Issuu

VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 50

WEEK OF DECEMBER 14, 2023

GLOWING MEMORIES

What is the reason for power cost increases? BY MARK JAFFE THE COLORADO SUN

grade level by third grade, and later on are more likely to fail classes and drop out of school. “Attendance matters and being engaged in learning matters,” said Johann Liljengren, director of dropout prevention and student reengagement at the Colorado Department of Education. Schools also stress attendance when Count Day comes up in October. Students must be enrolled and present in school during the window, so they can be counted and so the school receives state money for that student. So, how many missed school days are too many?

Bill Levis has tracked the ups and downs of utility bills for the past 14 years, first as director of the state Office of Consumer Counsel and then as a consultant for AARP, which represents retirees and older citizens. And when it comes to electricity bills, especially from the state’s largest provider Xcel Energy, the trend has gone in only one direction — up. Since 2019 the average monthly residential bill, for 600 kilowatt-hours of electricity, has risen 38% to $92.12, based on company figures. Utility bills are one of the biggest regular dings to any household’s budget, and with every Xcel announcement, the High Cost of Colorado marches upward. “We know it is going to go even higher as we go to renewables and they phase out coal-fired plants,” said Levis, whose office was the predecessor to the Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate. Electricity bills aren’t subject solely to the same market forces as food, or even rent. There are a host of things that go into rising electricity bills from the price of natural gas to run turbines to the cost of building new power stations and transmission lines to a raft of state mandated clean energy programs. And let’s not forget, in addition to all those requirements Xcel Energy is also a business in search of a profit, which means there are shareholder and bondholder expectations to be met. The rates customers pay are set by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission based on the investments Xcel Energy makes to run its grid and meet demand. Xcel Energy gets to recover its investment plus a return set by the PUC. It is growing these investments, the so-called rate base, that raises bills and fuels profits and shareholder dividends. When Xcel Energy built the coal-fired Comanche 3 power plant for $1 billion, customers paid for it. Customers will pay for the $1.7 billion Power Pathway transmission line being built. Customers will also pay nearly $1 billion closing three coal-fired plants, most of it for the unamortized part of Comanche 3 which has suffered chronic breakdowns since it opened in 2010. “It is never the energy company that ends up paying for mistakes, such as Comanche 3,” Levis said. “The frustration consumers have is that the energy company has no downside.”

SEE MISSED DAYS, P7

SEE POWER, P12

Megan Noltan and Calvin, 5, of Lochbuie, share a selfie with Brighton’s Founders Plaza Christmas tree as the backdrop Dec. 2. The city’s tree lighting ceremonies featured carolers, food and plenty of cheer. PHOTO BY SCOTT TAYLOR

• Vestas to lay off 200 employees •27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1

• Page 9

BUSINESS LOCAL

How many missed days of school are too many?

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

• Page 3

3 5 8 11

LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

You might have seen recent headlines about the growing number of kids missing school. In Colorado, just this fall, state officials said almost a third of students are chronically absent. The number has gone up significantly since the pandemic and schools are struggling to figure out how to get kids to return to classes. Kids might miss school for a number of reasons, including for work, an illness, a lack of transportation, or to care for younger siblings. Absences also go up near the holidays as families go on vacation and figure a few

missed school days can’t hurt. But, regardless of the reason, research shows consistently missing school can affect a child’s learning. Missed days can add up more quickly than you think. Here’s what you should know: What’s the big deal? Why is missing school such a problem? When kids miss school, they miss out on learning opportunities. Just a couple of missed days might mean a child can fall behind on several topics or lessons, and sometimes, there isn’t a good way for them to easily catch up. Research shows that students who miss a lot of school are more likely to not be able to read on

BRIEFS: PAGE 2 | OBITUARIES: PAGE 4 | CLASSIFIEDS: PAGE 8 | LEGAL: PAGE 10

COMMERCECITYSENTINEL.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

CHRISTMAS SHOCKING

Commerce City diner staff gets a December surprise P4

2 Commerce City Sentinel Express

December 14, 2023

BRIEFS Workforce & Business Center workshops

The Adams County Workforce & Business Center is hosting multiple workshops throughout November. Visit the center’s website, https:// adcogov.org/workforce-businesscenter, for a full class schedule, which includes contact information for each workshop. The center has locations in Aurora, in Westminter’sPete Mirelez Human Services Center, 11860 N. Pecos St and at 36 South 18th Ave. in Brighton. Adams County internships available

