Littleton Independent 041323

Je Gaylord’s death shines light on life of strength and selflessness

Bemis Library eliminates fines for overdue books

Joins national trend

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Bemis Public Library has joined libraries across the nation and state in eliminating nes for overdue materials.

At a city council meeting on April 4, councilmembers voted unanimously to repeal the section of the city code that requires late charges for overdue library materials, ending a policy that had been in place at the library for about forty years. e decision will also waive existing overdue fees on patrons’ accounts.

From pro sports to the streets

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On March 15, a deceased man was found at the north bus stop at Englewood Parkway and South Acoma Street in Englewood. Ofcials said the man was “likely a transient” and that his death did not seem criminal in nature.

Little did they know, the man was Je Gaylord, a prominent football player, professional wrestler, brother and friend.

At his memorial service at Southeast Christian Church in Parker, dozens gathered to share stories of Je ’s life and memories of their

“As I’m looking around this room today, I see many familiar faces, as well as new ones,” said Angelia Anderson, executive director of a program called Treasure House of Hope that Je participated in. “ is isn’t surprising to me because Je never met a stranger ... He always was so generous and outgoing.”

Athletic history

Je , who was born in 1958, grew up in the suburbs of Kansas City as the middle child of ve. From a young age, he was an impressive athlete, showing speci c strengths as a discus thrower and football player during his high school years.

“During his senior year, he was able to bench press 610 pounds,”

SEE GAYLORD, P6

“It’s not really on a whim that we’re wanting to go ne-free,” acting library director Richard Allen said at the meeting.

Close to 70% of Colorado libraries do not charge overdue fees, Allen said, along with many others across the nation. Nearby, Aurora Public Libraries, Denver Public Libraries and the Arapahoe Library District do not charge late fees.

Prior to the decision, Bemis Public Library charged 20 cents per day for overdue fees for non-senior library patrons, Allen said. Englewood Public Library and Douglas County Libraries still have similar late fees in place.

To fine or not to fine?

Allen said people think libraries should charge late fees for three main reasons: to teach people responsibility, make them return

SEE LIBRARY, P2

Photos, certificates and awards from Je Gaylord’s life on display at his memorial service at Southeast Christian Church.

Je Gaylord in his high school football uniform. COURTESY OF TIM GAYLORD

Mike Gent hired as new deputy city manager

Position vacant since 2020

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On April 17, the City of Littleton will welcome Mike Gent to its sta as the new deputy city manager, restoring a position left vacant since the summer of 2020.

City Manager Jim Becklenberg selected Gent from over 120 applicants and four quali ed nalists in a nationwide search.

“We’re eager to work with him,” Becklenberg said when he announced the hiring decision at a March 28 study session. “He brought some great energy in the interviews and he’s gonna… hit the ground running with us.”

Littleton’s previous deputy city manager, Randy Young, left the position in 2020 as part of an early retirement plan the city o ered to existed

LIBRARY

items faster and provide funds for the library.

But these ideas, he said, are all misconceptions.

First of all, he said late nes interfere with the essential mission of libraries, which is not to teach responsibility.

“It’s to provide access to everybody

to cut expenses due to the nancial uncertianty of the pandemic, city spokesperson Kelli Narde said.

Young’s salary in 2020 was $175,000, Narde said. Gent’s salary will be $210,000, which Narde said is based on salary ranges for similar positions, internal equity factors, responsibilities and experience.

As deputy city manager, Gent will be in charge of the operations and management of several city departments, including community development, economic development, information technology, the Bemis Public Library and the Littleton Museum.

“I’ll be looking to him for the day-to-day support for more departments than either of the assistant city managers,” Becklenberg said in an interview with Colorado Community Media. “ e position will also

— and if you can’t get everybody in, you’re not teaching anybody anything,” he said. “We are not there to wag our ngers and dictate what is and what isn’t responsible behavior.”

In addition, Allen said the majority of fees penalize children and teens, who often do not have control over when their materials are returned because they are under the stewardship of their parents.

In regards to the timeliness of returns, many proponents of removing late fees say there is no negative

THEATRE CLASSES AT THE DCPA

have responsibility for managing city-wide projects.”

e rst project of this nature will be the Enterprise Resource Planning system project, for which Gent will represent the city manager’s o ce as they work to upgrade nance and human resources systems across the city.

Gent comes to Littleton with over 12 years of municipal government experience, including several public works positions and his current role as the deputy city manager of Surprise, Arizona.

“In his time there, he has worked with and led numerous departments across the city,” Becklenberg said at the study session. “One of the things we were looking for was some depth of organizational management, organizational assessment to kind of help us carry through with some of the initiatives that we have.”

Gent has a doctorate in social work from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in

behavior change after eliminating nes. Experiences from many libraries support this idea.

In some cases, Allen said, returns actually increase after nes are eliminated because people feel they can return materials without shame.

Allen also said a lot of libraries have discovered that it costs more to collect nes than it adds to the libraries funding. In 2022, the city only gained $9073.55 in overdue nes, which made up less than 0.1% of the city budget.

“By the time you add in in time spent interaction with the person at the desk, labor costs, bookkeeping, all of those things — you’re actually losing money, charging nes,” he said.

Eliminating late fees increases usage, increases social equity, is scally sound, improves customer service and builds goodwill with library users, Allen said.

“We want people in the door, that is what we want,” he said. “People who su er most from overdue nes

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public administration from Norwich University and a bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for six years.

From the outside looking in, Gent said it was easy to recognize that Littleton had “all the ingredients needed to sustain and enhance the great quality of life enjoyed by residents, business owners and visitors.”

“I applied for this opportunity to be the deputy city manager here because I want to be a part of that,” he wrote in an email. “During my public service career, I have been fortunate to work in great communities as part of very talented teams, learning many lessons along the way and now want to use those skills and experiences to have a greater impact on the community I serve.”

Gent will join Becklenberg and assistant city managers Samma Fox and Kathleen Osher in the city manager’s o ce.

are low-income families, people of color — we don’t want to block access for anybody, but especially for people who are already struggling with social inequity.”

Mayor Pro Tem Gretchen Rydin said she loved the idea because it’s backed by research, saves money and is better for the community.

“It’s thinking about making services available to everyone and taking into account variant circumstances, which I think we need,” she said. “I also love that this assumes the best in people and I think you’re right — we’re assuming trust. And that means so much in terms of creating healing connection in our community.”

Going forward, Allen said there will still be charges for lost and damaged items and the library will still send out overdue notices.

Library items that are 30 days overdue will be considered lost and will place a freeze on a person’s ability to check out materials, he said.

• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

• We will edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length and write headlines (titles) for letters at our discretion.

• Please don’t send us more than one letter per month. First priority for publication will be given to writers who have not submitted letters to us recently.

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Gent

Land-use bill authors stand by plan

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

According to authors of the land use bill making its way through the Colorado Legislature, the primary goal is stopping communities from exclusionary zoning that prohibits the construction of multifamily housing.

Known as SB23-213, the land use bill was unveiled in March by Gov. Jared Polis and Democrats as a solution to the growing housing crisis.

While municipalities statewide are voicing opposition to the bill, authors are saying the 105-page document is vital to the state’s future in providing an adequate supply of a ordable housing.

In this case, a ordable housing does not mean more single-family homes, but instead duplexes, triplexes, other multiplexes, townhomes, condos and apartments.

According to the authors of SB23213, some Colorado cities and counties have implemented zoning policies that decrease or completely bar the construction of multifamily housing.

Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, co-authored SB23-213 with Rep. Iman Jodeh, D-Arapahoe County, and Majority Leader Sen. Dominick

Moreno, a District 21 Democrat covering Adams County, Commerce City, Federal Heights and Westminster.

Woodrow said while some communities have done an “exemplary” job at addressing a ordability, others have not and state intervention is required to stop the growing crisis where housing costs are at an all-time high and availability is at an all-time low.

“ is bill really does increase individual property rights,” Woodrow said. “If you are a property owner, you have the right to build an accessory dwelling unit and the govern-

ment will not be able to prevent that. Some feel like we are taking away rights. We are adding to them. is bill will have some exibility, but it does set forth some minimum standards.”

Since the bill’s introduction, several Denver metro communities have passed resolutions to oppose the bill, including Westminster, Castle Rock, Lone Tree and Centennial. Other communities have said they may take similar votes.

At the center of the opposition is the plan for the state intervening in local development decisions, removing home rule authority. Home rule

is a form or structure of governing de ned by the citizens of a municipality or county that allows for more control over matters of local signicance.

According to the proposed bill, municipalities will be required to submit land-use codes to the state. e state will review the proposed codes and if they are deemed insufcient, the state will impose its own codes.

Arapahoe County Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully said the bill takes a one-size- ts-all approach

Opponents of proposal not swayed by claims of a ordability, availability

and it will not work for all Colorado communities.

Woodrow said he disagrees, that the bill allows communities to develop and plan growth, but they have to meet minimum standards to avoid state intervention. He stressed the bill has tiers to address all populations, including suburban, urban and mountain towns.

“It is not a one-size- ts all,” he said. “ is only goes into e ect if a community refuses to adopt the (minimum) required standards. e only time you are a ected is if you decided to ignore it.”

e reason the state is taking steps to intervene in local control is because of the excessive use of “exclusionary zoning,” by some Colorado communities, Woodrow said.

Exclusionary zoning laws place restrictions on the types of homes that can be built in a neighborhood. Oftentimes, these laws prohibit multifamily homes and set limits on building heights.

Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, said SB23-213 is a misguided piece of legislation that does nothing more than declare war on single family home construction.

“It’s built on a faulty premise that everyone wants to live in high density housing,” she said.

Frizell said if the Democratic-led legislation wanted to adequately address the housing crisis, it would focus on the impact fees and permit fees that cities and towns are charging developers.

Pointing to Castle Rock as an example, Frizell said home prices have skyrocketed due to the costs home builders are having to pay local entities to build.

