Fort Lupton Press 102022

FRIGHTS AT THE FORT

Election 2022: How Secure is the Vote?

BY VIGNESH RAMACHANDRAN COLORADO NEWS COLLABORTIVE

Colorado is known for its mailin-ballot system that some election experts have called the “gold standard” in the nation. But with unfounded claims of massive voter fraud rampant, some state residents remain concerned about whether their vote will get counted.

The Colorado News Collaborative is speaking with nonpartisan election experts to help the public understand more about the integrity of the vote. One of them, M.V. (Trey) Hood III, is a professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia. His state has been the

epicenter of high-profile claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, which have been found false.

This Q&A has been edited for clarity and length.

How easy is it for someone to mess with the vote?

Certainly every state has a lot of things that have been put in place

Armed teacher training discussed in RE-8

Board of education discusses; wants to explore community perspectives

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The RE-8 board of education has joined the national conversation about arming teachers and other school staff in an effort to protect students from school violence.

Laura Carno, executive director of an organization called FASTER Colorado, presented an armed teacher training program to the board in a regular meeting on Sept. 8. FASTER Colorado aims to equip school staffers to stop school violence quickly and administer medical aid immediately, according to its website.

In the program’s 3-day intensive course, class members learn tactical emergency casualty care, participate in scenario-based training and simulations, learn advanced handgun basics, spend time on the range to work on marksmanship and tactical skills and complete the Colorado POST qualification in handgun proficiency test, according to the web-

The armed teacher training program must be authorized by the RE-8 school board before it can be offered in the district, according to Carno’s presentation.

M.V. (Trey) Hood III is a professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia COURTESY PHOTO

Mad scientist Corey O’Brien is wearing Victoria-era steampunk goggles and a gas mask to protect the face from dangerous chemicals. See more photos on page 5.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

DA Brian Mason sounds the dangers of fentanyl

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

THORNTON – Brian Mason, the district attorney for the 17th Judicial District, spent some of his Oct. 13 town hall meeting at the Thornton Active Adult Center talking about his office’s duties, functions, divisions, who sets bail for defendants (it’s the judge assigned to the case) and even a “jury duty 101” presentation.

But the thing that was most on his mind was the drug fentanyl, which he said was synthetic, manufactured in China, shipped to Central America and is widely available in North America and around the world. Methamphetamine used to be the drug of worry and concern in law enforcement, but not now, he said.

Mason said one reason for the drug’s popularity is that it’s cheaper to make.

“They are literally put-

cases of fentanyl abuse and poisonings.

“Fentanyl can give a bigger high,” Mason said. “I’m proud of how we are attacking the problem.

state’s motor vehicle theft law. As of now, Mason can file charges based on the worth of the stolen car. He and the other attorneys plan to lobby the Legisla-

ture for a change.

“That is quite unjust,” Mason said. “It discriminates against people who have cars that aren’t valuable. Many people who

have cars that aren’t valuable are poor. Many people can’t buy another car, so they can’t get to work or school or take their kids to daycare.”

Latino groups host CD8 forum Oct. 20

STAFF REPORT

Candidates in Colorado’s newest Congressional District are expected Oct. 20 at a Greeley Latino issues forum.

Several groups – CIRC Action, the Latino Coalition of Weld County, LULAC Greeley Chapter, CLLARO, COLOR, Working Families Party, Mi Familia

SCHOOLS

At the beginning of an Oct. 12 study session discussion about the FASTER program, board members Matthew Adame, Susan Browne and Michelle Bettger said they were not interested in the district pursuing it.

Board member Jaime Sierra said she did not personally have a problem with the program, but she would not be comfortable with the board

Vota, The Latino Action Council, League of Women Voters and UNC Dept. of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion organization – are hosting the forum from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 20 at the UNC University Center Longs Peak Ballroom, 2101 10th Ave. Greeley.

Residents will get to interact one-on-one with the candidates from 6- 6:30 p.m.

The forum kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with candidates for the U.S. Congress, the State Board of Education, the CU Regents and several house districts squaring off in a forum focused on Latino community issues.

Candidates expected to attend include Dr. Yadira Caraveo(D) and Barbara Kirkmeyer (R), candidates for the U.S. Congressional

District 8. Other candidates expected are Colorado Board of Education candidate Rhonda Solis; CU Regent candidates Yolanda Ortega and Mark VanDriel; Jennifer Parenti, candidate State House District 19, : Mary Young and Ryan Gonzalez, candidates for State House District 50; Ryan Armagost and Richard Webster, can-

making a decision without gauging interest from the district community and school staff first.

Judy Callaway, a former teacher at Fort Lupton High School, said she does not see a need for armed staff in RE-8 schools.

“Do I think teachers, staff need to be armed in our schools? No,” she said. “If I was out in the middle of Texas somewhere and the nearest police officer was 50 miles away, then maybe. But here? No. I think it puts kids at greater risk.”

Board member Cristian González, who is also a middle school teacher at 27J schools, expressed support of the idea.

“Ever since Uvalde, personally, I think it just kinda hit a little bit more for me… And it got me thinking of if that happens, and I hope it never does, there’s really nothing I can do except just hide, just wait… and that’s kind of a scary thought for me,” he said. “So I think I would feel a little bit safer knowing that there’s maybe, you know, a fellow coworker of mine that has been

trained.”

Superintendent Alan Kaylor stressed the importance of more community voices being involved as the conversation continues.

“I think once we go down this road, we just need to get all the players in the conversation so we don’t miss anything that might come back to hurt us down the road,” he said.

Kaylor said the board members will each speak with the principals of their assigned schools and will revisit the conversation at future meetings.

didates for State House District 64; Lisa Chollet and Michael Lynch, candidates for State House District 65; and Spring Erickson, candidate for State House District 48.

The forum is free to the public, and refreshments will be included. There is also free parking available around the University Center.

CORRECTION

In the Oct. 13 issue of the Fort Lupton Press, we incorrectly reported council’s decision as it pertained to participation in the new Colorado Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Act.

Council opted out. We regret the error and any inconvenience. Email corrections to staylor@ coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Brian Mason, the district attorney for the 17th Judicial District, outlines his o ce’s functions during an Oct. 13 town hall in Thornton.

PHOTO BY STEVE SMITH

Public works department on track for new engineer

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton’s public works director, Roy Vestal, moved a step closer to hiring a new civil engineer during an Oct. 11 council town hall. Council seemed to approve of hiring the unidentified man. There was no formal decision because of the nature of the meeting.

The city advertised for the position in September and received four applications. No names were mentioned. Two drew Vestal’s attention. One is a resident of Aurora with 18 years’ experience, including stints

with the city of Littleton and the city of Aurora. That’s the one Vestal pushed the hardest.

pushed the hardest.

“His asking salary was $97,000,” Vestal told council. “The range we posted was between $62,000 and $74,000. Initially, I was disappointed. But the guy has skills. I’m looking at it long term. I’ve wanted to separate public works and the city engineer positions. It could happen earlier if we brought him on board.”

City Administrator Chris Cross

said the requested salary was within the acceptable range for such a position.

“I’d like to offer 98 ($98,000),” Vestal said. “Somebody with 18 years’ experience and who is very diverse in the field? He could do a lot of things that we are contracting out. He has the experience. He’s interested in moving to the area. He’s not liking the big city a lot right now. He’d be a great addition.”

There was no apparent objection from council to a prospective hire. Vestal said the applicant has experience with working remotely in the event the person has to look for a

home.

“It sounds like he’d be a good candidate for us,” said Councilman Bruce Fitzgerald.

The other application that caught Vestals’ eyes came from Pakistan, but Vestal said a hire would create some problems.

“The quota for H-1 visas has been exceeded,” he told council. “The next one opens in 2024. It’ll cost us $12,000 to sponsor the application.

It’s a long, drawn-out process, and there’s no guarantee he’d be issued an H-1 visa. He could be a contract (employee), but he’s probably not our best option.”

City has one choice for new health insurance program, council told

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A combination of factors prompted Fort Lupton Human Resources Director Laura Howe to move city employee insurance coverage away from Humana Inc. and to somewhere else. Humana Inc. is getting out of the insurance business in the state.

During an Oct. 11 town hall, Howe said she knew where the city should go — United Health Care. But she brought up four possibilities – United Health Care, an independent broker, the Public Sector Health Care Group and the Colorado Employee Benefi t Trust.

“The benefi t trust is not something we are considering seriously,” she told councilors. “United Health Care is the only viable option.”

Howe contacted several carriers before recommending United Health Care.

“A lot of carriers declined to provide a quote,” she told the council. “Some of it has to do with our size. Cigna’s offerings haven’t been great. Kaiser isn’t in our zip code. 2019 was a tough year for claims for us.”

She said United Health Care would be “a good change” for city employees. One reason is the chance for people to earn health

credits in the form of gift cards for meeting certain health objectives.

“They have a larger network. I think employees should be able to fi nd carriers to their liking,” Howe said.

United also offers an employee wellness program, even though Howe said most present employees don’t use it.

“It’s not the best wellness program in the market,” Howe told the council. “We’re going to have to rethink how we do wellness in the future.”

