Elbert County News 070623

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Colorado Mounted under hosted a mounted shooting event at the Elbert County Fairgrounds in Kiowa on Saturday, June 24 with 35 contestants across 18 classes. Colorado Mounted under is a non-

wide Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association.

Prior to the event, more than 70 contestants were scheduled to compete. Due to the extremely muddy conditions of the arena, however, over half of the contestants chose not to compete due to fear of injury to themselves or their horses.

Cowboy mounted shooting is an equestrian competition in which riders guide a horse through a shooting pattern and re blanks

Riders in the Elbert County event competed in several categories in shotgun, ri e and cavalry. Riders also participated in an overall main match to secure a timed winner.

e shooter with the fastest overall time was Carlos Juarez-Vera with an o cial time of 39.790 seconds.

“I think the event was a success,” said event organizer Stephanie Strube. “We had a great time and being around friends and family

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Alvarez of Parker. “It is the perfect size. The Elizabeth Stampede is great, but this one feels more local and relaxing to watch.”

Denver-based Eric Golden held a concert after each rodeo performance that all ticket-holding spectators could attend for free. Golden graced the pavilion stage at the fairgrounds with his traditional honky-tonk country.

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keep some competitors out of June event

Cassidy Esposito competes in historical Western dress at the cowboy mounted shooting competition.

PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

Colorado steps up mpox vaccination campaign

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado health o cials are launching a new vaccination campaign after a handful of cases of mpox, the viral disease formerly known monkeypox, have been identi ed in the state in recent weeks.

Dr. Rachel Herlihy, the state epidemiologist at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said three cases were identi ed in June and one in May. She said some of the cases involved out-of-state travel and two of the cases were linked to each other.

While the numbers are still small — and nowhere near what Colorado experienced last year — Herlihy said the state is hoping to get ahead of any case surge this summer, when people are more likely to congregate at events and potentially spread the virus.

“We are in a much better place than we were last year,” Herlihy said, noting that, in addition to the availability of vaccine, there is also much better public awareness about the disease, better testing and more tools with which to treat it, such as the antiviral drug Tpoxx.

cousin of smallpox that is most commonly associated with a painful rash that may initially look like blisters or pimples. But the disease can also cause u-like symptoms, appearing either before or after the rash.

e virus is spread through close contact or through handling infected items like bed linens, and it has the ability to infect anyone given the right transmission environment.

contact.

e U.S. has seen more than 30,000 cases of mpox since the start of the outbreak, with more than 400 of those occurring in Colorado. Cases in Colorado peaked in August and have been steadily declining since then. Prior to the most recent cases, the last time Colorado recorded a new mpox infection was in January.

Similar to Colorado, the U.S. as a whole is also seeing a slight resurgence in mpox cases — including a cluster of dozens of new cases in Chicago this spring. ose cases in Chicago are especially interesting to epidemiologists, though, because many of those infected had been vaccinated against mpox.

e vaccine has previously proven highly e ective at preventing infection, and researchers at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested that waning immunity, an increase in exposures or vaccine mishandling could explain the large number of breakthrough cases in Chicago.

Herlihy said, of the four recent Colorado cases, two were in people who had received the full two-dose vaccine regimen and one was in someone who was unvaccinated. Case investigators are still working to determine the vaccination status of the fourth person.

Despite the breakthrough cases, Herlihy said the vaccine is still showing e ectiveness at limiting the severity of illness, making it important for people to get vaccinated — though state and federal o cials are not recommending a booster dose to those already fully vaccinated.

Vaccines are available at several public health departments and clinics across the state. Go to CDPHE’s website to nd a vaccine provider or to sign up to get vaccinated at a

those who are currently most at-risk

- Anyone who has had close physical contact in the past 14 days with someone who had mpox,

- Anyone who has multiple or anonymous sexual partners,

- Anyone who has had close physical contact with someone in a venue where anonymous or group sex occurs,

- Anyone who was diagnosed with gonorrhea or syphilis in the previous 6 months,

- Anyone who is living with HIV,

- Anyone who is immunocompromised and anticipates they may be exposed to mpox in the future,

- Anyone who is already eligible for HIV PrEP drugs,

- Anyone who has sex in exchange for money, shelter, food and other goods or needs,

- And anyone whose sexual partner is eligible for mpox vaccination. Herlihy said people may also want to consider limiting their number of sexual partners for the time being or having only partners they already know.

While she remains hopeful that the ongoing outbreak can eventually be stopped, she said Colorado is likely to continue seeing at least some mpox cases. Flare-ups around the globe, and the ease of national and international travel, make it unlikely the state can fully keep the virus outside its borders.

“ ere’s always going to be the potential for re-introduction,” Herlihy said. “For the time being, at least, I think we will continue to see sporadic cases occurring.”

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.

This electron micrograph image, which has been artificially colorized, shows mpox virus particles, in orange, purified from a cell culture at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease’s Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland. PROVIDED BY NIAID

Handful of cases appear in state recently

SHOOTING

is always a great way to spend the weekend.”

Mounted shooting is a relatively new sport, only gaining traction in 2000. ough being formed in the 1990s, the sport traces its roots to the 1800s and the cowboys of the West. To honor this history, competitors are required to wear Western-style clothing. Some competitors choose to wear historic clothing of the American West or Cavalry uniforms. Women will sometimes wear long, ornate Western skirts and dresses on horseback.

Ken Jardine competed at the event in Kiowa on Saturday. From Nova Scotia, Canada, he is currently traveling around the United States competing in Cavalry mounted shooting. He currently leads the sport in points for Cavalry with 585. At the event he was dressed head-to-toe in traditional Cavalry garb.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie. I was a commercial and military diver and I ew in military airplanes. is is the closest I can get to that same feeling of adrenaline. It’s just great fun and great people really,” said Jardine. “I shoot Cavalry. Cavalry is a military tribute class. I’m a veteran. A lot of us are. It’s a way for us to keep our veterans, military, and forefathers in mind.”

A few days before the competition, the Elbert County News did a Q&A with Cassidy Esposito, a participant in mounted shooting and a contestant for the Miss Rodeo Colorado 2024 title. e Q&A is below: Where are you from?

I am originally from Parker, Colorado where I was born and raised. I went to Douglas County Schools and was in Douglas County 4-H growing up. Since 2018, I have been attending college at Colorado State University in Fort Collins and just recently graduated in May with my master’s in journalism and media communication. So, for the last few years, I have called both Fort Collins and Parker home.

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Event organizers sit in the crow’s nest at the cowboy mounted shooting event. They are responsible for announcing the event, timing the riders, and recording the scores.

PHOTOS BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

The designated ammunition used for the mounted shooting events are powder blanks with a limited 10-15 foot range.

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What drew you to the sport of mounted shooting? How did you get started?

