KUMMER

• U.S. sanctions remain on many countries, most notably the freezing of Russian assets after the Ukraine invasion.

• Commodities such as oil are priced and traded in dollars worldwide.

the 2032 tax year, for taxes owed in 2033.

• In addition to the assessment rate cuts, residential property owners would get to exempt the first $50,000 of their home’s value from taxation for the 2023 tax year, a $10,000 increase made through an amendment adopted Monday. Residential property owners would then get to exempt $40,000 of their homes’ values from taxation for the 2024 tax year. The break would persist until the 2032 tax year, except for people’s second or subsequent single-family homes, like rental or vacation properties, which would stop being subject to that benefit in the 2025 tax year.

• More foreign currencies are pegged to the U.S. dollar than any other currency including China’s. China is also our largest trading partner with foreign trades pegged to the dollar.

Investment Strategist Brett Lapierre, CFA states, “I see some weakness in the USD over the next few years as it is fundamentally overvalued. is, combined with stronger economic growth outside of the U.S., higher interest rates and trade de cit, could

Here’s how it work for commercial property:

• For commercial properties, the assessment rate would be reduced to 27.85% through 2026, down from 29%. The state would be required to evaluate economic conditions to determine if the rate reduction should continue. If the rate reductions persist, the commercial assessment rate would be reduced to 27.65% in 2027, 26.9% in 2029 and 25.9% starting in 2031.

• For agricultural properties and properties used for renewable energy, the assessment rate would be reduced to 26.4% from 29% through the 2032 tax year. For properties that fall under both clas- all put pressure on the USD. A recession could mean the dollar bounces in the short term in a ight to quality trade but over time, I expect the dollar to weaken.” sifications, such as those used for agrivoltaics, the rate would be cut to 21.9%.

Given these facts, the U.S. dollar is alive and well and remains the stronghold currency worldwide. is could change over time as we see improved economic growth in other countries, and as we incorporate more foreign trade.

Property taxes in Colorado are calculated by multiplying the statewide assessment rate by the value of a property — sometimes referred to as a market value — as determined by a county assessor. That number is then multiplied by the local mill levy rate.

On the 29th of April 2023, Big Ed Stieber went to the happy hunting ground in the sky while hospitalized at MD Anderson in Houston, TX. Born March 12, 1958 to Rich and Marlene (Davis) Stieber, Eddie grew up loving the outdoors. He held passions for so many things including (in no particular order) elk hunting, his wife & soulmate Dianne, shing, bear hunting, wood working, his family, deer hunting, his nieces and nephews-including “greats”, duck hunting, camping, gardening, goose hunting, cooking-especially making salsa and pies, their cabin in Crystal Lakes, and more hunting.

After attending Fort Lupton schools and working for his dad’s Deere business, Ed’s career began with farming for Lloyd Land and continued 29 years with the Colorado Department of Transportation, where he found many, many friends, mentoring and giving advice even after retirement.

A big man with a heart just as big, he was known throughout his life for baking pies for birthday observances and special occasions. Every fall, dozens and dozens of jars were lled with his special salsa, pickles, and sauerkraut that he shared generously.

When he married his true love, Dianne Allison on December 31, 1994, she knew their kitchen was where she would always nd Ed preparing wonderful creations.

In our opinion, it is important to make sure your investment portfolio is diversi ed based on your risk tolerance to include investments that can potentially bene t from these economic conditions.

Patricia Kummer has been a Certied Financial Planner professional and a duciary for over 35 years and is managing director for Mariner Wealth Advisors.

Only diagnosed recently with Chordoma, a form of cancer that attacks either end of the spinal column, Ed tried valiantly to overcome the rapid growth. Ed would have especially wished to thank family and friends who supported him following his diagnosis.

He will be mourned and missed by all his surviving friends and family: his wife Dianne, mother Marlene Stieber, siblings Zo (George) Hubbard, Chris (Liz) Stieber, & Jack Stieber as well as nephew Travis (Jessica) Stieber, nieces Sam (Rod) Dudley, Kenzie (Austin) Collier, Madison Stieber, Kyli (Marcus) Garcia and their families. He is also survived by brothers-in-law Barry (Diana) Allison (& nephew Dillon), Orie (Melanee) Allison (& nephew Justin), and adopted nephews Brady and Brycen Buum, and cousins with whom he held a very close kinship.

Gone before Ed’s passing were his dad Rich and brother Greg.

Memorial: Saturday, May 20th at 2:00 p.m. at the historic fort just west of highway 85 on County Road 14.5: 2001 Historic Parkway in Fort Lupton. All gentlemen are encouraged to wear shorts and boots-Ed’s year around attire.

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On most Tuesdays and ursdays and some Saturdays, a team of bikers meets to explore Colorado’s network of trails.

e group connects at a co ee shop in downtown Denver. When the weather isn’t too hot, it’s after work around 4 or 5 p.m. In the dead of summer, it’s usually in the morning.

ey sip on espresso and decide where they want to ride that day. It could be on the bike lanes of Denver, the 36 Bikeway to Boulder, the Platte River Trail to Brighton or other suburbs. Most of the time, it involves a stop along the way.

“We would go down the Platte River Trail to the C 470 trail and then Krispy Kremes along there. We call it the Krispy 50. It’s a 50-mile loop,” said Ted Schultz, one of the riders in the group.

e group started after Schultz and two colleagues in his o ce space decided to start riding together after work. Schultz rode with a few others and combined the two groups.

After the ride, they go to a brewery to catch up with one another and relax after the ride.

Colorado’s network of trails

Part of the reason the group exists is due to Colorado’s extensive bike trail infrastructure. Schultz said it’s only improved in the past two decades.