Next year’s cost to the city is a little less than 5 percent more than the present plan. Howe wants

to stay with the city’s present insurance broker, GBS Life Insurance. But some on the council wondered if a change wasn’t in order.

GBS and the city operate on a yearly contract. Howe said it would be hard to switch city brokers so late in the year.

“We don’t have a lot of options (for insurance carriers),” Howe told councilors. “United Health Care has a good network. I don’t think they are trash. They’re not Kaiser, which is narrowly tailored.”

There was no formal council decision because of the format of the meeting.

Fort Lupton begins budget talks for 2023

BY STEVE SMITH SSMITH@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In the span of about a sentence, Fort Lupton City Council acknowledged receipt of the 2023 budget and the city’s six-year capital improvement plan during a special meeting Oct. 11.

In an attached letter, finance Director Leann Perino told council the budget is balanced but “it recognizes that some major policy decisions will have to be made during the work sessions.”

As presented, the document calls for $33 million in general revenue funds and $30 million more in the utility

enterprise fund. Total revenues total just short of $125 million, a $6 million decrease from the 2022 approved budget.

Expenses for 2023 total $52 million, most of which comes from the sewer enterprise fund and from the general fund. The city budgeted $40 million in expenses for this year but is looking at almost $57 million in projected expenses as of September.

Anticipated property tax revenue for next year is up about $1 million from this year’s adopted budget. Use taxes are projected to increase by $263,000 next year, while income from mineral leases is expected to drop 82

percent next year, according to the preliminary budget.

Salaries for municipal court employees are expected to increase, but salaries for city administration are projected to drop 36 percent. The city clerk’s office and the city’s community events department could see a 5 percent increase in their budgets, while the police department’s budget could get a 7 percent increase in 2022.

The budget also includes $15.6 million in revenues in the street sales tax fund. Another $3 million is in the Fort Lupton Public & School Library fund for 2023, most of which is earmarked for the construction of the new facil-

ity.

One capital improvement request comes from the human resources department for a new onboarding system for new hires at a cost of $17,500. There is a request for radio upgrades for police and fire vehicles at a cost of $50,000. The city’s IT department asked for $120,000 for new laptops and docking units to allow for remote working, pending supervisorial approval.

There was no discussion during the Oct. 11 meeting. Council was due to begin discussions during a retreat Oct. 15. Council will have to adopt the budget by the end of the year.

Brighton council is fine with sharing victim services

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brighton leaders are fine expanding their current Victim Services program — which provides counseling and other services for crime victims — to include Fort Lupton and Lochbuie.

“Well, that’s a great idea,” Brighton Councilor Mary Ellen Pollack said during the City Council’s Oct. 11 study session meeting. “They are our neighbors and I think that the way times are now — we all know that it’s not pretty out there — and we can help them and they can help us. You never do know when we are going to have a real big emergency and it will take more than one department to deal with it.”

Colorado municipalities are required to provide some level of victim rights services. Brighton and Commerce City have combined their efforts since 2014 and Fort Lupton, Lochbuie and other communities relied upon the Weld County Sheriff’s Department to provide those services. Weld County announced earlier this year that it would stop providing those services after Dec. 31 of this year.

“Brighton and Commerce City Victim Services have established a reputation that far exceeds the normal services that victims receive,” Kim Messina, Brighton victim services manager, said. “We have been recognized locally, nationally and across the state. I don’t tell you that so you’ll say what a great job

we do. We have built a program that is successful and based upon best practices that truly work.”

Lochbuie and the Fort Lupton police contacted Brighton to see if the program could be expanded. Messina said it could.

“One thing we thought about, though, is we will have to increase staff, but we can talk about that later in the budget,” Messina said.

Each department would provide space for the victim services staff to work and to meet confidentially with crime victims. Victim advocates themselves would work in all the cities and train with all departments and Messina would work directly with each department’s chief of police.

She said it would call for hiring at least one full-time victim advocate for the program.

Increasing paid staff would allow for better coverage across the four municipalities.

She said that they will have to adapt what they do to work with each new police department.

“Currently Lochbuie and Fort Lupton have not had a robust victims services program,” she said.

“We have about 75% call-out rate and we meet victims on the scene.

That’s not something they have had or have been doing, so that could be a challenge for them and for our staff.”

It will also take those departments some work to get used to having victims services staff regularly involved on a regular basis, she said.

According to Messina, the expanded program will cost about $655,000 to operate annually and that would be shared by each community based on population, the number of victim rights calls for service in 2021 and the number of unattended deaths in each city. Under that formula, Commerce City would pay about $353,000, Brighton would pay about $213,000, Fort Lupton $52,000 and Lochbuie $36,000.

Councilor Clint Blackhurst wondered if Brighton volunteers would be asked to respond to the new communities. Messina said they would.

“Currently the way we have it, our volunteers come from both Brighton and Commerce City and they respond to whichever city calls,” she said.

He said he did see a concern with matching work cultures across the four departments.

“You have spent a good portion of your lifetime with the city training our officers on victim services and

why it’s important and when they should be called,” Blackhurst said.

“I venture to say those two agencies will not have the same culture going in, which could create conflicts.”

Deputy Brighton Police Chief Matt Domenico said that’s a valid concern.

“They are certainly getting a different level of service than what we provide in our community,” he said.

“That being said, Kim and her staff have experience managing culture changes among organizations.

There was a significant culture change in Commerce City and the victim advocate program was viewed very differently.”

That’s changed, he said, and now victim services is an accepted part of the Commerce City Police Department’s culture.

“I feel very good that we will be able to recognize some significant benefits while helping out our neighboring communities as well,” he said.

‘Brighton and Commerce City Victim Services have established a reputation that far exceeds the normal services that victims receive.’

Kim Messina, Brighton victim services manager

Should you consolidate retirement accounts?

If you’ve been working for many years, you may have accumulated several retirement accounts, such as IRAs and 401(k)s. But you might find it advantageous to consolidate these accounts with a single provider.

Having all your accounts in one place may help reduce the confusion and clutter involved with keeping track of tax documents, statements, fees, disclosures and other important information across multiple

And by consolidating accounts, you’ll avoid the possibility of forgetting about an old retirement plan. It’s surprising, but many people do indeed abandon accounts.

Also, when you place all your retirement accounts with one provider, you’ll find it easier to maintain a unified investment strategy and to rebalance your portfolio as needed. And it’s possible a new provider may even offer some new investment options.

Finally, when you reach 72 and start taking required withdrawals from your 401(k) and traditional IRA, you’ll find it easier to calculate the right amounts when you’ve consolidated all your accounts.

So, if you do have multiple retirement accounts, give some thought to consolidating them. It may save you time and hassles while also helping you manage your retirement income more effectively.

Jennifer

The

Roger

Meia

What other dirty linen in our geographic drawer needs cleansing? BIG PIVOTS

Our heartburn about the name Evans appears to be nearing resolution.

The Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board this week heard testimony about the role of John Evans, then the territorial governor, in the Sand Creek Massacre of 1864.

The evidence presented by representatives of Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes, the primary victims of the massacre, was not new, but it was damning. Can there be any doubt that Colorado’s 14th

Allen Best

between 150 and

tary school. Then 18, Howbert was among the 3rd Regiment soldiers nearing the end of their 100-day volunteer enlistments. They methodically killed between 150 and 230 people, mostly women and older men but also children and babies.

Victims also included several

looking after the best interests of the tribes. He did not, as a report issued in 2014 by a Northwestern University panel made clear. A University of Denver report the same year, the 150th anniversary, delivered a more stinging conclusion, putting Evans on the same high shelf of culpability as Chivington. The report found that Evans, through his actions, “did the equivalent of giving Colonel Chivington a loaded gun.”

Both institutions were founded by Evans.

tlers think that Indians might set upon them at any moment.”

Like Evans, Byers refused to condemn the massacre even decades later. Instead, he argued that it had “saved Colorado and taught the Indians the most salutary lesson they had ever learned,” according to Ari Kelman’s “A Misplaced Massacre,” one of several dozen books about Sand Creek.

Oddly, while two congressional committees and a military commission that investigated Sand Creek pronounced it an unpro-

JAMES

And the county has done all of that without a collective bargaining

Injecting collective bargaining as an additional bureaucratic layer is as unnecessary as it is expensive.

Weld County is required to en-

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gage in collective bargaining with Weld County employees, the estimated additional annual cost to the county would be $42,943,426.00 to $60,120,796.00, as analyzed by Donald Warden, Weld County Director of Finance and Administration.

Collective bargaining will force the county to reallocate funds from necessary projects to a program that largely duplicates protections already in place. And it will be at

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the expense of services citizens rely upon to keep them safe and provide for a high quality of life.

Fortunately, as a home-rule county, the voters can amend the home-rule charter to ensure the Weld County Commissioners are under no obligation to recognize or negotiate with, for the purpose of collective bargaining, any collective bargaining unit of county employees.

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And, fortunately, as a home-rule county, the voters can have a direct say as to how their tax dollars are used in this case.

Therefore, Weld County voters are encouraged to vote ‘YES” on Weld County Home Rule Charter Question 1A.

