Fort Lupton Press 071323

REFRESHMENTS WHILE YOU SHOP

After home destroyed, Johnstown couple seek better pipeline safety rules

BY JUDITH KOHLER THE DENVER POST

Mark and Julie Nygren didn’t set out to be activists, but they are suggesting changes to the oversight of Colorado’s oil and gas pipelines based on their experience of losing their home and seeing part of their farm contaminated by a leaking gas line.

More than four years after discovery of the leak, the Nygrens are still renting a house in Johnstown, just north of their Weld County property, and remain embroiled in a lawsuit against DCP Midstream Operating Co., which owned the pipeline. As the Colorado Public Utilities Commission considers new pipeline-safety rules, the Nygrens want to share their hard-won insights with regulators.

Auto auction center gets City Council nod

Wholesale facility to recondition used cars from across state

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton will get a pre-auction re-conditioning and maintenance center for used cars, bringing in 240 new jobs, City Councilors agreed.

e CarMax o cials received approval from council members at their July 5 meeting to set up a 70,646 square foot vehicle service facility, one 4,864 square foot auction facility, and one 936 square foot nonpublic carwash, private fuel tank, and staging area.

e property planned unit development is

located 19 miles south of County Road 18 with the Northland planned unit development. It will not be open to the general public, but will sell used cars at wholesale rates to dealers around the Denver Metro area.

CarMax is a national retailer of used cars with 244 locations across the country and six locations in Colorado. During the public hearing, Steve Hudak, CarMax Auto Superstores real estate representative, said the company is looking forward to being part of the Fort Lupton Community.

“Carmax is very involved in the communities with the CarMax foundation so, our employees are very involved in the communities where they work by matching donations to 501c3 companies matching dollar for dollar. We organize

“We’re farmers, we don’t want to be activists. But we also want our neighbors and our communities to be safe and we are concerned that not enough attention has been paid to our situation to correct it from happening to someone else,” Julie said in a recent interview.

Conor Farley, an administrative law judge at the PUC, heard recently from the public on a proposal to implement a 2021 law requiring the state to strengthen safety rules and adopt regulations to comply with federal requirements.

Several times during the three-hour-plus hearing, speakers referred to the “Nygren rules.” e couple recommended changes to the draft rules based on events that required the digging of a pit on their land that was more than 20 feet deep and 3 acres wide to muck out the pollution.

“ e story of Mark and Julie Nygren serves as a poignant reminder of what is at stake in this rule-making. All Colorado residents, in urban and rural areas, deserve to feel safe in their homes and be protected from avoidable pipeline accidents,” said Rep. Tammy

Trinity and Liliana Vigil selling lemonade at their grandpa Richard Vigil’s yard sale July 7, part of Fort Lupton’s Community Garage Sale. The city hosts the sale annually and their grandfather was selling pictures and furniture along his Park Avenue fence. See more photos, page 4.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

GOCO grant to help Weld County anglers

A $23,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado will be used to help 300 Weld County residents get shing licenses and shing gear over the next three years.

e Great Outdoors Colorado board awarded the grant to Colorado Parks and Wildlife and United Way of Weld County through the United Way’s Housing Navigation Center.

e grant is part of the Director’s Innovation Fund, a partnership between Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to create a funding source for one-time projects that would not otherwise receive funding from either organization. e Housing Navigation Center helps its unhoused people get back into and keep housing.

e current grant will cover the cost of annual shing licenses and shing gear as well as programming through CPW’s Angler Education Program for 300 Weld County residents over the next three years. It’s designed to help the unhoused or county residents that are at-risk and do not have su cient nancial means to pay for shing licenses and gear.

Platte Valley Medical Center earns recognition for breastfeeding program

Platte Valley Medical Center is one of 45 hospitals recognized by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for e orts

to promote breastfeeding and o er healthier food and beverage options through the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and Colorado BabyFriendly Hospital Collaborative.

e initiatives are part of the state’s work to promote healthy eating and active living to reduce rates of death and disease from chronic illness among Coloradans.

Platte Valley was recognized at the Gold Level for the Healthy Hospital Compact.

Learn more about the Colorado Healthy Hospital Compact and the Colorado Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative at cdphe.colorado.gov/ colorado-healthy-hospital-compact and at BreastfeedColorado.com.

Farm to Market tickets on sale

Tickets for Farm to Table, a fundraising event for the Platte Valley Medical Foundation scheduled for Aug. 17 are on sale now.

e Foundation’s biennial fundraising campaign will bene t women’s health services to help women connect with the care they need throughout their adult years and to support area women who do not always prioritize their own health needs. e foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the campaign cycle. ey conduct multiple fundraising e orts annually with Farm to Table as the largest event.

Farm to Table will be at 6 p.m. Aug.

17 on the hospital campus. Platte Valley Medical Center’s Chef Mike Anderson uses produce donated by area farmers to create a gourmet meal for about 450 guests.

e event garners so much support that it often sells out long before the date. is year, Muñoz reserved a block of tickets that are available to the public for $75 each. ey are available at https://ftt2023.cbo.io.