According to the fee sheet on the Town of Castle Rock website, a developer building a 2,000 square foot home can pay over $21,000 in impact fees, which includes a line item for parks and recreation, re protection, municipal facilities, police and transportation.   at total does not include other required permit fees.

e construction of a multifamily building is more than $17,000 per unit, according to the fee schedule.

In drafting the legislation, Moreno said the authors looked at what other states have done, speci cally naming California and Oregon, which have also implemented landuse codes.

Moreno said the steps taken by both the Democratic-led states would not t Colorado’s current and future needs.

“(SB23-213) is drafted to provided local options for municipalities to choose from,” he said. “ is sets goals and gives choices on how to meet those goals. It’s easy. If (municipalities) don’t then the state will step in. ere is a bit more choice than other states.”

In its early stages, Moreno said lawmakers have agreed not to immediately take votes on the proposed legislation, instead opting on April 6 to listening to debate, concerns and ideas.

Moreno said he has heard complaints that the bill does not address a ordability enough. e Adams County senator said amendments are likely as the bill moves through the process.

Moreno said the bill does address a ordability in the area of availability. Moreno said it increases stock, which means added supply will drive down home prices.

According to a monthly report from the Denver Metro Association of Realtors, the median price for a single-family home in February was around $600,000, a more than 5% decline from the month before. e median price for a condo was around $400,000 in February.

As amendments for better language, and clarifying information on water and infeasibility are already on the table, Rep. Mark Baisley, a District 4 Republican, which covers parts of Douglas County, Fremont County and Je erson County said he is “pleasantly surprised” that both Democrats and Republicans have expressed opposition to the bill’s current language. Even with possible amendments coming to the bill, Baisley said it still wouldn’t work because the entire bill lacks “humility” and the only way to x it is to redo it completely. No matter what concessions are made in areas of a ordability and language, Baisley said at the core of the bill is taking away home rule, which likely will not be eliminated. e state intervening just means more government, more state oversight and less local control, Baisley said. at aspect alone makes the bill unlikely to ever be successful. Woodrow said it is sweeping legislation and can take time, noting that success will be gauged in 10 or 12 months. Instead, he said this bill addresses current needs while allowing Colorado to grow in a more strategic way.

turn it around.

‘This sets goals and gives choices on how to meet those goals. It’s easy.

If (municipalities) don’t, then the state will step in. There is a bit more choice than other states.’

Sen. Dominick Moreno, state Senate majority leader

his brother, Tim Gaylord, said at the service. “Many colleges were o ering him a full-ride scholarship (for football) … Je chose Missouri.”

In college, Je became a four-year letterman and was named All-Big Eight and All-American in the early 1980s.

Je ’s success as a college athlete drew attention to him, inspiring the Los Angeles Rams to draft him in 1982. Released prior to the start of their season, he was picked up by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. With this team, he competed in the league’s championship game called the Grey Cup.

He later played for the Boston Breakers and the San Antonio Gunslingers of the United States Football League and was named First Team All-American USFL nose tackle by the Pro Football Review in 1984, Tim said. Je then su ered a major knee injury, bringing his football career to a close. But as an athlete, he was only getting started.

At a gym in San Antonio, Je was o ered the opportunity to train to be a wrestler.

“Je , with his impressive physique, had done some bodybuilding competitions,” Tim said. “He trained for four months for his debut in professional wrestling in 1985.”

He carried the nickname “ e Missouri Tiger” into the new sport, competing for the Universal Wrestling Federation, World Class Champion Wrestling, United States Wrestling Association and American Wrestling Federation.

Among many accomplishments, he won the USWA World Tag Team Championship twice with Je Jarrett.

From stardom to the streets

After 12 years as a professional wrestler, Je decided to start a career that would take less of a toll on his body. He worked successfully in the automobile eld, but after a few years, he began to face some personal and nancial struggles.

“In 1999, Je left Gaylord Sales and Leasing and went to work for another dealer,” Tim said. “ ings didn’t work out well for Je and he blamed his personal nancial conditions and turned to becoming a bank robber.”

Je committed a couple bank robberies and served about 12 years in prison, Tim said at the service. While Je was in prison, his wife passed away.

“ at was a crushing blow to my brother,” Tim said. “After his release from prison, with no hope, Je went to live on the streets while self-medicating with whatever he could nd.”

Treasure House of Hope

For about two decades, Tim said, he prayed for his brother. In 2020, Je said he was ready for a change. is is when he started participating in the Christian-based recovery program, Treasure House of Hope.

“It’s a house and it’s a safe place where broken, hurt … people come, voluntarily come here, and we saturate them with love, compassion, and give them hope for a better future, a better tomorrow,” said Anderson, the executive director.

At the home, Je joined other men who were struggling with addiction, mental health, homelessness and other challenges in a journey to improve themselves physically, mentally and spiritually.

During the year-long program, Je developed an identity in Christianity and was baptized. For his family and many in his church community, these decisions were monumental.

“ e best parts of the Je Gaylord story have been the last two years,” his nephew TJ Gaylord said at the memorial. “Je Gaylord nally coming to the Lord ... makes the story complete, makes it a story of joy instead of one of tragedy.”

After graduating from Treasure House of Hope in Aurora, Je stayed at the house to support the men by providing nutrition guidance and physical training.

“Everybody just loved Je , you know?” Anderson said. “He was just that kind of guy. He just always tried to help somebody else … that’s just who he was.”

Living at Treasure House came with its challenges for Je , however. He was older than most of the other program participants and he tended to bottle up his frustration and pain, said housing director Rick Alston.

As time went on, Je began drinking again, Alston said, turning to alcohol as a remedy for signi cant pain from his athletic career. is resurfaced behavior was against house rules and began to impact others who also struggled with alcoholism.

“ e biggest problem that we began to have is that it started to a ect others in the home,” Alston said. “It did get to the point where we just could not have him in the home.”

e Treasure House team found several alternative treatment facility options for Je , but he decided to return to the streets, Alston said.

Champion of love

On the day Je died, Tina Hay-

hurst, executive director of the Englewood organization Movement 5280, informed his family of his passing.

Movement 5280 acts as a support system for many who are unhoused, o ering shelter, food, clothing, showers, mental health support, housing navigation, health and dental services, addiction recovery services, Christian Bible studies and more. Hayhurst said she wishes more people would recognize that those who struggle with homelessness are human.

“When you get to know them, they’re a person and they’re somebody’s son and daughter and uncle — and they’re not that much di erent from us,” she said. “We have a fear of what people on the streets are like. And when you sit with them and you have a cup of co ee with them, you realize that they’re just the same (as) us.”

During the last year of his life, Je re-started using several services that he relied on before Treasure House, including Movement 5280. Not only was he a part of the community, but he constantly brought others to help connect them with services.

“You can talk about a lot about his days in football … e champion I saw in him was, while he was on the street, he was helping others on the street to get services,” said Jim Hayhurst, a board member for the organization. “I don’t know that, if I was living on the streets, I could be as sel essly generous as he was in trying to help others.”

Je leaves behind the legacy of a gentle giant who, despite his challenges and mistakes, lived hard and loved even harder.

For Anderson, who has experienced homelessness herself, people like Je are worth getting to know.

“People are so beautiful,” she said. “Before you judge, before you be critical and stereotype, take a moment. It takes just as much energy to be negative and to be judgmental as it does to go and say ‘Hey, what’s your name? How did you get here? What could we do to get you out of here?’ ... Just share some compassion. Just share some love. at’s all it takes.”

Je Gaylord in fifth grade. COURTESY OF TIM GAYLORD

‘You can talk about a lot about his days in football … The champion I saw in him was, while he was on the street, he was helping others on the street to get services.’

Jim Hayhurst, board member at Movement 5280

State collecting 2-cent-per-gallon gas tax

Total to be 3 cents

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado began collecting a 2-cent-per-gallon fee on gasoline purchases on April 1.

Revenue from the fee, which increases to 3 cents per gallon on July 1, will go toward addressing the state’s multibillion-dollar transportation project backlog. e charge was imposed through a bill passed by the legislature in 2021 that also added fees on deliveries, rideshare rides and electric vehicles.

e gas fee was originally supposed to begin in July 2022, but the legislature delayed the start until April 1, at a cost of $45 million, because of high gas prices. A year ago, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Colorado was $3.97. is week, it was hovering around $3.47.

Fuel prices reached an all-time high in Colorado in June 2022, when a gallon of regular gasoline averaged $4.92 and diesel was at $5.54 a gallon, according to AAA.

e gas fee is set to increase gradually by 1 cent per year until it reaches 8 cents per gallon in July 2028. In July 2032, the fee will be

adjusted annually based on in ation.

Other fees imposed by the bill include:

• A 27-cent fee on deliveries

• A 30-cent fee on rideshares

• A 4-cent-per-gallon fee on diesel fuel. Like the gas fee, the diesel fee increases annually — but by 2 cents — until it reaches 16 cents in 2028.

e fuel and road-usage fees are the subject of a lawsuit led in Denver District Court by conservatives who argue the charges were illegally imposed. Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights requires that voters approve all tax increases, but fees can be imposed by the legislature as long as the revenue goes to a set purpose.

Colorado also collects a 22-cent tax on each gallon of gas sold. e state’s gas tax is among the lowest in the country.

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

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2023

BEST BEST

Following the mass shooting in Nashville, Tennessee where six people were killed, the Douglas County GOP group wrote a letter to the Douglas County School Board calling for arming teachers. The idea was rejected by the board.

Gun violence hits

40-year high in Colorado

Death rates also high

BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN

In the spring of 2019, as the state mourned the shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch and lawmakers began eyeing a raft of new rearms-related legislation, e Colorado Sun analyzed 38 years of state data on gun deaths.

At the time, e Sun found that 20,669 people died from rearmrelated injuries between 1980 and 2018, and the death rate, after dipping in the early 2000s, was on the rise.

