Fort Lupton Press November 16, 2023

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BY KRISTIN OH, SUZIE GLASSMAN, THELMA GRIMES A SPECIAL REPORT FROM COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA AND SENTINEL COLORADO

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Ali Lombard has wanted to be a teacher since she was a little kid. She said it is her calling.

“My favorite part about being a teacher is the relationships with kids,” she said. “I’m sure all of us as adults have teachers that we can remember.”

Now in her 10th year, Lombard teaches fifth graders at Fox Hollow Elementary School in the Cherry Creek School District.

However, her dream career has been clouded with obstacles, primarily money.

Low salaries and more responsibilities amid the rising cost of living have pushed teachers like Lombard out of one Colorado school district in search of another, leaving some school systems struggling to attract and

retain educators. Turnover rates in several metro area districts are hovering between 13%-21%.

That’s higher than the national average teacher turnover rate, which was 10% by the end of the 2021-22 school year, according to a report by RAND Corp., a nonprofit policy think tank based in California. RAND also reported that the turnover rate was highest, approximately 12%-14%, in “urban districts, high poverty districts, and districts serving predominantly students of color.”

Across Colorado, the turnover picture is bleaker than that in many school districts.

That’s according to the most recent data from the Colorado Department of Education, which compares the 2022-23 and 2021-22 school years.

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November 16, 2023N

New faces joining Brighton City Council STAFF REPORT

Brighton voters returned one incumbent city councilor to office and picked two new faces to fill out the dias at the Nov. 7 polls.

Candidates for a fourth seat, in Ward 4, will face off in a Dec. 5 run-off vote to select the winner.

Councilor Tom Green defeated challenger Jessie Williams to keep his seat

as a Brighton Ward 1 City Councilor, collecting 1,518 votes to Williams’ 760 votes according to unofficial results on Nov. 10.

The results were too close to call in Ward 4, with candidates Kathryn Le Donne and Lloyd Worth moving to a run-off vote to fill the seat left vacant when Councilor Adams Cushing moved out of his ward and resigned from his seat.

Le Donne picked up 714 of the 2,009 votes cast, about 36%, according to the unofficial results on Nov. 10. Opponent Lloyd Worth picked up 602 votes, roughly 30% of the total.

Since neither candidate reached a 50% majority, the two will face each other in a mail-in runoff. Registered Ward 4 Brighton voters will get ballots mailed to them beginning Nov. 20 and must return them to Brighton City

Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave., by 7 p.m. Dec. 5.

Two other seats were filled by solo candidates, with no challengers. Jim Snyder will take over the council’s Ward 2 seat currently held by Mary Ellen Pollack.

Christopher John Fiedler will take over the Ward 3 seat being vacated by Clint Blackhurst.

The newly elected council members will be sworn in on Jan. 2.

Voters say no to police sales tax

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brighton voters are saying no to a plan to increase the police department’s budget by $2 million a year,

turning down a sales tax increase.

As Nov. 8, 3,824 Brighton voters have said no to the plan, compared to 2,188 yes votes, according to unofficial results.

Councilors agreed in August to put

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the proposed sales tax on the Nov. 7 ballot. If voters approve, the city would have begun collecting 15 cents on $100 spent in the city limits in 2024. That money would have been set aside for the police department, allowing them to hire 12 new department employees — most of them sworn officers.

Councilors polled residents this summer, with mostly positive results.

In an earlier interview, Police Chief Matthew Domenico said it would put a strain on the department if voters said no to the tax.

“I certainly have had conversations with the City Manager and other city leadership about those consequences,” Domenico said. “How do we prioritize services going forward? We’ll need to make sure that we can continue providing the services we do now. I think there is a commitment we’ve made to be creative and innovative and that is going to continue.”

The city began looking for ways to increase the department’s budget last

year, settling on two plans to raise the $2 million, sales tax or a property tax. Both would have generated about $2 million annually. The City Council convened an outreach group to poll residents at city events in April and May and settled on the sales tax.

The ballot measure asked voters to approve a 0.15% sales tax increase, which would cost consumers 15 cents on a $100 purchase. The sales tax would have generated between $2 million and $2.75 million depending on the overall economy and retail sales in the city.

Domenico said the money was necessary to increase services. Right now, the city has 1.8 officers for every 1,000 Brighton residents, he told councilors earlier in the year. The Front Range average is about 2.5 officers per 1,000 residents.

“It’s not going to shut us down. That’s for sure,” Domenico said. “But it is going to put a real challenge on us to continue to provide the level of service our community demands.”

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November 16, 2023

Voters settle Aims trustees

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Voters added two new names and returned one incumbent to the Aims Community College Board of Trustees.

The Aims Community College District is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Each trustee is elected to a four-year term

by voters in the college’s taxing district. This includes all of Weld County, plus small portions of Adams, Larimer, Logan and Morgan counties and the city and county of Broomfield.

The Board is composed of one member from each of the five districts. Together with the College President, these elected individuals monitor and oversee the purpose,

mission, vision and policies of the college.

In District E, which covers the southwest portion of the district, voters selected John W. Haefeli to fill the trustee seat through 2027.

According to the unofficial tally Nov. 8, Haefeli had 13,437 votes compared to competitors Jennifer Patrick, who had 12,573 votes, and Joseph Bodine 10,591 votes.

Incumbent Heidi Windell, representing the college’s District A, was unopposed and collected 32,219 to cement her seat.

Newcomer Jennine Truswell was also unopposed for the college’s District B sat. She collected 32,579 votes.

The three new members join members Gene O’Hara and Marilyn Schock on the Board of Trustees.

Fort Lupton incumbents defend seats in Nov. 7 ballots ment, to support the citizenry now Ceretto, Crespin and that our city’s population is growCrespin said.

Fitzgerald on top in polling ing,” “Additionally, citizens mentioned

BY BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Election night 2023 was looking to be a good one for Fort Lupton incumbents.

Across three races, early returns showed incumbents Chris Ceretto, David Crespin and Bruce Fitzgerald successfully defending their seats.

In the tightest race in Ward 1, Crespin was leading challenger Kellie Cruz 156 votes to 148 according to the unofficial results on Nov. 10.

Crespin said when talking with voters, they were concerned about where dollars are equitably spent to maintain the roads and infrastructure in Ward One. “There were also concerns of managing growth and the expansion of residential housing in our area. Citizens were concerned with having the appropriate number of city staff, most specifically our police depart-

concerns regarding code enforcement, how growth will impact utility costs and taxes, and the improvement of amenities for the community.”

In Ward 2, Ceretto was leading challenger Bushrod T. White, 428 votes to 217 according to the unofficial results on Nov. 10.

Incumbent Ward 3 City Councilor Bruce Fitzgerald was the only candidate guaranteed a seat since he was running unopposed. He had collected 334 votes in the unofficial tally.

“I’m gratified,” he said. “I really appreciate the job that the voters put me in and I take it very seriously. I understand the position I’m in too.”

Fitzgerald said voters are concerned about growth in Fort Lupton.

He’s lived there for 42 years. His wife graduated from Fort Lupton High School, and so did his three kids.

“This is how I see it: We are part of the Denver metropolitan area because we can commute to

Troy Abeyta drops his ballot in the drop box outside of Aims Community College’s PHOTO BY BELEN WARD Fort Lupton branch Nov. 7.

Denver from Fort Lupton. Since I moved to the Fort Lupton area 42 years ago, and I was commuting to downtown Denver every day,” Fitzgerald said.

“The traffic is a lot tougher these days,” he said. “I think new are people coming into town now for the same reasons that the rest of us did,

for the comforts of the town.”

Ceretto said he was pleased with his lead over his challenger.

“It’s definitely a relief. I wasn’t sure how they were going to vote, and it’s just one of those things,” he said.

“I’m happy to see the preliminary numbers and more still to come — we’ll see how it turns out.”

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November 16, 2023N

TEACHERS FROM PAGE 1

In the Denver metro area, where districts can employ hundreds of teachers, turnover rates look like this: • Douglas County Schools, 20% • Cherry Creek Schools, 13% • Littleton Public Schools, 14% • JeffCo Schools, 16% • Adams 12 Five Star Schools, 18% • Aurora Public Schools, 21% • Denver Public Schools, 21% Education and national experts say some of the turnover is driven by teachers searching for bigger paychecks.

As an experienced teacher with a master’s degree, Lombard said she was searching for a salary that “reflected a little bit more of [her] professional capacity.”

And, Lombard echoed what many teachers and their unions have said in recent years: teacher responsibilities have multiplied. For instance, teachers often act as the classroom’s social worker and psychologist, work that’s become more necessary as some students face difficulties regulating their emotions and work on their social skills due to years of pandemic related isolation and learning gaps.

“The expectations have grown,” Lombard said. “Our compensation has not, unfortunately.”

So, she left her previous job in the

The push for higher teacher salaries in Colorado is far from new. Teachers and their supporters from Douglas and Jefferson counties cheer during a teacher rally in Denver at the state Capitol in 2018. Since then, teacher pay has been an ongoing concern and SENTINEL COLORADO FILE PHOTO political issue facing many metro area school districts.

Douglas County School District in favor of Cherry Creek, where she saw a salary bump of $15,000 a year.

No state law nor agency regulates teachers salaries, so they vary among school districts. There is also no statewide-minimum pay for educators.

The salary for entry level teachers in Douglas County is currently the lowest among school districts in the Denver metro area. An entry level teacher with a bachelor’s degree is paid $45,209 a year, according to the district’s salary schedule.

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The salaries for first-year teachers with a bachelor’s degree in other metro area districts are thousands of dollars per year higher: • Aurora Public Schools currently pays $46,894 (the teachers union is currently negotiating with the board of education on their contract) • Littleton Public Schools, pays $51,274 • JeffCo Schools $52,625 • Denver Public Schools pays $54,141 • Adams 12 Five Star Schools pays $58,000 • Cherry Creek Schools District pays $58,710 Salaries for a first-year teacher with a master’s degree are even higher: • Douglas County $49,880 (the lowest in the metro area) • Littleton Public Schools pays $56,028 • JeffCo Schools pays $56,919 • Adams 12 Five Star Schools pays $61,000 • Denver Public Schools pays $62,695 • Cherry Creek School District pays $66,332 The Aurora Public Schools the contract is under negotiation.

Fairchild said that while test scores are high in Douglas County School District, they might eventually come down if the district loses too many experienced teachers and can’t attract talented new ones.

Josh Miller, the principal of Parker’s Cherokee Trail Elementary School, said the pay discrepancy hits the district in what he called the

“sweet spot.” That’s where there’s a high number of teachers with experience ranging from two to three years up through those nearing retirement who could be lured away.

“Other school districts are in the same ballpark as we are, so a lot of people are struggling in some of those areas, but again, we have the added need for more competitive pay,” Douglas County School District’s Chief Human Resources Officer Amanda Thompson told her school board in September.

With concerns like those as the backdrop, voters on Nov. 7 narrowly approved a $66-million-a-year package to increase pay for Douglas County School District teachers and staff.

Douglas County Federation, the union that represents teachers in the district, cheered the results.

“We’re so pleased with the outcome of 5A, which will provide long overdue raises for our educators,” the federation announced on Facebook.

Pay has also been stepped up for teachers in other districts in recent months and years. Yet, even with raises, teachers have been persistent in their calls for more financial support, especially amid the tight metro–area economy.

Possible Solutions

The level of state funding has prevented school districts from providing “greater support for public education and schools,” according to Colorado Association of School Board Executive Director, Jubal Yennie. “Total funding in public education and for average teacher salaries in Colorado have typically been in the lowest quartertile compared to other states,” he said.

Some school districts stepped up to raise teacher pay after inflation last year hit its highest level nationally in four decades. And, since then, the Denver metro area’s Consumer Price Index has risen by 4.7%. The index measures the average change over time in the prices urban consumers pay for typical goods.

Douglas County saw the smallest salary increase from the 202223 school year to this school year among metro districts, according to data collected from school districts’ public salary schedules. The pay for Douglas County’s entry level teachers with a bachelor’s degree increased by $1,529, compared to Cherry Creek, which saw the highest salary increase.

SEE TEACHERS, P5

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November 16, 2023

TEACHERS FROM PAGE 4

Salaries for Cherry Creek’s entrylevel teachers increased by $14,580 from the beginning of last school year to this school year.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools, which serves more than 36,000 students in schools in Federal Heights, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster and Broomfield, raised starting-teacher salaries to $58,000 a year from the previous school year. That’s an increase of more than $12,000.

