City compost projects prioritize quality overspeed
less for people experiencing chronic hunger and a waste of the resources that grew it in the rst place. And it misses an opportunity to generate soil-enriching compost.
e waste is tragic, said Ryan J. Call, campaigns coordinator at Eco-cycle, a Boulder nonpro t.
BY NATALIE KERR SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Colorado generated 1.5 billion tons of surplus food in 2022, while the average American eats roughly 1 ton of food per year.
Most of that excess, 62%, came from residences; the other 25% from restaurants and food retailers. Food sent to a land ll means
Eco-cycle collaborated with Closed Loop Partners, an investment rm focused on the circular economy, to develop a blueprint for municipalities that compost.
e blueprint details best practices for cities like Denver to divert the majority of food waste from land lls.
Currently, curbside composting for single-family homes is expanding to a fourth waste district
VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | CALENDAR: 13
in Denver, while the city’s O ce of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency (CASR) is working to meet the goals outlined in the 2022 voter-approved Waste No More ordinance intended to bring composting to apartment complexes, restaurants and grocery stores. e two initiatives aim high, but progress has lagged.
Composted soil saves water, sequesters carbon, is more productive, and reduces land ll waste and methane emissions, Call said. But making composting accessible, affordable and e ective is a complex strategy of infrastructure, education, regulations and investment for cities.
Colorado student enrollment grows at most public four-year universities, despite FAFSA issues
BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO
Enrollment at nearly all of Colorado’s four-year universities is up, despite delays and glitches this year that made it harder for students to ll out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
It’s an outcome that de es the widespread fear that the FAFSA snafus would lead to lower college enrollment, especially among students from low-income families.
Instead, the all-hands-on-deck response that many high schools and universities took to helping students ll out the FAFSA in this troubled year seems to have paid o .
“We were not going to just leave our students hanging,” said Federico Rangel, who works at Denver’s West High School as a Denver Scholarship Foundation adviser. “We were going to do what we needed to do to make sure students could access their goals and their potential.”
Only about 42% of high school seniors statewide completed the FAFSA this year, which is about 3,000 fewer students than last year. But most of Colorado’s 13 public universities, including the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University System’s three schools, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Colorado Mesa University, enrolled more students than last year.
Enrollment is also up among students eligible for federal Pell grants, which provide free money for college for students from low-income families. Federal changes raised the Pell grant income limits which allowed more students to qualify.
Compost, recycling and trash bins lined up in Villa Park on Sept. 5.
PHOTO BY NATALIE KERR
Denver’s tireless green chile tracker shares her spice advice
The chile queen behind DenverGreenChili.com dishes on her shopping strategies and more.
BY KEVIN J. BEATY DENVERITE
Anita Edge was about 50 when she rst learned about Denver’s obsession with green chiles. She’d lived in the metro for a few years, and she quickly got up to speed.
“I drove down Federal, bought some chiles, was very happy with them,” she remembered. “ e next year, I went back to the exact same place: empty parking lot.”
A chile-shaped lightbulb appeared over her head.
“So I thought, I want to know exactly where I can go to get chiles. I thought, if I want to know this, other people do too,” she said. “ e idea was just: I’m going to slap a website up, and it’ll be a reference where people can nd out, ‘Where do you go buy great chiles?’”
us was born DenverGreenChili. com, a directory of roadside sellers and a celebration of cuisine with a kick. Edge has maintained the site for 20 years, driving around the city each year to catalog addresses, prices and varieties for anyone on the hunt.
e guide has remained relevant, especially since COVID, she said. A lot of operations closed or moved during those lockdown days. Since a lot of roasters don’t pick up their phones, some gumshoeing is in order to nd out what’s available.
“Probably this weekend, I’ll do a whole bunch of driving around,” she told us last week.
We met Edge on Oct. 2 at the Morales Family Chile Store at 52nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard — a multi-generational roaster and one of her favorites — for a quick guide to the season.
But rst: Is it chile or chili? is has been a bone of contention in the pedantic world of journalism, so much so that the Associated Press speci cally called it out.
“It’s ‘chile’ and ‘chiles’ for any of a variety of spicy peppers or the sauces or gravies derived from them,”the AP tweeted in 2018. “ e meatand/or bean-based dish is ‘chili.’” Merriam-Webster went deep on the history, and found this is actually way more complicated and interesting, with origins in the Aztec language Nahuatl. Edge con rmed most people around here use the “chile” spelling for the produce,
but she said local vendors use both spellings.
DenverGreenChili.com uses the “i,” but typing an “e” instead will still take you to Edge’s site.
“Actually, I have both domain names,” she told us.
How to chile, according to Edge:
You could start at her website, or you could just do what she did 20 years ago: Drive Federal and Sheridan boulevards until you see a tent, a sign and, maybe, some ames.
Roasters have spread out over the years, Edge said, though the city’s west side is still a hot spot.
Next, select your variety. It’s not as simple as Hatch vs. Pueblo, the sort-of rivalry between New Mexico and Colorado. You can get Anaheim peppers grown in both states, for example, and sellers may have different heat levels across the same varieties.
When selecting, prioritize your heat tolerance, Edge said. You might ask vendors for help.
“I like some spicy dishes, but not generally knock-your-socks o
spicy,” she said.
Edge likes Big Jims, which are avorful and not too hot, and Sandias for when she wants more of a kick. She likes poblanos for stu ng. She generally stays away from the Dynamites — those, she said, are dangerously spicy.
Next comes roasting, which is good for avor but also more practically about stripping thick outer skins from these fruits (that’s right, they’re fruits) before they get to a kitchen.
Edge has a roaster at home, but she usually lets vendors do that part.
“ ey do a great job,” she said, “and propane costs money!”
Vendors then stu freshly roasted chiles into special plastic bags that don’t melt in the heat. ey seal the bags to let the peppers steam; Edge said you should keep the bag sealed for at least an hour after purchase.
Once the steaming has concluded, you can strip o the rest of that outer skin and get cooking, or toss your charred chiles into a freezer for the winter. Some people like to keep
the skins on frozen chiles as a “ avor saver.” Edge doesn’t like to put o the peeling — she doesn’t want any delays when the time to thaw out arrives.
For Edge, the website is a labor of love.
It’s been a couple decades since Denver chiles rst entered her life. She’s amassed dozens of recipes over those years, and her friends and family have come to expect something spicy from her when they get together.
ough DenverGreenChili.com has brought in some money over the years, it was never really meant to be a business. Instead, it was the thrill of the chile hunt, and the joy of getting to know people, that’s kept her dedicated to this project for so long.
“I’m also — it’s a part of the community,” she told us. “ ese are my friends.”
is story is from Denverite, a Denver news site. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.
Denver’s minimum wage to increase Jan. 1
On Aug. 1 the city announced that the city and county of Denver’s minimum wage will increase from $18.29/hour to $18.81/hour beginning on Jan. 1, 2025. e hourly wage for tipped food and beverage workers who earn more than $3.02/hour in tips will increase to $15.79.
Denver City Council passed a minimum wage ordinance in 2019 that requires the wage be adjusted
annually to keep up with costs of living. e annual adjustment is based on data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which for 2025 indicated a 52-cent increase.
e wage ordinance is enforced by the Denver Labor Division of the O ce of Denver Auditor Timothy M. O’Brien, CPA.
Learn more at DenverWages.org.
Anita Edge, the mind behind denvergreenchili.com, stands under the big tent at the Morales Family Chile Store, at 52nd Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard. Oct. 2, 2024.
PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY, DENVERITE
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Almost No Buyers Are Having to Compensate Their Agents as Result of NAR Settlement
Leading up to the changes on August 17th which prohibited MLSs from displaying compensation for buyer brokers, I said that I would be surprised if any buyers ended up compensating their own agents. So, last week I did some research of my own and solicited input from others to see if my prediction had come true.
