CALENDAR

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN The glow of the holidays

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Vendors at this year’s Cherry Creek North Holiday Market are excited to have conversations with people and help shoppers fi nd the perfect gift.

“People like to support local businesses,” said Erik Swanson, owner and founder of The Log Candle. “Especially when it’s something that somebody made out of their garage.”

The Log Candle is a unique item that Swanson came about through what he called a “happy accident.” Swanson has a background in graphic design, but enjoyed dabbling in woodworking as a hobby. He set out to make a birdhouse in the late spring of 2020, and by June that year, he ended up creating his Log Candle.

Swanson later left his cubicle job and started making the Log Candles full time — selling them at the Mile High Flea Market and outdoor arts-and-crafts markets throughout the metro area.

“People seem to really enjoy them,” Swanson said. “It’s something they have never seen before.”

The Log Candle is, like it sounds, a candle made out of a small log. The logs come from local tree trimmers, Swanson said. When wax is added, it feeds the fl ame, which spreads across the top, creating the candle effect. It is meant for outdoor use, and people have enjoyed them for their patios, balconies and porches, Swanson said, adding that some people have even taken them on camping trips.

Swanson, of Englewood, is one 30 vendors at this year’s Cherry Creek North Holiday Market, and many of the 30 are local crafters/artisans or small business owners.

The market, produced by Fetch Concepts and now in its second year, opened on Nov. 18 and runs through Dec. 24. It is located on Fillmore Street between First and Second Avenues.

Madison Stewart’s sons are tending House of Stewart’s booth at the market this year.

“They like the fun atmosphere” of the holiday market, she said, “and that people like tasting the candies.”

The House of Stewart makes traditional Scottish candies. This includes caramels and the Scottish tablet, which isn’t found in the U.S., except for rare occasions such as world markets, said Stewart, owner and founder of the Denver-based business.

The House of Stewart got its start in May 2016. Stewart is an Army veteran and went to law school — the only baking she did was on the weekends for her family.

“I never imagined a career in the candy business,” Stewart said.

However, she frequently traveled back-andforth to Scotland on leisure trips and enjoyed the Scottish candies so much that she would bring back as many that she could.

“Then I decided that other Americans would probably enjoy the candies as well,” Stewart said.

Today, House of Stewart candies and confections ship across the U.S., and Stewart is looking to open a storefront in Las Vegas early 2022.

People enjoy the candies and fancy packaging, which is catered to adults, Stewart said. The candies are great for parties or gifts — “And for yourself,” Stewart said. “If you’ve had a hard day and want to treat yourself, why wait for a special occasion?”

owner and founder of The Log Candle

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

“Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters in France,” now open at the Denver Art Museum through March 13, includes more than 100 paintings created between 1855 and 1913 by American painters, some who studied in offi cial and private academies and some who roamed the city and countryside, painting images.

In preceding years, according to Curator Emeritus Timothy Standring, there was a focus on how paintings were done, consideration of the academic technique of the work, but by the period covered, concern had moved to what the painting said about a subject. Controversy still existed over what was most important in a work of art ... (As it does today!)

This exhibit is an absolute pleasure to contemplate for the lush colors in art that pop against deeply toned walls. Take a deep breath and start walking. Art is hung “salon style,” with a mix of sizes and subjects rather than with all in a neat row. “Do you know how brave it is to tell lenders that work will be hung salon style?” Standring commented.

At the turn of the century, Paris was the center of the art world and acceptance in the Salon (started in 1775) was a goal for artists from France, America and elsewhere.

James McNeill Whistler, John Singer Sargent and Mary Cassatt were among the Americans who arrived to study.

Cassatt, who was 21 when she arrived in Paris, had particular challenges as women were not accepted to the prestigious Ecole des BeauxArtes, nor allowed to socialize in cafes where male artists gathered. But her introductory portfolio was so accomplished that she was accepted in the atelier of Jean-Leon Gerome and supplemented her studies by making copies of masterworks at the Louvre, which she could sell. We are told that she formed a close friendship with painter Edgar Degas.

Other American women artists with works exhibited include Elizabeth Jane Gardner, Cecelia Beaux, Lila Cabot Perry and Elizabeth Nourse.

Standring commented that it has taken 10 years to get this show together. “It becomes more and more diffi cult to stage a major loan show, with shipping and couriers.” The museum staff has worked steadily on the project.

“Americans could have gone to Dusseldorf, Rome, London,” Standring said as he started his press tour comments. But Paris won their initial interest and they spread out into the picturesque countryside as well.

There are 18 paintings by Cassatt, who did have work accepted/exhibited in the Salon. Included are early works, such as “The Mandolin Player” (1868) and “Mother and Child” (1889), which Standring considers to be her fi nest work.

A gallery is dedicated to Whistler, illustrating his many different approaches to painting. He began his time in France with study in the atelier of Swiss-born artist Charles Gleyre and works exhibited here include “The Coast of Brittany (Alone With the Tide)” (1861), “Blue and Silver, Dieppe,” (1880-85), “The Sea, Pourville” (1899) and “The Beach at Marseilles” (1901).

Sargent’s paintings are important to the period and this exhibit shows preliminary studies he painted prior to completing the well-known “Fishing for Oysters at Cancale” (1877). We have in recent years enjoyed a major exhibit of Sargent’s works at the Denver Art Museum, but it’s good to recognize his involvement with these other painters as well. It was a rich period that carried through in subsequent examples of American art.

An American group, known as “The Ten,” included William Merritt Chase, J. Alden Weir, Frank Benson, Edmund C. Tarbell, Thomas D. Ewing and Robert Lewis Reid. Their work was not immediately met with enthusiasm in America, but they persisted.

A second wave of American artists also included in this large exhibit were members of a group called “The Eight” (1907) and included Robert Henri, William Glackens, Maurice Prendergast, Arthur B. Davies and Arthur Dove.

For visitors who want to know more, there is a beautiful large (200page) catalog, which visitors may want to consider purchasing (but not carry around while enjoying the exhibit!).

The Denver Art Museum, at 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway in downtown Denver, is open daily and this exhibit is on the second level of the Hamilton Building through March 13. It will then travel to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts from April 16 to July 31, 2022. Special ticketing is required. denverartmuseum.org, 720-865-5000. Advance reservations recommended.

COURTESY OF DENVER ART MUSEUM

The Holiday Market is part of Cherry Creek North’s Winter Wanderland, which offers a variety of free, festive activities for the entire family. The Winter Wanderland Light Walk features Cherry Creek North’s 600 trees adorned with nearly a million lights.

Another not-to-miss attraction is the U.S. debut of the Creos company’s “domino effect,” created by Ingrid Ingrid and located at Third Avenue and Milwaukee Street. Creos is a Canadian company that presents touring interactive installations. The interactive and musical traveling art installment came to Cherry Creek North from Montreal, and will only be in Denver until Dec. 31.

“We want to provide a place for our community to create lasting memories they return to year after year,” said Nick LeMasters, president and CEO of the Cherry Creek North Business Improvement District, in a news release. “This event has grown into an incredible opportunity for families to feel the glow of the holidays around every corner in Cherry Creek North.”