Lower salaries also can result in some teachers, like Susan Fairchild, commuting dozens of miles every weekday to get to work. Despite having worked at Sage Canyon Elementary School in Castle Rock since 2009, which is in Douglas County, she can’t afford to live in that community. Instead, she lives in Aurora because that’s what she can afford.

She also works extra jobs to make ends meet.

“It is disheartening,” Fairchild said.

Fairchild said the cost of housing exacerbates the issue because it isn’t affordable for many teachers she works alongside in Douglas County.

The median price for a home in Aurora was $495,000 in October. In Highlands Ranch, it was $747,000, according to Realtor.com. In Denver, median home sales prices were $600,000 and $625,000 in Arvada.

Average apartment rental prices reflected similar trends in those communities.

“I live in Cherry Creek, so yeah, I don’t have another way to say it,” Fairchild said. “People who are coming and wanting to be teachers are not even considering Douglas County. For sure (pay rates com-

pared to other districts) is a problem.”

That leaves some school districts that don’t have as much to pay looking for other ways to lure and retain instructors.

Douglas County Schools Superintendent Erin Kane said the shortterm retention efforts the district has made — such as offering discounted before-and-after-school care for staff, limiting health care costs, annual stipends and even free meals — helped keep the turnover rate from being even higher.

So far this school year, more than 26,000 free meals have been served to Douglas County staff members.

Funds for tuition reimbursement for teachers’ professional development are already exhausted for the year.

Kane said boasting benefits instead of offering competitive pay is not sustainable.

“The district has made such tremendous short-term efforts to retain staff, but it’s really important for our public to understand that those short-term efforts are not long-term solutions, and it’s like putting a Band-Aid on a big problem,” Kane said. “All leading indicators, such as the job decline rate, are extremely troubling.”

State Sen. Janet Buckner, chairperson of the Senate Education Committee, acknowledged teachers’ struggle with making a living wage, among other concerns. She also said that she is a cheerleader for teachers in the state government.

“My role on the Education Committee is to ensure that we can do everything we can. And I know it sounds mundane, but we need to do everything we can to elevate education in the state of Colorado,” Buckner said. “Public education is our foundation. And that’s why the

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public has to be supportive.”

Gov. Jared Polis announced this month that he wants to spend $564.1 million on the next budget year to strengthen schools. If approved by legislators, per-pupil funding would increase by an average of $705, or $15,500 for a classroom with 22 students. This would be on top of last year’s per-pupil funding of $1,019.

The governor’s proposed budget will also provide $8 million to support STEM education and enrichment programs and $5 million for work-based learning.

“We really believe that we will have enough money to improve teachers salaries, conditions, etcetera,” Buckner said of the proposed budget.

Education Associations

In Aurora Public Schools, district officials recently sounded the alarm for board members to pay close attention to teacher salary issues.

Months into the school year, the district has not finalized a contract with their teacher union. On Sept.

29, APS Superintendent Michael Giles sent a letter to staff about ongoing negotiations between the board and the Aurora Education Association.

He wrote that he lacked the “confidence that a salary increase for licensed staff would come this calendar year.” He also wrote that he “is greatly concerned about our ability to attract new teachers with our current starting teacher salary while also retaining veteran teachers.”

The letter states that, on average, teachers received a 9% salary increase last year, but that the district paid for it with money from district reserves because of a “one-year lag in inflation adjustments’’ and because the “district’s per pupil revenue only increased by 3.5%” in the

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2022-23 school year. Giles also stated that the district also made more than “$6.5 million in administrative cuts first to keep school budgets untouched.”

During an Oct. 24 APS board meeting, two people spoke during open discussion about giving veteran teachers higher salaries.

According to a Sept. 29 letter from APS Superintendent Michael Giles, the teacher union turned down the district’s proposal for salary raises, which would have given first-year teachers a $10,000 raise. The education association refuted the initial proposal because veteran teachers, who have at least six years experience, would have received the lowest salary increase. Giles’ letter does not include when the district first gave this proposal to the education association.

Giles’ letter stated that on Sept.

20, the district amended the proposal to increase the salary for veteran teachers from $923 to $2,600.

“However, in order to meet this increased compensation proposal, we would need to reduce school budgets by 1%-2%. Given differences in budgeting and staffing, the impact of the budget reduction would vary across the school district,” Giles wrote in his letter.

Teacher raises have been the focus of teachers and administrators across the metro region.

Earlier this year, the Jefferson County Education Association, the union representing Jeffco Schools teachers, negotiated a 5.25% pay raise with the district.

“While the increase was a good start, if the district wants to remain competitive with other metro-area districts, more work needs to be done,” said Brooke Williams, JCEA president.

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Voters on Nov. 7 approved a $66 million annual increase for Douglas County School District teachers and staff. Ballot Issue 5A and 5B goes into effect next year.

PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES

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TEACHERS FROM PAGE 5

Like Douglas County teacher Ali Lombard, education, Williams said, is a calling.

“But I still think it’s really important for educators to receive a living wage so they can live in the areas where they teach,” she added. “First and foremost, teachers are the cornerstone of our educational system.”

She worries that because Jeffco teachers are paid less than several other metro districts, its schools have become a training ground where new teachers leave after a few years in search of better compensation. Burnout is also real and part of the problem, as Williams sees it, is linked to high turnover. For instance, Williams said she saw a special education teacher position go unfilled for a year. While the school split the caseload among the other teachers and compensated them more, she said it isn’t fair to expect that kind of situation to continue without teachers getting overloaded.

Ashlee Hoppe, a special education teacher at Summit Ridge Middle School, said she’s in her 11th year of teaching and still trying to make ends meet. She lives with a roommate and despite doing all she can to cut her expenses, she can’t afford to go on trips or to start working on her Master’s degree to move up on the district’s pay scale.

“I’m already making decisions on if I can afford to go to my doctor, or do I need to put food on the table?

I’ve had to drastically cut back on

what I can provide for students in the classroom because I can’t afford it,” said Hoppe.

While many teachers are leaving for better paying jobs in other school districts, or just leaving the industry altogether, there are still some determined to stay in their classrooms.

Carmen Curtis Basham, a high school teacher at Aurora’s Rangeview High School, said she turned down offers from Cherry Creek because she already set roots in APS. She said that she’s “made peace” with her compensation.

“A part of my core belief is service above self and I chose this job because I make a difference in this world. And yes, I have friends who also have math degrees who make more doing other things, but I don’t think they’re as satisfied,” she said.

Now, she serves as a mentor to early career teachers and teachers new to the school district.

Her regular advice for them is to not feel guilty about leaving a school district to work for a different one closer to home. She encouraged them to spend more time with family than commuting.

This story is a collaboration between Sentinel Colorado, which covers Aurora and surrounding areas, and Colorado Community Media, which covers two dozen communities in the Denver area. Editor’s Note: The teachers and administrators who participated in Colorado Community Media’s story were interviewed in late evening, away from any Douglas County School District properties.

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November 16, 2023

Brighton small businesses fall for Harvest Festival

Katherine Karr, owner of Mulberries Cake Shop, serves delicious sweet treats at the Pickled Pepper at Harvest Fest Nov. 4.

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Historic downtown Brighton hosted its annual fall Harvest Festival on Main Street, celebrating small businesses with a blast on Nov. 4.

“It’s our annual Halloween event where they block off Main Street, and all the local businesses come out, as well as other small local businesses, vendors and crafters makers, come together on the street. We have a festival Halloween costume

contest—lots of baked goods and food trucks,” Tiffany Green, owner of Pickled Pepper.

It was an opportunity for small businesses to open their doors to showcase unique gift items for any occasion. There were various food trucks, midway games, music, and pumpkin bowling. It was a bash for the whole family.

The event was originally scheduled for Oct. 28 but organized postponed it a week due to concerns about the snowstorm that weekend.

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Alyssa Thoma was creative with her costume, wearing a top hat at Harvest Fest PHOTO BY BELEN WARD Nov. 4.

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Community Art Show registration is open

Registration for Fort Lupton’s annual Community Art Show is open and available to local community artists ages 16 and up. Each artist may submit up to two eligible pieces. View submission guidelines and register on our website today: https://www.fortluptonco.gov/971/Annual-CommunityArt-Show.

The Annual Community Art Show is scheduled for November!

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Severe Weather Soliciting and Scams

Fort Lupton officials are warning that severe weather and natural disasters attract out-of-town contractors and solicitors. Not all “storm chaser” contractors are scammers but some may be.

The City of Fort Lupton does require solicitors to obtain a license before they go out and engage in sales.

More information and the application for a solicitors/peddlers license can be viewed here: https://www.fortluptonco.gov/552/ Mobile-Food-Vending-LicenseSolicitorsPe?fbclid=IwAR2miHGz65HnRzy0zgs-mXikm3bANJ056VP5qgK4WZFBEfAk-T8G-dGrCk Contact your insurance company and ask about your policy coverage and filing requirements.

Do your research: Find businesses you can trust and preferably local.

Resist high-pressure sales. Some storm chasers use tactics such as the “good deal” you’ll get only if you hire the contractor on the spot.

Adams County sets Operation Freebird for Nov. 18

The Adams County Sheriff ’s Office and Human Services Department are teaming up for the annual Operation Freebird event. This event provides Adams County families in need with everything to prepare a Thanksgiving meal.

Operation Freebird will be from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at Mountain States Toyota, 201 W. 70th Ave. Community organizations are welcome to participate to provide resources or information for residents. If interested,

reach out to Karla Ojeda.

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., 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. 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 allvolunteer program and is in need of volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-718-4440.

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

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 303-8574200.

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.

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 family 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.

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.

Coffee group

Fort Lupton’s weekly coffee group sessions are at 8 a.m. Wednesdays. 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-Pen-Pal-Program.

Craft classes

Monthly craft classes through the Fort Lupton Recreation Center (203 S. Harrison Ave.) are available. Call 303857-4200, 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 (303-280-6602) for those who want to talk to mental-health professionals about anxiety, lack of sleep and strained relationships, among other topics. The professionals can facilitate referrals to other programs for assistance.

The line is not for crisis intervention.

Those feeling unsafe or suicidal should call Colorado Crisis Services (1-844493-8255) 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.

9

November 16, 2023

Operation Freebird stays the course for 2023 In 19th year, Thanksgiving meal giveaway hopes to help 800 families

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

While the core impulse behind Operation Freebird, the free Thanksgiving food giveaway sponsored by the Adams County Sheriff ’s office, has remained the same over 19 years, a few things have changed.

“The goal, our mission, has never really changed,” said Sgt. Adam Sherman of the Adams County Sheriff ’s Department said. “We want to make a direct positive impact on the community we serve here in Adams

County, and the event has grown and we’ve started getting people from all over the metro area who attend not just for the food but for all of the other resources we provide.”

Operation Freebird is an annual event designed to provide all the makings for a Thanksgiving meal, from the bird to the rolls to the cranberries to the pie. No profits or income are generated by this event.

The sheriff ’s office, the Adams County Sheriff ’s Foundation and more than 40 local non-profit agencies and other community partners also help provide a range of services to the needy in the North Metropolitan area.

The Thanksgiving giveaway returns from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 18 at Mountain States Toyota, 201 W. 70th Ave. in Denver. There is no registra-

tion needed, so residents just need to show up and collect their food.

A movable feast

This is the second year Mountain States Toyota has hosted the giveaway. When it started in 2004, it was hosted at Rocky’s Autos along Federal Boulevard.

“We started offering help for a few hundred people in the early days at the Rocky’s Auto lot on 64th and Federal, and from there, we’ve had to expand and go to different locations,” Sherman said. “The amount of people who show up just kept growing, and as we’ve increased our advertising and promotions of the event, volunteers and local businesses have been attracted to the event, too.

We’ve been able to provide services to a greater number of people.”

Another thing that will be the same as last year is that volunteers won’t be handing over an actual turkey.

Just like in 2022, people who come to Operation Freebird will get a voucher from Butterball that can be exchanged for a bird anywhere Butterball turkeys are sold.

“Logistically, getting our hands on thousands of frozen turkeys and storing them and transporting them was a logistical nightmare,” he said.

The giveaway also includes a box of food, all the fixings for a Thanksgiving meal courtesy of Food Bank of the Rockies.

“We have cans and non-perishable items and we have fresh produce,” he said. “Our goal is to provide a complete Thanksgiving meal and fixings for a family of four in each box we provide.”