State youth council needs members

e Colorado legislature’s nonpartisan Colorado Youth Advisory Council has openings for new members across the state for the 2023-25 term.

e Youth Advisory Council is a statewide organization dedicated to youth-led civic service learning. Youth members lead policy committees that analyze issues and policies that impact youth across Colorado. Policy work can include making recommendations about current policies or advocating for new ones. Council members conduct research, write problem/solution statements, meet with subject matter experts, build relationships with legislators, and seek feedback from their peers and communities.

e Colorado Legislature created the youth advisory council in 2008 to give Colorado’s youth ages 14-19 a voice in lawmaking. Youth council members work each summer to propose policy ideas to a committee

of legislators. Each summer, students present policy proposals to legislators. During the last two years, several policies the youth council identi ed became law, including increased crisis services, higher education programs for fostered youth, educational standards and e orts to prevent eating disorders.

Applications are due June 19. State organizers plan to host an informational session for applicants at 6 p.m. June 14. Find info at www.coyac.org/ apply.

Donation time

e 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. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.

Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.

Walk with a doc

Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr.

SEE BRIEFS, P3

Special order rack no headache for Fort Lupton company

In letter, Canadian couple thanks Merritt Aluminum for help

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Edmonton resident Allison Kuzyk wanted a special gift for her husband Darrell’s birthday last March, so she turned Fort Lupton’s Merritt Aluminum Products for help.

“We take pride in our culture within our company,” said Drew Merritt, vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s nice we can extend that outside of our company to help customers and others that are inter-

ested in our products and services.”

Allison’s husband Darrell was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia – a kind of cancer that attacks the blood and bone marrow – just after his 57th birthday in 2016. He has undergone a long series of treatments since then, including chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

His birthday wish, now seven years after his diagnosis, was for a headache rack for his truck. at’s the kind of metal rack that covers the rear window of a truck’s cab, protecting the window while o ering a safe place to hang gear.

“I had contacted Merritt Aluminum Products because they had the Headache Rack that my husband absolutely loved, but it was nothing

hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun talk.

Blessings in a Bag

Christopher Cannon, an interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.

is 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

Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps school children in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-7184440. Mail donations to Blessings in a Bag, 306 Park Ave., Fort Lupton 80621.

we had ever seen in Canada,” Kuzyk said in a letter to the Fort Lupton Press

“He never asks for anything, working to provide for his family and also taking a dangerous pill to keep the cancer at bay,” she said. “If anyone deserves a nice gift it would be him.”

She turned to Rachel Deere, one of the Fort Lupton company’s outside sales representatives.

“Rachel Deere – who is any company’s dream de nition of providing exemplary customer service – she took my inquiry seriously as I explained that I wanted to get this for my husband whose birthday was approaching,” Kuzyk said in her letter.

Deere found the rack that the Kuzyk’s wanted and prepared to

Drop-in child care

e Fort Lupton Recreation Center o ers drop-in child care from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and ursdays. Call 303857-4200.

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.

ship it to them in time for Darrell’s birthday – with an added surprise.

“We were thrilled he was really excited to get this headache rack for his truck,” Merritt said. “We thought it would be really nice to send it to him as a surprise at no charge to make them happy.”

“ ank you, just simply isn’t enough, and we would like the community to know how special Merritt Aluminum Products truly is, and what wonderful sta they employ,” Kuzyk said.

“Obviously customer service isn’t dead, and every company could learn from the culture of the owner, manager, and especially Rachel Deere whose dedication to a great company is a daily practice, not just an empty motto up on the wall.”

Call 303-857-4200, ext. 6166.

Coffee 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.

DIVERSIFY RETIREMENT STRATEGIES

A community market

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fort Lupton residents opened their garages and yards to sell goodies and all sorts of second-hand items to treasure hunters across the city on July 7 and 8. e city hosts the sale annually, registering the homes hosting sales and publishing a map showing the locations and addresses.

is year, 50 homes participated in the sale, setting up tables on their yards and in their garages.

Richard Vigil opened his backyard with tables of great items to sell on Park Avenue during the Fort Lupton Community Garage sale July 7. PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD

Zila and Pricilla Sifuentes sell purses, Knick Knacks, and vases on Grand Avenue during the Fort Lupton Community Garage sale July 7.

FROM PAGE 1

volunteers event to help food banks and schools,” Hudak said.

Hudak said they project auctioning about 300 vehicles a week when at full maturity, the facility will recondition up to 480 cars per week. e company plans invest about $25 million in the Fort Lupton facility.

“Traditionally, we do this type of work at our 240 retail stores and about 90 facilities we do auctions and reconditioning with the sales facilities,” Hudak said.

Moving responsibility from retail stores

Hudak said since COVID, the company is purchasing more cars from regular folks as trade-ins. e company buys vehicles and makes o ers even if the customer doesn’t buy a car from them. ey found their retail operations need more capacity on-site to store the cars.

“We have been looking around for about up 18 months for a larger site where we can take these components out of our retail stores and do them separately it’s the purpose why we are looking at a site like this one in Fort Lupton,” Hudak said.