The walkable Cherry Creek North neighborhood includes 275 businesses, of which, 70% are locally owned, said Jeannie McFarland Johnson, director of marketing and communications for Cherry Creek North.

By shopping locally, not only can people help small businesses thrive, but they also won’t need to worry about the supply chain, McFarland Johnson.

“It’s fantastic not working in a cubicle anymore,” The Log Candle’s Swanson said, pointing to the community’s support for some of the success of his small-business venture.

People like shopping at holiday markets because they can fi nd something unique, and see interesting things, Swanson said.

He expects to have lots of different, fun conversations with people at this year’s Cherry Creek North Holiday Market, he said.

And he expects people will gather around the Log Candles’ fi re, he said.

“Because it puts out a little warmth,” Swanson said.

To learn more about the Cherry Creek North Holiday Market, visit www.cherrycreekholidaymarket.com.

To learn more about the Cherry Creek North Holiday Market, visit www.cherrycreekholidaymarket. com

city’s WinterFest 2019. This year, the celebration will be on Dec. 10. FILE PHOTO S Trees and decorations fi ll the lot at Thornton’s 2019 Winterfest.

tration deadline: Dec. 3 is the last day to sign up their youngsters to have the Santa Claus call between 6 and 8 p.m. Dec. 14 through 16, specifying a date and rough time for the call and providing some information about their child — name, age, address, brothers and sisters, favorite things, pet names, what they want for Christmas and how they’ve been behaving. One of Thornton’s volunteer elves will call, putting Santa — or one of his helpers — on the line when they’re ready. Visit https://bit.ly/3DDs3Nn for the registration form.

Noel Northglenn 2021: It’s Northglenn’s traditional holiday celebration in a brand new space! The City of Northglenn kicks off the holiday celebration at the Parsons entrance of the new Northglenn Recreation Center at 1 E. Memorial Parkway., from 5 to 8 p.m. Kids can visit Santa and have their picture taken or enjoy some holiday songs with Mrs. Claus and her elves. There will be free pizza and treats like cookies and hot chocolate, free books (while supplies last), carriage rides. The band Animal Farm will be performing indoors at the Parson’s Theater, with 30-minute shows at the quarter past the hour. Elves will be on hand leading holiday hula hooping and there will be other surprises. holiday music from local performers, baked goods, crafts, gifts and stocking-stuffers and photos with Santa Claus.

Holiday Craft Bazaar: Fort Lupton opens the holidays with a series of free events. Start at the library and end up at the Recreation Center. Santa Claus will be on hand from 10 a.m. to noon for Cookies and Cocoa with Santa at the Fort Lupton Public School and Library, 425 S. Denver Ave. The celebration moves to the Recreation Center, at 203 S. Harrison Ave. for a holiday bazaar from noon to 5 p.m. There will be a chili dinner fundraiser from 4-7 p.m., carriage rides, a performance by the Legacy School of Dance and the community Christmas tree lighting at 5:30 p.m.

Brighton Winter Festival: Activities will be 2-4:30 p.m. clustered around Main Street Creatives, 36 S. Main St., featuring a Teddy Bear and Friends Tree and Santa Comes to Town, face painting and plenty of food trucks. The celebration moves to Founder’s Plaza at 5 p.m. with a performance by acapella group FACE, followed by the Christmas tree lighting.

The city of Westminster kicks off the countdown to Christmas at 5:30 p.m. with the annual Holiday Lighting Ceremony at City Hall, 4800 W. 92nd Ave. in Westminster come see the magical wonderland of lights, complete with holiday music, hot chocolate, cookies and visit from Santa Claus. There will be a full-sized sleigh and miniature train for photos, a bonfi re and a hayride to complete the event. Free of charge, sponsored by St. Anthony North Health Campus.

Hanukka Eighth night: Come see the fi rst eight lights of the Westminster grand menorah lit between 4-6 p.m. at the Orchard Town Center Square, 14697 Delaware St. Westminster -- next to the Rock Bottom Restaurant and the AMC Theaters. The event features Hanukka music and sing-alongs, doughnuts, hot latkes and cocoa, and prizes.

Thornton Winterfest: Come celebrate the season with the city’s annual holiday celebration through Dec. 11 at the Carpenter Park Fields, 108th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard. The festival opens at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. Saturday and runs until 9 p.m. nightly. The festival features Santa’s Village, with ice skating, ice carving, food vendors, a tree decorating contest, a beer garden and visits from Santa Claus himself. Saturday events include a breakfast with Santa at 7:30 a.m., a 10 a.m. Ugly Sweater Fun Run 5k, a holiday marketplace and an 8:30 p.m. fi reworks display.

The city hosts its holiday parade of bright lights and cheer beginning at 6 p.m. at 605 4th St. – the Bank of Colorado Operations Center. A tree lighting ceremony is set for 6:45 p.m. Santa sticks around for photos from 7-8 p.m.

Brighton Parade of Lights: More than 75 colorful and creatively decorated fl oats will be featured in the city’s 26th annual holiday parade. The parade steps off at 5 p.m. heading south on North Main St., turns east onto Bridge St. to 10th Ave. and then to Southern Ave. before turning east to return to City Hall.

Plays: Two Old Time Radio Christmas plays will be performed live by the Advent Radio Players at 1 p.m. at Advent Lutheran Church in Westminster, 7979 Meade St. in Westminster.

The Advent Radio Players have recreated old-time radio shows for the past nine years, using original scripts, several microphones and sound effects from the original programs just as they were heard on the radio. Each play is performed like a live radio show including lighted applause and on the air signs.

This year’s performances are a Fibber McGee and Molly Comedy, “Fibber Paints a Christmas Tree White” will be followed by a Dragnet Drama “The Big Little Jesus”. These will be presented using the original scripts and sounds just as they were presented on the air in 1945 and 1953. Donations are appreciated. You can also watch the plays live at https://www.facebook. com/adventwestminsterco, the church’s Facebook page.

Concert: Thornton’s Community Chorus presents their annual holiday concert “Christmas Through the Ages”, featuring all varieties of holiday music, from 7-9 p.m. at the Village Church, 4550 2128th Ave., in Thornton. Contact Britney Farr at 661 212-3261 or email thorntonchorus@gmail.com for more information. This year’s concert will also be live-streamed on the group’s Youtube page, https://www.youtube.com/user/ thorntonCchorus.

The deadline to participate in this year’s Angel Tree project is Wednesday, Dec. 1.

Stop by the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave., Fort Lupton Pack and Ship, 810 First St., Fort Lupton Public & School Library, 425 S. Denver Ave., and Dale’s Pharmacy, First Street east of Pacifi c Avenue, and select an angel off the Christmas tree. Buy the gift, then return it to the place where you selected the angel.

Drop off gift donations to KM Cup, 721 Fourth St., by Dec. 1.

Fort Lupton’s annual Winterfest and holiday bazaar starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.

The day includes a visit from Santa Claus, fresh cocoa, unique food trucks, craft and service vendors, live caroling, a tree lkighting ceremony and chili go-to kits. The chili dinner runs from 4 to 7 p.m. at the recreation center. It’s a benefi t for the CWF 4-H Club.