Submitted by Commissioner Chair Scott James on behalf of the Board of Weld County Commissioners

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Eugene “Gene” A. Cvancara

As a family we want to express what an amazing life our husband and father Eugene “Gene” Cvancara lived. He was born on September 1, 1935 and started his life living in a tar paper shack on the family homestead in Ross, North Dakota. After his grandparents passed away, the family moved into the main farmhouse. Gene recalled how they lived an hour outside of town. e kids would put stones on the pot belly stove and wrap them in blankets that they placed at their feet in the open sleigh for the ride into town.

Gene quit school after 6th grade and helped on the farm. At 16 years old, Gene lied to get a job as a roughneck and drove to Texas to work. is not only gave him an excellent job, but he came back to his hometown and was able to help put the crop in with his family. He had been so proud and excited to help his family as an “adult”.

He returned to Texas to nish his job and at 18 years old, he signed up for the Army. He nished boot camp and was stationed in Fort Belvoir in Virginia. He was trained in the Army Corp of Engineers and upon completion of his training, he shipped out to Germany to rebuild buildings and roads. He took advantage of being in Europe enjoying sites in Amsterdam, France and Italy. Even though he loved remembering the areas he saw, he remembered how thankful the German people were to see their war-torn country being repaired and rebuilt. He said they all welcomed the soldiers and took care of them while they were there.

He started a life with his wife Sharon on June 15, 1958 and quickly moved from North Dakota to South Dakota and landed in Brighton, Colorado by spring of 1960.

ey raised their 3 children: Scott, Lezli and Shawn who all live in the area to this day. He not only built a life but worked on building the city. He was a superintendent for Asphalt Paving and his most notable

projects were all of I-225, 6th Avenue and I-25 through the “mousetrap”.

He worked for Cox Construction working with telephone conduit, but his true passion came to fruition when he started Vancara Builders with his son Scott. ey built custom homes throughout Brighton. Most people today can still recognize the style, quality and craftsmanship that went into each and every house.

After working in California for a while, Gene returned to Colorado and retired from Concrete Express. He and Sharon enjoyed his retirement years while living part-time between Colorado and Arizona. ey extensively travelled throughout the country in an RV and always enjoyed meeting new people and visiting with friends and family along the way. ey took cruises to Alaska, the Panama Canal and were truly blessed when they ful lled their lifelong dream of travelling through the Holy Lands of Israel.

Gene passed away on September 23, 2022 with his family by his side. He is survived by his wife Sharon, brother Larry (Edith) Cvancara, son Scott (Gretchen) Cvancara, daughters Lezli (John) Belohrad and Shawn (Tom) Weaver. His grandchildren: Lynette (Rob)Laursen, Lori (Jered) Maupin, Seth (Kenzie) Cvancara, Shannon ( omas) Quayle, Mykol Sostarich, Tyler (Danielle) Weaver, Travis Belohrad, Alyssa (Devin) DeRocher, Ralphie Martinez, Auston Belohrad and Braden Weaver. Greatgrandchildren Alyanna Hale, Providence Quayle, Titus Quayle, Aspen Cvancara and Melody Sostarich.

He is preceded in death by his parents Louis and Cora Cvancara, brothers Leo and Donnie, sisters Ida and MaryAnne and daughter Tammy.

We celebrate a truly blessed life and look forward to seeing him again with our Lord and Savior in heaven.

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Painter and muralist Eli Pillaert, a New Orleans native, spent a part of her formative years working as a Colorado ski instructor, teaching kids at Eldora Mountain Ski Resort.

But it was the summers spent hiking around the area that left her inspired.

“This one plant, the mountain mahogany, kept popping up. It’s so beautiful. It has spiraling pieces with little fluffy bits on them,” Pillaert said.

So, when she was selected by Adams County’s Cultural Arts Division to help bring some color to county open spaces, that’s where she looked.

“It’s local flora and fauna. It’s something that people see and could connect with. It’s exactly why I went with this design,” she said.

Pillaert is one of 15 national artists who are having their designs unveiled across Adams County this fall.

But it’s not a gallery show and you don’t need tickets to see any of them. All you need is a little time and some decent walking shoes.

Pillaert’s design, featuring long swooping branches and colorful fluff, is now a part of the county’s Clear Creek Trail at Twin Lakes Park, along 70th Avenue just west of Broadway.

Other designs featuring other artists and their inspirations are spread across the county’s trail system — not on the walls or entrances to tunnels but on the trails themselves.

It’s part of the county’s “Love Your Trails” series. Adams County is about halfway through the series, bringing colorful murals and designs highlighting the county’s natural resources and environment to those walking paths.

“Adams County has been dedicated to the arts for quite a while now,” said Adams County Cultural Arts Liaison Zoe Ocampo.

Adams County started its parks and open space Cultural Arts Division within the Arts and Cultural Department in 2019. Ocampo said arts and culture are part of a vision for Adams County to expand public art in its communities that

calls for increased spending on displays everyone can enjoy.

“It won’t just be new buildings, it will be parks, trails and also all different kinds of projects throughout the county that are deemed eligible,” she said.

Choosing 15

Ocampo said that 50 artists from around the country applied to be part of the Love Your Trails project. The county’s Visual Arts Commission, a nine-member board of community volunteers, selected the final 15.

Pillaert said the artists were given the opportunity to include the community in the project. Hers is the only one of the eight completed so far that did that.

“The community element is part of organizing the mural so that it can be painted by the community,” Pillaert said. “It’s something that’s really near and dear to my heart. It’s something that’s really cool to see people connect through art.”

South Florida’s Stephanie Leyden made her mural theme of the four seasons. It’s also located on the Clear Creek Trail along Tennyson Street and north of 54th Avenue.

She painted summer elements transitioning into fall, winter, and spring and added designs she associated with the state — butterflies flying, animal tracks, wildflowers and changing colors of leaves as they have blown off the trees.

“It’s something we don’t have in South Florida. The seasons are here, they’re just not as obvious,” Leyden said. “With each season, I painted four butterflies, four leaves, four types of animal tracks and four wildflowers. It was fun.”

Leah Nguyen is from Seattle and her mural was more specific. Called “Community Vision: Bennett, CO,” it’s located in Bennett’s Civic Center Park off of South Street. Nguyen’s patterns depict small-town life, farmers growing corn, sunflowers, hay and wheat in the surrounding areas. The patterns connect generations of families to preserve the town’s history.

“I created the Community Vision pattern to provide support for communities that are doing the difficult work of excavating their histories, having dialogues and taking actions toward reconciliation, healing old wounds, and visioning new ways to come together and collaboratively thrive,” Nguyen said. “The pattern makes sense there at Bennett City Hall, which holds space for visionary civic work and community building conversations.”

Di

erent perspectives

Northampton, Massachusetts artist Kim Carlino calls her mural “Portals

Leah Nguyen’s mural is called “Community Vision: Bennett, CO.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

for Looking Inward.” It’s located in Strasburg Community Park. Her mural is an illusion of depth and volume occupying space in a two-dimensional surface with color that is expressive.

“I had this idea for a path coming across these portals or ovals reflecting the night sky with colorful Candy Land-like pathways that flow in and out of the portals as if they were going underneath the path and coming up the other side to give a sense of playfulness and movement,” Carlino said. “I love this idea of moving through space and coming across something that makes you take pause, and in that pause you can reflect.”

Traveling artist Kerry Cesen went small with his work. He said he lives in several places, including Maryland, Oregon and Washington state. His mural continues along the Clear Creek trail and is located just west of Lowell Boulevard along W. 55th Place.

Cesen dives into the roots of the smallest species as though you are looking through a microscope. He illustrates the natural world beneath our feet.

“It emphasizes the interactions between plants, animals, aquatic life, and fungal growth,” Cesen said. “Several magnified areas within the design allow us a deeper glimpse into the micro-world, where scientific research and design techniques help inform viewers about some of the smaller parts that make up the whole.”

Clearwater, Florida artist Beth Warmath’s mural is inspired by the Colorado landscape and two notable flowers: Sunflowers in the fields and the Colorado columbine.

“I love nature and its perfect beauty, so I challenge myself to recreate it larger than life. I draw from actual objects so I used the surrounding landscape for my inspiration,” Warmath said. “I was happy to see wildlife in its natural habitat such as fox, elk, chipmunks and bison.”

Paz de la Calzada is originally from Spain but has lived in the San Francisco Bay area for 18 years. Calzada’s mural is located at Riverdale Regional Park in Brighton near the South Platte River. It’s an abstract design that keeps flowing, intertwining with the landscape and river.

“The landscape inspired me with the color of green flowing with nature and the color of blue metaphor flowing with the river both intersecting together, and both need each other water needs nature and nature needs water,” Calzada said.

Milwaukee artist Theresa Sahar researched the Adams County area and learned that trout fishing is a popular sport in Colorado. That became the centerpiece of her mural, which is located along the South Platte Trail just east of Riverdale Dunes Golf Course and the county’s Fishing is Fun Pond. It features a realistically rendered fish leaping off of the trail.

“I’ve done some anamorphic (3D) chalk art pieces in downtown Milwaukee and decided it would be a fun and interesting addition to the Love Your Trails project,” Sahar said.

