Denver Herald 120122

Small-town football: A di erent game, a di erent level of interest

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On the Eastern Plains, football is a special breed of cat.

Or eagle, as the case may be.

Tucked away north of Interstate 70, an hour or so east of Limon and two or so stops away from the Kansas state line sits the town of Stratton. It occupies half a square mile of land and is home to 658 people and 175 businesses.

More than 450 people work in town. Some of the larger industries in town? Pumpkin patches, professional services and crop preparation services. There are Realtors and dentists, a post office, a bank and a hotel. There’s an auto parts store, three restaurants and a combo inn and winery. An RV park occupies space on a county road.

One-tenth of 1 percent of the town’s population plays at any one time on the high-school football team, one that residents, parents and alumni have rallied around for years.

Why the price of eggs went up

Avian flu hits state’s egg-laying hens

BY TAMARA CHUANG THE COLORADO SUN

In July, Natural Grocers reluctantly raised the price of free-range eggs by a dollar for

members of its loyalty program. But as signs posted around the egg shelves reminded shoppers at the time, “Even at $2.99, they are still priced less than they are at other stores.”

The Lakewood-based grocery chain received little pushback from customers, said Katie Macarelli, the company’s spokeswoman. Likely because around the

same time, gasoline was nearing an average of $5 a gallon in Colorado, the Federal Reserve had made its first of four (so far) threequarter-point interest rate hikes, and the U.S. had just hit its largest inflation rate increase in 40 years. Still, it was still a tough decision for the company, which aims

EGGS, P4

A ordable housing initiative could face rocky future Proposition 123 was approved by Colorado voters

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Few issues affect Coloradans as much as rising housing prices. The state will take a step toward addressing the problem — to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars per year — as officials implement Proposition 123 approved by voters in November.

In just 12 years, the median cost of a single-family home in the Denver area jumped from about $200,000 to three times that amount, according to the latest report by the Colorado Association of Realtors. The trend was similar statewide.

Under Proposition 123, state officials are required to set money aside for more affordable housing and programs to help Coloradans acquire homes and stay housed. Though the measure didn’t raise tax rates to fund those programs, it will, eventually, reduce the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, or TABOR, refunds that Coloradans receive — by $86 per taxpayer for 2024, for example.

Yet voters in November also sought to reduce their taxes and, taken together, the changes could lead to difficult decisions down the road, said Scott Wasserman, who leads the nonprofit Bell Policy Center, which advocates for economic mobility for Coloradans. He called the passage of the measure “bittersweet.”

AT THE HOP

Stratton’s Charlie Tagtmeyer puts an end to this rushing attempt by Otis’ Tayte Smith during the early stages of the teams’ semifinal round game in the six-man playo s Nov. 19 in Stratton. The top-seeded Eagles won easily and will play in next week’s finals in Pueblo.

PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

A half-million LED lights blossom at the Denver Botanic Gardens

BY MARK HARDEN

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

During the warm months, Denver Botanic Gardens’ 23-acre York Street campus, next to Cheesman Park, blazes with colorful fl owers and plants. Over the holidays, the color is provided by an estimated half-million LED lights.

An annual tradition since 1988, Blossoms of Light heralds the holiday season with dazzling color at every turn of the gardens’ paths. It takes months to install the lights using poles, lifts, climbing harnesses, waders and cherrypicker buckets. Each year, a few new lighting arrangements are added, while many favorite displays return.

Blossoms of Light opened for the season Nov. 18, and runs nightly from 4:30 to 9 p.m. through Jan. 7, except on Nov. 24 and Dec. 25. It’s the gardens’ most popular attraction each year, so it’s wise to plan ahead if you hope to enjoy the spectacle.

Timed tickets must be purchased in advance; they are not sold onsite. For the general public, tickets are $24 for adults, $22 for ages 65 and older, $20 for children ages 3-15, and free for children 2 and under. Botanic Gardens members get a $3 discount. The event is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers but icy conditions may exist. For more information and to order tickets, go online to tinyurl.com/ CCMBlossoms.

And the Botanic Gardens’ Chatfi eld Farms campus in Jefferson County offers its own holiday display, Trail of Lights. For information, visit tinyurl.com/CCMTrail.

The Denver Botanic Gardens’ Blossoms of Light will be on display through Jan. 7.

PHOTOS BY MARK HARDEN

The price of eggs, which are featured in several of the breakfast dishes at Rory’s Diner in Parker, have reached a record high this year.

EGGS

FROM

to offer healthy and affordable food options for customers. It has subsidized free-range and organic eggs for its {N}Power members since 2017.

“The general ethos (of subsidizing eggs) is multilayered, but eating good food should not cost you your whole paycheck,” Macarelli said. “You should be able to feed you and your family in an affordable way. Eggs are really the perfect food. They have all the essential amino acids, they have so many nutrients and vitamins. For the pennies it costs you to have two eggs in the morning, it’s probably one of the most economical food products you can buy.”

While the Russian war on Ukraine and the billions in federal relief in the pandemic contributed to overall inflation, including for egg farmers, other factors may have played a greater role in pushing egg prices higher than they’ve ever been.

Farmers were still reeling from the added costs of the pandemic when the contagious avian flu began wiping out 85% of Colorado’s egglaying chicken population in March. Nearly 5 million chickens have been slaughtered. And now, starting in January, a state law goes into effect requiring commercial egg producers to make hen pens roomier with a cage-free housing system, though farmers have two more years to comply with cage-free environments.

“It’s kind of the perfect storm,” said Dawn Thilmany, an economics

professor of labor and agribusiness at Colorado State University. “At the same time those laying hens are (being euthanized), pretty much for every food product, we have high inflation.”

And the new law will likely add more costs, she said. “If we follow what happened in California (after) they went to cage-free laying hens, we tended to see higher prices because the space for those laying hens had to be bigger and as soon as you need more real estate, it’s going to be more costly. Plus, there’s record keeping for those layers,” she said. “Everything that could make prices go up right now probably is making prices go up right now.”

How high?

Egg prices have indeed been rising this year, though retailers have often used them as a loss leader. Advertised prices have been as low as $1.24 a dozen in September, according to the USDA advertised egg prices data.

But at wholesale, a dozen large Grade A white eggs in the South Central region, which includes Colorado, reached $4.23 in October. It fell back to around $3 but was back up to $3.68 as of Nov. 10.

Lead is heavy on our minds.

Though the water we provide is safe, clean and lead-free, lead can get into the water as it moves through customerowned plumbing. So we’re replacing customer service lines, one impacted property at a time. To nd out if you’re one of them, visit our website.

Learn more at DenverWater.org/Lead

PHOTO COURTESY OF RORY’S DINER

SEE EGGS, P5

of eggs to distribution points. You’ve got an increase in materials and packaging. You’ve got an increase in labor costs. Everything that’s associ ated with inflation is associated with the production of eggs as well.”

The cost of food has gone up higher than overall inflation, according to the Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the latest inflation report for Denver, area prices were down from August, but up 7.7% in September compared to a year earlier. Food prices were up 11.8% and eggs — part of the meats, poultry, fish and eggs category — were up 12.9%. But who pays for that isn’t just the consumer or customer.

“What happens is that you get hit with inflationary pressure and there’s a gap between when you start getting hit before you reprice. And in that gap, you’re eating it,” said Marco Antonio Abarca, president of Denver-based Ready Foods, which provides prepared soups and sauces from scratch for restaurants and supermarkets. “I’m eating more and more as the customer is reluctant to take the inflationary hit. It’s under standable but the people who really eat it are the manufacturers or the producers.”

During the last recession around 2009, Abarca said he used that time to invest in real estate and expand. He’s doing that again because he needs a larger factory, but with higher interest rates, he’s paying more for the real estate loans. His new fac tory will have more automation and robotics as a way to manufacture more efficiently. But he still needs workers, which he said he pays above minimum wage for. That’s going up too. Denver’s minimum wage will in crease 9% to $17.27 an hour on Jan. 1.

“It’s getting more expensive because the base is rising,” he said. “I’m going to need good industrial workers who are able to handle ro botics and other things. So there’s inflation and the labor shortage that are causing these issues.”

Christie Pettys, who visits farms to check on the welfare of animals as Natural Grocers’ product standards manager, said she’s seen the pressure of inflation on local farmers, as well as the fear of avian flu. She hasn’t heard that any of her egg suppliers were affected by the flu, but farmers canceled film shoots with the Lake wood-based grocer out of extreme caution.

