Elizabeth High School recently broke ground on its new auto shop and classroom building at the north side of campus. Elizabeth School District leadership, school board directors, Principal Bret McClendon and all Elizabeth High School students and sta were present to celebrate the May 4 groundbreaking.
BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Local residents and town leaders met at 188 S. Main St. in Elizabeth on May 6 to celebrate the placement of the 1907 First National Bank
building on the National Register of Historic Places.
e building was o cially placed on the National Register on March 10, but was presented with its plaque at the event.
e event was hosted by the Town of Elizabeth Historic Advisory Board. John Quest, the group’s chair, and Aimee Woodall, the vice chair, spoke to the crowd, speaking in detail about the history and architecture of the building as well as its importance to the Town of
Elizabeth.
“ is is an event that is hopefully one of many for the Town of Elizabeth,” said Quest. “It is the rst time we’ve ever had an award like this.”
Eric Newcombe, national and state register historian at History Colorado, also spoke of the importance of the building’s placement on both the Colorado and national registers.
“Being listed on the National Register of Historic Places is a unique
“ is new space will open up so many more possibilities for our students to perform di erent operations. We’ll be able to work on cars while they’re in the air. We can do more disassembly and reassembly,” said Derek Spohn, teacher for the automotive program. “We can work on di erent labs even in bad weather. It is a better environment for the students and their learning. It’s a duplication of what the real world is.”
According to a press release from April 27, Elizabeth High School’s new auto program began this school year with nearly 150 students in Auto I and Consumer
BY JESSE PAUL AND ELLIOTT WENZLER THE COLORADO SUN
Colorado voters will decide in November whether to approve a 10-year plan to rein in skyrocketing property taxes, as well as whether the state should distribute about $2 billion in Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds checks next year in equal amounts rather than linking their size to people’s income level, with more money being sent to higher earners.
e questions were placed on the November ballot on May 8 by Democrats in the Colorado legislature as the General Assembly wrapped up its 120-day lawmaking term. e legislature worked until about 10 p.m., just before its 11:59 p.m. deadline, to complete its work, when the Capitol carriage turns back into a pumpkin. e last few hours of the session were chaotic, with Republicans walking out of the House chamber in protest, Democrats in the House lambasting each other and the Senate limiting debate to stop a GOP libuster.
e property tax plan, pushed for by Gov. Jared Polis, will appear on the ballot as Proposition HH and would work by tamping down the e ect of rising residential and commercial property values on the tax burden for homeowners and businesses.
Here’s how it would work for residential property:
• e residential assessment rate would be reduced to 6.7% from 6.765% in 2023, for taxes owed in 2024, and to 6.7% from 6.976% for taxes owed in 2025. e 6.7% rate would remain unchanged through the 2032 tax year, for taxes owed in 2033.
• In addition to the assessment rate cuts, residential property owners would get to exempt the rst $50,000 of their home’s value from taxation for the 2023 tax year, a $10,000 increase made through an amendment adopted Monday. Residential property owners would then get to exempt $40,000 of their homes’ values from taxation for the 2024 tax year. e
break would persist until the 2032 tax year, except for people’s second or subsequent single-family homes, like rental or vacation properties, which would stop being subject to that bene t in the 2025 tax year.
Here’s how it work for commercial property:
• For commercial properties, the assessment rate would be reduced to 27.85% through 2026, down from 29%. e state would be required to evaluate economic conditions to determine if the rate reduction should continue. If the rate reductions persist, the commercial assessment rate would be reduced to 27.65% in 2027, 26.9% in 2029 and 25.9% starting in 2031.
• For agricultural properties and properties used for renewable energy, the assessment rate would be reduced to 26.4% from 29% through the 2032 tax year. For properties that fall under both classi cations, such as those used for agrivoltaics, the rate would be cut to 21.9%.
Property taxes in Colorado are calculated by multiplying the statewide assessment rate by the value of a property — sometimes referred to as a market value — as determined by a county assessor. at number is then multiplied by the local mill levy rate.
(A mill is a $1 payment on every $1,000 of assessed value. So in order to gure out what your tax bill is you should multiply your mill levy rate by 0.001 and then multiply that number by the product of multiplying your property’s value by the statewide assessment rate. at’s how much you owe.)
So, someone who owns a home valued at $600,000 and assessed at a 6.765% statewide residential assessment rate in a place where the mill levy rate is 75 would owe $3,044.25 in taxes each year. e formula to get to that number looks like this: $600,000 x 0.06765 x (75 x 0.001) = $3,044.25.
e proposal would also prevent many local taxing districts from collecting an increase in property taxes above the rate of in ation, though school districts would be exempt and local governments could override the cap after giving notice to property owners.
Utah has a similar system, and that’s what the provision in the Colorado proposal is modeled after.
To account for the cuts, the legislature is planning to spend $200 million to repay local governments, including schools, for the revenue they would have collected. Additionally, the plan calls for using about $250 million of the $2.7 billion Colorado is projected to collect in the current scal year, which ends June 30, above Taxpayer’s Bill or Rights cap on government growth and spending, to further account for local districts’ revenue reduction.
Additionally, voters would be asked in November to increase the TABOR cap, which is calculated by annual
growth in population and in ation, by an extra 1%. (Any money collected over the cap has to be refunded.) e change would reduce the amount of money available for refunds in years in which the cap is exceeded.
Finally, Proposition HH would set aside about $20 million each year to go toward a state renter relief program — a late addition to the measure aimed at acknowledging the proposal mostly bene ts property owners.
Proposition HH was placed on the ballot through the passage of Senate Bill 303, which was introduced a week ago. It passed the House on Monday by a 39-7 vote with 19 absent.
All 19 Republicans in the chamber were marked absent after they walked out of the chamber in protest as the vote was being taken and after Democrats shut down debate on the measure. Republicans are in a super minority in the House, so Democrats still had a quorum in their absence.
“Our citizens are really smart,” said Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock. “ ey understand that this proposal, this bill is a grand e ort to get rid of TABOR and their TABOR refunds.”
Rep. Mike Weissman, an Aurora Democrat and a lead sponsor of Senate Bill 303, said Colorado voters would ultimately decide whether they like the proposal.
“We don’t make the nal call,” he said. “ e voters do.”
When the bill moved to the Senate for nal approval, Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, libustered the measure for an hour before the Democratic majority cut her o at about 9:15 p.m. by voting to limit debate.
e measure passed on a 23-12, party-line vote and now awaits the governor’s signature after Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, RMonument, asked the governor to call a special session to take another stab at property tax relief in a way that doesn’t a ect TABOR refunds.
Separately, the legislature Monday passed House Bill 1311, which would distribute more than $2 billion in TABOR refunds next year to Coloradans through at-rate checks of roughly $650 or $1,300, depending on whether someone is a single or joint tax ler.
e change would mean the lowest income Coloradans receive nearly $200 more than they were projected to get under the default system, while the state’s highest earners would get hundreds — if not more than 1,500 — dollars less.
e measure was introduced on Saturday — the last possible day it could have been introduced in order to have the three calendar days needed to pass. It cleared the Senate on Monday on a 23-12 vote and was sent to Polis to be signed into law.
Join RidgeGate and South Suburban Parks and Recreation for free community yoga classes on the grass at the south end of Belvedere Park, at the corner of RidgeGate Circle and Belvedere Lane. Please bring your own mat, water bottle and towel to all classes. In case of heavy rain or lightning, class will be cancelled.
Tuesday, May 30th, 6:30-7:30pm
Tuesday, June 27th, 6:30-7:30pm
Guided Nature Hikes
Each year, RidgeGate teams up with the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District to provide free, guided nature hikes. These hikes are led by professional naturalists from the district, and offer insight and education into the natural ecosystems within the open space at RidgeGate. Registration is required and available at RidgeGate.com
Sunday, May 21st, 8-9:30am – Nature Bingo
Saturday, June 3rd, 7:30-9pm – Strawberry Moon
Friday, June 16th, 6:30-8pm – Birds at Sunset
Monday, June 19th, 6-7:30pm – Juneteenth Commemorative Evening Walk
Summer Beats Concerts
Enjoy these summertime concerts out on the grass with free live music, food trucks and activities for kids. It’s all happening in Prairie Sky Park, just west of the Lone Tree Recreation Center, courtesy of the South Suburban Parks and Recreation District.
