Denver Herald 032323

Remembering former Rep.

Pat Schroeder in Colorado and beyond

Some Coloradans could save big on electric vehicles

Income-based credit adds thousands to existing lucrative discounts

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

State o cials are putting nishing touches on an electric vehicle rebate for income-quali ed buyers willing to trade in an older gas-fueled vehicle, adding up to $6,000 in price cuts on a new vehicle to a menu of credits that can already include $5,500 from utilities or up to $7,500 from federal sources.

e program is expected to launch in mid-July, with $2 million in state money over the following 12 months. Colorado is paying for the instant rebates and other EV infrastructure, such as public chargers, with a 6.9-cent portion of the 27cent delivery fee passed as part of a sweeping 2021 transportation policy and funding bill.

BY CAITLYN KIM CPR NEWS

Coloradans and people elsewhere are remembering former U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder, a trailblazer who paved the way for women’s rights in national and local politics. She died on Monday, March 13, at 82.

“Representative Schroeder was a one-of-a-kind leader and barrier

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breaker,” said Gov. Jared Polis in a statement. “Our daughter’s future and women across our country’s future are better thanks to her service.”

Schroeder was the rst woman to represent Colorado in Congress. She had a stroke recently and died at a hospital in Florida, where she had been living, according to her former press secretary, Andrea Camp. Her legislative record included

CALENDAR: PAGE 11

several bills that helped advance women’s rights, from the Pregnancy Discrimination Act to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

In the male-dominated halls of Congress, she was known for her quick wit and barbs. She coined the phrase “Te on President” for former President Ronald Regan, a moniker

SEE SCHROEDER, P2

Shoppers who are looking for used EVs and have an old car to trade in could get $4,000 from the new state rebate program, taken o the sale price at the cash register instead of rebated the next time they le taxes. Electri cation advocates say upfront price cuts in the form of instant tax credits are the most attractive

SEE ELECTRIC, P5

U.S. Rep. Pat Schroeder, D-Colo., sits on the porch outside her Capitol Hill headquarters in Denver on July 18, 1994. Schroeder, a pioneer for women’s and family rights in Congress, has died at the age of 82.

FILE PHOTO BY JOE MAHONEY

that still sticks for any politician who can avoid blame. When asked how, as a mother of two young children, she’d balance Congress and her family, she famously replied, “I have a brain and a uterus and I use both.”

Polis knew her since he was a kid and described Schroeder as a mentor.

“She championed family leave, healthcare and equal rights. She was known and loved for her incredible sharp wit,” Polis said in a post on his Facebook page. “Her passion, her love for country will be missed not only by those who knew her, but by our whole state and the entire nation. Farewell Pat, and thank you for being uniquely yourself.”

President Joe Biden said Schroeder “stood up for basic fairness, sensible policy, and women’s equal humanity.

“I saw rsthand Pat’s moral compass, legal mind, and political savvy when we worked together on the Violence Against Women Act,” Biden said in a statement. “She was the primary sponsor in the House; I led the charge in the Senate. Together, we got it done. With Pat as my partner, I never doubted that we would.”

Schroeder served as national cochair for then Colorado Sen. Gary Hart’s presidential run in 1987. Hart described her as a longtime dear friend and very e ective member of Congress.

“She was highly intelligent and took the responsibilities of public

service seriously. e citizens of the rst Congressional District could not have had a better representative for those 24 years than Pat,” he said in a statement. “She left the House a better place than when she joined it.”

Denver area Rep. Diana DeGette, who was elected to Schroeder’s seat, praised her as “a trailblazer, a role model, a mentor and a friend.”

“Pat was elected to Congress when I was in high school and she inspired a generation of young women, like me, to dream high,” DeGette said in a statement. “She became a mentor and dear friend after I succeeded her, and I am eternally thankful, not only for all of the incredible work she did for our state, but for the guidance and friendship she provided along the way. My condolences to Jim, Scott and Jamie during this di cult time. Pat’s brilliance, passion and wit will never be duplicated, but will always be remembered.”

Schroeder may have been a congressional trailblazer from Colorado, but it would be awhile before more women would break through. Until 2021, there were never more than two woman in the Colorado congressional delegation at a time. Now there are four.

Former Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell served with Schroeder in the House.

“She was a good friend,” he said. “But one of the things I remember about her was her fantastic sense of humor. She could nd something funny in almost anything. And I enjoyed serving with her. And she really was a wonderful friend.”

Nighthorse Campbell also noted

she was a good Democrat, but wasn’t always “the Democrat that all Democrats wanted her to be because she crossed over and supported Republican concepts a number of times, too, as I remember.”

While he and Schroeder had political disagreements, former Republican Rep. Scott McInnis of Mesa County who served with her said he admired Schroeder, especially her leadership on women’s right. And he added, when she felt strongly about an issue, “she would use every tool in the tool bag to put her point her view (and) make sure it received its appropriate attention. She was tough.”

Congress members who did not serve with her, also had praise for the former legislator.

GOP Rep. Ken Buck described Schroeder as “a ghter and trailblazer for the causes she believed in. My prayers are with her family, friends, and loved ones.” While, Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse, the rst African American Colorado elected to Congress, also sent condolences to Schroeder’s family. He said, “An incredible public servant and historic trailblazer, Pat Schroeder’s countless contributions to the State of Colorado and our country will truly have a lasting impact.”

Democratic Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi described Schroeder as “an e ective legislative force, whose bold vision and rm values helped deliver progress for America’s women, servicemembers and working families.”

“It was my great personal privilege to serve with Congresswoman Schroeder, whom many of us consider one of the bravest women to ever serve in the halls of Congress,” she said in a statement. “Her courage and persistence leave behind an indelible legacy of progress and have inspired countless women in public service to follow in her footsteps.”

Former New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney served with Schroeder in Congress and described her as a consequential feminist leader who loved Colorado. Maloney said she was heartbroken.

“It’s a great loss for Colorado, for the country, for women. She accomplished so much and she was a trailblazing, monumental leader.”

Maloney said Schroeder was the chair of the women’s caucus her rst year in o ce and often it was just the two of them in the room. She also described Schroeder as “a great strategist.” She noted that when Rep. Newt Gingrich was appointed Speaker and started chipping away at women’s rights with actions on the oor, Schroeder “had all of us on beeper and would get us to the oor.”

“She initiated projects and actions and worked hard to get things done. I thought she was an incredible person and leader…When she left [Congress] it was a great loss. I loved her counsel, her advice and leadership,” Maloney said.

Another woman who bene ted from Schroeder’s outspokenness was law professor Anita Hill. Schroeder was one of seven congresswomen to march to the Senate in 1991 and demand that Clarence omas’ Supreme Court con rmation be delayed so that Hill could be heard. “It just showed me that the leadership was there in Wash-

ington… with the ability to speak to women’s lived experiences and the understanding that what was happening in that moment was going to a ect women’s political power for the rest of, at least, that decade.”

Looking back at Schroeder’s career, Hill said it was clear that the Colorado congresswoman was ready to lead.

“She continued to lead, even after she retired, to be a thought leader. She was very outspoken about gender equity and equality, whether it was economic equality, whether it was Title IX in sports or whether it was Title IX anti-harassment and sexual assault,” said Hill, who is now a professor at Brandeis University.

“She continued to be that leader and she was so bold and so smart that she didn’t limit her voice.”

Former New York Rep. Nita Lowey was one of the Democrats that marched to the Senate with Schroeder. Like many others, she called Schroeder a role model. “She was strong, she was wise, she was smart… she was there to give advice to women such as myself.”

‘A great strategist’

Schroeder was born in Portland, Oregon, on July 30, 1940. She was a pilot who paid for college tuition with her own ying service. She graduated from the University of Minnesota before earning her law degree in 1964. From 1964 to 1966, she was a eld attorney for the National Labor Relations Board.

In 1972, Schroeder ran for Congress without support from the Democratic Party. She won that race, and at 32 became the youngest member of Congress, at that time. She sailed to reelection 11 times in the Denver-based rst congressional district.

After Gary Hart withdrew from the presidential race in 1987, Schroeder brie y ran for President. In her campaign announcement speech at Denver’s Civic Center Park, Schroeder said she was running to change minds about what women could do in politics.

“I said that I wanted America to see me as a candidate for president who was a woman rather than a woman’s candidate and label me and pigeonhole me. Because I felt my quali cations were every bit as good, and had my name been Patrick, that’s how they would have treated it,” Schroeder said.

In 2016, Schroeder told Colorado Matters that at the time she ran, the U.S. was far from electing a woman as president.

“In fact at that time, we were getting polls showing that 25 percent of people were saying that they wouldn’t vote for a woman for president. But the number was even higher if you asked them if they had friends that would not vote for president. And I tended to believe the second one even more.”

When she withdrew from the presidential race, she was criticized, including by some women, for tearing up in the middle of her speech.

“It became who could lecture me the most on that,” said Schroeder, who kept a le of male politicians that cried. “And yet men were weeping all the time. Sports guys, [John] Sununu, President Regan. So really it was kind of a di erent standard.”

Tattered Cover owner Kwame Spearman drops out of mayor’s race

BY KYLE HARRIS DENVERITE

Tattered Cover CEO Kwame Spearman has stepped out of the Denver mayor race and is endorsing Kelly Brough.

Spearman has proven himself as a spirited debater and a proponent of law-and-order politics and the urban camping ban.

Spearman will be backing former Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce head Kelly Brough.

“I think, in the eyes of the voters, we have the opportunity to elect our rst female mayor. I want to get behind that,” Spearman told Denverite. “I think that’s the right answer for the City of Denver.”