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November 16, 2023N

VOICES Talent without effort breeds mediocrity

I

n the grand theater of life, talent is the spotlight that shines brightly on a chosen few. It’s that inexplicable, innate ability that can make one person’s journey appear effortless while others toil in obscurity. Talent, WINNING undeniably, is a precious gift that should be celebrated. However, WORDS the often-overlooked truth is that talent alone, without effort, can lead to mediocrity.

Imagine a young musician who can effortlessly pick up a guitar and strum a beautiful melody without ever having taken a lesson. Or think of the math prodigy who solves complex equations Michael Norton in seconds, seemingly without breaking a sweat. These individuals are often hailed as geniuses, and rightfully so. Their talents are undeniable, but what happens when they coast on their natural abilities without putting in the effort to hone their craft?

Mediocrity happens.

Last week I wrote about the human-to-human engagement and interaction that successful salespeople leverage to meet with sales success. The world of business-to-business selling is becoming increasingly more complex. This requires today’s modern seller to never settle for mediocrity. Many sellers feel they have been born with those natural abilities to sell, but the truth is that the top-performing sellers today put in the extra effort to avoid becoming a mediocre performer. It is that drive that overcomes sloppiness, laziness, and complacency.

Talent when left unattended can become a double-edged sword. Without the dedication, hard work and perseverance that effort brings, talented individual risk squandering their potential. They might become complacent, relying solely on their God-given gifts to carry them forward. They may even grow bored or disillusioned with their talents, never realizing the heights they could have achieved with effort.

Effort is the bridge between potential and achievement. It’s the sweat, the tears, and the late nights spent perfecting one’s craft. It’s the willingness to learn, to fail, and to pick oneself up and try again. It’s the difference between merely having potential and fulfilling it.

Consider the world of sports. We’ve all witnessed athletes with immense natural talent who never reached their full potential because they failed to put in the work. In contrast, those who combine talent with relentless effort often become legends. Michael Jordan, for instance, is celebrated not just for his talent but for his unparalleled work ethic. His desire to improve

and succeed pushed him beyond the limits of his natural ability.

The same principle applies to intellectual pursuits. History is replete with stories of brilliant minds who, through diligent effort, transformed their innate gifts into groundbreaking discoveries and inventions. Thomas Edison didn’t invent the light bulb overnight; it took him countless attempts and a relentless work ethic.

Effort is not the enemy of talent; it is its greatest ally. When talent meets effort, it’s like adding fuel to a fire. The result is exponential growth and achievement beyond what anyone, including the talented individual, thought possible.

Effort also fosters resiliency and adaptability.

Talent alone can make someone fragile because they may never learn to overcome challenges or deal with failure. On the other hand, those who put in the effort develop the mental fortitude to face adversity head-on and adapt to changing circumstances.

So, what’s the take-away from all of this? It’s simple: talent is a wonderful starting point, but it’s effort that takes us to the finish line. As individuals, we should never rest solely on our

talents. Instead, we should cultivate a hunger for self-improvement and an unwavering commitment to working diligently toward our goals.

For parents, educators, and mentors, the message is clear: praise the effort as much as, if not more than, talent. Encourage the next generation not only to recognize their gifts but to invest the time and energy needed to nurture and refine them.

In a world where instant gratification often overshadows the value of hard work, let’s remember that talent without effort may shine briefly, but it is effort that illuminates the path to enduring greatness.

How is your effort these days? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can remember that mediocrity is the cost of squandering talent and excellence is the reward for embracing effort, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

11

November 16, 2023

Douglas comes out on top in mayor’s race

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Former City Councilor Steve Douglas said it was too early Tuesday night to call him mayor.

Douglas maintained a solid lead over rivals Rene Bullock and Joseph Drieling throughout the Nov. 7 balloting. As the unofficial results were released on Nov. 10, Douglas had 4,958 votes, Bullock 3,840 and Dreiling 1,147 votes.

“It’s the sixth time I’ve run, so I know how the trends can go on election night,” Douglas said.

Douglas ran for a seat on the Com-

Our Family Helping Your Family

merce City Council in 2011. He won a seat in 2015. He ran for mayor unsuccessfully in 2019.

“In the past, those first votes tend to set the trend and the rest of the votes kind of follow it,” Douglas said. “I just hope that’s what it is, that’s how it’s worked for the past 20 years.”

In the other council races, challenger Rocky Teter upset incumbent Jennifer Allen-Thomas in Commerce City’s Ward 2 by 717 votes to 677, according to the unofficial results.

In Ward 3, incumbent council appointee Renee Chacon was easily defending her seat against Rich Trujillo

by 1,630 votes to 441 votes.

In Ward 4, incumbent Susan Noble maintained a narrow lead over challenger David Diop all night and into the morning. Noble had 2,090 votes to Diop’s 1,912.

With two seats open in the councilor at large race, incumbent Craig Kim and newcomer Charles Dukes claimed both over two challengers. As of the unofficial tally on Nov. 10, Kim had 4,415 votes, Dukes had 3,615 votes, incumbent Craig Hurst had 2,762 and Ryan Keefer had 2,541 votes.

The new council is tentatively scheduled to be sworn and take their seats at

the council’s Dec. 4 meeting. City Clerk Dylan Gibson said the city charter calls for that meeting on the second Monday after the final election results have been certified.

Douglas said his goals for Commerce City include tackling concerns with special districts, homelessness and taxes.

“Taxation is just crazy, and we need to rein the special districts in,” he said.

“I’d like to see the way we manage special districts completely reformed. And then we have homeless people using us as a corridor, so we need to watch that.”

24-Hour Phone Lines 303-654-0112 • 303-857-2290 Brighton: 75 S. 13th Avenue Obituaries, Arrangements and Resources Online at

taborfuneralhome.com MONTOYA

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Ruben A. Montoya Sr.

October 13, 1933 - October 12, 2023

Memory In Loving

Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. 303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com Self placement available online at thebrightonblade.com

Ruben A. Montoya Sr. 89 years old of Henderson, CO passed away October 12, 2023 in Brighton. He was born October 13, 1933 in El Mulato Chihuahua, Mex. To Matias Montoya and Paula Armendariz.

and sharing interesting and funny stories with his friends and loved ones.

Ruben is survived by his sons: Ruben (Yvonne) Montoya; Ralph (Sheila) Montoya; Cecilio Guerrero; stepdaughter, Pamela Castro; grandchildren; great grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

He Moved to fort Lupton, CO in early 1950s’ and became a US citizen in 1982. He was married to Anita (Edna) Montoya for Ruben was preceded in death by his first 30 years. Ruben was a dedicated and hard wife, Anita Montoya; second wife, Marcella; working individual. He was supervisor in the daughter Ruby; son Robert; step daughters, cement mason industry and retired in 1996. Virginia and Barbara; Alvaro, Florentino, Rodolfo, Abelardo Montoya, and Ernestina He loved life and spending time with family and friends. He also loved gardening Tarin.

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November 16, 2023N

LOCAL

LIFE Local artists express themselves through forms of metal, precious gems, unique designs

BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The heat of the torch, the smell of pickling solution, the sound of metal on a mandrel and the look of a completed piece are common aspects silversmiths and jewelers in the Denver metro area enjoy about their craft.

Sara DeAngelo Jewelry: “Southwest, feminine, natural and detailed”

For Englewood business owner and professional jeweler Sara DeAngelo, these aspects of the silversmithing system are elements she loves, but they come secondary in her personal process.

“I am obsessed with stones and the history of how a stone is formed and how it’s literally the only one in the world like it,” DeAngelo said.

She said taking a unique “peace of the Earth” and “turning it into this beautiful treasured something that makes somebody feel more beautiful” is her favorite part of the craft.

Originally from Los Angeles, DeAngelo began her career in 1997 after a terrible encounter with a rude customer. DeAngelo said she quit her job and the very next day began selling her pieces door-to-door at different businesses.

“I walked out the door and then the next morning I went around

with my little trays of jewelry to a bunch of stores and I got two retail stores that first morning and that sent me on a totally different path,” DeAngelo said.

DeAngelo currently has a retail store and studio at 16 E. Girard Ave. in Englewood.

She describes her styles as “Southwest, feminine, natural and detailed.”

“I make mostly sterling silver.

They’re usually hand stamped using Navajo stamps that I buy from the Navajo artists themselves and then (I use) unique gemstones that I literally search the world for,” DeAngelo said.

DeAngelo moved into her current location after outgrowing her last studio and while she wasn’t looking for retail, she’s happy she found it and she loves the connections she forms with people.

DeAngelo is an established artisan in the industry and she said she was featured in the Sundance Catalog. She said that was a dream goal for her and her work is sold in about 50 stores across the country.

She said the jewelry-making community is vast in Colorado because in her experience people seem to appreciate and value homemade items.

DeAngelo makes all sorts of pieces including rings, earrings and necklaces but she loves making earrings the most because they’re her favorite type of jewelry to wear.

DeAngelo said making a delicate piece can be very meticulous and detail-oriented.

“It’s harder than it looks…and it’s very exact,” DeAngelo said.

SEE JEWELRY, P13

Metalsmither Sara DeAngelo works on a piece at her bench in her studio. PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY

13

November 16, 2023

JEWELRY FROM PAGE 12

Velvet Moss Magic: “Edgy, kinky and biker babe”

Artist and metalsmith Katie White works in her chaotic home studio on her next COURTESY OF KATIE WHITE creation.

Jeweler benches sit in the Denver Jewelry Studio for jewelry makers to utilize.

PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY

Fellow silversmith and production assistant of DeAngelo’s, Katie White is also enjoying the process of building her own business and finding a balance between her two worlds.

White said her specialties in jewelry making are stone setting and intricate stamping work and making things that “excite people and offend them too.”

Originally from New Jersey, White moved to Colorado about seven years ago and is now based in Boulder. White sells her pieces in Denver at markets and in galleries.

White said she was “stone obsessed” as a teenager. “I was collecting raw stones and I actually started wire wrapping and making mainly pendants and rings out of copper and brass,” White said.

During her senior year in high school, White said she was supporting herself, and while she enjoyed making her pieces, she was also selling them as a means of survival.

For White, the best aspect of jewelry making, which she has been doing for about nine years, is that it’s a three-dimensional art form.

“I really love that metal feels like a resource that I can time and time again manipulate,” White said. “It feels like it can be recycled and repurposed. It feels like there is always a story to any jewelry pieces and anything metal-related.”

When she makes a piece, White said she notices a correlation between her mental state and the process.

The silversmith said she will start her process off with a “ceremony” whether it’s making a cup of coffee, smoking herbs or cannabis or saying a prayer.

“Jewelry making is like putting a little piece of my soul and body energetics into something that someone’s going to wear forever,” White said.

White describes her jewelry as different, unique and bold.

“I would say my jewelry has a core theme of being alternative,” White said. “I definitely dabble in everything from being edgy punk to almost like biker babe to boho flowy (and) gem-centered.”

White said people enjoy her jewelry which she sells through Instagram, on her website and in five stores in Denver and two in New Jersey.

White joined DeAngelo’s studio about three months ago and enjoys executing DeAngelo’s style of wire wrapping and knotting.

“What’s cool is I feel like I am honing a lot of my more nitty gritty skills,” White said. “Just making my things look nicer, cleaner, production style and mass quantity.”

In her home studio of organized chaos, however, with her own production assistant and canine companion Dobby, White said she’s a “one-man show.”

“I move all over the place. I change things. I do have a tendency to go in between projects,” White said.

White said she believes she’s “creating magic” in her studio.

“I feel like I am working with my hands and get to view magic by the end. I feel like I am an alchemist.

I feel like I am connecting to the Earth,” White said.

Michelene Berkey: “Not for everyone”

Michelene Berkey is a metalsmith who has made jewelry for a large portion of her life and works from her home studio.

Based in Evergreen, Berkey said she designs and makes silver jewelry with high-carat gold accents, gemstones and different kinds of pearls.

Originally from New York, the 73-year-old said she has had an interest in jewelry making since she was child.

“My grandfather would go to the jewelry exchange in New York and bring home things wrapped up in little pieces of tissue paper and rubber bands,” Berkey said. “I remember standing at the table watching him unwrap these things and just being fascinated with jewelry.”

She attended California State of Long Beach, learned her techniques and “never stopped making (jewelry) and designing it.”

When she was in California, Berkey said she worked in various jewelry shops in the late 1970s and then she moved to Colorado. She said she didn’t have any jewelry connections and took a break from the craft profession to own and operate her own wallpaper and paint business.

Berkey said she returned to full time metalsmithing in 2000.