Adams County’s Ocampo said the remaining murals should be finished this fall, at least before the snow falls. The additional artists selected to work on their mural scheduled for painting are Toni Ardizzone, Sofi Ramiez, Wes Abarca, Keeley Hertzel, Eye Cough, Angela Beloian and Julio Juls Mendoza.

For more information about the artist and mapping location to see the artist’s trail mural, visit: adcogov.org/cultural-arts-currentprojects.

To learn about more projects and its process, visit the call-for-entry website at adcogov.org/call-for-entry.

Stephanie Leyden’s mural has a theme of four seasons.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

Theresa Sahar learned that trout fishing is a popular sport in Colorado.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

Eli Pillaert, with help from community members

Nathan and Jaquelin Valencia, painted a mountain mahogany.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

Kim Carlino calls her mural “Portals for Looking Inward.” COURTESY PHOTO

Chef celebrates Día de los Muertos with recipes

BY JULIO SANDOVAL AND SONIA GUTIERREZ ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

During Día de los Muertos, Oscar Padilla honors his grandmother Gloria.

“She showed me the basics to celebrate and incorporate all these components and food to receive and welcome our family after they pass away,” said Padilla.

Padilla is originally from Los Angeles, California, but said at one point in his life he went to live with his grandmother in Mexico City. “This changed my life,” he said. “It gave me the opportunity to discover my blood, my family in Mexico and all the traditions they have at that amazing country.”

Padilla is now the executive chef at Toro, a Cherry Creek restaurant that features a ceviche bar, small plates and family-style entrees. Toro shares authentic Latin ingredients, international fl avors and artful dishes.

While in Mexico, Padilla was fi rst introduced to a career in the kitchen. His fi rst teacher? Gloria.

“She showed me the traditional techniques to make molcajete salsa, moles — traditional dishes to celebrate the specifi c parties or traditions that Mexico has,” he explained.

Those recipes, Padilla said, have been passed down in his family from generation to generation. “These traditions are to celebrate them but it’s also to celebrate us too,” added Padilla.

Prior to his role as executive chef at Toro, Padilla was a culinary trainer for Richard Sandoval Hospitability. He helped open more than 15 new restaurants in the United States, Dubai, Qatar, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Padilla also has a passion for training aspiring chefs, never forgetting his Mexican roots and traditions.

“A lot of people are so scared of death,” he said, “but in Mexico, we celebrate with the dead. It’s to celebrate and share and be happy because at some point you are in communion again. You remember your family and you’re there on that day.”

Día de los Muertos is celebrated November 1-2 every year primarily in Mexico, but also by others around the world including some in the United States. The holiday is rooted in Aztec culture, where the dead are the guests of honor. The ceremony is like a family reunion that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.

Through the years, people have developed different combinations of the fundamental traditions, which most often include setting up a candlelit altar so spirits can fi nd their way back to their rela-

tives. The altar includes food and items that were important to the one who passed. Families then often gather in the graveyard for a big party that includes a huge feast, cleaning the tombstones, singing songs and talking to their ancestors.

“It’s something we need to respect, and we want to share it not only with the people in Mexico,

but we want to share it with everybody around the world,” said Padilla.

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofi t public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

Phone and Internet Discounts

Available to CenturyLink Customers

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission designated CenturyLink as an Eligible Telecommunications Carrier within its service area for universal service purposes. CenturyLink’s basic local service rates for residential voice lines are $28.50 per month and business services are $41.00 per month. Speci c rates will be provided upon request.

CenturyLink participates in the Lifeline program, which makes residential telephone or qualifying broadband service more affordable to eligible lowincome individuals and families. Eligible customers may qualify for Lifeline discounts of $5.25/month for voice or bundled voice service or $9.25/month for qualifying broadband or broadband bundles. Residents who live on federally recognized Tribal Lands may qualify for additional Tribal bene ts if they participate in certain additional federal eligibility programs. The Lifeline discount is available for only one telephone or qualifying broadband service per household, which can be either a wireline or wireless service. Broadband speeds must be at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload to qualify.

CenturyLink also participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides eligible households with a discount on broadband service. The ACP provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

For both programs, a household is de ned as any individual or group of individuals who live together at the same address and share income and expenses. Services are not transferable, and only eligible consumers may enroll in these programs. Consumers who willfully make false statements to obtain these discounts can be punished by ne or imprisonment and can be barred from these programs.

If you live in a CenturyLink service area, visit https://www.centurylink.com/ aboutus/community/community-development/lifeline.html for additional information about applying for these programs or call 1-800-201-4099 with questions.

Oscar Padilla, the executive chef at Toro Latin Kitchen & Lounge, pours achiote ponzu sauce over the restaurant’s salmon dish.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

Oscar Padilla honors his family traditions

Thu 10/20

5A Region 3 Championships

@ 2pm / Free-Free

Northwest Open Space, 2100 W 112th Ave, Northglenn

3A Region 3 Championships

@ 3:30pm / Free-Free

2100 W 112th Ave, Northwest Open Space, Northglenn

Diabetes Self-Empowerment Series

@ 4pm

Oct 20th - Nov 10th

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Fri 10/21

Breakfast Burrito Bingo 10/21

@ 3pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Willy Wonka Jr.

@ 5pm / $10-$15

The LoCol Theatre, 800 South Hover Road, Longmont

Clay Creations

@ 11pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Sat 10/22

Colorado Avalanche vs. Seattle Kraken

@ 7pm / $75-$999

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Westminster Harvest Festival

@ 12pm

Downtown Westminster, 5453 West 88th Avenue, Westminster. prl@cityofwestminster.us, 303658-2192

Sun 10/23

Intro to the Outdoors

@ 10:30pm

Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Wed 10/26

Apple Days

@ 5:30pm

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Lost World of Egypt (10/26)

@ 7pm

Splashing Pumpkins

@ 12:30pm

Brighton Recreation Center, 555 North 11th Avenue, Brighton. ksulli van@brightonco.gov, 303-6552000

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Hocus Pocus w/ Colorado Symphony Orchestra

@ 7:30pm

Boettcher Hall, 1000 14th Street, Denver

Anavrin's Day: Friday Night @ Hoffbrau

@ 9pm

Hoffbrau, 9110 Wadsworth Pkwy, West‐minster

Lifeguard Class (October 2022)

@ 11pm

Oct 21st - Oct 30th

Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Thornton Trunk or Treat @ 4pm

Carpenter Park Fields, 11000 Col‐orado Boulevard, Thornton. Re nee.Dodson@ThorntonCO.gov, (303) 720-977-5917

Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets

@ 2:05pm / $119-$475

Empower Field At Mile High, 1701 Bryant St., Denver

Mon 10/24

Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

@ 8pm / $45-$6705

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Adventure & Experiential Learning

@ 10:30pm

Oct 26th - Oct 29th

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Thu 10/27

Pumpkin Painting (10/27)

@ 5pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Northglenn Safe Street

Halloween @ 4pm

Elanor M. Wyatt Centennial Park, 305 Kennedy Drive, Northglenn. jlund@northglenn.org, 303-4508850

Longmont Farmer's Market (10/22) @ 4pm

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Denver Nuggets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder @ 7pm / $19-$3410

Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver Gloria Trevi Isla Divina Tour @ 8pm Bellco Theatre, 700 14th Street, Denver

Anavrin's Day: Saturday Night Show @ Hoffbrau @ 9pm Hoffbrau, 9110 Wadsworth Pkwy, West‐minster

Victorian Halloween with the Molly Brown House Museum @ 5:30pm

Anythink Brighton, 327 East Bridge Street, Brighton. rbowman @anythinklibraries.org, 303-4053230

DnD Adventures- The Tumble Sprite Rally @ 8pm

Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Tue 10/25

Tuesday Movie Matinee 10/25 @ 7am

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Ryan Hutchens at ALOFT Broom�eld @ 6pm

Aloft Broom�eld Denver, 8300 Arista Pl, Broom�eld

Dayglow

@ 8pm

Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Natural Endings: Green options for the end of life

@ 5:30pm

Anythink Wright Farms, 5877 East 120th Avenue, Thornton. mhibben @anythinklibraries.org, 303-4053200

Tejon Street Corner Thieves @ 7pm

The Barn, Boulder

Nature Photography @ 10:30pm

Oct 27th - Nov 10th

Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Xcel Energy Colorado has a new boss

Rate increases will continue

BY MIGUEL OTÁROLA AND SAM BRASCH COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

Customers of the largest power company in Colorado should ex pect higher energy bills to pay for an expanding energy grid that in cludes upgrades to its natural gas facilities, said Robert Kenney, the newest president of Xcel Energy

ELECTION

to prevent voter fraud, so a lot of safeguards are in place. It’s not nec essarily easy to commit voter fraud. It does happen — it’s pretty episodic and rare, though. But, the fact that it does happen some – that’s what gets into the news and that’s sort of what reinforces the belief that it’s just completely rampant.

[Editor’s note: In Colorado, the con servative-leaning Heritage Founda tion has documented 16 cases of voter fraud in the entire state since 2005.]

Georgia has been in the news in the last few years because of Trump supporters and allies claiming fraud in the 2020 Election. What are your thoughts about these claims, which have been found baseless?