Spearman said he and Brough have not talked about cabinet positions or other appointments, and he’s eager to return to work as the head of Tattered Cover.

“I like to say, ‘I have the second best job in the City and County of Denver,’” Spearman said.

Like Spearman, Brough has said as

SCHROEDER

She joked that she kept waiting to hear “these scathing things about how

mayor she would have the city arrest people who violate the urban camping ban and refuse to take services.

Spearman pledged to be a neighborhood mayor by nding tailored, local solutions by going neighborhood to neighborhood. Brough has more of a regional view and promises to solve Denver’s biggest issues, including

[former House Speaker John Boehner] ruined men’s chances for the rest of the century.” Boehner developed a reputation for crying and choking up. When asked if she thought she’d see a woman president in her lifetime, she said, “I had always hoped, but I really

with other cities.

Spearman moved to Denver to take charge of the Tattered Cover roughly two years ago. His time at the helm of the independent bookstore chain has included growth across the metro area and also criticism from some workers.

Spearman was a latecomer to the

worry I won’t.”

Schroeder is survived by her husband, James W. Schroeder, whom she married in 1962. Also surviving are their two children, Scott and Jamie, and her brother, Mike Scott, as well as four grandchildren.

race and the rst candidate of the 17 who made the ballot to drop out.

In total, his campaign raised $219,074.25, and he said they’ve spent most of it.

Any unspent taxpayer money he’s collected from the Fair Elections Fund must be returned to the city.

e money he’s raised for his campaign can fund his own future campaigns, be given to another municipal candidate or committee working on a ballot issue, or to a charitable group. Finally, he can consider refunding contributors.

“From a resource perspective, there are other candidates who have more,” Spearman said. “And I think there’s an opportunity for us to make history.”

Spearman’s name will appear on ballots as these started being mailed out to voters last week.

is story is from Denverite, a nonpro t Denver news source a liated with CPR News. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.

Andy Kenney contributed to this report.

This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

Kwame Spearman speaks during Denverite’s People’s Forum mayoral debate at the Carla Madison Rec Center on March 7.

PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY/DENVERITE

Hopes for designation for colleges serving first-gen students ends

Funding formula stymies House Bill 1114

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

On the surface, the bill had a simple premise — to recognize Colorado universities and colleges that enroll a high number of students who are the rst in their family to go to college and communicate to those students that they are welcome on campus.

e most symbolic bill, however, prompted a more complicated conversation about whether creating a rst generation-serving designation would lead to those schools getting more state funding. In a state that funds its public colleges near the bottom of the nation, any hint at changing the distribution of money raises concerns for university leaders.

Faced with opposition from larger schools that serve fewer rst-generation students, the sponsors pulled House Bill 1114 before it went to vote on the House oor.

Bill co-sponsor state Rep. Rick Taggart, a Grand Junction Republican, said he wants to talk more with university leaders and bring the bill back next year. He said it troubled him that the opposition centered on funding concerns when the bill didn’t call for any changes to the higher education funding formula.

At the same time, he said he understands why money is a sensitive subject.

“I totally respect the reason that folks are really concerned about the funding formula is that higher education is way underfunded in this state, just severely underfunded,” Taggart said. “If you start messing with the formula, you’re going to rob Peter to pay Paul.”

For university leaders, the bill did place funding under the microscope.

Supporters such as Colorado Mesa University President John Marshall said he hoped the designation would kick o a larger conversation about the money schools need to educate rst-generation students who often need more support. Colorado Mesa University and Metropolitan State University of Denver supported the bill and would have almost immediately earned the rst generationserving designation.

In a statement, MSU Denver President Janine Davidson said the school was proud to stand behind the bill.

“While we’re disappointed it didn’t pass, we remain committed to making MSU Denver a vibrant home for those trailblazing students who are the rst in their families to go to college,” she said.

Opponents such as Colorado State University System Chancellor Tony Frank said during committee testimony that other schools also serve students who are the rst in their family to go to college in their fam-

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ily. He worried that the designation would create unfair considerations later on. A CSU System spokeswoman did not return a request for comment. e bill passed the House Education Committee unanimously last month, but Taggart and co-sponsor state Rep. Serena Gonzales-Guttierez, a Denver Democrat, pulled the bill from consideration before a full House vote last week.

Taggart said schools should get recognized for what they do for students, and students should know about their options. For example, schools whose student populations are 25% Hispanic or more are designated HispanicServing Institutions. However, that federal designation does come

with extra money. Other schools or programs might get special designations for what they’ve accomplished, Taggart said.

Taggart hopes he can nd more agreement when he brings the bill back next year. Educating rst-generation students will be a big part of how Colorado gets a more educated population, he said.

“I am disappointed because this evolved into a funding discussion rather than sticking to a designation that these universities deserve,” Taggart said.

is story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters

Some Colorado public colleges like Metropolitan State University of Denver serve large populations of first-generation students. Pictured: Metropolitan State University’s Center for Visual Art on Santa Fe Drive in Denver. FACEBOOK IMAGE FROM 2013

ELECTRIC

FROM PAGE 1

for shoppers considering EVs. e dealer then claims the payment from the state.

State o cials also announced a package of forthcoming energy and climate bills for the current legislative session that could add even more to those incentives. Colorado currently o ers a $2,000 state tax credit for new EVs, no trade-in required, and elements of the bill package could increase the state’s credit to $5,000.

Not all the credits and rebates will be stackable, though state o cials are at pains to de ne how they can combine. Not all those decisions have been made. Further confusing the matter is that the existing, about-to-be-expanded state credit for new cars without a trade-in will be refundable, meaning quali ed buyers could wipe out all of their state tax obligation and get a cash refund back.

is month, the Colorado Energy O ce said the proposed $5,000 state credit could be expanded by up to another $2,500 if the legislative package passes, for vehicles priced under $30,000. at extra amount is intended to ll gaps for vehicles that don’t qualify yet for the full $7,500 federal credit because not enough of their parts are made in the U.S., a CEO spokesperson said. e state’s gap- ller will boost lower-income buyers while the automakers revamp their assembly systems.

An income quali ed customer

making the trade-in could theoretically combine the $6,000 state tradein rebate for a new car, a $5,000 state tax credit, and a $7,500 federal tax credit expanded this year, for a total of nearly $19,000 o a new EV. Xcel Energy and Black Hills o er a $5,500 rebate for income-quali ed buyers of new EVs, which are stackable with the trade-in rebate but not stackable with the State EV tax credit— customers may have to choose.

Some customers will be in the sweet spot of combining a number of the rebates and credits for a qualifying car, said Travis Madsen, transportation program director for the Southwest Energy E ciency Project.

“So, the total stackable amount could be in the $20,000-plus range for a purchase that met all eligibility criteria,” he said.

e federal tax credit is “nonrefundable,” meaning it can only o set federal taxes the earner would otherwise pay. ose who are incomequali ed for the new state trade-in credit might not pay enough in federal taxes to bene t from the full $7,500 federal credit.

e car being traded in must be a 2011 model or older, or have failed Colorado emissions tests.

e trade-in program, dubbed Vehicle Exchange Colorado, takes on multiple goals of state o cials and environmental justice advocates. Taking older, higher-polluting gas vehicles o the road can be one of the quickest ways to reduce ozonecausing emissions from the transportation economy. And signi cant additional credits for new and used EVs can put electri cation in reach for far more households, as Colorado

agencies work to transform the collective vehicle eet to run on cleaner electricity.

e state’s greenhouse gas reduction plan and e orts to come under EPA ozone limits depend on getting 940,000 EVs on Colorado roads by 2030.

“I like the concept,” said Madsen.

“Reaching our climate goals will require a broad, society-wide shift in our vehicle eet to zero-emission technology and fuel. e upfront purchase cost of a vehicle is one of the largest obstacles we face,” he said. e state’s program should help push EVs out to people at di erent income levels, Madsen said.

e Colorado Energy O ce said the exact amounts of the trade-in credits have not been set, but community presentations mention the $6,000 toward a new EV and $4,000 toward a used EV. More details should be set by April, when the Community Access Enterprise board related to the Colorado Energy O ce will see a nal plan.

Fully electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles would qualify, under current plans. e income criteria involve the household being below 80% of the area median income, or be participating in another incomequali ed program such as Medicaid.

As an “area median” example, in Denver a household would qualify for the trade-in EV credit if a single person was making less than $62,600, or a family of four made less than $89,400.

e price of the used EV must be more than the rebate amount, and a new EV cannot be priced higher than $50,000. ere are a limited number

of lower-priced EVs currently on the market, but the Chevy Bolt sells for about $26,000 to $28,000 before tax credits.

Dozens of new EV models from all the major car manufacturers are expected to hit the market in the next year or two. Some have lowered prices as batteries get cheaper or companies want to get under the price caps to qualify for tax credits.  Expansion of tax credits and rebates at multiple levels makes the annual cost calculation better than ever, Madsen said, noting that transportation costs can eat up to 20% of a lower income family’s budget.

In ation and the temporary shutdown of the state’s only gas re nery, Suncor Energy, pushed gas prices to $4 a gallon and means the typical Denver metro household is spending about $3,000 a year on gas, Madsen said. Given current o -peak electricity prices, at 16,580 miles driven a year, an EV like the Bolt would save a family $2,400 on fuel, Madsen calculated.

Plus, there are no expensive oil changes and little other maintenance besides tires.

“So if a low- or moderate-income person can get their hands on one, they o er meaningful savings that can help improve their nancial position,” Madsen said.

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

Bridging the gap between local shopping and online

Student creates app

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When local businesses started to close down due to the pandemic, University of Denver student JohnPaul Evans wanted to help. ree years later, Evans, who grew up in Parker, launched Harvester, a website that connects shoppers to their local businesses.

