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VOLUME 95 | ISSUE 26

Immigrants honored with citizenship during ceremony

Legislature passes HOA foreclosure reform bill

26 new U.S. citizens hailing from dozens of countries welcomed BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, during a May 9 ceremony at Belleview Elementary School in Centennial, granted citizenship to 26 immigrants hailing from 20 countries. Residents currently live in a slew of communities in the Denver metro area and beyond including Aurora, Centennial, Commerce City, Elizabeth, Golden, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Parker and Sedalia. “It was probably the happiest moment of my life,” said Fadilayda Solakkaya, who immigrated from Turkey and now lives in Parker, and is excited to have a passport, vote in SEE HONORED, P3

Measure limits ability to penalize homeowners over covenant fines BY BRITTANY FREEMAN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

changing development that helped him “blossom.” Now, he works at Kids Crossing in Colorado Springs, a child placement agency that recruits and licenses foster families. And Kobylinski is on a mission to help the agency become the state’s most ambitious recruiter of same-sex couples and help LGBTQ foster kids find welcoming, supportive families. It’s against the law in Colorado for child placement agencies to reject couples or single foster parents

Colorado lawmakers passed a bill on May 9 aimed at protecting residents in disputes with their homeowners associations. House Bill 22-1137 limits HOAs from seeking foreclosure against homeowners who accumulate fines for violating community rules known as covenants. The bill also stops HOAs from assessing those penalties on a daily basis and limits them to $500. The legislation now heads to Gov. Jared Polis, whose office said he plans to sign it into law. “As it currently stands, Coloradans have little recourse and almost no protections when facing down the endless resources held by associations and the lawyers they may hire,” bill cosponsor Sen. James Coleman, D-Denver, told his colleagues at a committee hearing on May 6. The bill went through numerous changes after its first House committee hearing. Supporters said lawmakers removed a provision that would have limited the amount of legal fees that HOAs

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26 immigrants hailing from 20 countries were officially made U.S. citizens U.S. CitizenPHOTO BY ROBERT TANN ship and Immigration Services May 9.

The number of LGBTQ foster kids is on the rise Does Colorado have enough accepting homes? BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

Diamond Kobylinski spent almost his entire childhood in foster homes, from age 2 to 17. The worst, though, was when one set of foster parents changed their mind about adopting him after Kobylinski blurted out during an argument that he was gay.

It was the first time Kobylinski had ever said the words out loud. His foster parents, who took him to church every Sunday and had told him they were concerned about his choice in clothes, were silent at first. Then they told him he needed to choose a different path, recalled Kobylinski, now 21. “It was an awful experience,” he said. “It was heart-wrenching.” Kobylinski was 9 then. At 17, less than a year before he would have aged out of foster care, he was adopted by a lesbian couple who let him act, dress and date how he wanted, a life-

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can charge residents in court cases but added provisions that specifically prohibited foreclosure on liens that only contain fines or the costs of collecting them. Coleman said the changes were driven by hours of meetings with representatives of HOAs and their advocates. “We really took our time,” he said, “so that we ultimately make it so that our communities continue to be safe and beautiful, but at the same time folks aren’t losing their homes because they had weeds in their grass.” Coleman represents Green Valley Ranch, a community that has become the subject of months of publicity after one of the HOAs there filed dozens of foreclosure cases against residents in the past year. Rep. Naquetta Ricks, D-Aurora, was the bill’s initial sponsor. An analysis of court case data by Rocky Mountain PBS and ProPublica found that Colorado HOAs have filed at least 2,400 foreclosure cases against residents since 2018. HOAs in the state have the legal right to seek foreclosure against homeowners who

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because they are gay. But there’s quite a difference between actively recruiting same-sex couples and passively accepting them, say child welfare officials and adoption agencies trying to find homes for a growing number of gay and transgender children. Catholic Charities of Denver ended its adoption program in 2015, not long after threatening at the state Capitol that legalization of civil unions would lead the church to quit providing adoption and foster care services. About half of the 40 or so child placement agencies in the state are religious based, and only a few agencies go out of their way in advertising materials or on social media to specifically target LGBTQ families. Kids Crossing licensed a gay foster parent in the mid-1990s, one of the first agencies in the state to do so, said Lee Oesterle, executive director of the agency. But even though the foster family was a lesbian couple, the paperwork referred to a single woman

Lawmakers and lobbyists are seen at the Capitol on Jan. 12 in Denver at the start of PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN/THE COLORADO SUN Colorado’s General Assembly’s 2022 session.

are at the equivalent of six months behind on their routine dues, but that total can also include fees, fines and collection costs, such as legal fees. Many homeowners who faced foreclosure have told Rocky Mountain PBS and ProPublica that they ultimately ended up paying thousands of dollars more than their original debts to save their homes because the HOA billed them legal fees after they fell behind. Residents of one HOA community in Aurora, the Timbers Homeowners Association I, told the news organizations that they were

surprised to learn their HOA has filed 41 foreclosure cases since 2018. The newly passed legislation contains several measures that supporters said would give homeowners due process before delinquencies end up in court. It requires several notifications to residents about delinquencies and fines, requires those notices to be provided in the native language designated by homeowners and allows them the opportunity to seek longer payment plans of 18 months to repay debts to the HOA. Representatives from the HOA industry told lawmakers they opposed

and her “roommate,” Oesterle said. “We weren’t dishonest but we didn’t put it in the report.” Thirty years later, Kids Crossing — at Kobylinski’s urging — recently added employees’ pronouns to its email signatures and is working on a website redesign that will make clear that they’re seeking same-sex couples and more homes for LGBTQ children and teens. Kids Crossing, a secular agency that competes with several faith-based adoption centers in El Paso County, also has plans for radio and newspaper advertisements targeting gay families, and it started incorporating LGBTQ training into its certification program. “What we have found is that almost all families say that they’re open to that, but many describe being uncomfortable, afraid they are going to say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing,” Oesterle said. Out of its 150 foster families, about 10 are same-sex couples, he said. “That’s really without trying, without openly recruiting,” said Oesterle, who hopes to boost that number and become the go-to agency for gay couples in the southern Colorado region.

