avenue and Belle Creek Boulevard to E 104th Avenue and Landmark Drive along the Public Service Corridor.

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by any contractors or their subcontractors, in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, and whose claim therefor has not been paid by the contractors or their subcontractors, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid, and an account of such claim, to the District at the above address, Attn: Dawn Fredette, District Clerk, on or before the date and time hereinabove shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement of claim prior to such final settlement will release the District, its Board of Directors, officers, agents, and employees, of and from any and all liability for such claim.

All of the above is pursuant to §38-26107, C.R.S.

NOTICE OF FINAL PAYMENT

NOTICE is hereby given that the South Adams County Water and Sanitation District (“District”) of Adams County, Colorado, will make final payment at its offices at 6595 E. 70th Avenue, Commerce City, Colorado 80022, on January 17, 2023, at the hour of 3:00 p.m. to Farner Enterprises Inc. of Brighton, Colorado for all work done by said Contractor(s) in construction work performed for the District.

Project Contractor: Farner Enterprises Inc.

Project Name: 85th and Quebec Pump Station 12-inch Water Line Loop Across UPRR

Project Location: The project area is located just northeast of 84th Avenue and Quebec Street, starting on the 85th and Quebec Pump Station site, then heading west to cross the Union Pacific Railroad Right-of-Way where it then ends on the northeast corner of the IAAI property.

BY ORDER OF CITY

COUNCIL CITY OF COMMERCE CITY

BY: Brittany Rodriguez, Assistant City Clerk

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SOUTH

Public Notice

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by any contractors or their subcontractors, in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, and whose claim therefor has not been paid by the contractors or their subcontractors, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid, and an account of such claim, to the District at the above address, Attn: Dawn Fredette, District Clerk, on or before the date and time hereinabove shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement of claim prior to such final settlement will release the District, its Board of Directors, officers, agents, and employees, of and from any and all liability for such claim.

All of the above is pursuant to §38-26107, C.R.S.

State looks at how ballot measures impact budget

Two ballot measures approved by voters in November will reduce the amount of money the legislature has to spend by about $750 million in each of the next three years, but two economic and tax revenue forecasts presented to state lawmakers Tuesday predicted the reduction won’t cut into Colorado’s budget.

e forecasts also indicate Coloradans can continue to expect tax refunds — albeit smaller ones than they would have received had the two ballot measures failed.

Proposition 121, which reduced the income tax rate to 4.4% from 4.55%, is expected to reduce state tax revenues by $620 million in the current scal year — which ends June 30, 2023 — and by some $400 million in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 scal years.

Proposition 123 sets aside up to 0.1% of taxable income each year for affordable housing programs, which is estimated to be about $150 million in the current scal year and roughly $300 million in the 2023-24 and subsequent scal years.

Should there be a deep recession, however, nonpartisan Legislative Council Sta and the Governor’s Ofce of State Planning and Budgeting warned budget cuts may be possible and taxpayer refunds would be erased. And both agencies said the risk of an economic downturn remains high.

“Amidst this rapid monetary policy tightening, the housing correction and declining household balance sheets, we believe that risks to the forecast remain elevated and weighted toward the downside,” Je Stupak, a monetary policy and in ation analyst for Legislative Council Sta , told the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, which writes Colorado’s budget.

Greg Sobetski, chief economist for Legislative Council Sta , said “we think a recession is very possible.”

e legislature isn’t allowed to spend all of the money the state collects in tax revenue because of Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights cap on government growth and spending, which is calculated by annual in ation and population rates. Any money collected by the state in excess of the cap must be refunded to taxpayers. Refunds are expected in each of the next three scal years.

Legislative Council Sta forecast that tax revenue will be above the cap by $2.5 billion in the current scal year, $1.5 billion in the 2023-24 scal year and $1.4 billion in the 2024-25 scal year.

e tax revenue forecast from the governor’s o ce was less rosy. It predicted $2.4 billion in revenue above the TABOR cap in the current scal year, $469 million in the 2023-24 scal year and $736 million in the 2024-25 scal year.

Lauren Larson, who leads OSBP, said the reason for the discrepancy has to do with the agency’s expectation that there will be “a slight downturn for a couple of quarters in late 2023.”