Thursday, June 15th, 6-8pm – Ryan Chrys & the Rough Cuts
Tunes on the Terrace at the Lone Tree Arts Center
RidgeGate is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Lone Tree Arts Center’s ‘Tunes on the Terrace’—an outdoor evening concert series that will bring your summer nights to life. Check out the full schedule and buy tickets at LoneTreeArtsCenter.org
Friday, June 23rd, 8pm – Six One Five Collective
The restoration of the 38-acre historic Schweiger Ranch, led by the Schweiger Ranch Foundation, gives us a glimpse into settlers’ lives. Today, the ranch is open to the public for self-guided visits and a variety of events throughout the year. Register for or learn more about these events online at SchweigerRanch.org
Saturday, May 20th, 9-11am – Natural Heritage Walking Tours with SSPRD (Spring Wildflowers)
Saturday, June 17th, 10-11am – Guided Public Tour
Saturday, June 17th, 7:30-9am – Natural Heritage Walking Tours with SSPRD (Birds of Schweiger Ranch)
Saturday, June 17th, 6-8pm – Campfire Storytelling Series (The McDaileys)
honor for any building, but particularly here in Colorado where we have only about 1,500 buildings that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places,” said Newcombe. “ e First National Bank of Elizabeth is signi cant for its history associated with the commerce of the town as well as its incredible architecture and I’m proud to be here to celebrate with you all to o cially mark and designate this place in the National Register of Historic Places.”
e 1907 First National Bank building is currently owned by Janet and John Taylor. ey purchased the building in 1977. Since the purchase, the building has been used as a shoe repair shop, woodworking shop, art studio, antique store and attorney’s o ce. At the event, Mayor Pro Tem Linda Secrist presented the Taylors with a plaque from the Town of Elizabeth for their dedication to the preservation of their property.
“ is is pretty exciting. We just love the building. It just has so much charm,” commented Janet Taylor. “I started the work to get it on the national register myself but I thought it was too much work. I’m very happy that all these nice people got it done. We knew that it was possible to be put on the national register for about 10 years and got serious about it probably ve years ago.”
Getting on the National Register of Historic Places
e National Register of Historic Places is a federal program under the umbrella of the National Parks Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior. It recognizes public and private buildings and places at the national, state, and local levels.
Once a building is determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register, it is evaluated at the state and national levels under four di erent criteria:
1. Signi cant events
2. Historic people
3. Architecture
4. Whether or not the site or structure may yield some sort of important prehistoric or historic information that is yet unknown.
e 1907 First National Bank building quali ed under two criteria: events, for the commercial development of the Town of Elizabeth, and for architecture.
“It is the second building in Elbert County to be placed on the national register,” commented Vice Chair Woodall. “ at is pretty signi cant for our little town.”
e other Elbert County building on the national register is St. Mark United Presbyterian Church in the town of Elbert, on the register since 1980.
Unique architecture
e 1907 First National Bank
RidgeGate calendar of fun starts here.
building is an excellent example of Renaissance Revival style. e signi cant architectural features are the rounded arches on the portico, the protective horizontal element (cornice) at the top of the building, the decorative brackets supporting the cornice, the decorative date block above and below the cornice, and the raised parapet (low protective wall at the edge of the roof).
e building is also signi cant because it is one of few in Elizabeth that is built with masonry. e bank being built with hardy masonry represented its stability for the development of the Town of Elizabeth in the early 20th century.
“ e bank is an iconic example of commercial buildings from the early 20th century,” commented Wooddall. “You can see the silhouette of this building on all of the Elizabeth Main Street ags and signage to welcome people to the commercial district of Elizabeth.”
e original bank vault of the 1907 First National Bank building is still existing, as well as many of the original windows. Because there is no indoor plumbing, there is also a historic outhouse located behind the building. e outhouse was considered signi cant to the structure when submitting the application for the National Register of Historic Places.
“I joined the Historic Advisory Board about a year ago. My day job is as an architect, and I specialize in historic preservation,” said Woodall. “When I learned that Mr. and Mrs. Taylor wanted to pursue the national register application for the building, my hand shot up to volunteer. It is just such a special project. I am very honored to have been involved in this.”
e Town of Elizabeth dates back to the end of the 19th century and was established along Running Creek as an agricultural development with some sawmilling due to its proximity to many ponderosa pines. At the turn of the century, the railroad was introduced to Elizabeth. At this point, the town began to develop and become a signi cant hub in eastern Colorado.
Turn-of-the-century Elizabeth had a thriving train depot, two hotels, saloons, ice cream parlors, mercantile buildings and two banks. e active 1907 First National Bank helped support the growth and the local businesses at the time.
Brief timeline of the 1907 First National Bank building
1906 — Lot 6, Block 1 (location of the 1907 First National Bank building) was purchased for $300.
1907 — First National Bank was constructed.
1909 — Farmers State Bank and First National Bank of Elizabeth were
consolidated and bought interest in Kiowa State Bank.
1914 — e building sold for $3,500.
1930 — e First National Bank experienced institutional failure as a result of the Great Depression.
1940 — e building was owned by American Legion, Post 82. At the time, the space was also used to store medical and hospital supplies and to host Scout meetings. It was later used as Cameron’s Corner Christian book and gift shop as well as a recording studio.
1977 — John and Janet Taylor purchased the building. It was used as a shoe repair shop, woodworking shop, art studio, antique store and attorney’s o ce. e Taylors remain the owners of the building to this day.
2003 — e building was placed on the Town of Elizabeth Historic Register.
2007 — e Town of Elizabeth celebrated the 100-year anniversary of the building.
2023 — e 1907 First National Bank building was placed on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties and the National Register of Historic Places.
Upcoming history-related events with the Town of Elizabeth
1. Historic Preservation Public Meeting
Presentation of design guidelines and creation of a historic district
Monday, June 12, 6-7 p.m., Town Hall Board Room, 151 S. Banner St.
2. 2023 Historic Walk and Talk
Saturday, Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m., 165 Main Street.
For more information about the Town of Elizabeth Historic Advisory Board and its Historic Preservation Program, visit townofelizabeth.org/ cd/page/historic-preservationprogram.
To learn more about the National Register of Historic Places, visit nps. gov/subjects/nationalregister/index. htm.
For more information on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, including the criteria to be placed on the list, visit historycolorado.org/colorado-stateregister-historic-properties.
Gather your friends or neighbors and adopt a road for littler pickup. Douglas County’s road adoption process is now online and easier than ever. For details, visit douglas.co.us and search for Adopt a Road.
Energetic, friendly volunteers age 16 and older are needed during the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo from July 28-Aug. 6. Serve your community, celebrate your County’s history and have fun all at the same time. Visit douglascountyfairandrodeo.com and click on the Get Involved tab, to learn more and sign up.
More than 11,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age, mammoths roamed Douglas County. Learn all about it by taking a free tour of the world-renowned Lamb Spring Archaeological Preserve. Limited dates are available. Reserve your spot now at lambspring.org/free-tours
It only takes one spark to change your life forever – make sure you are ready for wildfire season. Learn about steps you can take today to reduce the risk to your family and property by visiting douglas.co.us and searching Protect Your Home. And sign up for free emergency notifications at DouglasCountyCodered.com to ensure you are aware if a wildfire or other emergency is happening near you.
Roads are a necessity and they have to be maintained. Here’s where you’ll find everything you need to know about them all. Visit DouglasRoadWork.com to find out what’s going on in your neighborhood.
Douglas County offices will be closed Monday, May 29, 2023. Many services are available at DoItOnlineDouglas.com
e measure only goes into e ect, however, if Proposition HH passes.
If Proposition HH fails, the money will be distributed through the default six-tier sales tax mechanism, adopted by a Republican legislature in 1999. e six-tier system refunds TABOR excess to Coloradans depending on which of six income tiers they fall into, with higher earners getting larger refunds and lower earners receiving less.
Republicans, who are in the Capitol minority, fought Senate Bill 303 and House Bill 1311 and complained that they didn’t have enough time to vet the legislation because of how late in the lawmaking term the measures were introduced.
However, the GOP was unable to stop or force big changes to either measure because of their large political disadvantage in the House and Senate.
e 2024 legislative session begins in early January 2024.
is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.
e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
Parker’s residents will nd a new way to get into the pickleball craze as a Chicken N’ Pickle anticipates opening a location in town as part of an expansion into Colorado. In other news, road improvements, including lane expansions, are on tap.
e Town Council unanimously approved a tax and fee assistance program agreement for Chicken N’ Pickle. e entertainment out t meets all of the criteria, including being public bene t, according to the council.
Chicken N’ Pickle was established in 2016 in Kansas. Since then, the restaurant has expanded to Texas, Arizona and Nevada. e restaurant includes a sports bar, yard games and pickleball courts.
e proposed project consists of a 10,000-square-foot restaurant, a 4,000-square-foot rooftop patio and 17,000 square feet of pickleball courts. e project is estimated to cost $22 million.
Goss annual sales for the rst year is estimated to be $12 million, according to city documents, and $14 million a year by the end of the fth year.