“They said, ‘We’re not worried about you humans getting sick. We are worried about you killing our birds,’” Pettys said. “That’s a huge concern.”

Natural Grocers still offers $1.99 free-range eggs to members of its program, which is free to join. But they had to raise the price on some brands and specialty eggs. Organic and pasture-raised eggs increased 50 cents a dozen to $3.99 and $4.99 respectively. It’s tough for smaller grocery chains to absorb the rising costs, especially when industrywide costs for eggs have increased about 20% since 2019.

“The real cost increase on all these farms was two-plus years ago,” Pet tys said. “They have been holding the cost for us. And finally, they have had to pass it on to customers because they cannot afford to keep having all

of their increases in the cost of busi ness go up and not change the price.”

Not all eggs in Colorado are native The most recent commercial out break of avian flu in Colorado was in late September in Weld County. Roughly 1.15 million hens were euthanized in early October. Smaller hen houses found on backyard farms continue to show up in the state’s avian flu weekly updates. There have been no reinfected facilities in Colorado, though there have been in other states, said Olga Robak, a spokeswoman for the Colorado De partment of Agriculture.

It’s been devastating, she said. But most cases are among backyard, non commercial farmers who don’t real ize the gravity. The contagious virus affects the organs and has a 90% to 100% mortality rate in chickens, of ten within 48 hours, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention. Avian flu tends to be spread by wild birds, which shed the virus through saliva, nasal secretions and feces. But birds can also get infected through contact with contaminated surfaces — and people.

“In fact, we had a case here in Colo rado, it was a backyard case, where the husband went duck hunting and five days later, all of their chickens died from” avian flu, Robak said. “We don’t know exactly how (it happened but) he was out there touching water fowl, he didn’t follow proper biosecu rity and he wasn’t aware of it. And so somehow, he was the mechanical vector that tracked the virus from the wild birds into the domestic chickens.”

As farmers ramp up egg produc tion again, the process can take a year to get back to full production. After removing the birds and clean ing up, there’s a 150-day quarantine or “virus elimination phase,” fol lowed by additional testing to make sure the virus is not present. Only then can a farmer consider repopu lating the coop. Specialty eggs, like organic and cage free, and larger eggs take longer to produce.

In the meantime, Colorado gets eggs from neighboring states, Scebbi said.

“Our egg industry is a very tightknit industry. So when eggs are re quired in the state of Colorado, and we don’t have the number of eggs to get into the stores, those eggs are purchased from other farms in other states,” Scebbi said. “They work with each other to make sure that there’s a sufficient quantity of eggs to serve the 6 million people in the state of Colorado. The economic impact really isn’t going to be on the loss of the egg to the consumer. It’s going to be the loss of the farmer. The farmer is going to be paying more for those eggs with shipment and logistics.”

But the thing is, there should be enough eggs for every Coloradan who wants to buy them, even if prices are higher than they were a year ago.

“We are a global society,” Robak said. “Just because we produce eggs here in Colorado doesn’t mean those are the only eggs we eat.”

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 Colo rado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colo rado Community Media.

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“The whole town comes to watch them,” said head football coach and Stratton alum Jesse McConnell. “They see them at the gas station. They’re always asking the kids how the season is going. They are really invested in Stratton football, and that’s great to see.”

Pre-pregame

Before you ever arrive in town, one thing you notice is the high school’s mascot.

An eagle.

He (or she) is all over the town’s business pages – automotive busi nesses, health care, and restaurants. The names, addresses, phone num bers, they’re all there.

So is the eagle.

There are well-wishes from the city on a billboard just south of downtown. At the corner of Inter state 70 and state U.S. Highway 24 sits an open field. During postseason play, you’ll find decals, wishing the involved team well in its upcoming game.

“They hang green-and-white flags up and down Main Street,” said former Stratton football coach Dave Gottmann. “The parents cook breakfast for the kids four hours before the game. That’s carried on for years. A group of parents used to have Thursday night dinners before the games. These are tradi tions that have been carried on for 20 or 30 years. Depending on who’s driving the driving, an ambulance will sound the siren when Stratton scores a touchdown.”

“We have had much success on the gridiron practically the entire time I’ve lived here,” said Rod Thomp son, who graduated from Stratton High School in 1983. “Of course, there were a few down years, but we always seemed to field a pretty solid team. I still have high-school class mates and teammates that follow the current team. They constantly ask if we will win state this year, or how we played the previous week and how our upcoming opponent is. So yes, even after they leave school and settle in larger metropolitan areas or even move out of state, many alumni still follow the team on a consistent basis.”

“Stratton football has always been like this,” McConnell said. “It’s great to see.”

Hometown sta s

Thompson, the team’s statistician (his wife is the team photographer), played 11-man football in his day. The year after he graduated, the Eagles played eight-man ball. Sixman football started in 2012.

Thompson’s children are married and have started their own families. One of his sons, Trey, is an assistant football coach. Three of the football coaches are SHS alums, including McDonnell. He and Thompson, the Eagles’ offensive coordinator, were in the same high-school graduating class in 2011. Coach Chris Hornung graduated from Stratton two years before that. One of the assistant coaches at Otis High School, the Eagles’ opponent in the semifinal round, is a graduate of Stratton High School.

Trey Thompson and his wife also

coach the high-school and middleschool girls’ basketball teams. Rod Thompson’s other son lives in Cheyenne. His daughter is attending medical school in Kansas City “but they will usually watch the games on the NFHS (National Federation of High Schools) network.”

That’s not all.

“My wife and I also have an ex change student from Madrid, Spain, that is playing on this year’s team, and his family will also watch every game via NFHS,” Rod Thompson said. “The family from Spain say that the experience their son has here is second to none. They all feel he is so lucky to have gotten to be involved with such a supportive community.”

Corey Wedel has some history at Stratton, too. He is a former coach and defensive coordinator for 10 years, during which the Eagles won a state title and finished second. He’s also the school’s agriculture education teacher, the school’s Fu ture Farmers of America Advisor (24 years running) and the team’s public-address announcer.

Wedel graduated from Burling ton High School in 1993. His son, Braden, was the Eagles’ place-kicker from 2019 to 2021.

“The four guys who run the chains (the chain gang) for the games are all former SHS football players,” he said. “The community of Stratton has quite a few alumni living in the area. They have kids in school.”

“I think everyone that lives in Stratton currently or has lived here in the past has so much pride in the town.,” Rod Thompson said. “I have had many people that I went to high school with, or had graduated before or after me from Stratton that moved away, but would come back for homecoming say that they wish their kids had the same opportuni ties that these kids still living here have.”

“Like all places, graduates leave and find careers in other cities and states,” Wedel added. “But they still come back to Stratton for things like homecoming, significant sports games, holidays, visits to family, etc. Because Stratton is a farming community, there are always family members who return to the farmand-ranch operation.”

Gottmann grew up in Littleton and went to Heritage High School.

“I never understood homecom ing,” he said. “In a small town, a thousand people will show up for a free barbecue. At homecoming, the 10-year classes? Every single gradu ate will come back. At 20, it’s about 80 percent.”

Wedel offered one more note.

“The current math teacher and high-school head track coach were high-school sweethearts in the late 1990s,” he said. “Now, they have three kids – one each in high school, middle school and elementary school. Stratton’s community even has graduates from nearby rivals Flagler, Hi-Plains and Burlington schools in our community. And now, they proudly wear the Eagle green and white.

“Including me.”

The school and sports Stratton, with an enrollment of fewer than 50 students, is home to a consistently good football team.

Gottmann thought five Eagles’ teams did not qualify for postseason

football in the last 40 years.

The rallying point this year is the Eagles’ trek through the six-man football playoffs. Stratton was the top seed.

When the game starts, some people sit in the stands; a good many don’t and sit on the field. Still more park their cars behind a fence on the north side of the field – locals said the cars started showing up two or three days before the Nov. 19 semifinal game -- where, minus the chain-link nature of the fence, the view is pretty good.

“It’s a social event,” Gottmann said. He is the timekeeper for nearby Bethune High School, about 10 miles east of town. “Everyone is fired up. People are roaming the sidelines. In a small town, you are on the sideline. You aren’t more than 10 feet from the game.”

“Stratton parents, grandparents, fans, friends, family and teachers travel to road games very consis tently, even if it means driving three or more hours,” said Wedel, who is an agriculture teacher at SHS, the school’s Future Farmers of America advisor (24 years running) and the football team’s public address an nouncer.

The fan support is consistent, even in lean years.

