Commerce City Sentinel Express May 9, 2024

Prescription Take Back Day o ers easy way to prevent drug abuse

BY LONDON LYLE

COMMUNITY MEDIA

On the last Saturday of April each year, thousands of American families gather up expired and unused prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs and willingly turn them over to law enforcement.

In return, they get … dental oss? at’s just one of the more mundane o erings that the Commerce City Police Department handed out April 27, in addition to pill organizers, toys and Frisbees. is year was the 26th annual event, overseen by the Drug Enforcement Agency. Local police departments create pop-up col-

lection sites across the country, and despite one last April shower, community members showed up at the King Soopers on East 104th Avenue in Commerce City.

Despite the rainy weather, the turnout was fairly decent, said Susan Beard, who works in the Property and Evidence Unit for the Commerce City police and was working the blue tent outside the King Soopers.

“We’re taking in a lot of weight in what we have collected so far,” Beard said.

To track yearly trends within the program, Beard records the weights of the medications they receive at the end of the day and

reports them to the DEA. e DEA publishes the national combined weight collected each year; in 2023, a whopping 599,897 lbs — nearly 300 tons — of drugs were collected.

After the drugs are weighed, a police o cer escorts them down to the DEA o ce where they take custody and transport the drugs to be destroyed by incineration.

At a time when opioid addiction is a national crisis, the option to safely dispose of unwanted or unused narcotics is especially important because it can keep them o the streets, she said.

Electricity cooperatives changing energy markets

United Power seeking more local control over the energy it sells

BY MARK JAFFE THE COLORADO SUN

e sources of electrons owing into about 290,000 suburban and rural homes and businesses on the Front Range are about to change. And while refrigerators will still hum and lights shine, it marks a new chapter in how Coloradans get their electricity.

e state’s two largest cooperatives, Sedalia-based CORE Electric Cooperative and Brighton-based United Power, are each poised to leave their long-time power suppliers and strike out on their own in the growing merchant power market.

“United and CORE and a few others are large enough where we can contract with utility-scale resources where the prices are driven down,” said Chris Hildred, power supply director for CORE, formerly the Intermountain Rural Electric Association.

“ is is about local control and nancial independence,” said Mark Gabriel, United Power’s CEO.

e rst big step comes as United Power, which serves about 300,000 people in an area from Commerce City through Adams and Weld counties, leaves the Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.

CORE, serving more than 375,000 residents in parts of 11 counties from west of Colorado Springs to east of Denver, is set to nish its contract with Xcel Energy at the end of 2025.

Treats for shoppers who turn in their unused or expired prescription drugs line a table at the King Soopers on 104th Avenue in Commerce City on the national Prescription Drug Take Back Day, April 27, 2024.

LONDON LYLE

County seeks Healthy Farmers Markets input

Adams County is looking for feedback and opinions regarding the series of farmers markets they helped o er in 2023. Information from an online survey, located at https://bit.ly/4879uzr, will help determine how the markets will operate in 2024.

In 2023, the Adams County Health Department and Human Services partnered to provide Healthy Farmers Markets for residents. e departments are planning to provide those again in 2024, and they’d like to hear from you.

e county helped schedule the markets on Tuesdays and ursdays at the Anythink Library Wright Farms and Huron Street branches. e survey asks about location preferences, dates and timing preferences and what kinds of o erings and other services should be o ered.

Alliance Business Assistance Center grants available

e Alliance Business Assistance Center is excited to announce that 2024 business grants are now available to support your business endeavors.

chance of success and providing other valuable resources for local business.

To get started, visit our website at https://businessinthornton.com/ local-business/small-businesssupport-programs/business- nancial-assistance.

CCPD Introduces Online Crime Reporting Form

e 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 o cer.

Community members can now conveniently report incidents that do not require immediate ofcer intervention, such as fraud, identity theft, lost property, theft/ shoplifting (less than $2,000), and vandalism.

Sta at the center can assist residents by helping to identify grants that align with their business goals and industry, providing guidance through the application process, ensuring that they have the best

e new form is online now in English and Spanish at c3gov.com/ ReportACrime. Residents should always call 911 for emergencies.

‘Taking No Chances’

e 17th Judicial District Attorney’s O ce and e Link, a community resource and assessment center in ornton, o er free, 10-week 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.

Adams City ‘84 alums seeking missing classmates

Adam City’s class of 1984 is scheduled to host its 40th class reunion at 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at the 30/70 Sports Bar and Grill, 18856 W. 120th Ave. in Westminster. Organizers are trying to contact a few remaining missing graduates. If you attended ACHS with the class of 1984 or have a family member who did, please get in touch with Susan Zale Vanness (303) 513-1333 or vannessrealty@ comcast.net or Tracey Snyder (303) 921-2114 tjsnyder07.ts@ gmail.com

Walk with a doc

Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute. is 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 bene ts of walking.

Visit https://www.c3gov.com/ Home/Components/Form/Form /70316b05422c448492c51da0f0e0 fd86/ to sign up.

Legal self-help clinic

Boards/commissions’ openings Commerce City has openings for several boards and commissions, including the city’s cultural council, the housing authority, and the Derby Review Board.

e Access to Justice Committee hosts a free, legal self-help clinic from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on the rst Tuesday of every month. e 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.