While talking with an owner of a running shoe store, Evans learned that many business closures were in uenced by the pandemic, but the problem started years before COVID-19.  “ e issue kind of started back around 2012, 2013 when online shopping kind of took o and especially online shopping with large retailers,” said Evans.

As Evans saw that online shopping made shopping too convenient of an option compared to shopping at local businesses, he began to think of a way to make it more convenient to shop locally online and make it an easy process.

For over a year, Evans tried to make di erent apps and played around with websites. rough Harvester, he made a marketplace that allows shoppers to search and browse products directly from local shops.

Harvester launched in February and already has 70,000 stores on the site for shoppers across the U.S.

“All the stores that are currently listed

on Harvester are ones that already have kind of an online presence with a website and they have their inventories up already,” said Evans. “I found a way to nd a bunch of local businesses across the U.S. that had websites with all their products and consolidate them all to one site so they can shop directly from that store on.”

With Harvester, online shoppers can freely shop trending local businesses by entering their zip code. ey can also search for an item they are looking for and use the lter to sort by distance, price or relevance.

Shoppers can create an online account with Harvester and follow their favorite businesses.

e name Harvester was inspired by a machine that takes place in the process of deforestation, as seen in the Amazon rainforest. e machine is called a harvester.

“ at’s kind of where I got the idea,” said Evans. “Because a lot of local businesses were losing a lot of their businesses to huge online retailers like Amazon. And so I thought, it’s kind of like a tongue in cheek.”

As Harvester includes local business-

es with online stores, Evans said he would like for his website to expand to a point where stores that do not have an online presence will join Harvester.

Evans hopes to grow the number of users so he can adjust the app as necessary to make it fun for the users to come back.

“I hope to kind of put the fondness of local shopping in the digital form, kind of make the digital mainstreet of sorts,” said Evans. “I want to make it so any day of the week, you can browse your local stores and shop directly from your phone.”

The local shopping page of the new Harvester app created by a local student.

SCREENSHOT

Xcel Energy will cut Colorado bills again in April

Company cites declining natural gas prices

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

Xcel Energy is again cutting natural gas costs passed through to consumers starting with April bills, the third price decrease announced in two months, even as a special legislative committee pursues hearings on spikes that overwhelmed Colorado consumers beginning late in 2022.

The latest cut, proposed to the Public Utilities Commission for Xcel’s 1 million Colorado customers for the second quarter of 2023, will take $1.79 or 4% off the average household natural gas bill each month compared to the March bill. Because Xcel also uses natural gas to generate some of its electricity, consumers’ home electric bills will also drop an average of 56 cents over their March bill, or a drop of 2.7%.

In mid-February, Xcel made an “interim” monthly cut to natural gas pass through costs that trimmed March bills by an average of $11.60, or 11.5%. Electric costs were cut $2.08 a month or 2.34%.

Other cuts of the pass-through cost were made by Xcel on Dec. 1, 2022, and Feb. 1 this year, but those trims followed a series of sharp natural gas price increases in 2022 that were still showing up on residents’ bills this winter.

A mild winter in Europe has helped lower worldwide natural gas prices, as well as European nations’ relatively quick adjustments to losses of natural gas sources as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sabotage of a North Sea gas pipeline.

No one is yet calling off the consumer hounds. The Colorado legislature set up a special joint committee with members from both houses to question utility officials and consumer advocates on bills that reached $600 to $800 a month for many shocked residents in December and January.

Colorado’s early winter was colder on average than the previous one, raising bills, but Xcel charges have also included a series of other cost increases not solely attributable to commodity prices. Xcel has sought big boosts from the PUC for updating electric infrastructure, and will be seeking more for building new transmission lines to help complete the changeover from coal and gasfired power plants to renewable energy like solar farms and wind turbines.

By the end of January, requests for help from the Colorado lowincome energy assistance program that subsidizes consumer bills were running 50% higher than last year.

The commodity pass-through price can be adjusted through quarterly filings from the utilities, as Xcel did Monday, or through interim monthly adjustments.

Xcel said the commodity price of gas, which it passes on without adding a profit, makes up about 54% of the total residential gas bill, and about 23% of residential electric bills.

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

A housing development at the corner of 29th and Zenobia, in Denver. Xcel Energy seeks to charge Colorado customers $32 million to upgrade natural gas service for 6,800 customers in the Sloan Lake area in Denver, Edgewater and Lakewood, by adding a new regulator station. COURTESY OF THE COLORADO SUN

‘Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography’

Showing now through May 22 at the Denver Art Museum

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

In 1977, writer and philosopher Susan Sontag said in her book, “On Photography,” that “to photograph people is to violate them, by seeing them as they never see themselves, by having knowledge of them that they can never have; it turns people into objects that can be symbolically possessed.”

Photography can tell a thousand stories. roughout the past several decades, visual anthropologists have studied Sontag’s work along with that of other writers, researchers and philosophers. Some anthropologists argue that the purest form of photography is that which is captured by the individual, documenting their own life and shining a light on selfhood, human behavior and even deep, personal struggle.

At the Denver Art Museum’s newest photography exhibition entitled “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous photography,” more than 30 Native photographers have come together to tell their own personal stories of struggle, erasure, anger and stereotyping. ey’ve also visually depicted their stories of humor, joy, perseverance and the Native spirit.

“As an exhibition, one of the aims of the artists is to reclaim and takeback the narrative about Indigenous people in North America. It is people who are given a voice and an opportunity to make pictures that address a lot of historical issues about stereotyping, invisibility, poverty and violence. But it isn’t all about that,” said Eric Paddock, curator of photography at the Denver Art Museum. “It isn’t all about blame or throwing the darker parts of our history into high relief. It does that, but there are also pictures that express the importance of family, and of community, and the value of memory in the everyday lives of Indigenous people.

In those respects. ey’re not that di erent from the needs and hopes of other people.”

“Speaking with Light” is one of the rst major museum surveys to explore the practices of Indigenous photographers working over the past three decades. e exhibition was organized by the Amon Carter Museum of Art in Fort Worth, Texas, where it debuted before its presentation in Denver. It includes new commissions and recently acquired works from the Amon Carter Museum’s collection alongside loans from artists and other institutions.

e colorfully curated exhibit is divided into four sections. e exhibit takes visitors on a journey of the Native experience, beginning with depictions of Native people taken by White photographers, and ending with a story of resilience.

e rst section entitled Prologue: State to State features photographs made by White photographers when Indigenous leaders traveled to Washington, D.C. for treaty negotiations.

ose leaders may not have been happy about what they heard from the U.S. government, but they projected strength, agency and dignity in the photography studios. Indigenous photographer Will Wilson’s “Talking Tintype” portrait of Enoch Haney, former principal chief of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma, vividly carries these

early photographic encounters into the present day, tracing a through line to questions of identity, governance and sovereignty in the 21st century.

In the second section entitled Survivance: An Ongoing Process, Native photographers use humor, pathos, anger and declaration to defy erasure and stereotyping, and to demand recognition of Indigenous existence, rights and cultural commitment.

Section three is called Nation. In this section, photographs depict the relations Native individuals have to their communities and show that they are central to Indigenous identity. Artists delve into what it means to belong and question how dislocation, forced assimilation or disconnection impact the concept of nationality.

Indigenous Visualities is the title of section four. It depicts photographs that lift Indigenous voices, embracing spirit and a deep connection with the natural world. e works push back against colonial narratives to demonstrate that Indigenous voices are integral in the ever-evolving social landscape.

“Speaking with Light” concludes with an interactive touchscreen where visitors can explore the work of many more Indigenous photographers through the online database, Indigenous Photograph. roughout the exhibition, visitors will encounter short videos and hear insights about the work from artists themselves.

“ is is a pretty special thing that doesn’t come along every day,” said Paddock. “ e people of Denver should come see this exhibition because it shows that there is a huge realm of photography that isn’t on everyone’s radar, that we haven’t been seeing in museums, or reading about in the art press until very recently.”

IF YOU GO

The “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography” is on display at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. through May 22. The exhibition will be included in general admission, which is free for everyone 18 and under every day, as well as museum members. To learn more, visit denverartmuseum.org.

Zig Jackson (Mandan/Hidatsa/Arikara, b. 1957), “Indian Man on the Bus, Mission District, San Francisco, California,” 1994. This is one of the pieces on display part of the “Speaking with Light: Contemporary Indigenous Photography exhibit” at the Denver Art Museum. COURTESY OF THE AMON CARTER MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

Native American Short Play Festival coming

Littleton United Methodist Church is venue for April events

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After a three-year postponement, the Encore Players at Littleton United Methodist Church will sponsor a Native American Short Play Festival, produced by a new organization, Celebration of Native Arts (CoNA). Mark your calendar for April 21 (7 p.m.) or April 23 (2 p.m.). e purpose of CoNA is to promote Native American theater, music and dance.

e ve plays — each 10 minutes or less in length — will be presented as staged readings and they explore universal themes such as rites of passage, grief, empowerment and family, according to directors Annawyn Shamas, and Ellen Shamas-Brandt, founder of CoNA and Denver actor/director Pamela Clifton.

e Shamas mother/daughter duo are longtime Littleton residents — and are Chickasaw tribe members, as is Laura Shamas.