“One of the best seasons I coached, we went 3-5 and didn’t make the playoffs,” Gottmann said. “The kids were great, they did everything. And we had the fan sup port. When they get to the playoffs, you see all the people show up, and you haven’t seen them for years.”

Wedel said the support has been strong since the late 1980s or early 1990s. The Eagles’ first state title was in 1992 “and a few of the players are still in the community with kids of their own.” Stratton won four state titles in eight-man football from 1992 to 1995. The Eagles also won 48 straight games. Gottmann was one of the team’s assistant coaches in 1992.

“Stratton is definitely a football town, and many of our high-school players have dreamed about play ing for the Eagles and winning a state championship since they were in elementary school,” Wedel said. “Our community loves supporting football, but they support all the other sports, too.

“Volleyball has been really good recently with three consecutive trips to the state tournament. Baseball had a great stretch back in 2010-2012, winning three straight championships,” he added. “Girls and boys both have golf teams now.” He is the boys’ coach.

Go time

The rules for six-man football are a little different. The field is smaller – 80 yards wide and 40 yards long. Teams have to gain 15 yards for a first down, not 10. There are no “direct” runs. The quarterback can rush if there is a “clean exchange” from another player.

Everyone on the offense can catch a forward pass – yes, even those on the offensive line. Field goals are worth four points instead of three. A kicked point-after touchdown is worth two points; a successful run or pass play on a PAT is worth one point.

Stratton averaged almost 58 points a game through the first 12 on the schedule. The Eagles’ opponent in

the semifinals, Otis High School, is no stranger. The two teams played earlier in the season, and Stratton won by more than 40 points.

Rushing the ball is key. In those first 12 games, the Eagles averaged 11.5 yards per carry and scored 73 touchdowns. Alex Cruz, he of 1,514 rushing yards this season, averages almost 15 yards per carry.

He’s also scored 41 touchdowns, including four in a lopsided, 46-13 semifinal round win over Otis High School on Nov. 19.

“The boys have been here quite a bit. They didn’t overlook anybody and were ready to play,” coach Jesse McConnell said. “That was good. We have a good pass rush. Still, they want to run the ball, too, so we were ready for that.”

In conclusion

The win pushed the Eagles into the state six-man finals.

“These boys set out on a mission,” McConnell said. “They have had this championship on their minds from almost exactly a year ago. They are free-playing, that’s for sure.”

“I kept thinking, ‘These are the good old days,” Gottmann said of his time as Eagles’ head football coach. “I was blessed with good kids. A lot of people complained about our sports programs. But I think it’s harder academically at Stratton. A teacher who transferred to Stratton told me he couldn’t believe how com petitive the kids were in class.”

Three alums on the coaching staff – all within two years of each other – are special to McConnell.

“When we wore the green and white and played on this very field, to come back and be able to coach for this town and for these kids means a lot,” McConnell said. “This is my seventh year overall and my second as the head coach. I went to Western State (in Gunnison) and played football for five years. I didn’t want to grad school, so I came back, and got a good job.”

“Even when our teams, whether it be football, basketball, baseball, whatever sport it may be aren’t contending for a state title, the fans and community still show up for the games and are there to support the kids. Our entire community takes pride in our school and its sports teams, FFA program, and all other extracurricular activities we offer,” Rod Thompson said. “While the kids are in school -- and especially once they graduate -- they all want our town and the school to be known as the best small school in the state.”

“In a small town, it’s a social gath ering,” Gottman said. “Everyone in the town is involved, whether they are involved with the school or not. They have something in common. A lot of them went to school there. So at the game, they are talking on the sidelines. They are talking in the stands.

“It’s something for people to feel good.”

“It is just different because kids can do every sport basically or be part of any activity they choose.”

Rod Thompson added. “I feel very fortunate that I gave my kids the chance to grow up here, and I hope the tradition continues.”

“I wasn’t ready to give up football yet,” McConnell said. “I got into it. Now, I’m stuck, I guess. I’m really enjoying it. I enjoy being around the kids. I love it.”

HOUSING

FROM

“I think what makes it bitter is that it passed in conjunction with Proposition 121,” a measure voters approved to lower the state income tax rate, Wasserman said.

Proposition 121 is expected to take a roughly $400-million bite out of the state budget next year while Proposition 123 will eventu ally increase spending about $290 million yearly.

State Rep. Rod Bockenfeld, a Republican who represents rural areas east of Denver, including parts of Adams, Arapahoe and Elbert counties, did not share Wasserman’s concern that the new measures could be problematic for state spending. However, Bocken feld, who serves on the state legis lature’s Joint Budget Committee, acknowledged the picture could change when the state faces strong economic headwinds.

“There’s a certain point where if we hit a severe downturn and we go into a deep recession, then a reduced tax rate will reduce state revenues,” Bockenfeld said.

Though the state struggles like the rest of the country with high inflation, the situation hasn’t been characterized as a recession or severe, though concerns that could happen linger.

How 123 works

Proposition 123 defines afford able housing based on two factors: household income and housing costs, according to the state’s

WHAT COLORADO CURRENTLY DOES ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING

The state partners with local communities to increase and preserve Colorado’s a ordable housing stock, manage rental-assistance vouchers, and address homelessness, says the state’s “blue book” voter guide, noting the state Department of Local A airs is involved.

The current budget for the department’s a ordable housing initiatives is about $200 million, about half of which is from state sources, with the rest coming from federal sources.

Since 2021, the state has allocated more than $1.2 billion from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for

“blue book” voter guide.

Under the proposal, affordable housing means housing for rent ers making up to 60% of the area median income or homeowners making up to 100% of the area median income. For context, in the metro area, the median income is $117,800, and 60% of median income is $70,700.

Under Proposition 123, local communities have flexibility to respond to housing needs.

The money could go toward grants and loans to local govern ments and nonprofits to acquire land for affordable housing devel opments; assistance to develop multifamily rentals, including apartments; programs that help first-time homebuyers; preventing homelessness through rental as sistance and eviction defense; and grants to raise capacity at local government land-use departments.

The measure also could support “equity” sharing with tenants in

a ordable housing and services that address housing insecurity, lack of a ordable and workforce housing, or homelessness. (The Urban Land Institute defines “workforce” households as those earning between 60% and 120% of the area median income.)

These are one-time funds that will be spent over the next several years on:

• Emergency rental assistance;

• Homeowner mortgage assistance;

• Tax credits for developers;

• Housing and infrastructure;

• And other housing solutions, such as manufactured homes.

housing projects. Equity is im portant because it allows people to gain financially from the rising value of their property and do things such as borrow money based on it.

“We know that home equity is a part of how you build intergenera tional wealth,” said Wasserman.

He noted that people who are renting don’t have that opportu nity to build equity.

Overall, the measure could help create more higher-density, envi ronmentally sustainable homes, according to the voter guide.

HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD QUALIFY FOR NEW FUNDING

For projects to qualify for funding from Proposition 123, the local governments where the projects are located must commit to increasing a ordable housing by 3% each year and create a fast-track approval process for a ordable housing projects, the state’s “blue book” voter guide says.

“If a local government chooses not to meet these requirements, or if it fails to achieve its a ordable housing goals, projects in that municipality or county will be temporarily ineligible for funding from these programs,” the guide says.

state takes in large sums of tax revenue. But during an economic downturn, Colorado may not see a so-called TABOR surplus of revenue.

That’s when priorities may end up on the cutting block, according to Wasserman.

For almost 50 years, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) has been helping Coloradans just like you become homeowners. It’s possible and it’s never too late to start. Start by learning the process. As your knowledge grows, confidence will replace uncertainty. And soon, you could be holding the keys to your new home—imagine that!

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Some in the housing industry say they can’t make a profit build ing “the kind of housing we need,” Wasserman said.

The measure, he added, tells housing developers, “‘We’re here to help you make it.’”

TABOR makes for difficult math

But the math isn’t easy. Part of what makes the equation difficult is TABOR, the state constitutional amendment that limits govern ment spending. Under TABOR, revenue above the limit — some times called a “TABOR surplus” — gets refunded to taxpayers. The $750 rebate check that Coloradans received this year were a result of TABOR.

Colorado is seeing “very large TABOR surpluses,” in the ballpark of $3 billion this year and next year, Wasserman said. Although that sounds like a lot of money, it goes quick.

For example, money from the state’s “general fund” — which supports basic services, like K-12 education and public assistance — recently totaled $12.5 billion.

In years when state revenue comes in over the TABOR limit, Proposition 123 is estimated to de crease the amount returned by $43 per taxpayer in tax year 2023 and $86 per taxpayer in tax year 2024, according to the voter guide.