I remember going to the National Western Stock Show when I was a kid and seeing cowboy mounted shooting. I thought it was just the coolest thing ever, but it was never something I thought I could do. In my head, those riders were like celebrities and my little 4-H pony and I were nowhere near that level of awesome. But sometimes the world has a funny way of putting you in the right place at the right time because when I was in high school, the Colorado Mounted under hosted a new shooter clinic at my home arena in Castle Rock. I took my show pony, and we learned about mounted shooting and even took our rst shot. From then on, I was hooked. I wanted so badly to be a shooter. However, mounted shooting is tough to get into if you don’t have the background and I was crazy busy with all my other activities and graduating high school at the time. It wasn’t until college that I had a close friend and mentor of mine who got involved in mounted shooting, Lea Anne Russell, who later helped me become a competitor.

How long have you been competing?

As far as mounted shooting goes, I am a bit of a late bloomer in the sense that I started shooting after I became an adult, which isn’t unheard of, but a lot of the great shooters started when they were kids. I competed in my rst shoot in November of 2020 when I was 20 years old and although I have been riding horses my whole life, it was a

huge step in my horsemanship and riding career. I recall that I wasn’t even intending on competing that day, I just wanted to bring my horse and watch, but lo and behold, Lea Anne signed me up and encouraged me to get out there and shoot because “there was no better time than the present.” It was the greatest thing that could have happened because I fell in love with the sport. I am now 22 and am in my third season as a mounted shooter. I have been competing consistently ever since and I still jump at any chance to get to a shoot.

How does leveling in the sport work?

e Cowboy Mounted Shooting Association (one of the governing organizations of mounted shooting and the sanctioning body for the Colorado Mounted under) uses a level system which allows shooters of all divisions to have a chance to win. Essentially, everyone starts as a Level 1, and you advance levels by winning your class four times as long as it is considered full. Level 6 is the highest and the levels are split into men’s and women’s as well as an age split for seniors (55-plus). So, I currently compete as a Ladies Level 2 which falls into Division A (Ladies Level 1 + 2 combined).

What awards have you won?

In my rst season I was very fortunate to have an amazing rookie year. To understand how successful, I have to brag on my horse a little bit. is sport is hard, and it takes a very special type of horse to be successful at it. My very special horse is Flynn. In November of 2020 when I did my rst shoot, Flynn and I had only known each other since August when my family purchased

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What’s happening with your County government?

Our commitment to open and transparent government includes online posting of information about public meetings at which the business of government is conducted. To view public meeting agendas, participate in-person or remotely, or watch select meetings, visit douglas.co.us and search for Business Meetings.

FROM PAGE 4

Cassidy Esposito stands with her horse after competing in two mounted shooting events.

PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

SHOOTING

him but that’s not even the coolest part. He was only 2 years old at the time. I recall making the joke to one of my fellow shooters that while I was new at shooting, my horse was new at life. So, there I was in my rookie season of mounted shooting with a 2-year-old, grade, paint colt that I had owned for less than six months. In October of 2020, Flynn and I were on the board for the CMSA Rookie of the Year Standings. While we only stayed in the top 10 for a few months, just to be among some of the best of the rookies was an accomplishment and an honor. In January of 2021 Flynn and I got our rst class win in the Ladies Level 1. At the Colorado State Championship in May of 2021, less than a year from my start, Flynn and I were the reserve champions for the Ladies Division A. e next year, in January of 2022, we leveled up to Level 2 and once again went to the State Championship and came home as reserve champions for the Ladies Division A. Since then, we’ve been working our way up to the Level 2 class wins and can’t wait to compete at the 2023 State Championship in Estes Park at the end of August.

What makes a good mounted shooter?

Good horsemanship. is may seem like a simple answer, but it is

showing, ranch riding, speed events, gymkhana, trail, roping — but none of it has pushed me as much as mounted shooting does. Mounted shooting requires consistent, highlevel horsemanship at all times. One thing I loved about mounted shooting from the very beginning is that I felt that I was suddenly surrounded

by a group of highly talented horsemen and women, more so than in other equestrian sports I had done. A good mounted shooter is someone who is patient, who trains hard, and who understands the values of basic horsemanship and holds themself to a high standard of what good horsemanship is. Something I always tell people about mounted shooting is that we can teach anyone to hold a gun and point it and pull the trigger, that’s easy, but the riding ability you must have and the level of talent these horses have to have is what makes this sport so challenging but also so rewarding once you commit to it.

What is the competitive mounted shooting community like?

e competitive shooting community is incredible. ese riders genuinely want each other to do the best they can, even if it means your biggest competition is someone you are rooting for. As I said earlier, Lea Anne showed me the ropes of mounted shooting and truly wanted me to have the chance at this sport. She did not have to go out of her way to lend me equipment and coach me through my rst shoot, but she did, and I am so thankful for that type of mentality. It’s a breath of fresh air to feel the camaraderie that mounted shooters have with each other, and when I was a new shooter, a ton of the other shooters were coming to me asking if I needed anything or if I had questions and were always cheering me on when I went into the arena. Many of them lent me guns, holsters, earplugs, and other tack before I had my own equipment.

at is not something that happens all the time in other riding clubs and other equestrian sports. One thing I love about mounted shooting is that the competitors take care of each other like family, and you always know that someone has your back no matter what it is. When you win,

everyone is happy for you and proud to cheer on their fellow shooters.

Are there opportunities for kids/teens to get involved with the sport?

When I say mounted shooting is a family sport, I mean literally a family sport. Kids and teens are 100% welcome and supported in this sport. For our kiddos under 12 years old we have our Wrangler Open and Wrangler Limited divisions. Essentially, kids ride the same pattern as the adult shooters, but they aren’t shooting the actual ammunition yet. ey carry the guns and practice the motions of shooting to learn how to handle rearms on their horse. Some of them shoot cap guns for fun and practice. ey are still timed and ranked based on who is the fastest and can win awards for their class. Since the Wranglers don’t shoot on horseback, they have the option to participate in ground shooting at the beginning of each shoot (shooting live rounds at targets while they are stationary and on foot) with the supervision of our advanced adult shooters. is way they learn how to use and be safe with rearms and get to ride their horses and let me tell you, some of these kids are quick. It’s always fun to see our Wranglers nally get to do their rst real shoot when they turn 12 because they usually come out and beat all us old folks. So for any tween/teen ages 12 and up, they compete in the same divisions I described above and can level up just the same as the adults.

What advice do you have for people who would like to get involved in the sport of mounted shooting?

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SHOOTING

to help new shooters and will hook you up with equipment. Many clubs also put on clinics and practices, which are a great way to expose yourself and your horses to shooting before an actual match. I know it can be really intimidating to start from ground zero, but I promise the shooters are so friendly and want to help you. Even reaching out to people who you see mounted shooting on social media is a great way to just make a connection and ask questions.

Mounted shooting has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, and it came at a time in my life that I needed a fresh start at something new and a chance to be great at something I wasn’t before. It pushed my horsemanship to the next level and brought my family into a sport that we never thought we could do. My dad was never much of a horse guy, even though my mom and I have always been competitive equestrians, and this sport encouraged him to learn how to ride for the rst time in his life. Now, the two of us go to shoots and have a sport that we get to do

together. It is never too late to try something new and I promise something good will come out of it.

Are you excited to compete in the Miss Rodeo Colorado 2024 pageant?