Visit https://fortluptonco. gov/666/Winterfest-Holiday-Bazaar.

This year’s United Methodist Church’s Women’s Christmas tea starts at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 5, at 306 Park Ave.

This year’s event will feature Susie Knight a multi-talent western entertainer, singer, songwriter, cowgirl poet. Food will be served, and admission is free. Donations are welcome for the Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank. Contact Sharon Ceretto for more information at 303-907-9592.

Entries for this year’s Parade of Lights are due Friday, Dec. 3. The event is at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10. Downtown Fort Lupton and the Fort Lupton High School LULAC club are the sponsors.

Businesses can register at http://paradeofl ights.fortluptonchamber. org/?fbclid=IwAR18oTBm5-gnkDZBtrESj9Snl4nwLeLuBjLVl58i_ T3uDXH9aimi_j2Pvyc.

The parade begins at the Fort Lupton Fire Department, 2999 Ninth St., then heads west toward Fourth Street before ending at Fourth Street and Park Avenue.

The tree lighting ceremony starts at 6:45 p.m., and pictures with Santa start at 7 p.m. The evening also features cocoa and cookies.

Email mary.leblanc@bankofcolorado.com.

The next installment of Brighton’s Growing Grads program is at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at Anythink Library, 567 E. Bridge St.

Brighton Youth Services provides this annual college and career readiness event for highschool juniors and seniors and anyone interested in pursuing higher education. Students and families will be able to chat with colleges, trade schools and apprentice programs, view fi nancial aid presentations in both English and Spanish and check out local scholarships. Call 303-565-2000.

Tony Merritt, the local Edward Jones fi nancial advisor, is supporting the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program by using his offi ce as a drop-off location for this year’s toy drive, according to a praess statement.

Local residents may help needy children in the area by bringing in a new, unwrapped toy to the offi ce, 150 Main St., Suite 1, during regular business hours through Dec. 3.

“With the holiday season around the corner, we are all getting ready for the festivities,” Merritt said in the statement. “And as this is the season of giving, now is a great time to remember the less fortunate in our community.”

Call 303-857-3983.

The Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canneed fruit and N, variety of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches), to help out local schools that just reopened after a year of remote learning.

Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. The bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.

Drop off donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-8571096.

Teens can stop by the Fort Lupton Pubic & School Library Wednesdays to play crafts, video games and hang out with friends after school.

Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.

This is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and a fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active and enjoy all the benefi ts that come from walking.

Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps school children in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-718-4440. Mail donations to Blessings in a Bag, 306 Park Ave., Fort Lupton 80621. Center offers drop-in child care from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call 303-857-4200.

Fort Lupton has openings for several of its citizen advisory committees. Visit https://www. fortluptonco.gov/966/I-Want-ToApply-for-a-Committee.

The city of Fort Lupton is looking for volunteers for its historic preservation board, the Fort Lupton Urban Renewal Authority, FLURA business representative (a fi ve-year term), FLURA alternate member (term expires March 5, 2023) and library board trustee (term expires December 2024).

Call Alyssa Knutson at 720-4666128.

The Fort Lupton Public & School Library put together a chess tournament that’s ideal for beginning players.

Visit https://docs. google.com/forms/ d/1UFPA1ENiETkHnJjaHh_E3hUAOEWSRKUXpU7utzYab-U/vie wform?fbclid=IwAR1M9cUK4bp 7cJyH9phmivtIV6gmeXqd3kNra 5q_L113Py-IhRIHDjMHRd4&edit_ requested=true

Senior lunches are available at noon Mondays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Sign up by noon the previous Thursday. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166.

Fort Lupton’s weekly coffee group sessions are at 8 a.m. Wednesdays. Call 303-857-4200.

Silver Sneaker Yoga is available Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.

The city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at thke Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.

Fort Lupton’s senior pen pal program through Twombly Elementary School is looking for participants. Learn more at: https:// www.fortluptonco.gov/950/SeniorPen-Pal-Program

Monthly craft classes through the Fort Lupton Recreation Center (203 S. Harrison Ave.) are available. Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166 with questions.

Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement.

Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 400-2226 or visit:

Community Reach Center is offering a Warm Line (303-2806602) for those who want to talk to mental-health professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. The professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.

A press statement said the line is not for crisis intervention. Those feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844-493-8255) or text 38255 or visit the Behavioral Urgent Care Center, 2551 W. 84th Ave., Westminster.

Also, the center’s COVID-19 Heroes Program is set up to assist healthcare workers during the pandemic. Those who live or work in Adams County can receive up to six free counseling sessions. Use the Warm Line for support and free counseling.

Brighton’s community intake location is at 1850 E. Egbert St., on the second fl oor. It’s open from 8 a.m. to noon Tuesdays.

Brighton Advanced Urgent Care, 2801 Purcell St. Call 303-659-9700 or visit https://advurgent.com/locations/brighton/

Brighton Salud, 1860 E. Egbert St. Testing is available on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Call 303-697-2583 or visit https://www. saludclinic.org/covid-testing

Fort Lupton Salud, 1115 Second St. Testing is available on Tuesday and Thursday. Call 303-697-2583 or visit https://www.saludclinic.org/ covid-testing

The Brighton chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 147 S. Second Place. Meeting times are 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, noon and 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 6 p.m. Thursdays and 9 p.m. Fridays.

Call 303-659-9953 or visit www. brighton1aa.org.

Qualifi ed Listeners needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become qualifi ed listeners.

Visit qualifi edlisteners.org/volunteerapp and fi ll out the form or call 720-600-0860.

Small businesses can apply for up to $35,000 in relief funding through a mix of grants and lowinterest loans.

Visit EnergizeColorado.com. It’s available to businesses with less than 25 full-time employees.

Police arrested a Lakewood man, 32, at U.S. Highway 85 & Mile Marker 240 for weaving, eluding, and reckless driving. He was held

A Denver woman, 42, was taken into custody in the 1300 block of Dexter Street for trespassing, vehicle eluding, reckless endangerment and other associated charges. She was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police arrested a Brighton man, 39, in the 200 block of South Rollie Avenue for a traffi c stop for unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of burglary tools, criminal trespass, theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A 30-year-old Fort Lupton man

Police issued a summons to a Fort Lupton man,33, for causing a traffi c accident by following too closely at U.S. Highway 85 & State Highway 52.

A Fort Lupton man, 57, was issued a summons for shoplifting a candy bar worth $3 in the 600 block of 14th Street.

Police took a Brighton woman, 28, into custody in the 100 block of McKinley Avenue for a Fort Lupton warrant for failure to appear on a

Police issued a summons to a Severance man, 24, at U.S. Highway 85 & Weld County 25.5 for causing a careless driving accident.

A Fort Lupton man, 32, was arrested in the 200 block of South Denver Avenue on four Fort Lupton warrants, three for trespassing and one for resisting arrest. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police took into custody a Brighton man, 41, in the 2000 block of South Timberline Road for DUI, careless driving, no insurance and violation of a protection order.

about our natural world that is sure to entertain your preschooler while teaching them about plants, animals and our planet. Call 303-6596005.