Annawyn’s great-grandfather was Chickasaw, she says, and they and sister/playwright Laura have registered as members.

is has been a major project for them and the theater-oriented family has been focused on Native American writing for some time: attending perfor-

mances and making contacts.

ese plays, which will have staged readings, were originally performed in Los Angeles at Native Voices at the Autry eater’s Annual Short Play Festival.

ey are: “ e Origin of Law” by Diane Glancy (Cherokee), “Four Women in Red” by Laura Shamas (Chickasaw), “ e Tamale Man” and “Slow Your Roll,” by P.C. Verrone (Osage, Kiowa) and “Flight” by DeLanna Studi (Cherokee).

Native Voices at the Autry was founded in 1994 and is devoted to developing and producing new works for the stage by Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and First Nations playwrights.

ey are “moving, thought-provoking and humorous,” according to ShamasBrandt, who sent out casting calls to the theater community.

Actors/readers will have four rehearsals and will be paid, she said, happy that she had lled the roles when we spoke last week. Applicants sent a head shot, resume, short video and monologue.

Rehearsal time will be brief, but the actors will read from the scripts, rather than performing in the round. It’s a pleasant prospect to have the opportunity to participate in new works and we hope this community will become involved.

Admission is free, and a free will o ering will be taken to bene t the United Methodist Native American Ministries. e festival coincides with Native American Sunday on April 23 at 5824 S. Datura St., Littleton. e church has lots of free parking.

The Encore Players at Littleton United Methodist Church are sponsoring the Native American Short Play Festival, produced by Celebration of Native Arts.

In Sierra Leone, local journalism is a lifeboat for women in rural communities

West African nation’s top female newsroom, Media Matters for Women

Sierra Leone, celebrates 10th anniversary; partners with DU research team

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In the rural communities of Sierra Leone, women who are experiencing sexual abuse, gender-based violence and restricted bodily autonomy often have just one hope when seeking justice; the intrepid journalists at Media Matters for Women Sierra Leone.

Now in its 10th year of operation, MMW has grown from a small local podcasting network to a nationwide community news service that serves over 60,000 listeners.

In a traditionally patriarchal society where women are often not taught to read or write, MMW’s journalists create targeted podcasts translated into over 30 local dialects to reach and inform listeners — often in the country’s most remote corners.

Recently, MMW’s Executive Director Florence Sesay and Senior Journalist Alinah Kallon traveled to New York and Colorado to attend the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women and convene with a data journalism team of grad students at the University of Denver, respectively.

Sesay said the U.N. convening was particularly poignant because she and Kallon were able to feel solidarity with women around the world working through similar challenges and learn tools to implement in her work when she returns.

“We are learning from other countries in terms of response to sexual and gender-based violence,” Sesay said. “Listening to stories, it’s like sometimes when you work on women’s issues, we need that solidarity. Sometimes just listening to all the stories from women from across the globe gives you that energy. You keep going like you’re not alone in this ght.

“I want to see how I can learn and share best practices when I go back,” Sesay continued.

e MMW team has carved out a dedicated listener base by continu-

ally challenging norms.

In Sierra Leone — as well as most other states in the world — newsrooms have been historically controlled by men, and men typically hold positions of power. In rural communities, this often leads to a pervasive culture of violence against women, and a lack of accountability for those who commit crimes within the justice system.

“I think journalists, the media, we have very powerful women now — before, the newsroom was

Prepare for power outages

controlled by men,” Sesay said. “ e space was controlled by men. For Media Matters for Women, we are in charge, and we are taking the lead in telling the stories of women — especially those who are in the last mile.”

To bridge that information gap — especially for women in remote, “last mile” communities — MMW’s journalists must gain the trust of — mostly male — community leaders. at work, Kallon says, has taken years of building trust to develop.

“Sierra Leone is a country where we have a high number of illiteracies; many women do not have the ability to read and write,” Kallon said. “ e gap of gender inequality is huge. We ensure that we work with key traditional and religious leaders — these are key stakeholders at the community level — and these are in uencers of change. If we want to create an impact, it is important to try and target these people who are in that position and can help us make a change.”

While MMW is women-run and primarily creates content for women, the NGO is not a liated with any political party or ideology. eir mission is simply to inform women of their rights.

In Sierra Leone, when new laws are passed — such as the country’s recent Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Act — word does not always travel to last-mile communities, which may or may not enforce new ordinances and statutes. is contributes to a continuance of old patriarchal roles in remote communities, despite e orts by the legislature to promote equality.

is, Sesay says, is the importance of MMW gaining the trust of local leaders.

“Traditional and religious leaders are well-respected gures in our communities, and they demand respect within these communities,” Sesay said. “So, it is easy for us to use them as a vehicle of change. eir buy-in makes a whole lot of di erence. We win and they win as well.”

Kallon said that while many leaders were skeptical at rst, they’ve begun to see the bene ts of MMW programming — and female empowerment — within their own communities.

“Obviously, you have some resistance, because we are preaching equality, we are preaching women empowerment — men don’t want to hear messages like that,” Kallon said. “We back our podcast with what the law says, and if you have the backing of the law, they understand that it’s something they have to join hands and work with.

“In the beginning, they’d say ‘Oh, you want to give voices to our women, you want to challenge us, you don’t want our women to be submissive,’ because that is how it operates in rural communities; women are submissive, they answer

Media Matters for Women Sierra Leone’s Senior Journalist Alina Kallon interviews a local stakeholder for a story.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MMW

Student journalists pose for a photo while working on a story for MMW. Kallon said MMW’s work has inspired women in rural communities to get involved in journalism.

Fri 3/31

Jeffrey Dallet @ 2pm Village at Belmar, 7825 W Alameda Ave, Lakewood

Wendy Clark Band at Sunroom Brewing @ 5pm Sunroom Brewing, 3242 S Acoma St, Englewood

Trouble Bound: High & Lone‐some Classic Country Night @ 6:30pm Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S Broadway, Englewood

Zikr Dance Ensemble presents "Mysteries, Rites & Revelations"

@ 5pm / $25

Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons Street, Lone Tree. david taylor.zikr@hotmail.com, 303-8841910

Bertin y su Condesa @ 8pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Bertin y Su Condesa - Dinastya Angelito y Su Sabor Costeño @ 8pm / $70 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Mon 4/03

Modern Swing Mondays @ 5pm / $10 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Microwave @ 6pm

Dan Bublitz Jr: Comedy Showcase @ 7pm Centennial Comedy Club, 9200 East Mineral Avenue, Centennial

Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, En‐glewood

Delta Sleep @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Dan Bublitz Jr: Clean-Ish Comedy Show @ 6pm

Pizzability, 3445 S Broadway, En‐glewood

Thu 4/06

Colony House @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Joe Dombrowski @ 6:15pm

Comedy Works South, 5345 Land‐mark Pl, Greenwood Village

Joan Osborne @ 6:30pm

Pace Center, Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Los Cardenales de Nuevo Leon @ 7pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Grupo Pesado @ 7pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

DUELO DE ACORDEONES

EDICIÓN ESPECIAL @ 7pm / $100 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Sat 4/01

Jenny Shawhan @ 1pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

6 Million Dollar Band @ 6pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Spring Fling Dance @ 11:30pm

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

Dear Marsha,: April Fools with Dear Marsha and her Freaky Band @ 8pm Mirage Sports Bar, 8340 W Coal Mine Ave, Littleton

Sun 4/02

2023 Platte River Half Marathon & Relay @ 6am Littleton, CO, 2920 Brewery Lane, Little‐ton. logan@platteriverhalf.com

CW & Twenty Hands High @ 6:30pm

Tue 4/04 Wed 4/05

Tony Medina Music: The Open Mic at the Alley @ 5:30pm The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Littleton

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

YouthTuber - Powderhorn @ 2:20pm / $132

Apr 5th - May 10th

Powderhorn Elementary, 12109 W Coal Mine Ave, Littleton. 720-9960894

Ladies Night @ 5pm Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo at 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 7pm

Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Diego Figueiredo @ 11pm

Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S Allison Pkwy, Lakewood

WHL U.S. Development Combine: Denver - Skater @ 11pm / $399

Apr 6th - Apr 9th

South Suburban Family Sports Center, 6901 South Peoria St, Centennial. 888844-6611 ext. 3354

Small gestures are big FROM THE EDITOR

Ir ecently took my children to an event created by a mom and employee of a local school district. I only found out about the monthly gathering hosted in my community by chance at a birthday party.

After reading the agenda for the March invite, I opted to take my two elementary-school sons and check it out. I was impressed because the entire event taught us all, at different age levels, the importance of contributions and service to our local communities. With this month’s focus on service we were all encouraged to bring supplies to build special kits for the homeless community. The kits consisted of warming gloves, toothpaste, toothbrushes, Kleenex, lip balm, socks and more. Our children worked to help build the bags to be donated to Aurora Warms the Night in the future. While the goal was to create about 50 bags, based on the amount of supplies donated, I’m sure the nonprofit organization received a lot more.

In talking to my sons after the gathering, they talked about how they learned that the simple gesture of opening a door for someone is considered good service in our community. My 6-year-old, while enamored by the laminating machine, did get some value from his breakout session. Along with an art project, he also learned the meaning of the Mother Teresa quote, “Give your hands to serve and your hearts to love.”

Parents were also required to participate in a breakout group where we interviewed each other and learned a bit more about virtues. As we listened to answers and got to know some of the community parents we did not know — we realized how good it felt to hear good things from others.

When we talked about what we gained from the exercise, one participating dad summed it up well — he said we often get caught up in judging others, having preconceived notions based on a look or attitude, when in reality hearing from someone else about our own good traits and values made him feel good.

This was one example of good happening quietly in our local communities. I truly saw the value in a day like this where it teaches our kids that the world is not just about how many material things we can take from it, but also how small, kind gestures can make it a better place.