In Georgia, all kinds of claims

Colorado.

Kenney took the helm of Xcel’s state operations in June after serv ing as an executive for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in Cali fornia. In an interview with CPR News this week, he said the recent trend of rising energy bills likely wouldn’t end anytime soon.

“We will likely see some amount of increase as we continue to make investments in the system,” Kenney said. “We’re making the

were made, and there has just been no evidence at all.

Outside of a handful of cases, there’s no evidence at all that there was voter fraud anywhere at the level that would flip an election. We had an initial presidential count, we had a machine recount and we had a full hand recount of the presiden tial election — all showing the same thing.

The only difference was that, administratively, we found out there were a couple of precincts and a cou ple of counties where their (results data) were not uploaded properly. So that was an administrative issue. It wasn’t fraud or anything like that. And they got corrected through the recount process. But even that didn’t come anywhere near to changing the outcome.

In Colorado, we have more than 3.7 million active registered voters. The con servative-leaning Heritage Foundation

investments that we think are necessary to drive the clean energy transition while doing it safely and reliably.”

Kenney, who has both worked with utilities and served as a util ity regulator, said he wants Xcel to model how investor-owned mo nopolies can change from coal to cleaner sources of energy.

At the same time, he reiterated the company’s position on natural gas, insisting customers should

has documented 16 cases of voter fraud in the entire state since 2005. So what’s the takeaway from those numbers?

In general, cases of proven, veri fied voter fraud are rare.

State (governments) are sort of the arbiters of elections, and even within that it’s really devolved down to the county level, or in some states, even to the township level. That’s where elections are being carried out at a very low level in the U.S. To perpetrate some kind of massive fraud, that makes it even more dif ficult given how devolved elections are in the U.S. It’s not like we have one central counting place in Wash ington, D.C.

You’d really need more than just voters. You need the cooperation of election officials, which is not going to happen, obviously. You should feel confident when you cast a ballot that it’s going to get counted and counted correctly.

What is a primary safeguard to ensure the integrity of the vote in U.S. states like Georgia, for example?

The magic... the mystery

In Georgia, there are a lot of safeguards in place if you vote in person. You have to have a govern ment-issued ID. So if you vote early, or on Election Day, it would be fairly difficult to try to impersonate some one. Even if you’re successful, that’s just one vote. I’m not saying that it’s not important to even stop fraud in terms of one vote, but it’s difficult to produce fraud on a massive scale.

We do have absentee-by-mail bal lots. We used to use signature verifi cation. So the election office would compare the signature on the ballot envelope to the signature that’s in the registration system or the DMV system to see if they match. We moved from that safeguard to having to now put your driver’s license or state ID card number on not only your ballot envelope, but even on your application to get a ballot. There are exceptions — say you have a passport, for instance, you can photocopy that and attach it. But for most people, it’s putting their driver’s license or state ID number on their application to get a ballot or on their ballot envelope when they return it.

Every state has some kind of verification process that they use, whether it’s signature verification for absentee ballots, or a couple of states like Georgia using state ID numbers. In North Carolina wit nesses sign your ballot affidavit or your ballot envelope as an affidavit that you are who you are.

[Editor’s note: Voter ID laws vary by state. In Colorado, an ID is request ed for in-person voting and a photo copy of an ID may be needed when

pay for power plants to burn the fuel and pipelines to carry it to new homes. Kenney said those plans won’t lock in more emis sions because natural gas systems could someday run on carbon-free fuels like green hydrogen, a point that’s faced fierce skepticism from researchers and environmental groups.

Climate scientists have also

voting by mail for the first time.]

What if someone just uses a fake ID to vote?

You would have to be in the De partment of Motor Vehicles system. So you’d have to create a fraudulent identification, essentially, for that to work, which is probably not going to happen.

What mistakes can happen with absentee ballots?

A lot of things that may look like fraud are a husband accidentally sends in his wife’s absentee ballot and vice versa. So not fraud — just a mistake that needs to be rectified.

Or someone who is dead votes. Well, what happened? They mailed their absentee ballot before they passed away. So not fraud. Now, it depends on the state as to whether that would count or not since the individual is deceased. Technically, in Georgia, it shouldn’t count. But it’s not fraud by any means.

For voters who have concerns that our systems are secure, what can they do?

I would just encourage people to the extent to which they are con cerned, to look into things — see what safeguards are there and how they’re being employed, as opposed to just thinking something is going on without investigating. A lot of the election process in a lot of the places in the U.S. is a very open system. Obviously, the ballot is secret, but the administrative part of it is very open. Most counties have a board of elections or a board of registrars — or both sometimes — and there are open meetings. There’s no shortage of information nowadays.

There is a lot of thought that has gone into this in any state. There are a lot of security and safeguards that are placed in the state’s election code to specifically prevent fraud. I would welcome anyone who’s brave enough to look at their state’s election code. It’s not the most interesting thing, but you can get an idea of just how many safeguards are in place.

People can also certainly sign up to work the polls or in other capacities.

Are there other voting issues Americans should be focusing on?

What we should be doing is trying to increase voter confidence in the system for all partisans, whatever stripe. Now, this seems to be easier said than done, unfortunately.

This story is brought to you by COLab, the Colorado News Collab orative, a nonprofit coalition of more than 170 newsrooms across Colorado working together to better serve the public. Learn more athttps://colab news.co

drawn a clear line on new fossil fuel infrastructure. Earlier this year, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a new report saying any new investment in such systems wasn’t compatible with international climate goals.

State regulators this year allowed Xcel to increase prices to correlate with rising costs in wholesale natural gas. The Minnesota-based company expects the average household will see their bills jump 54 percent this December compared to a year earlier.

The company will soon need to seek further rate increases to pay for new investments.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission recently approved nearly $10 billion in Xcel’s plans for new transmission lines and power generation to replace coalfired power plants. The utility will recoup the cost of those projects from customers over the coming decades — plus an additional profit for their shareholders.

To reduce the effect on monthly bills, the company has incentives for customers who use less energy or make their homes more energy efficient, Kenney said. Xcel will also buy and store enough natural gas before the winter

heating season to help guard against high prices that would be passed onto customers, he said.

The utility used one of those programs, the AC Rewards Smart Thermostats program, when its newest coal-fired generator broke down again last month, this time during a heat wave. The company did not warn the 22,000 customers who signed up for the program that it would take control of their thermostats, nor were they able to override the change. The move frustrated many customers and generated public backlash online.

“It’s a component and a feature of the program that customers were voluntarily aware of when they signed up for it,” Kenney said, acknowledging Xcel should remind customers more often about those terms.

Xcel Energy continues to burn natural gas for electricity. The recently approved plan for new investments includes money for “dispatchable resources,” which could include improvements to existing natural gas power plants and new facilities. Kenney said these upgrades are necessary to maintain a reliable electricity grid and maintain low costs for customers. He added the company plans to purchase fuel certified as “responsibly sourced” natural gas.

“There’s no inconsistency in continuing to use natural gas for heating and for power generation,” Kenney said. “We

just wanna make sure that we’re doing it as cleanly as possible.”

Kenney said he was approached to lead the utility because of his experience on “both sides of the bench” as chair of the Missouri Public Service Commission and later as a vice president with PG&E.

The California utility has faced government scrutiny and penalties for its electric grid, which sparked wildfires that have killed more than 100 people since 2015, according to PBS’ FRONTLINE. It pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to 2018’s Camp Fire, one of the deadliest wildfires in U.S. history.

Utilities need to evolve their electrical systems to prepare for wildfires that are becoming more frequent and furious because of climate change, Kenney said. That could mean burying power lines underground or clearing more trees and vegetation near lines, he said.

“That work is underway now” for Xcel Energy, he said, though he did not go into specifics. The company filed its own wildfire preparedness plan with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in 2020.

This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

HolidayContest

What is your favorite Holiday recipe?

The Xcel Energy Cherokee Generating Station in Denver, June 2, 2020.

PHOTO BY HART VAN DENBURG/CPR NEWS

FORT LUPTON BRIEFS

‘High-Rise High Jinx’

Fort Lupton High School’s drama

present “High-Rise High Jinx,” a series of stories of “complex” comedy at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3, 4 and 5, in the school auditorium. Tickets

ONGOING

Hours change at the historical park

The South Platte Valley Historical Park will be open for public visitation on the first weekend of the month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Individual tours outside of the first weekend of the month are available by contacting the society at lancaster.lupton@spvhs.org or calling 303-857-9360 and leaving a message.

Splash pad

The city of Fort Lupton is searching for comments about and sponsorships for a new splash pad.

Sponsor funds will be used for the splash park and amenities. Call 303-857-6694

Donation time

The Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).

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 303-857-1096.

Teen hangout

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

Walk with a doc

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 fun talk.

Blessings in a Bag

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 303718-4440. Mail donations to Blessings in a Bag, 306 Park Ave., Fort Lupton 80621.

Drop-in child care

The Fort Lupton Recreation 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 senior lunches

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.

Co ee group

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

Silver Sneakers

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.

Water aerobics

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

Pen pals

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

Craft classes

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

Free short-term radon test kits

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: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.