It has. I sent emails to listing agents who had closings in September, and every one who replied said that their seller had compensated the broker representing the buyer of their listing.
consensus was that the seller still pays. A lender who conducted a CE class in Westminster told Pam that they are still seeing the seller pay, but that sometimes if the seller is offering a buy-side compensation of 2.5% and the buyer’s agent has an agreement of 2.8%, the buyer is making up the .3% difference, or it is included in the contract as a seller credit.
My friends at First Integrity Title did a few “spot checks” on transactions which closed post-NAR settlement to verify what they were hearing based on actual data. The challenge was that they would have to open every file individually, but the consensus was that, as I expected, the seller has continued to compensate the buyer’s agent.
“It really has not changed from the past,” I was told by Pam Giarratano, our sales rep at First Integrity Title.
Here is the response Pam got from her VP of Operations:
“I can tell you that I’ve asked the same question multiple times; I’m just trying to understand how much has changed since the NAR settlement. I can tell you that I am repeatedly told that people have not seen any buyers paying their own agents.”
From Pam’s VP of Sales:
“I looked at settlement statements for a dozen closed files, and the seller paid the buyer’s agent’s commission on all of them.”
Pam asked closers and lenders, and the
That was exactly the case with one of my own listings in September. I told the buyer’s broker that the seller was offering 2.5%, and he submitted a contract with the seller paying 2.5% and the buyer paying an additional 0.3%.
Pam told me, “It looks like nothing has changed as far as the seller paying commissions. I think homeowners still want their houses looked at.”
Here’s the bottom line: Real estate is a free market. Just like builders who feel they must offer commissions to buyers’ agents because other builders are doing so, individual sellers are being counseled to offer the buyer broker commission because they realize that most buyers are represented by agents and they’re not going to buy a home if the seller requires them to compensate their own broker.
I chatted with my broker associates about this, and they are comfortable with the new rules which essentially bring more transparency to the process.
At the closing table, it has always been that the commissions paid to listing agent and buyer’s agent were listed separately on the settlement statement as being paid by the buyer. Naturally, some sellers objected to paying the buyer’s agent’s com-
Understanding Different 55+ Communities
Last week I was in a Zoom conversation with 14 of my high school classmates. We have been meeting like this every week since our 2020 reunion was canceled due to Covid. Three of us had moved into senior communities and we were answering questions about the options which we Baby Boomers face.
We are all healthy 77-year-olds (or thereabouts), but we all realize that the clock is ticking and that it’s not a matter of if but when we will need some sort of assisted living. Should we “age in place,” enter an “independent living” facility now, or wait until we need “assisted living”?
If you have 90 minutes of free time, I could share with you the URL of the recorded Zoom meeting, but for now, let me share some of the insights.
Laird lives at Windcrest, where he paid a 6-figure “entrance fee” and pays about $4,000 per month rent for a 1bedroom plus den apartment. He gets 30 meals per month in a dining room, but also has a kitchen for other meals. 90%
of his entrance fee is returnable if he leaves or dies. One thing I learned was that if by chance he runs out of money and can’t afford the rent, it is taken out of his entrance fee instead of having to leave. If assisted living is needed later, he stays in the same apartment, but the services and rent increase dramatically.
“They promise this can be my home for life,” Laird said.
Rita and I had moved into a pure rental 55+ community with no entrance fee. In fact, we paid no security deposit, and we got the first month free. We since moved to a regular apartment building.
I shared what I had learned about Vi at Highlands Ranch, where you must be healthy with no degenerative disorders, but you are promised no increase in rent when/if you need to enter assisted living, nursing care or even memory care.
The entrance fees at both facilities are reduced if you agree to only 50% or none of it being returnable when you leave.
Call me if you’d like to get more info or chat, or if you’d like that Zoom URL.
mission, forgetting that they had listed their home for x% and agreed that part of their listing agent’s commission would be offered to any agent who produced the buyer.
In other words, the commission to the buyer’s agent was coming out of the listing agent’s pocket, but it sure looked like the seller, not his agent, was compensating the buyer’s broker.
As I predicted, nothing has changed except the wording. The revised “Exclusive Right to Sell” contract still states the total commission to be paid at closing, but it lists a smaller amount that the seller will pay to the buyer’s agent, and states that the listing commission will be reduced by that amount.
Of course, in a real estate transaction, what rules are the provisions in the “Contract to Buy & Sell” between the buyer and seller. Section 29 of that document has lines to enter the compensation paid to the buyer’s broker by (1) the seller, (2) the buyer, and (3) the listing agent.
In some cases, the buyer’s agent will find out what the seller is offering, since it is no longer specified on the MLS listing. (Our listings specify that amount on the listing’s website and on a sign rider.) Regardless, the buyer’s agent will submit a contract which specifies how much the seller will pay the buyer’s agent, and the seller can counter that provision. It’s simply another element of the offer to be negotiated between buyer and seller through their agents.
Just last month, to win a bidding war, one of our broker associates submitted a contract asking the seller to pay only 1.5%, which tells you not only that buyer broker compensation is negotiable but that the amount of buyer broker compensation is going down. That was predicted, and is coming true. Listing agent was paid 3%.
In the past that listing probably would have displayed at least 2.5% buyer agent compensation in the MLS, and that amount would have been paid without negotiation or discussion.
So what did the plaintiffs in the NAR settlement expect to achieve, and what did they get?
At least in Colorado, they did not relieve sellers from compensating buyer agents. Listing agents are probably get-
ting the same compensation as before, but some sellers (like in the transaction mentioned above) are saving on the compensation paid to buyers’ brokers.
In some cases, listing agents may actually be earning more. I know of one multimillion-dollar listing which had a 4% commission specified in the listing agreement. The listing agent negotiated a 1% commission paid to the buyer’s agent, leaving 3% for the listing agent. Under pre -settlement rules, that listing would likely have offered 2% co-op commission on the MLS, netting the listing agent only 2%. Thus, the listing broker earned 50% more, thanks to the new rules.
As Realtors, my broker associates and I are okay with this new arrangement. It clarifies that the seller is paying both agents, but makes the amount more transparent and thus more negotiable. With sign riders and listing brochures, it’s not hard to inform buyer brokers of the compensation which the seller (not the listing agent) is offering, and the buyer can submit whatever compensation amount he or she wants in the contract to buy and sell.
Given the minimal end result of the NAR settlement, it will be interesting to see if there is further litigation on this matter. I don’t see any legal basis for denying a seller the right to offer compensation to the broker who produces the buyer for his home.
The Habitat for Humanity Pumpkin Patches Are Open
Every October, Jeffco Interfaith Partners sells pumpkins to raise money to sponsor a Habitat for Humanity home. In the past 20 years, they have funded over a dozen metro area Habitat homes.
The pumpkin patches are on the corner of Garrison & Alameda in Lakewood, and at 78th & Wadsworth in Arvada. The pumpkins are more expensive than elsewhere, but 40% of the purchase price is tax deductible, and it’s an easy way to donate to a worthy charity.
And the selection of pumpkins is great! They also sell carving kits and other Halloween paraphernalia.
Broker/Owner, 303-525-
Jim Smith
ENROLLMENT
e federal government revamped the FAFSA form last year, which is now called the Better FAFSA.
e form, typically released in October, was released months late on Dec. 31, shortening the completion window for students and families. en, while the Better FAFSA proved to be shorter and easier, technical glitches marred the process.
Issues have lingered, and a few rst-year students are still trying to nish the FAFSA even now that they are enrolled in college, said Natasha Gar eld, Denver Scholarship Foundation scholarships and nancial aid director.