Meanwhile, Proposition 121, the measure to lower Colorado’s income tax, will also decrease re funds to taxpayers in years when state revenue exceeds TABOR’s limits. In those years, taxpayers generally may end up keeping money that would have been re funded anyway, Bockenfeld said.

“It leaves the money in the pocket of citizens rather than giving it to the government and the government giving it back,” Bockenfeld said.

Education often a target for cuts

Colorado’s new normal under Propositions 123 and 121 may not present hard choices when the economy is strong and the

Proposition 123 allows the state legislature to reduce part of the new housing funding to balance the state budget, according to the state’s voter guide. Essentially, if lawmakers find themselves in enough of a pinch, they can “turn off” parts of the measure, Wasser man said.

The alternative is typically cuts to education, especially higher education, meaning housing and education could be competing not to be cut.

In such a situation, “you’re not able to increase education fund ing based on growth or needs of schools,” Wasserman said.

In a tight spot, it’s possible state lawmakers could turn off the flow of funding to Proposition 123, according to Legislative Council Staff, the nonpartisan research arm at the state Capitol. The measure explicitly contemplates the fact that lawmakers might want to reduce the spending for budget balancing, so it says they are allowed to cut about half. But in practice, lawmakers could cut the spending entirely, according to staff.

Yet whether lawmakers would actually choose to override the will of the voters remains to be seen.

Another complication: When there is enough money, Colorado lawmakers can dip into the TA BOR surplus for another purpose. The state allows a property tax exemption for qualifying senior citizens and disabled veterans, referred to as the homestead exemption. The senior homestead exemption can be paid for by the TABOR surplus, Wasserman said, potentially cutting into the avail able funds for affordable housing.

“That pool of money which is coming from our existing tax rates — it’s a life raft, and it’s like we’re shrinking the size of the life raft,” Wasserman said.

He also looks at Proposition 121 in anticipating future budget problems.

“If the state ends up as a result of this election cutting things, it’s not going to be because of 123 — it’s going to be because of 121,” he claimed. “I can’t be emphatic enough about that. We can shut off parts of 123 … we can never, ever, ever get the money back from 121.”

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RSV, other respiratory illnesses push hospitals to the brink

Hospitalizations grow as diseases spread

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

A continued rise in respiratory illness, especially cases of RSV, has pushed Colorado’s pediatric hospital capacity to the brink.

Recently, state health officials said there were only two available pediatric intensive-care beds across the state.

“There is extreme stress in the pediatric ICU capacity in the state of Colorado right now,” said Scott Bookman, the director of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response.

So far this season, as of Nov. 22, there had been 895 hospitalizations for RSV, which is more formally known as respiratory syncytial virus. Of those, 836 hospitalizations were among children, with the state’s youngest kids hit the hardest.

There were 190 hospitalizations of infants under 6 months of age, an astonishing rate of 1,165 hospitaliza-

tions per 100,000 population.

Put another way, it means state health officials estimate that 1 out of every 86 infants in Colorado under the age of 6 months has been hospitalized with RSV this fall.

For kids between the ages of 6 months and 2 years old, there had been 246 hospitalizations, or 1 for every 196 kids estimated to be in that age group in Colorado.

Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist, said there had been 255 documented outbreaks of RSV at schools and child care centers. Tests for RSV are coming back positive almost 25% of the time, a shockingly high rate that has continued increasing in recent weeks even as health officials have sounded an alarm about the rise in RSV cases.

“At this time, there’s no

sign of RSV slowing down in the state, unfortunately,” Herlihy said.

The strained capacity means that hospitals have reactivated a transfer center used during the heights of the COVID pandemic to more efficiently move patients between hospitals to maximize available space.

Bookman said hospitals that don’t normally treat children have begun admitting teenagers into their adult ICUs. Young infants are being admitted into neonatal intensive care units in hospital maternity wards, in which they would ordinarily be too old for treatment.

Bookman referred to this as “increasing pediatric capacity on both ends.”

“The strategies right now are really about increasing capacity across all of the systems,” he said.

In Colorado and national-

ly, pediatric-specific hospital capacity tends to be centralized in a few specialty hospitals like Children’s Hospital Colorado and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. That makes it unlike adult hospital capacity, which is more widely distributed. It means there is far less ability for pediatric hospitals to handle overwhelming surges of patients.

Bookman said the level of strain on pediatric hospitals is near-unprecedented, even for the colder months when the hospitals typically gear up for a wave of young patients with respiratory viruses.

“What we are seeing this season is obviously not typical,” he said.

Adding to the challenges is that hospitalizations for other respiratory illnesses are also increasing for people of all ages.

Flu season has hit earlier than normal — though it has not been nearly as severe as RSV. Since October, through Nov. 22, there had been 164 hospitalizations for flu. Nearly half of those — 80 — were people age 65 or older.

Hospitalizations for COVID have also been increasing. Herlihy said there were 379 people hospitalized

with the virus as of Nov. 22. About 68% of those patients are hospitalized for reasons directly related to COVID, according to state data.

The trends have health officials urging Coloradans to be mindful of the health of others during holiday gatherings. Bookman urged people to get vaccinated against the flu and to be upto-date on vaccinations and boosters for COVID. He said people may want to stock up on COVID rapid tests to double-check that they are negative before visiting family.

“First and foremost, we need to stay home if we’re sick,” he said. “What can feel like a mild cold for one person can be a very serious illness in someone who is higher risk, particularly infants and older adults. So if you’re feeling sick, we really would ask that people stay home.”

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalistowned 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.

Hundreds of Colorado children have been hospitalized for RSV.

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Thu 12/08

Morgenshtern

@ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, Englewood

Fri 12/09

Cindy & Bryce

@ 1am

Dec 9th - Dec 8th

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

Teague Starbuck

@ 5pm

Sunroom Brewing, 3242 S Acoma St, En‐glewood

Pond: Gothic Theatre @ 8pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Sat 12/10

Smithtonian Handbells

@ 2am

Dec 10th - Dec 9th

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

Daniella Katzir Music: Daniella Katzir Band at Swallow Hill! Tis The Season Of Sweet & Spice @ 8pm

Swallow Hill Music Association, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

SOC: Cookie Decorating with Santa @ Cook Park @ 10:30pm

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E. Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

Sun 12/11

Tue 12/13

YS: Boys Basketball 9-10 @ Cook Park #1 @ 1am

Dec 13th - Mar 7th

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E. Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

YS: Boys Basketball 13-14 @ Cook Park @ 3am Dec 13th - Mar 8th

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E. Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

Jay_Martin

@ 7pm

Rocker Spirits, 5587 S Hill St, Lit‐tleton

CHADZILLA MUSIC: Deborah Solo Trio at Tagawa Gardens

@ 11am

Tagawa Gardens, 7711 S Parker Rd, Centennial

SOC: Breakfast with Santa @ Cook Park @ 5pm

Cook Park Recreation Center, 7100 E.

Cherry Creek South Dr., Denver. 720-9130654

The Highlands Ranch Concert Band presents: "Hear" For The Holidays: A Winter Concert @ 3pm

South Sub Church, 7275 South Broadway, Littleton. HRCBPublic ity@outlook.com, 303-870-3662

Lorie Line

@ 7pm

The Schoolhouse at Mainstreet, 19650 Mainstreet, Parker

Wed 12/14

Ladies Night @ 6pm / $5

Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Thu 12/15

YS: Girls Basketball 9-10 @ Harvard Gulch @ 12am Dec 15th - Mar 9th

Harvard Gulch Recreation Center, 550 E. Iliff Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

The King Stan Band: KSB's Annual Ugly Sweater Party in Paradise

@ 7:30pm

Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Mead‐ows Dr, Lone Tree

Journey Girls Live at Fraco's @ 8pm

The Toad Tavern, 5302 S Federal Circle, Littleton

Denver Gay Men's Chorus: Haul Out the Jolly @ 3pm

St Andrew United Methodist Church, 9203 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch

Mon 12/12

Modern Swing Mondays @ 6:30pm / $10

Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

YS: Boys Basketball 9-10 @ Eisenhower #1 @ 11:30pm

Dec 12th - Mar 7th

Eisenhower Recreation Center, 4300 E. Dartmouth Ave., Denver. 720-913-0654

CW & Twenty Hands High @ 7:30pm

Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Darryl Purpose: Moth Storytelling GRAND SLAM @ 7:30pm

Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E Iliff Ave, Denver

VOICES

Practice good skin health even in winter

GUEST COLUMN

November was Healthy Skin Month, so this is a great time of year to emphasize the importance of good skin care and share some advice on maintaining healthy skin. Here are some tips that can help Coloradans adopt healthy skin habits to care for our skin yearround.