Barr Lake State Park’s storytime program goes virtual this year.

Rangers will read stories about the natural world. Call 303-659-6005 with questions.

The South Platte Valley Historical Park will be reopening for public visitation on May 3, 2021. The hours the park will be open are from 10:00 till 4:00 on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, check our website, www.spvhs.org or call 303-857-1710.

Qualifi ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has several power chairs, power scooters and electric wheelchairs available.

The VA offers urgent care services to eligible veterans, both at VA medical facilities or at several in-network urgent care clinics that are closer to home. Use this benefi t to treat minor injuries and illnesses that are not life-threatening, such as colds, strep throat, sprained muscles, and skin and ear infections.

To fi nd the closest facility to you visit www.va.gov/ fi nd-locations or call 720-6000860.

Qualifi ed Listeners also needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become qualifi ed listeners.

The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself.

In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and non-partisan journalism. It covers everything from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun.com.

HANDOUT PHOTO

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado voters will decide next year whether to further reduce the state’s income tax rate.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Offi ce said Nov. 18 that supporters of Initiative 31 collected enough signatures to get their question before voters in 2022. They needed at least 124,632 signatures to qualify for the ballot.

The measure is being pushed by conservatives, including Jon Caldara, who leads the Independence Institute.

The initiative seeks to reduce the income tax rate to 4.4% from 4.55%.

Nonpartisan legislative staff estimated in April that the measure would reduce state general fund revenue by $530 million in fi scal year 2022-23 and $370 million in fi scal year 2023-24.

Separately, Colorado voters are already going to see a temporary income tax rate reduction to 4.5% for the foreseeable future because the state is projected to exceed the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights cap on government growth and spending for at least the next three fi scal years, triggering the rate reduction.

In 2020, Colorado voters approved Proposition 116, which reduced the state income tax rate to 4.55% from 4.63%.

BY CLARKE READER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Ask most people what it takes to survive and thrive in nature and speed will be among the top elements any creature should have. And that is largely correct.

But as is often the case in the natural world, there are all kinds of exceptions to the rule — fascinating ones.

The kinds of animals that thrive despite — or because — of their slowness take center stage at the traveling exhibition, “Survival of the Slowest,” which is stopping at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver, through Jan. 9.

“This is a great opportunity to showcase the animals that aren’t the strongest, fastest and biggest,” said Dr. FrankThorsten Krell, senior entomology and exhibit curator. “It’s not always necessary to be the fastest and strongest and that’s a message a lot of people — especially kids — really like.”

Produced by Little Ray’s Exhibitions and the Foundation for Animal Rescue and Education (FARE), the exhibit also breaks another norm at the museum — it features living animals, instead of their remains.

“Before we accepted the exhibit, we did a lot of checking to ensure the welfare of the animals is a priority for the organizers. It’s important for us that the animals are well cared for and live in habitats they enjoy,” Krell said. “What I didn’t expect is how close you’re able to see these animals.”

The star of the show is certainly the sloth, but it’s not the only one -- visitors will also get a look at a hedgehog, iguana and more. Among the many things visitors can learn about the sloth is that they have the lowest relative muscle mass of any mammal (25%, compared to 40% in humans and 58% in lions) and that they only climb down from trees is for mating and defecation.

While all the animals visitors will meet don’t do a lot of moving, the reasons and strategies behind their slowness vary.

According to provided information, some are cold-blooded, others warm-blooded. Some are adapted to need food less frequently than others, while others fi nd unique ways to hide from their adversaries.

“Since these animals don’t move very quickly, we encourage people to come back several times, because that will allow you to see them doing different things,” Krell said. “People can come connect with the animals by seeing them so close. It’s a good message that there are different strategies in life to be successful.”

Entry into the exhibit is included with a general admission ticket. Get all the details at www.dmns.org.

Enjoy up to 50% more space in your kitchen and better access to your most-used items with our custom pull-out shelves installed in your existing cabinets

*Limit one offer per household. Must purchase 5+ Classic/ Designer Shelves. EXP 12/31/21

BY RAE ELLEN BICHELL KAISER HEALTH NEWS

The Marker family of Parker opened their door on a recent evening to a woman dressed in purple, with a military attitude to cleanliness.

Linda Holmes, who has worked as a technician with LiceDoctors for fi ve years, came straight from her day job at a hospital after she got the call from a dispatcher that the Marker family needed her ASAP.

According to those in the world of professional nitpicking, Pediculus humanus capitis, the much-scorned head louse, has returned.

“It’s defi nitely back,” said Kelli Boswell, owner of Lice & Easy, an Arvada boutique where people in the Denver area can get deloused, a process that can range from minutes to hours depending on the method and the infestation. “It’s a sign that things are coming back to normal.”

Colds and more serious bugs like respiratory syncytial virus, better known by the shorthand RSV, are also back. That may leave some to wonder: With all the covid prevention measures in place, how are kids sharing these things?

Like the coronavirus, all these bugs depend on human sociability. Unfortunately, the measures that many reopened schools have taken to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 — masks, hand-washing, vaccination — do little to deter the spread of the head louse.

However, physical distancing, such as spacing desks 3 feet apart, should be helping, if it’s actually happening.

Lice are, in theory, harder to spread than the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 because proximity alone isn’t enough: They usually need head-to-head contact. If a kid gets lice, odds are it means that kid spent some quality time close enough to another kid for the parasite to make its move. (Researchers tend to agree that transmission via inanimate objects like combs and hats is minimal.)

The head louse is not known for its fortitude or athletic prowess. It’s basically the couch potato of pests. Adults can’t survive more than a day or two without snacking on blood. Their eggs can’t hatch without the warmth of a human head, and will die within about a week if not in those cozy conditions. The bugs can’t jump or fl y — only crawl. The one thing going for the head louse is its highly specialized claws, evolved to grasp human hair.

Unlike the body louse, the head louse isn’t known to spread disease. An infestation doesn’t indicate anything about a person’s hygiene. (In fact, the lore of delousers says that the bugs prefer clean hair because it’s more grabbable.) And despite common misconceptions, they can colonize people of all ages, races and ethnicities.

COVID lockdowns were not great from a louse-world-domination standpoint. But the critters have been bonding with us for tens of thousands of years. A little lockdown wasn’t going to end the romance.

Federico Galassi, a researcher with Argentina’s Pest and Insecticide Research Center, found that strict early covid lockdowns did, indeed, lead to a decline in head lice among kids in Buenos Aires, but the bugs came nowhere close to being eliminated. His study found prevalence dropped from about 70% to about 44%.

And one thing is clear: When people shut their doors and hunkered down in early lockdowns, the lice were right there hunkered down with us.

When SaLeah Snelling reopened the doors of her Lice Clinics of America salon in Boise, Idaho, in May, she said, “the cases of head lice were heavier than we’ve ever seen.” And it wasn’t just one or two people in the household with lice, but the entire household.

Now, Galassi and American louse workers say, infestation rates are back to pre-lockdown norms, despite school covid protections.

Nix, a brand of anti-louse products, publishes a map that claims lice are bad right now in Houston, most of Alabama and New Mexico, plus Tulsa, Oklahoma. The map directs people to locations that carry its products since many parents use a DIY approach once they spy the critter on a child’s head.