SEE JEWELRY, P14

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November 16, 2023N

JEWELRY FROM PAGE 13

“The jewelry that I make is not traditional jewelry. It’s more what they call art jewelry,” Berkey said. “I know how to make traditional jewelry…That’s what I was trained to do but the jewelry that I am making now is made from little sections of cottonwood twigs and just natural things that I find.”

Berkey said the traditional process consists of a metalsmith making a piece out of wax, plastering it and then placing it in a “burnout” kiln where the wax is melted away.

“What’s left is the void of that particular piece that you’re making and then when you’re ready to actually do the casting you melt your metal and you pour it in and it fills in all of those places where the wax had been originally,” Berkey said.

She siad she wants her pieces to have a lot of texture.

“It’s an interesting process. The casting is the same as manufacturers would use to make anybody’s traditional wedding ring,” Berkey said. “In my case I am actually burning away the twigs because they burn away just the same as a wax.”

Berkey said her work is “not for everyone” but those who love it have responded well to her creations.

“The more people have seen it and understood that it’s silver and it’s made from the twigs they’re really fascinated with that,” Berkey said.

Berkey sells her work in galleries and she attends various shows throughout Colorado and other states.

Denver Jewelry Studio: A place to learn

Berkey is always willing to learn, and said she has attended the Denver Jewelry Studio in Littleton and taken classes in different techniques.

The studio has various levels of classes taught by many different instructors and managed carefully by studio owner Judy Brown.

“Our studio we call it a maker space. It’s basically for people who have no experience at all in metal smithing or they’re professionals and they’re looking to learn a new technique,” Brown said.

Located at 8392 South Conti-

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Pieces made by teacher and jewelry maker Judy Brown, who owns the Denver Jewelry Studio.

Artist and jewelry maker Sara DeAngelo stamps a piece at her bench in her PHOTOS BY ELISABETH SLAY studio in Englewood.

nental Divide Road, Unit 104 in Littleton, Brown said Denver Jewelry Studio is open daily, except on Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There are four total employees including Brown and 30 contract instructors who travel from all over the country to hold classes.

Brown said she purchased the studio from the previous owners in 2018 after teaching there.

“I am a retired state auditor for the state of Texas and Colorado and I needed a creative outlet,” Brown said.

Brown loves “the endless learning” of metalsmithing.

Brown said her style of jewelry is more natural, which was what she was interested in exploring.

“For somebody that’s a numbers cruncher I found that I gravitate to the organic because it gave me so much more freedom and a lot of times it mimics nature,” Brown said.

“I am always fascinated with not only textures but colors that we find in natural rocks and tree bark.”

Brown said her primary technique to do and teach is cuttlebone casting.

“It’s a very old technique. They use the cuttlefish. I learned that one in 2007 and I just gravitated to it because I love the texture that you find in that,” Brown said.

Brown said she was developing her own style to the technique by making the casting thinner which wasn’t common. This she said is how she also entered the world of teaching.

“I love teaching because I love to see people learning to be creative.

ing,” Miro said.

Located at 6750 S. Emporia St. in Centennial, Miro said the family opened their retail space 15 years ago.

Miro said both her father and her brother are jewelers and the family owns a factory in Lebanon, which is where the business began.

The family opened their current location in 2017 and Miro said her father attended college in Colorado and wanted to return.

For Miro, the best aspects of what she does are the custom pieces the business creates and seeing it journey over the last several years.

“It’s just the custom part of it and being able to take something that has been in our family for a long time and evolve it over time,” she said.

Miro explained the business has evolved from bench jewelry to manufacturing and retail.

She said they make everything from wedding bands to engagement rings to necklaces to earrings.

“The nice thing about custom is you can work with any style because you’re creating it all,” she said. “It’s not like you’re a brand that you have specific styles that you’re working around.”

While versatile in design, Miro said she would describe the company’s pieces as classic and trendy.

Miro said she is not a jeweler but she works on the back end of the business in purchasing and finance.

“I like that it’s a family business that we’ve grown over the generations and we will have for future generations too,” she said.

I think being creative feeds our souls,” Brown said. “All of us need that in our lives in whatever form we have whether it’s cooking or painting.”

Brown said for those looking to venture into metal smithing the studio recommends that they take the 30-hour Metalsmithing course and then go from there. She said information on classes can be found on the studio’s website.

She said people will learn the basics including sawing techniques, filing, hammering and setting stones.

“For us teaching the beginning students all of these techniques they don’t have to buy a lot of equipment to get started at home and they can really express their creativity,” Brown said.

Denver Jewelry Studio also offers Open Studio where artisans can pay a monthly fee to utilize its tools.

New Denver resident and jewelry maker Jenny Foulkes said she recently moved to Colorado and found the studio.

“I needed bench space because my studio is not set up in my home and (Brown) has all the tools, all the solder stations and they’re open all day,” Foulkes said. “I like the warm welcoming atmosphere.”

Miro Jewelers: A family-owned business

Maira Miro, marketing and supplies of Miro Jewelers, said her family has been in the jewelry-making business for four generations.

“We’re a custom fine jewelry store. We do retail and manufactur-

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November 16, 2023

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Thu 11/16

Featured

Dungeons � Dragons Path�nder Society: Outlaws of Alkenstar

Sun 11/19

Tue 11/21

Featured

November Thanksgiving Luncheon (11/21) @ 7pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

@ 1:30am Nov 16th - Dec 20th Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

Wed 11/22 Eric Golden @ 6pm The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster

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Featured Ninety Percent 90s Beautiful Birds! Homeschool Program @ 9am / Free Bird Conservancy's Environmen‐ tal Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-6594348 ext. 53 November Birthday Celebration (11/16) @ 8pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Fri 11/17

@ 8pm @ Cheers, 11964 Washington St, Northglenn

Sat 11/18

@ 4pm The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster

Managing the Dough and Cooking with your Local 5-0

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@ 4pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

@ 1am Nov 17th - Nov 16th Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

@ 8pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760

Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings

Thu 11/23

@ 6:20pm / $108-$998 Empower Field At Mile High, 1701 Bryant St., Denver

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Mon 11/20 School Breaks: Fall Break

Breakfast Burrito Bingo 11/17

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

@ 4pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760

@ 7:30pm / $7-$20 Center for Musical Arts, 200 East Baseline Road, Lafayette

Lost Treasures- The Lost Dutch Ships (11/22)

@ 7pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton

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Colorado Avalanche vs.

Vancouver Canucks @ 8pm / $52-$1150 Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Immortal Sÿnn returns to Trailside Saloon

Recess Games

Opera Colorado Artists in Residence

Eric Golden

Teen Social: Mario Kart Tournament

Teague Starbuck @ 7:30pm Elevate Grill & Bar, 2831 W 120th Ave #200, Westminster

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November 16, 2023N

Prohibition on decorative grasses gains early support among legislators

BY SHANNON MULLANE THE COLORADO SUN

Those grassy medians in roads around Colorado might add doses of green to streets, but state water watchers say the turf sucks up too much water and that needs to change.

State officials, legislators, water managers and conservation experts are searching for ways to cut water use in face of prolonged drought and concerns about future water supply insecurity. One muchdiscussed option for urban areas: Finding areas of thirsty turf, like Kentucky bluegrass, that are purely ornamental and removing it. Leg-

islators have proposed a bill that takes that approach a step further by prohibiting new installations of this nonfunctional turf starting in 2025, and the idea got an early vote of support last week.

“This isn’t about ripping up turf that already exists,” said Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Summit County Democrat, who is a prime sponsor of the draft bill. “If you have nonfunctional turf you’ll be allowed to keep it if you want. Hopefully you’ll replace it, but we’re not mandating you to.”

The proposal focuses on state and local governments, and homeowners associations. After Jan. 1, 2025, these entities would not be able to plant or install new nonfunctional

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turf, artificial turf or an invasive plant species on any commercial, institutional or industrial property.

Legislators on the Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee voted 8-2 recently in favor of the proposal, a bipartisan vote and a preliminary signal of support. It will be introduced to the General Assembly in January.

The bill comes out of Colorado’s efforts to grapple with the impacts of climate change, the draft bill says.

The Colorado River Basin, which provides 40% of Colorado’s water supply, lost an estimated 10 trillion gallons of water over two decades because of rising temperatures and a changing climate, according to recent research.

In Colorado, cities, towns and industries currently have enough water, but by 2050, municipalities statewide could be short a total of 230,000 acre-feet to 740,000 acrefeet in the worst-case scenario, according to the 2023 Colorado Water Plan.

Municipal water use accounts for just 7% of the state’s annual water use. While that is a small percentage, Colorado needs to be worried about even the smallest amount of water these days, Roberts said.

The state has made progress in cutting down indoor water use, particularly as in-home appliances have become more efficient. But within municipalities, Coloradans use about half of their water on lawns and gardens, which means water managers are increasingly focused on outdoor use.

“We, as a state, need to look at all possible ways to conserve water within our state boundaries,” Roberts said, “and nonfunctional turf is one of those low-hanging fruits that seems like the very obvious next step in where we need to go in conserving water.”

Cities, towns and residents around Colorado have planted Kentucky bluegrass and other nonnative grasses around buildings, homes and urban landscapes for decades.

But in some areas the grass is rarely, if ever, used. Instead, it is watered and maintained primarily for aesthetic purposes. This nonfunctional

turf can be found in green patches next to streets, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, frontage areas and medians.

“This is the type of turf that I think, maybe after this hearing, you’ll see driving around all the time now,” Andrew Hill, government affairs manager for Denver Water, told legislators during the committee meeting. “It’s not used for anything. … Put simply, it only ever sees the bottom of a lawnmower, and it only ever gets watered.”

In other areas, grassy turf serves civic or recreational purposes: People picnic on it in parks, kick around balls on it at sports fields and play on it at playgrounds. This type of turf has a function and would not be impacted if the draft bill passes the legislature. Nor would residential lawns, golf courses, sports fields or any existing areas with nonfunctional turf.

“It’s important to make that distinction because there are areas that serve a really valuable purpose to communities,” Hill said. “These urban green spaces, when used functionally, can combat urban heat island effects, it improves mental and physical health, and green spaces are also very important to disproportionately impacted communities.”

Artificial turf — which would also be prohibited in new landscaping under the proposed bill — resembles grass but is made out of synthetic materials. It can exacerbate heat island effects and release harmful chemicals into the environment and watersheds, the bill says.

Many Colorado communities are already finding ways to reconfigure landscapes in more water-efficient ways.

Colorado water officials recently ended the first year of $1.5 million in local turf removal grants with nearly 40 applications for the money. Broomfield, Fort Collins, Grand Junction, Aurora and Castle Rock are just a few cities with efforts to restrict, remove or otherwise cut down on water used by thirsty landscaping.

SEE LAWN BAN, P17

17

November 16, 2023

LAWN BAN FROM PAGE 16

In 2022, municipalities and water providers across the Colorado River Basin committed to reduce nonfunctional turf grass by 30% while maintaining key urban landscapes and tree canopies that benefit communities, wildlife and the environment.

Lafayette residents may have recently spotted crews digging up turf at the local library. Or they can scope out a finished water-wise garden at Lafayette Fire Station 1 on North 111th Street.

Aurora has been working on removing thirsty turf as part of the city’s Grass Replacement Incentive Program, which had about 120 participants in 2023, a 50% increase compared with 2022.

Kentucky bluegrass in Aurora needs to be soaked with about 28 inches of water, on average per year, on top of natural precipitation, said Tim York, water conservation manager for Aurora Water.

That’s a little over 2 acre-feet of water per acre. One acre-foot of water equals about 326,000 gallons, or a yearlong supply of water for two or more typical urban households.

Replacing that nonfunctional turf with native grasses could save that full 2 acre-feet per acre, York said.

Replanting with water-efficient shrubs or other types of nonnative turf grass could cut water use by 1 to 1.5 acre-feet per acre.

The cost of these projects is all over the board, he said. A project with minimal irrigation modifications could cost $16,000 per acre. To heavily modify a big irrigation system, like irrigation for a park, it can cost up to $60,000. The residential cost to replace turf depends on factors including contractors, labor and landscaping density.

“It’s not cheap,” York said. “The native grass option, where native grass makes sense, is certainly the cheapest and gives us typically the largest (water) savings value.”

It’s not clear how much water could be conserved by replacing nonfunctional turf, or by prohibiting new installations. That is partially because communities like Aurora are still calculating their total acreage of nonfunctional turf, a process that requires aerial surveys and data analysis, York said.

In 2022, Aurora said it would stop

building with new nonfunctional turf installations, which means it serves as an unofficial test-case for the recently proposed draft bill.