Are you interested in learning more about working for local government? Adams County currently has paid internships available. Opportunities include a cook ($16.48/hour) and classroom aide ($15.62/hour) for Head Start, an IT intern ($17/hour) for the Sheriff ’s Office, and a Healthy Farmers Market intern ($17/hour). These opportunities are available through the Workforce & Business Center. Those interested should work with their Business Center case manager or call 720.523.6898 to get established with a case manager. Work Options FREE Culinary Training Program

The Adams County Human Services Department is partnering with local nonprofit Work Options to provide residents with a free culinary training program. Program participants train with professional chefs over a six-week course and earn certifications and up to $400 per month. Work Options also offers food truck internships. In addition to the training pro-

gram, Work Options provides the Human Services Center 11860 Pecos St., Westminster, with a full menu of breakfast and lunch options, including breakfast burritos, pastries, burgers, pizza, daily specials, and more in the Mountain View Café. The café is located on the third floor of HSC.Learn more about the program at workoptions. org. ‘Taking No Chances’

The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and The Link, a community resource and assessment center in Thornton, offer free, 10week programs to families of Adams County teenagers to help develop personal and interpersonal drug-resistance skills. Sessions are from 5:30 to 6;30 p.m. Wednesdays. Call 720-292-2811. CCPD Introduces Online Crime Reporting Form

The Commerce City Police Department has a new online reporting tool allowing the public to report some non-emergency crimes and receive a police report immediately without speaking to a police officer. Community members can now conveniently report incidents that do not require immediate officer intervention, such as fraud, identity theft, lost property, theft/shoplifting (less than $2,000), and vandalism. The new form is online now in English and Spanish at c3gov.com/ ReportACrime. Residents should always call 911 for emergencies. Walk with a doc

Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with

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Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute. This is a walking program for everyone interested in a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and a fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active, and enjoy all the benefits of walking. ‘Taking No Chances’

Commerce City has openings for several boards and commissions, including the city’s cultural council, the housing authority, and the Derby Review Board. Visit https://www.c3gov.com/ Home/Components/Form/Form /70316b05422c448492c51da0f0e0 fd86/ to sign up. Legal self-help clinic

The Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the first Tuesday of every month. The program is for those without legal representation and needing help navigating through legal issues. Volunteer attorneys are available to discuss family law, civil litigation, property, and probate

law. Call 303-405-3298 and ask for the Legal Self-Help Clinic at least 24 hours before. Help for vets

Qualified Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has many power chairs, scooters, and electric wheelchairs available. To find the closest facility to you, visit www.va.gov/find-locations. Qualified Listeners also need volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, provide handyperson services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries, and veterans to be trained to become qualified listeners. Call 720-600-0860. Mental health

Community Reach Center offers in-person intake assessments from 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays at the Brighton Learning and Resource Campus, 1850 E. Egbert St. in Brighton. Call the Community Reach Center at 303-853-3500. For walk-in intake, bring an ID and insurance information. For those who would prefer to complete the intake forms and schedule an appointment, the intake forms are available online at www. communityreachcenter.org. There will be a short screening for flu-like symptoms before entering the center to ensure safety and wellness for everyone. Anyone feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-493-8255, text 38255, or visit the Behavioral Health Urgent Care (BHUC) Center at 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.

Commerce City Sentinel Express 3

December 14, 2023

Area author offers daily thoughts for Christian women tary meant to go along with her best-selling Bible reading plan, “Reading the Bible Cover to Cover in 365 Days.” To view or purchase Lende’s books, visit her author page on Amazon at: https://www.amazon. com/author/andrealende. You can learn more about her publishing company at: Beatitudes Publishing at http://www.baselfpub. com. Visit Bookworms Publishing for children’s books at http://www.bookwormspublishing.com.