Richard Pollack, chief scientifi c offi cer with pro-bono pest-identifi cation service IdentifyUS, said most claims about louse prevalence are “marketing nonsense” from a largely unregulated industry focused on apparent infestations that often turn out to be just dandruff, glitter, hair spray, grass-dwelling springtail insects, innocuous fungus or even cookie crumbs.

It’s possible that the recent increase in business for professional nitpickery suggests that people are now comfortable seeking help outside the home rather than its being a sign of a surge in the bugs.

While little research exists to confi rm whether there is a rise in lice, Boswell, Pollack and even the National Association of School Nurses agree: The bugs aren’t likely spreading in the classroom because in-school louse transmission is considered rare.

Instead, Boswell said, it’s more likely that as other activities resumed — sleepovers, play dates, summer camp, family gatherings — the bugs prospered once more.

Pollack once wrote in a presentation slide, “Head lice indicate that the child has friends.” Preschoolers tend to get the infestations the most “because they’re more cuddly,” said Julia Wilson, co-owner of Rocky Mountain Lice Removal in Lafayette. But she has also noticed a rise among teenagers, which she ascribes to taking selfi es with pals.

“You say to them, ‘Have you touched heads?’ and the teenager’s like, ‘No, never,’” said Wilson. “And then all of a sudden, they’re literally taking a selfi e photo with their friends.”

The Marker family isn’t sure where third grader Huntley’s lice originated. Perhaps a close friend or her dance team? The Markers spent more than $200 to get the four-person household checked — eyebrows and Dad’s beard included. Her dad and her preschool-aged brother were free of nits. But Holmes did fi nd a couple of nits on Huntley’s mom, Paris.

“You can just burn my whole head right now,” said Paris.

After combing each head carefully, Holmes ended the session by hugging her customers goodbye, proof that she trusts her work.

PHOTOS BY RAE ELLEN BICHELL/KAISER HEALTH NEWS

This story is from Kaiser Health News, a nonprofi t news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affi liated with Kaiser Permanente. Used by permission. For more, visit khn.org.

VOLUME DISCOUNTS! 500+

BY CLARKE READER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Most people in the metro area are at least a little familiar with historic sites like the Molly Brown House in Denver’s Capitol Hill and the Brown Palace hotel in downtown Denver.

But there’s undoubtedly some who will not recognize the Rosedale House or the Wellshire Inn.

The Wellshire Inn — located in the Wellshire neighborhood — was built in the 1920s as a golf club house. The Tudor building has since become an event center.

“The size and architectural style are uncommon in Denver. The building is distinctive and a landmark, sitting up high above the golf course,” said Kendra Black, Denver councilmember for District 4. “The story should be told and the building and course should be preserved.”

Historic Denver wants people to know more stories like these, and that’s the aim of the new 50 Actions for 50 Places campaign. The project was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the organization.

“We wanted to try to recapture the original grassroots spirit that led us to preserve places that are important,” said Annie Levinsky, Historic Denver’s executive director. “At the time, we had one of the largest memberships in the country and we want to get back to that. People often think preservation is something older people do, but it really is multi-generational.”

The list of 50 places was gathered through a months-long campaign that solicited the Denver community for places and spaces that deserve to have their story told and memorialized in the coming years.

Historic Denver received more than 100 nominations and selected options that recognize the full diversity of the city. The resulting list includes arts and entertainment sites, civic assets, cultural landmarks and homes.

One such home is located at 780 Steele St. in the Congress Park neighborhood, which was the residence of Judge Raymond Jones, who was the fi rst African American appellate judge in Colorado.

According to information provided by Travis Leiker, president and executive director of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Jones attended Harvard, was a judge for 32 years and is a member of the Colorado Black Hall of Fame.

“All too often, the stories of historically marginalized populations go untold and unrecognized. We discovered the same was true for Judge Raymond Jones,” Leiker said. “This property, and the story of Judge Jones, represent one’s perseverance, defi ance against all odds, and should be a fi xture in our community today and for our posterity.”

Some of the places readily welcome visitors, while others are great for walking by to appreciate the design and its history, like the Rosedale House, 2199 S. Bannock St.

The Rosedale House is one of the few remaining homes that were part of the town of Rosedale, which is now part of the Overland neighborhood — not to be confused with the neighboring Rosedale neighborhood, which is just east of Overland. The modest Queen Anne home was part of the fi rst development built by George Timerman in 1887.

People need to know that street names and cities change over the course of 100 years, said Karen Jackson, owner of the home and nominator.

“The original Rosedale is now Overland and was probably beautiful for decades. Over the years, many homes fell in disrepair, but I always knew it was a diamond in the rough,” Jackson said. “I feel like the home picked me and I’m the caretaker chosen to save the home and its history.”

The actions that will be embarked upon are as varied as the sites themselves, Levinsky said. Some will require research about their history; others, technical assistance; and some, recognition through state or national programs.

“We’ll be working with the property owners and community members who nominated the sites to develop a plan,” Levinsky said. “We’ve raised $50,000 for the campaign, and residents can get involved by donating to our organization or a specifi c project.”

Even if you’re not comfortable going out and about to see the sites in person, Historic Denver has you covered — on its website, you can virtually visit all the locations and learn something about them.

“Preservation has a reputation for being reactive, but we want to get ahead of things and support these places and the people who take care of them,” Levinsky said. “Seeing these places is a great way to get to know the city.”

Bringing these spaces and places more attention is what the campaign is really about, and if people can become more appreciative of what is around them, so much the better.

“The home of Dr. Charles Blackwood, the fi rst Black graduate of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, was recently demolished,” Leiker said. The home was located in Denver’s Whittier neighborhood. “This is a reminder that unless we focus our efforts on preserving the buildings and the stories that go with them, our city will lose out on its unique heritage.”

borhood. PHOTO COURTESY OF HISTORIC DENVER

Come in for a quick bite, tasty treats, or to quench your thirst.

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado’s new 8th Congressional District, which stretches from the northern Denver suburbs along U.S. 85 into Greeley, could be the most competitive U.S. House district in the nation next year.

The race to represent the 8th will likely draw national attention and millions of dollars as Democrats try to defend their slim majority in Congress and Republicans gear up for a big push to take back power.

J. Miles Coleman, associate editor at Sabato’s Crystal Ball, a nonpartisan election prognosticator at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, said the 8th District is the only U.S. House district in Colorado that his organization rates as a toss-up.

“If this type of national environment persists (with President Joe Biden’s approval in the low 40s), it could be closer to `leans Republican,’” he said.

Given the district’s national importance next year, we decided to take a deeper look at its electorate:

The 8th District has the smallest share of active registered voters of any of Colorado’s congressional districts, at 428,307.

Districts are drawn based on population, not registered voters, meaning that the 8th District has a large number of children or people not interested in getting involved in the political process. There also may be people in the district who are ineligible to vote, such as those living in the U.S. unlawfully.

By comparison, the Colorado district with the most voters is the 7th District, with 526,424 active registered voters.

The 8th District has the largest percentage of Hispanic people of any of Colorado’s U.S. House districts at 39%.