“If we’re going to ask existing customers to remove it, we’re going to incentivize it, we sure as heck shouldn’t be allowing people to continue to put it in. We know it’s not right,” York said. “We can keep taking it out, but if we continue to put it in, you’re just kind of chasing your tail.”

It’s too soon for many entities around the state to take a stance on the draft bill — they will once the legislative session starts — but some communities are already weighing the idea.

The Northwest Colorado Council of Governments Water Quality and Quantity Committee, called QQ, keeps a close eye on water policies.

The committee does not take positions on legislation until the bill has been introduced during the legislative session.

“One of QQ’s guiding policies — water conservation and efficiency measures in Colorado should be increased — does align with the bill.

QQ has been supportive of efforts to reduce turf generally and previously,” Claire Carroll, the committee’s director, said in a written statement. “At the same time, many QQ members approach a bill impacting statewide land use decision-making with some concern because the group has worked together for over 40 years to protect local authority to regulate for water quality and quantity protection.”

Several water experts testified at last week’s committee meeting.

“We really do need to make this change, starting now,” Greg Fisher, manager of demand planning for Denver Water, told legislators. “What we’re really talking about right now is not wanting to lose the investment we are making in replacing that turf grass.”

Denver, which committed to reducing its nonfunctional turf by 30%, worked on 750,000 square feet of landscapes in 2023, he said. At that pace, the city would complete its commitment in 100 years.

“We know we need to up that game,” Fisher said, “but we also know that if new turf continues to go into new developments, that’s really setting us back.”

This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver that covers the state.

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November 16, 2023

SPORTS Marble moves into coaching

himself doing.

Former Prairie View athlete joins “Coaching was never a goal for me until I fi nished playing basketball,” Marble said. coaching staff at Western Wyoming “After I was finished with my college caBY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

A local alum is taking his basketball career to a new space.

Former Prairie View High School basketball player Trey Marble is still involved in his sport, and his new role keeps him at his college alma mater, Western Wyoming Community College in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Averaging more than 20 points and five assists as a senior, Marble scored over 1,000 points at Prairie View before going on to dominate in college also. He was even an all-Eastern Metro Athletic Conference choice for Prairie View in 2017.

Playing came easily to Marble, but coaching was never really what Marble envisioned

reer, I found myself watching more basketball than I have ever watched up until that point.”

That’s when the idea of coaching entered the picture. Marble was an all-conference player and a member of the Mustangs’ National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region IX title-winning team in 2020.

“I was burnt out from playing, but I still had the love and passion for the game,” he said. “I knew I had more to give to the game, and that’s when it felt like a ‘paying-it-forward’ type of thing.”

A case of the nerves came with the new job, too. But he’s confident he’ll adjust Prairie View alum and former basketball player Trey Marble joined quickly. He already has. the Western Wyoming Community College coaching staff as an assisSEE COACHING, P21

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tant. Though coaching was never in his mind, he wanted to give back COURTESY PHOTO to the game he loves after his playing career was over.

20

November 16, 2023N

Legend beats Brighton in playoff action

BY JIM BENTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

The expectations for the Legend football team will change during the upcoming week.

Legend was expected to beat Brighton on Nov. 3 in a first-round Class 5A state playoff game and the Titans did just that, whipping the Bulldogs 51-14, in a game played at Echo Park Stadium.

The Titans (8-3) advanced into a second-round contest on Nov. 10 at Valor Christian.

Legend is 0-9 all-time against Valor (6-4) and the Eagles are a team that has been in five of the past seven state championship games and has won eight state football titles.

“Nobody expects us to win,” said Legend’s senior middle linebacker Nate Sandy. “I like being an underdog. When you are the underdog, you can’t lose anything. You can win and shock the whole world.”

There was nothing shocking about Legend’s performance against Brighton as the Titans

Legend linebacker Nate Sandy (5) was in on 12 tackles in the 51-14 first round Class 5A playoff win over BrighPHOTO BY JIM BENTON ton on Nov. 3.

dominated the game as it took the Titans only four offensive plays to score.

Legend rolled to a 37-0 lead and when Jeff Baca returned the second-half kickoff 87 yards for a touchdown to push the Titans ahead 51-6, it got the running clock working for the remainder of the game.

“We had a fantastic week of practice and there was nothing else to it,” said Sandy. “We came out and executed well.”

Legend didn’t put up big offensive numbers as the Titans finished with 274 yards of total offense but except for two long passes, the Titans defense was strong.

“It was such a good feeling that we could trust everybody on the defense,” added Sandy whose older brother Luke is a redshirt freshman center at the University of Wyoming.“Everybody did their job. There’s nothing else we can do to match that.”

SEE PLAYOFFS, P21

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November 16, 2023

PLAYOFFS FROM PAGE 20

Sandy led the Legend defense with 12 tackles including seven solo stops. Peyton Aukland and Carson Flowers had interceptions.

Junior running back Jaden Lawrence finished with 74 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Brian Doyle and Noah Archuleta each caught a touchdown pass for the

COACHING FROM PAGE 19

“Once I got going, it felt like second nature,” Marble said. “Now that we’re in-season, there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not excited about what’s to come. I like to take things one goal at a time, and that’s to win the region

Titans.

“We played a very solid first half on offense, defense and special teams,” said Legend head coach Monte Thelen. “Our next round will be against Valor, so we know it will be a major step up in competition.

We are looking for another very good week of practice.”

Legacy, the No. 17 seed, knocked off 16th-seeded Eaglecrest 28-14 at the Stutler Bowl in Greenwood Vil-

lage. The Lightning relied on the general ground game and Tyler Anderson to pull out the win. He carried the ball 30 times for 193 yards and a touchdown. Omari Bursey (six carries, 21 yards), picked up the other rushing touchdown.

Quarterback Devan Kircheval completed seven of his 10 passes for 55 yards and one score. Bursey, who caught three passes for 33 yards, was on the receiving end of the touchdown pass.

The Lightning (7-4) travel to the

Stutler Bowl for the second round and a contest against undefeated and top-seeded Cherry Creek. No stats were available for the Raptors, who finished their season with a record of 7-4.

In other first-round games on Nov. 3, Castle View downed Fossil Ridge, 35-16, Denver Eastbeat Mullen, 23-7, Fountain Fort Carson toppled Fairview, 42-14, Chatfield got past Cherokee Trail, 42-7.

Steve Smith contributed to this story.

championship so we can go compete for a national championship.”

Averaging 14 points and 3.6 assists per contest in two seasons, Marble recorded 612 points, 150 rebounds, 202 assists, 58 steals and 120 threepointers at Western Wyoming before transferring to the University of Illinois-Springfield. For UIS, he averaged 10.5 points, 2.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in two seasons.

Marble rejoins a Western Wyoming team that was 18-14 last year and earned a spot in the Region IX tournament.

His new tasks for the Mustangs include on-court player development, scouting reports, film sessions, weight training and “pitching in where it is needed.”

He also uses teachings from past coaches in his new role. In fact, he

relies on them.

“I’ve had some really good coaches throughout my life, and I like to take bits and pieces from all of them,” Marble said. “I take the most from Coach Damian Romero (Prairie View’s boys basketball coach) because I feel like he had the biggest impact on me as a player. I’ve witnessed him develop some great players and teams.”

Legacy vs. Eaglecrest

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November 16, 2023N

23

November 16, 2023

Chabad of NW Denver hosts moving display resting lightly on a puppy’s head — smiles up from a photocopied sheet that says “Kidnapped.” It is one of 200 similar sheets of paper, each featuring a different face, placed on chairs at a guest-less dinner setting in the Chabad of NW Denver parking lot. Each empty seat at the exhibit represents an empty place in a family’s home.

The Empty Shabbat Table exhibit, on display in Westminster Nov. 3-5, was part of a global effort to honor and remember the hostages. Similar exhibits are on display in cities around the world.

Shabbat is the Jewish Day of Rest, and occurs weekly from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. Shabbat

Westminster Jewish community center pays tribute to Gaza hostages

BY JANE REUTER JREUTER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Twelve-year old Eitan Yahalomi loves soccer, fantasy literature and his family pets. Today, the southern Israeli boy is being held hostage in Gaza, among 200 people kidnapped

by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Far from Yahalomi’s home, in the parking lot of a Westminster Jewish community center, his face — chin

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traditionally includes three meals, beginning with candle lighting and reciting blessings over wine and bread.

“Shabbat is a time when families come together to celebrate, and rather than enjoying time with their families these men, women and children, some as young as nine months old are held captive in damp underground tunnels,” said Westminster Rabbi Benjy Brackman, executive director of Chabad of NW Metro Denver. “Seeing these empty places makes us feel these are real people who are being held as human bargaining chips in this horrible game Hamas is playing. It should be shocking and have a visceral effect.”

It had that effect on Lory Bivians, a Thornton resident and long-standing member of the Chabad.

“It’s just overwhelming,” she said, as she walked around the tables looking at the images of the kidnapping victims. “It’s disgusting and sad.

And a lot to digest, especially when you add it to the other things going on in the world.”

While Brackman said the situation is horrific, he hopes people will continue their weekend celebrations.

The Chabad of NW Denver held its own Shabbat Israel unity community dinner held Nov 3.

“I want people to celebrate Shabbat — do it for those who can’t,” he said.

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© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

TRIVIA 1. LITERATURE: What is Dorothy’s last name in “The Wizard of Oz”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Which U.S. states share a border with Mexico?

3. MOVIES: What are Indiana Jones and his father searching for in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”?

4. TELEVISION: Which TV dramedy is set on Wisteria Lane?

5. LANGUAGE: What is a common Latin phrase meaning “something for something”?

6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the fastest fish?

7. INVENTIONS: Where was the first compass invented?

8. SCIENCE: How long does it take for the sun’s light to reach Earth?

9. U.S. STATES: Which state is the smallest in land size?

10. MEDICAL: What is a common name for aphthous stomatitis?

Answers 1. Gale.

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3. The Holy Grail.

4. “Desperate Housewives.”

5. Quid pro quo.

6. Sailfish.

7. China.

8. Eight minutes.

9. Rhode Island.

10. Canker sore. (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

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28

November 16, 2023N

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

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Public Notices call 303-566-4123 Legals City and County Public Notice Town of Lochbuie, Colorado Ordinance No. 2023-685 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE TOWN OF LOCHBUIE 2011 FEE SCHEDULE TO INCREASE THE SEWER PLANT (TREATMENT AND COLLECTION) INVESTMENT FEES AND USER RATES Ordinance No. 2023-685 was passed at the November 7, 2023, regular meeting of the Town Board and will take effect on December 16, 2023. The full text of the ordinance is available for public inspection and acquisition in the Town Clerk’s Office, 703 Weld County Road 37, Lochbuie, CO 80603 and on the Town’s website at: Lochbuie.org Heather Bowen Town Clerk Legal Notice No. BSB2824 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Metro Districts Budget Hearings Public Notice NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED BUDGET AND GENERAL TAX RATE EXPRESSED AS ONE DOLLAR FOR EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUE Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget and general tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value have been submitted to the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District for the ensuing year of 2024. A copy of such proposed budget and tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value has been filed in the office of the District, 3209 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed budget and tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value and all objections to the same will be considered and heard at a regular meeting at the District’s office, location listed above, on November 28, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. The real estate affected by such budget and general tax expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value includes portions of land in townships and ranges as follows: T4N, R68W; T4N-1N, R67W; T5N-1N, R66W;T5N-1N, R65W; T5N-1N, R64W; T5N-1N, R63W; T4N-1N, R62W; T4N-3N, R61W; T4N-3N, R60W; T4N-3N, R59W; T4N-3N, R58W; T3N, R57W; T2S-1S, R67W; T2S-1S, R66W; AND T2S-1S, R65W. A more particular description of each property assessed and the amount of assessment is available at the office of the District. Any taxpayer within the District may at any time, prior to the final adoption of the budget and general tax expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value, file or register his objection thereto.

Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Randy Ray, Secretary

Legal Notice No. BSB2820 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2023 AMENDED BUDGETS AND THE 2024 BUDGETS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that amended 2023 and proposed 2024 budgets have been submitted to Brighton Crossings Metropolitan District Operations Board. A copy of such proposed budgets has been filed at the offices of Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc., 550 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, Colorado 80537, where the same is open for public inspection. The Board of Directors will consider the adoption of the proposed budgets of the District at a Special Meeting of the Brighton Crossings Metropolitan District Operations Board to be held via Zoom on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 7:00 pm. Any interested elector of the Brighton Crossings Metropolitan District Operations Board may inspect the proposed budgets at the offices of Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc., 550 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO 80537, and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the budgets.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BRIGHTON CROSSINGS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT OPERATIONS BOARD By: /s/ Andrew Kunkel, District Administrator Legal Notice No. BSB2696 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET AND NOTICE CONCERNING 2023 BUDGET AMENDMENT PRAIRIE CORNER METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2024 has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Prairie Corner Metropolitan District and that such proposed budget will be considered for adoption at a public hearing during a special meeting of the Board of Directors of the District to be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at 1:30 PM via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84446279489?pwd= qca6l3kphMPcWqYdzhb5m264AnlXk8.1 Meeting ID: 844 4627 9489 Passcode: 5888154 +17207072699,,84446279489# US (Denver) NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2023 budget of the District, if necessary, may also be considered at a public hearing held during the above-referenced regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

Copies of the proposed 2024 budget and, if necessary, the proposed amendment of the 2023 budget are on file in the office of the District located at Community Resource Services of Colorado, LLC, 7995 East Prentice Avenue, Suite 103E, Greenwood Village, Colorado and are available for public inspection.

Any interested elector of the District may file or register any objections to the proposed 2024 budget and the proposed amendment of the 2023 budget at any time prior to the final adoption of said budget and proposed budget amendment by the governing body of the District.

Dated: October 23, 2023

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: PRAIRIE CORNER METROPOLITAN DISTRICT /s/ COMMUNITY RESOURCE SERVICES OF COLORADO, LLC, District Manager Legal Notice No. BSB2794 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

By: /s/ Andrew Kunkel, District Administrator Legal Notice No. BSB2694 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED BUDGET, ANNUAL CLASS D SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND GENERAL TAX RATE EXPRESSED AS ONE DOLLAR FOR EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUE

Public Notice RIVERDALE PEAKS II METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOTICE CONCERNING 2023 BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested parties that the necessity may arise to amend the Riverdale Peaks II Metropolitan District 2023 Budget and that a proposed 2024 Budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Riverdale Peaks II Metropolitan District; and that copies of the proposed Amended 2023 Budget, if necessary, and 2024 Budget have been filed at the District’s offices, 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that adoption of Resolutions Amending the 2023 Budget and Adopting the 2024 will be considered at a public meeting of the Board of Directors of the District on Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.

This District Board meeting will be held via Zoom: Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5469119353?pwd=S mtlcHJETFhCQUZEcVBBOGZVU3Fqdz09 Meeting ID: 546 911 9353 Passcode: 912873 Dial In: 1-719-359-4580 Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the Resolutions to Amend the 2023 Budget and adopt the 2024 Budget, inspect and file or register any objections thereto.

RIVERDALE PEAKS II METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By /s/ David Solin District Manager Legal Notice No. BSB2819 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice

Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget, annual Class D special assessment and general tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value have been submitted to the Groundwater Management Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District for the ensuing year of 2024. A copy of such proposed budget, annual Class D special assessment and tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value has been filed in the office of the Groundwater Management Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, 3209 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection. Such annual special Class D assessment and all other objections to the same will be considered and heard at a regular meeting at the Subdistrict’s office, location listed above, on November 28, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. Such proposed budget and tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value and all objections to the same will be considered and heard at a regular meeting at the Subdistrict’s office, location listed above, on November 28, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. The real estate affected by such budget, general tax expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value and annual Class D special assessment includes portions of land in townships and ranges as follows: T4N, R68W; T4N-1N, R67W; T5N-1N, R66W; T5N-1N, R65W; T5N-1N, R64W; T5N-4N, R63W; T4N, R62W; T4N, R61W; T4N-3N, R60W; T4N-3N, R59W; T4N-3N, R58W; T3N, R57W; T2S-1S, R67W; T2S-1S, R66W; AND T2S-1S, R65W. A more particular description of each property assessed and the amount of assessment is available at the office of the Subdistrict. Any taxpayer within the District may at any time, prior to the final adoption of the budget, annual Class D special assessment and general tax expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value, file or register his objection thereto.

Groundwater Management Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Randy Ray, Secretary

NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2023 AMENDED BUDGETS AND THE 2024 BUDGETS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that amended 2023 and proposed 2024 budgets have been submitted to Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 4. A copy of such proposed budgets has been filed at the offices of Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc., 550 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, Colorado 80537, where the same is open for public inspection. The Board of Directors will consider the adoption of the proposed budgets of the District at a Special Meeting of the Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 4 to be held via Zoom on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 5:00 pm. Any interested elector of the Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 4 may inspect the proposed budgets at the offices of Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc., 550 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO 80537, and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the budgets.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BRIGHTON CROSSING METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 4

Legal Notice No. BSB2822 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2023 AMENDED BUDGETS AND THE 2024 BUDGETS NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that amended 2023 and proposed 2024 budgets have been submitted to Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 5, Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 6, Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 7, Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 8. A copy of such proposed budgets has been filed at the offices of Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc., 550 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, Colorado 80537, where the same is open for public inspection. The Board of Directors will consider the adoption of the proposed budgets of the District at a Special Meeting of the Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District Nos. 5-8

to be held via Zoom on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 4:00 pm. Any interested elector of the Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 5, Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 6, Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 7, Brighton Crossing Metropolitan District No. 8 may inspect the proposed budgets at the offices of Pinnacle Consulting Group, Inc., 550 West Eisenhower Blvd., Loveland, CO 80537, and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the budgets.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BRIGHTON CROSSING METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 5 BRIGHTON CROSSING METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 6 BRIGHTON CROSSING METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 7 BRIGHTON CROSSING METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 8 By: /s/ Andrew Kunkel, District Administrator Legal Notice No. BSB2695 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED BUDGET, ANNUAL CLASS D SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND GENERAL TAX RATE EXPRESSED AS ONE DOLLAR FOR EVERY THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ASSESSED VALUE Notice is hereby given that a proposed budget, annual Class D special assessment and general tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value have been submitted to the Well Augmentation Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District for the ensuing year of 2024. A copy of such proposed budget, annual Class D special assessment and tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value has been filed in the office of the Well Augmentation Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District, 3209 West 28th Street, Greeley, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection. Such annual special Class D assessment and all other objections to the same will be considered and heard at a regular meeting at the Subdistrict’s office, location listed above, on November 28, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. Such proposed budget and tax rate expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value and all objections to the same will be considered and heard at a regular meeting at the Subdistrict’s office, location listed above, on November 28, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. The real estate affected by such budget, general tax expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value and annual Class D special assessment includes portions of land in townships and ranges as follows: T4N, R68W; T4N-1N, R67W; T5N-1N, R66W; T5N-1N, R65W; T5N-1N, R64W; T5N-4N, R63W; T4N, R62W; T4N, R61W; T4N-3N, R60W; T4N-3N, R59W; T4N-3N, R58W; T3N, R57W; T2S-1S, R67W; T2S-1S, R66W; AND T2S-1S, R65W. A more particular description of each property assessed and the amount of assessment is available at the office of the Subdistrict. Any taxpayer within the District may at any time, prior to the final adoption of the budget, annual Class D special assessment and general tax expressed as one dollar for every thousand dollars of assessed value, file or register his objection thereto.

Well Augmentation Subdistrict of the Central Colorado Water Conservancy District Randy Ray, Secretary Legal Notice No. BSB2821 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Brighton Standard Blade/Fort Lupton Press November 16, 2023 * 1

29

November 16, 2023

Public Notices Misc. Private Legals Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601 Plaintiff: STAR POINT CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation;

Respondent: JENETTE ALISON MORGAN Case Number: 2019DR1997 Division: B Attorney for Petitioner: Anne E. Hinds, Esq. #57202 Johnson Law Group, LLC 385 Inverness Parkway, Suite 270 Englewood, CO 80112 Phone Number: 720.452.2540 Fax Number: 720.500.6087 Anne@johnsonlgroup.com NOTICE OF INITIAL STATUS CONFERENCE

Defendants: JASON JOZEFKOWICZ; CHERRY CREEK MORTGAGE LLC; MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC.; COLORADO HOUSING AND FINANCE AUTHORITY LLC; ADAMS COUNTY TREASURER; UNKNOWN TENANT(S) IN POSSESSION.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that this matter has been set for An Initial Status Conference on December 19, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. The Initial Status Conference will take place via telephone.

All parties must attend.

Case Number: 2023CV031376 Div.: Ctrm.:

Attorney for Petitioner: (720) 452-2540 Petitioner: (720) 296-0428 Respondent: Unknown

Attorneys for Plaintiff: THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC Stephane R. Dupont, #39425 Address: PO Box 1073, Castle Rock, CO 80104 Phone Number: (720) 644-6115 SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): Jason Jozefkowicz You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the Complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an Answer or other response. You are required to file your Answer within 35 days after the service of this Summons upon you. Service of the Summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the Complaint without further notice.

This is an action for judicial foreclosure of an association assessment lien pursuant to C.R.S. 38-33.3-316, in and to real property situated in Adams County, Colorado, more particularly described on Exhibit A, attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof.

Respectfully Submitted this 30th day of October, 2023.

BY: JOHNSON LAW GROUP, LLC /s/ Anne E. Hinds Anne E. Hinds, Esq. Attorney for Petitioner CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that on the 30th day of October, 2023, a true and accurate copy of the foregoing NOTICE OF INITIAL STATUS CONFERENCE was served upon the other party via Notice by Publication as follows: /s/ Megan Ramig Megan Ramig, Paralegal Legal Notice No. BSB2807 First Publication: November 9, 2023 Last Publication: December 7, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601 Plaintiff: DEER RUN HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation, Defendant: CHRISTOPHER M. KASPARI

By: *s/ Stephane R. Dupont Stephane R. Dupont This Summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4(h), Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure

Public Notice

Exhibit A Lot 34, Block 8, Deer Run Planned Unit Development, County of Adams, State of Colorado.

BEFORE THE COLORADO ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION

Also known as: 12608 Forest Drive, Thornton, CO 80241

NOTICE AND APPLICATION FOR HEARING DOCKET NO. 231000338

Legal Notice No. BSB2771 First Publication: October 26, 2023 Last Publication: November 23, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

TO ALL INTERESTED PARTIES AND TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Pursuant to Rule 523.d, the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission Staff has applied to the Commission for an Order Finding Violation against H & R Well Services, Inc. (Operator No. 36980), to adjudicate allegations in the Notice of Alleged Violation No. 403378232.

Public Notice COUNTY COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 JUDICIAL CENTER DRIVE, BRIGHTON, CO, 80601 Case Number: 2022C 44989 Division: 1 Plaintiff(s) BENNETT CROSSING HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION v.

Defendant(s) TYRONE HAYMORE II et al.

Order:for Default Judgment The motion/proposed order attached hereto: GRANTED. The Defendant has failed to timely state a legal defense in this matter. The motion for default judgement is granted.

Issue Date: 4/24/2023 MARTIN JEFFREY FLAUM II County Court Judge ORDER FOR DEFAULT JUDGMENT THE COURT, having considered the Plaintiff’s Verified Complaint and being fully advised in the premises; and regarding the Property located at 47370 Iris Ave, Bennett, CO 80102-8617, also known as BENNETT CROSSING FLG NO 2 BLK 4 LOT 1, Adams County, CO (the “Property”); IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED that:

This is an action requesting the appointment of a receiver to collect the Plaintiff’s assessment lien in and to real property situated in Adams County, Colorado, more particularly described on Exhibit A, attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof.

(1) Requiring Defendants to submit detailed plans to the Association for the fence extension installed on the property within fifteen (15) days of the Court’s Order; (2) Should those plans be denied, or owner fails to submit the plans, requiring Defendants to remove the fence extension within thirty (30) days of the denial or failure to submit plans; (3) If Defendants fail to comply with provisions 1 through 2 above within the time frames as specified, the Association shall be entitled to enter onto the Defendants’ property, with the assistance of the Adams County Sheriff and/or the Bennett Police to remove the unapproved fence extension. Defendants shall be charged the costs of such action and remedies, which amounts shall be paid in full by the Defendants within thirty (30) days of notice of such costs to be sent, via regular mail, to Defendants at the property address. If such amount is not paid in full when due, Plaintiff shall be entitled to record a lien against Defendants’ property, to include such amount, and apply to this Court for modification of its judgment to include all costs incurred by the Plaintiff in removal, as well as all costs and attorney fees incurred by the Plaintiff in attempting to collect such amount from the Defendants; (4) Plaintiff is awarded reasonable attorney fees pursuant to C.R.S. § 38-33.3-123 and the Declaration at Article XI, Section 1(a) in the amount of $3,410.50; and (5) For interest charges to continue upon the entry of judgment at the rate of 8.00% per annum, pursuant to C.R.S. § 5-12-101; and (6) Plaintiff is awarded its costs in the amount of $291.00; (7) For any and such further relief as this Court deems proper; and (8) Any violation of this Court Order shall constitute contempt of court and subject the Defendants to such punishment as may be provided by law.