Hudak said there are two components to their plans. First is the reconditioning center, which conducts a 125-point full inspection on all cars that come in, and routine maintenance for the resales of the car.

e other piece is they take trade-ins. Some of them qualify and go through reconditioning. Vehicles that don’t qualify won’t be auctioned.

“We are the third largest auction house in the country. It’s what we will be doing primarily on-site. We get our inventory from two places the general public and we go to an auction called Manheim. ey are the largest car auction house in the country it where we go to buy cars for our lot. But more than half our cars come from the general public trade-ins,” Hudak said.

Just wholesale

Mayor Zo Hubbard asked if the general public could buy from this site.

“No. On the auction side, the customers are licensed and pre-approved with CarMax,” Hudak said. Hubbard also asked about tra c concerns.

“We have an auction place here where I see semis loading cars it creates horrible tra c,” Hubbard said. “It is unsightly and dangerous for the public with people loading on both sides of the street and I want to make sure we address all of that business on the front side.”

Abigail Bartolo with CenterPoint Integrated Solutions, who submitted the application representing the CarMax site, the way the site is set up, so there would be no tra c problems. Bartolo said there would be customer and employee parking on the east of the site. ere will be public access within the area of the site to the north with car carrier spaces.

“ e car carriers that come in to unload and load are 100 feet long and the car carriers are 75 feet long,” Bartolo said. “CarMax makes sure there is extra room for loaded and unloading to avoid having safely issued in this area with any of these dealers that come in and are buying cars and utilize these spaces as well.”

Bartolo said to the west will be a staging area where cars are stored and waiting to be inspected, auctioned, and reconditioned. On the north, they will have a nonpublic car wash and fuel pump that is only used by the reconditioning operation and are nonpublic with two access driveways.

“Its a secure and screened areas and on the east side and north there are six-foot walls and chain link fences with guard rail for screening. Its secure area will be access by delta gates with access key cards,” Bartolo said.

Bartolo said the auction would take place in an enclosed building, and the staging area is the production building so that the public will access it.

e council approved a third ling for plan unit development for the CarMax site of 39.22 acres, combining three vacant parcels into a single parcel. It includes a railroad easement and a space for a detention pond on the west side of North Land Drive, 400 yards south of Weld County Road 18, east of Union Paci c railroad tracks. e property is currently under contract commitment for sale to CarMax Superstores.

Recreation center renovation

In other business, the council approved Adolfson & Peterson Construction to hire subcontractors at a cost of $6.5 million for the Fort Lupton Recreation Center renovation project. e project’s designs are nished and construction plans are about halfway complete.

Monte Shuman, Recreation Director, said it to allows Adolfson & Peterson to start securing funding and pricing with a second round of nal drawings, which is part of securing vendors under contract.

“ is will be the pool contract, steel, HVAC, and plumbing for those types of areas. ey got pricing for that, so it’s about 60% of the project,” Shuman said. “ ere will be other rounds later, which would be the nal price. But we could get things started so we are not getting too far behind on the way procurement is and supplies, so we want to stay ahead of that.”

Council also approved a policy to charge booth fees for city events. Mari Pena, City Clerk, asked for a resolution to establish booth fees to create the continuity of their various event sponsors.

She said the city will be asking for no fees for organizations awarded a 501c3 classi cation by the IRS if they are in good standing by the Colorado Secretary of State. For all other organizations, the city will charge an individual booth fee of $20.

Councilmen Carlos Baron said, “Do we provide a tent and table for them?

Pena said they bring their own.

phone keys wallet bag

when you shop, bring your bag

scan to learn more about our collective effort

A jobs bonanzain this energy transition for Brighton

Every transition produces winners and losers. U.S. scal policy shifted in the 1880s and the economy of Aspen cratered for decades. Some silver-mining towns never recovered. In the 1980s, newspapers were plentiful. Ink now stains far fewer printers and editorial wretches. Amazon thrives but Sears and Kmart, no more. How will Colorado’s coalbased towns transition as we quell emissions from energy production? Legislation of recent years seeks to deliver what lawmakers call a just transition, meaning that Pueblo, Craig and other coal-based communities will stay on their feet.

e newest round of job-producing investments in emission-free technologies, though, call into question how di cult that will be. Two new factories are to be created in Brighton, on metropolitan Denver’s northeastern fringe. e combined investment of $450 million will deliver more than 1,200 average- to better-paying jobs.

VSK Energy will manufacture solar photovoltaic panels and will employ more than 900 people. It is a direct result of incentives in the federal In ation Reduction Act of 2022, which seeks to restore U.S. manufacturing of renewable energy components.

e second factory will produce a new generation of energy-rich lithium-ion batteries. e company, Amprius Technology, says that a new anode, which will use silicon mined in Montana, will double the range of a Tesla, allowing it more than enough capacity to roam Colorado from corner to corner and the ability to juice up to 80% capacity in six minutes. e company also says the new batteries will deliver value to drones and aircraft. Sounds like a game-changer.

Both companies cited proximity to Interstate 76 as a signi cant consideration in siting their factories. ey also have proximity to I-25, I-70 and I-80 plus Denver International Airport. If of not immediate importance, they also have access to transcontinental rail lines.