Anythink expands hours at three branches

Anythink Libraries will hours for Anythink Bennett, Anythink Commerce City and Anythink Perl Mack branches, opening an hour earlier at 9 a.m. and closing an hour later at 7 p.m. Tuesday through ursday.

All other branch locations will continue with thier current hours of operation.

e new hours began on April 16 at the Anythink Bennett, Anythink Commerce City and Anythink Perl Mack branches. e three branches will also open at 9 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

All Anythink branches are closed on Sundays.

Bill to ban seclusion in Colorado schools defeated

BY MELANIE ASMAR CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Despite testimony that one Colorado lawmaker called “horrifying,” a bill to ban the practice of shutting students alone inside rooms was defeated at the state Capitol.

State Rep. Regina English, a Colorado Springs Democrat and the main sponsor of House Bill 1167, asked last week that her fellow lawmakers postpone the bill inde nitely, e ectively defeating it.

With just days left in this year’s legislative session, English said the bill was experiencing too much last-

minute pushback from defenders of the practice known as seclusion.

ough English didn’t name names, a handful of school district and special education administrators had defended the practice to lawmakers in a hearing last month.

e administrators described seclusion as a “last resort” measure that is sometimes necessary.

English pledged to introduce a new bill banning seclusion next year.

“It is my mission to make sure Colorado is the ninth state in the nation to ban this horri c practice used against our students,” she told

Zillow Rolls Out a Home

Ever since the March 15th announcement by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) that it had reached a settlement on the massive litigation against it regarding buyer agent commissions, brokers and brokerages have been trying to figure out how they can get buyers to sign an agreement of the type required by that settlement.

Such an agreement would have to provide for payment by buyers of the broker working on their behalf, and that agreement would have to be signed before an agent could show the buyer any homes for sale.

‘Touring

the House Education Committee in April.

e committee voted unanimously to defeat the bill. Several lawmakers said they were voting against the bill reluctantly and only at the sponsor’s request. ey praised English for her courage and said they agreed that seclusion is wrong. “ e testimony we heard was horrifying,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, a Durango Democrat and chair of the House Education Committee. Seclusion, she said, “shouldn’t ever be happening.”

Under current law, Colorado schools are allowed to seclude

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students in rooms with the door closed. Sta must monitor students through a window or by video camera. Seclusion rooms must be “free of injurious items” and cannot otherwise be used for storage, custodial, or o ce space.

Students are often placed in seclusion because of their behavior. Available state data shows that young students with disabilities are disproportionately secluded.

English said a case at a popular Denver middle school called McAuli e International School spurred

SEE DEFEATED, P5

Agreement’ That Doesn’t Comply With Colorado Law

with whom I shared Zillow’s agreement last week.

First, since it has not been approved by the Colorado Real Estate Commission (CREC), Zillow’s form can only be used by brokers if it has been prepared by that broker’s own lawyer. Second, it does not contain the required definitions of working relationships.

I asked Waters what new or changed contracts the Division is working on to comply with the provisions of the NAR settlement, and she replied as follows:

Zillow, which is now a brokerage, not merely a real estate listing site, thinks it has produced an agreement which satisfies that requirement and that buyers would be happy to sign. The essence of it is that it is non-exclusive, lasts only seven days, and does not commit the buyer to paying anything.

Although the “Touring Agreement” is copyrighted, the April 30th blog post by Zillow’s Chief Industry Development Officer, Errol Samuelson, states that “we’re making it available for use to the entire residential real estate industry.”

Above right I have reproduced the one-page agreement, omitting only the non-discrimination clause and the signature lines.

In the blog post, Samuelson acknowledged that “the form of this agreement will vary by state, [but] we’re calling on the industry to adopt a non-exclusive, limited-duration agreement for the initial tours conducted by an agent with a prospective buyer.”

Indeed the form does not comply with Colorado state law in two respects, according to Marcia Waters, who heads the Division of Real Estate at the Colorado Department of Regulatory Affairs,

“It is our position that the NAR settlement doesn't require any changes to our forms. With that said, the Forms Committee is working on some possible revisions to the listing contracts, the contract to buy and sell and the brokerage disclosure to buyer to provide further clarification about compensation. Those revisions will be considered by the Real Estate Commission at their nonrulemaking hearing for the forms in June.” That meeting is at 9 a.m. on June 4th. The requirements established by the NAR settlement are now set to take effect on August 17th.

I like the concept of Zillow’s proposed touring agreement, since the NAR settlement only specifies “an agreement.” Having sent it to the Division of Real Estate and also to Frascona, Joiner, Goodman & Greenstein, PC, the law firm which serves Golden Real Estate and hundreds of other brokerages with legal forms not among those mandated by the CREC, I’m hopeful that one or the other of them will produce a “showing agreement” that we can use.

Without such an document agreeable to buyers, we can expect that buyers will only call listing agents to see listed homes. That scenario would serve neither the industry nor the public.

NAR Releases Additional Rules Pursuant to Settlement

Heretofore, the only guidance brokers had regarding the NAR settlement was that the MLS could no longer display an offer of co-op compensation for listings and that brokers could not show listings to a buyer with first executing a written agreement with that buyer. Last week we were advised of some additional rules that the MLSs need to follow. Here are the key takeaways. MLSs may not “create, facilitate, or support any non-MLS mechanism (including by providing listing information to an internet aggregator’s website for such purpose)” that includes “offers of compensation to buyer brokers or other

buyer representatives.”