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Commerce City author and former pilot and commercial flight instructor Andrea Lende wants to help Christian women keep track of what is important in the days leading up to the Christmas holiday. “It’s a Christmas Devotional for busy women who are worn out by Christmas Eve when it’s likely they will hear the Christmas story for the first time,” Lende said. Her devotional book “It’s A Wrap,” is available on Amazon. The book offers simple daily passages meant to be read during Advent and immediately after Christmas. “I wrote a 32-day devotional starting December 1 going through January 1, which shares the Christmas story, one verse at a time.” Her Christmas devotional was initially released last year but some small changes she made convinced her to issue a second edition this fall. Lende said the book is about the season’s reverence and holiness. The idea is to take a particular moment each day to reflect on the season’s richness and not let it pass by. “It could be walking into the grocery store, and you get a whiff of the cinnamon, scented pine cones, that reminds us this is the Christmas season. The idea is to slow down the whirlwind for just a moment during our busy days and take in the beauty around us,” Lende said. Many stories Lende writes are from her experience of raising her kids and the difficulties we all go through in life. Her book includes Scriptures with stories, along with journal pages. She urges readers to write special moments every day to treasure and cherish during the season and into the new year. “Jesus was born in such humble circumstances and came for everybody,” Lende said. “I know there are times when I haven’t felt worthy or when money has been tight. But we were still able to take this season and keep it holy, to be thankful for what we have. It’s not always about more.” Lende said one Christmas, her family couldn’t find the money to buy the ingredients to make treats and give them to their neighbors, which was a family Christmas tradition. “Since we were a traveling family, we had many little soaps and hotel shampoos. I found some wreaths in the basement that I was no longer using, and I bought a couple more at the dollar store and put together bathroom wreaths for my neighbors,” Lende said. “It felt good to gift something special to our friends, even though it wasn’t what I expected to give,” she said. “That’s how our season should be; what can we share with others, or who can we invite to our table?” Lende said life can be overwhelming for those who want more or feel they deserve more. “God blesses us so richly in spirit and lavishly in many other ways. We have our homes and all the decorations with twinkling lights, but not everybody lives in such splendor. So, we should take in the richness of the season with gratitude. My book is quietly humble and helps others be thankful for what they have instead of what they don’t,” she said.

A publication of

Andrea Lende’s Christmas book “It’s A Wrap” made the Amazon book list.

Lende said many women could be better receivers but are comfortable giving. “Sometimes, we hold blessings from God at bay because maybe we’ve said something we shouldn’t or done something that makes us feel bad. We often live in more shame than we ought to or feel. We want to work hard to be good in God’s eyes, but there is nothing to doGod loves us unconditionally,” Lende said. Lende said it was moments in her life that inspired her to write the book because we all go through these challenges in life.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

“In the future, in the new year, we can take the special moments of this year that God has given us, remember the blessings that we already have, and walk into those blessings that God has for us,” Lende said. Lende is CEO of Beatitudes Publishing and co-founded Bookworms Publishing, a children’s publishing company. She has published ten books, two bestsellers, and eight Amazon numberone new releases since November 2020. She hosts two podcasts that can be listened to anywhere. One is a 365-day devotional podcast called Downloads from God, and the other is commen-

Call first: 143 S. 2nd Pl., Brighton, CO 80601 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: CommerceCitySentinel.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100

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Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Standard Blade. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone. Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.

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4 Commerce City Sentinel Express

December 14, 2023

Breakfast brings a ‘shock’ for Commerce City diner crew Breakfast customers surprise staff with $3,000 gift BY JOANNE DAVIDSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

When a group of 16 “uptown-looking” folks walked into the Apple Barrel restaurant during the breakfast rush on Nov. 30, Lori, the waitress who seated them, appeared puzzled. The patrons assume she was wondering what had led them to this diner, whose clientele ordinarily included truckers and others frequenting the Sapp Bros. truck stop in Commerce City. “I think she wasn’t real happy to see us,” recalls Ellen Robinson, president of ERH & Associates, a Denver-based event planning firm. “Especially when a lot of the orders we placed had additions or subtractions from how they were described on the menu.” All that would change, however, when Lori, who had waited tables at the Apple Barrel for 18 years, presented the bill. The patrons, she learned, weren’t a bunch of picky-eater fancy-pants who just happened to stop by. They were part of a group that since 2019 has staged Shock Breakfasts on holidays that also include Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. And they had a big surprise for her and the Apple Barrel breakfast crew. Instead of a pile of credit cards, they handed Lori an envelope and told her to keep the change. When she opened it, she found $3,000 in cold, hard cash that was to be split between her, and the