Availability of a large, skilled workforce was also cited. e battery company also cited the proximity of the Colorado School of Mines and other universities. It will employ a half-dozen Ph.Ds. in the research facility associated with the factory. Something more intangible was also in play. It

was described as a “strong cultural t” by Ashwini Agarwal, the leader of Vikram Solar, the parent company for the solar manufacturer. Supply chains matter, but Colorado’s initiative in accelerating the energy transition also matters.

Andrew Huie, the vice president of infrastructure for Amprius, said something similar. “Colorado and Gov. Polis are embracing clean energy, and batteries align with Colorado’s clean energy goals,” he told me. “ ere may be synergies.”

Other companies are also carving out futures in this new energy economy along the Front Range.

e Denver Business Journal recently cited three companies from Denver to Fort Collins that hope to stake a future with new batteries. And Lightning eMotors manufactures electric vehicles in Loveland.

Brighton already has Vestas, which arrived in 2010 to manufacture nacelles, containing the gearboxes and drive trains for wind turbines. Vestas also built a factory in Pueblo, near the Comanche Generating Station.

CS Wind, now the owner of the Pueblo factory, this year began an expansion that will add 850 jobs. It cited In ation Reduction Act provisions that encourage wind production.

Je Shaw, president of the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation, said he expects an-

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

STEVE SMITH Sports Editor ssmith@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

nouncement of other renewable-sector projects in the Pueblo area and probably throughout the state during the next 12 to 18 months. “A lot of it has to do with the In ation Reduction Act,” he said, and in particular the law’s buy-American provision.

Already, Pueblo County has been rapidly adding both solar and storage. But so far, the new tax base for Pueblo won’t balance that from Comanche. Xcel Energy, Comanche’s primary owner, has agreed to pay taxes until 2040.

Western Slope towns dependent on coal extraction and combustion are a harder sell. At Craig, there was hope on becoming a hydrogen hub, but Colorado has pinned its highest hope for federal funding on a project involving Rawhide, the coal but soon to become gas plant near Brush. Nuclear has its fans in Craig and beyond, and the Economist notes that the Biden administration is dangling billions in nancial incentives nationally. at same magazine also concludes that unresolved problems cloud the future of this technology.

As for new factories, Craig is 90 miles from the nearest interstate, at the end of a railroad and ve hours from DIA. It does have a workforce with skills, but so far, no new applications for those skills.

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Contact us: 143 S. Second Pl., Brighton, CO 80401 - 303-566-4100

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100

Web: FtLuptonPress.com

To subscribe call 303-566-4100

SCOTT TAYLOR Metro North Editor staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

BELEN WARD Community Editor bward@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TERESA ALEXIS Marketing Consultant Classified Sales talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Email letters to staylor@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Allen Best

FARMERS

Story, a Conifer Democrat who sponsored the legislation mandating new regulations.

Story also requested an audit of the state’s Gas Pipeline Safety program. e 121-page report released June 12 was a blistering critique of the state’s oversight of natural gas pipelines. e state auditor’s o ce said the program repeatedly violated state and federal regulations.

e problems cited in the audit included inadequate inspections to a lack of documented action against repeat o enders even following explosions that killed and injured people.

For now, the Nygrens hope the PUC will strengthen draft rules on using advanced technology to detect leaks and require the annual reporting of leaks. e state and the federal agency that oversees pipelines, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, or PHMSA, require reports only when an incident kills or hospitalizes someone; causes property damage of more than $122,000; or unintentionally releases 3 million cubic feet of gas, enough to power 17,000 average households for a day.

During the hearing, o cials from Boulder and Adams counties and Broom eld endorsed the Nygrens’ proposed amendments to the rules.

While the state considers new rules, PHMSA is going through its own update to improve safety and reduce emissions from lines. e state and PHMSA regulate di erent pipelines, depending on the size of line, whether it crosses state lines and what type of liquids they carry.

e Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission oversees owlines, which connect an oil or gas well to surrounding equipment. e American Petroleum Institute-Colorado said in comments to

the PUC that it expects the federal agency to pass a comprehensive approach to dealing with leaks and asked the state to wait until PHMSA acts.

If the PUC moves ahead, oil and gas companies could end up facing con icting state and federal rules, API said.

e Colorado Oil and Gas Association has also urged a delay. e trade organization supports mapping pipelines as long as the safety and security of the lines are considered, said Dan Haley, COGA’s CEO and president.

Utilities and pipeline operators contend that the level of detail in the maps of pipelines that would be available to the public could make the equipment the targets of terrorists or vandals.

Attorney Matt Sura, who is representing the Nygrens before the PUC, said the legislation clearly mandates that all pipelines within the PUC’s jurisdiction be mapped at a speci c level of detail. He said the scale of detail backed by the industry means people will “have no idea if the oil and gas pipelines are on their street, in their backyard, two streets over.”

Proponents of stronger rules don’t want the PUC to delay a decision.