In terms of voter registration, 44% of the active registered voters in the 8th District are unaffi liated, 28% are Democrats and 25% are Republicans.

“This is a more working-class part of the Denver metro,” Coleman said. “So I don’t think, longer term, it’ll rocket leftward, like (the 6th District) did last decade.”

Alvina Vasquez, a Democratic political consultant, said the district is fi lled with a lot of families who have been pushed out of Denver as the cost of living in the capital has risen. Those voters are focused on kitchen-table issues like jobs, the cost of housing and education. The oil and gas industry is a big issue in the district, both in terms of its environmental impacts and the number of people it employs.

Tyler Sandberg, a Republican political strategist who has worked in the district, said the 8th District’s Democrats are different from Democrats in Denver and Boulder. They’re less progressive.

“CD8 is the Dems’ worst nightmare because, yes, it’s a swing district, but it’s blue collar,” he said. “They are not dyed-in-the-wool, limousine liberals.”

Colorado Treasurer Dave Young, a Democrat who used to hold a competitive state House seat in Greeley that’s within the 8th District, said a moderate candidate will fare best in the district. “I don’t think extreme approaches are going to work — on either side of the aisle,” he said.

Young is confi dent a Democrat can win.

“I do think that is a very winnable race for Democrats,” he said.

An analysis by nonpartisan redistricting staff of the results of eight statewide races between 2016 and 2020 found that the 8th District leans 1.3 percentage points in Democrats’ favor. But a closer look at the results from those three election cycles reveals some interesting numbers.

In 2016, voters in the district backed the reelection of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, by a margin of 2.3 percentage points, but they also voted for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump by a margin of 1.7 percentage points.

In 2018, voters in the 8th District backed Republican attorney general candidate George Brauchler by a margin of 1.7 percentage points but voted in favor of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jared Polis by 1.9 percentage points and backed the Democrats running for treasurer and secretary of state by slightly wider margins.

In 2020, the district backed Democrat John Hickenlooper in the U.S. Senate race by a margin of 1.7 percentage points. Hickenlooper beat incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner by 10 percentage points statewide.

The bottom line is that 8th District voters appear to be fi ckle.

Sandberg drew parallels between voters in the 8th District and voters in Pueblo, who in 2016 backed Trump but voted for Biden in 2020. “Culturally, it’s a very different battleground than Democrats have been operating in,” he said of the 8th.

Vasquez thinks the Pueblo comparison is a fair one. But the 8th District has a population about seven times greater than Pueblo’s.

“Obviously the population is a lot bigger so it’s going to be a lot more diverse than Pueblo,” she said.

The takeaway for Coleman, who works at Sabato’s Crystal Ball, is that that district will remain competitive well into the future.

“I can see this being a swing seat for several more cycles,” he said. trict, at 456,000, followed by Weld at 248,000 and Larimer at 17,000.

Thornton is the city with the largest population in the 8th District, at 141,000, followed by Greeley at 108,000. Then there’s Westminster, at 71,000, Commerce City, 62,000, Brighton, at 39,000, and Northglenn at 38,000.

Let’s start with Coleman, the national elections prognosticator.

“The race could end up a tug of war between Democrats in Adams and Republicans in Weld,” Coleman said. “Given the district’s large Hispanic population, I’m interested to see how that vote breaks down next year. Probably more importantly, it could be a test ground for both parties’ outreach to minorities.”

He thinks state Sen. Kevin Priola, a Henderson Republican, would give the GOP the best chance of winning the seat. Priola hasn’t announced a bid for the seat but is rumored to be considering one.

“But even if he doesn’t run, with the area’s blue-collar demographics, I wouldn’t rule out a strident conservative — like Lori Saine — getting elected in a favorable national climate,” Coleman said, referencing a Republican former state representative who recently announced a bid in the district.

Young, the state treasurer, thinks unaffi liated voters in the district won’t vote the same way ones in Denver and Boulder do, which is to say they often vote for Democrats.

“My guess is they are truly up for grabs,” he said.

On the Democratic side, running are:

State Rep. Yadira Caraveo, who also works as a pediatrician

Adams County Commissioner Chaz Tedesco, a former union organizer

The Republican side of the race is getting crowded. Already in the contest are:

Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine, a former state representative

State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, a former Weld County commissioner

Giuliana “Jewels” Gray, a wedding photographer

Ryan Gonzalez, whose LinkedIn profi le says he is a banker

The primary election will be held June 28.

counties. COURTESY IMAGE

BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Colorado offi cials have ordered 15% of the state’s school districts to replace low-quality elementary reading programs, a major step toward enforcing a 2019 law that requires schools to use reading curriculum backed by science in kindergarten through third grade.

The state education department sent out dozens of letters in late October notifying districts that one or more of their schools use unacceptable reading curriculum and that district offi cials must submit plans by Jan. 17 for complying with the law.

Among the districts receiving the letters are Adams 12, Cherry Creek, Denver, Douglas County, Englewood, Jeffco and Weld RE-4.

State offi cials said they likely will send more letters after clarifying what curriculum some districts are using.

Given Colorado’s local-control ethos and the wide latitude schools have long enjoyed in choosing curriculum, the state’s oversight effort is unprecedented and already appears to have prompted some of Colorado’s largest districts to adopt new reading programs.

But some literacy advocates worry that there are signs of state backpedaling after a recent decision by education department leaders to allow at least 14 districts to continue using a state-rejected reading program called ReadyGEN.

Even so, the state’s crackdown on K-3 reading curriculum seems to be working.

Melissa Colsman, associate commissioner of student learning at the Colorado Department of Education, said only 41% of Colorado’s 178 school districts last spring met rules on K-3 reading curriculum. This fall, that proportion has risen to 63%.

Offi cials from the 90,000-student Denver district announced Nov. 11 at a public literacy event organized by Chalkbeat that they’re piloting a state-approved reading program — Core Knowledge Language Arts — in some schools this year, with plans for a wider adoption in the coming year.

The curriculum is among a dozen core reading programs that the state has approved for use in kindergarten through third grade.

Offi cials in the Jeffco, Dougco, and Cherry Creek districts are also piloting or selecting state-approved reading programs this year. Some schools in the three districts have been using a state-rejected reading program commonly called Lucy Calkins, which experts have criticized for encouraging students to guess at words instead of sounding them out.

School districts often adopt new curriculum every six or seven years. Such purchases can be expensive, but the infl ux of federal COVID relief money means schools now have extra cash that can cover such one-time expenses.

Experts say well-trained teachers are critical to teaching reading well, but that high-quality curriculum can make that job easier.

Among the districts that received state letters in October warning that they used unacceptable K-3 reading curriculum were those using ReadyGEN in some grades or schools, including St. Vrain Valley, Boulder Valley, 27J, and Thompson on the Front Range and Roaring Fork and Salida in western Colorado. Soon after, the state withdrew its demands for those districts to switch.

Along with several other commonly used reading programs, ReadyGEN was reviewed and rejected by state evaluators in spring 2020. Schools using programs that failed the state’s review would have to replace them, state offi cials said then, and several times since.

But now, the message is changing.