After $225 million in TABOR excess is refunded as property tax relief in the current scal year, thanks to a bill passed in 2022, the legislature is still expected by nonpartisan legislative sta and the governor’s o ce to have more than $2 billion to refund.

e money can be refunded in a variety of ways. Earlier this year, the scal year 2021-22 TABOR excess was sent back to Coloradans via checks of $750 or $1,500 depending on whether they led their taxes individually or jointly.

e legislature will decide during the 2023 legislative session, which begins Jan. 9, how to refund the TABOR cap excess.

Digging into the numbers

Colorado’s job market remains strong, both OSPB and Legislative Council Sta told the JBC. ere are roughly two jobs available for every unemployed person in the state and

Public Notices

E-mail: tkoch@kochlawpc.com FAX Number: (307) 426-4927 Atty. Reg. #: 45845

SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado’s unemployment rate was 3.5% in November.

ered all the jobs lost in the recession,” Supak said.

ere were exceptions in the mining, government, food services and real estate sectors. However, labor demands across the board continue to outpace supply, according to OSPB.

Both OSPB and Legislative Council Sta said in ation continues to put pressure on Coloradans. And while the overall in ation rate in Denver is lower than the national rate, Denver’s housing in ation rate is 10% compared with the 7.1% national average.

Housing prices have caused the most signi cant contributors to in ation across the U.S., according to Legislative Council Sta . However, those costs are falling nationally and in Denver as the market cools. Denver home prices are down 4.5% from their peak, though housing demand is still outpacing supply and rental prices are climbing.

Additionally, rising interest rates caused by the Federal Reserve’s hopes of cooling in ation have caused signi cant decreases in purchasing power for home buyers.

Stupak said that someone who could a ord a $550,000 home with a 20% down payment in 2021 had a monthly mortgage payment of $1,900.  “ at same person, if they wanted to keep the same down payment and monthly payment, they would have

gone down from being able to a ord a $550,000 home to a $413,500 home. So

chasing power,” he said.

e housing market uncertainty is part of the reason state economists are warning of a recession. Another indicator of a possible economic downturn are trends in consumer spending, which make up 70% of economic activity, according to the Legislative Council Sta .

“We’ve seen a falling savings rate, falling household balance sheets and kind of declining expectations from consumers for the economy in the future,” Stupak said.

e OSPB projects slow consumer demand and economic growth in the second half of 2023. “ e labor market and consumer spending are currently outpacing previous expectations for this year, but slower consumer demand and economic growth are expected in the second half of 2023,” said Bryce Cook, chief economist at OSPB. Legislative Council Sta expects the annual in ation rate in Colorado to drop to about 4% in 2023 after hovering around 8% in 2022.

is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

shown above, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the Court for the relief demanded in the Complaint without further notice.

COUNTY COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO

1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601 (303) 659-1161

Blue Federal Credit Union, Plaintiff, v. Lavonne Windler, Defendant.

Case Number: 2022C41012 Division Courtroom

Attorneys for Plaintiff: Koch Law, P.C. Travis W. Koch, Atty. Reg. No. 45845 121 W. Carlson St. #3 Cheyenne, WY 82009 Phone Number: (307) 426-5010

TO: LAVONNE WINDLER

You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the Complaint filed with the Court in this action, by filing with the Clerk of this Court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response on or before February 9th, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. with the Clerk of Court in the Adams County Court, Brighton, Colorado. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the Clerk of the Court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response on or before the date and time

This is an action in replevin. The relief sought by the Plaintiff is a judgment in the amount of $5,943.18, replevin of the 2017 Ford Escape VIN 1FMCU9J99HUE95589, for judgment for any deficiency remaining after the vehicle sale proceeds are applied to the outstanding balances under the Vehicle Agreement, Credit Card Agreement, and Member Agreement plus for the costs of this action and for reasonable attorneys’ fees.

Dated: December 15, 2022.

CLERK OF THE COURT

By: Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. CCX810

First Publication: December 29, 2022

Last Publication: January 26, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel

Express

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on December 15, 2022, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Adams County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Marleni Victorina Blanco be changed to Marleny Victorina Blanco Case No.: 22 C 1809

By: Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. CCX809

First Publication: December 29, 2022

Last Publication: January 12, 2023

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

The state budget will take a hit of about $750 million in each of the next three years due to the approval of two ballot measures.

SHUTTERSTOCK

For now, not a lot

Community colleges double graduation rates

Schools find success by meeting student needs

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado’s community colleges more than doubled their graduation rates from 2015 to 2020 by focusing on student support in and out of the classroom, according to a study released Tuesday.

e Colorado Community College System’s graduation rates rose to 31% from 15% ve years earlier, according to the report by Complete College America that details four- and two-year college graduation rates at states, systems, and jurisdictions that are members of the organization. e nonpro t organization advocates for states and college systems to focus on improving graduation rates; the report cites the challenges schools face to graduate more students.