Our Family Helping Your Family

The 16 friends who presented $3,000 to the servers, manager, cook and dishwasher at Apple Barrel diner in COURTESY OF LESLIE HEINS Commerce City Nov. 30.

manager, cook and dishwasher. “Their smiles were huge, and they were genuinely shocked,” recalled Leslie Heins, who has been part of the Shock Breakfast group since its start. “They all said they will use (their share of) the money to buy holiday gifts for their families, pay rent and bills, deposit into savings, and much more.” Heins and fellow Shock Breakfast participant Lisa Perlmutter Cook are the founders of Lotus Network, a Denver nonprofit whose mission is to show women “of a certain age” that it’s never too late to rediscover their potential and make the next chapter of

their lives the very best. “It was an amazing morning, and I’m so glad I got to be a part of it,” added Rebecca Broida Gart, who in addition to being a Shock Breakfast participant is a contributing writer and editor-at-large for Colorado Homes & Lifestyles magazine. Her husband, Ken Gart, is a partner and principal with The Gart Companies. The Shock Breakfast had its start in April 2019 when Andy Levy, who is now retired but had been a major figure in Denver’s nonprofit world, gathered a group of friends to pay tribute to their mothers by surprising a hard-working, likely underpaid/underappreciated restaurant crew with a cash gift. “A lot of folks do this over the holidays,” Heins said, mostly at spots like the Village Inns, IHOPs and Denny’s. “Which is fine, but we’re different in that we try to find locally owned, smaller places that haven’t been hit before. We want ours to be a real shock!” The Apple Barrel location had been suggested by participant Laura Thiret, whose husband, Michael, is the president of Certified Home Services, Inc. His Commerce City office is near the Apple Barrel. “It’s an incredible feeling to give back, and we encourage everyone who is able to pay it forward, not just during the holiday season but all throughout the year,” Heins said. “We’re planning to do another (at a different location) on Valentine’s Day.” In addition to the aforementioned, others contributing a minimum $100 to the Apple Barrel event were Lisa Cohn, Kathy Finley, Leslie Sidell, Ellen Gray, Cindy Lackner, Bradley Joseph, Mary Sullivan, Michelle Toltz, Joyce Pashel, Ebie Panozzo, Lisa Snyder, Jill Alford, Christina Capoot and Donna Montgomery.

24-Hour Phone Lines 303-654-0112 • 303-857-2290 Brighton: 75 S. 13th Avenue Obituaries, Arrangements and Resources Online at

taborfuneralhome.com

ANDERSON

allieventcenter.com

Keith Herman Anderson

June 6, 1930 - November 24, 2023

Memory In Loving

Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. 303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com Self placement available online at thebrightonblade.com

Keith H “PeeWee” Anderson passed November 24, 2023, at Bonaventure Senior Living in Thornton, Colorado. He was born June 6, 1930, at his home in Brighton, Colorado to James “Jerry” and Theckla “Tex” Anderson. Keith was raised in Brighton. He met his future wife, Berniece Brown, while attending Brighton schools. They were married on November 5, 1946. They had five children; sons, Gary, James, Leslie, and David; and daughter, Joyce. Keith was a hard worker and even worked for local farmers as a teenager. He drove truck during harvest at the age of seventeen. He went to work as a mechanic and later became shop foreman at Denver Chicago Trucking (later Time D-C) in August of 1948 and remained there until their closing in April of 1982. He later went to work as a mechanic for Regional Transportation District in 1983. He served as a union steward during his time with RTD, a job he really enjoyed. He retired from RTD in 1995. Keith enjoyed the farming lifestyle although he never owned a farm. He helped at a couple of different dairies around

Brighton over the years. While still working he would go to the farm after work and then after retirement spent most of his days there, stopping only when Covid hit. He liked working on the equipment at the farm. He built four cattle trailers and two flatbeds over the years. He never missed the Farm Show in Greeley. It was one of the annual events he always attended. When Les and Dave were young, he had horses and the boys participated in gymkhanas. When Joyce was older, she and her dad had Brown Swiss cattle. They attended county and state fairs for over a decade. Once they even went to the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. As a Brown Swiss cattle owner, he was a member of the Rocky Mountain Brown Swiss Association and served on their board in various positions. He is survived by his wife of 77 years, Berniece; son Les Anderson, and daughter; Joyce (Doug) Thaden, grandsons; Don (Michelle) Lockman and Keith (Jessie) Anderson, and sister, Geraldine Mayfield. He was preceded in death by his parents and sons, Gary, James and David.