Dr. Adam Vaudreuil

As the weather gets cooler, we turn on our furnaces and prepare for the cold, dry winter months. This drier weather and lack of humidity can wreak havoc on our skin. Those with eczema or other dry skin conditions may notice that their skin worsens, and even those without a predilection to dry skin may notice the occasional dry crack or painful fissure.

The best way to combat the dry weather is with good gentle skin care. Showers and bathing should be kept short and use lukewarm water, as either too hot or too cold can dry out the skin. I recommend using a gentle hydrating cleanser that is free of harsh soap that can strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture.

The most important step is to moisturize every day, sometimes multiple times daily if necessary. Choose a thicker cream or ointment-based moisturizer over a lotion, as these will be more hydrating. Apply immediately after a bath or shower while your skin is still damp to lock in the moisture.

You may even want to consider running a humidifier in your bedroom at night, as this can also help to improve skin hydration. Applying petroleum jelly to fingertips and cuticles can also be helpful for those who struggle with brittle nails or fingertip splitting.

Although most Coloradans may not be thinking about their sun exposure as much during the winter months, it is a great time to remind ourselves of the risks of skin cancer as we prepare to hit the slopes.

It’s important to remember that Colorado’s higher elevation and our love of outdoor activities means Coloradans are exposed to a higher UV incidence than the rest of the country.

Although it may not seem as sunny, it is still just as important to use our sunscreen when skiing and enjoying other outdoor winter activities. Choose a sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher and make sure to reapply every two hours while hitting the slopes, and don’t forget to use a lip balm with SPF in it as well.

After getting home from a fun day in the snow, it may also be a good time to get into the habit of using a nightly retinoid. Retinoids are helpful in reducing wrinkles and fine lines, as well as improving overall skin tone, preventing pores from clogging, and helping to combat some of the skin aging effects from chronic sun exposure. Side effects of retinoids can be redness, irritation, and sun sensitivity, so it’s always a good idea to start with the

Maintaining the attitude of gratitude

The executive had put out a message out to his network that he was looking to hire top-performing salespeople for his team. While reconnecting with a former colleague, he also mentioned to her that he was looking for salespeople and asked that if she knew anyone, would she send them his way. Within just a couple of hours she had sent him the name of someone she thought could possibly be a fit. The two connected on LinkedIn and through email, eventually setting up an interview that would take place over a virtual Zoom call.

When the executive and the candidate met and made initial introductions, the executive noticed a picture of legendary Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi hanging on the wall behind the candidate. So before jumping into the interview he had asked him the story behind the picture. As the candidate shared his story about Vince Lombardi’s dedication, discipline and determination and how that inspired him, the executive could not help but smile. He shared that when he was in high school, he had written his term paper on Vince Lombardi, and he chose him for the very same reasons. They had already formed a bond.

Unfortunately, as they began the interview, within about 15-20 minutes they both realized that the candidate wasn’t really a good fit for the position. However, they stayed on the call for a little longer. The candidate shared that he was a single dad of two teenagers and was trying to find the right position that would allow him to provide for his family.

They were saying goodbye when another topic came up and they had some small talk around that. The executive then asked the candidate to tell him a little more about what the perfect job would be that would get him excited to go to work every day. The candidate really loved coaching and training people and helping to develop both personally and professionally. The executive let him know that he would keep his ears and eyes open for any opportunities that sounded like a good fit. Again, just about to hang up, the executive asked one more question. He asked the candidate, “Is there something that I can pray about for you?” The candidate bowed his head for a good minute before lifting his watery eyes back to the screen. The candidate asked for prayers for his mom as she had cancer. The executive leaned in and said how sorry he was, pausing before asking one more question. He asked the candidate what kind of cancer his mom had. He bowed his head and once again took a moment to speak. As

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Mass shootings are increasing in Colorado

Numbers grow over 3 years

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

By one measure, the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs was the worst the state has seen in more than a decade.

The at least 22 victims — five killed and 17 injured by gunfire — are the most in a Colorado shooting since the July 2012 attack on a movie theater in Aurora.

Since 2013, there have been 61 shootings in the state in which four or more people, excluding the perpetrator, were shot.

A total of 328 people were shot in those attacks, including 82 who were killed and 246 who were wounded.

Mass shootings increase in Colorado

The attack at Club Q fits into a trend: Mass shootings are increasing in Colorado. This year will finish as the worst year for mass shootings in the last decade, with at least 13. Of the 61 mass shootings since 2013, more than half — 36 — have occurred in the last three years.

Most mass shootings occur in Colorado’s largest cities

Since 2013, mass shootings have occurred in 15 cities and towns in Colorado. All but two of those are on the Front Range, but the list shows that mass shootings are not just an urban problem. One of the shootings, in which three people were killed and one was injured, occurred in the southern San Luis Valley community of Capulin.

The majority of mass shootings over the last decade in Colorado have occurred in the state’s three largest cities — Denver, Colorado Springs and Aurora. Together, they combine for 47 of the 61 mass shootings. Denver has the most with 24, while Aurora has seen 12 mass shootings and Colorado Springs has seen 11.

In terms of the most deadly mass shootings — those in which at least four people were shot and three or more people were killed — there have been eight in Colorado since 2013. Three of those occurred in Colorado Springs, two in Denver and one each in Aurora, Boulder and Capulin.

Defining a ‘mass shooting’

Tracking data on mass shootings is difficult, in part because “mass shootings” as a category of violence

NORTON

FROM PAGE 12

he shared that it was pancreatic cancer, his tears spilled down his cheeks.

The executive stopped and shared this, “This was never about a job interview, this was God’s interview. We were not connected to talk about any job, we were connected for a much greater purpose. My wife passed away in 2013 from pancreatic cancer. She fought for two and a half years, and I learned so much from

is so broad that it contains myriad genres and subgenres.

Some lists, like one maintained by Mother Jones magazine, track only mass shootings that are seemingly indiscriminate and occur in public settings. That covers shootings such as the one at Club Q or the Aurora theater. But it leaves out other forms of mass violence, such as a shooting at a house in Aurora in October that killed four people.

Other lists define mass shootings mathematically — such as the shooting tracker maintained by the Gun Violence Archive, which catalogs shootings in which at least four people are shot, not including the gunman. These lists collect data on more shootings, including many that don’t receive a lot of media attention. But they also exclude shootings that fit within a genre of

that journey and experience and I am happy to share any of what I learned with you and your family.

I am so very grateful that God planned this interview, and if you need or want anyone to talk to, I am here for you.” And then they prayed together.

Last week I talked about “More than just the attitude of gratitude,” and this week as we think about maintaining the attitude of gratitude beyond Thanksgiving, maybe we can be reminded to be grateful for those connections that are more than work-related, more than perfunctory types of calls. Maybe we can show our

American mass violence: attacks intended to sow terror in public spaces. For instance, the attack on a Thornton Walmart store in 2017 that killed three people is not in the Gun Violence Archive’s database.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines a mass shooting more strictly than most — an event in which four or more people are shot to death. Alternately, the FBI produces an annual report on “active shooter incidents,” a genre of violence defined by the actions of the perpetrator and not by the number of people wounded or killed.

Compounding the problem is that there is no consensus method for aggregating data on shootings, meaning most lists of mass shootings rely on media reports and can, at times, have errors in the numbers.To create these charts, The Colorado Sun

gratitude by leaning into those who are placed in our path and connecting with them at an entirely different level. I would love to hear your attitude of gratitude story at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we can show our gratitude at a deeply human level, 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.

used data from the Gun Violence Archive. The organization began tracking shootings in 2013, the year after the shootings at the Aurora movie theater and at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

So it is not a compendium of information on mass shootings in Colorado — notably it excludes the shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, among many others. But it is the most complete data source available over the last decade.

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.

SKIN

FROM PAGE 12

lowest strength initially and work your way up. Starting slowly (only a few nights per week) and using a good moisturizer can help to mitigate these side effects. And don’t forget to continue to use your sun protection during the day. Let’s make skin care a year-round habit.

Dr. Adam Vaudreuil is dermatologist at Vanguard Skin Specialists, with eight locations in Colorado, including Castle Rock and Parker.

Candles glow on a memorial stone for Veronica Moser-Sullivan, a 6-year-old who died in the Aurora theater shooting, at a 10-year remembrance.