“Nearly two years have passed since Senate Bill 108 was signed into law by Gov. (Jared) Polis. Precious

Several years after a pipeline leak forced Mark and Julie Nygren’s home to be demolished and the soil around it dug up, they are still waiting for a settlement with the pipeline company on June 29, 2023 in Johnstown, Colorado. The demolished home was on land where the Nygrens still farm. They now rent a house in Johnstown, but the two hope to rebuild a home on the farm someday. They are suing the company whose pipeline broke and leaked, and hoping the state will add new regulations considering pipeline safety.

PHOTO BY RJ SANGOSTI / THE DENVER POST

time has lapsed,” Story said.

Under the PUC’s draft rules, companies would have to report whether they’re using advanced technology and if they’re not, why not. e rules being considered by PHMSA would require companies to use the latest technology.

e law that mandated updating state regulations requires the reXgulations be at least as strict as PHMSA’s rules.

e Nygrens said they will keep pushing for stronger rules. Meanwhile, they said they don’t know when they’ll be able to build a new home on their property. DCP Midstream has paid the Nygrens’ rent, but they aren’t sure how long that will continue.

Phillips 66 bought the publicly held units of DCP Midstream in January.

e couple’s lawsuit against the pipeline company seeks compensation for their home, business losses and health problems they attribute to what they say was an ongoing leak over several years. eir insurance doesn’t cover the damage.

“From Day 1, when they found the leak and when they found out that it was under and all around in our home, Julie has been very strong in her feelings about how many other people could be going through this and not know it. We didn’t,” Mark said.

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

Sandy Akins 63, passed away peacefully June 30th.

Sandy was born to Joseph Akins and Mildred Northrup at Fitzsimmons. She was the fth of six siblings and never married. She lived in several states, Germany and settled in Brighton in 1972.

A graduate of Campion Academy in Loveland, she worked for 30 years at Golden Bell Press in Denver. She also worked for

Commerce. Sandy’s faith was demonstrated by her volunteer work as an EMT with Platte Valley Ambulance and as a Board member of Hope at Miracle House in Fort Lupton.

Sandy is preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her sister, Karen Fernandez, brothers Randy, Keith, Bill and Brian, in addition to many of nieces, nephews, cousins

September 22, 1925 - June 3, 2023

Kenneth Donald Lange, 1925-2023, 97 of Tucson, AZ formerly of Hudson, CO went home to his Savior on Saturday, June 3, 2023. Kenneth was born in Siebert, CO. In 1948 he moved to Brighton with his family where he worked as a dairy farmer. In 1957 he moved his dairy farm to Hudson, CO. In March of 1958 he married Edna Zoch of Harrold, Texas. In 1972 he opened up a jewelry store, Lange’s Jewelry, in Brighton, CO until his retirement in 1992. A memorial service will be held on July 8, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ at 11:00 AM. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Edna

Lange, his sons: Mark (Juanita) Lange of Tucson, AZ and Roy (Andrea) Lange of Boise, ID and his daughter: Joan (Kent) Ford of Mineola, TX. Six grandchildren: James, Abby, Ollie (Julia), Cody, Jacob, and Cooper. His sister, Ruby Kunkel. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Minna Lange, sister, Ruth Stewart and brother, Dale Lange. In lieu of owers, the family requests donations be made in Kenneth’s memory to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 8845 N. Silverbell RD, Tucson, AZ.

LANGE Kenneth Donald Lange

AKINS Sandra “Sandy” (Akins) Akins July 21, 1959 - June 30, 2023

A BIG PASSION FOR SMALL THINGS

Meet Metro Denver’s active miniaturist community

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Several years ago, someone walking into Barbara Pontarelli’s home for the rst time may have gotten the feeling that they’d become a giant.

Hanging on the walls of her kitchen, small scenes exhibited the culinary décor of di erent eras. In one display box, tiny countertops of a retro 1950s kitchen popped with color. In another, little stainless steel appliances lled the space.

Miniature tables and chairs were laid out in parlor scenes in the house’s living room, and Pontarelli’s bathrooms were dentist-themed. Since her husband was a dentist, she honored his career with small recliners and minuscule toothbrushes on display.

“When I didn’t have enough space to display stu , I would empty closets,” said the Wheat Ridge resident, who now lives part-time in California.

Of the countless miniature scenes on display in her home, Pontarelli collected about a quarter of them.

e rest, she made herself.

“It’s, you know, how I express my artistic side,” she said. “I can’t explain the draw, but it’s de nitely a passion … I just nd this so satisfying — to produce something small to be as close as it can be to its full-size counterpart.”

Pontarelli is part of a passionate community of miniaturists, or people who enjoy the art, hobby or collection of miniature objects.

In the metro Denver area, it doesn’t take a magnifying glass to see that the miniaturist community is thriving — from meetup groups to classes, to a museum, the love of tiny things is big in the hearts of many.

A museum of tiny things

Pontarelli is a board member at the institution at the epicenter of the Denver metro miniaturist community: the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys. In addition to its miniature collection, the museum displays and teaches visitors about antique toys and special dolls from over the decades.

e museum recently moved to 830 Kipling St. in Lakewood after spending almost 40 years in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood.

In its new location, Executive Director Wendy Littlepage said the museum welcomes about 5,000 visitors per year,

“( e museum) is so many di erent things to di erent people,” she said. “We have people that come in that love just the exactitude of the small scale, and then we have people that love the

SMALL THINGS

whimsy of the small scale. We have a lot of people that come for nostalgia … And then I think some people just like that it’s a bit of a mental break.”