Despite problems, schools posted strong enrollment numbers over last year.
e Colorado School of Mines increased enrollment by 6% as well as boosted enrollment of Pell Grant students over last year by 23% — from 859 students to 1,059. Both Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado Boulder have historically enrolled a lower share of students from lower-income backgrounds.
CU Boulder increased undergraduate enrollment by 3.4% this year, as well as the number of Pell Grant recipients — to 5,307 students, up from 4,846, a 9.5% increase.
Enrollment and the student makeup at smaller regional schools varied. But most recorded increases.
Western Colorado University was one of the few with declines. It enrolled about 30 fewer Pell eligible
students, or a 6.5% decrease. Enrollment also dropped from 3,761 to 3,453 students.
Meanwhile, Metropolitan State University of Denver increased enrollment by 2%, as well as increased Pell enrollment. Kerline Eglaus, executive director of nancial aid and scholarships, said the number of students eligible for a grant increased by 989 students, to 38.5% of all students. at’s an 18.5% increase over last year, she said.
MSU Denver and every university across the state put more resources into helping students get to college as they struggled to ll out the FAFSA, she said. e school also helped students who were already enrolled ll out the new FAFSA.
roughout the year, schools worked together so as many students as possible had the resources they needed to gure out the Better FAFSA, she said. She said it’s fair to say that support from schools and advisors helped incoming and current students navigate a di cult year.
Schools will continue those lessons to help even more students in the future.
“One of the things that we learned was just really trying to create a better student experience through increased outreach and communication,” she said.
Angie Paccione, Colorado Department of Higher Education executive director, said in some ways the enrollment increases defy explanation, especially after the FAFSA problems. Colorado isn’t alone, and, nationwide, some states such as Texas and North Carolina have touted increased enrollment
However, Paccione said Colorado colleges and universities have stepped up and made students feel
more welcome — directly and indirectly.
instance, issued nancial aid packages without FAFSA information to students, helping families make decisions early. at led to the school’s largest ever freshman class. e “Prime E ect,” or the appointment of Deion Sanders as head coach of the University of Colorado Boulder’s football team, has translated to a 50% increase in Black student applications, Paccione said. it to college or decided not to go that Paccione worries about. Statewide, FAFSA completion, which is an indicator of whether students will go to college, must increase, she said. Colorado ranks near the bottom in FAFSA completion and only about half of all Colorado high school students end up on a college campus.
e state’s highest paying jobs require a college education, whether a certi cate, two-year, or four-year degree.
“How do we get the other half to realize that college is a ordable and is within reach and worth it?” she said. “We have to help them see that the jobs that are available for just the high school diploma really don’t compare to jobs with even an associates or a bachelor’s.”
e di culties students faced in the spring aren’t expected to linger into the next FAFSA cycle, although it is again slated to open late on or before Dec. 1.
e U.S. Department of Education has been working on xes, and advisers that support students are hopeful of a better experience.
A later-than-expected FAFSA release still worries some. Rangel said he’s concerned that Colorado once again won’t be able to get students
lling out the FAFSA until a couple months later than usual. He feels that after the issues he and others have learned a lot about how to keep students on track — and the resilience of students.
“We’re obviously going to remain hopeful,” he said. “I can’t say enough how incredible the students that I work with are in just persevering through issues.”
Used with permission. Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools, partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage.
Students rest on the oval at the Colorado State University campus in Fort Collins. The public four-year university, like others across the state, recorded high enrollment this year despite FAFSA issues nationwide.
PHOTO BY ELI IMADALI FOR CHALKBEAT
‘The wonders and benefits of jiu jitsu’
Sheridan gym o ers jiu jitsu, martial arts, more for all ages
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
In the heart of Sheridan, local martial arts gym, Nova Mente Jiu Jitsu Academy, stands as a welcoming haven for all ages, where the spirit of discipline meets the joy of movement.
With classes designed to inspire and empower, Nova Mente isn’t about self-defense — it’s a place where friendships are forged and lifelong skills are developed, creating a vibrant tapestry of strength and camaraderie that brings everyone together.
“I enjoy the community aspect,” owner and instructor Troy Everett said. “I enjoy seeing people doing something that they were not aware that they could do before, or seeing them kind of go to that next level in their own personal journey with jiu jitsu.”
Everett said in addition to jiu jitsu, his gym o ers kickboxing, MMA, tness classes and more for people 3 years and up.
Nova Menta originally opened in 2017 and before he took ownership of the business in 2020, Everett said he used to travel and teach jiu jitsu.
“I decided I wanted to do something related to jiu jitsu besides traveling, and wanted to open a gym and kind of fell into this being for sale,” he said.
Everett explained jiu jitsu is a
“submission grappling type art” that doesn’t require striking, but it’s e ective in self defense.
“It’s focused a lot on controlling and submitting your opponent but it’s used because, if you’re only doing striking and you fall on the ground and they’re on top of you, what are you going to do about that,” Everett said.
e martial arts instructor has been studying jiu jitsu since 2009 and was inspired to train after watching MMA and UFC.
Everett said jiu jitsu brings in “all walks of life” and it’s this aspect that he loves the most about it.
“Seeing a 16-year-old and a 55-year-old in the same class together joking around and having fun is just a really cool thing,” Everett said.
For Everett, teaching jiu jitsu is a great tool people can use during difcult times.
“I feel like it’s important because it allows you to learn how to relax in bad situations,” Everett said. “I feel with kids, it allows them to learn humbleness because there’s always somebody bigger and tougher, but also con dence that if something does happen they’re able to defend themselves.”
In addition to the martial arts aspect of his gym, Everett said Nova Mente also gives back to the community in other ways.
“We have two barbers that can come in and cut people’s hair here,” Everett said. “We have a chiropractor that comes in twice a month. We have people from all walks of life that help with everything and anything.”
Additionally, Everett is always try-
ing to o er the best teachings of jiu jitsu that he can to provide his students.
“ e sport is always evolving and I am always trying to stay with the trends and even try to get ahead of the trends,” Everett said.
While he loves teaching, Everett said it can be a lot to run your own business.
“ ere’s just a lot to it so just trying to stay on top of it and not burn myself out mentally has really been the hardest thing. But I’ve gured out a groove in the last year,” Everett said.
Kids’ coach and Everett’s partner, Bri Adair, said there is a “true sense of community” at Nova Mente.
“I’ve been to a lot of gyms and
people don’t really ask how you’re doing, they don’t really keep up with what’s going on in your life … and here, people actually care about each other,” Adair said.
Going forward, Everett hopes his gym becomes a bigger part of the community and to “get jiu jitsu to as many people as possible.”
“I really want to show that jiu jitsu is for everybody,” Everett said. “What they want out of it can be different, but I think that the actual art of jiu jitsu is for anybody and I want as many people as I can possibly reach to see the wonders and bene ts of jiu jitsu.”
For more information on Nova Mente, visit www.novamentebjj. com.
Nova Mente Jiu Jitsu Academy is located at 2761 W. Oxford Ave. Unit 7 in Sheridan and o ers a variety of classes including boxing and other martial arts.
“Less than 10% of Americans today have access to organic collection,” said Paula Luu, senior project developer for Closed Loop Partners. “We’re at the very beginning of this infrastructure transformation and change, so we felt like the municipal blueprint was a very timely and necessary tool in order to empower time-strapped, resource-strapped municipal leaders to scale infrastructure and collection programs.”