MLS data may not be used “directly or indirectly” to create a platform containing offer of compensation, and, if that is done, the MLS must terminate the access to the MLS and MLS data by the offending broker or brokerage. Virtually every brokerage has its own website on which MLS listings are displayed. These websites must not, with or without MLS support, filter the display of listings to exclude individual listings based on the level of compensation offered or to exclude listings by specific brokerages or specific listing agents within a brokerage.

New Homes Can Have Inspection Issues, Too

This will be a good year, I believe, for the developers and builders of new homes. There’s a decent supply, you can choose between spec homes that are already built, or design a home to your specifications if you are not in a rush.

You won’t have to deal with bidding wars, but you also won’t be able to negotiate a price reduction. It’s “list price only” with builders.

Also, you can hire a buyer’s agent, such as my broker associates or me, who will be paid by the builder, so you don’t have to pay for professional representation. Too many buyers of new homes end up regretting that they bought from a builder’s salesperson and didn’t have a professional on their side. The builder’s agent is working for the builder and not in your best interest.

Another mistake buyers make is to think that because a home is new, it doesn’t need to be inspected. You abso-

“Concentrate on giving and the

lutely must invest in the cost of a professional home inspector. We have an inspector on our team, Jim Camp, who has decades of experience inspecting new homes for buyers. We recommend him exclusively. New construction is permitted and must pass county or city inspection, but, based on the kinds of defects that Jim has found in new homes, we worry that these inspections can be too cursory.

Jim likes to do a 2-phase inspection. The first inspection would be at the rough-in or pre-drywall stage, and the second or final inspection would be prior to the buyer’s final walk-through with the builder.

As when buying an existing home, money spent on inspections is money well spent, because you might uncover hidden defects, from sewer to attic, that could cost you much more later on. Call me with your questions.

Developing a guide through public health grants

GreenLatinos wants to help residents get help for pollution concerns

BY ROSSANA LONGO BETTER ROSSANA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Christopher DeVoe, a master’s student in public health at the Colorado School of Public Health at CU Anschutz, developed an innovative app aimed at assisting communities residing in heavily polluted areas to access federal grant money earmarked for environmental justice community initiatives.

He presented his pioneering work thanks to the vision, guidance and support from GreenLatinos and the support of the Latino Research & Policy Center DeVoe’s project focuses on developing a bilingual user-friendly map that enhances public awareness of available grants related to environmental justice issues. is tool not only provides valuable insights into pollution levels and environmental hazards at the neighborhood level but most of all facilitates community empowerment by connecting people and non-pro t organizations with federal grants dedicated

to addressing these challenges. roughout our conversation, DeVoe underscored the inspiration behind his initiative, citing GreenLatinos’ steadfast commitment to environmental justice advocacy. DeVoe’s insights shed light on the intricate intersection of technical skill and social justice in environmental initiatives.

His advice for graduating students to leverage their skills and collaborate with organizations to e ect tangible change resonates deeply with the ethos of community-driven action.

is interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Colorado Community Media: Congratulations! You just presented your nal graduation project. Please tell us more about this experience.

Christopher DeVoe: I’m a master’s student in public health at CU Anschutz. I’ve been interning with GreenLatinos here in Colorado to launch a map to have the public better understand the grants available related to environmental justice issues. ( ere are) communities that are disproportionately impacted by pollution, by tra c, (and) maybe don’t have enough trees in the neighborhood. ose are just a

Sherrill Irene Pollard Conway May 25, 1942 -November 10, 2023

Sherrill Irene Pollard Conway was born to Bill and Hazelle Pollard May 25, 1942 in Denver, CO and passed away on Nove. 10, 2023 at 2:40 p.m. at Lawrence County Manor in Mt. Vernon, MO.

She grew up near Barr Lake with her two sisters, Marjorie and Myrna. She graduated from Brighton High School in 1960. She met her husband Elmer (Sonny) Conway in his uncle’s drive way in Commerce City, CO. ey married on September 16, 1961 and started a family, raising 5 daughters. Sherrill went to nursing school and went on to become a pharmacy technician for the Brighton Hospital where she retired from in 1998.

Sherrill and Elmer retired to Freistatt, MO in 1999. Sherrill enjoyed crocheting baby blankets, putting puzzles together, cross stich, reading books and spending time with

few of the di erent challenges that these communities face, and there’s new federal grant money out there to address these challenges.

CCM: After listening to your presentation today, it’s almost like a bilingual app that you can easily access on your phone. You can put your address and nd out if you are exposed to toxins and levels of pollution in the area you reside, but then it also connects you with the grants available to address those issues and see if you are eligible to apply.

It will also provide a history of who has applied for the resources you might need.

When you decided to develop this, what inspired you?

DeVoe: Environment. ey have a whole team of people working to evaluate communities throughout the state, and how they’re impacted in di erent ways, whether that’s low income, higher rates of asthma, higher rates of pollution, or higher exposure to tra c emissions.

ey’ve done a lot of work to evaluate what communities are facing. I took some of that information looking at communities that have higher exposure to air toxics,or maybe a higher ood risk, higher risk of wild res, higher exposure to diesel particulate emissions. en also

I wanted to make sure it linked to these federal grants so through the map you can learn a little bit about your neighborhood.