In our own newspapers over recent weeks, I cannot say enough about the good deeds and treasured moments our reporters are capturing. I am like many newspaper readers, while I want to know the controversy and newsy stuff, I also love to hear about and know about the good news.

There is always a place out there to lend a hand. Whether it be through a small gesture to help someone with a door or a handful of groceries or on a bigger scale of making sure 50 or more homeless people get some extra supplies or help — We can make a big difference through small gestures every day.

Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA

Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

THELMA GRIMES South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Vulnerable and transparent, and the courage to be both

The team building event was held at Top Golf. e vice president of sales was reluctant to have the meeting there as he had never played golf and didn’t want to embarrass himself. His team convinced him that he could just join them and not have to worry about playing or swinging

As the night went on, the team did everything they could to get their boss to step up and give it a try. ere were others on the team that were in the same spot, having played very little or never. Men and women taking their turns embarrassing themselves with awkward attempts to hit that little white ball. In the end, the vice president of sales chose to keep his dignity intact and did not take his turn amongst the team.

Having spoken with some of the salespeople and the VP of sales privately, I heard mixed opinions about the decision not to join the group. Some thought it showed poor leadership in not being vulnerable enough to laugh at yourself and have a little fun with your team

CHRISTY STEADMAN

Editor csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

as there were more hacks trying to hit the ball than there were any good golfers.

When I asked the VP of sales why he chose not to try, he was completely transparent with me, sharing that he just didn’t want to embarrass himself. He felt he was being open and vulnerable to his team as well sharing with them the very reason he chose to stay in the background. It was a bit of a shame because sometimes it’s OK to show humility among our teams and peers.

Two of the words that we hear often when it comes to expectations of leadership and really people in any role are vulnerability and transparency. We no longer must have all the answers or pretend that we do. We no longer have to be perfect or pretend that we are. Maybe the world we live in places that kind of pressure on some of us, and the stress of that pressure can drive us further away from nding the ability to be vulnerable and transparent.

Last week I wrote about courage and discretion, and when we should exercise both. What I am sharing here is a di erent kind of courage, the courage to be open to failure, being brave enough to take a swing at a golf ball with our

SEE NORTON, P13

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Herald-Dispatch.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Thelma Grimes

Presentation to spotlight ageism

Ageism is all around us: in the workplace, in commercials, movies and TV shows we watch, in the cards we buy, the products marketed to us and yes, even in the language we speak.

Has anyone ever said to you, or perhaps you to another person, “You look great for your age”? Although probably well-intentioned, there is an inherent bias against growing older contained within this “compliment,” an underlying expectation that you wouldn’t or shouldn’t look great as an older adult. Do we o er the same compliment to a 19-year-old or a 29-year-old? Somewhere along the way, looking great is not associated with advanced years.

What about the phrase “senior moment”? We tend to attach a brief lapse in memory to only the older adult.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

This Spring, tell the city ‘no’ means ‘no’

Once again, Denver voters will be asked to weigh in on the fate of the last large remaining green space in the city, and once again, the city may (or may not) agree with the will of the voters.

In 2021, Denverites overwhelmingly voted 63% to 37% to preserve Denver’s last signi cant undeveloped expanse that could be a badly needed park for an underserved neighborhood: the former Park Hill Golf Course. Faced with his stunning rebuke at the polls, representatives of the Hancock administration secretly met with Westside Development and a powerful lobbying rm to scheme out how to thwart the will of the voters.

First the city and its development “client” came up with a concocted “prevailing vision,” which purported to show what people wanted on the land. Who needs a vote when you can do a survey? en they got City Council to rezone the property. Who needs the protection of a conservation easement when you can vote to develop? en they got City Council to rezone the land - without even having it appraised. And now they have a measure on the ballot that promises trees, parks, housing for the homeless and a grocery with

NORTON

FROM PAGE 12

team when we have never played the game before, and being daring enough to admit we don’t have the answers right now but will work hard to nd them.

Some of the most courageous people I have met have also been the most transparent and vulnerable. Being grounded in honesty and integrity provides them the strength

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:

• Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednes-

LIVING AND AGING WELL

However, elementary students routinely forget where they’ve left their backpacks or to feed the dog. Many teenagers have misplaced earbuds or sports jerseys. What about the mom or dad who searches for the car keys or goes out to the garage and upon their arrival, forgets the item they went there to retrieve? e fact of the matter is that we all experience momentary forgetfulness throughout our lives. Yet it is emphasized when it happens as an older adult. And no, it’s not necessarily a sign of dementia, but rather a manifestation of our busy lives.

“healthy foods.” Only a developer could claim that building high-rises on park land is good for the environment.

e golf course sits in the most polluted zip code in the U.S. e area lacks a tree canopy, adding 10 degrees to summer temperatures. Creating a park on Park Hill land would x that, but the city ignored these facts in its “small area plan.”

Meanwhile, the city has been stockpiling tens of millions of dollars a year through a parks and open space sales tax to improve and expand Denver’s parks. at money should be spent making the golf course a park.

e developer promises more homes for the homeless and parks for the neighborhood. ese promises are hollow. e “a ordable” housing promised will be on a new tax district that will nearly double the taxes on the property to fund the $84 million in infrastructure the project requires. ( e Denver Post has done an admirable job in exposing how these districts milk residents.) And a ordable housing? It’s already being built nearby.

Vote no on 2O.

Maybe this time the city will understand that no means no.

Dan Danbom, Denver

they need to be vulnerable and transparent. Looking at failure and saying “So what” positions them to achieve greater things in life as they move past those mistakes, learning from each one.

One of the synonyms for courage is audacity. Sometimes when we hear the word audacity we think of a negative connotation. inking things like, “ e audacity of that person.” I like to think of audacity in the positive sense, having the audacity to be courageous in the face of possible embarrassment, to have audacious

day in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media.

Ageism is discrimination or the devaluing of an individual or group of individuals based solely on their age. And it can be directed toward the young as well as older adults. It creeps into our psyche at a very young age and is continually reinforced throughout our lifetime. As a result, many of us are convinced that young people are not able to lead a work group, o er valuable ideas and solutions to societal issues or are not compassionate towards others. On the other hand, society in general believes that as we age, we have nothing more to o er, obstruct the success of younger people on the way up the corporate ladder or are a drain on the economy. None of this is true.

Subtle and not-so-subtle messages about the aging process surround

So, I guess I’m a NIMBY?

I have been deeply involved in the Park Hill Golf Course (PHGC) process for nearly three years, and I’m voting no on 2O. When I have voiced this opinion publicly, I have been called a “racist NIMBY (not in my backyard) elitist.” For what it’s worth, I’m not an “old, rich person from South Park Hill.”

It is a bummer that this issue is being reduced to “NIMBYism.” In this world of hyper-politicization, we’ve gotten lazy with our arguments and seem to hide behind name calling. Being opposed to this plan isn’t anti-housing. It’s anti- government corruption and overreach.

Folks in support of 2O (dare I say, YIMBYs?) act like this project is the last and only option to add to Denver’s housing stock. ey act like if this protected land can be developed, Denver’s housing crisis will be solved. Prices will drop, and our unhoused neighbors will nally be housed.

We’ve been told for decades that building more housing will reduce prices, yet we currently have some of the highest housing costs in the nation. Is this the project that’s going to tip the scale? If so, I’d have a hard time opposing it. But that’s simply not the case.

bravery to own our decisions and our mistakes. To be audacious in the way that we can laugh with others while we laugh at ourselves. is week you may be asked to do something uncomfortable, something completely outside of your swing zone or comfort zone. And if you are, I hope you will make the decision to audaciously pursue the opportunity. We all learn in di erent ways, and one way that I know we learn the best is by getting knocked o balance. So take the chance, say “So what,” and watch how your vul-

Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political

us each day. Do we recognize them and realize the negative e ect they have on us? Can we e ect a change in how we all think, speak and act about aging? Gretchen Lopez, chair of the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County, will deliver a thought-provoking and entertaining presentation on ursday, May 4, at 10 a.m. at the Parker Library. And we won’t be asking for birth certi cates at the door, so leave those at home! Meetings are free and open to the public.

Seniors’ Council of Douglas County is for older adults who want to be heard, keep learning, and make a di erence. Please check our website for details and possible program changes at douglas. co.us/community-services/services/ senior-services/seniors-council.

I’m opposed to this project because I believe that developing this land should be a last resort. When all other under-utilized properties in Denver are built upon, we can talk about adding density on the PHGC land. Until then, I will continue to advocate for maintaining this valuable open space free from development, as the state statute dictates.

Yes, the land can be utilized more e ectively — I don’t want to see a golf course. Let’s have communityserving amenities like an urban farm, youth athletic facilities, increased biodiversity and tree canopies, and a place for all current and future residents of Park Hill to enjoy 155 acres of nature without looming 12-story buildings. How can this be paid for? e 2A Sales Tax that the city has been collecting since 2019 for the sole purpose of expanding our park system.

I’m optimistic that we can elect a mayor and City Council on April 4 who have integrity, creativity and a willingness to ght for the people of Denver instead of for the developers and lobbyists. I’ll be voting No on 2O and hope others might see through the YIMBY vs. NIMBY narrative to consider doing the same.

Rachel Coates, Denver

nerability and transparency endear others to you. As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we can show courage in ourselves during moments of vulnerability, it really will be a better than good life.

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

candidate or ballot issue will not be published within 12 days of an election.

• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

• We will edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length and write headlines (titles) for letters at our discretion.

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Af ter more than 20 years of collecting pinball machines, Dan Nikolich’s basement had run out of space to store them all. So Nikolich opened the Colorado Pinball Pub in Littleton to share his collection.