Commerce City Sentinel Express 5

December 14, 2023

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Zillow Predicts More Homes for Sale and Improved Affordability Next Year

Zillow’s prediction for the housing market in 2024 rings true for me, as an active real estate broker. Early expectations that mortgage interest rates would fall back below 5% kept some would-be buyers from pulling the trigger, but now it’s beginning to sink in that interest rates will stay high, probably in the 7% range. Home prices are also moderating a little, so buyers who can tolerate higher interest rates are coming off the fence, just as sellers are noticing that homes are selling well in the current environment, albeit for slightly less than they might have received last year. Meanwhile, would-be home sellers who locked in 3% or lower interest rates on their current home have been described as “rate locked,” unwilling to give up their low mortgage rate and move up (or down) to another home with a higher interest rate. But Zillow feels that a growing number of such would-be sellers have grown weary of waiting for rates to drop and are ready to bite that bullet. Another option not mentioned by Zillow in their article is that of selling and moving into a rental, especially if they are seniors who will have a big capital gain (after taxes) that will outlive them, or if they want to keep their options open for

buying in the future or moving to another city, state or country. Another strategy suggested by Zillow is to hold onto one’s current home as an investment property, generating more than enough rental income to pay for a rental elsewhere. The article assumes that you’ll maintain your current low interest rate on your home, although that rate was for owner-occupied property, not an investment property. If your home has a reverse mortgage, you must pay it off if you move out, which likely means you’d have to sell your home, not put it on the rental market. Here’s their prediction of the national market for next year: “Zillow’s latest forecast calls for home values to hold steady in 2024, falling 0.2%. Predicting how mortgage rates will move is a nearly impossible task, but recent inflation news gives the impression that rates are likely to hold fairly steady as well in the coming months. Taken together, the cost of buying a home looks to be on track to level off next year, with the possibility of costs falling if mortgage rates do.”

SR01Q

Meanwhile, as we approach the holidays, look at the market statistics in this chart of last week’s MLS activity on REcolorado within 18 miles of downtown Denver. It’s no surprise to me that the biggest number is that of price reductions, yet we are still seeing a healthy number of new listings, listings that went under contract and listings that closed last week. In other words, this is a market that is not stagnating. It is just waiting for more right-priced listings to satisfy pent-up demand by buyers, not all of whom are off the fence — yet. I’m often asked whether winter is a good time to sell a home. Well, I just listed a $1.5 million home in Golden, and in the first 24 hours of it being “coming soon” on the MLS, over 10 agents with buyers set a showing for it. It drew multiple offers — the first one before showings began — and sold above it’s asking price

in 4 days. I have another listing going on the market in mid-January, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets the same reception. It’s all about knowing the right price in that listing’s neighborhood. These two listings just happen to be in highly desirable subdivisions and in excellent condition. A listing elsewhere might get fewer showings and end up becoming one of the “price reduced” statistics. Winter, I’ve found, is a great time to list a home because there are still lots of buyers getting automated email alerts of new listings, and there are fewer listings competing for their attention.

The amount of new construction in the Denver metro area, especially of apartment buildings, has been dazzling. All year, for example, I’ve been following the construction of a 340-unit apartment building across from my 2-bed-room rental at Solana Lakewood, and last week Rita and I moved into a 3-bedroom rental in GW Apartments, a brand new building on South Golden Road. A block away on the other side of South Golden Road, there’s a yellow rezoning sign stating that a 353unit mixed-use project is planned on what is currently vacant land. Yes, new single-family homes are still being built, but they are far outnumbered by rental apartment buildings, and it’s not slowing down. About a decade ago, the construction of condos stalled because of a surge in construction defect litigation by lawyers representing condo associations the way personal injury lawyers operate. Legislation was eventually passed to reduce the incidence of such lawsuits, but it didn’t bring

back the construction of condos as many observers had expected. Developers accelerated the building of rental units as condo development stalled, and it just kept accelerating after that construction defect issue was mitigated. The completion of the FasTracks’ light rail and commuter rail project created a boom in TOD — transit-oriented development, almost entirely rental apartment buildings — within blocks of virtually every light rail and commuter rail station. Now, with the cost of mortgage lending so much higher — more than doubled in the past 20 months — the boom in apartment construction and demand remains unabated. Meanwhile, we’re seeing a slowdown in single-family construction, with the emphasis on higher-density multi-unit construction. There is also a new emphasis on local governments allowing single-family lots to add ADUs — accessory dwelling units — which is further increasing housing density across the metro area.