Curbside composting
Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DOTI) is delivering green compost carts and information to residents who opted into the program in District 8, which encompasses Bear Valley, College View-South Platte, Fort Logan, Harvey Park, Mar Lee, Marston, Overland and Ruby Hill. DOTI previously delivered carts to all residents, unless a resident speci ed they didn’t want one,
leading to a high concentration of materials besides food scraps and yard trimmings in compost bins, said Nina Waysdorf, the waste diversion and recycling manager for the city.
“We found a lot of contamination, the audits took a long time, there was a lot of continued education,” Waysdorf said. “After that, we said, ‘OK, we need to pivot a little bit and re-evaluate this.’”
ose in waste districts 2, 4, 5 and 8 can opt into the program at any time after rollout begins. Participation is high, with about 24% total participation across Denver, Waysdorf said.
Education is a priority for DOTI, which is now focused on increasing participation and reducing contamination.
DOTI also partners with Denver Urban Gardens’ Master Composter certi cation program, where participants learn about the biology and chemistry of composting. e program is highlighted in Closed Loop Partners’ and Eco-cycle’s blueprint as a great resource for promoting a cultural shift around
Phone and Internet Discounts Available to CenturyLink Customers
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $34.00 per month and business services are $53.50 per month. Specific rates will be provided upon request.
CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible low-income individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/ month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal benefits if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.
A household is defined as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by fine or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.
If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https:// .centurylink.com/aboutus/ community/community-development/ lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.
compost.
To foster that culture shift, the blueprint encourages consistent education beyond a rollout phase, encouraging people like Master Composters to champion compost and frame compost bins as a step toward producing soil, rather than another trash receptacle. e slow rollout, which is expected to be complete in 2025, has frustrated some residents who are eager to begin. But DOTI said the pace allows them to make sure composting is done correctly and that people’s questions are answered.
“If we can go faster, we will, but this is where we’re at currently,” Waysdorf said.
Waste No More
ough Waste No More, which requires apartments, restaurants, grocers and other large waste generators to provide recycling and composting services through private waste haulers, has been in effect since June 1, 2023, CASR has no current means of requiring compliance.
Jacob B., a general manager at Devil’s Food Bakery in Washington Park, heard about the compost requirement through customers interested to know if the bakery is composting.
“A ier dropped o would even su ce, but there has been no real announcement that it was going into e ect,” Jacob said.
Brooke Garcia, who’s on the HOA board for her condo in Capitol Hill, said she had no idea her building needed to comply with Waste No More. She personally contracts Denver Compost Collective to pick up her compost, but she is the only resident in her building doing so.
Building maintenance costs, insurance rates and existing trash collection challenges mean the HOA is not interested in paying for additional compost services to the building. Existing problems feel higher priority than composting, Garcia said, like trash in the alley behind the building from encampments.
“When they nally left, we had to hire multi-thousand-dollar hazmat cleaners, and that was on us, that was not the city doing that,” Garcia said.
Some HOAs are successfully composting, like Martin Percival’s building in Cheesman Park, which has two communal bins for compost collection. Composting at the 31-unit residence began six months ago to comply with the ordinance.
Percival brought Waste No More to his HOA’s attention, and because they tend to be proactive the group was receptive, but Percival said the process was confusing.
“ ere wasn’t a huge amount of
information out there,” Percival said. “Luckily, my board, the HOA, were receptive to it, because I don’t know where the o cial stu would be in order to compel the HOA to provide [compost].”
Wompost, a compost hauler in Aurora that can be contracted privately by Denver businesses, noticed little change after Waste No More was enacted, said owner and CEO Carolyn Pace. Most people cite a personal desire to compost as their reason for signing up for services, with only around 10% citing Waste No More and a few citing national requirements that apply to their entire business chain.
“Businesses currently are not composting, and I think for the most part, they’re not aware of the rules, and if they are aware, they’re aware that there is no enforcement and that they haven’t been nalized,” Pace said. “I do anticipate it to pick up at some point when the city actually puts some teeth into the rules.”
In part, CASR’s hesitation on strict enforcement comes from the acknowledgement that it could impact di erent businesses and residences unequally, said Emily Gedeon, director of communications and engagement.
e 2023 Waste No More task force met with stakeholders to assess potential challenges and provide recommendations around equity and nancial support, but CASR is still investigating how to implement Waste No More equitably.
e ordinance includes stipulations for businesses and apartments in low-income communities, including a potential one-year exemption from the requirements based on economic hardship, negligible organic waste, self-hauling of materials and space constraints.
“We do hear from folks who live in rental properties and other folks around the city that they’re really interested in having access to these services, and so we’re trying to gure out, as a city, a way to meet Denver’s interest in recycling and composting and waste disposal and ensuring that the implementation lifts all sails,” Gedeon said.
Public interest in composting is what makes Waste No More attractive to businesses, Call said. e ordinance passed with 70% voter approval, meaning roughly 70% of customers would be pleased to know a business is being responsible about its waste.
Ultimately, Waste No More and curbside composting measures are relatively new and need time to gain momentum. But it is worth the bene ts that composting brings to the community and establishing Denver’s status as a leader in zero waste initiatives, Luu said.
A ‘rib-eye’ on the prize
More than 30 butchers compete in annual meat cutting challenge
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Dozens of competitors stepped onto the ice at the South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch to one of their favorite songs blasting through the speakers of the arena. But instead of a hockey stick in hand, they held mallets and knives, ready to slice meat.
More than 30 butchers from across Colorado, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming took part in the rst round of the National Meat Cutting Challenge on
Oct. 2.
“It’s a tribute to a unique profession that blends artistry with expertise,” said Nick Carroll, who is the regional senior product coach for Texas Roadhouse. e competition is part of the Meat Hero program, created in 2001, to recognize the daily e orts of Texas Roadhouse meat cutters. Each contestant is responsible for hand-cutting every steak served at their local Texas Roadhouse.
Spending about seven hours a day in a 34-degree walk-in cooler, the professional meat cutters cut about $1 million worth of meat in an average year.
“Our meat cutters are the backbone of what we do inside our restaurants every day,” said Regional Product coach Carroll.
As the national meat-cutting challenge highlights the extraordinary skill and precision of the local meat cutters, the ice rink was kept at a cool 34-degrees to ensure fresh and quality meat.
Each participant was given 20-30 pounds of beef to compete with. Judged on speed, quality and the number of pieces, the competitors had one hour to cut three muscles — sirloin, let and ribeye — according to Trevor Droogan, managing partner for the Sheridan and Englewood Texas Roadhouse locations. He added that there was a speci c speck size to meet for each type and different cuts have individual qualities.
At the end of the hour, each contestant placed their work in a numbered tin, then the product coaches judged the meat anonymously.
“If it has too much fat or too much gristle, they’ll kick it,” said Droogan.
But it’s not exactly the end for the local competitors who did not win a spot in the regional competition. Once the market competitions are over at the end of the year, a couple of ”wildcards” will be chosen to have another chance to compete.
“Having a good meat cutter versus having an experienced meat cutter is huge for us,” said Droogan.
“It’s (the competition) just a really good way to reward them and kind of keep them hungry (for their profession).”
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After the meat was judged, it was grilled outside for everyone to enjoy, including the sta at South Suburban Sports Complex.
“We like to take care of the community and sta here,” said Stephanie Keck, senior marketing coach.
Several of the contestants represented Littleton, Parker and Brighton, but it was Gelacio Sanchez Fermin of ornton and Auder Revolorio of Sheridan who moved on to compete at the region-
In January, the top scoring challengers in the region will advance to the seminals, which will take place in Las Vegas. Five will then move on to the 2025 National Competition in Louisville, Kentucky in the spring. e winner of the national competition will win a $25,000 grand prize and be crowned Meat Cutter of the Year.
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Auder Revolorio, the professional butcher for the Texas Roadhouse in Longmont was one of the two competitors that moved on to compete to the next level.