To learn more, I would de nitely recommend the Enviroscreen. I can’t replicate that myself. ey’ve done a lot of good work there and they’re also developing their second version of the product. But yeah our app is a portal to the different grants that are available and will continue to be available.

CCM: Explain the di erence between the tool you just created and the Colorado EnviroScreen tool that Colorado State University developed for the community.

DeVoe: e Colorado EnviroScreen is by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. ey have a whole team of people working to evaluate communities throughout the state, and how they’re impacted in di erent ways, whether that’s low income, higher rates of asthma, higher rates of pollution, or higher exposure to tra c emissions.

ey’ve done a lot of work to evaluate what communities are facing. I took some of that information looking at communities that have higher exposure to air toxics,

Brighton: 75 S. 13th Avenue Obituaries, Arrangements and Resources Online at taborfuneralhome.com

HATHAWAY

her family.

Sherrill is survived by her husband, Elmer of the home, daughters Rosie (Barry) Ferree of Mack, CO. Leona (Keith) Adler of Monett, MO. Marlene (James) Burgess of Bennett, CO. and Betsy (David) Wells of Pea Ridge, AR: grandchildren, Twyla, Cody (Jay) Ferree, Savannah (Chopper) Duran, Colby Burgess, Trevor (Shai) Wells, Dillon Wells and great grandchildern, Angel, James, Karson, Brantly Ferree and Rozelli Duran.

Sherrill is preceded in death by her parents, Billand Hazelle Pollard and daughter Connie Conway.

A celebration of life will be held at: Saturday, May 18th, 2024

allieventcenter.com

Rhonda Lorraine Hathaway February 10, 1964 - April 9, 2024

Rhonda was born February 10, 1964, in Denver, Colorado to Ronald and Virginia Werth and was the oldest of four siblings. She married her high school sweetheart and love of her life Kevin Hathaway September 14th, 1985.

Rhonda always needed something to do so she took up gardening. She planted a beautiful garden in her backyard in which she took great pride in maintaining it year after year. She also loved to travel whether it be on cruises with her husband to the Caribbean or camping in the Colorado mountains with her family. She loved it all! Her biggest joy was juggling her grandkids’ sports and activities. She would travel the world for them. Her love for them was monumental.

Henderson Community Church 120001 Oakland St. Henderson, CO 80640-9630

Rhonda grew up in Commerce City, Colorado. She attended Adams City High School and started her working career at our family’s restaurant Gala Gardens. Rhonda always had a creative spirit whether it was in graphic design, drawing or crafting with her grandchildren. She loved it all. She also had a high interest in law enforcement and worked for Brighton and Commerce City Police Departments before retiring in 2000.

After retirement she couldn’t stay still and found herself back working at our family restaurant where she helped run and established many forever friendships. A few years after that Rhonda and her mother Virgina opened an event center in which she enjoyed. She loved to embrace the small-town community and extended her heart to the residents of Commerce City. She was a highly respected member of the Commerce City Business Association and the Commerce City Rotary where she contributed and enriched the sense of community.

Rhonda was a ghter, who never gave up or gave in. She was strong, resilient, stubborn, full of energy and would always challenge everyone. ere was never an obstacle too big, a hurdle too high or a mountain too big that she couldn’t beat, her limitations were never her weakness but her strength. Rhonda is survived by her husband Kevin, mother Virgina (Ray), her three kids, Sarah (Chris) Sisneros, Chris (Amanda) Hathaway, Kayla (Bradd) Kothe and her beloved six grandchildren, Julianne, Diem, Emma, Kinley, Brayden, and Micah and her brothers Ronnie, Vince, and Brett. Plus, many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and numerous friends whom she loved very much. She is preceded in death by her grandparents and loving father Ronald Werth.

CONWAY

GRANTS

or maybe a higher ood risk, higher risk of wild res, higher exposure to diesel particulate emissions. en also I wanted to make sure it linked to these federal grants so through the map you can learn a little bit about your neighborhood.

To learn more, I would de nitely recommend the Enviroscreen. I can’t replicate that myself. ey’ve done a lot of good work there and they’re also developing their second version of the product. But yeah our app is a portal to the di erent grants that are available and will continue to be available.

CCM: What were the ndings that you would like to highlight so our communities empower themselves and, in a way, nd the grants?

DeVoe: ere’s already a lot of work done about environmental justice; and communities that are fac-

tino community.

CCM: How can people access your tool?

DeVoe: Type in any web browser: bit.ly/ejgrantsmapcolorado

And, that should at least bring you to the rst map, and you’ll be able to nd information from there.

CCM: Any nal thoughts?

DeVoe: I just want to thank GreenLatinos and the Latino Risk Research Policy Center for all the work they do. For anyone looking to get involved, it is a long process. ese are all important issues to work on; I’m glad to be joining them at this time. ank you so much.

her to sponsor the bill. An investigation by Denver Public Schools found that McAuli e sta were placing students in seclusion without proper supervision. A former Denver school board

ing higher rates of pollution, historically. It is a long process to address these issues. Suncor, the re nery in the middle of Denver, is in a community of people of color or are low income, and there’s no reason that those people should experience the pollution from Suncor more than any other people.

I learned a lot from GreenLatinos, but this map just emphasized that these communities show up on these metrics. ey are exposed to more air toxics. ey’re exposed to more diesel emissions.

But then I nd that there’s hope through this map.