Adams County takes only LGBTQ-affirming families As for county child welfare divisions, which also license foster families, Adams County is leading the way in recruiting families ready for LGBTQ children. “We are crystal clear from day one that we are not just accepting or tolerant — we are an affirming program,” said Angela Wilson, who supervises Adams County’s foster care program. “There is a big difference between, ‘Sure, I’ll tolerate it, but they can’t date in my house’ or ‘I’m not going to let them participate in activities.’” Adams County, which was recognized for its LGBTQ work by the national Human Rights Campaign Foundation, wants only families that will let gay teenagers hold hands with their partners or younger children exploring gender roles wear nail polish or play dressup. The problem is the county often doesn’t know if a child is gay or transgender or nonbinary, so it doesn’t want to place any child in a home that would shame or traumatize the child if those feelings began to emerge, Wilson said. About once a year, a family slips

the legislation. They said it would make it harder to enforce their rules, especially when homeowners are defiant, and would push more costs onto others who are compliant. “This bill is going to harm the people who keep their promises and cause expenses for those people. It’s been through so many different amendments and variations, and it’s still so messy,” testified Lindsay Smith, an HOA attorney who heads Colorado’s legislative action committee for the Community Associations Institute. The bill’s supporters said a provision that opens up small claims court as a venue for disputes could also make a big difference for homeowners who cannot afford to hire an attorney to fight their HOA. “The disputes that are creating all of the heat within HOAs finally have a place to go,” said Andrew Mowery, an HOA homeowner advocate whose group helped craft the original legislation. This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org. through the information meeting and the training without getting this message, Wilson said. Last year, Adams County was just about to certify a couple as foster parents when they revealed they would not take any children who were gay or trans. “They did not want to leave,” Wilson said. “The family all of a sudden felt like it was their duty to change us. It got a little complicated really quickly.” All the while, Wilson and county officials had their eyes on a U.S. Supreme Court case last year in which the court sided with Catholic Social Services in Philadelphia in a battle over whether the religious group could reject same-sex married couples that applied to be foster parents. The court decided that the city of Philadelphia had violated the church’s First Amendment right to freedom of religion when it ended its contract to screen potential foster parents. Adams County consulted with state child welfare officials at the Colorado Department of Human Services and attorneys, learning that not accepting SEE FOSTER, P6

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Your Local News Source Officials handed out the certificates following a pre-recorded video message from President Joe Biden celebrating the depth and diversity of the U.S.’s immigrant comPHOTOS BY ROBERT TANN munity.

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elections and help her community. Goran Vejvoda, originally from Yugoslavia, has lived in several countries and said being a U.S. citizen “is a privilege.” “How many places are there in the world where you can speak freely and vote freely and think freely,” Vejvoda said. New citizens, were joined by friends and family members as well as about 200 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade students. Also in attendance were county and regional leaders who shared their experiences of being an immigrant. “Welcome to the land of hope, the land of opportunity,” said Arapahoe County Assessor PK Kaiser, who was born in India and gained U.S. citizenship in 2009. “America believes in immigrants.” Being a citizen comes with liberties and responsibilities, said Kaiser, one of the most important being voting. “Make sure you vote in every single election and make sure your voice is getting heard,” Kaiser said. District Court judge Don J. Toussaint, whose parents immigrated from Haiti to New York and then to New Jersey, where Toussaint was born, spoke of his late father’s own immigrant journey and how it reverberates with him today. Toussaint said after his father’s death in 2020, he found a “treasure trove” of items from his life, among them his citizenship certificate from 1978. “From the letters I read, from the letters that he wrote to his brother and sister in Port-au-Prince (Haiti), how much he adored this country and how he wanted to give back to this country,” Toussaint said, adding that his father was active in helping other Haitian immigrants and victims of the AIDs pandemic that began in the 1980s. Toussaint’s father fled a brutal dictatorship in Haiti, Toussaint said, and while he believes his father “didn’t want to leave” he knew

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he had no choice. “Now, this country that I love a lot, is not a perfect country obviously,” Toussaint said. “But the ideals and the promise that this country holds makes this the perfect promise and perfect dream for millions of people.” Attendees also heard from the school’s 4th-grade choir, who performed as a proud and triumphant chorus with words about the beauty of the U.S.’s immigrant heritage. Before taking the Oath of Allegiance and being presented with their certificates, soon-to-be citizens heard a pre-recorded video message from President Joe Biden who celebrated the depth and diversity of the U.S.’s immigrant community. “America’s a big country and it’s beautiful in the fact that it is so diverse,” Vejvoda said. “Like President Biden said, it’s an immigrant country in a very, very profound way. Those people got together to make things better.”

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4 Denver Herald

May 19, 2022

Combating climate change one refill at a time Denver-based refill shops provide a local solution to a global issue ELICIA HESSELGRAVE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

David Rouse notices that the city is changing. He is a Denver native and has seen a trend that has come alongside the city’s growing population: an accumulation of landfill waste. “Trash is becoming more apparent and there’s pollution in the streets,” said Rouse, co-owner of Off the Bottle refill shop located in Capitol Hill. Refill shops provide a solution to landfill waste Single-use plastic waste is a growing problem in the United States. Research using a variety of online sources reveal that an estimated 700 million plastic laundry detergent jugs, 550 million shampoo bottles, 2 billion disposable razors and one billion spray cleaning bottles are thrown away annually. Because of recycling accessibility gaps — combined with a lack of understanding of how to recycle and confusion about acceptable recycling materials — many of these plastics end up in landfills and pollute the environment, including waterways.

David Rouse and Daniel Landes wanted to be a part of the solution to the amount of waste sent to the landfill and opened Off the COURTESY PHOTO Bottle Refill Shop, 220 E. 13th Ave. in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood in June 2021.

Some Denver businesses have come up with a solution: refill shops. These stores provide customers an opportunity to bring their own containers and refill household goods such as liquid laundry detergent, shampoos and conditioners, and more. Refill

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products are sold by weight and customers are asked to bring their own containers or, depending on the store, may purchase refillable containers onsite. In addition to refillable products, customers can also find environmentally-friendly alternatives to typical home goods, like bamboo-handled toothbrushes, stainless steel razors, beeswax food wrap and cosmetics packaged in cardboard or bamboo, for a few examples. More people equals more waste With Denver’s growing population, business partners Rouse and Daniel Landes wanted to be a part of the solution to the amount of waste sent to the landfill. They have supported sustainable living and earth-conscious lifestyles for more than 20 years, so opening Off the Bottle in June 2021 fell right in line with their beliefs. A refill shop was an opportunity to share their passion with the community and educate Denver residents on how to reduce landfill waste through alternative options for daily living, Rouse said. Along with the refill portion of the store, Off the Bottle provides a Freecycle program that allows customers to donate containers for others to use. This provides opportunities for individuals who might be passing by and want to participate in the refill program, but do not have a container handy. Rouse and Landes try to keep their carbon footprint low by purchasing their stock locally, thus offering many Colorado-based products in their store. All products are plant-based, vegan and palm-oil free. Rouse researches every product and examines all the ingredients in every product to ensure that everything sold at Off the Bottle aligns with his and Landes’ beliefs. “The earth is in such a state of turmoil,” Rouse said. “It is better to do what we can to offer products

that are of high quality (and) provide something that doesn’t wreak havoc on the environment.” Rouse added that the location of the shop, 220 E. 13th Ave., provides a unique opportunity to cater to the neighborhood. Capitol Hill is a densely populated area filled with apartment buildings that often do not provide recycling, he said. “Our store brings accessibility to the community for eco-friendly alternatives,” Rouse said, including “those who do not have the option to recycle … where it isn’t provided.”