Now, with the reverberations from a shooting at Denver’s East High School still ringing and lawmakers again hotly debating a slate of gun bills, e Sun decided to revisit that earlier analysis.

e number of those who have died from rearm-related injuries has increased, of course. Between 1980 and 2021 — the most recent year for which nalized mortality data is available — 23,493 people were killed by gunshot wounds, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

But more surprising is that the firearm-related death rate in 2021 was the highest since at least 1980. The new analysis shows the state recorded 18.2 gun deaths per 100,000 people in 2021, far exceeding any other year in that time span. The previous high was in 1981, at 16.3 deaths per 100,000 people.

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

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• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper.

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• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

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ese numbers include all deaths caused by rearms — homicides, suicides, accidents and incidents where the intent cannot be determined.

ough still preliminary, the rearm-related death rate appears to have declined slightly in 2022.

e state will likely have nal data on 2022 deaths next month, and it is possible that the preliminary gure — 16.8 deaths per 100,000 people — could rise as more deaths are o cially recorded.

e reason we stop the analysis at 1980 is because that’s how far back CDPHE has data on rearm-speci c causes of death.

e state does have data on suicides going back to 1940 and homicides back to 1970. But, because those numbers do not record whether a gun was involved in the deaths, they are not comparable to post-1980 numbers.

Gun deaths are increasing across most age groups in the state. e only age group where a trend is difcult to discern is for children from birth through age 9. Deaths in that age range can be few enough in a given year that CDPHE won’t release the actual numbers — it is common in health statistics for small numbers to be withheld for privacy reasons.

is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

• We will edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length and write headlines (titles) for letters at our discretion.

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Report charts course for mitigating wildfire risks

res more e ectively, and to reseed and restore scarred forests.

BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE

As wild re seasons in Colorado and across the American West become longer, less predictable and increasingly destructive, a new report aims to provide an equitable roadmap for protecting communities, watersheds and wildlife.

Rob Addington, Colorado forest program director for e Nature Conservancy, said engagement with tribal nations, who have been successful stewards of lands for thousands of years, will be critical to address the scale of the challenge.

“Developing tribal partnerships and really looking to tribal knowledge, ecological knowledge that many of the tribes hold from their centuries in many cases of working with the land, working with re,” Addington outlined.

Addington pointed out the roadmap represents a paradigm shift in modern forest and wild re management. After decades of re prevention strategies, for example, experts said prescribed burns will be necessary to thin fuel supplies across thousands of acres of dry western lands. e report also called for advanced computer modeling and unmanned drones to improve early detection, help battle

e roadmap, created by e Aspen Institute and e Nature Conservancy, compiled input from more than 250 experts in forest and re management, federal, state, local, and Tribal Nation authorities, and the private sector, including the forest products and insurance industries.

Addington noted many of the report’s recommendations are shovel-ready, due to recent public investments such as the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the In ation Reduction Act.

“But what we need in parallel to complement that funding is this set of policy recommendations,” Addington urged. “To really make best use of that funding, and have it hit the ground in the most e cient and e ective way that we can.”

Addington underscored building successful partnerships will be key for work that needs to happen in metropolitan areas and across tribal, federal, state and privately owned lands. e report also identied some potential roadblocks, and o ered policy solutions requiring action from Congress, the executive branch, and partners like states, Tribal Nations, nonpro ts, and industry.

COURTESY PHOTO

Tribal partnerships are seen as key to e ort

Spring floods a concern

Colorado’s snow season is nearing its typical peak with above-average snowpack, and water o cials are beginning to worry about ooding and gauging potential reservoir releases. But in some places, the snow just keeps coming.

Each year, April marks the point in the season when the snowpack starts to reach its peak as temperatures warm and spring runo begins. It’s also an important point for water ofcials, water users and even emergency managers: How high the snow piles up is a key indicator of water supply for the next year, but how fast it melts can have big impacts on ooding and seasonal irrigation.

“We do anticipate high water,” said Sgt. Todd Wheeler, emergency management coordinator for Mo at County in northwestern Colorado. “Will it be higher than normal? at remains to be seen.”

In the Colorado River Basin, which supplies water to 40 million people spread across seven Western states and 30 Native American tribes, the snowpack was above average as it reached its seasonal peak.

In the Upper Colorado Region, which includes Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah, the snow-

Conservation Service data. It was even nearing the highest snowpack recorded since 1986.

e Lower Colorado Region, which includes Arizona, California and Nevada, was at 446% of the historical median as of ursday.

e above-average snow is welcome news for the parched basin, which is facing its worst drought in 1,200 years. However the basin’s two largest reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, will need to see this kind of snowfall for multiple years to recover from the impacts of prolonged drought and overuse, experts say. e water levels at Lake Mead are even projected to fall further this year, according to the Bureau of Reclamation.

“While this year has been really good news in terms of above-average snowpack and above-average stream ows into Lake Powell over the summer, it’s not enough to totally re ll those reservoirs or even get them back to normal,” said Peter Goble, a climatologist with the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University.

e seasonal peak refers to the snow-water equivalent — the amount of liquid water in snow — in the snowpack. e peaks vary regionally and year to year, and the

Prepare for power outages

called SNOTEL sites, Goble said.

In Colorado, the snowpack has already passed its historical peak in southern basins, including the Upper Rio Grande, Arkansas and the combined San Miguel-DoloresAnimas-San Juan basin. Northern basins, like the Yampa-White, Gunnison, Colorado main stem, North Platte and South Platte, will peak this weekend or later this month.

at means more winter storms might roll through — and help add to the water supply — but they will balance out with spring runo as temperatures warm.

“ at’s not to say that the moisture that falls after peak snowpack isn’t important,” Goble said. “In fact, it is really important, what happens in late April and May, in terms of the overall runo that we get. But I think you’ll probably see our numbers peak quite soon here.”

Western Slope river basins, which feed the Colorado River, were all reporting above-average snowpack Wednesday. e snowpack in the Upper Rio Grande basin, which usually peaks April 2, was at 135% of the historical median, according to SNOTEL data April 5.

In southwestern Colorado, the combined San Miguel-DoloresAnimas-San Juan basin blasted past its historical median this season, reporting the highest snowpack in the state at about 180%. e basin typically peaks April 2 with a snowwater equivalent of 18.1 inches. is year, the basin reported 31.5 inches, which is half an inch lower than the maximum recorded between 1987 and 2022.

“In the modern SNOTEL observation era, we’re right on the doorstep of a record,” Goble said. “I’m not sure if we’re going to get there … but we’re going to get darn close to a new, modern era snowpack record

e region has been hit hard by the o cials, farmers, ranchers and other water users are enthusiastic about the deep snowpack.

For Ken Curtis, general manager of the Dolores Water Conservancy District, the plentiful snowpack means that the local reservoir will ll, and the district is even starting to plan a managed release for rafters and ecological purposes, he said. Montezuma County emergency manager Jim Spratlen said the high snowpack could also mean ooding as rivers swell in May and June. Spratlen’s team was already updating emergency planning resources online and handing out sandbags to people in the towns of Dolores and Mancos in early April as a precautionary measure.

“Basically, we prepare for everything,” he said. “We prepare for the worst and hope for the best.”

As of April 6, projections from the Colorado Basin River Forecast Center indicated that three areas of the Western Slope, in Mo att, Routt and Gunnison counties, are already more than 50% likely to see ooding.

Higher, northern elevations are still seeing new snow, and spring runo is weeks away; however, emergency managers in those areas are also preparing for the spring runo . ey’re taking precautionary steps, like clearing ditches and culverts, holding planning meetings, running high-water public service announcements and monitoring ow-rates and areas prone to ooding. ey’re also watching weather forecasts for signs of prolonged warming, higher nighttime temperatures and duston-snow events, all of which can speed melting.

e Gunnison County snowpack was well above average according to SNOTEL data, said Scott Morrill, the county’s emergency manager.

Snowplow removing snow from a street. The snow in Colorado’s mountains is greater than usual this year. SHUTTERSTOCK

Reducing barriers to mental health treatment

Growing up in rural Iowa, mental health struggles were not something we spoke about openly or took seriously in any way. Most of my time outside school was spent working or playing sports, and there was never any time to address mental health — there was always something “more important” that needed to be taken care of.

It was especially unheard of at the time to think that a mental illness could be just as disabling as a physical injury.

I have struggled with suicidal thoughts since I was 9 years old and went without any sort of professional care or treatment for over two decades. From my experience, I know that professional intervention can have lifechanging results, and one of my priorities as a legislator has always been to ensure those su ering from mental illnesses are able to access care that is as high quality as it is a ordable.

To further this goal, I was a prime

SNOWPACK

“What the Snotel data does not re ect is the mid and low elevation snow levels/water content,” he said in an email to e Colorado Sun. “As of a couple weeks ago, readings at all of the low/mid elevation sites were very high, with some of them at historic highs.”

GUEST COLUMN

sponsor of SB154 in 2021, which established a 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline in Colorado to coincide with the federal launch in July 2022. For these e orts, I had the honor of being named a legislative champion by Mental Health America.

But there is always more to be done in correcting the healthcare gap between mental and physical illnesses. HB231130 is a bill currently gaining traction in our state legislature that is looking to reduce the amount of time between a patient with a serious mental illness (SMIs) being prescribed personalized treatment and when they are able to a ord it and actually begin receiving this form of care. is delay is primarily caused by “step therapy,” which is

e Gunnison and Yampa-White basins were at 161% and 146% of their historical medians, respectively, as of Wednesday. Both will pass their usual seasonal peaks this weekend. e Colorado main stem, which was 132% of its historical median Wednesday, usually peaks around April 14.

In Routt County, particularly north of Steamboat Springs, conditions are similar to 2011 which was a big ood year, said David DeMorat, emergen-

a treatment approach used by health plans to keep medication costs low.

