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October 14, 2021
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 126 | ISSUE 35
Gabriel Foundation is for the birds, in a good way Parrot rescue thrives in the heart of Elbert County BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Have you ever wondered what those large, netted enclosures are at the corner of Elbert County Roads 13 and 158? If you look closely, you will see large, vibrantly colored parrots, living joyful lives within the grounds of The Gabriel Foundation. According to its website, The Gabriel Foundation is a “parrot welfare organization providing for the complete physical, psychological, and environmental well-being of the parrots in our care.” The foundation was founded in 1995 by lifelong parrot lover and avian consultant Julie Weiss Murad. The foundation was first based in Aspen, but moved to the rolling hills of Elizabeth in 2005. Currently, the property houses roughly 400 SEE PARROTS, P12
Increase in patients, staffing shortages a growing problem BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
ferent way. “To ask people to go through some of the things that I had to go through just to get a GI Bill, I don’t think that’s fair,” Smith said. “We were in bad situations and we needed to do something to get out of those situations.” But beginning in 2023, millions of Americans may for the first time
As the number of patients continues to increase, Children’s Hospital Colorado has announced a cutback in services at locations across the metro area due to staffing shortages. While the south campus in Highlands Ranch will remain open with all services, services at other facilities such as Wheat Ridge and Parker were reduced or closed. Sarah Davis, Children’s Hospital media relations specialist, said hospitals specializing in treating children across the U.S. are struggling for a variety of reasons. Due to the continued challenges, the news release provided by Davis said Children’s Hospital will be consolidating services wherever possible to continue providing efficient and effective healthcare. As of Sept. 23, Children’s Hospital made the following changes: • Temporary suspension of afterhours virtual urgent care services. • Temporary closure of the urgent care services at Children’s Colorado’s Wheat Ridge and uptown locations. • Temporary suspension of Children’s Colorado’s services at Parker Adventist Hospital, resulting in a temporary closure of this location. The Parker Adventist
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Though the parrots have smaller individual or paired enclosures, many are given PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON ample time in larger, group enclosures for enrichment.
Free community college proposal excites students, educators Legislation faces obstacles, but brings hope for accessible education BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After graduating from high school, Jake Smith didn’t think he’d
Children’s Hospital reduces services in some locations
make it in college. He struggled academically and he didn’t have the money to afford more education until he joined the Army. For nine years Smith served as an active member, seeing military subsidies as his only path to affording tuition. At the age of 28, Smith finally enrolled at Arapahoe Community College (ACC) and used the GI Bill to cover the cost. But he wished there could have been a dif-
INSIDE: CALENDAR: PAGE 9 | VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14
A LONG WALK AHEAD
Denver’s 5280 Trail may take a decade to complete P14