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Yes! I am one of eight contestants that will be competing in the 2024 Miss Rodeo Colorado Pageant. Miss Rodeo Colorado is the rst lady of professional rodeo and the PRCA in Colorado and represents the best of

women in rodeo and agriculture. She is a promoter of Western life, horses, and acts as the ambassador of rodeo. e competition runs in conjunction with the Greeley Stampede, which is one of the largest Western celebrations in Colorado. From June 22 to July 4, the Greeley Stampede has concerts, rodeos, family events, a carnival, and all sorts of activities.

e Miss Rodeo Colorado competition takes place from June 28 to July 1. Over four days, I and the other contestants will be judged in many di erent categories including but not limited to horsemanship, personality, public speaking, knowledge of rodeo/agriculture, appearance and everything in between. Being Miss Rodeo Colorado has been a dream of mine since I was a little girl and I hope to use the platform to increase agricultural education and involvement in rodeo by reaching underrepresented communities who could bene t from the values of Western lifestyle!

To learn more about Colorado Mounted under, visit mountedthunder.com.

To learn more about the sport of mounted shooting or to get involved, visit cmsaevents.com/home.

To see the results of the Miss Rodeo Colorado 2024 pageant, visit missrodeocoloradopageant.com.

All-Time Grilling Faves

Carlos Juarez-Vera achieved the highest overall score at the cowboy mounted shooting event with an o cial time of 39.790 seconds.

PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

COWBOY

FROM PAGE 1

The event also hosted a vendor alley where artisans local to Elbert County and nearby towns gathered to sell their wares. Also present were several organizations promoting agriculture and animal welfare, including the Elbert County Farm Bureau.

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Members of the Blazing Saddles Drill Team perform ahead of the June 23 rodeo performance.

Two boys wait in the stands for the Friday night Cowboy Up in Kiowa Rodeo to begin.

Three Cowboy Up in Kiowa Rodeo volunteers wait by the stock pens for the rodeo performance to start.

Though the 2024 Cowboy Up in Kiowa event dates have not yet been posted, keep watch on their website news and updates. For more information about the Cowboy Up in Kiowa Rodeo, please visit cowboyupinkiowa. org.

A mobile store at the Elbert County Fairgrounds during the Cowboy Up in Kiowa Rodeo.

Law was unconstitutional, and legislators were warned

Bill aimed to extend time for lawsuits in child sex abuse cases

BY JESSE PAUL AND ELLIOTT WENZLER THE COLORADO SUN

When a group of Colorado lawmakers in 2020 sought to end the state’s statute of limitations for lawsuits in child sex assault cases, some victims and victims’ advocates wanted them to try to go even further.

eir request was that Colorado give victims of abuse for whom the statute of limitations had expired a window to sue not only their abusers, but also organizations that shielded the perpetrators or negligently allowed the abuse to continue.

e nonpartisan O ce of Legislative Legal Services, which o ers state lawmakers legal advice, said such a window would violate the state’s constitution, which prohibits the General Assembly from reviving a

& EQUIPMENT

claim for which the statute of limitations has run out. It turns out that opinion held merit.

e Colorado Supreme Court last week struck down the part of Senate Bill 88, a law passed by the legislature in 2021, giving victims of child sex abuse dating back to the 1960s a three-year window starting on Jan. 1, 2022, to le lawsuits against their abusers and the institutions or organizations that failed to stop the abuse. e high court’s decision was unanimous.

ere were many concerns about the constitutionality of Senate Bill 88 as it was debated in the legislature, but the measure’s sponsors took the rare step of proceeding anyway, saying the severity of the crime demanded it. Dozens of pending or soon-to-be- led cases were unraveled by the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“We knew that there would be a challenge to this law because the opponents of the measure made it clear they intended to sue,” said Sen. Jessie Danielson, a Wheat Ridge Democrat and prime sponsor of the bill. “We still had the obligation to do the right thing and try to stand up

for the people who were abused as children.”

e opponents included public schools and the Catholic Church, who warned that Senate Bill 88 posed a major nancial burden because of the legal costs stemming from how many lawsuits they would have to defend against. ey also argued the measure was plainly unconstitutional.

Rep. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, a Commerce City Democrat and another lead sponsor of Senate Bill 88, said there were always concerns a court would toss out the policy. “It’s disappointing that it came out this way. However, clearly the way the vote went — 7-0 — they absolutely feel it is unconstitutional.”

Several other states, including New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and California, have passed laws giving victims of child sex assault from decades past a window to sue.

e measures were inspired by the worldwide Catholic Church abuse scandal and the fact that survivors often wait decades before they reveal their victimization, including a man pro led by e Colorado Sun in 2020 who waited more than three decades to tell his family that he had been abused as a child by a priest who was a constant gure in their lives.

e push to create a so-called look-back window in Colorado was so erce that it led to the demise in 2020 of a measure that would have ended Colorado’s statute of limitations for lawsuits solely in future child sexual assault cases or in cases where the statute of limitations hadn’t already run out. e sponsor of that legislation, Sen. Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, killed the measure in a dramatic committee hearing because she said it didn’t do enough to help victims of child sex abuse in decades past.

“I’m not willing to pass a bill that lets perpetrators o the hook,” Gonzales said at the time. “I will not settle for watered-down justice. I believe we have to do better. All victims of sexual assault deserve to see their abusers held accountable.”

Proponents split the two proposals into two measures in 2021, and Senate Bill 73, eliminating the statute of limitations, passed and was signed into law. ( e statute of limitations gave child sex abuse survivors six years after they turned 18 to le a legal action.)

Senate Bill 88 tried to get around the constitutional prohibition on reviving a claim for which the statute of limitations has run out by creating an entirely new civil cause of action.  e Colorado Supreme Court said that despite the careful legal maneuvering, the law was still deemed unconstitutional.

“For the same reason that the legislature cannot revive timebarred claims, it cannot create a new

cause of action that covers the same conduct and apply it retroactively,” the court’s ruling said. “We certainly understand the General Assembly’s desire to right the wrongs of past decades by permitting such victims to hold abusers and their enablers accountable. But the General Assembly may accomplish its ends only through constitutional means.”

e Supreme Court’s decision came in a case led by a woman who sued Aurora Public Schools. She said she was sexually abused by a coach at Rangeview High School in the early 2000s, alleging that the coach made her perform oral sex on him over 100 times during her four years at the school, starting when she was 14. She said it wasn’t until 2007 that she began to fully understand what had happened to her, but when she reported the abuse to police, authorities told her the statute of limitations had run out.

e case was tossed out by a lower court on grounds that Senate BIll 88 was unconstitutional, which prompted the woman to le an appeal with the state’s highest court.

e court’s 40-page ruling may have policy implications far beyond Senate Bill 88.

“ is is probably a bill that will go down in history as one that Colorado law students will study,” said Rep. Matt Soper, a Delta Republican and attorney who also was a lead sponsor of Senate Bill 88.

e Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, one of the main proponents of Senate Bill 88, said more than half of child sex abuse survivors don’t disclose what happened to them until after they turn 50 years old.