This Column Will Henceforth Appear Here In Every Issue

For nearly two decades this “Real Estate Today” column has been published in three Jefferson County weekly newspapers as well as every Thursday in the Denver Post’s YourHub section. We’re pleased to add this newspaper to the list of newspapers carrying our column. I hope you find it informative. You can see the variety of topics I’ve written about over the years by visiting the complete archive of this column at www.JimSmithColumns.com.

Expect More Housing Density, Mostly Apartments

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727 CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835 GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922 AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071 KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428 “I cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.” —Jana Stanfield

6 Commerce City Sentinel Express

December 14, 2023

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Commerce City Sentinel Express 7

December 14, 2023

MISSED DAYS FROM PAGE 1

The research that links bad outcomes to missing school usually looks at students missing just 10% of school time. In Colorado, that would mean about two days a month, or about one day every other week. Over the course of the school year, that would add up to missing a whole month of school. And in schools where classes are only four days per week, it’s even easier to reach that 10% of missed time. What is chronic absenteeism? A student who is missing 10% of school time is considered chronically absent.

The state tracks percentages of how many students are chronically absent in a school or district. It’s a measure that can signal inequities among different groups of students and can be a red flag that shows students need more support. But what if the absences are excused? In short, it doesn’t matter. When research looks at school absences, both excused and unexcused missed days still have the same results because students are missing new lessons either way. When the state counts who is chronically absent, it also doesn’t matter if those absences are excused or unexcused. Can children or parents end up in court over missed school? It can happen. In this case, whether

H O L I D AY

an absence is excused or not does matter. State law says that a school district can identify a student as “truant” when they have more than 10 unexcused absences in the year, or four in a month. The law doesn’t say that students have to be sent to truancy court, and many school districts will try sending parents warnings and will try to help find other solutions first. If you get a letter from your school saying that your child is at risk of being designated as truant, the best thing to do is to talk to your school. Not communicating could lead schools to think the issue isn’t being taken seriously and to involve the courts. I need help or I want to talk about my case with someone. Who can help?

Your first stop should be your child’s school. It will be important to talk through the barriers for your child to attend school every day. The school can then point to services within or outside of the school that might help. For example, schools might connect a student to tutoring if they aren’t in school because they feel like they’re struggling, or might connect a family to services if the problem is related to issues with housing or health care. Some schools have had creative solutions including pairing students so they can walk to school with a buddy who can hold them accountable, and make them feel safer than being alone. Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools.

WORSHIP

Join us Christmas Eve for a beautiful candlelight service in the historic St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church.

Reverend Terri Colburn presiding and violin accompaniment by Lan Vo

We will sing carols at 6:30 p.m. followed by worship with Holy Eucharist at 7:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome in the Episcopal Church. Anyone who is baptized may partake of the communion bread and wine.

St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church

76 South 3rd Avenue | Downtown Brighton at 3rd and Bush 303-659-7980 | www.stelizabethsco.org | SaintElizabethsCO@gmail.com

FROM ALL OF US AT COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

8 Commerce City Sentinel Express

December 14, 2023

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Continues Next Page Visit us online for news on the go.

Commerce City Sentinel Express 9

December 14, 2023

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10 Commerce City Sentinel Express

December 14, 2023

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call 303-566-4123 Legals City and County PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice is hereby given that the following ordinance passed on second and final reading on the 4th day of December 2023, by the City Council of Commerce City and will be in full force and effect five days after publication. INTRODUCED BY: ALLEN-THOMAS, CHACON, DOUGLAS, FORD, HURST, HUSEMAN, KIM, MADERA, NOBLE Ordinance 2548 – AN ORDINANCE VACATING A PORTION OF E. 83RD AVE RIGHT-OF-WAY GENERALLY LOCATED SOUTH OF 8003 E. 83RD AVE, NORTH OF 8000 E. 83RD AVE AND WEST OF VACATED ULSTER ST, COMMERCE CITY, COLORADO Ordinance 2553 – AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11, ARTICLE I OF THE COMMERCE CITY REVISED MUNICIPAL CODE AND ADOPTING THE 2020 COLORADO MODEL TRAFFIC CODE AS REVISED Copies of said ordinance 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. CCX1261 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Metro Districts Budget Hearings Public Notice NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2043 BUDGET AND 2023 BUDGET AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2024 has been submitted to the Fitzsimons Business Improvement District (“District”). Such proposed budget will be considered at a meeting and public hearing of the