We know that there are these di erent exposures but now there’s billions of dollars available now to mitigate some of those issues: to get money for planting trees, to get money for parks in your neighborhood, for better public transportation, or even for better broadband internet to better understand these issues.

I’m really inspired by what the federal government is

member told lawmakers that the seclusion room at McAuli e “reminded me of a prison.”

e former board member, Auon’tai Anderson, was among the parents and elected o cials who testied last month in favor of the bill to ban seclusion. e most emotional testimony came from mothers who

doing in this administration to bring attention to these issues, and to really put the money where their mouth is.

CCM: What are the barriers that you normally see when communities try to access funds?

DeVoe: at’s a great question. I’m an English speaker. I don’t speak a lot of Spanish, but I didn’t nd a lot of resources in Spanish. I nd Colorado seems to be ahead of the federal government for at least having bilingual or Spanish-speaking websites. But in trying to nd the grants out there, I was having trouble. I don’t know if I was missing them, but I know language is denitely a barrier. Even as a tech-savvy English speaker, there are so many grants out there, so hopefully this app makes it a little easier to better understand what is out there.

DeVoe: You’re going to be graduating, and this app has been your thesis in a way. What would you like to advise other students who are just graduating and are

said their children with disabilities had been secluded. e mothers spoke about how their children soiled themselves inside seclusion rooms because they were so scared and how, even years later, their kids had nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Parents said they were unaware their children were

inspired by what you have created?

DeVoe: Everything we do takes teams. I like maps, but it took Ean Tafoya’s vision and GreenLatinos’ support to really make this possible. So I just want anyone out there to know to reach out to these organizations. GreenLatinos and other nonpro ts are doing amazing work. Don’t be shy. I didn’t know how important these skills were, but I took my knowledge base and I asked, how can I help? How can I lend a hand? And through this experience working with GreenLatinos and the Latino Risk Research Policy Center, I’ve learned a lot about how these projects happen, and the steps we need to take to bring environmental health to everyone.

CCM: What does the Latino Risk Research Policy Center do?

DeVoe: So the center here at CU Denver brings together researchers throughout di erent departments to bring attention and research to issues in the La-

being secluded, in part because the schools didn’t use the word seclusion. Instead, schools referred to the rooms in which their children were shut inside by innocuous names like “the relaxation room” and “the opportunity room.”

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SCOTT TAYLOR Metro North Editor staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

BELEN WARD Community Editor bward@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TERESA ALEXIS Marketing Consultant Classified Sales talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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.

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com Commerce City

Express (USPS 3886) A legal newspaper of general circulation in Commerce City, Colorado, Commerce City Sentinel Express is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 143 S.

Juan Madrid , Christopher DeVoe, Ean Tafoya and Mark Magaña. DeVoe is building an mobile phone app to provide information about grants related to environmental justice issues. ROSSANA LONGO BETTER

Group wants to reclaim the resistance history of Cinco de Mayo

BY JACKIE RAMIREZ

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

While many holidays are celebrated and recognized in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is one of the few Latino-centric dates that has taken hold in American culture. However, Latinos at its founding might raise an eyebrow when they see what it has become.

Beyond tacos and tequila

Ads for discounted margaritas and tequila shots start popping up like tulips in April, and restaurants and bars display papel picado banners at their fronts.  ere’s one group that’s looking to divert holiday marketing away from the oversimpli cation of Latin culture.

GreenLatinos, a national nonpro t focusing on environmental issues in the Latino community, held a webinar on Wednesday to discuss the cultural signi cance of Cinco de Mayo in the Americas, and how to celebrate the holiday in

Tackling Colorado's Housing Crisis Requires Comprehensive Legislation

By Elizabeth Kay Marchetti

As our state suffers from a housing crisis that is essentially a humanitarian crisis, the need for strategic action has never been more urgent. The State Senate's proposed Strategic Growth Bill (SB-174) represents a missed opportunity, so it is imperative that we pass HB-1313, the legislation mandating increased density near transit hubs. Only by embracing measures that enable new housing to be built can we hope to alleviate the severe shortage of housing plaguing our communities.

Littleton has been at the forefront of regional discussions regarding transit-oriented communities, recognizing the vital role of public transportation in fostering sustainable development. The recent decision by the Littleton City Council not to oppose the transit-oriented community bill reflects this community’s commitment to urban planning and collaborative efforts that meet the documented needs of the city and region.

The correlation between transit accessibility and housing equity cannot be overstated. By concentrating new homes near transit hubs, we not only address the pressing need for housing but also empower residents with expanded transportation choices.

This isn't merely about building more homes; it's about expanding opportunities and freedom of movement for all members of our community. While the majority of Front Range voters supported the bond question to enable FasTracks twenty years ago, the realization of the light rail’s full potential has been hampered by local zoning restrictions and so-called “growth limits.”

Cities like Aurora, Denver, and Lone Tree have embraced transit-oriented development, while many suburban cities and towns have resisted such changes. The result is that the metro area continues to grapple with traffic congestion, dangerous air quality, disappointingly low transit ridership numbers, and ever increasing housing costs.

Take, for instance, the case of Aspen Grove shopping center in Littleton. Initially a thriving retail center, located immediately north of the Mineral Avenue light rail station, its vitality has waned due to a lack of nearby residential density. It was understood by the developers that it would succeed financially because of its proximity to all the people living and working in Highlands Ranch. Now that Highlands Ranch is built out and the Park Meadows Mall continues to draw people from miles around, Aspen Grove

has struggled with high vacancy rates for years because of so few shoppers living in close proximity.