“While the Supreme Court’s decision … takes away their opportunity for justice and accountability in Colorado, it does not invalidate the harm they experienced nor their strength in telling their story,” Brie Franklin, executive director of the nonpro t, said in a written statement. “CCASA remains committed to changing laws and systems to promote safety, justice and healing for all survivors. Regardless of when the sexual abuse happened, survivors can still get help and support from community-based programs and through healing services.”

Michaelson Jenet, Danielson and Soper said they will work to nd another avenue to give victims of historic child sex abuse their day in court, but admitted their options appear both unclear and limited.

“I’m not willing to let it drop,” Michaelson Jenet said. “I do still believe that victims deserve their day in court. I want to gure out a way to make that happen.”

Michael Nimmo, a Colorado attorney representing clients who were sexually abused as kids, said he’s

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Honor hometown heroes

It felt like a normal year in planning for the Fourth of July celebrations. Communities were not worried about dry conditions due to all the rain, so reworks were a go for several areas. Parades and community gatherings all moved forward nicely.

I have to admit, growing up and in early adulthood, the Fourth of July has been one of my favorite holidays. We had huge family gatherings, heading to the smalltown parade, and going to the park for the annual re ghters’ water ght. And, just before the reworks, we had our annual football game. I will admit, I tore the meniscus disc in my knee one year blocking my dad so my nephew could score. Yes, my team got the touchdown.

I am also a bit sentimental about the American holiday. My kids give me a hard time each year as I make them listen to songs such as “God Bless the U.S.A.” and “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning.” I believe they too should have respect and pride in their country. I understand this country is far from perfect. e last few years of seeming insanity proves that point. However, we live in a country where that insanity is allowed to happen.

Finally, another reason I get sentimental about the Independence Day holiday is a tradition that started in Tucson. My company would often recognize what we called “Hometown Heroes” just before Independence Day.

I loved those special sections because we called to the community to not just tell us about the members of the military we would be thanking, but also those in the community who volunteer, work hard and do so many things to make a di erence in the lives of others. To those who work tirelessly to make the communities in which they live and the world better.

I haven’t quite got to the point of a special section, but over the last year as editor, I have been able to

get out into our communities and meet great people, and through my reporters read about amazing organizations and groups who are indeed community heroes who often do the work without expecting recognition or a return.

Some of my favorite organizations are the local American Legions and VFWs — these groups are more than just veteran organizations. ey are people who work to give scholarships, provide support to struggling veterans and, in Littleton recently, repurpose veteran wreaths to become sh habitats.

Local historical societies — these members work to preserve and celebrate important moments in a community’s history. ey also protect and preserve important structures.

To the local food banks that have struggled over the last few years to keep the doors open and residents fed — every administrator and volunteer deserves a pat on the back.

To companies like Howdy’s Ice Cream, which opened in Centennial o Parker Road this year, giving adults with disabilities an opportunity to work. I will also recommend going and getting a summer treat there — the lemon crunch is superb. e people and organizations who work each year to help people move into and a ord homes. In Colorado, that alone is a tireless and likely thankless job these days.

In Highlands Ranch – It’s heartwarming to see the continued photos and responses as the community comes together to clear debris and help neighbors after a tornado touched down recently.

I should also give a shoutout to volunteers I see at the VA when I take my dad for care. ey are helpful, friendly and wonderful people. People, groups, churches and organizations do more in our local communities than we realize year after year. I hope to keep getting to know all of them and start recognizing them more often in our local newspapers because at the end of the day, honoring these heroes is part of what Independence Day is about.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Moving at a snail’s pace

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WINNING

Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves, right? Or is it that sometimes we just have to laugh with ourselves? I am not laughing at you; I am laughing with you kind of thinking as we look in the mirror. My laughing at myself moment came the other day while I was traveling. I had boarded my ight and was checking my email on my phone before we took o . As I tried loading my email app, it took about 8 seconds. And in those 8 seconds I became frustrated and thought why is this taking so long? Cue the laughing at myself.

Each year as technology advances our need for speed seems to advance with it. We want information and we want it now. We not only want it now, but we also expect the information to be fed to us before we even have to think about it, we

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train the technology to understand what we like and want before we ever even have to search for it, we simply turn on our device and lo and behold there it is waiting for us to consume it.

In a recent meeting with a partner, they were discussing how their technology could serve up information in real time, measuring response times in milliseconds. Again, we have become a culture that has a need for speed, instant grati cation.

As I came across a snail the other day, I watched it move slowly across the pavement. And I found myself fascinated by the slow and deliberate pace of the snail. I know it is a snail and snails aren’t equipped to move any faster, so they have to settle for the slow pace at which they move. It took the snail ve minute or so to cross the pavement and move into the grass. Just ve minutes, which for us could now feel like an eternity.

So in that moment I re ected on

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Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

SEE NORTON, P13

ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100)

A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert

Thelma Grimes

Chamber music makes for sweet summer day

Saxophonist Sergei Govorov, pianist Britta De Groot perform in Englewood

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Englewood’s Hampden Hall is a perfect spot to spend a cool summer Saturday afternoon listening to chamber music, performed by highly skilled musicians. Some selections will be familiar and for me, at least, many are not — which is great! And, I get to hear skilled artists performing in a really ne hall.

On June 24, Englewood Arts Presents brought Russian saxophonist Sergei Govorov, who performs both classical and contemporary music for audiences in Europe, Asia and the U.S. In 2023, he received a green card for “extraordinary people,” so perhaps he will visit in Colorado again. I think we sometimes don’t fully recognize the issues international performing artists must cope with to perform in the U.S. or Europe and China.

In addition, he has written three books with musical arrangements for children to play. And musical pieces such as “Organ Plus Saxophone Duet,” which he has performed with organist Olesya Kravchenko — more than 600 concerts in Russia.

NORTON

my own need for speed. Although I can’t slow down advancements in technology that are designed to speed things up, nor can I or should I worry about others and their need for speed, I can decide when it’s time to slow things down for myself.

Can my walks along the shoreline be a little slower so I can appreciate the sounds of the waves lapping against the sand, taking in the salt air, and maybe nding a unique shell or piece of sea glass? Can my hikes in the mountains be slowed down just a bit so I can take in the wild owers, watch the streams rushing down the mountainside, or look out at the amazing vistas from the openings through the trees?

We are de nitely a society on the go. We want the speed limits to be higher, our ights to get us to our destination faster. We want our meals delivered to our homes or tables in unreasonably fast times. We expect the elevator to show up as soon as we press the button. It’s the pace of the race these days that we are trying to keep up with and the pace is getting quicker and quicker

Govorov was born in Ekaterinburg, Russia and graduated from the Sverdlovsk Regional Tchaikovsky College of Music in 1999. He studied saxophone at the department of jazz and popular music there.

He also is a member of the folk ensemble Russian Banjo and after completing his doctorate at the National Gnessin Music Academy, he traveled to France to be coached by skilled performers there and has performed at the prestigious Montreaux, Switzerland, Jazz Festival.