In re the Parental Responsibilities Concerning:

Dated: October 11, 2023

DATED this day of , 2023.

Petitioner: LUCAS W. MOORE and

THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC

BY THE COURT: Judge/Magistrate

Dated: October 19, 2023 THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC By: *s/ Stephane R. Dupont Stephane R. Dupont This Summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4(h), Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure Exhibit A Condominium Unit 213 in Condominium Building 2 Star Point Condominiums, according to the Condominium Map thereof recorded August 29, 1983 in PUD File 536 at Reception No. 8457334 and Supplement recorded October 19, 1983 at Reception No. 8467144 in the Records of the Clerk and Recorder of the County of Adams, Colorado, and as defined and described in the Condominium Declaration for Star Point Condominiums recorded August 29, 1983 in Book 2784 at Page 174, County of Adams, State of Colorado.

Also known as: 8701 Huron Street, #2-213, Thornton, CO 80221 Legal Notice No. BSB2785 First Publication: November 2, 2023 Last Publication: November 30, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601

Case Number: 2023CV031190 Attorneys for Plaintiff: THE DUPONT LAW FIRM, LLC Stephane R. Dupont, #39425 Address: PO Box 1073, Castle Rock, CO 80104 Phone Number: (720) 644-6115 Email: sdupont@dupontlawco.com SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANT(S): Christopher M. Kaspari You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of the Complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an Answer or other response. You are required to file your Answer within 35 days after the service of this Summons upon you. Service of the Summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the Complaint without further notice.

Legal Notice No. BSB2815 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to: 1) the general jurisdiction of the Energy and Carbon Management Commission of the State of Colorado under § 34-60-105, C.R.S.; 2) specific powers granted pursuant to § 34-60-106, C.R.S.; 3) the Colorado Administrative Procedures Act at § 244-105, C.R.S.; and 4) the Commission’s Series 500 Rules at 2 C.C.R. 404-1, that the Commission has scheduled this matter for hearing before an ECMC Hearing Officer at the following date, time, and location (subject to change): Date: January 24, 2024 Time: 9:00 a.m.

Place: Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 Denver, CO 80203 The Notice and documents related to this matter can be found on our “Hearing eFiling System Document Search” page here https://oitco. hylandcloud.com/DNRCOGPublicAccess/index. html. Select “Search for Docket Related Documents” from the pull-down menu, use the above “Docket Number”, and select “Search”.

Legal Notice No. BSB2814 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Randy Lee Sigon, a/k/a Randy L. Sigon, a/k/a Randy Sigon, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30862 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 16, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

April Kiger Personal Representative 869 Douglas Drive Denver, Colorado 80221 Legal Notice No. BSB2823 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 30, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of KAYLEB LEE KITE, aka KAYLEB L. KITE, aka KAYLEB KITE, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30831 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 2, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Kenneth Kite and Melissa Barger Co-Personal Representatives c/o Baker Law Group, LLC 8301 E. Prentice Ave, #405 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. BSB2790 First Publication: November 2, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of BARBARA JEAN VALLE aka BARBARA J. VALLE aka BARBARA VALLE, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30762 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Kimberly Ilene Giesler Personal Representative 3835 County Rd. 82 Elmore OH 43416 and Kevin Dale Smith Personal Representative 43216 Harvard Pl Bennett CO 80102 Legal Notice No. BSB2809 First Publication: November 9, 2023 Last Publication: November 23, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of JUSTIN ALAN BORGESON, A.K.A. JUSTIN A. BORGESON, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30854 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 16, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Sandra (Sandy) Martinez Personal Representative c/o Candace Werth LLC P.O. Box 808 Brighton, CO 80601 Legal Notice No. BSB2825 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 30, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of DAVID CHARLES ANDERSON a/k/a DAVID C. ANDERSON a/k/a DAVID ANDERSON , Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30668 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 2, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Melissa Anderson Personal Representative c/o Miller & Law, P.C., 1900 W. Littleton Blvd.

Littleton Colorado 80120 Legal Notice No. BSB2784 First Publication: November 2, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of JULIA ESTHER NUÑEZ TARIN, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30688 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before April 1, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Knute O. Broady, III, Esq. 6795 E Tennessee Ave., Suite 424 Denver, CO 80224 Legal Notice No. BSB2816 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 30, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Brighton Standard Blade/Fort Lupton Press November 16, 2023 * 2

30

November 16, 2023N

Public Notices

Estate of Candice Thornam, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 279

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Joseph Thornam Personal Representative 3513 Raintree Lane Dacono, CO 80514

Legal Notice No. BSB2803 First Publication: November 9, 2023 Last Publication: November 23, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Antionette Moore, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 363

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March

16, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

AlexAndria Guenther Personal Representative 1111 4th st.

Alamosa, CO, 81101

Kurt A Zrubek Personal Representative C/O Joyner & Fewson, P.C. 3100 Arapahoe Ave., Ste. 410 Boulder, CO 80303

Legal Notice No. BSB2817 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 30, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Legal Notice No. BSB2796 First Publication: November 2, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of MATTHEW NORMAN ZRUBEK a/k/a M. NORMAN ZRUBEK a/k/a NORMAN ZRUBEK a/k/a NORM ZRUBEK a/k/a MATTHEW N. ZRUBEK a/k/a MATTHEW ZRUBEK a/k/a MATT ZRUBEK , Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30793

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of MICHAEL SCOTT STOROZUM, also known as MICHAEL S. STOROZUM, also known as MICHAEL STOROZUM, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30811

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 2, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

11036 Oakland Drive Henderson, CO 80640

PUBLIC NOTICE

Legal Notice No. BSB2793 First Publication: November 2, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of William E. Shields, aka William Shields, aka Will E. Shields, aka Will Shields, aka Bill E. Shields, aka Bill Shields, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30778

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Mark Raymond Stuckert, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 389 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 2, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Elizabeth Hamid Personal Representative

Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade

Sandra K Stuckert Personal Representative PO Box 981 Fairplay, CO 80440 Legal Notice No. BSB2810 First Publication: November 9, 2023 Last Publication: November 23, 2023

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before March 9, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Joan P. Shields Personal Representative 4 Gresser Ave Linden NJ 07036 Legal Notice No. BSB2811 First Publication: November 9, 2023 Last Publication: November 23, 2023 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade ###Legals

Fort Lupton Press Fort Lupton Expenditures Public Notice

EXPENDITURES OCTOBER 18, 2023 - NOVEMBER 7, 2023 DATE

NUMB

COMPANY

10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/19/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023

86218 86219 86220 86221 86222 86223 86224 86225 86226 86227 86228 86229 86230 86231 86232 86233 86234 86235 86236 86237 86238 86239 86240 86241 86242 86243 86244 86245 86246 101209 101209 101210 101211 101212 101213 101214 101215 101216 101217 101218 101219 101220 101221 101222 101223 101224 101225 101226 101227 101228 101229 101230 101231 101232 101233 101234 101235 101236 101237 101238 101239

BREAKTHRU BEVERAGE COLORADO $324.34 BUFFALO BRAND SEED $2,824.50 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $308.69 EAGLE ROCK COMPANY OF COLO $296.73 HIGH COUNTRY BEVERAGE CORP $205.50 MASEK GOLF CAR OF COLORADO $433.98 OFFICE DEPOT $65.79 REPUBLIC NATIONAL DISTRIBUTING CO LLC $118.85 SWIRE COCA-COLA, USA $415.10 TERMINIX $163.00 WASTE CONNECTIONS OF COLO, INC $581.57 ACE HARDWARE OF FORT LUPTON $125.71 AGFINITY INC $2,427.01 CITY OF FORT LUPTON $2,757.35 DAPHNE’S HEADCOVERS $678.28 FUZION FIELD SERVICES LLC $255.75 HIGH COUNTRY BEVERAGE CORP $205.50 MASEK GOLF CAR OF COLORADO $208.92 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS $25.07 R & L TIRES $11.17 R&R PRODUCTS INC $299.80 SHAMROCK FOODS COMPANY $963.18 XCEL ENERGY-GAS $190.91 ACUSHNET COMPANY $137.83 ALARM DETECTION SYSTEMS, INC. $220.00 CENTURYLINK $77.94 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $49.12 EAGLE ROCK COMPANY OF COLO $393.90 HIGH COUNTRY BEVERAGE CORP $348.30 21ST CENTURY EQUIPMENT LLC -$85.52 21ST CENTURY EQUIPMENT LLC $85.52 A CASINO EVENT INC. $838.00 ADAMSON POLICE PRODUCTS $514.88 ADT SECURITY SYSTEM $401.47 AMERITAS LIFE INSURANCE CORP $8,372.36 ASHLEY CALDWELL $259.40 AXON ENTERPRISES INC $3,909.28 BADGER METER $268.00 BANK OF COLORADO $91.41 BOOTBARN INC $124.63 CENTURA HEALTH $96.67 CH2M $8,237.00 CHRISTOPHER CROSS $248.90 CODE 3 ASSOCIATES $510.00 COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA $128.85 COLORADO PAVING INC $42,896.00 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $246.23 CROSS LINE CONSTRUCTION CORP $347,750.00 FIESTA TIME INC $348.00 FORT LUPTON HIGH SCHOOL $400.00 FRIENDLY FORK SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM $250.00 GREEN MILL SPORTSMAN’S CLUB $300.00 LANGUAGELINE SOLUTIONS $153.34 LIFE STORIES CHILD & FAMILY ADVOCACY $375.00 LONGMONT AUTO BODY & GLASS $654.45 MEANDERING WITH MARY $300.00 MOTION PICTURE LICENSE CORP $732.96 MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS $19,976.95 OFFICE DEPOT $964.96 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS $268.93 PINNACOL ASSURANCE $1,000.00

AMOUNT

10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/26/2023 10/31/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023

101240 101241 101242 101243 101244 101245 101246 101247 101248 101249 101250 101251 101252 101253 101254 101255 101256 101257 101257 101258 101259 101260 101261 101262 101263 101264 101265 101266 101267 101268 101269 101270 101271 101272 101273 101274 101275 101276 101277 101278 101279 101280 101281 101282 101283 101284 101316 101317 101318 101319 101320 101321 101322 101323 101324 101325 101326 101327 101328 101329 101330 101331 101332

PRAIRIE DOG PROS $600.00 R & L TIRES $18.00 R & M SERVICES $321.98 REDI SERVICES, LLC $2,890.00 SHRED-IT USA LLC $30.00 SPEAKWRITE LLC $396.00 SYMMETRY ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC $1,674.93 TYLER TECHNOLOGIES $350.00 UMB BANK, N.A. $400.00 UNIVERSITY AUTO PARTS $83.98 WASTE CONNECTIONS OF COLO, INC $1,209.68 WELD COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY IT $988.10 AFLAC $3,184.52 AGFINITY INC $1,610.33 ARLU PEREZ RAMOZ $34.22 ASEM SWAKED $180.00 BRANDING BY BRE $3,100.00 BURNS & MCDONNELL ENGINEERING CO INC $29,186.41 BURNS & MCDONNELL ENGINEERING CO INC -$29,186.41 CITY OF FORT LUPTON $34.22 COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA $124.60 COMCAST BUSINESS $4,823.52 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $450.20 CORE&MAIN LP $984.60 EWING IRRIGATION PRODUCTS INC $129.00 FORT LUPTON VETERINARY $2,070.00 G & G EQUIPMENT $1,805.02 JOHN DEERE FINANCIAL $175.78 KASEYA US LLC $2,836.24 KNOWBE4 INC $1,458.00 KONE INC $140.80 LOUIS A GRESH $1,600.00 MEANDERING WITH MARY $80.00 METECH RECYCLING INC $571.53 OFFICE DEPOT $834.17 STANDARD INSURANCE CO. $6,731.90 SYMMETRY ENERGY SOLUTIONS LLC $3,305.89 THE CONSOLIDATED MUTUAL $1,602.65 TIRES TO GREEN RECYCLING COLORADO LLC $960.00 TODD HODGES DESIGN, LLC $7,446.25 TOSHIBA FINANCIAL SERVICES $2,705.22 UNITED POWER $212.53 UNITEDHEALTHCARE INSURANCE COMPANY $99,955.79 WEIFIELD GROUP CONTRACTING INC $9,650.00 XCEL ENERGY-GAS $281.40 BURNS & MCDONNELL ENGINEERING CO INC $29,186.41 BADGER METER $2,656.68 BRIGHTON FORD INC $91.95 CARL CARSTENS $55.44 COLONIAL LIFE $105.96 COLORADO ANALYTICAL LAB $168.00 COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA $174.05 COLORADO PAVING INC $519,748.72 COMCAST CABLE COMM, LLC $269.25 CORE&MAIN LP $1,408.86 CTL THOMPSON, INC $480.00 DIGETEKS, LLC $3,200.00 GREELEY LOCK & KEY $653.58 HEALTHY START CHILD CARE HEALTH CONSULTING, LLC $137.00 LANGUAGELINE SOLUTIONS $99.00 NEOGOV $9,285.79 O’REILLY AUTO PARTS $1,254.28 PRAIRIE MOUNTAIN MEDIA $27.28