“We are seeking a sales tax rebate for ve years, for Chicken N’ Pickle,”
said Weldy Feazell, department of economic development. “ at would be 50% of the general fund’s sales tax.
e 2.5% at a maximum amount of $660,000.”
Chicken N’ Pickle would give the town 100% of their remitted sales tax and the town would rebate the restaurant the $660,000 over ve years on a quarterly basis, said Feazell.
In addition, the business projects it will employ up to 200 people with an annual payroll of about $2.7 million.
A site plan has not yet been submitted, however. e company has entered into a Letter of Intent with Life Church to purchase a portion of their property located on Parkerhouse Road as well as a parking agreement.
In other news, the council unanimously approved an ordinance to improve roads.
Following Engineering and Public Works Bob Exstrom’s presentation, the council approved a right-of-way purchase and sale agreement with TMV Retail II Owners Association and the town for a portion of road known as Stage Run in what’s dubbed the Dransfeldt Road Widening Project. e project will widen the road from four lanes to ve, including the addition of one new turning lane for southbound tra c as well as reconstruct sidewalks and curb ramps on Dransfeldt Road between
Pony Express Drive and Mainstreet.
“Anybody that drives that section of road knows we have incredible stacking at all times of the day, there needs to be a relief somehow and someway and I think this is an excellent way to handle that,” said Councilemember Joshua Rivero.
Nearly 378 square feet of additional right-of-way is needed to accommodate new sidewalks and curb ramps. In addition, about 1,917 square feet of temporary construction easement is needed to restore portions of the Stage Run Road interrupted by the construction.
e purchase price of the property is estimated at $6,110, funding has been appropriated for this project in the 2023 Urban Renewal Projects Fund.
Of ve contract bids, the council awarded a trade contract agreement with 53 Corp. for Hilltop Road/Canterberry Parkway Area Improvements in the amount of $989,915. Funding has been appropriated in the Highway and Streets Capital Projects fund. Town engineering sta identi ed an accident trend involving rear end accidents on Hilltop Road near Legend High School, said Tom Gill, project manager for the town. Construction is is expected to begin May 30 and last through most of the summer.
We’re very proud of this fun-loving, inquisitive, gregarious and talented group of graduates. Many of them have been at BFA since preschool, but they happily welcomed wonderful new students along the way. During their time at BFA, they explored new interests, began life-long friendships and grew into responsible, determined and intelligent young adults.
Graduates - We know your positivity will inspire others and help you excel as you transition into high school. We wish you the very best!
Raegan Baker
Reid Baugh
Cole Bobbin
Cormac Boche
Brogan Borchert
Anna Brawley
Baryn Bretch
Hailey Burt
Christopher Castor
Laurel Clouse
Benjamin Coffey
Maverick Cregier
Emily DeRoche
Aubree Drees
Benjamin Easter
Cecilia Elsmore
Jack Erickson
Kiara Estes
Niandra Fernando
Jennifer Fischer
Kate Fletemeyer
Kennedy Fletemeyer
Ryley Gereaux
Luna Gonzales Capulin
Ariana Graves
Addison Grund
Aiden Grund
Bergen Hayes
Hailey Hinrichsen
Alyssa Hoff
Maia Hurd
Kayden James
Tate Jones
Blase Jones
Jasper Jovanovich
Kuyden Kim
Leah Kimberly
Emrey King
Chloe Knudsen
Luke Koeniger
Ethan Kraft
Jennifer Kranz
Adam Kritz
Xavier Lidstone
Madeline Lisle
Braxton Macias
Aspen Mahana
Violet Matthews
William McGeary
Phoebe Mullen
Trevor Mullenix
Camden Neumann
Lana Nisbet
Rocco Opfer
Ryder Opfer
Maja Poczwardowska
Matthew Prusse
Molly Pyne
Eva Rehnberg
Quinn Ritchie
Reagan Roberts
Cash Rubenzer
Dahliana Ruth
Lily Salberg
Sydney Sayers
Elijah Schuldt
Anna Sevinsky
Cai Shoemaker
Sophia Simonis
Lily Smith
Penn Smith
Collin Sobczak
Dimitri Spano
Kyra Spykerman
Lillian Steel
Aaron Stevenson
Jack Tenney
Sophia Tenney
Julia Todd
Brianna Tompkins
Anna Turner
Isaac Van Deman
Adam Velasco
Braden Vogt
Mason Walter
Brielle White
Aidyn Wilemon
Automotive classes taught by Spohn. Spohn also initiated an extracurricular club for mechanically minded students, launched EHS’ rst-ever car show, and brought numerous representatives from technical schools to campus to help students explore options for their future.
“I’m going to try my best to provide
them.”
Also according to the press release, the auto program is an outgrowth of the Homegrown Talent Initiative, a rural grant program which lasted from 2019-2021 and brought doz-
Grant from the Colorado Department of Education. at grant provided $467,500 for the new automotive building.
“Along with our CNA (certi ed nursing assistant) program, this
Dallas. “I’m a rm believer that high di erent than it ever has for juniors ing in seats and in classrooms 100% of the time, we’re going to see a large move toward internships and direct workforce opportunities where kids
will leave school already with years of service in the profession they want to go into, and the automotive program is just one example of that.”
e Rural Coaction grant also will enable Elizabeth School District to partner with Elbert School District and Kiowa School District to make unique programs available to students in all three districts. Elbert and Kiowa students will be able to take auto classes at the new Elizabeth
shop. Rural Coaction funds are also being used to bolster woodworking classes at Elbert that will be available to Elizabeth and Kiowa students. Construction classes at Kiowa, likewise, will be available to Elbert and Elizabeth students. Several classes geared to other career elds will be made available in this “expanded campus” concept in coming years.
“Now due to the funding that we’ve been able to receive through the state through the Coaction grant, we’re able to actually provide a very meaningful facility to grow that program further,” commented Dallas. “We see
not only interest in auto, we see Auto II, we see diesel mechanic opportunities. We also see welding growth. is facility would not have been possible without the Coaction grant.”
e ceremony concluded with Spohn and the student leadership of the Elizabeth High School Skills USA Club ceremoniously digging up the dirt from the ground upon which the future auto shop will sit. Construction will begin soon by Elizabethbased Prism Builds. e company is owned by Scott Stillman, an EHS Class of 1982 alumnus.
“ is is beyond what I dreamed. When the initial plans were made
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Local stormwater agencies are teaming together to bring you this message. We take this so seriously that we posted this ad rather than send you more garbage in the mail.
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for the start of this project, people speculated that we may get a new auto shop in three to ve years. To have it happen in the rst year is astounding,” said Spohn. “ ere are too many people to thank. is is all thanks to the people of the community, the school district, the teachers, and even people from other schools. And it is all the students who have done the work and signed up for the classes. ey have carried themselves in a way that represents the culture of the program that we’re building.”
To learn more about the Homegrown Talent Initiative, visit homegrowntalentco.org.
BY CAITLYN KIM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
Republican Congressman Ken Buck was on the House oor when his Democratic colleague Ted Lieu approached him with an idea: would he be interested in a bill to ensure that arti cial intelligence could not launch nuclear weapons?
“We’ve all seen the sci- movies where arti cial intelligence takes over and ghts wars,” Buck said. For him, it makes sense to have a human, and “probably more than one, to make these decisions.”
Buck and Lieu are sponsors of the Autonomous Arti cial Intelligence Act along with Democratic Rep. Don Beyer. It’s a bill to ensure a human being would always be in charge of nuclear targeting and any potential launch.
“ e bill is important to make sure there are no accidents in the use of nuclear weapons and that there are humans that are making responsible decisions,” Buck said. He and Lieu have worked together before, having entered Congress together in the same class and both serving as their respective party’s freshman class president.
In a statement, Lieu called it forward-thinking legislation. “While we all try to grapple with the pace at which AI is accelerating, the future of AI and its role in society remains unclear. It is our job as Members of Congress to have responsible foresight when it comes to protecting future generations from potentially devastating consequences.” ey’re joined in this push by Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey, who introduced the bill in the Senate.