Govorov was accompanied by pianist Britta De Groot, who recently received her master’s in music in piano performance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, under the tutelage of well-recognized pianist David Korevaar.

ere will be one more summer chamber music performance at 2 p.m. on July 15: “Violin Sonatas,” with Susan Paik on violin and Teddy Niedermaier on piano, performing music by Schumann, Bolcom and Niedermaier.

Fall concert dates are also announced:

Sept. 23 will feature e Lirios Quartet in a celebration of Latino Heritage Month and Oct. 28 will feature pianist Jooeun Pak. On Oct. 28, Alex Gonzalez, assistant professor of violin at CU Boulder (replacing Claude Sim, previously announced) will perform “Violin Sonata in Eb Major” by R. Strauss. On Dec. 10, cellist Silver Ainomae will make a return visit from his present home in Minneapolis.

each day.

I thought about the snail again. And as I did, I was reminded that moving at a snail’s pace is okay sometimes. I enjoy a slow brewing pot of co ee as it lls the kitchen with that beautiful co ee aroma. I love reading and spending time slowly letting the story develop and not racing to nish the book. I nd it so much more meaningful to pray slowly as it connects me at a deeper level to those I am praying for and to my faith. And when I can slow down enough before rushing out of the house to write notes to my family and leave them around the house, it makes everyone feel so loved and appreciated.

Is it time to slow down a bit for you? Are you running a race that just gets faster and faster all the time?

I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can move at a snail’s pace sometimes, 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.

Longtime Elbert County resident, Terry Oesch, 75, passed away of natural causes during a nap on June 11, 2023, in his home in Kiowa. Terry was an Army

veteran and a career aerospace engineer. He volunteered in Elbert County 4-H in the 90’s and early 00’s. Terry will be buried in Ft. Logan, Colorado.

OESCH Terry Oesch January 31, 1948 - June 11, 2023

Russian saxophonist Sergei Govorov performed recently as part of the Englewood Arts Presents program at Hampden Hall in the Englewood Civic Center.

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The brain is overrated, according to Kadam Lucy James at the Kadampa Meditation Center.

“Have you ever felt peaceful in your head?” she asked.

She put her hands over her heart and said that’s where the mind is, adding that while the brain has conceptual reality, the mind exists in the heart, where we feel peace, love, joy and wisdom.

“If we can get into our heart, we automatically start to feel more peaceful,” she said.

James is temporarily living in Arvada and teaches meditation at the Kadampa Meditation Center. She started practicing about 41 years ago after she saw a “very peaceful person” in college.

“He was a student meditating on the end of his bed and I asked him what he was doing, because this was back in 1981, and meditation, no one had heard of back then,” she said.

Ever since, she’s been practicing and has taught all around the world, including England, San Francisco, New York City and now Denver. She hopes to one day achieve enlightenment, or in nite happiness and peace.

It takes a lot of hard work, but she said it’s the only thing where the more she does it, the happier she is.

It’s because, with meditation, the mind becomes naturally peaceful. Each person has a natural source of peace and happiness inside them, she said, and instead of seeking it elsewhere — relationships, ful lling jobs or material things — it’s already inside the body waiting to

be found.

e evidence lies in the random moments of peace and happiness everyone feels. It could be a torrential downpour and the mind is peaceful, settled and calm.

“What those moments show is that our mind is ne. And then what unsettles the mind is actually all our uncontrolled thinking,” she said.

Coming from the teachings of the Buddha, she compared the mind to a vast ocean. e waves are turbulent while below them is a vast, in nite, calm place. Waves of anxiety and negative emotions distort the brain but below those waves rests an incredible sanity.

“When our mind is settled, when we can let go of our troubled thoughts, and our turbulent thoughts, uncontrolled thoughts, then we naturally feel good. We naturally feel peaceful and we start to get a sense of our potential and who we really are, which is this person who has limitless potential, limitless happiness,” James said.

e rst step to unlocking that potential and happiness is to breathe.

Focus on the nostrils

Carol O’Dowd, a Trauma and Transition Psychotherapist and Spiritual Counselor assists her clients by meeting them where they are and o ering them acceptance through breathing.

“If you focus on your breath, you cannot simultaneously focus on all your internal dialogue. It cannot be done. e human brain is not wired that way,” O’Dowd said.

It creates a space between the thoughts. e stress and anxiety stored in the body don’t go away, but the practice of noticing the emotions and putting them on pause to breathe helps

calm the body down.

Breathing is a function of the body that automatically happens all the time. Focusing on that breath, O’Dowd compared it to a spectrum. What happens when the body stops breathing — death — is one end and the other is when the body pays attention to the breath — peace.

“It can be as simple as just experiencing that ow of air, and in and out of your nostrils. If you can place your attention there, that’s giving yourself a mini vacation,” she said.

O’Dowd encourages her clients to practice treating uncontrolled thoughts like a salesperson trying to sell them. Instead of buying, make them sit in the corner and return to them in 20 minutes after taking time to check in with the body.

It can also let go of stress. Pain, like what the ngers feel after working at a computer all day, can be a physical manifestation of stress. Holding on to that stress can lead to other health conditions.

“It’s not rocket science,” she said.

Escape to reality

James said achieving enlightenment is extremely di cult, and while the teachings she studied laid out di erent steps and pathways, she simpli ed it down to three. e rst is focusing on the breath to relax. e second is identifying delusions.

A delusion can be jealousy, greed, competitiveness or other unpleasant thoughts. Most of the time, those thoughts aren’t controlled by the mind and enter the brain randomly. It’s the root

BREATHING

FROM PAGE 14

of many problems, she said, and they destroy happiness.

“It’s completely unnecessary. Which is the whole purpose of meditation, to show us how unnecessary it is,” she said. “We’ve been so busy trying to control everything outside of us.”

She compared it to anger with someone else. It may last for a few days and then one day, those angry feelings leave.

“If you can do that deliberately (getting rid of negative feelings), which we can, then you can see we stopped the grasping or stopped the delusions, we just experience deeper and deeper levels of happiness,” she said.

Identifying delusions is the rst part of the equation. e other half is universal love and caring about others. It comes from understanding everyone wants to be happy, and that there isn’t much di erence between people.

It can be a city councilor running for o ce, understanding their opponent wants the same things, but sees di erent ideas on how to move forward. ey aren’t always bad people.

Realizing that leads to the next step: wisdom. at takes understanding reality. It means turning away from the anxiety, sadness and other negative emotions and escaping to the reality within the body that possesses in nite happiness and peace.

“We can train in wisdom. Understanding that things are not as real as they appear,” James said.

The true story behind DIA’s conspiracy-ridden murals

BY ELLE NAEF, ALEXIS KIKOEN, PETER VO ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

e iconic murals displayed at DIA created by Leo Tanguma have drawn attention from people around the world since the early 1990s. Unfortunately, much of the focus has been on the imagery of destruction rather than the storyline that ends with a vision of world peace.

Along with other elements of DIA (recently rebranded to DEN), conspiracy theories about the murals have gone viral — rumors of Nazi or Illuminati ties, and warnings of the “new world order.” While these claims are unfounded, they have made a signi cant impact on the lives of the artists.