COURTESY OF STEPHANIE KECK
The Meat Cutting Challenge is part of the Meat Hero program, which was created in 2001, to recognize the daily e orts of Texas Roadhouse meat cutters. PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Staying positive when facing adversity
In a world that often feels drenched in negativity, it can be all too easy for a single bad moment to spiral out of control. One unfortunate encounter in the morning might cloud our entire day, and before we know it, that one wrong moment is bleeding into everything we touch, turning a brief struggle into a prolonged season of negativity.
Sometimes, we fall into the trap of looking for things to go wrong. We brace for the bad, and in doing so, we invite it into our lives. It’s as if focusing on the problem blinds us to the solutions that might be right before us.
WINNING
When we decide to look for the good, we tend to nd it. e same goes for the bad; when we x our eyes on the negative, it multiplies. is principle applies to how we wake up and how we go to sleep. Mornings set the tone for the day, and how we greet the dawn can profoundly impact how we handle
Awhat follows. If we wake up with gratitude, love, and appreciation, we’re more likely to carry those feelings into every situation. e same is true of our nights. e thoughts we fall asleep with often greet us the next morning. If we end the day ruminating on everything that went wrong, those thoughts will likely follow us the next day. But if we close our eyes with a heart full of love, peace, and contentment, we wake up ready to embrace the goodness around us.
Staying motivated and nding happiness in the face of a lifethreatening illness or some other form of devastation can feel like an almost impossible task. When our world is turned upside down by something that challenges our very
existence, it’s hard to nd a reason to keep smiling, let alone keep pushing forward. Yet, there’s often an unspoken expectation, whether from ourselves or those around us, to put on a brave face to show the world that we are still standing tall, even when everything inside us is crumbling.
Sometimes, the hardest part isn’t just dealing with the illness or devastation itself but the responsibility of staying motivated for others. We become the rock, the pillar of strength, for those who love us, even though we struggle. ey look to us for hope and reassurance, and we give it to them, often at the cost of our emotional reserves. We smile when we don’t feel like smiling, talk about silver linings when all we see are clouds, and o er words of encouragement when we really want someone to o er them to us.
Yet, when we’re the most vulnerable, it’s OK to admit that we don’t always want to put on the game face.
It’s OK to acknowledge that some days are harder than others and that sometimes, staying motivated for others keeps us going. We don’t have to be invincible. ere’s a certain grace in allowing ourselves to feel the weight of the situation while still nding a way to rise above it. In the end, it’s about what we choose to focus on. Surround your mind and heart with thoughts of love, kindness, and possibility, and you’ll be amazed at how much better your days can be. I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we can maintain our positivity in the face of adversity, 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.
Sherlock Holmes teams with artists to solve mystery
rthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is one of the world’s most recognizable characters. If you see his name, you know you’re in for all kinds of mind-bending fun.
And that’s certainly the case (see what I did there?) with “Sherlock Holmes and the Adventure of the Elusive Ear,” which is running at Miners Alley Playhouse.
e show runs at the theater, 1100 Miners Alley in Golden, through Sunday, Nov. 10. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on ursday, Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
e story not only features wellknown Holmes (Christian Ray Robinson) characters Dr. John Watson (Chas Lederer) and Irene Adler (Colleen Lee), but also famous real-life gures.
We spoke to director Heather Beasley about the show, blending art and mystery, and more.
Interview edited for brevity and clarity.
Tell me what the show is about? is is the rst in a trilogy of plays by writer David MacGregor, in which he brings real historical gures into the ctional world of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. In this story, Vincent Van Gogh seeks out Holmes to solve the mystery of his missing ear, while Watson brings Oscar Wilde to Baker Street after meeting the fellow writer at a dinner. e result is a clever, comic combination of wellloved ction with art and literary
history.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
How do you go about bringing a character as wellknown as Sherlock Holmes to the stage?
Most lovers of detective ction already have a favorite Holmes in mind, whether from stage, lm or the small screen.
e bene t of his fame is that people will be more likely to give this regional premiere play a try, based on the title alone. e challenge is that true Conan Doyle fans may have bones to pick with some of the literary license being taken. Although, to be fair, this story does align well with the style and tone of the original short stories, as well as with the Strand Magazine illustrations by Sidney Paget.
What makes for a good stage mystery?
e worst stage mysteries get bogged down in exposition and explanation. e best ones give audiences a lot to watch and a lot to listen to. And I award bonus points for mysteries that stay one step ahead of the audience’s deductive powers.
What do you hope audiences come away from the show with? is show is a roller-coaster ride, mixing comic shenanigans, serious sword ghting, and intellectual detective work. I hope audiences will
have a great time, and perhaps talk a bit on the way home about what they think the place of art and artists should be in our modern society today.
More information and tickets are available at https://minersalley. com/shows/sherlock-holmes-andthe-adventure-of-the-elusive-ear/.
Walker Fine Art studies the nexus of construction and nature
Humans are having to nd a way to live in the intersection between urban and natural landscapes. is is the theme behind Nexus, the latest exhibition at the Walker Fine Art gallery, 300 W. 11th Ave., Suite No. A, in Denver.
Featuring the work of Sabin Aell, Rob Mellor, Heather Patterson, Angela Piehl, Martha Russo and Melanie Walker, Nexus lets each artist use a variety of mediums, including ceramic sculpture, installation, painting, collage and photography, to explore the relationship between these two regions.
Find more information at www. walker neart.com/nexus.
A haunted mansion experience for adults
Halloween isn’t only for kids, and adults looking for an opportunity to have a spooky night out shouldn’t miss the Spirits with the Spirits Tours at Highlands Ranch Mansion & Historic Park, 9950 E. Gateway Dr. in Highlands Ranch.
Held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 23, this 21-and-older event lets visi-
tors enjoy spirits of the boozy variety while exploring the mysteries hidden within the 19th-century mansion. Guides will take guests through “the dimly lit halls and historic rooms to hear real-life tales and mysterious, spine-chilling experiences collected throughout the years.”
More information on this fun seasonal o ering is available at https://highlandsranchmansion. com/2023/12/18/spirits-with-thespirits-2/.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week —
The Heavy Heavy at the Fox Theatre e Heavy Heavy (founded by Georgie Fuller and William Turner) specializes in folk-rock you just don’t hear too often. Taking inspiration from legendary gures in the genre like Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and e Band, their music is wistfulbut not too nostalgic with a rock-androll heart that keeps things from being too laid back. eir debut album, “One of a Kind,” sounds great in a car. In support of the album, the group is coming to the Fox eatre, 1135 13th St. in Boulder, for an evening of excellent harmonies and infectious rock. ey’ll be joined by singer/ songwriter Dylan Leblanc as the opener.
Get tickets at www.ticketmaster. com.
Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
Clarke Reader
Women’s financial security may be at risk
LFINANCIAL STRATEGIES
ooking back 39 years to October of 1985, I nally completed my studies for the certi ednancial planner certi cation and was itching to share my knowledge with others. Having just completed almost three years of coursework where I was often the only female in the room, I decided to learn more about why there were not more women in nance. is revealed a myriad of other issues that to this day continue to plague women preparing for retirement. I set o to teach classes at the local library and start writing a nance column for this newspaper to empower others to be nancially prepared for an unknown future.
Fast forward to the present day, and I come across a recent UBS study that states 85% of high-net-worth women across every generation still tend to leave long-term nancial decisions to their male counterparts.¹ is includes women running businesses, households and managing daily nances for themselves and their families, often spanning three generations.