Board of Directors of the District to be held at 9:00 a.m. on December 27, 2023 via videoconference. Information regarding public participation by videoconference will be available at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and public hearing by contacting Becky Johnson by email at bjohnson@ spencerfane.com or by telephone at 303839-3885. NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2023 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2024 budget and the amended 2023 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of AIMCO, 4582 South Ulster Street, Suite 1100, Denver, CO 80237. Please contact Becky Johnson by email at bjohnson@spencerfane.com or by telephone at 303-839-3885 to make arrangements to inspect the budget(s) prior to visiting the foregoing office. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2024 budget and the amended 2023 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto. FITZSIMONS BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT By: /s/ Nicole Peykov, District Counsel Legal Notice No. CCX1260 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Bids and Settlements Public Notice NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that on or after the December 31, 2023, at 8:00 AM local time, final settlement shall be made by the City of Commerce City, Colorado with: GreenOne Industries, Inc. 10233 S. Parker Rd., Ste. 300, Parker, CO 80134 Hereinafter called the “Contractor”, for and on account of the Contract: “Buffalo Run Drainage Project”, hereinafter called the “Project,” for the City of Commerce City, Colorado. 1. Any person or entity who has an unpaid claim against the said project, for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such Contractor, or any of his sub-contractors, in or about the perfor-

legals2@coloradocommunitymedia.com

mance of said work, may at any time up to and including said time and date of such final settlement, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claims. 2. All such claims shall be filed with the City of Commerce City, Golf Course Manager at 15700 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City, CO 80022. 3. Failure on the part of a creditor to file such a statement prior to such final settlement will relieve the City of Commerce City from any and all liability for such claim. City of Commerce City, Colorado Buffalo Run Golf Course Paul Hebinck Golf Course Manager (303) 289-1500 Legal Notice No. CCX1259 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 21, 2023 Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Public Notice WINDLER PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY WINDLER - Monument Signage Landscaping Walls and Grading Sealed Bids will be received by Windler Public Improvement Authority, hereinafter referred to as OWNER, at the office of the Authority Engineer, Merrick & Company, 5970 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, until 10:00 AM local time on January 11, 2024, for:

for items; however, the price given will be on a maximum not-to-exceed amount, as described in the Bidding Documents. The Work is expected to be commenced within thirty (30) days after the Date of Contract. Bid Security in the amount of five percent (5%) of the total Bid Price must accompany each Bid in the form specified in the Instructions to Bidders.

The Successful Bidder will be required to furnish a Performance Bond, Labor and Material Payment Bond guaranteeing faithful performance and warranty bond for two-years after Substantial Completion, and the payment of all bills and obligations arising from the performance of the Contract.

The OWNER reserves the right to award the contract by sections, to reject any or all Bids, and to waive any informalities and irregularities therein. For further information, please contact Barney Fix at Merrick & Company at 303-751-0741. Legal Notice No. CCX1264 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 28, 2023 Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express Non-Consecutive Publications

WINDLER Monument Signage Landscaping Walls and Grading This Contract provides for the construction of the following: Landscape walls and grading at approximately 13 entrances along 56th from E-470 to N. Harvest Rd, along 48th From N. Harvest Rd to N. Tibet Rd, and along the Windler project boundaries. Some sites have multiple walls. Landscape walls range from about 2.5’ tall to about 3.5’ tall. Copies of the Bidding Documents may be requested from the Windler Public Improvement Authority, at the email of the Authority Engineer, barney. fix@merrick.com, beginning December 14, 2023. NO PAYMENT REQUIRED. REPRODUCTIONS ARE PROHIBITED. Bidders must be licensed Contractors in the State of Colorado.