Education department offi cials say even though state reviewers rejected ReadyGEN, schools can keep using it because it passed the part of the state review focused on whether it was scientifi cally or evidence-based — the criteria specifi ed in the 2019 law — despite having other fl aws.

“We did hear from districts that said, ‘Your own review process found this to be meeting scientifi cally or evidence-based standards,’” Colsman said.

Lindsay Drakos, a co-chair of the statewide dyslexia advocacy group COKID, said by email that the state’s shifting stance on ReadyGEN dilutes the state’s reading law and could open the door for schools to use other rejected programs.

“If a curriculum is reviewed and rejected, then I believe that is that — it shouldn’t be used in schools in Colorado,” she said.

Colsman said the state’s reversal on ReadyGEN points to “the realities of policy implementation because as we got into actually reviewing what districts were using, you realize that not everything fi ts into a neat bucket.”

Reviewers of ReadyGEN said the program met key standards for science-based reading instruction, but they noted it doesn’t thoroughly cover all foundational skills. They recommended teachers compensate for these shortcomings by using the company’s intervention lessons, a supplement designed for struggling readers, for all students.

Education department offi cials said the intervention lessons must be purchased separately and that while the state can encourage schools to buy and use those lessons, they can’t require it. ReadyGEN also fell short on the state’s review in the “usability” category because reviewers said it was hard to navigate. Become a Chalkbeat sponsor

In Denver, the state’s largest district, many schools use staterejected curriculum, with the most common ones being the 2018 version of Benchmark Advance and Benchmark Adelante, the program’s Spanish version.

Meredith Stolte, the district’s director of humanities, said during Thursday’s literacy event that she’s seen a big difference in reading instruction in the pilot classrooms.

“When children engage in the explicit and systematic way of learning to read, the light in them is completely different because ... they can understand and it’s not a guessing game,” she said, “which, to be honest, is some of what exists in older curriculum like Benchmark.”

Parent Priscila Ramirez, who also spoke at the literacy event, described the frustration she felt about the reading instruction her son, now a fourth-grader, received in Denver.

“Unfortunately, after many years and different schools we saw that he wasn’t learning,” she said. “He wasn’t learning because the learning system or the curriculum that is followed in most schools is not functional for children with dyslexia.”

If districts don’t submit a plan to switch from subpar reading curriculum by the state’s Jan. 17 deadline, Colsman said the department will send reminders. If that doesn’t work, the department could lower districts’ accreditation rating.

“We want to avoid that as as much as possible because ... it’s a blunt instrument,” she said.

This story is from Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonprofi t news site covering educational change in public schools. Used by permission. For more, and to support Chalkbeat, visit co.chalkbeat.org.

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado will for the fi rst time monitor and limit runoff of PFAS, dangerous “forever chemicals” threatening drinking water across the nation, at Suncor’s Commerce City Refi nery as part of a long-anticipated draft of the company’s water quality permit unveiled Nov. 16.

The draft of the renewed permit also demands rigorous benzene cleanup and other controls sought by conservation groups, according to state offi cials who described the plan Nov. 15.

PFAS stands for per- and polyfl uoroalkyl substances.

Though advocacy groups and neighbors are likely to push for even tougher PFAS limits during a 90-day public comment period on the draft, they also expressed general approval of the Water Quality Control Division’s new restrictions after years of Suncor pollution leaks.

“Conservation groups are really excited about a PFAS limit getting into the permit,” though they want state health offi cials to revise the draft even lower than the national EPA standard of 70 parts per trillion in drinking water, said Becca Curry, Colorado policy advocate for Earthjustice.

“I’ve asked my colleagues around the nation for any other refi nery that has a PFAS limit put into the permit, and I can’t fi nd one,” Curry said.

PFAS readings in Suncor discharge water have risen well above 1,000 parts per trillion, state offi cials said.

Water quality offi cials detailing the proposed requirements in the permit said they have listened to neighbors living near Suncor and to advocates demanding more accountability for the refi nery, which has logged numerous air and water violations for decades.

“We feel it is a more protective permit than exists today. And we’re very proud of that,” said Nicole Rowan, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s state water quality director.

A Suncor spokeswoman said Nov. 16, “We will take time to review the details in the draft water permit and follow the established permit renewal process.”

Now that the draft permit renewal is released to the public, the state extended the usual comment period. After that closes, state staff must then research and respond to the comments.

The water quality division is likely to issue a fi nal permit a few months into 2022. Permits last for fi ve years, but are often extended

SEE SUNCOR, P21

BY DAVID GILBERT AND THY VO THE COLORADO SUN

All lanes of the Interstate 25 South Gap project will open nearly a year ahead of schedule, Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado transportation offi cials announced Nov. 22.

Construction on the 18-mile stretch of highway was slated to conclude in November 2022, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation.

“By mid-December, in time for Christmas, the I-25 South Gap project team will open all lanes of travel,” Polis said at a news conference in Larkspur, alongside U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper and state and local offi cials.

The I-25 South Gap from Monument to Castle Rock is Colorado’s longest construction zone. The $419 million project began in September 2018 to relieve congestion and reduce traffi c accidents along the highway, a central route between Denver and Colorado Springs that has seen traffi c worsen as both metro areas have grown in population.

Nearly 85,000 motorists travel the highway — unaffectionately nicknamed “the gap” — daily, said Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers at the news conference.

“Everyone agreed it was unacceptable that the two largest cities in Colorado … Denver and Colorado Springs, were separated by a dangerously narrow section of roadway,” Suthers said.

The project added one new express lane in each direction, widened shoulders, rebuilt fi ve bridges and created four new wildlife crossings.

The expansion will hopefully be a boon to traffi c safety, said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of Colorado State Patrol, saying widened shoulders give much more room to fi rst responders, tow trucks, and brokendown motorists.

Packard recalled CSP troopers Jaimie Jursevics and Cody Donahue, who were hit and killed by drivers during traffi c stops along the stretch of highway in 2015 and 2016.

“We talked about this project serving as a way to honor their legacy,” Packard said. “We’ve done that… but the most important part of safety is the person behind the steering wheel. Drive like your mom’s watching.”

Although lanes will be reopened to traffi c next month, other work along the highway will continue into next spring, said Tim Maloney, vice president of the construction company Kraemer North America.

That includes fi nal paving and striping, landscaping, and installing 28 miles of new deer fencing. The project also includes modernizing power and communications infrastructure along the highway, which will be completed sometime next year.

Offi cials are encouraging drivers to slow down and look for workers as they pass through the corridor.

Once the highway opens all lanes, drivers can use the express lanes without paying a toll until testing is complete in fall 2022, according to state offi cials. Final toll rates have not been determined yet.

Douglas County Commissioner George Teal told The Colorado Sun the expansion project should help ease congestion for roughly the next decade.

“At least that’s better than four years ago, when everyone hated driving through here, and locals told me they quit using this stretch,” Teal said.

Teal called the collaboration between county, state and federal offi cials an example of bipartisanship, one he sees as extending to the driving public.

“Everybody has to drive on the roads, whether you’re Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or Communist,” Teal said. “We all need good roads.”