Fri 5/26
Featured
DIRTY AUDIO
@ 3pm
Denver Polo Club, 6359 Airport Rd, Sedalia
Featured
Chicken Wire Empire
@ 6pm
McAwesome Ranch, 3039 Haystack Rd, Castle Rock
Featured
Dive Bards @ 6pm
Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood
Grayson Little Music: Burley Brewing Company Birthday party! @ 7pm
BURLY Brewing Company, 680 Atchison Way #800, Castle Rock
Phat Daddy @ 7pm
Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Littleton
Featured Featured
Featured
Mon 5/29
Modern Swing Mondays @ 5pm / $10
Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora
Tue 5/30
Summer Jazz 2023 @ 4:30pm / $385
May 30th - Jul 13th
Castle View High School, 5254 N Mead‐ows Drive, Castle Rock. 520-392-6226
Castle Rock Band Free Memorial Weekend Concert
May 27 in Festival Park @ 1pm
Festival Park, 300 2nd Street, Cas‐tle Rock. ericastull@gmail.com, 303-840-2762
Featured
Mark Masters Comedy: Castle Rock Comedy Show - Carmen Lagala - with Mark Masters @ 6pm Lost Coffee, 390 Perry St, Castle Rock
Wed 5/31
Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10
Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora
Thu 6/01
Featured
Eric Golden @ 7:30pm
Studio@Mainstreet, 19604 Main‐street, Parker
Sat 5/27
Chatham Rabbits: McAwesome Festival 2023 @ 6pm
McAwesome Ranch, 3039 Haystack Rd, Castle Rock
Top Flite Empire @ 7pm
Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood
Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts @ 7pm
Brothers Bar & Grill, 7407 Park Meadows Dr, Lone Tree
David Lawrence & the Spoonful: Breckenridge
Brewery- Summer Concert @ 3pm
Breckenridge Brewery, 2920 Brewery Ln, Littleton
Sun 5/28
Featured
Freedom 4 Miler @ 7am / $30-$50
Jun 1st - Jul 8th
Charles Schwab Campus, 9899 Schwab Way, Lone Tree
Featured
The Erwin Family: Cherry Hills Community Church @ 8am
Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch
Jake Johannsen: Comedy Works South June 1-3 @ 6pm
Comedy Works South, 5345 Land‐mark Pl, Greenwood Village
Boss Eagle: Sofar Sounds @ 7pm Private Event, Aurora
During a recent vacation, I was able to meet and talk with several people who are from the Denver area. What I found interesting is what they told me their plans for the future hold.
You see, they did not talk about a love for Colorado or Denver in terms of living day-to-day.
ey love the parks, trails, mountains and wildlife. However, they are not happy with the direction this state is headed.
One family is changing. A couple is getting married. She has a daughter, and he has a young teenage daughter. e upcoming family of four will not be staying in Denver as their new life begins. Instead, they they cannot a ord to come together and live here.
He is a teacher. He said the salaries for teachers in Colorado are some of the worst in the nation. at means he is looking elsewhere.
e couple, once married, will be moving to Texas where teachers are paid a lot better.
Let that sink in. Texas, which makes the news regularly for politics in schools and other controversies, is about to gain a lovely family to improve their economy and communities.
Besides not being able to make it work on a professional level — the couple also said they cannot a ord to nd a home to come together as a new family. Costs are too high. Property taxes are high because of valuations — believe me, I have read mine. at means Texas will get a new-home purchasing family.
To stress, this is a family that contributes to our economy, attends our schools and has a truly positive impact on our local communities. is is a
family we are about to lose.
Given current living conditions — they cannot stay here.
Moving on to another gentleman that I had a lovely conversation with while waiting for a boat to leave for deep-sea shing: He talked about working in the Denver metro area and along the Front Range, and said his wife, in law enforcement, works in another state.
He said given the current nature of politics in not just Colorado, but all over the U.S., he and his wife will likely be living in another country in the next few years.
Again, a well-established couple who works hard and contributes positively to our country — does not want to be here anymore.
Look at our own legislature in Colorado. With the 2023 session ending on May 8, the day this column was written, the Democratic majority waited until the very last minute to even consider addressing the property tax issue. Let’s face it — it was not exactly a secret. So – focusing on left-leaning priorities and ghting with the Republicans the majority of the session did nothing to help local families want to stay here. In fact, in my neighborhood I’ve had plenty of discussions with moms who say when school is out — so are they.
Good families are leaving our state for another state. Young couples are saying they do not even want to be in our country anymore.
While these are quiet conversations I have had on a trip or in picking my kids up from school — the sentiments are loud and I am willing to bet a lot of families and residents are getting fed up. And, as they move away, so will the sensible voters lawmakers might need in the next big election.
LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com
MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com
Do you have people that you get to see often, maybe daily, weekly, or monthly, and whenever you do have the opportunity to meet with them, they always seem joyful bringing light and love to the atmosphere? Some of us are truly blessed to have a few of these bright and cheerful people in our lives, making us feel better whenever we are together.
Some of the folks who bring me such great joy whenever we meet, speak, or even text seem to know exactly when to reach out as there are times I am facing a challenge, a tight deadline, or just trying to keep up with the pace of the race. eir intuition is uncanny, as they either just show up, call,
LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com
ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com
or send me a really funny text message, bringing some much-needed light and love to my day, or even in the moment.
As I have traveled quite a bit in my career, one of my favorite pastimes is people watching. Is that something you enjoy as well? And I love it when perfect strangers become the light and the love for me. Watching a group of people or a family laughing out loud as they share jokes and stories. I was watching this one family as I waited to board my ight and they were traveling with their grandfather. I couldn’t hear what was said, but they all started laughing hysterically, and the grandfather was laughing so hard with huge belly laughs and tears streaming down his face, I started laughing just watching him laugh so hard and I didn’t even know what I was laughing about.
When it comes to people watching, I
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There is a lot of news about the U.S. dollar (USD) and how sustainable it is as the world currency in the future. While I don’t expect a major shift away from the dollar during my lifetime, we do see currencies and their use gradually changing over time.
• Currently the USD represents 58 percent of the world’s central bank reserves. is is down from 75 percent in 2000. is reserve currency is a magnet for foreign investment in the United States, according to William Greiner, CFA .
• Some of the reasons for the renewed interest in world currencies is due to Russia, China and India talking with Brazil and South America about creating a new currency to challenge the USD. ey want to trade directly with each other in their own currencies.
Let’s take a look at the current facts, according to JP Morgan.
• China’s currency the Renminbi (RMB) was the fth most traded cur-
have several other scenarios that always bring a smile to my face and warm my heart; watching parents being really attentive to their children instead of being buried in their phone, couples holding hands as they sit or walk together, strangers stepping up to help another traveler should they have dropped something or needed help in some other way, my fellow travelers greeting each other, the airline sta and ight crew with the courtesy they deserve, and so many other acts of being the light, love and kindness in this world.
Being on the receiving end of someone showing up for me as the light and love in my life feels so awesome. It doesn’t matter if it’s a family member, friend, co-worker, or perfect stranger, all that matters is that I am open to seeing it, hearing it, or experiencing it, and allowing that light and love to move inside of me. Receiving the light and love is one thing, but do we recognize our obligation to be the light and love for others, even when we don’t know that we are actually doing it? ink of the last time you were out to dinner with your spouse or friend, and you were having such a great time eating, drinking and sharing stories. You were probably smiling, laughing and having such
rency in the world last year.
• e U.S. share of global trade is about twelve percent, and the U.S. share of global GDP is about 25 percent. Yet the dollar’s share of foreign exchange, trade, debt, and exchange reserve is much higher, which is why the dollar is known as the world’s reserve currency.
• About 35 percent of all Treasury bonds are owned by foreign investors.
• e dollar’s role in foreign exchange markets has been mostly unchanged over the last 20 years or more. In 2022, the dollar accounted for about 89 percent of all foreign exchange transactions. e dollar’s dominance in international nance is clear with the dollar used in about half of all trade invoicing—much higher than the twelve percent share in global trade.
• e dollar is still the dominant currency of choice for investment of foreign exchange reserves at about 60 percent.
• Some central banks are diversifying holdings away from the dollar and the euro, but only 25 percent of the shift is explained by increased allocations to the Chinese RMB. Much of this was driven by Russia which holds one third of all RMB reserves.
a good time that you didn’t realize the impact you were having on others who probably wished they were sitting with you. ere could have been a di erent couple in that same pub or restaurant going through a di cult time, and just because your positive light, love and energy were so contagious, pretty soon they too forgot their woes and began a new and loving conversation.
Is it our responsibility to be the light and love for others? Maybe it depends on who we ask. My answer is yes, because I believe we are called to be both light and love in this world. e world can seem very dark right now, but just remember that there is no such thing as darkness, there is only an absence of light. So let’s bring it.
Do you enjoy being around people who make you happier just by being in their presence? Does your heart come alive when you see or experience moments of love and light happening around you? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we can enjoy the light and love of others and be the light and love for those who need it, 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.
• U.S. sanctions remain on many countries, most notably the freezing of Russian assets after the Ukraine invasion.
• Commodities such as oil are priced and traded in dollars worldwide.
• More foreign currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar than any other currency including China’s. China is also our largest trading partner with foreign trades pegged to the dollar.