When a patient is prescribed a drug by their doctor, their health insurance provider or Medicaid will have them try lower-cost medications rst to determine if they will be e ective at treating the patient’s condition. If those treatments don’t work, the patient can “step up” to the potentially more expensive treatment originally recommended by their doctor. HB1130 recognizes the signi cant harm that a patient may experience as a result of this delay by seeking to limit its use when treating SMIs.

When HB1130 passed the House with an overwhelming majority vote and show of support from lawmakers with 39 representatives signing on as cosponsors, I knew I wanted to do everything in my power to ensure a similar result in the Senate. A rst “step” was signing on as a prime cosponsor. e bill does not eliminate step therapy altogether, as it recognizes that

cy operations director.

“It all depends on how quickly it melts. at’ll be a key thing,” he said.

Before the spring runo heightens in coming weeks, the key for community members is to contact their local emergency management o ces and sign up for their alert systems, Spratlen said.

“To us, that is one of the biggest things that the public really needs to do, and then they will be noti ed if something’s going on,” he said.

insurers need to keep initial costs low to serve a greater number of patients. HB1130 remedies existing step therapy laws to allow patients with SMIs to try only one drug before they will receive insurance coverage for the prescribed drug.

Additionally, HB1130 does not lessen step therapy requirements for all Coloradoans with a mental illness, and rather focuses on those with severe mental illnesses that are impacted the most by delays to the most e ective treatments.

As a lifelong advocate for behavioral health being accessible to all who need it, I am proud to be a prime co-sponsor for HB1130. is legislation is a leap forward in recognizing that mental illnesses can be as debilitating as physical illness, and require the same highquality, a ordable, and individualized care as any other health condition.

Chris Kolker is the Colorado State Senator for District 16 in Centennial.

“ ey’re going to be very aware of it, whether it’s a law enforcement issue, a ood, a re evacuation, or whatever.”

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

A valued life

FROM THE EDITOR

Afew weeks ago during a regular sta meeting, Colorado Community Media reporter Nina Joss brought up a story she was working on regarding a homeless man who had been found dead in Englewood. Police said he was a “transient” and no foul play is suspected.

Story done — right? Not even close. After hearing some tips about who the man was, Nina dug a little deeper, learning that he was a former pro athlete who was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and later became a wrestler.

You see, Je Gaylord was not just some problem on a park bench. He was a human being who had fallen on hard times after losing his career. He made some bad choices, he became reliant on alcohol. All these things lead many to homelessness. It’s a series of trapdoors that for some reason just keep opening and closing behind someone. is story is what humanity should be about. We so often look past the person. We so often see that homelessness is a problem but do not want to look at the human part of it. Yes, homelessness is a problem not just in the Denver metro area, but the entire nation.

People in this situation — whether through choices or bad luck — should not be looked past but instead considered a part of society. ey are people who matter to their families, friends and others they have helped throughout their lives.

In this case, Nina attended the funeral for Je Gaylord. She listened to the stories from his friends and family about his natural talents in sports. About his abilities and dedication. She heard about his service to members of those going through the Treasure House of Hope where he coached and helped fellow members make good nutritional choices.

I loved this story for so many reasons. It took me into a life of someone we would have never given another thought to. Had Nina not followed up on a tip we would have just passed this o as a data point. So often the homeless population is boiled down to numbers. How many are there on any given night? How much funding is needed to help address the problem? How do they impact the healthcare system? How many have died?

In this case — Nina skipped the data and got right to the heart of who this human being was and why we should stop and think about how people who are struggling to survive deserve some sympathy and empathy.

Am I saying he was perfect? No. In fact, Nina, being a journalist, found that he also had a criminal record that took him to prison and likely helped lead him to the streets. However, he served his time and we are supposed to be a society driven by second chances.

In the end, he was just a member of our population who died alone without truly knowing the love many had for him. I appreciate Nina for giving us a little more insight into a life that mattered to many.

elma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Misguided a ordable housing bill Senate Bill 23-213 is a 105-page jerrycan of gasoline ready to pour onto the re of housing shortages in Colorado. e bill’s title alone is 148 words long.

SB213 sets out to “diagnose and address housing needs across the state.” e Department of Local A airs will manage “Several hundred million dollars for a ordable housing [that] will become available in the second half of 2023 due to the enactment of Proposition 123” (from the department’s website). at measure, approved by Colorado voters last year, authorizes one-

WINNING

tenth of 1% on federal taxable income taxes to be spent on a ordable housing.

e approach being taken in SB213 is to displace local zoning rules with a statewide mandate to incorporate a ordable housing everywhere. is misguided worldview ignores the natural balance of market forces and neighborhood sensibilities. e real shame is that nothing in this 105-page radical masterpiece will resolve the actual housing troubles. Rather, it will simply move Colorado several steps closer to liberal

SEE LETTERS, P27

New beginnings begin with gratitude

He picked up his grandson from preschool and for a treat the grandfather decided to take his grandson to McDonald’s. It was late afternoon and hardly anyone was in the restaurant at that hour. As they ordered their meal and sat down at a table, the grandson was fascinated by the people cleaning up, sweeping the oor, wiping down tables and taking care of the trash.

As they nished their meal, the grandson was holding his grandfather’s hand as they were leaving the building. e grand-

Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

son tugged on his grandfather’s hand and said, “Let’s go this way so we can say thank you to the people who work here.”

e grandfather smiled, and walked with his grandson as he said thank you to the McDonald’s team. e look on the faces of those behind the counter was genuine warmth as they received the young boy’s gratitude. e only smiles bigger than the grandfather’s, were on the faces of the people working that day.

SEE NORTON, P13

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Independent.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline Wed. for the following week’s paper.

Thelma Grimes

Not a one-size-fits-all solution to local a ordable housing crisis

new and in ll housing projects.  e County also lacks public transportation options to make transit-oriented development less car-dependent.

GUEST COLUMN

The Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners

As many are aware Colorado, like most of the country, has a housing crisis with a de cit of a ordable, attainable, and available housing. It’s in the headlines daily and has become a top priority for local elected leaders and state lawmakers. And like our entire state, Arapahoe County is appealing to new people who want to call it “home.” In fact, some forecasts show Arapahoe County could add as many as 120,000 people by 2030. But while the appeal is understandable, our a ordable housing supply has not kept up with demand, which will be the case as our County continues growing.

at’s why Arapahoe County is partnering with our 13 cities and towns to work on solutions that address this predicament. As local government leaders, we collectively understand and support housing coordination because we also recognize and respect each community’s unique challenges and di erences. We have a variety of tools at the local level that can help shape our housing strategy more quickly and e ciently than broader e orts.

Among large counties, Arapahoe County has one of the most diverse housing stocks in the state –meaning a sound variety of single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments. In fact, 64% of those hous-

ing units are owner-occupied. e County also has what is called middle housing–or duplexes and triplexes–that are already allowed in certain zone districts and planned unit developments across the County. On the downside, a signi cant number of residents are housing burdened – meaning one in three residents, or over 88,000, pay more than 30 percent of their income on  housing.  at’s a 13 percent increase since 2016.

e good news is that Arapahoe County has more than 108,500 new housing units approved and ready to be built – that’s housing for at least 284,000 individuals.

But for several complicated reasons, it is taking a long time for these approved units to be built. ose reasons include labor and supply chain shortages, developer priorities, and  nancing backlogs for a ordable housing projects, which result in increasing capital costs due to market conditions.  ere also are signi cant infrastructure costs – like water and sewer – that need to be built for both

Am I saying thank you enough? Am I showing gratitude to everyone, not just those closest to me? Am I living out the actions of living and working with an attitude of gratitude?

Another piece to the housing crisis is nding quality, long-term solutions for homelessness. We are currently working across the County to coordinate homelessness response and program o erings, including expanding shelter options, providing eviction support services and expanding navigator programs. Most of these services, however, have been funded by one-time federal dollars, so it is crucial that we nd a sustainable revenue source to continue these critical programs.

Like us, Governor Polis and our legislative delegation are interested in attacking the housing crisis.  ey have proposed land-use legislation that seeks to encourage denser building in key urban areas and alter single-family zoning in Colorado cities. is is of concern because it would allow the state to build additional middle housing units without current local approvals.

at’s why local governments—like

your Board of County Commissioners and your mayors and city councils—are working diligently to nd solutions and proactively respond to the changing needs of our communities every day. We know a one-sizets-all approach won’t work locally to increase housing a ordability, accessibility, and diversity. Local oversight takes time to ensure housing is safe for all within our community and services and infrastructure for new housing are readily available. In the coming weeks and months, your elected leaders look forward to having more meaningful conversations about this topic and we urge you to get involved. Call your state representative and let them know how you feel about housing. Read up on the great work our cities and towns are doing. And look for future telephone town hall events at www. arapahoegov.com/townhall, follow us on social media, or subscribe to e County Line newsletter to stay informed.

e Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners is made up of Carrie Warren-Gully, Jessica Campbell-Swanson, Je Baker, Leslie Summey and Bill L. Holen

e boy was only four years old. What a lesson for all of us.

Last week I wrote about another season of new beginnings. If we have been challenged, in a rut, or facing di culties in our lives, we have every chance to start over, give ourselves a new beginning and stop doing what we have always done and expecting di erent outcomes. And maybe our new beginnings begin with gratitude. New beginnings mean change. Whether we are doing really well and just want to raise the bar for ourselves, or we are struggling in some way, we nd ourselves looking to change something. A change in attitude, behavior, strategy, or maybe learning or elevating a skill. And when it comes to changing our attitude I like to think about one of my favorite Jimmy Bu ett songs, “Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes. “

A part of the lyrics go like this “It’s those changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

Nothing remains quite the same

With all of our running and all of our cunning

If we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane”

Our attitude has so much to do with the way we choose to live, laugh, love, work and play. And it has been said that gratitude is one of the strongest human emotions. It’s also been said that the more we show our gratitude for what we have, the more we will have to be grateful for. So I think back to the story of the 4-year-old boy and his grandfather, asking myself:

Again, it’s spring, it’s less than a week past Easter, and it’s the perfect time for new beginnings as life seems to be blooming all around us.