Warm line up and running

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

Here are the police reports for Oct. 1 to Oct. 7 to the Fort Lupton Police Department. Not every call made to the police is not listed on this report.

1

Police issued a summons to a Fort Lupton man, 24, for causing a traffic accident by driving too fast for the conditions at U.S. Highway 85 & Mile Marker 241.

Police arrested a Commerce City man, 30, at State Highway 52 & South Purman Avenue for DUI, open container, no insurance and fictitious plates. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

October 2

A Lochbuie man, 22, was issued a summons in the 1000 block of Mountainview Avenue for unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 22, in the 1000 block of Mountainview Avenue on three Adams County warrants for failure to appear on

BRIEFS

can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.

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.

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

a traffic offense. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

October 3

Police issued a summons to Brighton man, 47, for causing a traffic accident at U.S. Highway 85 & Weld County Road 14.5.

Police arrested a Fort Lupton man, 46, in the 1500 block of Reynolds Street for domestic violence harassment and assault charges. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Fort Lupton man, 74, reported his garage door damaged in the 1000 block of Hoover Avenue. The case was under investigation.

October 4

A Fort Lupton transient, 26, was arrested in the 900 block of Denver Avenue for assault on a peace officer, resisting arrest, possession of an illegal weapon, possession of a dangerous drug and criminal mischief. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A 17-year-old Fort Lupton male had fallen near his vehicle and his leg was run over by a car that left the scene in the 500 block of Reynolds street. The case was under investigation.

Police arrested a Lincoln, Nebraska man,

Alcoholics Anonymous

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.

Volunteers needed

Qualified Listeners needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and fam-

46, in the 100 block of Valle Drive on a Commerce City warrant for trespassing. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

Police took a Fort Lupton man, 29, into custody in the 900 block of Elm Court for domestic violence-related felony menacing, weapons violation and assault charges. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

October 6

A Fort Lupton woman, 37, was arrested in the 1300 block of Second Street for a Weld County warrant for motor vehicle theft and failure to comply with probation conditions on a theft charge. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

October 7

Police arrested a Northglenn man, 33, in the 200 block of Coyote Creek Dr. for a protection order violation. He was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

A Fort Lupton woman, 53, was arrested in the 100 block of Denver Avenue on a misdemeanor warrant out of Jefferson County Sheriff’s office for failure to comply on a controlled substance charge. She was held on bond at the Weld County Jail.

ily resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become qualified listeners.

Visit qualifiedlisteners.org/volunteerapp and fill out the form or call 720-600-0860.

Eagle Express rides

Barr Lake State Park will offer virtual rides aboard the Eagle Express. Join Ranger Michelle and her friends as they read a story about our natural world that is sure to entertain your preschooler while teaching them about plants, animals and our planet. Call 303659-6005.

IF IT’S IN YOUR DUCTS, IT’S IN YOUR LUNGS

Our mission is to lower energy costs and provide the healthiest quality air possible. For anyone, business or residential, we will increase e ciency of your system by using the very latest techniques, the latest technologies and top of the line products. We will provide the highest quality of work possible. Our professional sta will assure a high level of professionalism that cannot be matched in our industry. We guarantee our products and services.

Republicans hope to take back U.S. House

BY CAITLYN KIM COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

With a possible change of leadership for the U.S. House of Representatives would likely come a change of positions for some Colorado members of Congress.

If Republicans take control of the chamber after the November election, as is largely expected, a couple of Colorado Republicans could be picking up subcommittee gavels, while Democratic members will give up their seats as chair to become, in some cases, ranking members.

While he’s not measuring any drapes, GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn said he would seek the chairman ship of the Strategic Forces sub committee of the House Armed Services committee. He was named the ranking member of that committee in January.

The delegation’s longest serving Republican, Lamborn, who also currently sits on the House Natu ral Resources committee, said the committee handles issues that are important for Colorado, and the whole country.

“It deals with issues that are really strategic and vital to our national defense,” Lamborn said, pointing to space systems, missile defense, and hypersonics, as some examples. “Those are all things that… have a strong Colorado presence, but they’re also vital for our national defense.”

GOP Rep. Ken Buck said much “depends on how big of a majority [Republicans] have and it depends on where the priorities are.” Buck is currently the ranking member of the Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law subcommittee on the House Judiciary committee, where he’s worked with a bipar tisan group to tackle the growing power of Big Tech.

“Certainly I would enjoy con tinuing to work on anti-trust issues,” Buck said. He added he’d

try to keep encouraging his fellow Republicans to see anti-trust as a tool to deal with the largest tech companies.

Buck also has seniority on Ju diciary’s Immigration and Citi zenship Subcommittee. His other committee is the House Foreign Affairs committee.

The ranking member usually has the inside track to chair when control of the House flips. But both parties have their own pro cess for selecting leaders within committees.

Democrats and Republicans each have standing committees that nominate members for committees and chair assignments, which are then voted on by the full caucus. When it comes to subcommittee chairs, Democrats usually bid, in order of seniority, and it then has to be approved by the committee caucus. Republicans usually let the committee chair determine the procedure for subcommittee chair selection.

As for freshman GOP Rep. Lau ren Boebert, who sits on the House Natural Resources and Budget committees and has the highest national profile in the delegation, she said she’s not planning on run ning for any leadership positions.

She noted she’s communications chair of the Freedom Caucus “and that’s the caucus that matters the most to me.”

Instead of looking at who is or isn’t jockeying for positions, Boebert said the media should be “more interested on inflation, the southern border, jobs, getting control back of our country, rather than meaningless leadership posi tions here in Washington, D.C.”

Still, subcommittee leaderships can be important perches for over sight and moving bills.

This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by per mission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

FREEDOM. TO BE YOU.

Rozzie Mendoza (15) is able to connect and hit a double for the Bluedevils. Fort Lupton defeated Wellington 8-0 in the Class 3A Region 8 game on Saturday Oct. 15 in Fort Lupton.

Despite making a run for home plate, Rozzie Mendoza (15) is tagged out by the Wellington pitcher. Fort Lupton defeated the Eagles 8-0 in their Class 3A Region 8. game advancing to the 3A State Tournament with the win.

Bluedevils clinch softball playo berth

Fort Lupton shuts out Wellington to top 12 game streak

BY JUAN ARELLANO SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Fort Lupton earned a return trip to the state 3A softball tournament Oct. 15 and a regional title, to boot.

The Bluedevils clinched the state tournament spot by beat-

ing Wellington 8-0 in the tournament opener. No stats were available for either team.

The regional title win -- FLHS’ second in as many years -- was an 11-0, five-inning triumph against Peak to Peak. Eight of FLHS’ runs came in the fourth inning. Haley Haskins and Maggie Wallis had the base hits for the Pumas. No stats were available for Fort Lupton.

FLHS enters the state tournament riding the coattails of a 12-game winning streak.

The Bluedevils celebrate at home plate with Rozzie Mendoza (15) as she hit a home run during the first inning of their Class 3A Region 8 game against Wellington. Fort Lupton defeated the Eagles 8-0 in Fort Lupton on Saturday Oct. 15.

PHOTOS BY JUAN ARELLANO

Fort Lupton High School Soccer

Middle Park edged Fort Lupton 4-3 in overtime Oct. 15 in Fort Lupton. No stats were available for either team.

KIPP Denver Collegiate scored the winning goal in the second half and beat Fort Lupton 2-1 in Denver Oct. 12.

Diego Aldrade scored the goal for the Bluedevils. Kevin Balderas and Francisco Morales scored for the White Tigers.

Football

THORNTON -- The Academy downed Fort Lupton 50-14 at Five Star Stadium Oct. 14.

FLHS quarterback Will Alvarado was 13-for-26 for 139 yards. He also gained a team-high 62 yards on 13 carries and scored both of his team’s touchdowns. Anthony BlanMendenhall caught five passes for 58 yards. Kaidyn Taylor caught two passes for 49 yards.

No stats were available for the Wildcats.

Volleyball

Fort Lupton dispatched Jefferson 25-16, 25-15, 25-9 in Fort Lupton Oct. 13. No stats were available for the Saints. Alissa Clark had five kills to pace FLHS. Payton Faulhaber and Janisa Shaffer were close behind with four. Shaffer and Trisha Hammen served five aces.

Fort Lupton downed Sheridan 25-5, 25-21, 25-10 on the Rams’ floor Oct. 11. Faulhaber led the way with

SPORTS

five kills for the Bluedevils. Neveah Gonzales and Destini Alarcon added four. Dani Aviles had 13 aces.

No stats were available for Sheridan.

Frederick High School

Softball

Frederick will return to the state 4A softball tournament this season.

The Warriors beat Wheat Ridge and Pueblo West high schools at the class 4A regional tournament on the Golden Eagles’ field Oct. 14. Stats were not immediately available.

The state tournament begins Friday, Oct. 21, at Aurora Sports Park.

Football Frederick topped Riverdale Ridge 42-14 in Frederick Oct. 12. No stats were available for either team.