Investment Strategist Brett Lapierre, CFA states, “I see some weakness in the USD over the next few years as it is fundamentally overvalued. is, combined with stronger economic growth outside of the U.S., higher interest rates and trade de cit, could all put pressure on the USD. A recession could mean the
dollar bounces in the short term in a ight to quality trade but over time, I expect the dollar to weaken.”
Given these facts, the U.S. dollar is alive and well and remains the stronghold currency worldwide. is could change over time as we see improved economic growth in other countries, and as we incorporate more foreign trade.
In our opinion, it is important to make sure your investment portfolio is diversi ed based on your risk tolerance to include investments that can potentially bene t from these economic conditions.
Patricia Kummer has been a Certied Financial Planner professional and a duciary for over 35 years and is managing director for Mariner Wealth Advisors.
Pools around the metro area are gearing up to open for the summer. at is, if there are enough lifeguards.
e years-long trend where pools have cut hours or closed altogether appears to be waning, though it’s still a possibility in some places, according to aquatics managers across the Denver area, who are more optimistic than in past years, but still concerned as summer nears.
For instance, South Suburban Parks and Recreation needs 250 lifeguards for its peak summer season but has only 183 ready to go.
Karl Brehm, the recreation dis-
trict’s aquatics manager, hopes to get closer to the goal as summer approaches but wonders why applications are so slow to roll in.
“I have seen, more and more, less interest in the position,” Brehm said.
He’s been in the business for a long time. Brehm worked at Elitch Gardens for ve seasons and the Highlands Ranch Community Association for 16 years. He said he’s seen a general lack of interest, generationally, from young people who want to do the job. Fewer people are becoming CPR certi ed as well, he added.
“I’ve often wondered why we were having those issues,” Brehm said. “Back in the day, I remember if you didn’t have
your job by spring break, you weren’t getting a summer job.” e problem could a ect South Suburban pools across the district, which serves more than 150,000 residents in Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Littleton, Sheridan, Lone Tree and parts of Centennial and Douglas, Je erson and Arapahoe counties.
If he can’t hire enough lifeguards, hours at pools could be cut, Brehm said. It’s not for a lack of trying, though. e district has introduced incentives, bonuses, pay bumps and more in hopes of luring in more lifeguards.
South Suburban isn’t alone. ere’s a national lifeguard shortage, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. Lifeguard shortages a ected roughly a third of public pools throughout
the country.
In response last year, Gov. Jared Polis announced a “Pools Special Initiative 2022,” in which Colorado introduced incentives. Chief among them was a $1,000 payment to those who completed lifeguard training to ght pool postponements and decreasing operating hours.
Now, out of necessity, hiring lifeguards is ongoing throughout the entire summer season, Brehm said. Lifeguards for South Suburban make between $15 and $19.14 per hour, per South Suburban’s website. A head lifeguard makes $15.75 - $19.93 per hour.
But there are additional costs to South Suburban. ough life-
guards are generally seen as rst-time, fun summer jobs, they must possess crucial knowledge regarding saving human lives. A full-course lifeguard training at South Suburban through Red Cross costs $175. Community First Aid, CPR and AED training/ blended learning costs $80. After 75 hours of work, South Suburban reimburses course fees, excluding the $40 certi cation fee.
Despite such incentives, lifeguards still make less than sports o cials at South Suburban. A youth sports o cial starts at $20.00 per hour.
North of Denver, in Federal Heights, the Hyland Hills Parks and Recreation, a youth baseball/softball umpire makes $65 per 90 minutes. A Pilates instructor for Brighton makes $1 more than a lifeguard per hour. e discrepancy is notable, especially considering most lifeguards work on a part-time basis.
Yet, the lifeguard numbers are booming for Hyland Hills. Generally, the district employs roughly 300 lifeguards per season. is season, it’s closer to 375, according to Director of Communications Joann Cortez.
e main focus in hiring and retaining their lifeguards at Hyland Hills pools and the massive Water World water park is legacy, Cortez said. Water World is in its 43rd operating season.
“We’ve been in the water park business for over 40 years, and we’re very aware of the nationwide shortage of lifeguards,” she said. “I think what has helped us is we have a legacy pool of candidates. Kids often know Water World just from coming for the experience, and if one of their older siblings takes a job with us, eventually the ones that are following can’t wait for their turn. We’re just very, very fortunate in that way.”
Cortez said Hyland Hills is committed to creating a memorable rst-job experience. It should be fun, but also taken seriously. It’s a constant balance of managing a “fun job” and literally monitoring people’s lives daily. Recruiting is big, and so are the incentives. e employees get free soft drinks, free membership, and even fun events like “prom night” during the season.
Hyland Hills has an end-of-season bonus as well, with the ability to earn an additional dollar per hour’s pay. e lifeguards’ pay ranges depending on the position, such as a guard lifeguard, a shallow-water lifeguard and a deep-water lifeguard.
On the Water World website, lifeguards are hired at $16.15 per hour. A “lifeguard attendant” makes $16.00 per hour. Returning lifeguards make slightly more depending on experience. Cortez said the main factor in keeping employees is how they treat them.
“We’re in a very favorable position, but we’re sad there aren’t enough lifeguards to go around,” Cortez said.
Meanwhile, local pools and recreation centers around the Denver area have conducted pointed campaigns to ensure their numbers are sustainable and their pools are ready for the masses.
While it remains to be seen if that strategy will work for South Suruban, it seems to be working elsewhere. Recreation centers in the City of Brighton, for example, are fully sta ed ahead of the summer. ey were last year, too.
“It’s been tough at di erent agencies, municipalities, and neighborhood pools. ere was de nitely a lifeguard shortage the last several years, especially
last year,” said Je rey Hulett, assistant director of recreation services for Brighton. “But we were fully sta ed last year.”
ere have been a number of initiatives and incentives they’ve introduced to get ahead of the lifeguard shortage crisis, he said. It was a top-tobottom e ort in Brighton to make sure the crisis was minimized. Pay was a main focus. It wasn’t too long ago they were paying lifeguards just $13 per hour, he said. Now, it’s up to $17. And it goes up each season for returnees. Head lifeguards make roughly $1.50 more per hour.
Recreation bene ts were expanded to the sta and their families, even part-time employees. at includes complimentary membership to the recreation center and discounts on youth programs.
ere’s also an end-of-season bonus for those that work the entire summer.
e grants from the governor’s o ce gave Brighton exibility to expand e orts in hiring and retaining employees. According to Aquatics Supervisor Nicole Chapman, it can be di cult to retain lifeguards for pools and centers too big or too small. Brighton, fortunately, was right in a “sweet spot.”
“Some of the much larger municipalities are running into an issue where, physically, the sta we hire are local kids who want to work at their local pool,” Chapman explained. “And if they get hired on by a larger municipality, the expectation is to expect your sta to be willing to work at any of your city rec facilities, and that’s just not feasible for a lot of
Brighton only has two locations — the Brighton Recreation Center and Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park — and Chapman said, and there are options for those living on either side of the city. But it’s still a small enough area that employees can work at both locations.
Perhaps back in the day, they could wait for the applications, and they’d have more than they knew what to do with come pool season. Now, that’s simply not the case. Recruiting is essential, both in the high schools and at job fairs, as well as providing a ordable training opportunities and classes in-house — something Hulett said they’d never do before.
Brighton had 88 lifeguards in 2022, which is considered fully sta ed. ey currently have 70 lifeguards for the upcoming summer, but Chapman said she expects those numbers to ll out to 88 again considering guards in training are set to graduate from classes by the end of the month.
Meanwhile, back in South Suburban, Brehm is looking for dozens more lifeguards to fully sta pools this summer.
High school students and student athletes are encouraged to apply. ey can learn valuable skills and essential life-saving procedures they’ll carry with them forever, Brehm said. Plus, it’s an ideal time for student athletes to make money, considering many sports are inactive over the summer.
As the pandemic continues to dwindle, the lifeguard participation numbers are expected to make a leap. But the job itself, and those working it, must be valued consistently to hire and retain those numbers season after season.
younger kids that don’t have their own transportation. ey’re really there looking for a summer job around the corner.”
“We really look for not just kids, but really anyone who is going to take the job seriously and understand just how much of a vital role they play every summer in keeping the community safe,” Chapman said. “We really try to emphasize that with our sta , and there are always sta members that really take that to heart, and those are the ones we want to see come back.”
Finding a balance between making sure lifeguards understand the seriousness of the role and not taking all the fun out of the job is a ne line to walk, she said. But they have to walk it every season.