You have all probably heard about this thing called a gratitude challenge. It’s where we are challenged to come up with a few things every day that we are grateful for. One of my close friends, John Brokken, does this every day and posts his gratitude list on social media. It’s one of my very favorite things to read each day.

Here are a few ways that I am changing in my word choices when it comes to showing gratitude, I am sure you have your own too, but feel free to put these to good use as well.

“ ank you very much.” “I appreciate you so very much.” “I am so grateful for you.” “I am so thankful that you are in my life.” “ ank you for being such a blessing to me.”

How about you? Is it time for new beginnings in your own life? And would a new beginning have a better chance of success if you started with lling your gratitude bucket? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we remember to show our gratitude, even just a simple and sincere “thank you,” 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.

Warm Hearts Warm Babies serves hospitals, agencies across Colorado

BY TAYLER SHAW TSHAW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Surrounded by colorful fabric patterns, handmade baby items and frequent laughter, volunteers of the Warm Hearts Warm Babies nonpro t went to work on a Friday morning to put together layettes for organizations who need them.

e nonpro t has a list of roughly 40 agencies it delivers items to throughout Colorado, said Kathleen Williams, the nonpro t’s grant coordinator. e list includes the Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Platte Valley Medical Center and Denver Medical Center.

“Warm Hearts is totally made up of volunteers,” said Sandi Powis, president of the board of directors. “Everyone’s volunteering with their heart and skills to make things for newborn (babies), preemies to help them get a good start in this world.”

Volunteers sew, knit, crochet and quilt items such as bibs, burp pads, jackets, hats and blankets. e items are assembled into a layette, which is a collection of clothing and accessories for newborn infants.

Each layette contains a quilt, two receiving blankets, bibs, burp pads, clothing and a goodie bag containing items such as a bottle, some diapers and a small toy. ese items are delivered in a handmade tote bag.

“All these items are made with love,” Powis said. “We don’t connect to the individuals personally. We deliver the layettes to hospitals, birthing centers, food banks — anyone that can help us help the newborn.”

A number of the mothers who receive these items are experiencing homelessness, sometimes living in shelters or in their cars, Williams said.

e nonpro t also o ers items for the neonatal intensive care units at hospitals in Colorado, such as positioning roles that are used to help support the infants.

“We also provide clothing for babies that don’t survive, from tiny little babies to full-term babies,” Williams said. “We have clothing for them that we hand out at the hospitals.”

Included in those burial layettes is a cloth-made envelope intended for the parents to hold important items and memories, Powis said.

“It’s sad, but it’s so important,” Powis said. “And to know that a mom wouldn’t have to go out, or send her mom or her sister to go out and nd things for her precious one that has passed — that it can be given to them and that’s not a worry for them.”

How it began

e nonpro t’s origin dates back to 1996, when a woman named Victoria Swain gave birth to a stillborn infant, according to the nonpro t’s website. e hospital she was at could not provide a blanket or clothes for her infant, prompt-

ing Swain to look into how she could help donate these types of items.

After recruiting some volunteers and spending a few years working through a di erent organization called Newborns in Need, in 2000, Swain and the other board members decided to create their own nonpro t: Warm Hearts Warm Babies.

Powis estimated the nonpro t currently has about 200 volunteers and 12 work groups throughout the state including in Arvada, Brighton, Littleton and ornton.

Powis is part of the work group in Conifer, where she lives. She joined the organization roughly six years ago.

“I’ve been doing things for babies for many years, donating to other groups, but they were all missing something. ere was no social connection with anyone else making things,” Powis said. “I found that they had a local organization up here in Conifer and it was like, that’s it — that’s one I can link up with. I can meet people right here in our community.”

Williams learned about the nonpro t through a quilt show, as representatives of the organization had a table at the event. Living in Aurora at the time, she initially joined the Aurora group. Since then, she has moved to Colorado Springs

SEE IN NEED, P14

CIRCLE PHOTO: Eleanor Morris, left, smiles alongside her grandmother, Glenda Bredeson, on March 17 at The Baby House in Arvada.

TOP RIGHT: Signs hanging in the Warm Hearts Warm Babies’ building, called The Baby House, in Arvada on March 17.

Information pamphlets within Warm Hearts Warm Babies’ building in Arvada on March 17.

PHOTOS BY TAYLER SHAW

Sandi Powis, president of the board of directors

IN NEED

FROM PAGE 15

and joined the local work group there.  e importance of the nonpro t’s work resonated with Williams after an interaction she had with a stranger a number of years ago, she said.

“I was still up in Aurora, out buying onesies and things for our (goodie) bags so that we could deliver onesies and diapers and things, and a lady was standing behind me at the cash register,” Williams said.  e woman asked her what she was buying the materials for, to which Williams began to explain Warm Hearts Warm Babies.

“And she stopped me and she said, ‘ en, I need to thank you, because my daughter just had a baby at the hospital and it was wintertime and … we had nothing to bring that baby home in. And I told the nurses and they brought us one of your bags,’” Williams said.

“And so that keeps me going,” she continued. “I think about that and that keeps me going and seeing how important it is, the work we do.”

Fostering community

Materials for making items and assembling the layettes are stored in the nonpro t’s building, based in Arvada, which is nicknamed “ e Baby House.”

Among the volunteers who gathered at the building that Friday was Glenda Bredeson, an Arvada resident who has been a part of the organization since 1999.

Over time, the nonpro t has gradually grown and expanded in di erent areas of Colorado, said Bredeson, vice president of the nonpro t’s board.

Volunteering for the nonpro t has become a family a air, as Bredeson’s 18-year-old granddaughter, Eleanor Morris, worked alongside Bredeson in e Baby House.

“I remember volunteering here when I was a little girl,” Morris said, explaining she and her cousins would help assemble goodie bags. “I’ve always loved it.”

Since then, she began crocheting and knitting items to donate.

“She was thrilled when she made her rst two baby hats and brought them in,” Bredeson said.

Although Morris lives in Virginia, she visits when she can and also plans to still create items to donate and ship them to the nonpro t.

“I was so excited just to be here and volunteer because I grew up always coming here. Every time I visited, I would be here, and it was just amazing,” she said.

One of Bredeson’s favorite parts of the nonpro t is the people. Vickie Lutz, an Arvada resident who began volunteering for the organization in 2020, agreed and said that’s true for most of the volunteers.

Lutz said the nonpro t has incredibly talented volunteers. She showed o intricate blankets, toys and clothing items in e Baby House that volunteers spent hours creating.

Challenges and goals

e talent of the volunteers isn’t just for making impressive items, though

— it can also be applied toward teaching younger people the craft.

“Eleanor came to us. She didn’t know how to knit or crochet, and now she’s phenomenal at it. ere are so many people here that are willing to teach,” Lutz said.

e need for more younger volunteers is a challenge the nonpro t faces.

“We’re all older, and it’s just not going to be sustainable if we don’t get young people,” Lutz said.

Powis said the organization also needs more volunteers who will sew.

“ e last couple of months, unfortunately, we’ve had to cut back. We’ve had to cut back on the clothes,” Powis said. “We were sending out two out ts. Now it’s down to one.”

Before COVID-19, the nonpro t was able to have a backup supply of clothing, she said. Now, the organization is scraping by, month by month, due to losing a lot of active members.

On top of the need for volunteers, there are also nancial pressures.

“Our donations have gone down drastically over the last couple of years,” Powis said. “And again, our volunteers and the items coming in have really gone down — but the need is still the same — more, more.”

To help raise funds to pay for costs such as rent, volunteers will create items to sell at various craft shows. e nonpro t is also one of the charities that people can select as part of the King Soopers Community Rewards program.

As the grant coordinator, Williams plans to work this year on nding new areas to get donations and support, she said. She noted that Sue Lee, cofounder of the nonpro t Sock It To ‘Em Sock Campaign, has helped by not only donating socks to Warm Hearts Warm Babies but also in providing connections to other people.  e nonpro t creates 125 to 150 layettes every month, Powis said.

e main goal she has for this year is getting enough donations of money and items to continue the nonpro t’s work.

“ ere are other organizations out there that would love to have us help them, but at this point, we can’t go out and look for more agencies. But I know they’re there — I know there’s more mamas that could use the help,” she said. “I would (like) not only to be able to help who we have, but also for it to grow and help more.”

ere are a variety of ways that community members can support Warm Hearts Warm Babies, Williams explained.

“Even if people don’t sew or … they don’t crochet, but they can help in, you know, at e Baby House or they can help in collecting donations for us — do a donation drive for us in their schools or their churches — to help us so that we can continue to help these mothers and babies and give them a good start in life,” Williams said.

Powis encouraged people to reach out to the nonpro t and come visit them. ose interested in learning more about Warm Hearts Warm Babies can visit warmheartswarmbabies. org.  “We’re a world that needs to be more interactive with each other,” Powis said, emphasizing the importance of volunteering. “It’s so good for your soul.”

Handmade toys are one of the accessories included in layettes that Warm Hearts Warm Babies volunteers create. PHOTOS BY TAYLER SHAW

Colorful fabric patterns in The Baby House on March 17 in Arvada.

Completed layettes in The Baby House in Arvada on March 17.

Town Hall gallery opens ‘Performances’ exhibition

Stanton Gallery at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St. in downtown Littleton, has a new exhibit of works by Littleton Fine Arts Guild members, “Performances.” e show includes “Island Sunset,” a digital painting by Jacqueline Shuler.

New at Depot

New works at the Depot Art Gallery in Littleton include: Best of Show — “Ian” by Kathy Triplett; Best of eme — “Bald River” by Richard Simpson; Second Place — “Just Before the Morning”; ird Place — “Prairie Homes” by William Knoll. Honorable Mentions: Pat Hartman, Carl Paulson, Laurel Burns and Peggy Dietz. e juror was Tim Kathka. See depotartgallery.org for location and hours.