One of her favorite things about miniatures is that they are for everyone. Some people come into the museum thinking that the collection, which includes several intricate dollhouses and other cases of miniature objects and artwork, is mainly for kids.

But the houses are full of detailed — and sometimes even functional — replicas of what one would see in a normal house, including cupboards, dressers, paintings, beds, sinks, animals and food.

Considering the familiarity and intricacies of the pieces, Littlepage said some of the collection’s biggest fans tend to be craftsmen.

“We had a nish carpenter come through, and he just said over and over, ‘ is is all insane! How did they get that nish?’” she said. “ ere’s one house where the plumbing is really exposed – and it’s not functional plumbing – but we had a plumber come through and he was just like, ‘ at’s what every house needs.’”

In one display case, tiny handmade food is almost microscopically detailed — including an orange that can be peeled to show the segments underneath and an onion with all of its layers. Other displays show miniature artwork by Indigenous artists that represent Indigenous homes.

For many miniature items, artists use the materials that the regular-sized objects would be made of, like wood and fabric. Paintings are painted, embroidered things are embroidered and knit clothing is knit with small thread.

But for other mini details, artists get more creative, using paper to make owers and polymer clay to construct food items.

While many miniatures are created by hobbyists and artisan creators, others are mass-produced. Just like with real furniture, Wendy said, collectors will determine which types to buy based on their speci c needs.

High-end artisan miniature pieces can sell for thousands of dollars, Littlepage said. e miniature art gallery in the museum was appraised at $18,000 about 15 years ago, so it’s likely worth even more now, she added.

Crafting classes

For those who like to make miniatures, there are clubs and classes to teach di erent skills. For a long time, Pontarelli was the president of one of these clubs, called Wee Wonders of Arvada.

e longstanding miniature group meets monthly at the museum to work on projects together or teach and learn new skills from each other, like how to make stained glass windows or create stucco.

“We have people at every level,” Pontarelli said. “I love getting together with these people and hearing what they’ve gured out and what they’re doing and always learning something new.”

In addition to crafting by hand, miniaturists also use new tools and technologies to create their artwork.

“I’ve noticed a change in the level of expertise over the years,” Pontarelli said. “Before, we used mini scroll saws and mini table saws and Dremel tools — we still use the Dremel quite a bit — but now that we can get laser-cut wood or 3D-printed items, it’s sort of changing the face of the miniature world.”

e museum also hosts classes for kids.

“ ere’s a whole in ux of young people into the hobby and for those of us who are in it, that’s kind of exciting, because, you know, we don’t want to

see it disappear,” Pontarelli said.

For her, miniatures are a great way for kids to explore their creativity.

“We’re just trying to nd any avenue to trigger their creativity, that’s really what it’s all about,” she said. “In this tech world, we need to foster any outside creativity activities that we can, because it’s really important that these kids exercise that part of their brain.”

To learn and wonder e dedication and ambition within the community of miniaturists is special, Littlepage said.

“My favorite thing about the miniature community is they’re such learners,” she said. “Like I have one of my volunteers who has been retired for a while … and she bought a laser cutter and has taught herself to program it.”

She said that problem-solving attitude, plus the childlike wonder of enjoying cute things, make miniaturists special.

Littlepage encouraged people to take a break from their busy lives to check out the museum, where tickets for adults are $5 and children and seniors are $4.

“It’s a great space because you have to slow down,” she said. “You come in fast, you miss a lot. So being able to come in, take a few breaths and just sort of nd the most ridiculous tiny thing you can nd.”

For those who have their interest piqued in the world of miniatures, Pontarelli said it’s never too late to start. Creating and collecting can be for anyone at any time and any age, she said.

And for those who don’t know where to begin, just remember — it’s OK to start small.

Wendy Littlepage shows the details of a miniature book titled “Trees of Minnesota,” which includes a hard cover and pages full of words.

A child points to a detail she found in a dollhouse as part of a scavenger hunt challenge at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys. PHOTOS BY NINA JOSS

The collection at the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys includes several large dollhouses full of miniatures.

Thu 7/13

Nature Art! Homeschool Program

@ 9am / Free

Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learn‐ing Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 53

Featured

Fri 7/14

Featured

Featured

Get Crafty @ 3pm

Jul 17th - Jul 20th

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

Tue 7/18

Volleyball Development Camp @ 6am

Jul 18th - Jul 27th

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

Colorado Rockies vs. New York Yankees @ 6:40pm / $32-$350

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Den‐ver

Sat 7/15

Colorado Rockies vs. New York Yankees @ 6:10pm / $33-$350

Metalachi: Top Taco 2023 @ 6pm

Westminster City Park, 10455 N Sheridan Blvd, Westminster

Featured

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Denver

Featured

Teague Starbuck @ 9pm

Elevate Grill & Bar, 2831 W 120th Ave #200, Westminster

Sun 7/16

Featured

Featured

Juice O'The Barley: Twist & Shout Thornton Summer Concert Series @ 7pm

Harley Brown Amphitheater, Thornton

Wildlife Series: Flying Rainbow an Epic Tale (7/13) @ 7pm

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

Nate Hixson: Twist & Shout Thornton Summer Concert Series @ 7pm Harley Brown Amphitheater, Thornton