The Museum of Outdoor Arts will present an evening of dance with David Taylor’s Zikr Dance Ensemble on June 8 at 8 p.m. at Marjorie Park, 6331 Fiddler’s Green Circle, Greenwood Village. e program features excerpts from Zikr’s spring program, “Mysteries, Rites and Revelations” and acompanying premiere, “Mobile.”
Choreographed in 1969 by Tomm Ruud, “Mobile” is a ballet for three dancers who move in parallelograms to the music of Adam Khachaturian’s Adagio from the “Gayne Suite.” e program will also feature excerpts from “Portals,” from Zikr’s Spring Season. Tickets: $30, moaonline.org, 303-806-0444.
Concours d’Elegance
Concours d’Elegance and exotic sports car show will be on June 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Arapahoe Community College west lawn, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive in Littleton. Tickets: $10, adults, under 12, free. See coloradoconcours.org.
Castle Rock Band
e Castle Rock Band will perform at 2 p.m. on May 27 at Festival Park in Castle Rock. Free. Presented by the band and American Legion Post #1187. Starts the Summer Outdoor Concert Season.
Cherry Creek Theatre
Cherry Creek eatre Company presents “Headliners” by Je rey Neuman, directed by Nick Sugar, through May 21 in the Pluss eatre
at the Mizel Arts and Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver. Musical direction by David Nehls. 303-800-6578, cherrycreektheatre. org.
Tunes on the Terrace
Lone Tree Arts Center Tunes on the Terrace: June 23, 8 p.m. — Six One Five Collective; July 7, 7 p.m. — e Hot Lunch Band.; July 21, 8 p.m. — Pink Martini (limited avail-
ability); Aug. 4 — FACE Vocal Band. See lonetreeartscenter.org.
Summer reading
Dog Days of Summer reading program at Douglas County Libraries. See dcl.org.
Fireworks at brewery
Tickets on Sale: Stars and Stripes Forever at Breckenridge Brewery, Littleton on July 3 at 8 p.m. Arapahoe
Philharmonic. $40, $34, $20, $13, 12 and under. simpletix.com/e/starsand-stripes-forever-tickets-105945.
Fire muster
Annual Fire Muster Parade is on Father’s Day Weekend, Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Main Street, Littleton, followed by the muster at Arapahoe Community College, 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive. milehighhookandladder.org/ muster-info.
Town Hall season
Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton, season schedule: “All Shook Up” about Elvis, Sept. 22Oct. 15; “ e Last Session” by Steve Schalchlin, Jim Brochu, John Bettis, Marie Cain, about Gideon, a Gospel singer, Dec. 1-31; “Matilda,” based on Roald Dahl’s book, Jan. 26-Feb. 25: “Urinetown, e Musical,” March 22-April 14; “Raisin,” a new musical based on the play “Raisin in the Sun,” April 24-May 5: “Red,” a play by John Logan about Mark Rothko, May 24-June 23, “ e Prom,” a musical about small town politicians, May 23-June 23.
Support ballet
Ballet lovers may want to join the Denver Ballet Guild, a support organization which awards grants to area dance troupes. denverballetguiuld. org.
Nature camps
South Suburban Parks and Recreation District o ers Nature Camps this summer: Animal Senses Camp; Fly Like a Bird Camp; Mini Beekeeper’s Camp; Mini Mountaineers Camp; Outdoor Explorers Camp; Primitive Survival Camp; Trailblazers camp; Water Wonders Camp, Woods Medicine Camp and more. See ssprd.org.
Colorado naturalist/zoologist Mary Taylor Young has just published her latest book, “Bluebird Seasons: Witnessing Climate Change in My Piece of the Wild,” which is a beautifully written call to readers to please pay attention to the environmental changes occurring just outside our front doors — or in the nearby surroundings ...
I have relied on this writer’s “Guide to Colorado Birds” for many years, as the “go-to” way to gure out what I’m seeing in that tree or on that rock over there — as well as her helpful discussions about where/when one might see a Western bluebird and/or how to distinguish it from a mountain bluebird!.
She also has published a really ne book about Rocky Mountain National Park’s 100th anniversary and 20 other titles.
“Bluebird Seasons” tells about the piece of land she and her husband, Rick, bought in southern Colorado — and the numerous living creatures and plants that shared it with the Youngs over the years. Rick contributed a group of lovely illustrations and their young daughter Olivia is a frequent companion as they explore their special “piece of the wild.”
A naturalist keeps a journal as well as lists of sightings, is trained to observe the layers of life that happen in a meadow or wooded area and has a gift for taking a reader with her as she walks, looks and listens
— during most waking hours. What do those birds eat? How soon are the babies ready to head out on their own? “Get a job, son,” Young imagines an adult bird messaging after delivering a green, juicy grasshopper to his edgling, which almost immediately is giving the “feed me” signal again. Gentle humor often ts into her observations as she records the day’s happenings.
She had planned to base this book on a nature journal they had kept since buying the land near Trinidad in 1995 in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo range in the southern Rocky Mountains. “Our experiences keeping a trail of bluebird nest boxes would be the centerpiece, a way to reveal the joys and spiritual renewal we found in nature from intimately watching one piece of land over many seasons and many years.
“Over time though, my sweet and simple story grew more serious ...”
She continues in her opening comments: “ is book is the story of past bluebird seasons. e tale of future seasons waits to be written.
e thing about seasons is that their ultimate dynamic is change — birth, growth, death and renewal. ere are a variety of possible endings to the story, di erent paths we as a global village can choose to take. We can keep the seasons turning past loss to renewal.
“In that lies our hope.”
And that gets us to page 12! e reader will clearly want to explore both the journaling about all that occurs on this lovely bit of land and the great variety of wildlife.
“Over the last 25 years, Rick and I began to ask each other: `When did we last see a ( ll in the blank?)’” at feeling was strengthened when they sighted a pair of Western tanagers busy in the big pines down by the
cabin site and built it with help from friends.) One evening, the Youngs were out for a walk, with Rick carrying a 2-year-old Olivia, when they heard a sound that was new ... a series of short whistles, “round and airy like the notes of a ut e...” e next night, they go out again ...
“I think I know now who calls,” Mary writes. “If only I’m right! We humans may be largely blind in the dark, but this night piper is not and certainly knows we are here. Slowly, setting each foot gently, we step closer. We pause, but there is no rush of wings, no sudden departure of bird from pinon.
“We ick on our ashlights, move
the beams slowly to scan the pinon. Perched on a horizontal branch is a wonderful sight — a collection of gures perhaps seven inches tall, each about the size and shape of a small sack of our. e disk of feathers around each face gives their heads an oversized outline and above their large eyes a smear of white gleams in the light. Saw-whet owl edglings, about to launch out on the hunt!” Like a set of sextuplets on their rst day of preschool. Taylor observes. Can’t help but smile happily at the sketch below this account.
A really appealing new book for this armchair birder.
A charming drawing lls the bottom third of the page. Delightful moment!
BY MATT BLOOM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO
Make sure to pack your credit or debit card along with your hiking boots if you’re visiting Rocky Mountain National Park this summer. e park will stop accepting cash payments for entrance and permit fees starting June 1.
e change will allow one of the country’s busiest national parks to cut back on time rangers spend handling cash at crowded entry gates, according to a release from the National Park Service. It will also help streamline fee management behind the scenes.
You can still purchase a number of entry passes at one of the park’s main gates with cards or mobile payment options. But, if you want to speed up your entry, NPS o cials recommend buying one online before your visit along with a separate timed-entry permit, which is required from May 26 through Oct. 22. Visitors can still buy park entrance passes with cash at a few locations outside of the park, according to NPS. ey include the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Nature Store at Beaver Meadows and the Fall River or Kawuneeche Visitor Centers.
Here’s what to know before heading to the park:
What type of passes are available?
e NPS o ers over a dozen di erent types of passes to get into Rocky. One-day vehicle passes cost $30 and cover non-commercial vehicles with less than 16 passengers. You can also buy one-day passes for entry by bike or foot. Seven-day passes are also an option.
If you’re planning to visit multiple national parks this year, you can buy an annual pass that covers admission to all parks in the system for $80. You can buy those online or
in-person.
Seniors, veterans and students can also get special passes for free or reduced rates.
What about camping?
e NPS says it’s also going completely cashless for payments and fees associated with campgrounds inside of Rocky starting June 1.
Overnight visitors must make reservations online ahead of time for most campsites. Timed-entry permits are included with all camping reservations.
Are stores inside the park also going cashless?
e cashless switch only applies to entry and permit fees, according to the NPS.
Rocky has a small, conveniencelike store and a co ee shop, which will both still accept cash.
How do I get a timed-entry permit?