Lecture on city’s culture

Historic Littleton Inc. invites readers to a lecture, “Littleton’s Culture,” by Pat Cronenberger, former mayor and city council member, at 7 p.m. on April 25 at Carson Nature Center King sher Center, 3000 W. Carson Drive in South Platte Park. Free admission.

Opera at DU

Lamont Opera eatre presents Rachel Portman’s “ e Little Prince” at the Newman Center for Performing Arts, University of Denver, on April 20-23. Tickets: bit.ly/lamontopera.

Art in Lakewood

CORE New Art Space at 40 West Art Hub, 6501 W. Colfax Ave. in Lakewood, features works by Kathryn Cole and Edgar Dumas: “Autonomy”

and “Works on Paper.” Gallery hours: Fridays, 5 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.; or by appointment.

Month of PhotograCurtis Center for the Arts, 2349 E. Orchard Road in Greenwood Village, hosts “Inside and Out,” as part of Month of Photography Denver.

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 303-797-1779.

Theater for kids

“Robin Hood” by Scott Koop, directed by Amy Arpan, will be presented at Miners Alley Playhouse Children’s eater, 1224 Washington Ave., Golden, on Saturdays through April 22 and May 27-June 24. 303935-3044, minersalley.com.

Central City Opera

Central City Opera’s Summer Festival tickets are now on sale. Opening on June 24: Gounod’s “Romeo and Juliet,” followed by “Kiss Me Kate” and “Othello.” 303-292-6700 or centralcityopera.org.

National Geographic Live National Geographic Live — “Life on the Vertical with Mark Synnot” will be at the Newman Center on May 15 at 7:30 p.m., presented by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science in June Swaner Gates Hall. Synott is a pioneering big wall climber. Travel

with him to Ba n Island, Pakistan, Yosemite. newmancenterpresents. com, 303-871-7720.

Spring Plant Sale

Denver Botanic Gardens at 1007 York St. will hold its Spring Plant Sale on May 12 and 13 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Birdathon reminder

Denver Audubon reminder about Birdathon: Pick a day in May. Sign up as a Green Team (only walking and biking to birds) or a Group Team

(driving allowed). Get a form at denveraudubon.org/birdathon-teamform. Rules, fundraising tips and team pro les available at: denveraudubon.org/birdathon. Get pledges (for example, $1 a bird or a lump sum amount). Individuals who don’t have a team, but would like to help can contact Rhonda at info@denveraudubon.org. ere is a Birdathon webpage for easy donation access. ere will be a Birdathon workshop on April 16 at Denver Audubon Nature Center, 9308 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Littleton. 303-973-9530.

Voices West Chorale to share TV themes

April 29 performances are set for rec center in Highlands Ranch

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The south metro area’s Voices West Chorale will have one more

season performance on April 29, called “TV Theme Songs,” before members take a summer break. It will be a cabaret-style concert and fundraiser at Wildcat Moun-

tain Auditorium at Southridge Recreation Center, 4800 McArthur Ranch Road in Highlands Ranch. Tickets are available at voiceswest. org. There will be two performances, at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., according to chorale president Kelli Chan, who lives in Highlands Ranch.

Chan says the chorale will reach a 45th anniversary in August of this year.

It started as the Littleton Chorale and was first directed by Bud Nicholson, with musical members of the Friends of the Littleton Library joining together to make music and entertain local friends.

Subsequent directors included Vicki Burrichter, Larry Johnson, Glen McCune and James Ramsey. Many of the original members were also involved in creating “Fiasco,” a musical spoof of Littleton: its city council, school board and whoever else was active around town. That show was created by members for a number of years and was a source for lifelong friendships

Since that was just a beloved spring event, they continued to gather and sing together through the year, performing an occasional concert at Littleton United Methodist Church, another church, or a school.

Chan says Voices West membership is about 50 right now, although it had reached 70 before the COVID scene hit the world of entertainment hard. All members are volunteers except the director, assistant director, accompanist and assistant accompanist.

Michael Krueger, who is director of Voices West, is also director of music at King of Glory Methodist Church in Lakewood.

“The chorale is a lot like a family. We are getting younger and younger members,” she says of choir members, who offer a mix of age, economic status, political views and abilities.

Chan said that when she joined the choir, she had not sung for over 30 years, but on the first night, she could feel her voice coming back. When she was a child, she joined a band, a choir and sought out music wherever she could.

“For other members and myself, making music together brings joy to us and the audience.”

“Members cover a wide range — not all are music teachers, music majors — there’s a wide range of interests.”

“We’ll watch for opportunities to collaborate with other area groups.

“Island Sunset” by Jacqueline Shuler of the Littleton Fine Arts Guild is a digital painting exhibited at Town Hall Arts Center. COURTESY PHOTO

SONYA’S SAMPLER

Thu 4/20

Texas Hippie Coalition

@ 6pm

Wild Goose Saloon, Parker

Creeping Death @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Sacred Reich @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐wood

Die Like Bothans: WP1313 presents

Jetboy @ 6pm

Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

Rend Collective @ 6pm

Cherry Hills Community Church, 3900 Grace Blvd, Highlands Ranch

TJ Miller

@ 6:30pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, En‐glewood

Fri 4/21

School Break Camp - 4/21 @ 6:30am / $45 Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr., Parker. 303-805-6315

Municipal Waste @ 6pm

Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐

wood

Frank Reyes @ 9pm

Stampede, 2430 S Havana St, Aurora

Sat 4/22

Dear Marsha,: DM @ her Freaky Band @ Toleys @ 7pm Toley’s on the Creek, 16728 E Smoky Hill Rd Suite 11C, Centen‐nial

Mon 4/24

School Break Camp - 4/24 @ 6:30am / $45

Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr., Parker. 303-805-6315

Wed 4/26

Carcass @ 6pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Barkin' Dog Duathlon @ 7am / $58.50-$72

4800 S Dayton, Englewood

easy life w/ Support from SAIAH

@ 8pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Tue 4/25

Dave Mensch - Tailgate Tavern - Parker, CO @ 5pm Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

Ladies Night @ 5pm / $10 Stampede, 2430 South Havana, Aurora

Fleming Mansion Walkthrough (about 45 days before event) @ 7pm Fleming Mansion, 1510 S. Grant St., Den‐ver. 720-913-0654

DJ Rockstar Aaron @ 7pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Thu 4/27

The King Stan Band in Paradise @ 6pm Paradise Tavern, 9239 Park Mead‐ows Dr, Lone Tree

Vamonos Pest/Mobro:

Vamonos Pest at Wide Open

Saloon @ 5:30pm

Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Rave On Productions: Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles

Experience @ 6:30pm

Parker Arts, Culture & Events Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

Tony Medina Music: The Alley Open Mic Hosted By Tony Medina @ 5:30pm

The Alley, 2420 W Main St, Little‐ton

Last Train To Juarez: The En‐glewood Tavern, South Broad‐way, Englewood, CO, USA w/ Special Guest Tom McElvain @ 5pm The Englewood Tavern, 4386 S Broadway, Englewood

Tom Mcelvain Music @ 5pm The Englewood Tavern, 4386 S Broadway, Englewood

Jamie Lissow @ 6:30pm Comedy Works South, 5345 Landmark Pl, Greenwood Village

powered by

VOICES

Our first event after the pandemic was a collaboration with Ballet Folklorico,” she said.

After the final concert for this season, planning for the next season will be underway. The group will travel to Spain and Portugal, leaving a day after Christmas.

Smaller groups from the membership perform throughout the community during the year and Chan hopes to have a quartet or two to sing at the August Western Welcome Week booth the group is planning. (Near the ice cream store.)

Prospective members can see the chorale in the Western Welcome Week Parade and inquire about membership, Chan says, or can go through the website at voiceswest.org.

Women+Film Festival brings small stories to big screen

There are many features that make lm festivals special events for attendees, but one that keeps me returning every year is the opportunity to catch lms on the big screen you might not be able to any other time. And providing that very experience to audiences is one of the top priorities of the 2023 Women+Film Festival

“So many lms, including a lot of independent lms, just don’t have the same budgets as major studio projects. So, we’re excited to bring smaller lms to local audiences so they can be seen,” said Ambriehl Turrentine, Denver Film programming manager. “ is year we’re looking to connect with viewers who may not be as familiar with the lm world and work we do at Denver Film.”

is year’s festival runs from April 13 through April 16 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. e festival will screen 11 full-length movies, as well as short lms, and Denver Film ensured that special events aimed at drawing in

COMING ATTRACTIONS

more of a crowd are included as part of the lineup.

One of the most exciting events is a marketplace, which will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on April 15 in the Sie lobby. According to provided information, shoppers will be able to peruse “gifts, artwork, crafts and novelties from local, woman-owned businesses.”

ere will also be live question and answer sessions with lmmakers following showings of “ e Disappearance of Shere Hite” on April 15 at and “Girl Talk” on April 16.

“We’ll also have a discussion after ‘Plan C’ on Friday, which will feature the director and representatives from Planned Parenthood,” Turrentine said. “We always look for was to tap into the local lm community, and this lm is a great opportunity to do so.”

As far as lms to get excited

about, there’s also festival opener “Judy Blume Forever,” which will be shown before its streaming debut. With a lm version of Blume’s immortal, “Are You ere God? It’s Me, Margaret” coming later in the month, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the wonderful author.

No matter what audiences see, Turrentine hopes people come away with something new to explore.

“I don’t want people to be intimidated by any of the lms or the festival. At the end of the day, it’s another form of entertainment,” she said. “ ey provide the chance to connect — with a story, someone in the audience or a lmmaker.”

Full festival details and tickets can be found at www.denver lm.org.