The recent proposal to redevelop it into a mixed-use neighborhood with significant numbers of housing units above retail was met with resistance fueled by fear of change and new neighbors. The outrage was led by already-housed people living in large, covenant-controlled homes who claim to want more housing, just not in a spot that might inconvenience them. The proposed number of homes was dramatically reduced (this is a phenomenon happening across the country - hence, skyrocketing housing prices) and therefore won’t likely make a significant, positive impact for the retail center or light rail ridership numbers. Enabling developments that put more homes in close proximity to transit and retail represent precisely the kind of forward-thinking solutions we need to solve the housing crisis and sustain local economies.

The reluctance of some municipalities to embrace transit-oriented development underscores the necessity of state intervention. Local control, while important, has too often resulted in a self-perpetuating cycle of housing scarcity. Typical zoning and

subdivision regulations have prevented denser housing development in suburban communities across the nation since the early 20th century. It's time for the state government to step in and ensure that communities across Colorado have the tools and mandates necessary to address our housing crisis comprehensively.

Littleton, along with other smaller suburbs, has struggled for decades to meet the growing demand for housing near transit. Passing legislation mandating increased density near transit hubs is not just a matter of convenience; it's a moral imperative. We owe it to our residents to enact bold, visionary policies that will pave the way for a more equitable and sustainable future.

Vibrant Littleton advocates for the passage of HB-1313. Only by embracing this bill can we hope to overcome the challenges posed by Colorado's housing crisis and build a brighter tomorrow for all.

Elizabeth Kay Marchetti, AICP has worked as an urban planner for Littleton and other local governments and homebuilders in the metro area. She is a member of Vibrant Littleton, a local organization of people working for housing abundance and safe mobility for all.

A slide from Green Latinos webinar, “Looking Back and Looking Forward: The Cultural Significance of Cinco de Mayo in the Americas,” showcases a variety of Cinco de Mayo celebration ads over time. COURTESY GREEN LATINOS

SEE CINCO DE MAYO, P7

CINCO DE MAYO

a way that acknowledges the ongoing ght toward independence and decolonization.

Cinco de Mayo honors the historic victory of the battle between Mexican soldiers who fought back against French troops trying to conquer Puebla, Mexico. Pedro Hernandez, a public lands advocate for GreenLatinos, said the holiday is a portal for understanding some of the largest social movements in the Americas, and that it helps preserve Mexican Independence.

“I worked for the White House for a little bit, the government gave us, the Latino community, two special days, one is during Hispanic Heritage Month and the second is Cinco de Mayo,” said Mark Magaña, CEO, president and founder of GreenLatinos. “If that’s going to be our big Latino day, then we might as well get the message and the purpose right.”

Advocates for reclaiming Cinco de Mayo are not calling for an end to drinks and joyful celebrations, but they are asking for respect to be given to the holiday by adding culture and activism to its identity.

“Cinco de Mayo is very unique in the United States, even if it’s mistaken for what it’s actually about,” Hernandez said. “We’re tapping into our inheritance for exercising self-determination for environmental, social and political liberation.”

While the signi cance of the holiday has faded over time and turned more into a day of partying and drinking, Magaña encouraged those who celebrate to not let go of their drinks but to consider the holiday a day of action.

Arturo Sandoval, the founding

director of the Center of Southwest Culture, based in New Mexico, was part of the national organizing team for the rst-ever Earth Day in 1970 in Washington. While Sandoval agreed that Cinco de Mayo celebrates the preservation of independence, the campaign to reclaim the holiday also points attention to rebellion and revolution and what can be accomplished by protesting.

“Anything that impacts the wellbeing of our communities also impacts the environment and the living things on the planet,” he said.

In 2017, May 5 was recognized as a national Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls in response to the murder of Hanna Harris on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and other abductions and killings of Native women in the United States. e Cinco de Mayo campaign organizers applauded this move as a way to help the movement be more inclusive and move away from nationalist ideologies often associated with Cinco de Mayo.

“ is is a very strong reminder of how far we still have to go as we confront this legacy of colonialism and imperialism,” Hernandez said. “GreenLatinos expresses its solidarity with the e ort for missing and murdered indigenous women and also recognizes the fact that in Latin America, environmentalists and activists are often the rst people to be disappeared.”

With Cinco de Mayo approaching, Olivia Juarez drew a connection between the battle of Puebla and modern-day activism. GreenLatinos encourages those who are interested in reclaiming the holiday to sign the declaration and have conversations with those around them on the signi cance of Cinco de Mayo to acknowledge that it opens doors to other conver-

sations of liberation today, whether it’s environmental, educational or cultural.

While that may seem overwhelming, she noted that the original victory was won by the underdogs.

“Be inspired by the battle of Puebla,” Juarez said. “Join in the state of action and use it as a hook for your ghts for our environmental liberation, to get more support and more wind behind our sails, to protect each other and stop cultural appropriation.”

April 29, 1933 - April 21, 2024

Barbara Jean Stephens stepped into heaven on April 21, 2024—just 8 days shy of her 91st birthday. It was just like her to choose a Sunday morning as her departure date, and we are sure the Sunday service SHE attended that morning was EPIC!!