PHOTO BY TAYLER SHAW

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In 1928, two Black dancers in a dance marathon in Harlem — George Snowden and Mattie Purnell — broke away from each other to throw in some solo freestyling. With that, they started the process of creating one of the most popular swing dances ever: Lindy Hop.

It obviously spread from Harlem, and today exists across the country, including in Denver. The dance — along with swing music itself — has ebbed and flowed in popularity

over the last few decades, but the fast-paced swing-outs and stomping beats have held onto Denver, developing a small community that’s easy for beginners to start in and experts to explore.

“I think there’s a lot of room for growth to provide many opportunities for people that want to dance,” said Kenny Nelson, founder of Swingin’ Denver — a swing school and local dance party hoster.

Nelson himself has experience teaching

around the world, but the last eight years he’s been teaching Lindy Hop across Denver and hosting social dances from the Mercury Cafe to the Savoy.

The current big three places for Lindy Hop in Denver, according to Nelson, have been the Mercury Cafe, the Savoy and the Turnverein as they are what have survived the ebb and flow.

LINDY HOP

“The Mercury Cafe got its start in the ‘90s when neo-swing was happening, and they’re the one place that remained when everyone else was gone…it kind of all fizzled out,” Nelson explained. “I mean, it went with the ebb and flow of popular music. The pop bands tried to grab that sound and it lasted for a bit, but it didn’t last.”

The Mercury Cafe now hosts the teaching and party-hosting group Swing Nights twice a week, every Tuesday and Sunday evening, with Ceth Stifel teaching many of the classes from beginner to intermediate. “The Merc,” as it’s also called, has a live band almost every Sunday as well.

The Turnverein, a 5,280 square foot ballroom, hosts a broader range of dance classes from many different teachers like argentine tango and general ballroom, but also a free Lindy Hop class at 7 p.m. every Friday and a dance right after.

Nelson himself found a home at the Savoy near Five Points in the city, where he teaches beginner and intermediate classes and hosts a live band and dance on the fi rst Wednesday of every month.

Music is, of course, a central aspect. The right variation in tempo, a swinging sound that will convince dancers onto the fl oor, mixing songs from well-known to gems — all harder than it may seem.

“Swing dancing is inevitably tied to the music, having some music that is really good and swinging, and DJs that are paying attention to the dance fl oor is very crucial for having creative dancing,” Nelson said.

He describes a talent loss around 2008 and 2012 though, in DJing,

dancing, and teaching, but has seen it start improving since 2013.

“I really feel like, in certain areas, live music has stepped up, and it’s great, whereas DJing defi nitely hasn’t come back,” Nelson said.

He references some of the bands that he’s hosted before like La Pomp, that play “swingin tin-pan standards” and “soulful originals” according to their Instagram, putting them in a category “of the new current bands, with younger members, who are really talented and really hard-working.”

In terms of the stability of the scene now, it’s hard to tell.

“It’s kind of hard to get the complete pulse post-pandemic on the scene here. It certainly feels like

it’s getting more stable,” Nelson said, pointing to venues having live music again as a promising step.

The dance’s history as a Black dance is a focus Nelson tries to give when he teaches.

“There’s been a lot of international conversations around the role of teaching, how we ought to be teaching, and how we can best respect the fact that we are teaching a Black dance — how can we best provide solid representation and appreciation for the dance,” he said. “I still think there’s lots of room for improvement there too.”

Specifi cally, the idea that the dance had a “revival” is what is pushed back on. As Nelson puts

it, it “presents a whitewashing of the current popularity of swing dancing - i.e. it paints a picture of an activity ‘saved’ from extinction by white people, rather than a living art form still practiced within Black communities.”

Within Denver though, it is far from extinction or needing to be saved. Tuesday nights at “The Merc,” Friday nights at the Turnverin, and Sunday nights back to “The Merc” again, Lindy Hop is going strong in the city and welcomes beginners, experts and intermediates all alike.

Take a hop, skip and a jump into the city and see what you can do to the tune of “swingin tin-pan standards.”

Ceth Stifel and Dani Botello, teachers from Swing Nights, performing at the Mercury Cafe.

Dancers at a social dance at the Mercury Cafe on a Tuesday night.

PHOTO BY ANDREW FRAIELI

FROM

MCA DENVER SHARES ARTISTS’ CREATIVE PROCESS

‘How Art is Born’ returns for second season

BY CLARKE READER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

There’s a podcast now for almost everything — listeners can get guidance on tackling mental health challenges, learn about practically any period of history and develop strategies for a fantasy league. But explaining the creative impulse? That’s a little trickier.

Yet that’s just the task that the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver set for itself with its podcast, “How Art is Born.” Now in its second season, the show features conversations with a range of artists about their process, creativity and more.

The show is hosted by R. Alan Brooks, who teaches

graphic novel writing for Regis University’s MFA program and Lighthouse Writers Workshop.

“As the host of this podcast, I get to talk to cool people making cool things. I love discovering how people can bring their art into the world, and the many forms it takes,” Brooks said in a news release. “From what I’ve heard, a lot of our listeners have the same experience, and I’m thankful for that. It’s dope that this show gives me the opportunity to talk with so many lovely and brilliant people.”

We spoke with Courtney Law, MCA Denver’s director of communications, partnerships and digital initiatives, about the podcast, what listeners can expect and more.

Q&A with Courtney Law

Tell me about the genesis of the podcast. In my role at the museum and in thinking of how we want to live in the world outside of our building, I thought that a podcast about how art is made and where ideas come from could live in a space that we don’t really see other podcasts occupying. There are podcasts about art history, how to make a career out of being an artist and things like that, but nothing quite like this. As a consumer and someone who works at a museum, I find stories with creative people about how they make their art really compelling.

What is the podcast about?

Our host, R. Alan Brooks, spends each episode in conversation with one or two artists and they delve deeply into the creative process. And as listeners, we get to bear witness to a really intimate and vulnerable conversation.

What kind of guests have appeared?

In the first season, we largely worked with artists we have an existing relationship with at the museum. But this season, we’ve expanded our network outside of Denver, with someone based in L.A. and couple in Mexico City. We’re reaching further out into the world to have conversations about the process and how to get started. But as a (local) museum, we have a deeply-held value to highlight the work of artists in

our community, so that will always be part of the podcast.

What kind of guests are appearing this season?

We have 10 episodes this season, with the goal of releasing new seasons in the spring and the fall. We have musicians, authors, two Meow Wolf artists and a chef. Creativity is often so much broader than what we collectively allow ourselves to think of it as.

within similar mediums,

personal. Some stories so tender. And Alan is an amazing person, artist

The results are so much

The guests represent a wide range of art-making and even within similar mediums, how each person got started, and the barriers they overcame are so personal. Some stories are funny and some are so tender. And Alan is an amazing person, artist and conversationalist. The results are so much more profound than I had expected.

What do you hope listeners come away with?

I hope people are enriched by the conversations, and for many creatives, it may be helpful to hear about others’ experiences. When you’re operating in a vacuum and trying to put out work into the world, it can be really challenging. But when you see others’ successes, it can be inspirational. I hope listeners get connected to the creativity taking place in Colorado and a deeper sense of connection to the creative process in general. Maybe they’ll see themselves in this and explore their own practices in a deeper way.

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Find more information about the podcast at mcadenver.org/ podcast. Episodes are available everywhere that podcasts are found.

How state ‘red flag’ law works

Colorado measure was passed in 2019

BY ANDREW KENNEY COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

Colorado’s “red fl ag” law, passed in 2019, allows family members or law enforcement to request the temporary confi scation of fi rearms from people who pose a threat.

Now, the law is receiving renewed attention in the wake of a gunman’s attack that killed fi ve people at Club Q, an LGBTQ nightclub in Colorado Springs. Democratic lawmakers have asked why the suspected gunman wasn’t the subject of a gun-removal order after a previous incident involving violent threats.

Here’s how the law works and what experts say about its use in Colorado.

How the law works

Red fl ag laws are meant to allow the temporary confi scation of fi rearms from people who are deemed to be an “extreme risk” to themselves or others. Under Colorado’s law, the orders can be requested by law enforcement offi cers or by a person’s family members, but they can only be issued by a judge.

“It’s really intended to intervene on that trajectory of violence,” said Shannon Frattaroli, a professor with the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions.

The process begins when the offi cer or family members fi les a petition for a temporary “extreme risk protection order,” or ERPO with the court. The petitioner has to provide evidence of the need for the ERPO, signing an affi davit under oath and providing a “reasonable basis for believing” those facts exist.