Early in my career, I studied the di erent investment styles by gender, which helped me signi cantly when working with couples who were not always on the same page. I was able to give them permission to think about money di erently, because it often means di erent things depending on if you are the rainmaker or the caretaker. Being on a career track myself, as well as a wife and mother and, yes, daughter, I too was juggling three generations along with both my and my husband’s businesses. I get it: ere is
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Proposition 127 deserves yes vote I am writing in regards to Proposition 127 which seeks to ban trophy hunting of mountain lions for their heads and fur and to ban trapping of bobcats for their fur which is then often sold to China. ese acts enact intense cruelty to animals.
Trophy hunting in Colorado is the same as is done in Africa. Many so-called hunters pay $8,000 for a guaranteed kill, which utilizes dogs to hunt down and tree the cat. e dogs’ radio collars then send a signal whereby the hunter comes out and shoots the cat.
not enough time in the day, and you must prioritize.
Gender di erences proved fascinating in learning about the huntergatherer versus the nurturer. Even though we don’t live in caves anymore and women and men equally have successful careers, those nurturing or hunting instincts never go away. erefore (and what I love about my husband), men always seem willing to run faster, work harder and do whatever it takes to succeed, in my opinion. is hunter mentality is often mirrored in the male’s investment style. is may include switching out of investments prematurely if they are not performing or always looking for another advantage. Women are more likely to want a plan and be loyal to it for long periods of time before making changes. Both types of investing have their pros and cons.
e female’s nurturing character and the juggling act often left her career or her self-needs last on the priority list. is can equate to lower Social Security due to an erratic work life or time o to stay at home with children or parents — or even following the hunter-gatherer around the globe for his career. Women and their family members need to know that pensions and Social Security may be lower than those of their male counterparts, and investments may be more conservative. Women also tend to live longer, therefore needing more money. Married women with families may have had less of an opportunity to fund a 401(k) plan, espe-
cially if they worked part-time for a while or earned lower wages. It is important to plan well considering these circumstances.
It is crucial to meet with an adviser and start your retirement plan if any of this information sounds familiar for you or someone you know. Education is key, and taking action is now a priority to prepare for the future.
1 “Women Put Financial Security at Risk by Deferring Long-Term Financial Decisions to Spouses,” March 2019. UBS.
Patricia Kummer has been a managing director for Mariner Wealth Advisors.
If you love dogs, you should denitely vote yes on Proposition 127, because trophy hunters have “surplus dogs” since they know that dogs will be killed during the hunt. Bobcats su er from extreme terror and cruelty as they are often
left for long periods of time in extremely frigid conditions before the “hunter” comes along and bludgeons them to death. ese hunters then bene t monetarily by selling their fur to foreign markets. is is a totally cruel and heinous act that serves no good purpose. Mountain lions are a self-regulating species, meaning they do not over-populate. Just look at the case in California where trophy hunting has been banned for 52 years. ey have not experienced an increase in population.
Let’s take it from the experts. Dozens of wildlife scientists — some neutral on the measure — o er a letter to inform voters that hunting is not managing populations. ese are the Ph.D.-level independent, academic and agency researchers.
Karla Heeps, Denver
BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLOROADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
All week, Paige Becker had noticed an extra level of excitement and buzz around the Colorado School of Mines campus.
Becker, a Mines alumna and faculty member from the Broom eld/Westminster area, said the students were more energetic than usual. At the same time, employees were busy getting the campus ready for an enormous in ux of visitors.
And their energy was rewarded when thousands of Orediggers from near and far returned to their alma mater Sept. 26-28 to celebrate the university’s 150th anniversary for Homecoming Weekend.
“It’s the most exciting Homecoming I’ve ever witnessed,” Becker said.
e university amped up its traditional Homecoming celebrations with expanded or new events, including the Sept. 27 Blaster’s Bash party to commemorate the new Sesquicentennial Bell outside Guggenheim Hall.
About 4,800 Mines students, alumni, faculty, sta and other supporters packed Kafadar Commons that night. But that was just a taste of the crowd that turned out for the football game the following day, when almost 7,000 Orediggers packed the Marv Kay Stadium stands to set a new stadium record.
While Orediggers from across the Denver area said they love visiting the campus regularly for Homecoming and/or other events, they described how the 150th anniversary made this year’s Homecoming unique.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event to celebrate as an alumnus,” said Julian Liu, a Littleton resident and a Class of 2020 graduate.
Lakewood’s Darien O’Brien, valedictorian of the Class of 1983, added how the Homecoming Weekend’s incredible turnout only enhanced that feeling.
“It’s a special weekend,” O’Brien said. “It’s tremendous … seeing all generations of Orediggers interacting together.”
The Golden years
With Mines history now spanning 150 years, the Orediggers at the Sept. 27 Blaster’s Bash enjoyed deciding which academic or calendar year was their favorite.
Some like O’Brien picked the year they graduated.
O’Brien’s two children and their spouses also went to Mines, so he had several years to pick from beyond his own time at the university. But, he said 1983 was a pivotal year for him because he not only got his degree in petroleum engineering – a di cult eld – but he also founded the Mines chapter of Pi Epsilon Tau. e academic fraternity for petroleum engineering students is still active, he said.
Wheat Ridge’s Kendall Armitage and Castle Rock’s Natalie Mudd also picked the year they graduated: 2023.
e two received their undergraduate degrees in quantitative biosciences and engineering. But more than that, 2023 was also the year they saw how much progress had been made on campus, with things reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic and with various construction projects starting or concluding, they described.
Some Orediggers named other years that were important to them.
Liu said 2017-18 was his favorite year because it was when he was most active and involved in student
organizations.
Golden’s David Matlock, a professor emeritus of metallurgical and materials engineering, has been teaching at the university since the early ‘70s and had more than 50 years to choose from. He ultimately picked 1999 because it was the year his son graduated from Mines, but he added that he enjoyed seeing so many former students at the sesquicentennial celebration.
Several Orediggers picked this year, though, but for di ering reasons.
Freshman Harshith Jayadeva said 2024 was his favorite by default, adding how tight-knit the Mines community is. He appreciated how many clubs and opportunities there are
“where you can share your passion for engineering.”
Junior Clara Henckler-Davis, of Littleton, said 2024 was her favorite so far. She’s double-majoring in civil engineering and economics.
Becker graduated from Mines with an undergraduate degree in 2017 and a master’s in 2018 but said 2024 has been her favorite thus far. She’s enjoyed being back on campus as a faculty member, describing how it’s all the nostalgia but “without the pressures of being a student.”
Andrea Passman, a Class of 1998 graduate, picked 2024 for the unique sesquicentennial celebration.
SEE HELLUVA YEAR, P11
Colorado School of Mines students run in the Sept. 28 Homecoming 5K along Clear Creek. Thousands of Orediggers from near and far returned to campus Sept. 2628 to celebrate Homecoming Weekend and the university’s sesquicentennial.
COURTESY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
HELLUVA YEAR
“It’s wonderful seeing so many generations celebrate together,” she said. “I’m proud to be a part of it. … I hope to see the 200th anniversary celebration.”
‘A really special school’ Mines has been observing its 150th anniversary all calendar year with special events and revived traditions like the Engineer’s Hats. e centennial celebration in 1974 was “very di erent,” Matlock said. Students built Mineral City — a fake 1874-style mining town — on
the main quad, he recalled. Various fraternities, student groups and other Orediggers combined their e orts to build it, and even the governor stopped by to appreciate the atmosphere, he said.
While the centennial celebration was a “really nice event,” Matlock said Blaster’s Bash for the sesquicentennial drew a much bigger crowd.
e university has grown in recent years — both in terms of facilities and enrollment — so there are more Orediggers to return every time their alma mater invites them.
After all, being an Oredigger means being invested in school spirit and involved in events, HencklerDavis said.