Barbara came into this world in Denver, Colorado on April 29th, 1933, as a surprise to her parents, Elbert and Julia Wilson, who had been told they couldn’t have children after Julia’s surgery years earlier. She was destined to be a “Wilma” following the “W” pattern of her older siblings, Walter and Wanda. Her sister, Wanda, was in Junior High School at the time and she convinced her mother to name her baby sister after her best friend, Barbara Jean. One of Barb’s nephews teasingly called her Aunt Wilma throughout her life.

She graduated from West High School in Denver in 1952 and soon after began working for Public Service Company. She had a full scholarship to attend Western Colorado University, but she loved her new job so much she decided to stay. at decision turned out to be fate, because had she gone to school, she would not have been there when James R. Stephens started working at PSCO in the fall. She told him she felt sorry for his future wife because he was gone skiing or shing every weekend and she knew his wife would be a weekend widow. Long story short, they were married the following year on Valentine’s Day, 1953 and continued to live happily for the next 56 years until Jim’s death in 2009.

ey started married life in Denver, where they were blessed with two children— Gregg, in 1955, and Nancy, in 1957. ey lived in their home in Denver until 1966 when they moved to Salida for 3 years. en they moved to Brighton where they lived for the next 40 years, and nally to Loveland for the next 17 years. Barbara moved to Good Samaritan Assisted Living in Ft Collins almost a year ago.

Barbara was an extremely gifted homemaker and created such a warm and loving home for her family. She took pride in every home she lived in and decorated accordingly for EVERY season and holiday! Christmas was her favorite! She provided incredible meals, equally incredible desserts and even the family picnics were a gourmet experience. Our family could not have been blessed with a better mom! We spent many weekends 4-wheelin’ through the Colorado mountains exploring our beautiful state and making wonderful memories together. She began working as an administrative secretary

in the Brighton School District when her children were older. She created another wonderful “family of friends” there. Barb loved to entertain family and friends and was active in each community. Her church families were always a priority and she spent many hours serving wherever she was called. She loved sending and receiving cards and oversaw the card ministry at her church for many years. Encouraging others was one of her many gifts. Other hobbies included scrapbooking, genealogy, embroidery, and knitting. ere are many little “pieces of Barb” in homes across Colorado!

Barb maintained an extremely strong faith throughout her lifetime. She loved her Lord, heart and soul! If you needed a good and faithful prayer warrior, Barb was your go-to!

Barbara was a very loving and supportive wife. Jim and Barbara had many wonderful years of love and laughter together and she was Jim’s dedicated caretaker for the last years of his life as he deteriorated with dementia. She had missed him every day of the almost 15 years since his passing. Our hearts are rejoicing that they are nally together again!! She cherished her children, grandchildren, siblings, extended family members, friends, and pets. She made lifelong friends everywhere she went, and she had an amazing ability to keep track of and nurture those connections. She had such a positive impact on so many peoples’ lives. Her strong faith and wisdom were a beacon of light and inspiration for many who knew her.

She is survived by her son Gregg Stephens (Dawn) of Central Point, OR daughter Nancy Trignani (Lou) of Ft Collins, CO, grandson Stephen Trignani (Heather) of Greeley, CO and granddaughter, Alyssa Tuttle (Dan) of Ft. Collins, CO.

All who were privileged to know her will remember her fondly. She left a legacy of love and a trail of lovely memories in each heart that she touched.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on ursday, May 9, 2024, at 2PM at First Baptist Church, 1003 W 6th Street, Loveland Colorado. e family respectfully requests no owers. Donations in memory of Barb can go to either:

Banner Hospice of Northern Colorado 5628 19th Street, Suite 2 Greeley, CO 80634

Focus on the Family 8605 Explorer Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920

STEPHENS

Barbara Jean Stephens

MARKETS

“ e arrival of inexpensive utilityscale solar and the arrival of inexpensive utility-scale batteries has changed the landscape for co-ops,” said Seth Feaster, an energy data analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

“ e great thing about solar is coops scale it to their needs,” Feaster said. “ ey can keep it local and they don’t need a big coal plant in another state anymore.”

Rural cooperatives traditionally bought their electricity wholesale in bulk from large generation and transmission associations, created to serve the co-ops, or an investor-

owned utility, like Xcel Energy. ose purchases account for 60% to 70% of the cooperatives’ budgets.

But with more independent power suppliers and the opportunity to build their own smaller-scale projects, cooperatives have more options, said Robin Lunt, chief strategy o cer at Guzman Energy, a power wholesaler, which has been instrumental in the departure of several co-ops from Tri-State.

“ ere’s increasing opportunity for the distribution utilities to look at the market and decide how they want to design their power supply and customize it to the community they serve,” Lunt said.

Guzman will supply United Power with about a third of its energy needs in a 15-year contract when the co-op leaves Tri-State.

e departures come with risks as the cooperatives now must strike a series of contracts with di erent providers for power to replace that single source with large generation and transmission resources.

At its April 3 annual meeting, TriState CEO Duane Highley outlined the association’s investments to provide 5,300 megawatts of generation for its member co-ops spread across Nebraska, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

“ is is real reliability; this portfolio cannot be matched,” Highley told the meeting. “It is a hedge against market prices. … We know there’s going be less and less surplus capacity, and it’s going be a time of greater stress on the grid.” e departing cooperatives also are leaving power providers regulated by state and federal agencies for less transparent private operators, Tri-State spokesman Lee Boughey said.