Cross country

FORT MORGAN -- Here are Frederick’s results from the Longs Peak League meet at Riverside Park Oct. 12:

Girls

24. Jessica Ellinger, 21:07.7 (season best). 42. Gracie Wilts, 23:16.8. 51. Hailey Pollard, 23:58.3 (season best). 55. Kassidy Lear, 24:08.7 (season best). 70. Ashlyn Torres, 26:32.1.

Boys

27. Nikolas Carrillo, 17:28.7. 49. Brandt Hartman, 18:17.7. 64. Darren Reynolds, 18:53.5 (season best). 72. William Hershey, 19:15 (season best).

87. Zachary Bailey, 19:48.1.

Soccer

Niwot scored its goals in the first half and beat Frederick 2-0 on the Golden Eagles’ pitch Oct. 11.

Javier Alvira and Josh Ary scored for the Cougars. No stats were available for FHS.

Volleyball

Frederick beat Northridge 25-14,

25-14, 25-13 in Frederick Oct. 12.

No stats were available for the Grizzlies. Katelin Sindelar had 11 kills for the Golden Eagles. Delaney Frank was next with six, and she served up 10 aces.

Niwot stopped the Golden Eagles 25-15, 25-7, 25-19 on the Cougars’ floor Oct. 11. Sindelar had seven kills for Frederick.

Frank added three.

Frederick High school’s Matteo Tavagnacco, the first member of the boys tennis team to qualify for the state tournament, came up short in the opening round of the tournament Oct. 13 in Pueblo. Sam Billups of Evergren beat Tavagnacco 6-4, 6-2.

COURTESY PHOTO

Online program helps neurodiverse kids

Children’s Hospital

BY DANA KNOWLES, LINDSEY FORD ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Leo Krause, 10, can’t help but smile while snuggling with one of his two family dogs, Louie, a mini Australian Labradoodle. It’s one of the many strategies he uses to calm himself after being diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD when he was 7 years old.

“It feels like it’s hard for me to focus sometimes. I just want to move around all the time, and it’s hard for me to sit still,” Krause explained.

He received help with his ADHD through a program that’s now free and online called “Unstuck and On Target.” It was developed by researchers through Children’s Hospital Colorado to improve the executive functioning of elementary-aged school children with ADHD and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Navigating ADHD Executive functions come from the frontal lobe of the brain and involve things like paying attention, problem-solving, emotional regulation, planning, impulse control and setting goals. When left unaddressed, challenges with these traits can create barriers to success for

many children.

Leo’s mom, Jodi Krause, says the program has been a game changer for their entire family.

“Having a child who struggles with attention and having a child who struggles with anxiety can create obstacles that you want to be able to get ahead of, but as parents, we kind of react in the moment.

So that’s really challenging,” she added, saying that the strategies taught in the Unstuck and on Target curriculum continue to help Leo function like any other 10-yearold boy. “A change in Leo from the program that I’ve noticed is that he’s way more willing to put into words the things that his body is feeling.”

Laura Anthony, Ph.D., is a psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado, a professor of psychology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and one of the researchers who developed the online curriculum for the program. It can be done in school with educators and at home with kids and their parents and/or caregivers

“We want all kids as they’re growing to be at their most optimum developmental trajectory. We want them to do and be their best,” she explained, adding that free access is the key. “From the beginning, we wanted to create a community-based program that would reach all the kids and families who needed it.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, between the years of 2016 and 2019, 6 million chil-

dren from the ages of 3 to 17 were diagnosed with ADHD, while one in 44 children are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. “Kids with either Autism or ADHD have particular difficulties with executive functioning skills and [that’s why] we designed this intervention for them,” added Anthony.

Free to be himself

Leo told Rocky Mountain PBS some of the strategies he’s learned in the program include walking away from tense situations, taking deep breaths and thinking happy thoughts. His favorite coping mechanism? Squeezing a lemon when he’s

feeling anxious.

“I feel a lot different. I’m able to calm myself down more,” he explained.

Jodi says these days Leo can be fully himself; a boy who’s compassionate and empathetic. A boy who loves his dogs, his family, friends, playing soccer, mountain biking and skiing.

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

10-year-old Leo Krause can’t help but smile while snuggling with one of his two family dogs, Louie.

TRIVIA

GEOGRAPHY: What is the coldest ocean on Earth?

ANIMAL KINGDOM: What kind of animal is represented by the scientific order

LANGUAGE: What does the Greek prefix “pan-” mean in English?

MEDICAL: What is the common name for Hansen’s disease?

LITERATURE: Which 1970s nonfiction book begins with the line, “We were somewhere around Barstow on the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold”?

THEATER: Who wrote the Tony Award-winning play “The Heidi Chronicles”?

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: The Empire State Building in New York has how many stories?

ACRONYMS: In

what does the acronym

stand

FOOD & DRINK: Which country produces a cheese called Manchego?

HISTORY: Who was the first House Speaker in U.S. history?

The Arctic Ocean.

Elephants.

“All” (panorama, etc.).

Leprosy.

“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (Hunter S. Thompson).

Wendy Wasserstein.

102.

Single lens reflex.

Spain.

Frederick Muhlenberg.

King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

Real Estate & Rental

Manufactured/Mobile Homes

3 bed 2 bath Copper Key MHP, Ft. Lupton. Down payment $8500. Finance at $634 per month. Lot rent $700 includes water/sewer/trash Debbie (303) 637-7000 or (303) 6377001

Market Place

Bids

Request for Subcontractor and Supplier Proposals

B.C. Builders LLC requests subcontractor and supplier proposals for 72 unit, wood framed, 3 story building in Ft. Lupton, CO. Section 3, MBE/WBE/DBE businesses strongly encouraged to submit. Please contact Jon Bannister at info@bc-builders.com for information.

Garage and Estate Sales

Garage Sales

Holiday supplies (Halloween costumes, Christmas), plus miscellaneous, $1 - $1.50 most items. 537 Eastern Ave., Brighton. Fri.- Sun., Oct. 21-23, 9 am - 4 pm

Estate Sales

ESTATE SALE

Friday October 21st & Saturday October 22nd 8am - 4pm 15720 GunClub Road Brighton Colorado Books, paintings, art supplies, furniture, dishes and appliances, golf cart, tools, lawn mower and more! Cash only.

Merchandise

Arts & Crafts

Health & Beauty

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

DENTAL INSURANCE - Physicians Mutual Insurance Company. Covers 350 procedures. Real insurance - not a discount plan. Get your free dental info kit! 1-855-526-1060 www.dental50plus.com/58 #6258.

Medical

Attention oxygen therapy users!

Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587

Miscellaneous

Paying top cash for men’s sportwatches! Rolex, Breitling, Omega, Patek Philippe, Heuer, Daytona, GMT, Submariner and Speedmaster. Call 833-603-3236

HughesNet– Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation. Call 866-499-0141

Miscellaneous

Victor 9, 3 Wheel Mobility Scooter. Only two months old. Retail Cost $1886, Sale Price $900. Telephone 303-503-8000 or e-mail greg3141951@gmail.com

Wanted to Buy

TO BUY

in Christ Church

October 21st, 10am-4pm &

October 22nd, 9am-3pm 11355 N. Sheridan Blvd.,

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The Generac PWRcell solar plus battery storage system. Save money, reduce reliance on grid, prepare for outages & power your home. Full installation services. $0 down financing option. Request free no obligation quote. 1-877-539-0299

Wanted

We continue to invest in innovation and people, developing new businesses and state-of-the art tools that support new products that produce superior ROIs for clients. We believe that a creative, learning environment staffed with talented people who want to grow and utilize the newest and best tools will result in a dynamic and successful culture that has a positive impact on our clients business and our community. Our brand is one of the most trusted in our community. We’ve built this reputation by providing award-winning news coverage and by being engaged in our community at all levels. As a true marketer, we want you to bring your experience and expertise to develop the best advertising and audience programs for local advertisers needing to engage with the community to grow their business. We value teamwork. We embrace opinions, perspectives, cultures and backgrounds that energizes the company and fuels our passion to do what’s right for our readers, our advertisers and our employees. If you’ve got the drive and the passion, together we can take your career farther than you’ve ever imagined. We are building a sales team that will be the face of the changing media landscape. We are looking for people who are excited to represent our emerging brands and our trusted, traditional ones too. Join our team, working from our Englewood offices and remote. If you’re as passionate as we are about our mission to grow and engage our community, please apply. This position offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and paid holiday, vacation, sick and personal time. As an added bonus, you’ll office less than 60 minutes from the best Colorado has to offer in outdoor recreation.

PUBLIC NOTICES

Legals

Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING

FORT LUPTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT’S

IN THE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday October 27, 2022, the Board of Direc tors of the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District (“District”) will hold a public meeting to consider whether to participate in Colorado’s Paid Fam ily and Medical Leave Insurance Act (“FAMLI”) program. Prior to the Board’s vote on the matter, the Board will take comments from any interested individual prior to or during the public meeting.