Armitage and Mudd said they’ve appreciated all the opportunities to meet fellow alumni and hear how much the university has changed in living memory.
ey described how Mines’ graduating classes 50 years ago had a much lower ratio of female students, but they’re encouraged that women now make up roughly 30% of Mines’ student body.
Passman, who’s also a University of Denver alumna, commended Mines President Paul C. Johnson and his sta for all their work to expand and improve the university since Johnson became president in 2015.
“ is is the greatest institution Colorado has to o er,” she said.
Becker felt likewise, calling Mines
“the MIT of the West, but better.” She described seeing students wearing funny T-shirts where the jokes are math equations.
But more than that, she continued, there’s a special camaraderie among the Orediggers, because of the university’s emphasis on STEM and the challenging curriculum. It’s something students and alumni instantly understand, she said, summarizing it as: “I get it; I went to Mines.”
As the university’s sesquicentennial year draws to a close, the Orediggers hoped to see their “really special school,” as Becker described it, leave its mark around the
until the bicentennial in 2074 and beyond.
world
In front, mascots Marv the Miner and Blaster the Burro celebrate the Sept. 28 Homecoming football game with Colorado School of Mines fans. The game had record attendance, as thousands of Orediggers returned to campus to celebrate Homecoming Weekend amid the university’s 150th anniversary.
COURTESY OF COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES
Paige Becker, Mines alumna and faculty member
Opponents argue Amendment 80 opens door for public funds to private schools
Supporters say it’s about protecting school choice for future generations
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
At rst glance, Amendment 80 might seem like a simple a rmation of school choice that Colorado’s families have enjoyed for more than 30 years. e amendment, which appears on this year’s election ballot, seeks to enshrine open access to a broad array of education options in the state’s constitution. School choice is a part of the fabric of Colorado’s education system, and proponents argue that adding this right to the state constitution grants greater legal advantages than can be a orded through state law. Opponents don’t argue with protecting school choice but rather with how the measure de nes school choice to include public neighborhood and charter schools, private schools, home schools, open enrollment options and future innovations in education.
Groups like the Colorado Education Association, the Colorado PTA, the Christian Home Educators of Colorado, Colorado Democrats, Stand for Children and the ACLU Colorado worry that making private schools a constitutionally protected right would allow the government to direct public tax dollars to private
education.
“Disguised as a measure seeking to protect school choice in the state constitution, which Colorado families already have, 80 takes a permanent rst step towards creating a voucher system, which would use taxpayer dollars to bankroll elite private school tuition,” the Colorado Education Association said in a statement.
Advance Colorado, a conservative action committee that doesn’t disclose its donors, is behind the measure. e group’s policy analyst, Michael Tsogy, wrote in a recent report titled “Protecting Educational Freedom: Why School Choice Must
be Placed in the Colorado Constitution” that the amendment is necessary “due to a rising attack against the right to school choice for all.”
“In Colorado, which has one of the best school choice statutes in the nation, the next move is to preserve school choice for future generations by cementing it as a right in the Colorado Constitution,” writes Tsogy.
Proponents have downplayed the inclusion of private schools, saying the measure isn’t about diverting public school funding to a voucher system. However, Tsogy’s report mentions why parents send children to private schools and states that Colorado’s private school en-
rollment has risen since the pandemic.
“Colorado falls into the category of a state with public charter school laws but without a private school choice program,” Tsogy said. “ is means that Colorado allows multiple school choice options but does not fund private or home school options with state dollars.”
What Amendment 80 asks voters to approve
Here’s the exact language voters will see on their ballot:
Shall there be an amendment to the Colorado constitution establishing the right to school choice for children in kindergarten through 12th grade, and, in connection therewith, declaring that school choice includes neighborhood, charter, and private schools; home schooling; open enrollment options; and future innovations in education?
A “yes” vote creates a constitutional right to school choice that can’t be changed based on which party controls the state legislature or governor’s o ce.
A “no” vote keeps the current system of school choice in state law. e amendment needs 55% of the vote to pass. If voters approve the measure, student enrollment opportunities will remain the same. Parents will have the same options as before, but state lawmakers could change their policies around school choice, and courts could be asked to interpret local school district policies according to the ballot language.
Colorado families have benefited
than 30 years.
Huntington’s Disease Society of America’s Education Day
STAFF REPORT
e Rocky Mountain chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America will host the Denver area’s 2024 Education Day on Oct. 19 at the University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E. 19th Ave., in Aurora. e event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
is informational event represents a local opportunity for members of the local Colorado Huntington’s disease community to come together and learn with friends, family, neighbors and the community at large to raise awareness and funds to support the HDSA. All proceeds support HDSA’s mission to improve the lives of people a ected by Huntington’s disease and their families. To learn more about Huntington’s disease, visit www.hdsa.org. For details on the event, visit cumovement.org/annual-hd-day.
Thu 10/24
So� Tukker @ 6pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morri‐son
Chris Koza @ 6pm Goosetown Station, 514 9th St, Golden
Hamilton @ 7:30pm Buell Theatre, Denver
Fri 10/25
anamē @ 6pm
Apollo Suns @ 7pm
Wood Cellar, 1552 Bergen Pkwy #101, Evergreen
Sat 10/26
Sun 10/27
KIDZ BOP LIVE 2024 @ 1pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morri‐son
Rico Nasty @ 6:30pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Wed 10/30
Slow Joy @ 6pm The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver
Stoned Level: Shaq's Bass AllStars: Red Rocks @ 6pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Johnny & The Mongrels: Mongrels
Birthday Bash at Lot 46 Music Bar @ 8pm
Lot 46 Music Bar, 5302 W 25th Ave, Edge‐water
DJ Diesel: SHAQ's Bass All Stars: Red Rocks @ 6pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Habstrakt @ 6pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Benda @ 6pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison
Tue 10/29
The Dead & Down @ 7pm Rockabillies, 12363 W 64th Ave, Arvada
X-orcism @ 7pm / $36.04
Kulture Music Hall, Denver
Chief Hosa Lodge Final Walk‐through (~45 days before event) @ 1pm
Ashnikko w/ Rico Nasty @ 6:30pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison
Akon @ 6:30pm
Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison T-Pain @ 6:30pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison
The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America held its annual golf tournament recently. The chapter will host the 2024 Education Day for the Denver area on Oct. 19 at the University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus.
PHOTO BY SEAN CALAHAN
Space Port earns national classification
within its region.
e FAA airport classi cation system also determines an airport’s ability to receive grant funding.
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITIYMEDIA.COM
A new FAA classi cation for the Colorado Air and Space Port as a national airport will clear the way for future funding possibilities, ofcials said.
e Colorado Air and Space Port, located southeast of Denver International Airport between Watkins and Bennett, received its highest classi cation from the Federal Aviation Administration’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems, according to an Oct 3 news release. at classi cation is meant to position airports for funding to continue expansion. e FAA classi es airports as one of four types – Basic, Local, Regional and National. e Air and Space Port has been classied as a Regional airport since the FAA began using the system.
“Being recognized as a National airport is a game-changer for us,” said Je Kloska, director of Colorado Air and Space Port. “It’s a testament to the hard work of our team, the support of our community, and our vision to make CASP a hub for aviation and aerospace innovation. With this new status, we can continue to enhance our facilities and better serve our aviation partners.”
According to o cials, the airport’s FAA-designated classi cation system is the accomplishment of working and improving its infrastructure, which is vital in aviation
With the Colorado Air and Spaceport classi cation designation, the airport is positioned to receive FAA funding and vital grants for future development under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which assists the airport in expanding and remaining competitive.