‘People just want to make a difference’ Like Rouse and Landes, Brittany Iseli’s passion for the environment led to the opening of Joyfill, 4340 W. 35th Ave. in Denver, in spring of 2018. Iseli wanted to bring something novel to the area that would allow people to cut down on their plastic waste. She believes Joyfill has had success in Denver because “people just want to make a difference on a personal level, in terms of lowering carbon footprint and plastic use.” Joyfill sells local products and client-favorite brands, and Iseli recently launched Joyfill-branded products that include laundry and dish detergent, hand soap and bubble bath. Iseli hopes to expand the brand to include more personal care products such as body wash and lotion. The advantage of selling a store brand allows for keen oversight on how products are made, as well as being able to offer them at a lower price, Iseli said. But Joyfill’s expansion doesn’t stop there — launching in the near future will be an expanded delivery subscription program. A customer’s perspective Melissa Colonno, of Denver’s SEE CHANGE, P5

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May 19, 2022

CHANGE

only the quantity that is needed. “In addition to the environmental impacts, it is practical because you can buy the amount you need, rather than a full bottle,” Colonno said. And, she said, “it’s a great way to try out new products in small quantities.”

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City Park West neighborhood, has been practicing a focused, intentional interest in zero waste for about seven years. It started when her first child was born — Colonno began to question her actual need of things that her family, other parents and society were telling her that she needed to raise her child. This sparked a curiosity in using cloth diapers, which is where the journey began. Colonno is now a regular refill customer at Joyfill. This lifestyle allows her to focus on buying what she truly needs, rather than allowing others to influence her purchasing power, she said. By patronizing refill stores, Denver residents can help conserve the local landscape while also making practical purchases and buying

Brittany Iseli opened Joyfill, a refill shop located at 4340 W. 35th Ave. in Denver, COURTESY PHOTO in spring of 2018.

Refill shops: the answer to the climate crisis Carrie Martin-Haley joined the refill shop community as a business owner in fall of 2020 with Summit Sustainable Goods, a virtual refill shop with the opportunity for purchasing in person at pop-ups, farmers markets and the collective at Made to Last in Lakewood. “I see the climate crisis as being the most dangerous thing we need to address as a society,” said Martin-Haley. While weighing the options of how to make a difference in the community, she decided a refill store would give her the opportuni-

ty to educate the community about things people can do individually to make a more sustainable environment. Martin-Haley believes the Denver market has an appreciation and responsibility for the environment — particularly because of its access to the mountains and outdoor adventures. “Being able to support that through everyday endeavors can make a difference in something that we love so much as a community,” Martin-Haley said. She recommends making one product switch at a time. “Start with something you are passionate about. This excitement will branch out to other products and practices.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOPS Off the Bottle: offthebottlerefills.com Joyfill: joyfill.co Summit Sustainable Goods: summitsustainablegoods.eco

Free school meal program on November ballot Costs for program would come from limiting tax deductions for high-income earners BY ERICA MELTZER CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado voters will decide this November whether to cover the cost of school meals for all students. All Colorado students have had access to free lunch over the last two years thanks to pandemic-related federal waivers that are set to expire this summer. During that time, many school districts reported more students eating lunch, sometimes as many as 40% more than in pre-pandemic times. Lawmakers have sent a measure to the voters that would bring in an additional $101 million a year by limiting tax deductions for high-income earners. Those new state funds would supplement additional federal dollars that schools can claim by participating in the community eligibility program. Rather than relying on families filling out applications for subsidized lunches, school districts could use eligibility

for programs like Medicaid and food stamps to count children in poverty and get more meals covered. In addition to covering the costs of school meals, participating school districts could also get money to buy healthy local foods, raise wages for food service workers, upgrade equipment, and train workers to prepare healthy meals. The proposal would create the Healthy School Meals for All program. House Bill 1414 passed both chambers with bipartisan support, though many Republicans voted no. By getting lawmakers to place the measure on the ballot, supporters save time and money they would have spent gathering signatures. However, there would be a gap year before the program starts. Schools wouldn’t have access to any extra money for the 2022-23 school year. The Democratic sponsors of the measure had originally backed a bill that would have used state money to fill in that gap, but it stalled due to concerns about ongoing costs. Backers of the initiative, such as Hunger Free Colorado, say offering free lunch to all students reduces stigma and shame and encourages participation, while relieving cash-

strapped families of one more expense. Some Republican lawmakers objected to asking a small percentage of taxpayers to pay for something that families should be providing and that many parents can afford. The proposal would limit state income tax deductions for taxpayers earning $300,000 or more. Individuals would be limited to $12,000 and joint

filers to $16,000. The measure does not require the governor’s signature to appear on the ballot. The referred measure only requires a simple majority to become law. This story was originally published by Chalkbeat Colorado. More at chalkbeat.org.

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the foster couple could be considered discrimination against their religious beliefs, Wilson said. So Wilson tried another tactic. “I just kept meeting with them and telling them how a child might feel in their home,” she said. “We met ad nauseum — until they withdrew.” Not all county child welfare divisions work this way. Wilson knows this because potential foster and adoptive parents sometimes transfer to Adams County and tell her about the lack of LGBTQ training, and because caseworkers in other counties are approving foster homes that are opposed to gay and trans children. “There are people who are writing and approving home studies for people who are saying, ‘I can’t have an LGBTQ kid in my home,’” Wilson said. “That 100 percent exists in Colorado.” And some foster parents in other counties say they only want children who are younger than 10, hoping to avoid any kids who identify as gay, trans or nonbinary. “If you come to us saying ‘I only want kids age 0 to 10 so we don’t have to worry about the LGBTQ stuff?’ Wilson said. “Wrong.” Adams County has about 115 foster homes, including about 85 that are traditional foster homes. The rest are kinship placements. The county does not know how many children in foster care identify as LGBTQ, and neither does the state child welfare division, because that is not a required field in the state child welfare computer system. Number of LGBTQ kids in foster care is increasing Nationally, some child advocacy groups say nearly one-third of children in foster care are LGBTQ, and in Colorado, child placement agencies and caseworkers say they see more LGBTQ kids every year. While some are in the system because they conflicted with their biological parents over being gay or trans, many come out while they are in foster care. Children who are gay or trans are in foster care for the same reasons as other children: abuse and neglect. On top of that, they often experience additional trauma because they are rejected or mistreated based on their

May 19, 2022 gender identity or sexual orientation, said Minna Castillo Cohen, director the Office of Children, Youth and Families at the state human services department. They’re more likely to live in residential centers instead of foster homes, and more likely to have frequent disruptions and more placements, she said. “We want to make sure that we have fully inclusive families, and that we are sure that all families who are willing to foster a child are committing to being fully inclusive,” Castillo Cohen said. “To reject that child a second time would be horrible, and we don’t know how children are going to identify as they grow up.” Another child placement agency, WhimSpire, also has stepped up its efforts in recent years to find LGBTQaffirming families, including by recruitment at farmers markets and gay pride events on the Western Slope. “The biggest factor for us, whether it’s LGBTQ families or not, is getting out in the community and answering questions about who can and cannot foster,” said Katie Norton, WhimSpire’s northwest regional director, in Grand Junction. The agency’s social media pages include photos of diverse foster families, including same-sex couples. The efforts have coincided with an increasing number of calls from counties across Colorado hoping to find supportive homes for kids who are gay or trans, she said. The agency has 111 certified foster homes in the state, including 11 that are same-sex households. “We don’t necessarily see their preferences. We don’t see their religion,” she said. “We see their heart and their desire to foster.” “One big rainbow family” When Colorado Springs couple Riley and Matthew Skelton decided they wanted to adopt, they specifically looked for a non-religious agency that had good reviews in the gay community. Then the two men interviewed the agency, Kids Crossing, wanting to make sure they would get a welcoming reception before they signed up to get certified as a foster-to-adopt family. In part, it was self-preservation. “Any faith-based placement agencies, just from our own experiences, they’re not an option at all because we don’t feel like we would be treated in a way that would be supportive of

The pride flag flies.

PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES

our lifestyle and our family and what we’re trying to create,” Riley said. “I still don’t have a relationship with my mother because she uses Christianity as a means to not have a relationship with me because the Bible tells her so.” Now, the couple have one adopted child, a 12-year-old who uses they/ them pronouns, and one foster child on the LGBTQ “spectrum” whom they are trying to adopt.

“Just one big rainbow family,” Riley said. 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. FROM

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8 Denver Herald

LOCAL

May 19, 2022

VOICES

Getting together with the D10 community

s the councilperson for District 10, one of my goals is to increase community participation in our democracy. Our democracy is stronger when we all participate, and I have seen firsthand that one person can make a difference in our community. I advocated for a bill that became law in 2018, and because of my years of advocacy at the state level, our state GUEST elected officials decided to name COLUMN the bill after me. Not everyone can have a law with their name on it in their list of accomplishments, but we can all participate in our own way. After a tumultuous few years domestically, preserving our democracy seems more important and challenging now than in recent memory. We have had protests, civil rights conversations, global unrest, Chris Hinds and during all of that, we’ve been wrestling with a global pandemic. This pandemic has shifted our definition of normal for more than two years, and we’ve all had to make incredible adjustments to every part of our lives. I think it’s a perfect time for us all to get to know our neighbors, form new connections to our city, and become more engaged in our government. That’s why our office is planning monthly events that will take place throughout District 10 from May through October. These events are designed to encourage and increase civic engagement, and it will give our community yet another way to access their city councilmember and council office. These events will highlight District 10, and they will also provide a great two-way conversation so I can share some of my priorities and hear more about you and your priorities. And, while we’re coming together, let’s have some fun in the process. Each event will be a little different, but you can expect all of them to be similar to a block party — with food trucks, live music, tables of information from different entities and fun. The overall theme of the six events is mobility, and each event will showcase different ways to explore District 10 besides the traditional car. I encourage you to attend as many as you would like, as each event will be unique. I think it’s important to let residents know that the city and the District 10 office are here for them. I hope that these events bring our community closer together while showcasing how our office can help you. I look forward to seeing the D10 community in person again. You can find out the most up to date information about these events by visiting our website, denverperfect10.com, or on our social media channels. Our first event will take place from 2-4 p.m. May 29 on Acoma Street between 10th and 11th avenues.

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e know customer bills and energy usage are topics of conversation in the communities we serve. A combination of factors — including the increased cost of the natural gas we purchase, recovery of costs associated with Storm Uri and costs to help cover system investments and improvements — have added to monthly costs. The common thread is that each of these costs are necessary to provide the safe, reliable natural gas service that our

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SEE FIALA, P9

A sign of aging

t recently hit me that a true sign of aging is not about actual age, graying hair or straining a muscle in the back while picking up something as simple as a comb. Instead, what hit me is how much hearing the news of a celebrity dying and being a little sad as you recount the memories from youth. To tell this story, I will have to shine some light on my country roots a little bit. A few weeks ago, when the news of Naomi Judd dying came out, I was saddened. This news proved I am aging because there was a time when a celebrity died, and my parents and grandparents would react while I kind of sat there wondering what the fuss was all about. Now, it’s me telling my kids stories of how

Chris Hinds represents District 10 on Denver City Council. He can be reached at district10@denvergov. org or 720-337-7710.

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these people brought fond or not-so-fond memories to my life. After hearing about the sad way Naomi Judd died, I found myself telling my kids about the fact that my first favorite song, that I could recall, was the Judds’ hit “I Know Where I’m Going.” Yeah, it’s a bit of a cheesy song but I loved it. The Judds were also my Thelma Grimes very first cassette tape. Yes, I said cassette tape. I was remembering how

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May 19, 2022

Look — up in the sky! BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On a summer night long ago, we happened to be at the top of Independence Pass at midnight, after a gully-washer soaked our tent and sleeping bags at Maroon Bells Campground and it became necessary to load sleepy kids in the car and head home. The sky was absolutely dazzling and we stood there for a long time, just gobsmacked! When I opened the new edition of 5280 magazine and saw a story about “Stars Bright” by Jessica Larusso, I was moved to encourage our readers to seek out a similar experience with families this summer. Several of my nature-oriented magazines have focused on seeking out the dark sky experience as a travel trend and this story is clear and helpful, listing Dark Sky Parks and Communities. Kids will enjoy having their own sky maps and learn a pleasurable skill that lasts a lifetime. Pack the guide books, binoculars and cameras with the camping

GRIMES FROM PAGE 8

the ribbon would get pulled out and I would work to roll it back in with a pencil. Later, I enjoyed the Judds’ work in songs such as “Grandpa” and “Love Can Build a Bridge.” I made my kids listen to “Love Can Build a Bridge” in the car after I learned of Naomi Judd’s death, explaining what a lovely song it is and how I always enjoyed listening to it. As if I needed another example

FIALA FROM PAGE 8

spring cleaning actions you can take that could help lower your natural gas bills? Here are five jobs to tackle to help reduce your energy usage and make your home — and appliances — more energy efficient: 1. Replace filters for your HVAC system. Check and replace your filters every three months. Dirty filters make your furnace work extra hard to push the air through, using more energy and increasing the wear and tear on

equipment and look for a dark hiking spot. Westcliffe and Silver Cliff in southern Colorado make up Colorado’s first certified International Dark Sky Community, which involves shielded light fixtures in limnumbers, with Sonya Ellingboe ited warm light bulbs that won’t glare. The Smokey Jack Observatory there is also available to visitors. An active nonprofit organization is called Dark Skies of the Wet Mountain Valley. Norwood, Ridgeway, Crestone, Nucla and Naturita are also International Dark Sky Communities. Colorado also has 10 International Dark Sky Parks families can seek out. Since this is a growing trend, reservations are probably in order. There are currently 196 Dark Sky Places in the world and Colorado claims 15 of them. In addition to the