“Pinball is a unique thing because it doesn’t matter what your background or walk of life is, pinball will draw you in,” he said. “It’s a great equalizer because it only takes one ball.”

While the concept of offering drinks and games at one location is nothing new, the Denver area is host to a number of unique takes on the Dave and Buster’s business model.

Colorado Pinball Pub is one of the newer additions to the barcade scene, having opened in 2020. The pub offers 22 pinball machines, plus a few classic arcade games like PacMan and Centipede, for unlimited play for $15 per hour.

Nikolich’s love for games started young, when he was growing up in Las Vegas and working for the MGM Arcade, so he was happy to see the recent rise in pinball’s popularity.

“Pinball is having a great resurgence right now. The last few years it’s been really hot,” he said. “We have parents who will bring their kids who have never played pinball and, at night, we get a lot of adults and date nights, stuff like that. All people seem to like pinball.”

Like the pub’s patrons, the pinball machines available range in age and theme, with Nikolich’s oldest machine being from 1981. The walls of the pub also pay homage to the history of the game, including its prohibition from 1940s to the 1970s, with pictures and news clippings.

In addition to pinball, the pub features over 150 kinds of whiskey, craft cocktails and Colorado brewed beer.

Nikolich said the goal is to have something for everyone and to make it approachable, whether that’s pinball or whiskey.

“We want you to come and learn about it and not be intimidated to ask if you don’t know something, we want to teach you, so that you can enjoy something new,” he said.

On the opposite side of the metro area, another

BARCADES

one-of-a-kind barcade is Akihabara, which, while located in Westminster, transports visitors to the Tokyo gaming district that gives the business its name.

Owner Brandon Osha said he was blown away when he had the chance to visit Akihabara and take in its blocks of multi-story arcades.

“The first time I went to Akihabara I knew I wanted to bring that here because it’s amazing,” Osha said.

He did just that by opening Akihabara in 2016.

Similar to Nikolich, Osha grew up with a love of gaming and worked at a local arcade and GameStop. Instead of pinball though, Osha’s games of choice came in arcade cabinets, which he began collecting at age 16.

Currently, Akihabara offers 52 arcade cabinets with around 65 games, but Osha has plans to expand his location with 25 new games and additional space, which he said will be complete this summer.

Osha said the game selection, which includes fighting games, rhythm games and nostalgic classics, definitely sets Akihabara apart.

“You never see this many (arcade cabinets) in one place,” he said. “We have such a different variety of games that you won’t find anywhere else in Colorado.”

One of the stranger and more rare games Akihabara offers is a Japanese table flipping game called Cho Chabudai, but more well-known games include Third Strike, Monkeyball, Typing of the Dead and Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon. All of the games are $1 or less to play.

Osha said a lot of people come in seeking a specific game that’s hard to find anywhere else, but he encourages visitors to try whatever piques their interest, even if they can’t necessarily read the Japanese instructions.

“I think it’s a lot of games that people have never seen, but they might find something that they like,” he said. “Plus, it’s usually only three buttons and a joystick, so they’re not too hard to learn.”

Akihabara’s focus on Japanese culture carries over into the bar offerings, which include Japanese beers and cocktails made with Japanese liquor, as well as a variety of packaged snacks and ramen options.

Overall, Osha said he tries to provide a space that’s both niche and for everyone, describing the Akihabara crowd as a welcoming hodgepodge.

“If you’re looking to find a friend, you’ll find one around here somewhere,” he said.

Akihabara owner Brandon Osha plays a fighting game at the barcade on Feb. 23. Located in Westminster, Akihabara o ers Japanese inspired games and drinks, with a unique selection of arcade cabinets.

Sheridan Taylor and Austin Brown play Chunithm, a rhythm game, at Akihabara on Feb. 23.

Colorado Pinball Pub bartender Kellen Hempel burns woodchips to smoke the glass of an old fashioned cocktail. PHOTOS BY MCKENNA HARFORD

Colorado lawmakers want to o er scholarships to help fill workforce gaps

crippling shortage of health care workers. at program, funded by $26 million of federal COVID stimulus funding over two years, is o ering free schooling for students pursuing careers as certi ed nursing assistants, emergency medical technicians, pharmacy technicians, phlebotomy technicians, medical assistants or dental assistants.

As Colorado hurts for more early childhood educators, nurses, re ghters and workers across other industries, state legislators are attempting to ll critical workforce gaps with a pair of bills that would provide free training to an estimated 20,000 students and support about 15,000 graduating high school students each with $1,500 scholarships.

One of the measures would cover education costs — including tuition, fees, books and supplies — for students wanting to teach elementary schoolers, preschoolers or infants and toddlers as well as students interested in nursing, construction, re ghting, law enforcement and forest management. A second bill would provide scholarships to students heading to community colleges, trades schools or universities to prepare for jobs in health care, manufacturing, construction, nance, engineering, IT, education and behavioral and mental health.

Both bills, expected to be introduced later this week, have bipartisan support as they aim to ease the heavy costs students often shoulder while learning skills they need to join the workforce. Funding for each bill would stretch for two years and come from the state’s general fund.

“With this signi cant infusion of resources, it really is a jump-start to try and get more of our traditional and nontraditional age students into these industries that are so desperate for workers,” House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, said ahead of a Tuesday morning

news conference announcing the pieces of legislation.

McCluskie is a prime sponsor on the bill that would fund training for students.

at bill proposes spending $45 million on students’ education costs from the state’s general fund, including $38.6 million to support students earning a certi cate or associate degree at a public community college, local district college or area technical college.

A separate $5 million would be directed to short-term nursing

programs at community colleges with the goal of preparing more nurses to sta local hospitals. And $1.4 million would be funneled to a competitive grant program facilitated by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and available to registered apprenticeship programs in building and construction trades.

e free education initiative builds on the Care Forward Colorado Program, which Gov. Jared Polis introduced in August as a way to help the state overcome a

More than 1,400 students in training through the program have graduated from the Colorado Community College System, local district colleges and area technical colleges since last fall, according to information Gov. Jared Polis cited during the news conference. Along with lawmakers, he hopes to replicate the success of the program in other industries that have been plagued by sta shortages throughout the pandemic.

e other piece of legislation that would award scholarships to graduating high schoolers could bene t more than one-fourth of the graduating class of 2024, according to lawmakers.

e bill would help students in eligible disciplines cover expenses for books, fees and tuition and would expedite their path through higher education and training, said Rep. Matt Martinez, D-Monte Vista, who is sponsoring the bill.

“ is is the type of meaningful legislation that is really going to put dollars in the hands of our students and (make) sure that they have the skills necessary to be successful,” said Martinez, who previously worked for nine-and-a-half years at Adams State University.

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

Two bills being considered at the Capitol would o er educational help to aspiring firefighters and other fields where workers are critical. In this file photo, West Metro Fire Rescue firefighters prepare to participate in a mock water rescue at Bear Creek Lake Park.

PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

Bills seek to pay education costs, including tuition, fees, books and supplies

A ‘thank you’ from the heart

Woman o ers gratitude to those who saved her life at courthouse

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Shirley Bennett was going through the jury duty selection process at the Arapahoe County Courthouse when o cials called a recess. She and other potential jurors walked into the hallway.

“I remember walking outside (of the courtroom) and sitting on a bench,” Bennett said. “And I remember waking up four days later.”

Between the moments she remembers, Bennett, who is 69, went into cardiac arrest. anks to the rapid response of dozens of court deputies and other bystanders on scene that day, she is alive to tell the story.

On March 9, Bennett returned to the courthouse to express her gratitude to the rst responders who saved her life in February by performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

“I don’t know you all one by one or name by name, but I love you and appreciate you,” she said. “You’re in my prayers and you’re in my thoughts. I know we hear the prayers and thoughts thing so much with all the tragedy and things that happen. But I mean that from my heart — no pun intended — that I love you,

I appreciate you.”

First responders

At the event, South Metro Fire Rescue recognized 19 Arapahoe County law enforcement o cers for their e orts in helping save Bennett’s life.

Sgt. Robert Chase, one of the rst people to arrive on the scene of the emergency, was among those recognized.

“It was clear that Shirley was having a pretty signi cant medical event,” he said. “(We) could tell right away — we assessed real quickly — that we needed to start CPR. So that’s what we did, and more people started

showing up as well.”

Chase said the emergency happened during the courts’ lunch break, making it possible for many deputies, who otherwise would have been in trials, to respond to the scene.

Several o cers performed CPR on Bennett while others gathered witness statements and cleared pathways in preparation for South Metro Fire Rescue’s arrival. ey performed CPR for about 10 minutes before paramedics and emergency medical technicians arrived.

Bennett had two more heart attacks that day, one in the ambulance and one at the hospital.

Early intervention

Jens Pietrzyk, division chief of emergency medical services at South Metro Fire Rescue, told the group at the March 9 event that his department sees about 500 cases of cardiac arrest per year. Of that, only about 10% end in full recovery like Bennett’s case did.

One of the most important factors in being able to successfully resuscitate someone when they have cardiac arrest is early intervention.

“When somebody gets to the hospital after cardiac arrest, if they’ve

Shirley Bennett hugs one of the Arapahoe County deputies who helped save her life when she went into cardiac arrest on Feb. 13.

PHOTOS BY NINA JOSS

Shirley Bennett smiles with Mitchell Kohl, an attorney and medical doctor who helped perform CPR to save her life.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

SEE HEART, P19

had early CPR, if they’ve had early interventions, then we have something that we can work with,” Jonathan Apfelbaum, medical director for South Metro Fire Rescue, said to the group. “But the time between when something happens and the time that they get there — if it’s not for people like yourselves, there’s nothing we can do.”