Take a trip to world of the beyond with Paranormal Cirque

Most of us probably have a pretty good idea of what a circus performance will look like. at’s not how Cirque Italia does things, and “Paranormal Cirque,” its latest production, proves that and then some. Described in provided information as an “innovative horror story” for a mature audience, the show aims to take audiences on a thrilling and sexy ride that combines theatre, circus and cabaret.

e show will be staged under a big top tent at the Denver Premium Outlets parking lot, 13801 Grant St. in ornton, from April 20 through April 23. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. ursday and Friday, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday and 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

All the information and tickets van be found at http://www.paranormalcirque.com/tickets.

Samantha Bee, Your Favorite Woman, comes to Denver Canada’s Samantha Bee is, quiet

simply, one of the funniest people on the planet. It’s a total bummer her talk show, “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee,” was cancelled last year, as the world could really use her whip-smart take on the day’s events right now.

Fortunately, Bee is doing a national tour and she’ll be bringing “Your Favorite Woman” to the Paramount eatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver at 7 p.m. April 15. I’m not even a little doubtful that it will be one of the year’s funniest and most thought-provoking evenings, so secure tickets by visiting https://www. ticketmaster.com.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Dawes at the Ogden Theatre ere’s not a lot of folk rock bands making the rounds on the music scene anymore, which is too bad. e genre was at its peak at the same time some of the century’s best music was being written. ankfully, there are still a few laborers working in the eld of this particular genre, and one of the best is Dawes. e Los Angeles based group not only excel in the kind of music pioneered by e Byrds and CSNY, but over their career they’ve added alt-rock elements, which keeps the sound from growing stale. Last year’s “Misadventures of a Doomscroller,” is their most experimental and farranging release to date.   Dawes will be performing at e Ogden eatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, at 8 p.m. April 19. I saw them perform at the Arvada Center last summer and can personally attest to the quality of live performance attendees are in for. Get tickets at https://www.ticketmaster. com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

Voices West Chorale will give two performances on April 29 at Southridge Recreation Center in Highlands Ranch.

COURTESY PHOTO

Clarke Reader

Universities may admit more out-of-state students

Cap would increase under proposed law

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

In exchange for o ering nancial aid to more in-state students, Colorado universities soon could be allowed to admit more students from out of state who pay almost twice as much in tuition.

Universities such as the University of Colorado Boulder have been allowed to admit two out-of-state students for every student they admit who participates in the Colorado Scholars Program. e number of students who can be double-counted has been capped under current law to 8% of in-state students in the incoming freshman class.

House Bill 96, which is close to becoming law, would raise that cap to 15% of in-state freshmen in the program. at higher cap would create an incentive to enroll more Colorado Scholars, who can get $2,500 a year or more in merit aid, so that universities can also enroll more high-paying, out-of-state students.

State o cials and others want Colorado colleges and universities to bene t Colorado students as much as possible, since they get taxpayer support. But lawmakers have cut state funding for schools over the years while allowing tuition hikes. at has led schools to look

toward out-of-state students to bring in more revenue.

At the same time, the rising tuition has made some students rethink whether universities, especially the state’s agship, are worth the nancial burden, or if they can nd a better deal elsewhere.

e bill would likely have the biggest impact on the University of Colorado Boulder, which backs the proposal. State law requires that an average of no more than 45% of incoming freshmen at public universities come from out of state, and CU Boulder is near that limit.

University of Colorado System o cials say they would use the increased money from enrolling more out-of-state students to o er Coloradans more merit- and need-based scholarships, and to become more competitive when recruiting in-state students — especially with a smaller pool of college-aged students.

School o cials said the university accepts every quali ed Colorado applicant. But many Colorado students never end up on campus, and the school is able to consistently enroll only about 80% of Colorado students who were accepted. Last year, however, was an outlier, with the school enrolling 92% of all Colorado students who were accepted.

Colorado funds its public higher ed institutions at some of the lowest rates in the nation, leading colleges to raise tuition and recruit more outof-state students who can pay more. Meanwhile, Colorado families carry

high tuition burdens compared to other states.

Colorado students pay about $30,000 a year in tuition. Out-ofstate students pay about $57,000.

Across all classes, CU Boulder provides $15.5 million in merit aid for about 4,200 students, school o cials said in a statement. It also supports about 1,700 students through a need-based program that pays for a student’s share of tuition.

O cials at the school said enrolling more out-of-state students is a way to sustain and increase that aid.

University of Colorado System spokesman Ken McConnellogue said in a statement the Boulder campus’ primary focus remains on recruiting, retaining, and graduating Colorado students.

“We believe this bill will increase a ordability and access for those students while also enhancing our ability to keep Colorado’s top students in the state,” he said.

Colorado isn’t the only agship school that’s considered how to weigh in-state student enrollment versus out-of-state enrollment, according to Tom Harnisch, State Higher Education Executive O cers Association vice president for government relations.

Because out-of-state students pay higher tuition, universities around the country have lobbied to lift enrollment caps on them as states’ overall spending on higher education has declined in recent years, he said. is year, for instance, North

More financial aid to in-state students could let Colorado universities admit more higher-paying students from out of state.

Carolina increased how many outof-state students its universities can admit.

Similar to what the Colorado bill proposes, some schools have increased merit aid while also increasing the overall number of out-of-state students on campus, he said. e change doesn’t mean there are fewer in-state students, Harnisch added, just a shift in the share of

Law gives runaways edge over treatment sta

Authority is limited

BY JENNIFER BROWN THE COLORADO SUN

Workers who care for kids in residential treatment centers say they feel powerless to prevent them from running away because of a Colorado law that limits their authority to restrain them.

Sta reported in a new study that they’re regularly confused and paralyzed by what’s known as the Colorado “Restraint and Seclusion Act,” which says they cannot physically prevent a child from leaving a residential treatment center unless the child is in imminent danger. Even police o cers who respond to a barrage of runaway calls often do not understand that treatment center sta cannot restrain or block kids from eeing, sta reported.

In one case, a worker watched helplessly as a 13-year-old boy ran from a center in the middle of a blizzard wearing only sweats and ip- ops. Instead of trying to catch him, she kept an eye on the boy from her car until, gratefully, the child returned to the facility on his own. She feared that he would freeze to death while she also wondered if she would lose her job if she touched him.

e study is part of legislation passed last year that set up a task force overseen by the state child protection ombudsman to determine why so many children and teens are running from foster care placements and residential treatment centers.

A 2021 joint Colorado Sun/9News investigation found that kids are running from the centers nearly every day and that two boys who ran away from di erent facilities were struck by cars and killed. e Sun investigation found that Denver police were called to Tennyson Center for Children about once per day and to Mount Saint Vincent center about twice per week.

Each year, 20-30 kids run away from foster care placements in Colorado and are not found. eir child welfare cases are closed.

e new study, by researchers from the University of Denver’s Evaluation and Action Lab, included interviews with 15 sta as well as 21 young people ages 12-17 who have

run from placements.

A key reason they run is that they are looking for “connectedness,” the researchers found, often by running to family members. Also, they are living in “ ght, ight or freeze” mode, a constant state of stress.

Children are typically “dysregulated at the time of a run” and are “unable to access parts of their brain that allow them to make rational decisions and understand consequences,” according to the study.

ey run when they are triggered by upsetting events. ey run because they are not connected to sta members and they’re seeking connection. ey feel ignored and unseen. Some run to nd drugs or alcohol. Many run to a place of familiarity, the study found.

Children are placed in residential treatment centers either because they are in foster care due to abuse and neglect, or because their behavioral and mental health issues are beyond their parents’ control.

In the past few years, updates in state law and regulation have attempted to strike a balance between children’s safety and the use of restraints and seclusion. One new law came in response to concern that the youth corrections division was relying too heavily on solitary connement and straitjackets to control behavior. Other state regulations say that residential treatment center sta cannot use physical restraint on children in out-of-home placements

unless there is imminent danger to themselves or others.

Sta interviewed for the study said they want the state to de ne “imminent danger” so they have a clearer understanding of when they are allowed to prevent a child from running either by restraining them or physically blocking a doorway. ey also want help from the Colorado Department of Human Services, which includes the child welfare division, in creating better collaboration between youth residential facilities and local law enforcement o cers who respond when children try to run.

Workers also reported that when they write required reports about children running from a center, they take the blame, feeling “the assumption was that they had not done everything in their power to keep youth from running.” Often, the only option is calling the police.

e law that prevents physical intervention leaves no room for what a parent would want, sta complained.

“If I was the mother of one of those children, I would want a voice,” one sta member reported to the study authors. “I don’t think we listen to our families enough in that interpretation. I used to get numerous phone calls, ‘How do you let my kid run away? I put him there for him to be safe. How can you just say that you guys let them walk away?’”

Kids who have run away say that

when they are returned to residential centers they feel like they are punished, the study found. “Like you can’t change your clothes. You can’t wear shoes. You have to wear your slides. You have to only wear scrubs,” one child said. “You can’t wear your personal clothes. You’ll be separated, so you won’t be with the unit.”

One child described it plainly — they run because they want to go

“I honestly just didn’t want to sit here and do another six months of treatment,” the child said. “It’s really hard because a lot of us, me, we, have so many people at home that we care about. For my speci c situation, I have two little sisters, and I’m missing my little sister’s rst days of kindergarten, and she’s getting bullied in school right now. And I have to hear about it over a phone. It really sucks. So, I guess I just wanted to leave. at’s pretty much why I ran.”

e task force is named for Timmy Montoya-Kloepfel, who was 12 when he ran from Tennyson Center for Children in Denver in June 2020 and died after he was hit by a Chevy Tahoe. His mother did not know for 26 hours where he had gone after running from the center.

Timmy and Andrew Potter, 15, were killed in separate incidents with similar details — both were struck by cars late at night after running away from di erent centers, two years apart.

eir deaths and the escalating runaway problem at some residential child care facilities sparked calls for investigation and allegations from residential centers that they were suffering from years of inadequate state funding. Some called for review of state regulations that prohibit centers from locking their doors or using physical force to prevent children from running away.

e task force, which includes former foster kids, foster parents, social workers, a police o cer and county child welfare o cials, must submit reports to the legislature by October 2024.