Graduation rates improved among students from all backgrounds, including Black and Hispanic students who graduate at lower rates than their peers.

Meanwhile, at four-year colleges, Colorado’s schools improved graduation rates to 35% during the same time period — up from 33%.

Complete College America leaders attribute increases at two-year colleges to the state changing how it o ers remedial education, a better focus on supporting students who face life challenges, and more academic advising.

“Colorado really went all in as

Community feedback

prompts 27J to prioritize increasing sta pay

STAFF REPORT

Teachers and support staff will get salary increases, thanks to November’s mill rate increase.

27J Schools Superintendent Chris Fiedler said in written statement

much as possible,” said Charles Ansell, vice president for research, policy, and advocacy at Complete College of America

Joe Garcia, Colorado Community College System chancellor, said the shift began in the last decade because the state focused less on enrolling students and more on getting them to graduate.

Associate degrees earned at two-year community colleges give students the necessary skills for jobs in internet technology, healthcare, or energy production. Some students also transfer to four-year colleges and continue their education.

e state reformed remedial education programs so students could do college-level coursework without paying extra for classes that don’t get them credit toward graduation. Instead, students now learn college algebra or English skills through tutoring or additional class time while they’re in a class that leads to credit.

Ansell said the practice is good for students because it ends up reinforcing lessons. And it doesn’t damage student morale by making them take a class that doesn’t earn them credit. at keeps students enrolled, Ansell said.

Remedial classes “end up being a real downer because you’re told you’re college material and then the rst thing that you’re told is you have to take the classes that you just took in high school,” Ansell said.

e college system has also emphasized ensuring students have basic needs met. More community colleges have food pantries or step in when students face housing insecurity.

And the community college system has ramped up advising over the years so students can see a path toward a degree, Garcia said. e system has streamlined course catalogs, which Garcia said were overly confusing and caused students to take classes that didn’t connect to their eventual career goals.

e state has more work to do, Garcia said. In the last two years, community college leaders have expanded degree programs that allow community college students to easily enroll in four-year colleges. One example is a recent engineering partnership with the Colorado School of Mines.

Ansell said the state will also need to increase support for basic needs or other challenges students are facing by placing more funding into those programs, especially because the pandemic has changed whether students decide to go to college.

More students of color are choos-

Teacher pay to rise in 27J

prioritized this action based on feedback from voters in a postelection survey.

“We listened to our community when it told us its first priority was to keep our talented staff and improve our ability to recruit high-quality candidates. We acted quickly because we care about our staff and we want people to know we’re doing our part to support them,” Fiedler said.

Representatives from the teachers association and the district

agreed to increase all areas of the teachers’ salary schedule by $4,900 effective July 1, 2023.

This increase now creates a new teacher salary schedule which will be used in the spring as the starting point in the traditional negotiations process which includes compensation for length of service and advanced education attainment.

All support staff will receive a pay increase of 2.6 percent which will boost all portions of the support staff salary schedule beginning

ing not to enroll in college, Garcia said. Since the pandemic, more students are choosing to work or don’t enroll because they worry about college costs. at’s contributed to a dip in community college enrollment that hasn’t recovered since the start of the pandemic. And fewer students are taking classes full time and instead opting to go to school part time, Garcia said.

e Complete College of America report shows students who don’t take classes full time have a tougher time graduating.

“What all of us in higher education are worried about right now is losing ground we fought so hard to gain over the last 10 years,” Garcia said.

is story is from Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Used by permission. For more, and to support Chalkbeat, visit co.chalkbeat.org.

July 1, 2023. Like the teachers, this increase will serve as the starting point for additional negotiations with support staff starting in March.

“We’re thrilled to make this long overdue announcement about salary increases for our teachers and support staff. Thanks to our voters who approved a mill levy override last month, we’re making good on our promise to our community that we improve staff compensation,” Fiedler said.

You Can Help Families Stay Warm This Winter

Energy insecurity a ects more than 1 million Coloradans.

By supporting Energy Outreach Colorado with a gift today, more of our neighbors in need will have a place to turn for help.

You can give the gift of warmth at www.energyoutreach.org/donate

Students listen in during an English class at Arapahoe Community College.

FILE PHOTO BY ROBERT TANN