“I need to see what’s wrong in society, and then re ect it in my murals. At the same time, I wanted to re ect what’s beautiful in society and in my community,” Tanguma said.

Twenty-eight years after unveiling the murals, Tanguma spoke to Rocky Mountain PBS at his granddaughter’s home surrounded by family photos and artwork. His daughter and collaborator Leticia Darlina Tanguma was nearby o ering emotional support, welling with pride as her father re ected on his artistic legacy.

“It was a spiritual awakening for me,” he added. “I’ve always been

spiritual, I think. But those experiences moved me more to consider that what I had in my abilities was a God-given talent. And I think that was made important in those murals.”

e murals at the airport, now temporarily in storage, depict the terrors of war and pollution. Amongst the chaos is a group of sleeping children. From their minds extends a grey mist that turns into a rainbow, leading to a portrayal of an ideal world, entitled “In Harmony with Peace and Nature.”

Despite the e ort Tanguma, Darlina, and their supporters poured into the murals, the type of fame and recognition they received wasn’t what many artists pine for. Since their unveiling, conspiracy theories about the murals have run rampant.   Darlina learned about some of the rumors in the early 2000’s. She recalls hearing, “‘People hate that mural. ey say, you wanted 9/11 because of that gure of war. ey say that in the Bible, all these dirty animals are unclean. ey say, ‘Why are you painting people in co ns?’ And, you know, just on and on where it became a terrible conspiracy.”

e delayed construction of the airport continued to feed rumors of secret underground networks, and with each new idea came a web of

uncredible theories attempting to tie other works of art at the airport, like the mustang sculpture nicknamed “Blucifer,” to rumors of plotted terror.

People have pro ted from books and documentaries about the theories, but Tanguma and Darlina say they have rarely been asked about the actual meaning behind the murals.

And while many people nd the conspiracies laughable (DIA has even turned some into a marketing opportunity), the consequences of these rumors are far from funny for the Tanguma family.

According to Darlina, the conspiracy theories started before the murals were even complete.

“We did have a few people come in at the time that were painting it.

ey said, ‘don’t paint this. ere’s a new world order.’ We had no idea what they were talking about back then.” Darlina shared.

As soon as the conspiracy theories began, Tanguma lost two valuable commissions, and according to Darlina, both of them were harassed. Some people even resorted to death threats.

“People have said things like, ‘You need to destroy the art. You need to destroy the artist who did this,’” she recalled.

“I thought and I still think that these people are deranged,” said Tanguma. “For example, one religious minister called the mural satanic. Others said that they saw demons.”

Despite the airport allowing Darlina to have plaques installed explaining the murals, the conspiracies continued.

Darlina said that while people have the right to interpret art as they would like, it’s important to acknowledge the cruelty behind how

A mural at Denver International Airport.

COURTESY DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

SEE AIRPORT, P17

these theories unfolded. She said that to overlook the important messages of peace, justice and hope the murals were meant to portray causes harm to entire communities.

“ ey’re [the conspiracies] destroying the artwork, too.” explained Darlina. “I’ve met other people that have been so depressed,” she continued, referring to people who feared the conspiracy theories were true.

Family friend of the Tagumas, Cheryl Detwiler Mihaka, also helped create the murals. Taguma said that her talent combined with Darlina’s helped them portray a deep sense of compassion in their art.

“Both my daughter and Cheryl had experienced physical violence in relationships, so that also humanized them more,” he shared. “So, I had not only fantastically talented young women working with me, but also they brought me back to the spirituality of what we were trying to do.”

Tanguma also explained why he wanted the mural to come from the perspective of a child. “I think that there is a certain innocence among the oppressed, among the people that are uneducated, that don’t have access, practically, to life.”

Tanguma was also in uenced by his work with youth who had been imprisoned, and others who were high schoolers that he painted alongside.

“I think that my connection with painting with young people, there’s been that that I’ve seen the possibilities and I’ve seen the destruction,” he summarized.

e focus of youth seemed to add to the draw of passers-by, who also impacted the direction of the murals. Between 1992 and 1995, Tanguma painted murals in a room in the Lakeside Mall. e combination

of large panels and Mexican music drew in curious patrons.

Word spread of the work in progress, and parents asked for their children to be depicted in “Children of the World Dream of Peace.” Amongst the parents were some who had lost their children and asked Tanguma to memorialize them in the mural.

One mother asked for a depiction of her son who had recently passed from suicide, another whose daughter was killed while helping her friend escape an abusive situation. Some had lost their children to gang violence.

Also featured in the mural was Tanguma’s young granddaughter, her cousins and classmates, and well-known children from around the world such as young activist Samantha Smith, (who passed in a plane crash), or brothers who marched for peace in Afghanistan. And while originally, he hadn’t planned to include political elements, Tanguma said the need to depict the injustices of war became apparent — an issue he was all too familiar with after having served in the military.

While painting the children, Tanguma asked for the families’ countries of origin, and depicted the children in the traditional clothing from each area. Over time, as many as 70 di erent countries were portrayed.

“ ese are fantastic experiences that have to mold you, because you see the beauty of humanity daily, from many, many countries of the world,” he reminisced.

Tanguma hoped that by including each of these countries, the artists could spread a message of peace to places beyond Colorado.

“I saw that as an opportunity to take the ideas that I have learned in my own community, a community where they are aspiring for greater civil rights and cultural identity, that permitted me to share those ideas with the passers-by from almost any country in the world.”

Attempts to destroy the artwork of the Tanguma family are not new to them. Leo Tanguma has faced critiques of his work since he was a child in Texas.

“When I was in the fth grade in elementary school, I did some drawings on the blackboard about my classmates killing our town Sheri ,” he recalled. “So, I got severely punished for that. But the reason I did that is because the sheri in our hometown was the killer. He had killed, up to that point, seven Mexican-Americans -- including two of my mom’s cousins.”

Tanguma continued to do artwork portraying both injustice and visions for resolution. He was commissioned for a mural while stationed in Germany, and once again in the 1960s when he was transferred to California. ere, he did a mural honoring the Mexican American movement for civil rights.

Eventually, his artist studio in his hometown of Houston was destroyed in a case of suspected arson. Around this time, his wife, Darlina’s mother, passed away from cancer. e family decided to try to start anew in Denver, where Darlina began her career as an artist while Tanguma continued creating well-known murals in places like the Denver Art Museum.

“Imagine a person that’s blacklisted in Houston. When I got to Denver, the Denver Art Museum asked me to do a mural inside the museum. What beautiful feelings

that I had,” he shared. “But I still kept painting issues. I thought that besides the beautiful city and surroundings that I see, still there remained police brutality, education, women’s liberation, war.”  rough it all, Tanguma and his daughter have remained strong in their messages of hope, connected to art, and perhaps most importantly, connected to each other.

“My daughter has been the most important gure that I’ve ever painted with,” Tanguma shared. “Because not only is she talented, but she’s aware, aware of conditions, aware of our culture and our history.”