“When you add up the miles of really good trails, it’s just mind-boggling,” he said.

Schultz, who grew up in Colorado, said understanding for cyclists sharing the road and building more infrastructure has vastly grown. In the 70s and 80s, he could almost count on angry driver backlash during his rides. Now, not so much. e Denver Regional Council of Governments built a map that shows all the trails and bike lanes across the region. ey stretch all the way from Boulder to Clear Creek to Castle Rock.

Much of that may be due to more focus on improving trails and streets.

And more may be coming. e Greenhouse Gas Planning Standard, a new rule adopted by the Transportation Commission of Colorado in December 2021, requires agencies to measure greenhouse gas emissions from transit projects, with limits on how high those emissions go.

Bike Path

With bike infrastructure providing the option for drivers to ditch their cars and bike, it can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Jacob Riger, multimodal transportation planning manager for the Denver Regional Council of Governments, said his group has already modi ed its 2050 Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan based on the rule.

Emily Lindsey, active and emerging mobility program manager for DRCOG, said people are ready.

Of the 15 million daily trips in the region, 43% are less than three miles and 19% are less than one mile.

“So, super bikeable, even more so with e-bikes,” she said.

Chris Chen, one of the riders in the group, noted that some improvements are needed. Chen, who lives in Littleton, said there aren’t many bike lanes.

He said either more need to be added or there need to be wider shoulders. He also said more education about how to share the road with bikers needs to be implemented, citing the death of Gwen Inglis in 2021.

Inglis was a national champion who was struck and killed by a driver in Lakewood.

“It’s been so long since I took the driver’s test, but I don’t know if they have incorporated anything into that,” Chen said.

He explained that it’s scary when vehicles go by fast, especially semi-trucks. e trucks, going fast enough, will push air to the side, which pushes the cyclist, but then will suck the air back in, bringing the cyclist in with it.

“If it’s really close, it’s really scary, not only the sounds of it and in the nearness of that fastmoving object, but the air actually pulling you in,” Chen said.

Compared to other places, Anthony Harvey, another member of the group, said the bike infrastructure ranks higher than the places he’s seen, including Texas, Califor- nia and Chicago.

Benefits of riding e group ranges in age. Chen is one of the younger ones in his 40s with some of the older riders in their 60s. Meaning, biking is an activity for all abilities and ages.

Chen said he used to be a swimmer. But he didn’t like the fact he had to drive to the pool before 5 a.m. to be at practice in time. at was too early for him, so he stopped swimming and started cycling more. Not only did it satisfy as a workout, but also was more convenient.

“I can combine commuting and exercise all together,” Chen said. en he joined the group and it became a lot more fun. It was a way for him to make new friends, destress and get a workout. It also reminds him of his childhood.

“It’s the feeling of when you’re a little kid and you’re going fast and you’re like ‘this is awesome.’” Chen said. “It still feels like that. at sense of freedom.”

Harvey said he got into biking after he was injured from MMA competitions and decided to switch sports. He participates in various races.

“I was able to actually race with bikes and can also stay t,” he said.

Benefi

Ts Of Friendship

While the biking brings the group together, the camaraderie keeps them pedaling. Schultz, Chen and Harvey all talked about the importance of keeping up with each other, not just on the trail.

Each friend rides on their own and sees the bene ts of being alone. But with the group, they push each other to go faster and further and gives a chance to connect over a topic each is passionate about.

After each ride, they stop at a brewpub or a bar, with Chen’s recommendation for one with a food truck.

“ at’s when we can catch up on trips and things happening with the family and what new gadgets people have,” Chen said. “ at kind of stu .”

Thu 5/18

Storytime in the Park @ 3pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Explore the Ph scale with 4-H @ 5pm Anythink Brighton, 327 East Bridge Street, Brighton. rbowman @anythinklibraries.org, 303-4053230

Monthly Birthday Celebration (5/18) @ 7pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Fri 5/19

An Evening with CSO: A Tribute to John Williams

@ 12am

May 19th - May 18th

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

Breakfast Burrito Bingo @ 3pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Fruit Bats @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., Denver

Sat 5/20

Birding by Canoe! Day 2 @ 9am / Free Barr Lake State Park, 13401 Picadilly Rd, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53

Death Upon the Ignorant @ 7pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton

Tue 5/23

Colorado Rockies vs. Miami Marlins @ 6:40pm / $6-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver Hiking Program- South Valley Park @ 7pm Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Wed 5/24

Colorado Rockies vs. Miami Marlins @ 6:40pm / $6-$300 Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver

Colorado Rapids vs. Real Salt Lake @ 7:30pm / $25-$999 DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City

Kids to Parks Day @ 8pm Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760

Mon 5/22

Les Claypool's Frog Brigade @ 8pm Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St, Denver

Thu 5/25

Crafty Corner: Resin Bookmarks (5/25) @ 4pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

David Lawrence & the Spoon‐ful: Food Truck Carnival 2023 @ 1:30pm

E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park, 11701 Community Center Dr, Northglenn

AD. 5/22 Growing Naturally Nature Play @ 9am / Free Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-6594348 ext. 53

New Belgium Brewing Tour @ 6pm Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200

Jenny Shawhan

@ 4pm Food Truck Carnival, 11701 Com‐munity Center Dr, Northglenn

Condemned to Burn @ 7pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton

Colorado Rockies vs. Miami Marlins @ 6:40pm / $6-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Den‐ver

Anavrin's Day: AD Hoffbrau Thursday! @ 9pm Hoffbrau, 9110 Wadsworth Pkwy, Westminster