“ is new designation as a National General Aviation Airport shows the pivotal role CASP plays in the aviation community – not only here in Adams County but also across the nation,” said Emma Pinter, Adams County Commission board chair. “ is recognition from the FAA opens doors for greater investment, growth, and job opportunities for the region. It’s also a testament to the incredible e ort and dedication the team at CASP invests each day to elevating our county and community.”
Colorado Air and Spaceport was formally Adams County Front Range Airport in Watkins, and it began its approved spaceport site operation license through the Federal Aviation Administration for a commercial space in August 2018.
It changed its name from Front Range Airport to Colorado Air and Spaceport, with plans to change the face of passenger travel in the United States.
e Colorado Air and Space Port in Adams County is a horizontal launch and reentry site for public and private travel into space. Ofcials say a spaceplane could one day y to 34,000 feet outside the earth’s atmosphere, spending up
to four to eight minutes at its highest point. As the Earth rotates, the space plane will y back down and could land in Paris or Europe in 90 minutes.
Colorado Air and Space Port is a dual airport designated as a General Aviation and a Reliever Airport with the FAA’s National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems (NPIAS).
In 2019, Shuji Ogawa, president and CEO of PD AeroSpace, a Japanese Space Tourism Company, signed a letter of intent to operate and test a space plane at Colorado Air and Spaceport in Watkins. He is developing a fully reusable horizontal suborbital spaceplane called Pegasus that can take o and land at any spaceport.
Reaction Engines, a United Kingdom company, is also working at a Colorado Air and Space Port facility to develop the Sabre engine, a hypersonic engine design. Once they develop the engine, they want to build an airframe and aircraft around it. It is an eventual hypersonic point-to-point travel into suborbital ight with the potential for low-earth orbit satellite delivery into orbit.
Visit coloradoairandspaceport. com for more information about Colorado Air and Space Port aviation and aerospace operations and economic development opportunities.
Colorado Air and Space Port received it’s new classification designation as a National General Aviation Airport. FILE PHOTO
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Plaintiff: Sylvia A. Vigil, an Individual; v. Defendants: Allen K. Vigil, an Individual; Donna K. Vigil aka Donna Ulibarri, an Individual; Claudia C. Olmedo, an Individual; Claude S. Vigil aka Claude S. Vigil III, an Individual; and Irene Torres, an Individual
Attorneys for Plaintiff, Sylvia A. Vigil Sandra M. Sigler, #44522
Kayla R. Nelson, #46242
Sigler & Nelson LLC
390 Union Blvd., Ste. 580 Lakewood, CO 80228
Phone: (303) 444-3025
Fax: (866) 421-2093
E-mail: Sandra@SiglerLawCO.com
E-mail: Kayla@SiglerLawCO.com
Case Number: 2024CV32621
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANT: ALLEN K. VIGIL
You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the complaint [petition] filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after the service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the complaint [petition] may be obtained from the clerk of the court.
If you fail to file your answer or other response to the complaint [petition] in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the complaint without further notice.
This is an action for partition concerning the real property situated in the City and County of Denver, State of Colorado, and legally described as:
ALL THAT PARCEL OF LAND IN DEN-
VER COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO, AS DESCRIBED IN DEED BOOK 2696, PAGE 534, ID# 0506106018000, BEING KNOWN AND DESIGNATED AS:
LOT 37-38, BLOCK 2, WEST COLFAX.
MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS 1453 QUITMAN ST, DENVER, CO 80204.
BY FEE SIMPLE DEED FROM SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AS SET FORTH IN BOOK 2696 PAGE 534 DATED 04/14/1982 AND RECORDED 11/22/1982, DENVER COUNTY RECORDS, STATE OF COLORADO.
also known and numbered as: 1453 Quitman St., Denver, Colorado 80204.
Dated: October 3, 2024
Sandra M. Sigler, #44522
Attorney for Plaintiff
Legal Notice No. DHD 3301
First Publication: October 17, 2024
Last Publication: November 14, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Storage Liens/Vehicle Titles
Public Notice
Broncos Towing, 303-722-3555 (office) will be applying for title to the following vehicles, abandoned.
1) 2003 Ford f350 white D32595
2) 2002 Camp trailer brown 017636
3) 2003 Dodge pickup white 659744
Legal Notice No. DHD 3294
First Publication: October 3, 2024
Last Publication: October 24, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch Notice to Creditors
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of MATTHEW RICHARD GINN, aka MATTHEW R. GINN, aka MATTHEW GINN, aka MATT R. GINN, aka MATT GINN, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31043
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 February 3, 2025, or the claims
may be forever barred.
Jason R. Ginn: Personal Representative 8868 Yates Drive Westminster, CO 80031
Legal Notice No. DHD 3292
First Publication: October 3, 2024
Last Publication: October 17, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Jeanette Roybal, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31074
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 February 17, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Lilly Kathryn Roybal Personal Representative 14904 Maxwell Place Denver, CO 80239
Legal Notice No. DHD 3302
First Publication: October 17, 2024
Last Publication: October 31, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of GLEN WILLIAMS, also known as GLEN WILLIAMS, SR. Deceased Case Number: 2024 PR 31068
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 February 17, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Dazha L. S. Williams, Personal Representative 5136 Crystal Street Denver, CO 80239
Legal Notice No. DHD 3304
First Publication: October 17, 2024
Last Publication: October 31, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of JAMES EDWIN DEALY, a/k/a JAMES E. DEALY,
a/k/a JAMES DEALY, Deceased Case Number 2024PR31049
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 February 3, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Mary Jane Dealy, Personal Representative 3612 S. Narcissus Way Denver, CO 80237
Legal Notice No. DHD 3293
First Publication: October 3, 2024
Last Publication: October 17, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of MARIE L. EHMCKE, a/k/a MARIE L. BECK, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31117
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 February 3, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
/s/ Robert S. Sutton
Attorney to the Personal Representative 4143 Denver West Pkwy., Suite 100 Golden, CO 80401
Legal Notice No. DHD 3296
First Publication: October 3, 2024
Last Publication: October 17, 2024 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of
Margaret Elizabeth Ejsmont-Perlin, a/k/a Margaret Elizabeth Perlin, a/k/a Margaret E. Ejsmont-Perlin, a/k/a Margaret E. Perlin, Deceased Case Number 2024PR31042
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 February 12, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Tatyana Mignon, Personal Representative c/o Nancy R. Crow
Public Notices
Hutchins & Associates LLC
1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver, CO 80202
Legal Notice No. DHD 3297
First Publication: October 10, 2024
Last Publication: October 24, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of Charles E. Fritts, aka Chuck Fritts, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR30920
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 February 10, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kelly Fritts, Co-Personal Representative 2958 Syracuse Street, Unit #114 Denver, CO 80238
Legal Notice No. DHD 3299
First Publication: October 10, 2024
Last Publication: October 24, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of: Jason T. Guerrero, a/k/a Jason Theodore Guerrero a/k/a Jason Guerrero, Deceased Case Number: 2024PR31063
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 February 17, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
/s/ Jerome A. DeHerrera
Jerome A. DeHerrera, Esq. Attorney to the Personal Representative ACHIEVE LAW GROUP, LLC 146 W. 11th Avenue Denver, CO 80204
Legal Notice No. DHD 3303
First Publication: October 17, 2024
Last Publication: October 31, 2024
Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of JANET LEAR SUE, AKA JANET SUE, AKA JANET L. SUE AKA J. SUE, AKA J.L. SUE AKA J. LEAR SUE, AKA JANET LEAR
AKA JANET SUE LEAR, AKA JANET S. LEAR, Deceased Case Number: 24PR486
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 February 10, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kellie Adam CS Advocare, Inc., Personal Representative 7500 E Arapahoe Rd, Ste. #101 Centennial CO 80112