And as far as the conspiracies go, they haven’t stopped the Tangumas either. “It made me more dedicated, I think, because after that I did a number of other murals with social and cultural meaning,” he said.

Darlina continues to collaborate with community in her artwork both independently and through the Redline Contemporary Art Center’s ‘Reach’ program, and Tanguma is planning a mural with students from East High School.

“I think rumors like the airport conspiracies and the mural conspiracies, they really seek to destroy the human connection, the human spirit.” Darlina said. “But I want to create artwork that will bring us together.”

is Rocky Mountain PBS story runs as part of a news sharing agreement with Colorado Community Media.

Researchers see a future for psychedelic therapy

Fort Collins study looks at potential uses of LSD

BY LEIGH PATERSON KUNC

Interest in the possible mental health bene ts of psychedelics is growing as experiments to better understand these substances are moving ahead.

In Fort Collins, researchers at the Wholeness Center are examining the potential therapeutic use of LSD and, in particular, how — and at what dosage — it may impact people with generalized anxiety disorder.

After a lengthy screening process, study participants go to the Wholeness Center for a 12 hour day with two therapists. ey are unaware of what they will be swallowing: a placebo or various amounts of LSD.

“Particularly through the second hour or the third hour, people are in a very di erent frame of mind,” Dr. Scott Shannon, one of the principal study investigators, said of the people who get LSD instead of the placebo. “ e trees may be breathing, the couch may be moving. And some people will nd this incredibly curious. Other people may be a little intimidated.”

e two therapists are there to

reassure participants and calm them down. e experimental sessions taking place in Fort Collins are part of a larger study at 20 sites across the country funded by MindMed, a New York-based biotech company. e company plans to announce topline data from the clinical trials later this year.

“I tell people it’s like, if we’re living our life every day at street level then psychedelics are kind of like going up into a hot air balloon, or maybe even in a satellite, and you’re looking at your life in a very di erent way, and insights come,” Shannon said. “ ey can be scary sometimes. ey can be terrifying.”

is experiment on LSD and anxiety is part of a much larger push to understand how various psychedelics can be used to treat mental health conditions. e e ort involves support from corporations, universities and nonpro ts. Earlier this year, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus announced an upcoming clinical trial to test whether psilocybin can help with treatmentresistant depression.

Past research e orts have indicated that psilocybin—also called magic mushrooms—can ease anxiety, particularly for cancer patients.

“We have some suggestion that psychedelics can be helpful for anxiety, and this is a study to try to test

that,” Shannon said. this quote was a little long and wordy, I think it can be shortened. e rest has already been explained outside of the quote.

Much of this research has been on hold for decades. After widespread use in the 1960s, the federal government classi ed psychedelics as Schedule 1 drugs, meaning they lack an accepted medical use and have a high potential for abuse.

“It really shut down research in this country for a long, long time. And it’s now just restarting,” Shannon explained.

Eventually, researchers began requesting licenses from the federal government to study some psychedelics. After encouraging results, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

has allowed some of this work to move ahead more quickly by granting “breakthrough therapy” status to certain substances.

Luke Niforatos, the CEO of Protect Our Kids, a group that ghts for more restrictive drug policies and recently opposed Colorado’s ballot measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms, believes in the importance of following the FDA’s process.

“I think the concern that I have is, we’re seeing a lot of kind of breathless rhetoric around the...miracle drug potential of psychedelics,” Luke Niforatos, the CEO of Protect Our Kids, a group that ghts for more restrictive drug policies and recently

Dr. Scott Shannon holds up a refrigerated bottle of eight pills, which could contain LSD, on May 25, 2023. He is one of the principal investigators on a study researching the impact of LSD on anxiety taking place in Fort Collins. JENNIFER COOMBES/KUNC

interested Constitution barring he pricey voter doesn’t thus constitutions state’s dows historic Constitution opposed to said.

drugs MindMed’s lins, participation: people psychedelics not don’t SEE PSYCHEDELIC,

interested in amending the Colorado Constitution to remove the language barring retrospective laws, though he acknowledges that’s a tall — and pricey — task that would require voter approval.

He said the U.S. Constitution doesn’t have such language, and thus it doesn’t appear in most state constitutions either. at’s why other state’s have been able to open windows of opportunity for survivors of historic child sex abuse to sue.

“In my opinion, the Colorado Constitution should mimic the U.S.

PSYCHEDELIC

opposed Colorado’s ballot measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms, said.

Niforatos points to the risks of other drugs like opioids and cannabis. In MindMed’s LSD trial in Fort Collins, some groups are excluded from participation: pregnant women and people with a history of psychosis.

at’s because the risks of using psychedelics in these populations are not fully understood.

“ at’s not to say that these drugs don’t do what everyone’s really

Constitution,” he said. “I think if it’s OK for the U.S. Constitution, why is it not OK for Colorado’s?”

Nimmo said he has roughly 35 clients who had already led cases under Senate Bill 88 or were hoping to. It’s not clear how many lawsuits had been led under Senate Bill 88 when the Supreme Court issued its ruling, but it’s likely well into the dozens.

Nimmo, said one silver lining is that the Colorado Supreme Court didn’t strike down all of Senate Bill 88. e measure still allows recent and future child sex abuse survivors to overcome the government’s protections from nancial consequences in lawsuits, a right they didn’t have before.

He said while he felt the legal

excited about,” Niforatos said. “But what it does mean, though, is it’s still early.”

Research into a psychedelic called MDMA could be entering its nal phase before possible FDA approval.

Berra Yazar-Klosinski, the chief science o cer with the MAPS Public Bene t Corporation, said MDMA is further along in the process than other psychedelics thanks to a growing body of research on using it to treat mental health issues in conjunction with therapy.

She remembers looking over the results from a phase three clinical trial on using MDMA to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, published in 2021 in the journal Nature Medicine.

arguments for why Senate Bill 88 was constitutional were strong, he always knew there was a chance a court would disagree. He said lawyers frequently take a chance with their legal interpretations.

“I never once thought 100% this law was constitutional,” he said. “We thought we had a way to make this complicit with our constitution. We were wrong.”

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.

88% of the participants experienced a meaningful change in their symptoms. Around two-thirds no longer met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis.

“Oh, my gosh. It was so exciting,” Yazar-Klosinski said of the results.

Later this year, Yazar-Klosinski will be walking the FDA through the data as part of a larger request to approve MDMA-assisted therapy.

“It was such a huge surprise that everybody was just shocked and very happy for the PTSD patients and what this could mean for them,” Yazar-Klosinski said.

is KUNC story via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Tatiana ‘LadyMay’

Mayfield to perform

SONYA’S SAMPLER

The Colorado Repertory Jazz Orchestra will perform at the Arvada Center, 69901 Wadsworth Blvd., Arvada at 7:30 p.m. on July 15 with an evening of soul music, featuring Aretha Franklin’s hits, presented by Tatiana “LadyMay” May eld. Reserved seats-$30-$42. Lawn seats $20. See coloradojazz.org/ concerts or 720898-7200.