Deputy Mike Gentry, who was one of the rst on scene, said he’s performed CPR numerous times during his 13 years on patrol.

“She’s the rst one that we actually brought back,” he said.

Mitchell Kohl, a practicing attorney and a medical doctor, was walking out of a nearby courtroom when he saw the commotion.

“I got over there, took o my tie, got my sleeves rolled up and just started helping,” he said. “I will tell you, I wasn’t con dent in the outcome.”

Bennett was unresponsive, not breathing and had no pulse. Deputies used a bag valve mask to help with breathing and employed an automated external de brillator, which didn’t call for a shock. Eventually, her pulse returned. South Metro Fire Rescue paramedics gave Bennett a breathing tube and she began to move.

“Jury duty saved my life”

In Kohl’s eyes, Bennett’s attitude is one of the reasons she survived.

“ ere’s been evidence that shows having a good attitude in your recovery helps patients recover quicker and better,” he said.

“And she’s a perfect example — her attitude’s infectious. And if there were more people with her attitude, the world would be a better place.”

Bennett said she hopes her experience inspires more people to get trained in CPR, as it truly can save lives. Before it saved hers, she started the CPR training program at RTD, where she worked for almost 40 years.

“I just wish it’s the kind of thing that everyone could learn to do,” she said. “I’m very much a proponent of CPR, rst aid, and all of those types of things. And I never knew it would go full circle and come back — that one day I would need it, and I had a whole band of angels there who came to my rescue.”

While most people dread receiving a jury summons, Bennett will never look at that civic role the same way.

“People have said ‘I’ll do anything to get out of jury duty,’” she said.

“Jury duty saved my life — because if I had not been at jury duty at that time, I would have been at home alone. And the outcome could have been totally di erent.”

Shirley Bennett claps as Sergeant Robert Chase walks up to receive his certificate of recognition from South Metro Fire rescue.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

Careers

Help Wanted

Empower Retirement is seeking the following pos’s in Greenwood Village, CO (may work remotely from anywhere in the US):

• Sr. Storage Admin: Dvlp storage allocation; monitor & tune sys. Reqs: Master’s deg* (or frgn equiv) in CS, Info Sys, Software Engg, or rltd; 2 yrs of exp as a Storage Engineer, Infrastructure Engineer, or a rltd pos. Will accept a Bachelor’s + 5 yrs’ exp in lieu of Master’s deg + 2 yrs’ exp. Ref 1138. Salary $154,606

• Manager, IT Architecture: Respsbl for defining & documenting end-to-end tstng strategies for certifying & validating proj initiatives.

Reqs: Bachelor’s deg (or frgn equiv) in CS, Electronic Engg, or rltd; 5 yrs as a Mgr, Qlty Engineer, Sr Specialist Sys Dvlpmt or a rltd pos. Up to 20% trvl may be req. Ref 1130. Salary: $155,700

• Senior Specialist, Integration/ Data Acquisition: Provide operational spprt & provide oversight of retirement data platform stability.

Reqs: Master’s deg* (or frgn equiv) in CS or a rltd field. 2 yrs of exp as a Sys Engineer or rltd. Will accept a Bachelor’s + 5 yrs’ exp in lieu of Master’s deg + 2 yrs’ exp. Ref 1139.

Salary: $133,400.

Senior Software Engineer: Create & maintain high qlty software; define & implmnt requisite monitoring for their software when applicable. Reqs: Master’s deg* (or frgn equiv) in CS, Info Sys Engg & Mgmt, or rltd; 2 yrs as a Full Stack Engineer or a rltd pos. Will accept a Bachelor’s + 5 yrs’ exp in lieu of Master’s deg + 2 yrs’ exp. Ref: 1086.

Salary: $165,000.

• Sr. Mobile Engineer: Use understanding of aesthetics & how to cnvrt code & dsgn into a great user exp. Reqs: Master’s deg* (or frgn equiv) in CS, Software Engg, or rltd; 2 yrs as an iOS Engineer, iOS Dvlpmt Lead or a rltd pos. Will accept a Bachelor’s + 5 yrs’ exp in lieu of Master’s deg + 2 yrs’ exp. Ref: 1073. Salary: $180,000.

To apply, email resume with ref# to Tony Medaris, tony.medaris@ empower.com

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filed a lawsuit or other legal action against you.

Within 40 days after March 23, 2023 you must respond with a written demand for a copy of the complaint. The demand must be sent or delivered to the court, whose address is 901 N. Ninth Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233-1425 and to Gray & Associates, L.L.P., plaintiff's attorney, whose address is 16345 West Glendale Drive, New Berlin, WI 53151-2841. You may have an attorney help or represent you.

If you do not demand a copy of the complaint within 40 days, the court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the complaint, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the complaint. A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property.

Dated this 6th day of March, 2023.

Gray & Associates, L.L.P.

Attorneys for Plaintiff

By: William N. Foshag State Bar No. 1020417

Case No. 22-CV-008196

16345 West Glendale Drive New Berlin, WI 53151-2841 (414) 224-1987

Gray & Associates, L.L.P. is attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. If you have previously received a discharge in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case, this communication should not be construed as an attempt to hold you personally liable for the debt.

Legal Notice No. 82122

First Publication: March 16, 2023

Last Publication: March 30, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Misc. Private Legals

Public Notice

SYNOPSIS OF ANNUAL STATEMENT FOR PUBLICATION

Required pursuant to §10-3-109(1), C.R.S FOR YEAR 2022

FAILURE TO FILE THIS FORM BY MARCH 1

WILL RESULT IN PENALTIES PURSUANT TO §10-3-109(3), C.R.S.:

If any annual report or statement from any entity regulated by the Division of Insurance is not filed by the date specified by law or by rules and regulations of the commissioner, the commissioner may assess a penalty of up to one hundred dollars per day for each day after the date an annual statement or report is due from any such entity.

Corporate Name: ACE Life Insurance Company

NAIC Number: 60348 Address: 10 Exchange Place, 13th Floor Jersey City, NJ 07302 Assets:

Liabilities:

$ 28,154,119

Capital and Surplus/Policyholder Surplus:

$8,322,709

DIVISION OF INSURANCE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the ACE Life Insurance Company, organized under the laws of Connecticut, subject to its Articles of Incorporation or other fundamental organizational documents and in consideration of its compliance with the laws of Colorado, is hereby licensed to transact business as a Life insurance company, as provided by the Insurance Laws of Colorado, as amended, so long as the insurer continues to conform to the authority granted by its Certificate and its corporate articles, or its Certificate is otherwise revoked, canceled or suspended.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of my office to be affixed at the City and County of Denver this first day of March 2023.

Michael Conway Commissioner of Insurance

Legal Notice No. 82115

First Publication: March 9, 2022

Last Publication: March 30, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

Proposed Flood Hazard Determinations for the City and County of Denver, Colorado, Case No. 21-08-0294P. The Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) solicits technical information or comments on proposed flood hazard determinations for the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM), and where applicable, the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report for your community. These flood hazard determinations may include the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations, base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway. The FIRM and, if applicable, the FIS report have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Title 44, Part 65 of the Code of Federal Regulations. These determinations are the basis for the floodplain management measures that your community is required to adopt or show evidence of having in effect to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. For more information on the proposed flood hazard determinations and information on the statutory 90-day period provided for appeals, please visit FEMA’s website at https://www.floodmaps.fema.gov/fhm/BFE_Status/bfe_main.asp , or call the FEMA Mapping and Insurance eXchange (FMIX) toll free at 1-877FEMA MAP (1-877-336-2627).

Legal Notice No. 82126

First Publication: March 16, 2023

Last Publication: March 23, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Storage Liens/Vehicle Titles

Public Notice

Notice to obtain title- The following vehicle(s) were towed and abandoned:

VIN JN8AZ08T36W409001

2006 Nissan Murano, M1 Towing lot address 2810 W. 62nd Ave, Denver, CO 80221, 720-364-1160 is applying for title.

Legal Notice No. 82135

First Publication: March 23, 2023

Last Publication: March 23, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

Broncos Towing, 303-722-3555 (office) will be applying for title to the following vehicles, abandoned.

1) 1998 Viking pop-upT 464394

2) 2000 Viking pop-upT 610793

3) 1984 Plymouth silver 403922

4) 1987 Chrysler black 049587

5) 1997 Pontiac white 206355

6) 1998 Coachman motorhome A24331

7) 1995 Fleetwood motorhome A16147

Legal Notice No. 82137

First Publication: March 23, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

forever barred.