communities above, There are 10 Dark Sky Parks: Hovenweep National Monument; Black Canyon of the Gunnison; Dinosaur National Monument; Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve; Jackson Area as one explores ... (Sensibly, the writer suggests exploring an area well during the day first, and research what will be showing at a particular time and season ... Photographers are warned that there are limitations on camera equipment, such as flashes, that would disturb area wildlife, so investigate the rules and regulations. Travelers speculate over archaeological sites and possible connections to the night skies, where often interpretations are questioned. I personally think learning about a variety of myths and legends is highly desirable for visitors of all ages. Families may want to research star-related events in communities they plan to visit this summer. Crestone will celebrate the second anniversary of its Experience the Night Festival this weekend, for

of my age, my children helped that along with the bored looks and, at one point, asking if I could put on the recently-popular song, “Astronaut in the Ocean.” Naomi Judd is not the first celebrity where I found myself recalling fond moments from childhood and young adulthood, but this was the first time where I realized it is becoming more routine to hear the news of someone passing and being able to recall some childhood story. While I am always sad to hear the news of someone I grew up watching or listening to passing – I do enjoy taking a moment to pause

and remember. Remembering that tape player being rewound over and over again to play my favorite songs. Today, we have the luxury of a quick push of a button or Google search to find the exact song we want at that moment. When I was younger you had to practice timing to rewind and replay a good song. Believe me, I got good at that over the years before CDs became the thing. On a sidenote, as I bring this week’s editor’s ramblings to a close, I will say I hope the passing of Naomi Judd continues even more discussion about mental health in our country.

She has always been an advocate for helping people with mental illness. She has always pushed for the medical industry to do more than just give someone some pills and hope they work well enough. She has always pushed for more studies on the brain, or more attention to what causes depressing, anxiety and stress. I hope her passing can bring some more attention and help to those who need it before they do what she ended up doing to end the struggles.

your system. 2. Service your furnace. An annual furnace inspection will ensure your heating system is working safely and efficiently. 3. Deep clean your oven. When an oven is deep cleaned, it will reach desired cooking temperatures more quickly which reduces energy usage. Heat is also better distributed, so your food is cooked more evenly. Keep in mind that frequently using the self-cleaning feature on your oven can be expensive because it uses a lot of energy, so try to wipe up messes promptly using baking soda and water to keep your oven clean throughout the

year. 4. Flush your hot water heater. Doing this annually is not only good for your water heater, but you’ll also become familiar with how the appliance works and better equipped to spot potential issues. Plus, if your unit is in a spot that’s exposed to cold temperatures, consider insulating the unit to help reduce how much energy its using to heat water. See more hot water heater tips here. 5. Conduct a home safety check. Lastly, remember to replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide and smoke detectors. Plus, test the units to make sure

they’re still working properly. Black Hills Energy is committed to keeping you safe, while empowering you to take control of your energy usage. There’s no better time to tackle home efficiency projects than during annual spring cleaning and these five actions can go a long way to helping keep your home running efficiently and energy costs down. For more energy-saving tips, visit www.blackhillsenergy. com/monitor-energy-usage.

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Colorado offers multiple areas with dark SHUTTERSTOCK skies for stargazing.

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Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community

Amy Fiala is an energy efficiency coordinator for Black Hills Energy, a utility serving Colorado and seven other states.

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10 Denver Herald

LOCAL

LIFE

May 19, 2022

straight year with a healthy operating reserve. The Opera was finishing “Pagliacci,” with more than $367,000 in ticket sales for three performances, and “The Lion King,” with strong earing a mask may be good protecadvance sales, was coming to the Denver Center tion from COVID-19, but it makes it for the Performing Arts in May. really tough to sing the rousing “La Then on March 13 everything came to a dead Chanson Bohème.”Yet that was stop. The music, the dance, the plays were all precisely the challenge soprano Kate Aldrich victims of the pandemic. faced at a rehearsal of Opera Colorado’s “Twenty-nineteen was a blockbuster year, upcoming production of “Carmen.” one of the highest years of attendance ever,” Aldrich, from time to time, tugged at her said Meredith Badler, deputy director of the mask for extra air as she sang of tambouColorado Business Community for the Arts, a rines, frenzied guitars and red-striped nonprofit promoting the arts. dresses floating in the wind. “You can’t get “Denver had been on this incredible growth behind in your breathing,” she explained. trajectory; 2020 set everyone back,” she said. “I have sung this so many times I know how “The pandemic set back every one of our key many breaths I need.” indicators.” Attendance for the year was Such is opera in the time of pandemic. down nearly 50% to 8 million for cultural Come the stage rehearsals and the perforand arts organizations in the greater metro mances, which start May 7 at the Ellie Caulkins area, and more than 3,700 jobs in the arts Opera House, the masks come off. were lost, according to the CBCA. The masks, however, were back on for every“Performing arts operations are one, including the audience, at Boettcher Concert operating on really thin margins so Hall when singer-songwriter Ben Folds perif you can’t get enough people into a formed with the Colorado Symphony on April performance, you aren’t making your 23. “It was a specific request from the artist,” costs,” Badler said. said Nick Dobreff, the symphony’s communicaThe previous body blow to the tions and creative director. “We had to comply Denver performing arts was the because he wouldn’t perform without it.” 2008 recession. Such is the symphony in the time of pan“Bouncing back from the recesdemic. sion took 10 years. Hopefully it Still, after the darkest days — and dark wouldn’t take another decade to they were, for all the theaters were shutget back,” Badler said. tered — Denver’s major performing arts companies have, in fits and starts, been on Learning how to improvise a comeback season. It is proving to be a When rehearsals vanished long climb back. and theaters were closed, the different arts companies The banner year that could’ve been began to improvise. The performing arts were flourThe Denver Center for ishing in the city as 2020 began. the Performing Arts usuThe ally has 40 to 50 shows running through its Colorado Ballet had completed a record run for “The Nutcracker,” with a new $1.5 SEE DANCE, P11 million production. The Colorado Symphony was also on pace to set record attendance and its fifth BYMARKJAFFE THE COLORADO SUN

Denver’s major performing arts companies have been on a post-COVID comeback season, but it’s proving to be a long climb back

Denver Herald 11

May 19, 2022

Fundraiser highlights We Can Do It! program The International Rescue Committee is hosting its Welcome Home fundraiser from 6-9 p.m. June 1 at the pavilion at City Park, 2001 Steele St., in Denver. IRC is a not-for-profit that is internationally headquartered in New York. Its Denver office is located in Denver’s Virginia Village neighborhood. IRC’s mission is “to help people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and regain control of their future,” states IRC’s website. The Welcome Home event will benefit the organization’s Denver Psychosocial Support Services and its many programs, including the We Can Do It! program which will be highlighted at the event.