Please Recycle this Publication when Finished

For Local News Anytime of the Day Visit OurColoradoNews.com

Bids will be received providing unit price

Commerce City Sentinel Express December 14, 2023 * 1

Commerce City Sentinel Express 11

December 14, 2023

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A Look Ahead

The 2024 Legislative Session Preview January 4, 2024 | 6 p.m. | Virtual, Free Scan the QR Code or visit coloradosun.com/events to RSVP for free.

Public Notices Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of AKIYO HARPER a/k/a AKIYO IWANAGA, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30934 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before April 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred. Robert Harper Personal Representative 17846 County Road 98 Elbert, CO 80106 Legal Notice No. CCX1263 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 28, 2023 Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Jakub Kordisch, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 425 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before April 15, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred. Lisa M. Kordisch Personal Representative 15120 E 116th Dr Commerce City, CO 80603 Legal Notice No. CCX1262 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 28, 2023 Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express ###

“Trust Us!” Without public notices, the government wouldn’t have to say anything else.

Public notices are a community’s window into the government. From zoning regulations to local budgets, governments have used local newspapers to inform citizens of its actions as an essential part of your right to know. You know where to look, when to look and what to look for to be involved as a citizen. Local newspapers provide you with the information you need to get involved.

Notices are meant to be noticed. Read your public notices and get involved!

Commerce City Sentinel Express December 14, 2023 * 2

12 Commerce City Sentinel Express

December 14, 2023

POWER FROM PAGE 1

And if customers are unhappy, they don’t have the option of shopping around for a new provider of electricity or natural gas like they can with cars, insurance or food. Xcel has a franchise that makes it a monopoly in the areas it serves. Xcel Energy is now proposing another $10 billion in rate base investments as part of its Clean Energy Plan, which will cut the utility’s greenhouse gas emissions 87% over 2005 levels. “The legislature has also played a role in raising bills,” Levis said. “I don’t think they realize the impact.” In the last five years the General

Assembly has passed at least 14 bills directing the state’s utilities and PUC to initiate programs to do such things as such as promote energy efficient appliances and electric vehicles, and to develop clean energy plans. Those laws allowed utilities to do things like add charges to customer bills for new programs. Or they enabled Xcel Energy to accelerate recovery of funds or include performance incentives, offering a bonus if the utility contains project costs and meets deadlines. Xcel Energy in its filings with the PUC points out that base rates have not risen much above the rate of inflation, and that its price per kilowatt-hour in Colorado is lower than the national average. In 2022, the average Xcel Energy residential charge

was 12.7 cents a kilowatt-hour compared with a national average of 15 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Utilities are also allowed to pass the cost of fuel directly to customers from the Energy Cost Adjustment. That adjustment “goes up and down,” Levis said. “With something like Storm Uri you get a big charge.” That winter storm in Texas shutdown natural gas fields in February 2021 and sent natural gas prices soaring 300%. Xcel Energy incurred an extra $500 million in charges that Colorado customers are now paying off in installments over 30 months. Last winter natural gas prices spiked again, doubling and tripling utility bills (mainly for natural gas heating) and sent thousands of families scrambling for help with

their bills from government and non-profit organizations. Meanwhile, Xcel Energy has met or exceeded its earnings guidance for shareholders for 18 consecutive years and between 2018 and 2022 corporate profits rose 38% to a record $1.7 billion. “They never take a write-off against shareholders for something like Storm Uri,” Levis said. “It is always on the ratepayers.” Those ratepayers, or customers, are left with a cryptic electric bill with 13 different charges pumped up by four rate increases, one on top of another, since 2020 — a phenomenon consumer advocates call pancaking. So, the High Cost of Colorado series serves you a full stack, along with an overdue side of explanations.

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

DON’T LET YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPERS GO SILENT.

This year, even more than ever before, the news is in crisis. More than 17,000 news media jobs were cut just by June, at national and local outlets including at some of the biggest names like NPR, The Texas Tribune and Gannett. In fact, newsroom layoffs are up 20% from last year. Some of these outlets laid off more than 10% of their staff in the last few months — even as we head into a critical election year. These are devastating numbers. But all is not lost. Many local and independent newsrooms continue to launch across the country. With your contributions and subscriber memberships, small newsrooms like ours continue to grow, adding new journalists and expanding reporting and investigations. We’re committed to bringing the news to Coloradans. That’s because you deserve access to local, independent journalism that keeps you connected and informed — especially during challenging times. This is #newsCOneeds.

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