The public meeting will be held electronically using the following methods: Telephone conferenc ing:1-877-309-2073 or 1-571-317-3129 access code 863-668-749

Online-Conferencing: https://www.gotomeeting.com Access code 863-668-749 /or https://www.gotomeet.me/ftluptonfire/pensionand-district-board-meeting-room

Questions or comments prior to the public meet ing should be directed to Fire Chief Phil Tiffany at ptiffany@ftluptonfire.com or (303)857-4603. The Board of Directors may continue the public meeting to a subsequent meeting.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FORT LUPTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

By: /s/ Phil Tiffany Fire Chief

Legal Notice No. FLP728

First Publication: October 20, 2022

Last Publication: October 20, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Metro Districts Budget Hearings

Public Notice

Notice of Proposed Budget

(Pursuant to 29-1-106, C.R.S.)

NOTICE is hereby given that a proposed budget has been submitted to the FORT LUPTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT for the ensuing year of 2023; a copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the FORT LUPTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT – ADMINSTRATION OFFICE, where the same is open for public inspec tion; such proposed budget will be considered for adoption at the Pension & District Board Meeting of the FORT LUPTON FIRE PROTECTION DIS TRICT to be held on November 17, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. electronically using the following methods:

Telephone Conferencing: 1-877-309-2073 / or 1-571-317-3129 access code 863-668-749 Online-Conferencing: https://www.gotomeeting.com Access code 863-668-749 /or https:// www.gotomeet.me/ftluptonfire/pension-anddistrict-board-meeting-room

Any interested elector of the FORT LUPTON FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections thereto at any time prior to the final adoption of the budget

Dated: October 12, 2022

Allyson Tkadlec Executive Secretary/Budget Director

Legal Notice No. FLP727

First Publication: October 20, 2022

Last Publication: October 20, 2022

Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Public Notice

NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET AND 2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2023 has been submitted to the South Weld Metropolitan Dis trict (“District”). Such proposed budget will be considered at a meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at 4:00 p.m. on November 10, 2022 at 1745 Shea Center Drive, Suite 370, Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80129. To attend and participate by telephone, dial (650) 479 - 3208 and enter pass code 25954250007. Information regarding public participation by videoconference will be available at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and public hearing by contacting Katie Stahl, by email at kstahl@spencerfane.com.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amend ment to the 2022 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, are avail able for public inspection at the offices of Kendle & Associates. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto.

SOUTH WELD METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ Russell Dykstra Counsel to the District

Legal Notice No. FLP723

First Publication: October 20, 2022 Last Publication: October 20, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice

NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET AND 2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2023 has been submitted to the Stonebraker Metropolitan Dis trict (“District”). Such proposed budget will be considered at a meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held on November 7, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. via telephone and videoconference. To attend and participate by telephone, dial 650-479-3208 and enter Meeting ID: 2591 926 8727. To attend and participate by videoconference join WebEx Meeting ID: 2591 926 8727 and enter passcode: Dxm22mnRBQ9

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amend ment to the 2022 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of Simmons & Wheeler, P.C., 304 Inverness Way South, Suite 490, Englewood, CO 80112. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto.

STONEBRAKER METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ Robert L. Eck II, President

Legal Notice No. FLP719

First Publication: October 20, 2022

Last Publication: October 20, 2022

Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice

MURATA FARMS RESIDENTIAL METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING AND NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO 2022 BUDGET

10.10.2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Murata Farms Resi dential Metropolitan District (the “District”), County of Weld, State of Colorado, will hold a special meeting at 11:30 A.M. on October 27, 2022 for the purpose of conducting such business as may come before the Board. Pursuant to § 32-1-903 CRS, as amended, the District’s meetings may also be conducted electronically, telephonically or by other virtual means.

FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2023. A copy of the proposed budget has been filed in the office of Community Resource Services of Colorado, 7995 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed amended budget will be consid ered at the meeting of the District to be held at 11:30 A.M. on October 27, 2022. Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2023 budget.

FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed amended budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2022. A copy of the proposed amended budget has been filed in the office of Community Resource Services of Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed amended budget will be considered at the meeting of the District to be held at 11:30 A.M. on October 27, 2022. Any in terested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2022 budget amendment.

Directors and members of the public that wish to participate in the may do so via teleconference by dialing 1 720-707-2699 and entering Conference ID: 892 7517 3460 or videoconference on https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89275173460?pwd=cX V2YUtMSndqK0pFQS9KNE9RUlVMZz09

This meeting is open to the public.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MURATA FARMS RESIDENTIAL METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL E. DAVIS, LLC

Legal Notice No. FLP722

First Publication: October 20, 2022

Last Publication: October 20, 2022

Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Public Notice

COTTONWOOD GREENS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2 NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING AND NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO 2022 BUDGET

October 31, 2022 10:00 A.M.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Cottonwood Greens Metropolitan District No. 2 (the “District”), County of Weld, State of Colorado, will hold a special meeting at 10:00 A.M on Monday, October 31, 2022 for the purpose of conducting such business as may come before the Board. Pursuant to § 32-1903 CRS, as amended, the District’s meetings may also be conducted electronically, telephonically or by other virtual means.

FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2023. A copy of the proposed budget has been filed in the office of Centennial

Consulting Group, LLC, 2619 Canton Ct., Suite A, Fort Collins, CO, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed amended budget will be considered at the meeting of the District to be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, October 31, 2022. Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adop tion of the 2023 budget.

FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed amended budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2022. A copy of the proposed amended budget has been filed in the office of Centennial Consulting Group, LLC, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed amended budget will be considered at the meeting of the District to be held at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, October 31, 2022. Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2022 budget amendment.

Directors and members of the public that wish to participate in the meeting may do so via telecon ference by dialing +1 669 900 6833 and entering Conference ID: 851 9332 5253 or videoconference on: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85193325253?p wd=cVZKNUxtSlFwOHFDQnRiRkJrRmtIUT09. This meeting is open to the public.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COTTONWOOD GREENS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2

By: /s/ LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL E. DAVIS, LLC

Legal Notice No. FLP724 First Publication: October 20, 2022 Last Publication: October 20, 2022 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press Public Notice

MURATA FARMS COMMERCIAL METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING AND NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO 2022 BUDGET 10.10.2022

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Murata Farms Com mercial Metropolitan District (the “District”), County of Weld, State of Colorado, will hold a special meeting at 11:30 A.M. on October 27, 2022 for the purpose of conducting such business as may come before the Board. Pursuant to § 32-1-903 CRS, as amended, the District’s meetings may also be conducted electronically, telephonically or by other virtual means.

FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2023. A copy of the proposed budget has been filed in the office of Community Resource Services of Colorado, 7995 E. Prentice Ave., Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed amended budget will be consid ered at the meeting of the District to be held at 11:30 A.M. on October 27, 2022 . Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2023 budget.

FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed amended budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2022. A copy of the proposed amended budget has been filed in the office of Community Resource Services of Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed amended budget will be considered at the meeting of the District to be held at 11:30 A.M. on October 27, 2022. Any in terested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2022 budget amendment.

Directors and members of the public that wish to participate in the meeting may do so via teleconfer

This meeting is open to the public.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MURATA FARMS COMMERCIAL METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ LAW OFFICE OF MICHAEL E. DAVIS, LLC

Legal Notice No.

Bids

NOTICE PRE-QUALIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION MANAGERS/GENERAL CONTRACTORS TO BID ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Fort Lupton Fire Protection District (“District ”), a political subdivision of the State of Colorado, is soliciting construction manager/general contractor (“CM/ CG”) applications for pre-qualification to bid on the New Fort Lupton Fire Protection District Stor age Building with a construction cost of 2 million dollars. Only CM/CGs that have been approved through this pre-qualification process will be eligible to bid on the Project.

Beginning 11:00 a.m. (MST) on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, the pre-qualification application (“Application”) may be obtained from the District’s administrative office located at 1121 Denver Av enue, Fort Lupton, Colorado 80621.

Completed and sealed Applications must be received by the District at its administrative office located at 1121 Denver Avenue, Fort Lupton, Colorado 80621, on or before 4:00 p.m. (MST) on Friday, November 4, 2022 (“Submis sion Deadline”). Applications received after the Submission Deadline will not be considered.

Each Application must conform and be responsive to the standard application provided by the District. Any deviation from the standard application form or failure to provide the required information may be considered nonresponsive and grounds for disqualification and rejection of the application in the District’s sole discretion. The District has the right, in its sole discretion, to reject any or all Applications and to waive any irregularities in any Application received. The District also has the right to modify or terminate this selection process or the project any time in its sole discretion. Submitted Applications become the District’s property and will be considered public records within the meaning of the Colorado Open Records Act, unless the CM/ CG conspicuously labels the portion(s) of its Ap plication that it deems confidential and proprietary as “Confidential and Proprietary”, and separates such materials from the rest of the Application. The CM/CG is solely responsible for all costs incurred in preparing and submitting an Application.

The selected CM/CG and the Owner will enter into a modified AIA A133 Owner-CM/CG Agree ment (2009) and associated modified AIA A201 General Conditions (2017). At the completion of the pre-construction services, the Owner and CM/ CG will mutually agree to a Guaranteed Maximum Price (“GMP”) Amendment for the construction phase of the Project. If the Owner and the CM/ CG are unable to reach agreement on the GMP Amendment, the Owner may terminate the con tract and determine, in its sole discretion, how it wishes to proceed.

20, 2022

2022