DANCE FROM PAGE 10

eight theaters in a season. At the same time, it was in the middle of a $41 million renovation project. The center used the pause to its advantage to complete the project. “The silver lining of our experience was that we were renovating theaters,” said Janice Sinden, DCPA’s president and CEO. The Colorado Ballet started doing its daily ballet class for its dancers over Zoom and dancers began making “Virtual Ballet” videos dancing in the parking garage at the performing arts center or along the Platte River, as bicyclists whizzed by. The company also teamed up with Rocky Mountain PBS to air performances of “The Nutcracker” and “Alice,” a ballet based on the Lewis Carroll character. The Colorado Symphony never stopped playing. “Our mantra was play on,” Dobrff said.

We Can Do It! focuses on “female clients who vocalized social isolation and lack of growth opportunities in their new communities in Colorado,” states a news release. The Welcome Home event includes a buffet dinner catered by R Bazaar, which is the nonprofit arm of Ruby’s Market, a multi-cultural artesian market on South Pearl Street in Denver. Live entertainment will be provided by Oromo Dance Colorado. Tickets cost $100 per person and registration closes May 30. Attendees should expect to wear a mask at the event, though IRC will be assessing this closer to June 1. For more information about IRC’s work in Denver, visit rescue.org/ united-states/denver-co. To register for the Welcome Home event or for more information on the event, visit tinyurl.com/IRC-WelcomeHome.

Within days of the shutdown, the symphony produced an online performance of the Ode to Joy from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, each orchestra member playing his or her part at home. Symphony musicians kept posting videos under the rubric #PlayOn, including the horn section’s soulful rendition of “All By Myself.” A handful of small, masked and socially distanced ensembles popped up at places like Civic Center park and the Colorado State Capitol. In July 2020, the symphony became the first group to play at Red Rocks since the start of the pandemic, with a series of 18 concerts by 20 musicians before audiences of 175 spread out across the huge amphitheater. “It was eerie,” Dobreff said. “You just never see Red Rocks like that.” Looking at the numbers While audiences largely disappeared, one thing that did not vanish was philanthropic and government backing SEE DANCE, P15

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Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Misc. Private Legals PUBLIC NOTICE Health Resources and Services Administration NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT For Sheridan Health Services Construction & Capital Improvements In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Council on Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 1508) and the HHS General Administration Manual Part 30 Environmental Protection (February 25, 2000), HRSA has determined that the Sheridan Health Services Construction & Capital Improvements proposed by University of Colorado Denver dba Sheridan Health Services will have no significant adverse impact on the quality of the human environment. As a result of this FONSI, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides discretionary grant and cooperative agreement awards to support health centers expand their capacity to provide primary and preventive health care services to medically underserved populations nationwide. University of Colorado Denver dba Sheridan Health Services in Denver, CO has applied for HRSA grant funding. The applicant proposes to use grant funds to renovate approximately 1,000 square feet of space adjacent to the clinic, which will increase clinical capacity at 3525 W. Oxford Ave. Denver, CO 80236. The applicant has submitted an Environmental Assessment (EA) that documents impacts of the proposed action. This EA is incorporated by reference into this FONSI. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Assessment for this project, which is on file at the following address for public examination upon request between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Sheridan Library 3425 W. Oxford Ave Denver, CO 80236 Phone: (303) 542-7279 No further environmental review of this project is proposed prior to final approval from HRSA. Public Comments Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on these projects may submit written comments to the Sheridan Health Services, Attn: Chris Neuman, Clinical Operations Manager at 3525 W. Oxford Ave. #G-2 Denver, CO 80236 HRSA will consider all comments received within 15 days of this “Notice” prior to final approval from HRSA. Legal Notice No. 81630 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of VENERANDA BUGARIN ERICKSON, also known as VENERANDA BUGARIN de ERICKSON, Deceased Case Number: 22 PR 30194 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 or before September 19, 2022 or the claims may be forever barred. Inder Sajid Muñoz Bugarin, Personal Representative c/o M. Carl Glatstein, Esq. Glatstein & O’Brien. LLP 2696 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 350 Denver, CO 80222 Legal Notice No: 81638 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch

Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of James D. Blomgren, aka James Blomgren, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 30521 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 September 6, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Kim J. Hardwick, Personal Representative c/o Katz, Look & Onorato, P.C. 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100 Denver, Colorado 80203 Legal Notice No. 81601 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Dennis Paul Berg, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30535 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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Amber J. Berg, Personal Representative 392 Jamaica Street Aurora, CO 80010 Legal Notice No. 81622 First publication: May 12, 2022 Last publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of ADIL H. A. KELLOW, aka ADIL HASEEB ABDULLAH KELLOW, aka ADIL H. KELLOW, aka ADIL H. ABDULA KELLOW, aka ADIL KELLOW , Deceased Case No:. 2022PR030405 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 September 20, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Ziyad Kellow, Personal Representative 9646 Kendall Ct. Westminster, CO 80021 Legal Notice No. 81624 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of BRIAN STEPHEN PRIMACK, a/k/a BRIAN S. PRIMACK, a/k/a BRIAN PRIMACK, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30498 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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Scott J. Primack, Personal Representative 5855 South Franklin Court Greenwood Village, CO 80121 Legal Notice No. 81618 First Publication: May 12, 2022 Last Publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Gloria Ann Lyngbye, Deceased Case Number: 22 PR 30499 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 September 5, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Verla E. Vallier, Personal Representative c/o Patrick Schilken, P.C. 7936 E. Arapahoe Court, No. 2800 Centennial, Colorado 80130 Legal Notice No. 81600 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Bridget Dianne Black, a/k/a Bridget D. Black, a/k/a Bridget Black, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR030555 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 September 6, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. James J. Black, Personal Representative 5520 W. 97th Avenue Westminster CO 80020

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Legal Notice No. 81612 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Alvis Edward Deeds, Jr. AKA: Alvis E. Deeds, Jr., AKA: A. Edward Deeds, Jr., AKA: A.E. Deeds, Jr., AKA: Ed Deeds, Jr. , Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30516 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 September 6, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Teresa Hood: Personal Representative 7183 E. Warren Dr. Denver, CO 80224 Legal Notice No. 81609 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Sidney John Arkley, a/k/a Sidney J. Arkley, and Sidney Arkley, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 30553 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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. William T. Arkley, Personal Representative c/o Poskus, Caton & Klein, P.C. 303 East 17th Avenue, Suite 900 Denver, Colorado 80203 Legal Notice No. 81614 First Publication: May 12, 2022 Last Publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Stacie Ann Jackson, AKA Stacie A Jackson, AKA Stacie Jackson, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30449 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 September 5, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Kimberly Raemdonck, Attorney for the Personal Representative, Alexandra Jackson 2489 W Main Street Littleton, CO 80120 Legal Notice No. 81607 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of AGNES MARY MADRIGAL aka AGNES M. MADRIGAL aka AGNES MADRIGAL, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30600 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 or before September 19, 2022 or the claims may be forever barred. Marianna V. Madrigal Personal Representative c/o 3801 E. Florida Ave., Ste. 906 Denver, CO 80210 Legal Notice No: 81634 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch Public Notice

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Last publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch

Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of LINDA EVA HALEY, a/k/a LINDA EVE HALEY, a/k/a LINDA E. HALEY, a/k/a LINDA HALEY, a/k/a LINDA EVA NEWBY, a/k/a LINDA E. NEWBY, Deceased Case No.: 2022 PR 30473

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of RICHARD WELDON ADAMS aka RICHARD W. ADAMS aka RICHARD ADAMS, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 30568

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 September 5, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Name: Donniece V. Newby c/o LAW OFFICES OF KIMBER Z. SMITH, P.C. Kimber Z. Smith, #8479 P. O. Box 1105 Arvada, CO 80001 Legal Notice No. 81611 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of John W. Boerstler, Deceased Case Number 22-PR-30265

Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Tanner Robert Humann, a/k/a Tanner R. Humann, and Tanner Humann, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR030595 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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Jason Hefley, Personal Representative c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC 4500 Cherry Creek Drive South, Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246 Legal Notice No. 81616 First Publication: May 12, 2022 Last Publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Wells Fargo Bank By: Clare Ceplecha, Sr. VP/Sr. Estate Advisory Specialist 1700 Lincoln Street, 11th Floor Denver, Colorado 80203 Legal Notice No. 81617 First Publication: May 12, 2022 Last Publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of GEORGE HAROLD HAGEVIK a/k/a GEORGE H. HAGEVIK a/k/a GEORGE HAGEVIK , Deceased Case Number: 22PR30421 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 or before September 19, 2022 or the claims may be forever barred. Erik Severin Hagevik Personal Representative c/o Moeller Law, LLC 8547 E Arapahoe Road, Suite J-293 Greenwood Village, CO 80112

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of ANNABELLE K. FOLTZ, a/k/a ANNABELLE KATHERYN FOLTZ, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 30522 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative: Bruce Garrett, C/O Jo Lauren Seavy, Sullivan Green Seavy LLC, 2036 E. 17th Avenue, Denver, CO 80206, or to the Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, 1437 Bannock Street, #230, Denver, CO 80202, on or before September 12, 2022 or the claims may be forever barred. Bruce Garrett, Personal Representative C/O Jo Lauren Seavy, Attorney for Personal Representative Sullivan Green Seavy LLC 2036 E. 17th Avenue Denver, CO 80206

Legal Notice No: 81631 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Legal Notice No. 81620 First Publication: May 12, 2022 Last Publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Patricia Geis, a/k/a Patricia Ann Geis, a/k/a Patricia A. Geis, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR030463

Public Notice

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 September 6, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Hayden Christopher Geis Personal Representative 8563 E. 55th Ave Denver, Colorado 80238

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Patricia Vickers Porter-Mullin, a/k/a Patricia V. Porter-Mullin, a/k/a Patricia Porter-Mullin, a/k/a Patsy V. Porter-Mullin, a/k/a Patricia V. Porter, a/k/a Patricia V. Mullin, a/k/a Patricia Vickers Porter, a/k/a Patricia Vickers Fehrman, a/k/a Patricia V. Fehrman, a/k/a Patricia Fehrman, a/k/a Patricia Porter Fehrman, Deceased Case Number: 2021PR31700 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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred.

Legal Notice No. 81605 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Russell Peter Beaulieu, Deceased Case Number: 2021PR600

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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patricia Matile, Personal Representative 4201 West Union Avenue Denver, CO 80226

Kurtis Wayne Beaulieu Personal Representative 1150 Old Enterprise Rd. Lake Helen, FL 32744

PUBLIC NOTICE

Legal Notice No. 81619 First publication: May 12, 2022

Thomas A. Adams, Personal Representative c/o Katz Look & Onorato, P.C. 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100 Denver, CO 80203 Legal Notice No: 81633 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Curtis Lee Matile, a/k/a Curtis L. Matile, a/k/a Curtis Matile, a/k/a Curt Matile, a/k/a Lee Matile, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30556

Legal Notice No. 81606 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022

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 or before September 19, 2022 or the claims may be forever barred.

Jerome V. Porter Personal Representative Patrick R. Thiessen (40185) FRIE, ARNDT, DANBORN & THIESSEN P.C. 7400 Wadsworth Blvd, Ste. 201 Arvada, CO 80003 Phone Number: 303-420-1234 Attorney for Jerome V. Porter Personal Representative Legal Notice No. 81615 First Publication: May 12, 2022 Last Publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Robert Morris Huffman,

Denver Herald Legals 5.19.22 * 1

Denver Herald 15

May 19, 2022

DANCE FROM PAGE 11

for the arts. In fact, private donations to arts and cultural groups in 2020 rose 5.5% to $225 million compared to 2019, according to the CBCA. “We are a nonprofit organization. We are used to raising money to meet our goals,” Dobreff said. “It isn’t something a restaurant or a store can do. … Donations became very important during that time and our support helped in a massive way to help us keep playing on.” Pre-pandemic donations to performing arts organizations ranged on average from one-fifth to more than twothirds of total revenue, based on their 990 federal tax forms. DCPA had a 30,000-person subscriber base and the organization sought to have subscribers contribute their tickets. This helped boost donations to $4.5 million. Tickets could also be held as credits for future performances. Still, the center lost about 5,000 subscribers during the pandemic. Subscribers also donated tickets for opera performances the company could not perform. “We saw a tremendous amount of support in contributions,” Carpenter said. The opera was expecting about a 30% drop-off in contributions and while donations of $500 or less did decrease, pledges from major donors swelled. “So, it all balanced out,” Carpenter said. Opera Colorado logged an 8% increase in contributions in fiscal year 2021 to $3.9 million, compared to a year earlier, while ticket sales were a tenth — just $1,400 — of what they were before the pandemic. More than half of the symphony’s $13.3 million 2020 budget was covered by contributions. “I was concerned whether dollars would shift from the private sector, but they kept it up,” said Deborah Jordy, executive director of the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. The SCFD channels designated sales tax revenue to 320 arts and cultural organizations in Denver and six surrounding counties. “Philanthropy stayed strong particularly in the performing arts where there was no earned income, no ticket sales,” Jordy said. The SCFD also increased its grants

rising to $75.3 million in 2021 from $66 million in 2019, as sales tax revenue grew in the region. “It really demonstrates generally consistent year-over-year support for cultural institutions and that is what they needed during the pandemic,” Jordy said. There was one unexpected source of aid — the federal government’s COVID relief funds. Like other employers with fewer than 500 workers, performing arts organizations were able to access the Paycheck Protection Program and the employee retention tax credit, and then there was the $16.2 billion shuttered venue operator grant program. “All those things were a bonus,” the Opera’s Carpenter said. “We never expected to be on the receiving end of that kind of federal government support.” The opera received $518,000 in federal help over 2020 and 2021. The ballet — carrying a full company of dancers — received a total of nearly $6.4 million in federal backing over two years. The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, which suffered a crippling string of performance cancellations as members in its productions came down with COVID-19, saw donations reach a record $1 million. “From small donors to corporations, everyone stepped up,” said Phillip Sneed, the center’s CEO and president. The center also received $5.2 million in federal aid over two years, helping to offset $3.6 million in losses. “At first we thought it was more than we needed,” Sneed said. But the aid became vital as losses mounted — the most recent, $130,000 in ticket returns from the cancellation of the last seven performances of the musical “Kinky Boots.” Over the two years DCPA garnered about $16 million in federal aid, according to Sinden. DCPA depends heavily on ticket sales — contributions made up just 20% of its pre-pandemic budget of $75 million. “It was really, really tough to come back. We lost $100 million in 18 months,” she said. The comeback Still, as the summer of 2021 came to a close, everyone was preparing for that comeback. One decision all these performing arts groups made was that patrons would have to wear masks and have

proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests to attend performances. “We wanted to be in lockstep because we knew it was going to be hard,” Dobreff said. “We did what was collectively best.” The symphony began Sept. 17 with pianist Emmanuel Ax playing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 at Boettcher. The ballet took the stage in October with “Giselle” — with special precautions backstage at the Ellie Caulkins to sequester hard-breathing dancers. The opera, which was dormant during the 18-month lacuna, had managed to keep all its contracts for its production of “Tosca,” a casualty of the 2020 shutdown, and was able to stage Giacomo Puccini’s tale of love and betrayal at the Ellie Caulkins in November. When the shutdown came, DPCA just left the set for the Improvised Shakespeare Company on the stage of its Garner Galleria Theater and shut the doors. “Eighteen months later we dusted everything off, cleaned the theater and we were back,” Sinden said. The question was: Would audiences be back as well? “Our comeback is a little slower, ticket sales have been a little softer,” Sinden said. “There are single ticket buyers making decisions closer to the event date, because they are not sure what the situation will be.” The opera had one of highest subscription rates in the county, Carpenter said, with almost half of the performances covered by subscribers. “We’ve seen a drop-off from that,” he said. “Some patrons are not quite ready to come back. We are selling a lot more single tickets.” “We budgeted based on 50% of the house being sold. We weren’t sure if we’d have to limit capacity for social distancing,” Carpenter said. But for “Tosca” and the following production, “The Shining,” the house was more than 70% full. The ballet on average saw its performances drawing three-quarters of a regular season, save for the Christmas run of “The Nutcracker” where attendance was off just 5%. “What was really important was getting our dancers back on stage and back to their careers … and we’ve been able to put on a full season,” said Gil Boggs, the ballet’s artistic director.

The ballet, like the opera, also saw more single and last-minute ticket sales. “We are still living in an era where it is hard to plan ahead,” Badler said. The size of symphony audiences depended upon the performance, Dobreff said. Some concerts were sellouts or near sellouts, such as performances with Leslie Odom Jr. and Ben Folds. The symphony, ballet and the opera — if there are no pitfalls with “Carmen” — will all have gotten through their seasons without canceling any shows. Others haven’t been that lucky. In the midst of DCPA’s DecemberJanuary run of “The Lion King” (which had been canceled in May 2020), 13 performances had to be scrapped because of COVID-positive cast members. “Some folks were canceled twice, in May and December,” Sinden said. At the Arvada Center — which presents three musicals and four plays during a normal season — the musicals are the moneymakers, but this season the Christmas musical “Elf” was forced to scratch nine performances and “Kinky Boots” lost seven. That added up to $360,000 in ticket refunds, Sneed said.

The looming question The question that now looms over the region’s performing arts is how long it will take for audiences to return and for the organizations to recover. “We went into this season as a year of rebuilding after COVID, but we didn’t really know what rebuilding would mean,” Carpenter said. “Next season will still be a rebuilding season.” The Arvada Center’s Sneed said it might take three to five years to recover. There is also another worry that there may have been a fundamental shift in theatergoers’ behavior as a result of the pandemic. “The big question is: Have we lost some patrons permanently?” Sneed said. “Have some people decided it is easier to stay home and watch virtual content?” 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.

Public Notices also known as Robert M. Huffman, and Robert Huffman, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30571 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 or before September 19, 2022 or the claims may be forever barred. Nadya Vecchiet-Lambert, Attorney for Steven Kent Huffman, Personal Representative 6855 S. Havana St., Ste 370 Centennial, CO 80112 Legal Notice No: 81632 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of LANA LEE, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30132 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 or before September 19, 2022 or the claims may be forever barred. Laura Lee Personal Representative c/o Aurey Harper, 1421 Lazy Lane San Marcos TX 78666

Legal Notice No: 81635 First Publication: May 19, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Manuel J. Vigil, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 30358 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to Denver Probate Court, Denver, Colorado on or before August 15, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Debra Vigil , Personal Representative 1070 Mariposa St. Denver, CO 80204 Legal Notice No. 81608 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Willis Vincent Carpenter, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30616 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 September 12, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred.

Marian E. Lyons, Personal Representative PO Box 371343 Denver, CO 80327 Legal Notice No. 81621 First publication: May 12, 2022 Last publication: May 26, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Ted A. Scheel, aka Ted Arnold Scheel aka Ted Scheel, deceased Case Number: 2022PR30505 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 September 05, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Leon A. Scheel, Personal Representative c/o Tirey Law Firm LLC, 12021 Pennsylvania Street, Ste 103 Thornton, Colorado 80241 Legal Notice No. 81604 First publication: May 05, 2022 Last publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of HENRY PRICE SNELLGROVE JR., aka HENRY P. SNELLGROVE JR.,

aka HENRY SNELLGROVE JR., aka HENRY PRICE SNELLGROVE, aka HENRY P. SNELLGROVE, aka HENRY SNELLGROVE, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR30484

for the Adoption of a Child: Penelope Jean McGuire (DOB:08-20-2017), birth Mother: Kelly Lyn McGuire and birth Father: Michael Bobbitt.

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 September 5, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred. Collette Rae Hall, Co-Personal Representative Jay Price Snellgrove, Co-Personal Representative c/o 3i Law, LLC 2000 S. Colorado Blvd. Tower 1, Suite 10000 Denver, Colorado 80222

To: Kelly Lyn McGuire You are hereby notified that the above-named Petitioner filed a Petition seeking Adoption of the child named above in Denver County Court, Case No. 21JA172. You are notified this matter is set for a Termination of Parent-Child Relationship hearing on July 27 2022 at 9:00 a.m. at the Denver County Court, Courtroom 2H located at 520 West Colfax, Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80204. WebEx Link: https://judicial.webex.com/webappng/sites/ judicial/dashboard/pmr/courtroom2h You are notified that if you fail to appear for said hearing, the Court may terminate your parent-child relationship with the minor child and Petitioner may adopt the minor child.

Legal Notice No. 81613 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 19, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Legal Notice No. 81602 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: June 2, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Children Services

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(Adoption/Guardian/Other) Public Notice Regarding the Petition of Katie Ann McGuire

Denver Herald Legals 5.19.22 * 2

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May 19, 2022

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