Carolyn Shulman: Water Lantern FestivalDenver/Thornton 2023 @ 7:20pm

Carpenter Park, 10698 Gar�eld St, Thornton

Featured

Keith Hicks @ 4pm

Denver Premium Outlets, Thornton

Mon 7/17

Featured

Colorado Rockies vs. Houston Astros @ 6:40pm / $10-$300

Coors Field, 2001 Blake St., Den‐ver

The Zenith Passage @ 7pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Wed 7/19

Medicare 101 (7/19) @ 3pm

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

Featured

Colorado Rapids vs Houston Dynamo @ 7:30pm / $25-$999

DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City

Raptor Camp @ 9am / $230

Jul 17th - Jul 21st

Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-6594348 ext. 53

Police Camp @ 1pm

Jul 17th - Jul 20th

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

Big Dry Creek Open House @ 4:30pm

Westminster City Park, 10455 North Sheridan Boulevard, West‐minster. BDCRestoration@City ofWestminster.us, 303-706-3406

Thu 7/20

Summer Evening Patio Potluck @ 11:30pm

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

powered by

Law ties punishment to car theft behavior

Repeat o enders face harsher penalties

BY MEGAN VERLEE COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

Colorado is changing how it punishes people for car theft, and will focus on the behavior of the o ender instead of the value of the vehicle.

A new state law that took e ect July 1 will bring harsher penalties for people who repeatedly steal cars, or use them to commit other crimes.

For repeat o enders — those who have been convicted of car theft at least twice before — prosecutors can now charge them with a Class 3 felony, punishable by between four and 12 years in prison. People who steal a car and damage it, take it out of state or use it to commit another crime, will face between two to six years in prison.

e law does allow for a lower penalty for joyriders, people who steal cars brie y and commit no other crimes with them.

“We heard a lot of concerns of: What

if it’s less than 24 hours? What if it’s returned undamaged?” said GOP state Rep. Matt Soper, explaining why they kept the ability for prosecutors to treat some car thefts as a misdemeanor.

e bipartisan law was a response to criticism that Colorado’s previous approach to car theft was ine ectual and unfair.

Under the prior law, the severity of the crime was based on the value of the vehicle. Stealing a car worth less than $2,000 was generally only a misdemeanor. Democratic state Sen. Rachel Zenzinger said it was clear that approach ignored the actual impact on victims.

“A crime is a crime,” said Zenzinger. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a moderate income person, a low income person — if your car has been stolen, it’s going to impact your life, and sometimes pretty dramatically.”

Colorado has earned a place of infamy for car thefts in recent years.

e business-oriented think tank Common Sense Institute found that Colorado led the nation in car thefts in 2021 and averaged around 4,000 thefts a month for the rst half of 2022.

Car thefts have declined since then,

PERFECTION IS EFFORTLESS

Let’s talk steaks. Steaks that are tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Perfectly aged, hand-trimmed, one-of-a-kind steaks that are GUARANTEED to be perfect, every single time. These aren’t just steaks. These are Omaha Steaks.

THE BEST STEAKS OF YOUR LIFE OR YOUR MONEY BACK

according to Colorado State Patrol, which trumpeted the new law as a help to future enforcement.

Zenzinger and other lawmakers said they got involved in the issue after hearing from numerous constituents across the state about their own experiences with auto thefts and asking for stricter penalties.

“I was receiving emails about this almost daily,” she said. “Even my own vehicle, while it was not stolen, it was broken into. And I think when you become a victim of a crime like that, it really sends it home. When you realize, ‘it can happen to anybody. And it is happening!’”

e bill was supported unanimously in the state Senate but opposed by a handful of House Democrats, concerned that strengthening penalties could lead to more people with felonies on their criminal records without meaningfully reducing car thefts. ey argued addressing the root causes of crime would have more impact.

“It’s a false set of options to suggest folks are asking for more criminalization, when we’re not giving them other options,” said Rep. Elisabeth Epps during a committee hearing on

the bill. “ is is a step in the wrong direction, and it’s a step that we’re going to be paying for for years to come.”

e new law was developed by the state’s Criminal and Juvenile Justice Coalition and supported by a number of local governments and law enforcement organizations. It was opposed by the ACLU and criminal defense lawyers.

is Colorado Public Radio story via a content sharing agreement with Colorado Community Media.

Police lights on a Denver Police Department vehicle. PHOTO BY HART VAN DENBURG / CPR NEWS

TRIVIA

1. FOOD & DRINK: What kind of nut is used in a satay?

2. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Who is the rst president to have a telephone in the White House?