Bennet, the U.S. senator, touted Democrats’ national infrastructure package at the news conference. He told The Sun he didn’t see the project as out of alignment with goals to cut carbon emissions in the face of climate change.

“We’ve got generations worth of delayed infrastructure spending in this country, including existing roads and bridges,” Bennet said, saying that the recently-passed federal infrastructure bill includes substantial funding to build charging stations for electric vehicles or EVs.

“We’ve got to make sure as we do all of this,” Bennet said of the highway expansion, “we’re transitioning to a cleaner economy.”

New Pet Food Items:

Raw Bison Beef Bones 1”, 2”, 4”, 7” Wild Game Pet Sticks

Bison, Elk, Venison, Beef Yak, Ostrich, Alligator Roasted Beef Bison Bones

Sandwiches:

Subs, Party Trays Friday Lunch Special:

Elk, Bison Burgers House of Smoke Specialty

Triple Decker Club $7.25

Colorado; and Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers. PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT | THE COLORADO SUN

Call for a Gift Catalog 303-857-2750 Shipping Rates Available At HouseOfSmokeInc.com

Steaks:

Ribeye, Strip, Tenderloin Bison, Elk, Venison:

Steaks, Burgers, Sausages, Brats & Jerky Also Available:

Smoked Turkey Breast, Drumsticks, Bacon, Sliced or BI Hams, Smoked 8 oz Cheeses Specialty Items:

Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Bison Short Ribs, Breakfast Links Holiday Specials:

Norwegian Summer Sausage $4.95 Swedish Potato Sausage $4.95 Walleye Filets Lutefisk

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In 2019, Denver blogger Adam Kaat left his corporate job to focus on his writing.

At the time, he had the fi rst draft of a novel completed. Kaat sought a job that was active, but not mentally draining so he could continue work on his debut novel.

Kaat, 36, secured a job in January 2020 as a cashier at a busy, high-end grocery store in Cherry Creek. He enjoyed being a point person for customer service, and especially, the social aspect of the job.

But shortly after settling in, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

By March 15, there were mask orders in place, workers had to sanitize their registers between every customer and shoppers began to hoard groceries and toiletries, Kaat said. He added there was a lot of general panic at that time.

“Everyone’s working overtime (and) being called a hero,” Kaat said. “We had no other choice than to go with the fl ow.”

Kaat then decided to set the novel he had been working on aside, and began to blog about being a frontline worker during an unprecedented time. The blog gained a following, and prompted to Kaat to write what would become his fi rst published novel: “Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic.”

The book was published in April. It is a work of fi ction, but mirrors a lot of Kaat’s experiences as a grocery store employee.

“Life on the Grocery Line” tells the story through the eyes of the character, David, a cashier at the fi ctional Dream Grocers store during the pandemic.

“The book shows the human side of everyday interactions that people might not think about,” Kaat said. “Hopefully, it makes you laugh, (and) think about the future and to be good to each other.”

I think I have always been a writer. I just needed to fi nd the focus to sit down and write. It’s the best way for me to work through the things — both happy and sad — that happen in my life.

I did not discover my love of writing until my last year in college when I began reading more for fun and fi nding a wider variety of writ-

ers. I started dabbling with blogs then and I fell in love. I enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories. My book has brought me closer to people I on his writing. wouldn’t have otherwise met. It’s a fun journey. job that was active, but not mentally draining so he could continue work on his debut novel. grocery store in Cherry Creek. He enjoyed being a point person for customer service, and especially, the social aspect of the job. tize their registers between every customer and shoppers began to hoard groceries and toiletries, Kaat said. He added there was a lot of general panic at that time.

It was therapeutic to sit down and sort through the craziness of the early pandemic. There was a heavy burden put on grocery workers and other essential employees. With all of the uncertainty of the times, I was grateful to have a project to work on.

I am working on the sequel to “Life on the Grocery Line,” where we meet back up with Daniel a year later as he is going through his year review at work. I hope to have it out in spring of 2022.

Daniel is a normal guy thrust into unforeseen circumstances and he has to grapple with many of

the problems we all went through during the fi rst few months of the pandemic.

Hopefully, it helps us all understand what we went through.

As the pandemic wears on and we move back toward “normalcy,” I think it can help remind us how fragile everything is. I think doing that can help ground us and give a better perspective on the future.

To learn more about “Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic,” by local author Adam Kaat, visit www.lifeonthegroceryline.com. The blog can also be found on that website.

after expiring because state staff has been limited for the most complex permits.

Suncor’s air pollution permits are also under review by the health department’s Air Quality Control Division, which has not yet released its responses to public comments.

In the new water discharge permit, the state said it is looking for the following changes at Suncor: • More intensive monitoring of benzene-tainted groundwater at the site. A clay barrier is supposed to keep the hazardous material from Sand Creek, which runs past the refi nery and quickly empties into the South Platte River. • Limits for 50 chemicals the state has now added to monitoring requirements for Suncor’s new permit. • First-time monitoring of hazardous chemicals leaking into the Burlington irrigation ditch that fl ows north into Barr Lake and supplies water to north metro communities. If chemicals are discovered, Suncor will have to line the Burlington ditch to protect drinking water. • Closed-circuit TV exploration and monitoring of old pipe and reservoir systems throughout the sprawling plant as part of an “allasset” review alerting state offi cials to older, potentially forgotten hazards. • Text warnings to neighboring communities when hazardous spills threaten water, similar to a system for air pollution breeches Suncor instituted after past negotiations with the state. • PFAS monitoring weekly at the major “outfalls” of production water and stormwater from Suncor property into Sand Creek. Suncor will be held to the EPA’s national guidelines of less than 70 parts per trillion in discharges. State offi cials added that the EPA is amid a major PFAS review and could tighten those standards, which the state would then follow.

Conservation groups are especially excited about the PFAS monitoring, which they say is one of the fi rst efforts by the state to count the dangerous pollution and hold one industrial site accountable for runoff. Environmental groups have analyzed EPA databases showing that Colorado may have far more sites contaminated by PFAS than any other state.

Chemicals from the PFAS family — there are thousands of variations — have been used for decades in fi refi ghting foam at hazardous sites like Suncor, as well as countless consumer and industrial products advertising nonstick coatings or lubricating properties. They easily permeate into groundwater and don’t degrade over time. Removing them from drinking water supplies is expensive.

While federal and state offi cials are still establishing safe human consumption limits for PFAS, the EPA says studies show the chemicals cause “reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects in laboratory animals,” as well as tumors. High cholesterol levels in those exposed are also common impacts.

State offi cials said they believe PFAS fi refi ghting foam used in the past by Suncor — and still stored on site, according to the state — has contributed to “highly contaminated” groundwater under and around the facility.

During the public comment period, said water division permits section manager Meg Parish, “one of the big questions we’re asking folks is, are these the right limits? We could change these limits in response to public comment.”

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

Bring your camera to take a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Milk and CTake a break from the hustle and bustle and join us for our 4th Annual kies with Santa Saturday, December 11th 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Saturday, December 11th 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Milk and C kies with Santa Saturday, December 11th 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Live music by the "Bootleggers" Live music by the "Bootleggers"