“ e risk has always been there,” CORE’s Hildred said, pointing out that Xcel Energy has passed on costs it has incurred and is undertaking big projects — including a $2 billion Power Pathway transmission line and a proposed $15 billion clean energy plan — which will end up in customers’ bills.

“We will have control based on market prices our members are exposed to rather than the decision Xcel makes over which we have very little in uence,” Hildred said

For United Power, Tri-State posed two problems. As its largest member, representing about 20% of its revenue, United Power was carrying a disproportionate amount of the association’s overhead, in essence subsidizing smaller co-ops.

“ ese cross-subsidies have to stop,” Gabriel said.

Second, Tri-State’s 50-year contracts require its cooperatives to

buy 95% of their electricity from Tri-State thwarting local power projects.

Other cooperatives have chafed at these restrictions with two already having left — the Kit Carson Electric Cooperative, in Taos, New Mexico, and Delta Montrose Energy Association in southwestern Colorado.

Tri-State has responded by developing more renewable generation, which will reach 70% of its total by 2030, and by developing a contract that will enable co-ops to develop their own power projects.

Still, when United Power leaves, so will the Northwest Rural Public Power District, in Hay Springs, Nebraska. Mountain Parks Electric, in Granby, will leave in 2025 with a 20year contract with Guzman Energy. Durango-based La Plata Electric Association also voted in March to leave Tri-State.

e departures trim Tri-State to 38 members and cut the association’s revenues by more than 25%.

United and Tri-State clashed over plans for a local co-op battery project and now that it is leaving, has embarked on projects such as a oating solar array on the Fort Lupton water treatment plant reservoir.

“We are going hyperlocal,” Gabriel said, trying to line up projects in or close to United Power’s service territory.

As for the risks of the new business model — United Power has signed 23 power purchase and battery agreements, including one to buy wholesale power from Tri-State — Gabriel said it is up to the cooperative to manage that through its contracts.

“ ere have to be guarantees that electricity is provided … one way or another,” Gabriel said. e co-op is requiring some contractors to post bonds.

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PREVENTION

e DEA a rms that Take Back Day functions best as a preventive measure, by encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes. at prevents medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting in the rst

place. Other methods of disposal can harm the environment in ways you might not think of. Flushing your medication down the toilet, for example, can contaminate water supplies or harm wildlife.

“ ere are so many medications prescribed right now. Getting rid of them in bulk is just easier to do at a place like this, where it’s monitored and safe,” Beard said. “And you

don’t have to worry about getting rid of them yourself. You can stay on top of it.”

You don’t have to wait until the last Saturday of April to do it, either. e Commerce City Police Department accepts unwanted medications year-round during regular weekday business hours as well. ere is a state-managed medication kiosk in the lobby, where medications are boxed up and inciner-

NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO CREATE BINDING USE

ARSENAL

Facility: Rocky Mountain Arsenal

Address: 6550 Gateway Road, Commerce City, CO 80022

Background:

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) provides notice of their intention to impose binding environmental use restrictions (EURs) on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, which includes both the Army maintained areas and the national wildlife refuge located on and around 6550 Gateway Road, Commerce City, CO 80022.

The EURs are consistent with the existing allowed uses at the site and prohibit residential uses, construction, agricultural uses, consumption of game and fish, potable use of groundwater, certain vehicular traffic, any activities that may damage, cause erosion, or otherwise interfere with the remedy, and other uses.

Pursuant to § 25-15-318.5, C.R.S., once the EURs have been finalized, they are binding on all current and future owners of the land and any persons possessing an interest in the land.

CDPHE is accepting public comments on the draft EURs.

Public comments:

All comments must be submitted by June 5, 2024 to: Jennifer Talbert, Remediation Program Manager jennifer.talbert@state.co.us | (720) 7666083.

Copies of the proposed EURs and a legal description of the affected property are available by contacting Jennifer Talbert.

Additional site information: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hm/rockymountain-arsenal

Legal Notice No. CCX1333

First Publication: May 9, 2024

Last Publication: May 30, 2024

Publisher: Commerce City Sentinel Express

Districts

South Adams County Water Sanitation District – Klein Water Treatment Facility

South Adams County Water Sanitation District 6595 East 70th Avenue Commerce City, Colorado 80022

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 May 28, 2024, at the hour of 3:00 p.m. to A.D. Miller Services, Inc. of Centennial, CO for all work done by said Contractor(s) in construction work performed for the District.

Project Contractor: A.D. Miller Services, Inc.

Project Name: SACWSD Klein Water Treatment Facility Improvements

Project Location: . 7400 Quebec Street, Commerce City, CO 80022

Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-26-107, 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

ated regularly.

“In Colorado, we’re really lucky. We’ve got two di erent agencies that are helping get these prescription drugs o the street,” she said.

“Because even though they’re prescribed medications, they can be used illegally, and they can be dangerous to everyone; not just children or teens but adult overdoses. is program absolutely helps a lot.”

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.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SOUTH ADAMS COUNTY WATER AND

DISTRICT acting through its SOUTH ADAMS COUNTY WATER AND SANITATION DISTRICT ACTIVITY ENTERPRISE

By: Vicki Ennis, Secretary

Legal Notice No.