Parker Arts

Parker Arts presents “Jimmy Bu ett’s Escape to Margaritaville” June 23-July 16 at the PACE Center, 20000 E. Pikes Peak Ave. See parkerarts.org or 303-8056800.

Highlands Ranch history

Highlands Ranch Historical Society presents “Entertaining VIPs and Royalty at the Cherokee Castle” on July 17 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road, Highlands Ranch. Caterer Meg Anderson and Butler John Lake will share personal stories about entertaining VIPs and royalty at Cherokee Castle. ere will be a drawing for a copy of Meg’s cookbook, “Castle Entertaining from Ranch Hands to Royalty.” A $3 suggested donation at the door is requested. Register at thehrhs.org/ programs.

Vintage Theatre

Vintage eatre, 1468 Dayton Street, Auora, presents “In the

Heights” by Lin Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes, directed by Jonathan Andujar, June 23 through July 30. Musical direction by Donna Debrecini. Added performances of “Driving Miss Daisy” July 6 at 7:30; July 8 at 2:30; July 14 at 7:30, July 15 at 7:30; July 16 at 7:30. See vintagetheatre.org or 303-856-7830.

Tabor Opera House

e Tabor Opera House in Leadville was awarded $250,000 toward ongoing rehabilitation work. It will fund rehabilitation of the street entrance and problems on the western side of the building.

Valkarie Gallery

Michelle Lamb and Claudia Roulier present a joint exhibit from June 28-July 23 at Valkarie Gallery, 445 S. Saulsbury St., Lakewood, “Visions from Nature.” Opening reception July 1: 5-8:30 p.m. First Friday, July 7, 4-8:30 p.m. See valkarie neart.com or 720-220-7587.

ROX Arts Gallery

ROX Arts Gallery at Aspen Grove, 7301 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, is moving to Unit 222, next to See’s Candies. Opening July 1. with a reception July 14 or 15 (or maybe both.) Look for banners created at ROX Arts by kids on light posts at Aspen Grove. See roxartsgallery.com or 720-724-5730.

Curtis Center

e 19th annual Mile High International Pastel Exhibition continues at Curtis Center for the Arts through July 1. Open Mondays through Saturdays. Free admission. See greenwoodvillage.com/curtis or 303-797-1779.

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Office Rent/Lease

Office or Commercial Space for Rent

Two Offices ~ Available Immediately Great Location and Prices!

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Firewood

Split & Delivered $450 a cord Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173

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Prepare for power outages today with a GENERAC home standby generator $0 Down + Low Monthly Pmt Request a free Quote. Call before the next power outage: 1-855-948-6176

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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

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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

Help Wanted

Educational Audiologist

East Central BOCES is looking for a part-time Educational Audiologist for the 2023-24 school year

• CDE Special Services and Colorado Audiologist licensure required; CCC’s or AAA certificate; knowledge of current technologies in Audiology including HAT systems and cochlear implants preferred.

• Experience with children 0-21 preferred.

• Complete evaluations, provide direct services, and consultation services, manage hearing equipment and oversee hearing screening program.

• Benefits include: a signing bonus, mileage reimbursement

• Flexible scheduling with some opportunity to work from home.

• May be eligible for a loan forgiveness program.

• Ph.D. Salary $51,450-$60,550.

• For Questions, please contact Tracy at tracyg@ecboces.org or 719-775-2342 ext. 101.

• 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

Help Wanted

Miss Cummins goes to Washington

A Colorado teenager’s journey into D.C. lobbying

BY CAITLIN KIM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

On any given day, dozens of people visit their lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for one cause or another — from energy policy to research projects to the Farm Bill.  ey usually have very personal reasons for making the pitch. at was certainly the case for 19-yearold Maddy Cummins, and her parents, Amy and Matthew, when they came to Washington, D.C. for the rst time last week.

When she was two years old, Maddy was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, a neurological disorder. She now gets around in a wheelchair and is non-verbal. She communicates with the help of an iPad-like device she operates with her eyes.

In between meetings, Maddy practiced. As her eyes icked across the boxes on the screen, the device recited, “Hi, I’m Maddy Cummins and I am representing Children’s Hospital Colorado.”

Around her neck was a nametag, with a green ribbon underneath with the words “I’m fearless” on it.  e family spent two days traversing the Capitol complex to meet with sta from the entire Colorado congressional delegation as part of the Children’s Hospital Association’s Family Advocacy Day. At stop after stop, Maddy highlighted important issues to her: no cuts to Medicaid, support for pediatric mental health, and education and training for pediatric specialists, like the ones at Children’s Hospital Colorado who help her.

Maddy relies on Tricare — her father is retired from the Air Force — and Medicaid for all her medical needs, from her doctor’s visits and medication to her hospital bed at home.

“Without this coverage, it would make my life so much harder than it already is,” she said.

Maddy has been a patient ambassador for the hospital before, going to a Nuggets game (she’s a fan) and some golf tournaments. But never the U.S. Capitol.

Her father, Matthew, said when they were approached to make this trip, the family had to talk it over.

“We asked Maddy rst, ‘Are you up for this cause it’s going to be a challenging trip, with all the various medications and therapies and extra equipment we have to bring

along with us?’,” Matthew said. “She [was] absolutely up for it. She wants to meet the challenge. She’s a tough girl and she wants to show what she can do.”

Maddy spent about a month working on what she’d say.

“I’m very excited to be here,” was one of her answers. “ ank you for listening to me. It’s important to continue funding for patients like me.”

She even threw in some political jokes. (“Where can kids vote? In swing states.” “How much does it cost to vote?” “You have to check the Bill of Rights.”)

Maddy’s mom, Amy, said at rst it was intimidating, walking into a senator’s ornate o ce. But by the end of their time on the Hill, her view had changed. “ is experience

was amazing. I felt like they really wanted to hear about the daily life of Maddy and of children with medical complex needs in Colorado and where they’re lacking and where they’re succeeding.”

e family of ve (Maddy has two younger siblings) chose to move to Colorado after Matthew left the military, in large part because of the health care and specialists Maddy would be able to access in the state. But they were also realistic about the challenges of getting all that they asked for. e Republicancontrolled House is looking to cut spending this budget go-round, so additional funding for pediatric care may be hard to come by.

“We know there are budgetary constraints, especially in today’s world,” said Matthew. “We’re aware of that, but we’re willing to help advocate in any way we can.”

After a grueling eight meetings on their second day, the family was worn out, but happy. Maddy was too tired to keep using her communication device. So instead she communicated with her eyes — looking directly at you for a yes, away for no.

“Maddy would you do this again? Would you want to come and lobby lawmakers again?” I asked. She quickly looked straight at me. For all the challenges, it was an unhesitating “yes.”

After telling Maddy’s story to lawmakers, the family left feeling they would at least try and help her and other kids like her.

Whether they’ll succeed, remains to be seen.

e Colorado Public Radio story runs as part of a news sharing agreement with Colorado Community Media.

The Cummins family of Colorado Springs get their photo taken with Rep. Joe Neguse’s sta er outside his o ce in Washington D.C. CAITLIN KIM