Rocky is implementing another iteration of its timed-entry program this summer to help manage crowds, which means you’ll need to snag a free permit prior to your visit. A timed-entry permit is required for everyone entering the park between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. between late May and October.
ere are two di erent types of timed-entry permits.
A regular Park Access permit gets you access to most areas of the park outside of the popular Bear Lake Road Corridor.
A Park Access+ entry permit includes access to Bear Lake Road, as well as other areas of Rocky.
Are other Colorado national parks going cashless?
Yes, Mesa Verde National Park and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument will go cashless this summer, according to the NPS.
Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site in southeast Colorado will also go cashless.
is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.
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Markey said currently only the thinnest protections are in place and the bill is about making those safeguards more robust and “that we have a new set of standards which we establish, new protocols, in order to protect against the worst.”
Buck has focused on technology in recent years. “What we have to make sure is we learn from the failure of government to oversee the development of Big Tech where you had two or three giants that were really accumulating huge amounts of wealth and at the same time, sti ing innovation, we have to make sure that there’s competition in the AI marketplace so that the players are competing for the best outcomes.”
He’s optimistic that the bill could pass the House with strong bipartisan support.
AI is having a moment in Congress — a number of bills have been introduced to deal with this growing technology.
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet is leading a bill, Assuring Safe, Secure, Ethical and Stable Systems for AI (ASSESS AI), that would set up a task force to look at the responsible use of AI by the federal government.
“As the deployment of AI accelerates, the federal government should lead by example to ensure it uses the technolo-
gy responsibly,” Bennet said in a statement. “Americans deserve con dence that our government’s use of AI won’t violate their rights or undermine their privacy.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is also looking at a broad, exible policy framework for AI to build guardrails when it comes to the use of the technology, while House Speaker Kevin McCarthy had professors from MIT come to the Capitol to brief lawmakers.
On the other end of Pennsylvania Ave, the White House held a closed door meeting with CEOs of companies working on AI innovation, such as Alphabet’s Google and Microsoft, “to share concerns about the risk associated with AI” according to a readout of the meeting.
e White House also announced steps it was taking to deal with the issue, including $140 million for seven new National AI Research Institutes, as well as plans to issue “clear policy guidance” on how AI is used by the federal government.
Still, Buck said what the country needs is a clear law, at least when it comes to AI and nuclear weapons.
“Some future administration could change a policy. ey can’t change a law without coming to Congress. So that’s why we really focused on making sure that this was a law,” he said. is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.
Garage
Red Hawk Golf Course
Community Wide Garage Sale
40+ Homes
Friday & Saturday, May 19 & May 20 from 8am-3pm Castle Rock, Wolfenserger Road @ Red Hawk Drive Maps will be available at all participating homes.
Firewood
Split & Delivered $450 a cord Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173
Miscellaneous
Caring for an aging loved one? Wondering about options like seniorliving communities and in-home care? Caring.com’s Family Advisors help take the guesswork out of senior care for your family. Free, noobligation consult: 1-855-759-1407
Scrap Metal, Batteries, Appliances, Wiring, Scrap Plumbing/Heating, Cars/Parts, Clean out
Garages/Yards, Rake, Yard work done w/chainsaw, Certified Auto Mechanical / Body Work & paint available Also can do inside or outside cleaning 303-647-2475 / 720-323-2173
Are you a pet owner? Do you want to get up to 100% back on vet bills? Physicians Mutual Insurance Company has pet coverage that can help! Call 1-844-774-0206 to get a free quote or visit insurebarkmeow. com/ads
MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system. Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure! 1-888489-3936
Switch & save up to $250/yr on talk, text & data. No contract or hidden fees. Unlimited talk & text with flexible data plans. Premium nationwide coverage. 100% U.S. based service. Call 1-855-903-3048
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Registered Occupational Therapist/COTA
Full-Time and part-time Registered Occupational Therapist/COTA for 2023-24 School Year
OTR must have, or be eligible for appropriate Colorado licensure. Provide Pre-12 intervention, assessment, direct & indirect services just east of Denver on I-70, Bennett, Strasburg Byers & Kiowa areas. COTA Needed for Limon & Surrounding Areas. Support from an experienced COTA is available for OT.
Full Time Salary range: MA $50,450 - $56,050 PhD $55,700 -$61,300. Part-Time Salary prorated based on the number of days employed.
COTA Salary range BA $41,222$46,600. Excellent Benefits. Access to a company vehicle or mileage reimbursement. May be eligible for a loan forgiveness program! Flexible scheduling with the opportunity to complete some work at home. To apply for this position, please visit our website ecboces.org and click on the “Jobs” page, click on the job you are interested in & then click on the grey button “Apply Online”, located at the bottom of the job listing. EOE Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101 or email tracyg@ ecboces.org
Speech Language Aide and/or
Occupational Therapy Aides
East Central BOCES is seeking a Speech Language Aide and/or Occupational Therapy Aides for the 2023-24 School Year!
Duties include picking up students from class, monitoring students during virtual instruction, and returning them to class. Training will be provided. The salary range is $15 - $18 per hour, depending on experience. 32 hours per week.
Mileage reimbursed for travel between schools. Location of schools TBA. Questions, please contact Tracy at 719-775-2342 ext. 101 or tracyg@ecboces.org. To apply for this position, please visit our website ecboces.org and click on the “Jobs” page, click on the job you are interested in & then click on the grey button “Apply Online”, located at the bottom of the job listing. EOE
Full/Part-Time opening located in Bennett and surrounding schools and; Full/Part-Time opening in the Limon and surrounding schools. Starting August 7th and ending November 10th. The salary range $13,530 to $16,302 for 62 days of work dependent on experience. Itinerant position working in the preschool setting providing direct and indirect services to students.
CDE Licensed ECSE preferred but may accept CDE substitute license. Mileage is reimbursed between schools. Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101 or email tracyg@ecboces.org
To apply for this position, please visit our website ecboces.org and click on the “Jobs” page, click on the job you are interested in & then click on the grey button “Apply Online”, located at the bottom of the job listing. EOE
CLASSIFIED AD SALES 303-566-4100
classifieds@coloradocommunitymedia.com
SERVICE DIRECTORY ADS
Contact Erin, 303-566-4074 eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com
DEADLINES
CLASSIFIED LINE ADS: MONDAY, 11 A.M.
SERVICE DIRECTORY: THURSDAY, 5 P.M.
LEGALS: THURSDAY, 3 P.M.
BY REBECCA TAUBER DENVERITE
Even if you’ve never had to sprint through Denver International Airport (DIA) desperately trying to make a ight, you’ve likely seen a poor fellow traveler panting and sweating to make it to their gate before boarding closed.
But recently running enthusiasts have turned the airport hustle into something that’s for more than just the late traveler. Runners using an app called Strava that tracks workouts and ranks users running the same routes have been trying their luck with a route called “Gate change gnar” that runs through DIA’s Terminal B.
More than 130 people have competed in the informal airport race. e current record is 19 seconds. One runner commented in the app that his family set up nish line tape made out of toilet paper. e current leader wrote that he completed the run to make it to McDonalds before it closed.
Daniel Belk recently ran the seg-
ment before a ight to promote his Denver-based running club, cooldown.
He recorded himself sprinting through Terminal B, in a video that quickly went viral on Instagram and TikTok.
“I think people honestly thought that I was going to miss my ight,” Belk said of the looks he got at the airport.
After running Division 1 in college, Belk started cooldown with a friend to grow community among young people in Denver. ey started with a casual jog followed by drinks with around 15 people last September, meeting on Tuesdays at 6 pm.. e group grew through word of mouth and Instagram, and now has around 300 people coming out for runs. A cooldown group has started in New York, and Belk plans to host pop-ups across the country.
“I think there’s a decent amount of demand for community, especially post-college,” Belk said. “It’s just kind of a fun passion project for us because we like galvanizing people, bringing people together, starting
community. We both loved running and walking and seeing people come that feel comfortable at all paces, all ability levels, come out and just have a good time is really fun.”
While most segments on Strava cover popular routes through parks and along trails, Belk plans to continue promoting cooldown through stranger segments that make Denver unique. He’s run through Red Rocks Amphitheater and around both Union Station and Empower Field. Belk cautions people attempting
to break records at the airport to only go when the terminal is less crowded to avoid the risk of running into people. And while he is trying to top Strava’s leaderboard for unique routes across the city, Belk welcomes a challenge.
“I don’t care if people beat me or not,” he said. “It’s just a fun thing. If there’s people that go out and beat me, that’s great.” is story is via Denverite, a Colorado Community Media content partner.
Metropolitan Districts
Public Notice
NOTICE OF VACANCY
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly, to the electors of the Elkhorn Ranch Metropolitan District No. 1, Elbert County, Colorado (the “District”).