SEE RED FLAG, P23

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brand is one of the most trusted in our community. We’ve built this reputation by providing award-winning news coverage and by being engaged in our community at all levels. As a true marketer, we want you to bring your experience and expertise to develop the best advertising and audience programs for local advertisers needing to engage with the community to grow their business. We value teamwork. We embrace opinions, perspectives, cultures and backgrounds that energizes the company and fuels our passion to do what’s right for our readers, our advertisers and our employees. If you’ve got the drive and the passion, together we can take your career farther than you’ve ever imagined. We are building a sales team that will be the face of the changing media landscape. We are looking for people who are excited to represent our emerging brands and our trusted, traditional ones too. Join our team, working a mix in our Englewood, Evergreen or Brighton offices and remote. If you’re as passionate as we are about our mission to grow and engage our community, please apply. CCM offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision and paid holiday, vacation, sick and personal time. As an added bonus, you’ll office less than 90 minutes from the best Colorado has to offer in outdoor recreation.

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Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Leonard N. Webster, a/k/a Leonard Neal Webster, Deceased Case No. 2022PR31420

All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 March 27, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Ronald P. Webster, Personal Representative 6523 S. Piney Creek Cir. Aurora, CO 80016

Legal Notice No. 81948

First Publication: November 24, 2022

Last Publication: December 8, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Kalani K. Johnson, a/k/a Kalani Johnson, a/k/a Katie Johnson, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR31438

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 March 24, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Barton M. Johnson

Personal Representative

2552 E. Alameda Avenue #31 Denver, CO 80209

Legal Notice No.81946

First Publication: November 24, 2022

Last Publication: December 8, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Bellamino Muniz, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR31456

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 March 17, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Diane Muniz, Personal Representative

c/o Sigler & Nelson LLC

390 Union Blvd., Ste. 580 Lakewood, CO 80228

Legal Notice No. 81940

First Publication: November 17, 2022

Last Publication: December 1, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of FAYE LAVON LATIMER, a/k/a FAYE L. LATIMER, a/k/a FAYE LATIMER, Deceased Case Number: 22PR31489

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 April 1, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

/s/ Lance E. McKinley

Lance E. McKinley, #33274 o/b/o Estate of Faye Lavon Latimer Solem Woodward & McKinley, P.C. 750 W. Hampden Ave. Ste 505 Englewood, CO 80110

Legal Notice No. 81958

First Publication: December 1, 2022

Last Publication: December 15, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, DENVER COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO 1437 BANNOCK STREET, ROOM 230 DENVER, COLORADO 80202 (303) 606-2303

In the Matter of the Determination of Heirs or Devisees or Both and of Interests in Property of: Jeanette Rutherford, Deceased.

Counsel for Petitioner Bret A. Padilla

Name:Brian J. Cosper, #55414

Address:FIDELITY NATIONAL LAW GROUP 8055 E. Tufts Avenue, Suite 300 Denver, Colorado 80237 Phone No.: (720) 671-3954 Fax No: (602) 889-8155 E-Mail: brian.cosper@fnf.com Case No. 2022PR31252

AMENDED NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION TO INTERESTED PERSONS AND OWNERS BY DESCENT OR SUCCESSION PURSUANT TO § 15-12-1303, C.R.S.

To all interested persons and owners by descent or succession (List all names of interested persons and owners by descent or succession

A petition has been filed alleging that the above decedent(s) died leaving the following property (including legal description if real property):

Description of Property:

Location of Property Property 1: See below

Lot Nineteen (19), Block Three (3), Burns Brent wood Subdivision, Filing No. 1, together with all Improvements thereon, City and County of Denver, State of Colorado.

Also known by street and number as: 1949 South Julian Circle, Denver, Colorado 80219-5330

Date: January 4, 2023 Time: 08:00 a.m.

Division: Probate Address: 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230, Denver, Colorado 80202

The hearing will take approximately 2 hours

Note:

•You must answer the petition on or before the hearing date and time specified above.

• Within the time required for answering the peti tion, all objections to the petition must be in writing, filed with the court and served on the petitioner and any required filing fee must be paid.

• The hearing shall be limited to the petition, the objections timely filed and the parties answering the petition in a timely manner. If the petition is not answered and no objections are filed, the court may enter a decree without a hearing.

Legal Notice No. 81938

First Publication: November 17, 2022

Last Publication: December 1, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Carol C. Grimmer, a/k/a Carol Grimmer, Deceased Case Number: 22PR31178

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 March 17, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Contemporary Fiduciary Services, LLC

Personal Representative 300 Plaza Drive, Suite 200 Highlands Ranch, CO80129

Legal Notice No. 81939

First Publication: November 17, 2022

Last Publication: December 1, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of ANWAR AHMED AL-SHAKHS, Case Number: 2022PR31350

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 April 1, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Daniel R. Klein

Attorney to the Personal Representative 7535 E. Hampden Ave., Suite 400

Denver, CO 80231

Legal Notice No. 81957

First Publication: December 1, 2022 Last Publication: December 15, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Carolyn P. McBride, deceased Case Number: 22PR567

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 March 17, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Mary E. McBride

Personal Representative 6199 E. Princeton Circle Englewood, Colorado 80111

Legal Notice No. 81937

First publication: November 17, 2022 Last publication: December 01, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Marvin Wilhelm, also known as Marvin N. Wilhelm, and Marvin Neal Wilhelm, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR31386

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or toDenver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before March 21, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Paul Wilhelm, Co-Personal Representative P.O. Box 1778 Casper, Wyoming 82602

Quinn Wilhelm, Co-Personal Representative 1995 Glen Dale Drive Lakewood, Colorado 80215

Stacey Eichinger, Co-Personal Representative 5446 Fir Avenue Erie, Colorado 80516

Legal Notice No. 81935

First Publication: November 17, 2022 Last Publication: December 1, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of KENT G. MARLATT, Deceased Case Number 2022 PR 31472

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 April 1, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patricia K. Van Der Gang, Personal Representative 3566 S. Poplar St., #105 Denver, CO 80237

Legal Notice No. 81952

First Publication: December 1, 2022

Last Publication: December 15, 2022

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of NORMA FAYE BENNETT, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR000531

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 March 24, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Michael Bennett, Personal Representative 9020 W Bellewood Place, Littleton CO 80123

Legal Notice No. 81949

First Publication: November 24, 2022 Last Publication: December 8, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Adam Joseph Nagle, a/k/a Adam J. Nagle and Adam Nagle, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR31510

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to:

Denver Probate Court City and County of Denver, Colorado 1437 Bannock St., #230 Denver, CO 80202

on or before April 1, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Joseph P. Nagle, Personal Representative c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC 4500 Cherry Creek Drive South, Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246

Legal Notice No. 81953

First Publication: December 1, 2022

Last Publication: December 15, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of MYRAH KRISTINE OVERLAND, a/k/a Myrah K. Overland, a/k/a Kris Overland, Deceased Case Number: 22PR31458

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 March 24, 2022, or the claims may be forever barred /s/ Elizabeth Overland

Personal Representative 1322 William Street River Forest, IL 60305

Legal Notice No. 81947

First Publication: November 24, 2022 Last Publication: December 8, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Virginia A. Stone, Deceased Case Number: 2022 PR 532

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 March 17, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Kristine Fabrello Patterson, Personal Representative c/o Katz, Look & Onorato, PC 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100 Denver, CO 80203

Legal Notice No. 81936

First Publication: November 17, 2022 Last Publication: December 1, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Timothy W Coil, aka Timothy Coil, aka Tim Coil, Deceased Case Number: 2022PR031485

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 4/25/2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Debra Brancato, Personal Representativde 4700 E Main St Lot #2184 Mesa AZ 85205

Legal Notice No. 81950

First Publication: November 24, 2022 Last Publication: December 8, 2022 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

2. Ms. Lopez plans to relinquish her parental rights to the child on an expedited basis in the Jefferson County District Court, State of Colorado, where the adoption agency has an office, pursuant to C.R.S. § 19-5-103.5 in order to make the child available for adoption.

Placing a child for adoption requires termination of the birth mother and alleged birth father(s) parentchild legal relationships. Termination of parental rights means that pursuant to a court order, all rights powers, privileges, immunities, duties and obligations existing between a parent and a child are permanently severed, except for inheritance rights, which will be severed at the time of the final decree of adoption. Upon termination of parental rights, a parent shall: (a) no longer have the right to custody of, or parenting time with the child; (b) no longer have the right to any information concerning the whereabouts, activities, health, or well-being of the child; and (c) have no say in any further decisions concerning said child.