Nadya Vecchiet-Lambert, Esq. on behalf of Da’Phne D. Gunn, Personal Representative 6855 S. Havana St. Ste 370, Centennial, CO 80112

Legal Notice No. 82113

First Publication: March 9, 2023

Last Publication: March 23, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Maria Bittler, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 21545

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 10, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Marlene Bittler Hewitt

Personal Representative

c/o Pearman Law Firm 4195 Wadsworth Blvd Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Legal Notice No. 82111

First Publication: March 9, 2023

Last Publication: March 23, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Brien Gerald McCoy, aka Brien G. McCoy, Deceased Case Number: 23PR112

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 23, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Carolyn McCoy Rink

Personal Representative 7927 S. Bemis Place Littleton, Colorado 80120

Legal Notice No. 82123

First Publication: March 16, 2023

Last Publication: March 30, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of David Charles Melena, also known as David C. Melena, also known as David Melena, Deceased Case Number 2023PR30255

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 23, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

James A Melena, Personal Representative 801 Essex Drive Loveland CO 80538

Legal Notice No. 82131

First Publication: March 23, 2023

Last Publication: April 6, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Paula Victoria Rollins, a/k/a Paula V. Rollins, a/k/a Paula Rollins, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR31671

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before May 31, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

/s/ Stephanie T. Schrab – original signature on file

Stephanie T. Schrab, Esq., #54039

o/b/o Jerie Rollins, PR of the Estate of Paula V. Rollins Solem, Woodward & McKinley, P.C. 750 West Hampden Ave., Suite 505 Englewood, CO 80110

Legal Notice No. 82124

First Publication: March 16, 2023

Last Publication: March 30, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Wilda Meketuk, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30057

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 9, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

John David Meketuk

Personal Representative

1271 Perry Street Denver, CO 80204

Legal Notice No. 82112

First Publication: March 9, 2023

Last Publication: March 23, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Perry Cushman Peine, a/k/a Perry C. Peine, a/k/a Perry Peine, Deceased Case Number :2023PR30191

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 17, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Lisa Compton, Personal Representative C/O ROBINSON BAILEY PC 7100 E. Belleview Ave., Suite 101 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. 82125

First Publication: March 16, 2023

Last Publication: March 30, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of RONALD WOOD, JR., Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30095'

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative (KIMBERLY RUDDELL, Ruddell & Associates Ltd.) or to DENVER PROBATE COURT (1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202) on or before July 9, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

/s/ Leona Hauschild LEONA HAUSCHILD, Esq. Attorney for Personal Representative 1801 California Street, Suite 2400 Denver, CO 80202

Legal Notice No. 82116

First Publication: March 9, 2023

Last Publication: March 23, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of BENITO A. RUYBAL, aka BENITO ANTONIO RUYBAL, aka BENITO RUYBAL, aka ANTONIO RUYBAL, aka TONY RUYBAL, Deceased Case No.: 2023PR30223

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 17, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Stuart J. Ruybal, Personal Representative 1245 S. Simms St. Lakewood, CO 80232

Legal Notice No. 82120

First Publication: March 16, 2023

Last Publication: March 30, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of GREGORY MONTOYA, Deceased Case No. 2023PR30225

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 17, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Deborah K. Montoya

Personal Representative 2401 W. 41st Ave. Denver, CO 80211

Legal Notice No. 82121

First Publication: March 16, 2023

Last Publication: March 30, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO

In the Matter of the Estate of: Donnie Lee Kelley, a/k/a Don Kelley, a/k/a Don L. Kelley, a/k/a Donnie L. Kelley, and/or Donnie Kelley, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR31073

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 25, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Michael R. Meaux, #35658 Attorney for Estate P.O. Box 22451, Denver, CO 80222

Legal Notice No. 82136

First Publication: March 23, 2023 Last Publication: April 6, 2023

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 24, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Tamra A. Palmer Attorney to the Personal Representative 6060 Greenwood Plaza Blvd #200 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. 82129 First Publication: March 23, 2023 Last Publication: April 6, 2023 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Estate of Dennis M. Lanphier Sr. Deceased Case Number: 2022PR514

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 9, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Dennis M. Lanphier Jr. Personal Representative 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. Tower 1, Suite 10800 Denver, CO 80222

Legal Notice No. 82114

First Publication: March 9, 2023

Last Publication: March 23, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

Notice to Creditors

In the matter of the Estate of Elaine J. Rains aka Elaine J. Buerkens Rains, Deceased. Case No. 2023PR72

Per § 15-12-801, C.R.S. Notice by Publication, All persons having claims against the above-named Estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Denver Probate Court, City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 23rd, 2023, or the claim may be forever barred.

Lyle R Buerkens, Co-Personal Representative c/o 7925 W. Layton Ave, #416, Littleton, CO 80123

Legal Notice No. 82134

First Publication: March 23, 2023

Last Publication: April 6, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of JAMES D. MONTGOMERY, a/k/a JAMES DOUGLAS MONTGOMERY, a/k/a JAMES MONTGOMERY, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR030274

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 23, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Tangie I. Montgomery, Personal Representative Katz, Look & Onorato, P.C. 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100 Denver, CO 80203

Legal Notice No. 82128

First Publication: March 23, 2023

Last Publication: April 6, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Isaac Correa, Jr., Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30233

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 23, 2023,or the claims may be forever barred.

Isaac Correa, III, Personal Representative c/o 3i Law, LLC 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. Tower 1, Suite 10000 Denver, CO 80222

Legal Notice No. 82133

First Publication: March 23, 2023

Last Publication: April 6, 2023

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of PATRICIA T. HAYNES, ALSO KNOWN AS PATRICIA HAYNES, AND PATRICIA THOMAS HAYNES, Deceased

Case Number: 23 PR 30147

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the PROBATE COURT OF CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER, COLORADO, on or before July 28, 2023 or the claims may be forever barred.

to everything even though they are su ering inside,” Kallon continued.

“Over the years (leaders) begin to understand, ‘ is is not about us, it’s about the women, and when women are happy — have happy homes, happy families, their children are well taken care of,’ they begin to see that it’s for the good of everybody. And so, they join forces.”

In one instance, a powerful man in Bombali, Sierra Leone, raped a 9-year-old girl and — because of his status in the community — the legal system did not seriously prosecute the case, Kallon said.

“We’ve had so many issues where women are victimized, or sexually harassed, or young girls are being penetrated by in uential men in society, then the (legal system) would want to play games with them; the police would lose the les,” Kallon said.

at’s where MMW’s activist bent comes in. e newsroom worked to alert advocates and residents to the situation, and within months, a public uproar had been kindled.

“What they did at the initial stage was bribe the family, but the girl’s mother was very determined to get justice for her daughter,” Kallon said. “So, what they did was the bank where he worked, instead of sacking him, they transferred him to another region. And then the civil society, all of us, we took up that matter — it was a whole journey, over a year after that.”

Finally, Kallon said, the man was brought to justice, thanks in large part to the media coverage and outrage from community members.

“ e police said they lost the le, the justice system cannot charge any case, so we had to go back and forth, and because civil society were not quiet about it, the media were making a lot of noise about it, so they had to bring the man back and he had to face justice and now he’s in prison for a lifetime,” Kallon said.

e road has not been easy. MMW started with ve listening centers each in three major population hubs, totally 15 listening centers in all. But when Sierra Leone was struck by the Ebola virus epidemic in 2014, the journalists had to gure out a di erent strategy.

Kallon and Sesay, along with their team, began reaching out to “ambassadors” in rural communities who they could electronically send podcasts to and then have the ambassadors distribute the podcast to folks

quarantining in their homes. at model proved to be e ective for MMW, which was able to reach a larger listener base at a time when many Sierra Leonians would have otherwise gone without pressing public health information.

Many remote communities still rely on town criers to disseminate information, so MMW has partnered with them as well to distribute their podcasts. Kallon said these e orts — plus the occasional boat visit by an MMW journalist to remote villages — have given their newsroom the ability to reach truly o -the-grid locales.

“ at was how we began getting into the interior regions because initially, we were just at the city centers,” Kallon said. “Over the years we progressed into getting more listenership because we’re not just

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promote a political party.”

MMW is also faced with confronting one of the most persistent spreaders of misinformation — social media.

“Tension is really high among the two rival parties,” Kallon said. “ ere is a lot of fake news going on, so we have to nd a way of going around that and sending the correct message because people use social media — especially WhatsApp — to send all kinds of messages.

“We listen to what’s happening on social media, especially on WhatsApp, and then we send the correct information out in our podcast,” Kallon continued. “If we are not on the apps, our listeners will be misled, so we have to take the lead in ensuring that people get the correct information that will prevent violence during the election because tensions are aring around things like that, so we have to be on top of the situation, otherwise, it will be disastrous.”

Despite the issues they face in providing news to last-mile communities, Sesay and Kallon said that the inspiration they have provided to women across Sierra Leone makes their e ort worth it.

“ e young girls, they see us, and they want to become journalists now,” Kallon said. “We’ve become kind of an inspiration for these young girls who want to be journalists, advocates, all of it. It’s really triggering that kind of interest in them.”

“MMW has created a platform where women are building condence, we can speak hope, we can share our stories to each other,” Sesay said. “We’ve really inspired and created that space for women to speak up. And de nitely, I’m sure, most want to be like Auntie Alina.”

stationed in one area… We have created that impact over the years; we go to last mile communities — sometimes you have to use a boat to cross over — but these are places we must go.”

With a general election coming up in June and tensions between rival political parties mounting, MMW has made it their mission to inform the public — particularly women — about issues, candidates and their voting rights, all in a nonviolent, nonpartisan fashion.

“We were very strategic in sending out nonviolent messages,” Kallon said. “We are for all of Sierra Leone, not a particular politician or party. We also encourage and support women during elections; we let people know it’s their right and responsibility to vote. But as journalists, we don’t want to be partisan. We don’t

“We just keep telling them, ‘Just stay in school and you’ll be like me,’” Kallon replied.

Sesay said she hopes that the next decade of MMW will bring even more female empowerment and equity to Sierra Leone.

“MMW is 10 years in operation in Sierra Leone, and that means 10 years of resilience, working with communities and building a movement,” Sesay said. “So, by the next decade, we want to see strong women, stronger communities where we end violence against women, and have a very peaceful society.”

In the meantime, Sesay and Kallon will convene with a team of DU grad students assembled by Professor Renee Botta to help MMW with data collection and analysis, which will be used to create more tools to reach last-mile communities in the west African nation.

Field workers in a last mile community in Sierra Leone gather around a megaphone to

MMW’s Senior Journalist Alina Kallon (left) and Executive Director Florence Sesay (right) at the United Nations recently.