NOTICE IS GIVEN that a vacancy has occurred on the Board of Directors of the District (the “Board”). One director may be appointed by the Board to serve until the next regular election of the District in May of 2025.
Any eligible elector of the District may submit a letter of interest to the offices of the District’s legal counsel, Law Office of Michael E. Davis, LLC, 1151 Eagle Drive, Suite 366, Loveland, CO 80537.
Letters of interest meeting the requirements of § 32-1-808, C.R.S., must be returned within ten (10) days of the publication of this Notice, which date is May 28, 2023.
ELKHORN RANCH METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1
By: /s/ LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL E. DAVIS, LLC
Legal Notice No. 24996
First Publication: May 18, 2023
Last Publication: May 18, 2023
Publisher: Elbert County News
Notice
APPLICATIONS IN WATER DIV. 1 Pursuant to C.R.S. 37-92-302, you are notified that the following is a resume of all water right applications, and certain amendments filed in the Office of the Water Clerk during the month of APRIL 2023 for each County affected.
2023CW3045 JAYE and MARY KUCHMAN, and RANDY and MICHELLE BENEDICT, 36200 County Road 1, Elizabeth, CO, 80107. James J. Petrock, Eric K. Trout, Hayes Poznanovic Korver LLC, 700 17th Street, Suite 1800, Denver, CO, 80202. APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENT OF AN AUGMENTATION PLAN IN THE NOTNONTRIBUTARY UPPER DAWSON AQUIFER IN ELBERT COUNTY. Subject Property: 20.330 acres generally located in the NW1/4 SW1/4, Section 34, Township 7 South, Range 65 West of the 6th P.M., Lot 4, Robinson Subdivision, also known as 36200 County Road 1, Elizabeth, Elbert County, State of Colorado, as shown on Exhibit A
(“Subject Property”). Applicants are the sole owners of the Subject Property, therefore notice to any mortgage and lien holders was not required under C.R.S. 37-92-302(2)(b). Well Permits: There is one existing augmented Upper Dawson Aquifer well on the Subject Property operating under Well Permit No. 85958-F. Well Permit No. 85958-F will be re-permitted under the revised augmentation plan applied for herein. Additional, well permits will be applied for prior to construction of wells.
Source of Water Rights: The Upper Dawson Aquifer is not-nontributary as defined in C.R.S. § 37-90-103(10.7), and the Lower Dawson, Denver, Arapahoe, and Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers are nontributary as defined in C.R.S. § 37-90-103(10.5).
Previously Decreed Amounts: Applicants own the following annual amounts of groundwater as decreed in Case No. 2016CW3054, District Court, Water Division 1, on September 21, 2016 (the “16CW3054 Decree”). The volumes below are based on a 300-year withdrawal period:
Decreed Uses: The water will be used, reused, and successively used for domestic, commercial, irrigation, livestock watering, fire protection, and augmentation purposes, including storage, both on and off the Subject Property. Jurisdiction: The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of this application pursuant to C.R.S. §§ 37-90137(6), 37-92-203(1), 37-92-302(2). Summary of Revised Plan for Augmentation: The revised plan for augmentation outlined below is intended to completely replace the plan for augmentation in the 16CW3054 Decree. Groundwater to be Augmented: 1.6 acre-feet per year for 300 years of not-nontributary Upper Dawson Aquifer groundwater. Water Rights to be Used for Augmentation: Return flows from the use of not-nontributary and nontributary groundwater and direct discharge of nontributary groundwater. Statement of Plan for Augmentation: The Upper Dawson Aquifer groundwater will be used through up to two (2) wells, on the Subject Property. Each well will provide use for one (1) single-family home per well (0.3 acre-feet per year per well, 0.6 acre-feet per year total), irrigation of home lawn, garden, and trees of up to 8,000 square-feet per well (0.4 acre-feet per year per well, 0.8 acre-feet per year total), and stock watering for up to 8 domestic animals per well (0.1 acre-feet per year per well, 0.2 acre-feet total). Applicants reserve the right to amend the amount and uses without amending the application or republishing the same. Sewage treatment for in-house use will be provided by non-evaporative septic systems. Return flow from in-house use will be approximately 90% of that use. During pumping Applicants will replace actual depletions pursuant to C.R.S. § 37-90137(9)(c.5). Depletions occur to the Cherry Creek stream system and return flows accrue to that creek system and are sufficient to replace actual depletions while the subject groundwater is being pumped. Applicants will reserve an equal amount of nontributary groundwater underlying the Subject
Property to meet post-pumping augmentation requirements. Applicants request the Court approve the above amended augmentation plan, find that Applicants have complied with C.R.S. §37-90-137(4) and water is legally available for withdrawal, find there will be no material injury to the owners of or persons entitled to use water under any vested water right or decreed conditional water right, and grant such other and further relief as is appropriate. 4 Pages.
THE WATER RIGHTS CLAIMED BY THESE APPLICATIONS MAY AFFECT IN PRIORITY ANY WATER RIGHTS CLAIMED OR HERETOFORE ADJUDICATED WITHIN THIS DIVISION AND OWNERS OF AFFECTED RIGHTS MUST APPEAR TO OBJECT WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY STATUTE OR BE FOREVER BARRED.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that any party who wishes to oppose an application, or an amended application, may file with the Water Clerk, P. O. Box 2038, Greeley, CO 80632, a verified Statement of Opposition, setting forth facts as to why the application should not be granted, or why it should be granted only in part or on certain conditions. Such Statement of Opposition must be filed by the last day of JUNE 2023 (forms available on www.courts. state.co.us or in the Clerk’s office), and must be filed as an Original and include $192.00 filing fee.
A copy of each Statement of Opposition must also be served upon the Applicant or Applicant’s Attorney and an affidavit or certificate of such service of mailing shall be filed with the Water Clerk.
Legal Notice No. ECN1101
First Publication: May 18, 2023
Last Publication: May 18, 2023
Publisher: Elbert County News
Personal Representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before September 11, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.
Marco D. Chayet Jennifer R. Oviatt Special Administrator 18th Judicial District Public Administrator’s Office P.O. Box 460749, Denver, CO 80246 (303) 355-8520
Legal Notice No. ECN1100
First Publication: May 11, 2023 Last Publication: May 25, 2023
Publisher: Elbert County News
Public Notice
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Barbara Sue Miller; a/ka Barbara S. Miller; a/k/a Barbara Miller; a/k/a Barb Miller; a/k/a Barbara Sue DeHerrera; a/k/a Barbara S. DeHerrera; a/k/a Barbara DeHerrera; a/k/a Barb DeHerrera; a/k/a Barbara Sue Landry; a/k/a Barbara S. Landry; a/k/a Barbara Landry; a/k/a Barb Landry, Deceased Case Numbe: 2023PR30032
All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Elbert County, Colorado on or before October 27, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.
Myka M. Landry, ATL for Personal Representative Jerry E. Miller PO Box 2276 Elizabeth, CO 80107
Legal Notice No. 24997
First Publication: May 18, 2023
Last Publication: June 1, 2023
All
abovenamed
Publisher: Elbert County News ### Elbert County Legals May 18, 2023 *
them to the
Carnival Rides:
Open Thursday, June 8 from 4:00 pm – 10:30 pm
Festival and Carnival Rides:
Friday 4 pm – 10:30 pm
Saturday 10 am – 10:30 pm
Sunday 10 am – 8:30 pm
• Enjoy your Favorite Festival Food
• Shopping Marketplace
• Music on Four Stages
• Culinary Demonstrations
• Street Performers
• Carnival Rides for the Whole Family
Groove Mazda MAIN STAGE
– Live Music ALL Day HEADLINERS:
Friday, June 9 presented by 8:15 pm: Still They Ride (Journey Tribute Band)
Saturday, June 10 presented by 8:30 pm: Chris Daniels and The Kings
Sunday, June 11 presented by 5:15 pm: That Eighties Band
CARNIVAL RIDES & GAMES:
presented by
BUY DISCOUNTED UNLIMITED CARNIVAL RIDE WRISTBANDS ONLINE
Thursday Friends & Family Special
4 wristbands for $99
Only available for use on Thursday, June 8
Sold online through 12 noon Wed. May 31
Single-Day Unlimited Carnival Rides
$35 each
Good any one day during the festival
Sold online through 12 noon Wed. June 7
4-Day MEGA Unlimited Carnival Rides
$89 each
Good all 4 days of the festival
PURCHASE DURING THE FESTIVAL
Single-Day Unlimited Carnival Rides
$40 each
TICKETS FOR INDIVIDUAL RIDES
Food, Beverage & Ride Tickets may be purchased at Festival Ticket Booths.