11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 11/07/2023 10/20/2023 10/20/2023 10/20/2023 10/20/2023 10/20/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/03/2023 11/6/2023 11/6/2023 11/3/2023 11/1/2023 10/27/2023 10/27/2023 11/2/2023 11/2/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/31/2023 10/30/2023 10/27/2023 10/24/2023 10/24/2023 10/23/2023 11/3/2023 10/30/2023 10/27/2023 10/20/2023 10/20/2023 10/19/2023 10/31/2023

101333 101334 101335 101336 101337 101338 101339 101340 101341 101342 101343 101344 101345 101346 101347 101348 DFT0002265 DFT0002266 DFT0002267 DFT0002268 DFT0002269 DFT0002270 DFT0002271 DFT0002272 DFT0002273 DFT0002274 DFT0002275 DFT0002276 DFT0002277 DFT0002278 DFT0002279 DFT0002280 EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT EFT

R & L TIRES $127.65 REDI SERVICES, LLC $200.00 SCOTT CARLSON $6,500.00 STATE OF COLORADO $3,007.61 STORMWIND LLC $3,900.00 SWEET PEA CLEANING, LLC $1,564.00 TAILTWISTERS 4-H CLUB $56.00 TARGET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS $740.00 TOSHIBA FINANCIAL SERVICES $2,533.30 UNIVERSITY AUTO PARTS $528.42 UTILITY NOTIFICATION CENTER $416.67 WAGNER EQUIPMENT CO. $1,428.00 WASTE CONNECTIONS OF COLO, INC $384.89 WELD COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE $75.65 XCEL ENERGY-GAS $376.56 YODER CHEVROLET LLC $64.52 BANK OF COLORADO $6,406.44 BANK OF COLORADO $930.83 VALIC_1 $48,390.90 IRS $78,428.36 CO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $13,951.00 BANK OF COLORADO $6,476.44 BANK OF COLORADO $930.83 VALIC_1 $45,054.40 IRS $74,952.98 CO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $13,282.00 VALIC_1 $137.04 IRS $332.82 CO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $56.00 VALIC_1 -$137.04 IRS -$332.82 CO DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE -$56.00 Cascade Debit $510.50 Comdata $36,688.70 Global Payments $2,445.05 FDMS $59.88 US Bank $156,612.81 US Bank $515,618.23 Full Steam $3,844.63 BOC Correction $10.00 BOC Fee $59.10 BOC Transfer $300,000.00 BOC Lockbox $491.30 Charge Back Item $420.00 BOC Transfer $50,000.00 ColoTrust Transfers $1,175,619.95 PSN* Payment Serv Collection $202.45 Charge Back Item $200.00 Payment Service Invoice $3,100.69 BOC Loan Payment $36,364.92 NBS $97.59 Enterprise $12,606.56 NBS $501.71 NBS $408.70 BOC Transfer $45,745.41

Legal Notice No.: FLP964 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Brighton Standard Blade/Fort Lupton Press November 16, 2023 * 3

31

November 16, 2023

Thousands of Venezuelan migrants want to work but can’t afford application fee

BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

About 5,500 of the more than 26,000 Venezuelan migrants who’ve come through Denver in the past several months are still here and the adults want to apply for federal work permits, according to outreach workers helping them start new lives in Colorado.

The problem is that many migrants don’t have a computer to access the applications, the forms are complicated and confusing, especially when English is not the applicant’s first language, and the process comes with an often out-of-reach cost of about $545.

Colorado nonprofits celebrated when the federal government announced in September that Venezuelans could apply for temporary protected status and work permits, but in reality, the process is so daunting that few have actually applied.

“There are thousands of people in our community that we know want to work, but first they have to submit

these applications,” said Sarah Kurz, chief impact officer for Rose Community Foundation, which is leading an effort to help migrants enroll at scale.

Neither the Denver Department of Human Services nor the state’s Office of New Americans could say how many Venezuelans living in Colorado have applied for work permits.

Meanwhile, the city is running out of resources to move migrants from temporary shelters to more permanent housing, and some have moved to encampments along sidewalks and in public parks. One camp that was home to Venezeulans was cleaned up by the city last week.

Gov. Jared Polis has requested “blanket fee waivers” so that Venezuelans can legally work in Colorado as soon as possible. “The fee is extremely costly for new arrivals,” said Conor Cahill, the governor’s spokesman.

While they wait for a federal response, Rose Community Foundation is using a $500,000 anonymous gift to set up a series of legal clinics where

migrants could fill out the application and receive financial assistance.

The foundation has plans to cover fees if the federal government does not waive them.

“It’s complicated for those of us who are first English speakers and have the resources,” Kurz said. “It’s much more complicated if you just moved somewhere new.”

Temporary protected status provides people who are already in the United States protection from being deported and makes it easier for them to get authorization to work.

The Biden administration granted the status to an estimated 472,000 people from Venezuela and vowed to accelerate work permits, but the migrants still have to apply. And while the announcement came in September, the applications were not immediately available, Kutz said.

The $545 application fee for temporary protected status and a work permit includes a biometric screening to prove the person is healthy and vac-

Public Notices Secretary to Board

Metro Districts Budget Hearings Public Notice NOTICE OF PROPOSED 2024 BUDGET OF THE FREDERICK-FIRESTONE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Proposed 2024 Budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Frederick-Firestone Fire Protection District, on October 9, 2023, for the ensuing Fiscal Year of 2024; a copy of such proposed budget has been filed in the office of the Fire District located at 9551 Weld County Road 11, Longmont, Colorado, where same is open for public inspection, and; that such proposed budget will be considered at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Fire District to be held at the Temporary Administration Building, 9551 Weld County Road 11, Longmont, Colorado on November 13, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. and December 11, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.

Any elector within the District may, at any time before the final adoption of the 2024 Budget on December 11, 2023, inspect the budget and file or register any objections thereto. These meetings are open to the public.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FREDERICK-FIRESTONE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT

/s/ Robert Freeman

Legal Notice No. FLP942 First Publication: November 16, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Misc. Private Legals Public Notice TO: MICHAEL REWERTS: You are notified that you have 10 days after publication for this notice of levy to file your claim of exemption with the District Court of WELD, Weld County District Court, Civil Div. 915 10th St. P.O. Drawer 2038 Greeley, CO 80632-2038, in Case 2022CV030330 entitled: BERRY COMPANIES, INC., d/b/a BOBCAT OF THE ROCKIES, LLC, d/b/a BOBCAT OF THE ROCKIES vs. MICHAEL REWERTS, a/k/a MICHAEL ALLEN REWERTS, a/k/a MICHAEL A. REWERTS, a/k/a MIKE ALLEN REWERTS, a/k/a MIKE A. REWERTS, a/k/a MIKE REWERTS, a/k/a MICHAL ALLEN REWERTS, a/k/a MICHAL A. REWERTS, a/k/a MICHAL REWERTS, Individually, $2,408.95 garnished at First National Bank of Omaha, 915 S. Hover, Longmont, CO 80501.

Legal Notice No. FLP926 First Publication: October 26, 2023 Last Publication: November 23, 2023 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press

Notice to Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Henry George Platter (a.k.a. Henry G. Platter), Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30599 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Weld County, Colorado on or before March 2, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

LEONA HAUSCHILD, Esq. Attorney for Personal Representative 1801 California Street, Suite 2400 Denver, CO 80202 Legal Notice No. FLP960 First Publication: November 2, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Scott D. Jeffres, a/k/a Scott Jeffres, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 112 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Weld County, Colorado on or before March 2, 2024, or the claims may be forever barred.

Michelle Jeffres Personal Representative 10251 Falcon St Firestone, CO 80504 Legal Notice No. FLP962 First Publication: November 2, 2023 Last Publication: November 16, 2023 Publisher: Fort Lupton Press ###

cinated.

Nonprofit groups that have been helping migrants find housing, sign up for school and gather donated furniture estimate that there are about 4,500 adults and 1,000 children who have stayed in Denver and need to fill out applications for temporary protected status or work permits. They are among the 26,422 men, women and children arriving in Denver since Christmas, when Venezeulans began crossing the U.S. southern border from Mexico to flee extreme poverty and political turmoil.

Once in Denver, about 7,000 people were given bus tickets to requested destinations, mainly New York City and Chicago, while others were provided shelter in Denver recreation centers lined with cots, or in shelters set up by community organizations and churches. They were allowed to stay in city shelters for a maximum of 14 days, and some left to live outside.

SEE JOBS, P32

“Trust Us!” Without public notices, the government wouldn’t have to say anything else.

Public notices are a community’s window into the government. From zoning regulations to local budgets, governments have used local newspapers to inform citizens of its actions as an essential part of your right to know. You know where to look, when to look and what to look for to be involved as a citizen. Local newspapers provide you with the information you need to get involved.

Notices are meant to be noticed.

Read your public notices and get involved!

Brighton Standard Blade/Fort Lupton Press November 9, 2023 * 4

32

November 16, 2023N

JOBS FROM PAGE 31

“Some are living on the street, living on couches and they might not realize the opportunity exists much less have a computer and the English skills and the financial capacity to submit the application,” Kurz said.

The 5,500 number includes only Venezuelans who are eligible for temporary protected status because they arrived in Denver before July 31, which is the federal government’s cutoff date.

There is no official count of how many people in all have stayed in Colorado. “The city and state have been careful not to ask too many questions of folks and their plan to stay here because people are understandably nervous about that,” Kurz said.

And while city officials previously have said that the influx of migrants was not adding to the city’s homeless

population, the line between the two groups has started to blur as the migrant crisis continues 11 months after it began. According to the city’s migrant dashboard, 61 more migrants arrived on one Sunday in early November. The city has spent about $30 million in support so far, with $9 million promised from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and $3.5 million from the state.

Rose Community Foundation, which was created after the sale of Rose Medical Center in 1995, began helping Venezuelan migrants in December. Since then, it has collected more than $830,000 from thousands of individual donors to what’s called the Newcomers Fund. Grants from the fund have helped nonprofits set up housing and helped migrants talk to landlords, complete rental agreements and find food and furniture.

After President Joe Biden announced Venezuelans could get work permits, an anonymous donor gave Rose $500,000, and the foundation

started the Newcomers Workforce Fund.

Based on the estimate of 4,500 adults and 1,000 children who’ve stayed in the Denver area, it will cost $2.5 million to cover application fees for temporary protected status and work permits, she said. And that’s only the paperwork — migrants need longer-term help with housing, job training and other services in order to build new lives, Kurz said.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity and it’s very much a Band-Aid approach,” she said.

Colorado’s governor first asked the White House in December to grant temporary protective status and employment authorization for the newly arrived migrants. It came nine months later.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston this month joined the mayors of Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and New York City in urging the Biden administration to provide more financial support for cities sheltering and feeding

migrants. They asked for broader work authorization policy, and a coordinated entry response so that migrants make it to their final destinations.

“We are requesting an urgent meeting with you to directly discuss ways we can work with your administration to avoid large numbers of additional asylum seekers being brought to our cities with little to no coordination, support or resources,” the letter said.

The Denver nonprofit Organización Papagayo has helped thousands of Venezuelans get cell phones, find apartments and apply for jobs, thanks to funding from Rose Community Foundation. They’ve linked migrants with vaccine clinics and helped them enroll in schools. Some were signed up for mental health counseling.

“They have gone through tremendous trauma,” said Marielena Suarez, the group’s CEO. “Horrible things.

Not just adults, but children, which is inhumane.”

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