3.A birth parent of a child has the right to contest the termination of parental rights.

4.Failure to declare intent to contest the ter mination of parental rights may likely result in a termination of parental rights to the child. In order to contest the termination of the parent-child legal relationship, YOU MUST:

Request and then return a “Reply Form to No tice of Anticipated Expedited Relinquishment” to Adoption Options at the above address or to Grob & Eirich, LLC, 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Suite 390 Lakewood, CO 80228 by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, no later than twenty-one (21) days after the date of this notice or before the birth mother’s relinquishment petition is filed with the court, whichever occurs later. The date of notice shall be considered the date of the first day of publication in the newspaper.

OR

Request and return a “Reply Form to Notice of Anticipated Expedited Relinquishment” in person to Adoption Options, at the address indicated above, no later than twenty-one (21) days after the date of this notice or before the birth mother’s relinquishment petition is filed with the court, whichever occurs later. The date of notice shall be considered the date of the first day of publica tion in the newspaper. You should bring photo identification with you for in-person submission.

YOU MUST ALSO:

File a claim of paternity pursuant to Article 4 of Title 19, Colorado Revised Statutes and notify Adoption Options pursuant to C.R.S. § 19-4-105.5. This claim of paternity must be filed no later than twenty-one (21) days after the date of this notice or before the birth mother’s relinquishment petition is filed with the court, whichever occurs later. The date of notice shall be considered the date of the first day of publication in the newspaper.

5.You may also waive your right to contest the termination of parental rights and doing so will likely result in a termination of any parental rights you may have to the child. If you do not believe that you are the father of this child, please check the appropriate box on the reply form.

YOU ARE FURTHER NOTIFIED THAT IF YOU FAIL TO PROPERLY REPLY TO THIS NOTICE IN A MANNER DESCRIBED ABOVE, YOU ALSO WAIVE YOUR RIGHT TO ANY FURTHER NOTICE RELATED TO THE ANTICIPATED EXPEDITED

RELINQUISHMENT PROCEEDINGS AND YOUR PARENTAL RIGHTS, IF ANY, WILL LIKELY BE TERMINATED BY THE COURT

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely, Seth A. Grob Grob & Eirich, LLC

Attorney for Adoption Options

Legal Notice No. 81956

First Publication: December 1, 2022

Last Publication: December 1, 2022

Publisher: Douglas County News-Press Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice

STATE OF INDIANA IN THE LAKE SUPERIOR COURT JUVENILE DIVISION COUNTY OF LAKE CROWN POINT, INDIANA

IN THE MATTER OF: THE ADOPTION OF: CAUSE NO.: 45D06-2206-AD-00060 JOSHUA WILSON

AMENDED NOTICE OF ADOPTION TO MOTHER

Mary Wilson is notified that a petition for adoption of a child, named Joshua Wilson born to Mary Wilson on October 28, 2015 was filed in the office of the clerk of the Lake County Superior Juvenile Court, 3000 W. 93rd Avenue, Crown Point, Indi ana 46307. The petition for adoption alleges that the consent to adoption of Joshua Wilson is not required because the child has been in the care of Petitioner and for at least one year prior to the filing of the petition, Mary Wilson has failed without justifiable cause to significantly communicate with the child or has knowingly failed to provide for the care of the child.

If Mary Wilson seeks to contest the adoption of the child, she must file a motion to contest the

Jeremiah Lopez, who was born on October 20, 2022 in Colorado.

The court then must hold a hearing within one business day. A judge will decide whether a “preponderance” of the evidence supports the case for removing weapons. That means the evi dence must show the argument is “more probably true than not.”

If so, the judge can issue a tem porary protection order, which stays in effect for a maximum of 14 days. The respondent then has to surrender their firearms to law enforcement. They also can sell or transfer the guns to a federally registered firearm dealer, and they must surrender any con cealed carry permit.

The court then has to hold a sec ond hearing to determine wheth er the order should be continued beyond two weeks.

This time, the petitioner — again, members of law enforce ment or the family — has to establish “clear and convincing” evidence that allowing the per son to have guns would pose a “significant risk” to themselves or others. Respondents who don’t have an attorney are represented by a court-appointed attorney.

If the judge issues the extended order, it stays in effect for 364 days, and it can be renewed by the court. After it expires, law en forcement must return any guns they confiscated from the person.

The Colorado law went into ef fect on Jan. 1, 2020.

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media wel comes 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 Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.

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Public

adoption in accordance with IC 31-19-10-1 in the above-named court not later than thirty (30) days after the date of service of this notice.

If Mary Wilson does not file a motion to contest the adoption within thirty (30) days after service of this notice the above-named court will hear and determine the petition for adoption. The consent to adoption of Joshua Wilson will be irrevocably implied and Mary Wilson will lose the right to contest either the adoption or the validity of Mary Wilson’s implied consent to the adoption.

No statement made to Mary Wilson relieves Mary Wilson of Mary Wilson’s obligations under this notice.

This notice complies with IC 31-19-4.5-3 but does not exhaustively set forth a person's legal obligations under the Indiana adoption statutes. A person being served with this notice should consult the Indiana adoption statutes.

Dated at Crown Point, Indiana, this 14th day of November, 2022.

Michael A. Brown, Clerk of the Lake Superior

Colorado authorities do not use the law often

Nineteen states, plus Washing ton D.C., have “red flag” laws, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solu tions.

So far, Colorado authorities have used the law far less often than in other states, according to an Associated Press analysis.

For example, Florida’s rate of issuance was ten times higher than Colorado’s. From April 2019 through the end of 2021, Colorado courts issued 151 orders, or about 3.3 per 100,000 adults, according to data from the AP.

Authorities in El Paso County have used the law even less — about 2.3 removals per 100,000 adults.

Political leaders in the county have resisted the use of the law. In 2019, county commissioners voted unanimously to become a “Second Amendment Preserva tion County.” The red flag law was being debated in the legislature at the time.

Commissioners at the time pledged to “actively resist the legislation,” arguing that it was unconstitutional because it did not allow enough due process before taking someone’s guns.

And the El Paso County Sheriff, Bill Elder, previously put limits on how his deputies would use the law.

In a 2020 statement, the Sher iff’s Office said that deputies would only request removal orders and search for guns when they could find the “probable

• Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for o ce. We cannot publish letters that con tain unverified negative informa tion about a candidate’s opponent. Letters advocating for or against a political 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 pub lished as space is available.

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cause” of a crime. That’s a strict er standard than what’s required by the law, which is focused on the possibility of violence — and not whether someone has commit ted a crime. The office declined to comment for this story, saying the state’s law about criminal justice records prevented them from talk ing about the earlier case.

The policy was meant to “en sure that the rights of people to be free from unreasonable search and seizures, and to receive due process of law,” according to the statement. The right to bear arms is guaranteed in the Second Amendment, and some see the red flag as curtailing that right, since it allows guns to be taken away without a person being convicted of a crime.

Elder has not commented on the 2021 incident that apparently involved the suspected Club Q gunman.

Similar fights played out else where in the state, including Weld County, where Sheriff Steve Reams said he would rather go to jail himself than confiscate some one’s guns. In all, more than half the state’s counties made similar declarations, CPR News reported.

But authorities in many of those counties later used the orders. Kaiser Health News re ported this June that protection orders had been filed in 20 of the sanctuary counties.

When the petitions are filed, judges often approve them. In 2020, about 85 percent of petitions filed by law enforcement resulted in year long protection orders,

• Submit your letter in a Word document or in the body of an email. No PDFs or Google Docs, please.

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CPR News reported.

Colorado’s law is similar to other states

The nation’s first red flag law was passed in 1999 in Connecti cut, and their use spread more quickly after the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

The laws broadly follow the same model, but there are some variations.

For example, Colorado allows only law enforcement and family members to file the petitions. But several other states and Wash ington, D.C., allow a broader set of people to petition, variously including school administrators; doctors; and, in California, em ployers and coworkers.

But the greatest differentiator between the states, according to Frattaroli, may be the level of en thusiasm among law-enforcement leaders.

Research into the effects of the laws is ongoing, since most imple mented only in the last few years. But Frattaroli sees promise.

“This is a complex problem that has a lot of causes at its core, and it needs a lot of different solu tions to turn this around,” the re searcher said. “I do view ERPO as a promising solution that has the potential to make a big difference — again, if it’s implemented.”

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

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