3. MOVIES: Which actress won an Oscar for her role in “Mary Poppins”?

4. ASTRONOMY: How many planets in our solar system have rings?

5. LITERATURE: e novels “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn” are set in which U.S. state?

6. TELEVISION: How many seasons of “Star Trek” were produced for television?

7. GEOGRAPHY: What is the name of the highest mountain in Greece?

8. SCIENCE: Which plant produces the world’s hottest pepper?

9. ANATOMY: Which hormone regulates blood sugar?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a piebald?

Solution

Answers

1. Peanut.

2. Rutherford B. Hayes.

3. Julie Andrews.

4. Four: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

5. Missouri.

6. ree.

7. Mount Olympus.

8. Carolina Reaper.

9. Insulin.

10. An animal with irregular patches of two colors, usually black and white.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

lawnservice9155@gmail.com

Stump grinding specialist

Most stumps $75.00 and up $55 Minimum. Free estimates. Licensed & Insured. 41 years experience.

Call or Text

10% off when coupon presented Miscellaneous

A father and son team!

Terry 303-424-7357 Corey 720-949-8373

My Caring Plan has helped thousands of families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 866511-1799

Free high speed internet if qualified. Govt. pgm for recipients of select pgms incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefits, Lifeline, Tribal. 15 GB internet. Android tablet free w/one-time $20 copay. Free shipping. Call Maxsip Telecom! 1-833-758-3892

Safe Step. North America’s #1 Walk-in tub. Comprehensive lifetime warranty. Top-of-the-line installation and service.

Now featuring our free shower package & $1600 off - limited time! Financing available. 1-855-4171306

Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+?

You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help! Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707

Become a published author. We want to read your book! Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-729-4998 or visit dorranceinfo.com/ads

Pets Dogs

COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

CLASSIFIEDS

Help Wanted

Nursing Faculty

Full-Time, 167 work days beginning August, 2023. The faculty member is responsible for instruction to students in the Associate Degree Nursing program. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/ jobs/2935855.html and https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/ jobs/2935846.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Advisor for Career Technical Education

Full-time, The position advises current and prospective students about college and career opportunities in the manufacturing industry. This position will be the primary contact between students, regional workforce centers, manufacturing/industry partners, secondary schools, and the College regarding available pathways for students. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2831678.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Coordinator of Regional Center - Bennett

Full-time. This position is responsible for assisting with the delivery of credit and non-credit programs to residents of the communities served by the Regional Center. The position has responsibility for coordinating the day-to-day operations of the Center (either in Bennett or Strasburg) under the direction of the Director. This includes assisting with recruiting, testing, advising, and registering students. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2930398.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Director of Human Resources

Full-time. The Director of Human Resources manages the leadership and day-to-day operations of the human resources department. This is a hands-on position requiring data entry as well as coordination of a comprehensive human resources program for the college in coordination with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS). For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2934043.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Instructional Coordinator

Full-time. This position exists to manage the operation of the Instructional O ce in collaboration with the Coordinator of Instructional Support. It involves the development, analysis, and evaluation of processes to ensure e ciency and compliance within the Instructional Division. This position facilitates communication between the Instructional O ce and the other areas of the college and provides support services to Deans, VPI, faculty and instructors. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2930453.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

STEM Coach

Full-time. The STEM Coach is responsible for a variety of activities related to intense support services for students in underserved populations interested in STEM elds. This position will provide one-on-one support services primarily for minority, low-income, rst generation, and/or at academic risk students in the STEM programs. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/jobs/2837758.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

Student Support Specialist

Full-time. The primary role of the Student Support & Equipment Specialist is to provide support and training to students in the operation and use of instructional equipment for in-person and remote learning. For additional quali cations, full announcement & Employment Application, https://morgancc.applicantpro.com/ jobs/2665963.html or call 970-542-3130. EOE

CLASSIFIED AD SALES

303-566-4113

classifieds@coloradocommunitymedia.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY ADS

Contact Teresa, 303-566-4125

talexis@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Public Notices call

Legals

City of Ft. Lupton

Notice is hereby given that a public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, July 27, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. with the Fort Lupton Planning Commission to consider proposed amendments to Chapter 16 – Development Code of the Fort Lupton Municipal Code. A copy of the proposed amendments is

303-566-4123

available for public inspection at City Hall during regular business hours for fifteen (15) days prior to the public hearings on such amendments, and may also be reviewed on the City website at www. fortluptonco.gov.

The public hearing shall be held at the Fort Lupton City Hall, 130 South McKinley Avenue in Fort Lupton, Colorado, or at such other time or place in the event this hearing is adjourned. In the event that City Hall is closed to the public at the time of the hearings, the public hearings will be held remotely, accessible to the public by phone and internet. Information on how to attend the hearings will be provided in the agenda posted on the City’s website, www.fortluptonco.gov. For additional information, please contact the Fort Lupton Planning Department at 303-857-6694.

Legal Notice No. FLP895

First Publication: July 13, 2023

Last Publication: July 13, 2023

Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Public Notice

ORDINANCE NO. 2023-1157

INTRODUCED BY: CARLOS BARRON

A ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF FORT LUPTON ACCEPTING THE DEDICATION OF A 55-FEET WIDE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY LOCATED SOUTH OF THE CENTERLINE OF COUNTY ROAD 8 APPROXIMATELY 537-FEET ALONG THE FRONTAGE OF

City of Fort Lupton Expenditures