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

Castle Rock

Castle Rock Interfaith Community Prayers. A Space for Spiritual Reflections and Conversations

April Topic: The Importance of Truthfulness

Sunday, April 23rd @ 10:30 am - Noon

Philip S. Miller LibraryJames H. LaRue Meeting Room castlerockbahais@gmail.com castlerock.local.bahai.us/

Cleo Wallace Academy is inside the Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health building complex seen on April 21, 2021, in Westminster. COURESTY OF THE COLORADO SUN

Social media apps o er route for illegal drug sales

State AG issues report

BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN

How easy is it to nd illegal drugs on social media apps? Nearly as convenient as calling an Uber or ordering a pizza, the Colorado Attorney General’s O ce said in a report released March 8.

Access to illegal drugs is “staggering” on social media apps, the report found, and has contributed to the surging number fentanyl overdoses, which has become the leading cause of preventable death for adults under 45, outpacing suicide, gun violence and car accidents.

e 182-page report outlined the ways in which drug dealers use aggressive marketing tactics to sell illegal drugs online, often targeting younger customers, and urged social media platforms and state legislators to enforce new policies to crack down on the sales.

e report, which the attorney general’s o ce is calling rst of its kind, was written under a state law passed in 2022 that requires the Colorado Department of Law to study how the internet and social media platforms are used for the sale and distribution of fentanyl and other counterfeit prescription drugs.

With the rise of social media apps, their convenience and lack of regulation, platforms including TikTok, Snapchat and WhatsApp, have become a major vehicle for drug sales, the report said.

“Where once a teen might have had to seek out a street dealer, hassle friends, or learn to navigate the dark web to access illicit drugs, young people can now locate drug dealers using their smartphones — with the relative ease of ordering food delivery or calling a ride-share service,” Weiser wrote in the report. O cials spoke with former drug users and sellers and families of overdose victims for the report.

STUDENTS

students not from the state.

The bill has passed the House

Join

In 2021, at least 1,881 Coloradans died of a drug overdose and roughly half of those people died of fentanyl, according to state data. Many of those people are taking fentanyl without realizing it, as the cheap synthetic opioid is cut into other drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine.

As many as six in 10 counterfeit prescription pills contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl, the report said.

It didn’t quantify exactly how large the online illicit drug market has become, citing limited access to the social media platforms’ data. But research suggests that drug dealers and buyers turn to the internet and social media platforms “as a primary vehicle for drug transactions.”

A search for “Denver” and “Boulder” on the Kik messaging app returned dozens of results for groups dedicated to selling and buying drugs that were open to the public, the report showed.

“Connecting with a local dealer took mere minutes,” the report said.

Dealers advertise drugs using slang, emojis, QR codes and disappearing messages that help reach customers while evading content moderation tools on the social media platforms, the report said. Often drug sellers are active on multiple social media platforms — advertising their products on Instagram, but listing their WhatApps or Snapchat handles for inquiries — which makes it harder for law enforcement to crack down on the sales.

Sellers can create new pro les as soon as one is suspended or removed, creating a frustrating “whack-a-mole” e ect for local law enforcement, the report said.

A lot of social media companies, including Meta, TikTok and Snapchat, have policies that ban advertising, buying or selling drugs and some have made e orts to work with law enforcement to address the issue.

But the report said the companies’

and Senate and needs approval from Gov. Jared Polis. It is sponsored by state Sen. Dylan Roberts, a Democrat from Avon, Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen, a Monument Republican, and state Reps. Judy Amabile, a Boulder

St. Martin’s Chamber Choir for an Amazing Performance!

This

Composers

responses to drug activity on their platforms have been “uneven in their application and limited in e ectiveness.”

Weiser urged social media companies to adopt strong, uniform practices to prevent and respond to illegal drug sales. He also called for a federal agency to oversee social media platforms and legislation that would give the federal government more access to their data.

Hank Dempsey, the head of state public policy for Snapchat’s parent company, Snap Inc., called Weiser’s report a “must-read report” for anyone working to combat the fentanyl crisis. He said he appreciated working with the attorney general’s o ce “to contribute by sharing our insights and e orts to aggressively combat drug activity on our platform, including our policies that take a zero tolerance approach to this abuse.”

In an email, Meta spokeswoman Jeanne Moran said “content that attempts to buy, sell or trade drugs is not allowed on Facebook or Instagram, regardless of state or country law.” e company is “working hard” to keep drug sales o the platforms and users that post content that violates its policies could have their account removed.

Kayla Whaling, spokeswoman for the Tinder and Hinge parent company Match Group, said the report focused on a critical issue and that the company is “supportive of any conversation that aims to help make internet platforms safer.”

“However, we strongly disagree with how our brand is categorized here and we have been in contact with Attorney General Weiser’s o ce to refute the inaccurate claims in this report,” Whaling said. She said their platforms are “very ine cient” for drug sales since they are designed for one-on-one interactions and that the company has made proactive e orts to ban accounts that mention drugs.

TikTok did not return requests for comment.

e report made several recom-

Democrat, and Matt Soper, a Delta Republican.

The bill initially raised eyebrows among some state leaders.

Colorado Department of Higher Education Executive Director Angie Paccione said in February that she didn’t want to see schools become predominantly out-of-state student serving.

But a department spokeswoman said Paccione now believes CU Boulder has demonstrated that all eligible in-state students are accepted at the school — and that accepting eligible resident students is a priority. Paccione no longer has concerns about the legislation.

The bill will also require schools to report how many out-of-state and in-state students schools enroll before the double count occurs, how schools use revenue for the purpose of aid, and where students that qualify for aid come from in the state.

LIVESTREAM TICKETS AVAILABLE

stmartinschamberchoir.org

Colorado needs more homegrown talent from its universities, especially because that state has

mendations for Colorado lawmakers to pass new protections to help prevent such sales, including:

• Requiring platforms to create and publicly post their policy on illegal drug sales and how law enforcement can request account records;

• Enforcing platforms to submit annual reports to the Department of Law showing the amount of content on the apps that promoted the purchase or sale of illegal drugs and how many times the posts were shared and viewed. It also suggests listing the number of times the platform proactively provided law enforcement with information about posts selling or advertising illegal drugs; Provide more resources to support local law enforcement e orts to investigate online narcotics cases.

e Department of Law worked with representatives from Meta, Snapchat and TikTok to compile the report, as well as law enforcement, public health experts and harm reduction advocates.

is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

large gaps when it comes to who gets a degree, said Katie Zaback of Colorado Succeeds, which brings together business leaders to advocate for education.

Zaback, the organization’s vice president of policy, said a priority for Colorado Succeeds is to examine what solutions there are to get more Colorado students access to a high-quality education, such as at CU Boulder.

CU Boulder enrolls a group of students that aren’t representative of the state’s high school graduates, she said. And she worries the bill, if it’s enacted, would send a message that Colorado’s best and brightest can only be educated if the state recruits more out-of-state students.

“I wonder if that’s true,” Zaback said. “I wonder what the overall equity implications are.”

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters

concert features works for double, triple, and quadruple choirs, with 32 singers spaced around the audience providing a unique surround-sound experience.

including Gabrieli, Palestrina, Spohr, Rossi, and Hensel are presented, as well as the atmospheric Miserere by Gregorio Allegri. The concert is performed in two deeply resonant spaces – St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch and St. Paul Lutheran in Denver.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 7:30 PM

St. Andrew United Methodist Church, Highlands Ranch & via livestream

MONDAY, APRIL 24, 7:00 PM St. Paul Lutheran Church, Denver

What’s a ‘reasonable’ rent increase?

The answer is vague

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER THE COLORADO SUN

Imagine driving down a Colorado highway and instead of seeing a posted speed limit, you pass a road sign that reads: “Go an appropriate speed.”

e idea may seem ludicrous, but similarly vague language is often inserted into bills by Colorado’s state lawmakers. Unde ned terms like “reasonable” and “substantial” are included in key parts of legislation and then left to courts to sort out later.

Sometimes, the ambiguity arises as laws are tested because it’s impossible for the legislature to imagine every possible scenario in which a statute may apply. Other times, loosey-goosey terms are intentionally added by lawmakers trying to build enough political support to pass a controversial bill.

“When you have a more broad standard that could be left open to interpretation of the courts, I think it’s easier to get things done,” said Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Denver Democrat who is an attorney.

But while some see vagueness as a tool to keep bills moving forward, others see it as a possible burden for the court system.

“If the law is vague, anyone can be dragged in front of the courts for most any reason,” said Rep. Matt Soper, a Delta Republican who is also an attorney.

is year at the Capitol, multiple highly debated bills weaving their way through the legislative process include ambiguous terms.

What’s a “reasonable increase” in rent? What’s a “substantially economically identical” o er on a multifamily residential building that’s for sale? Coloradans won’t know for sure unless those bills get signed into law and are challenged in the court system.

“ is session will be marked by bills that have to be litigated later,” said Jason Hopfer, a longtime lobbyist who represents clients like the Douglas County School District, Je erson County, Xcel Energy and the Colorado Community College System.

Reasonable rent hikes

One bill intended to protect people from evictions that’s sponsored by Mabrey includes language that could be interpreted in a number of ways. e measure attempts to also stop landlords from e ectively evicting tenants by unreasonably increasing their rent. But the bill doesn’t de ne what a “reasonable” rent increase is.

e bill also uses the word “reasonable” to lay out when a tenant has to let a landlord into their property and when a landlord has to complete repairs.

Mabrey said it’s important to balance vagueness and speci city but ultimately, lawmakers have to nd a way to get things done.

“ e law is interpreted by the court at the end of the day,” he said.

Mabrey said the goal of the vague language around rent increases in his House Bill 1171 is to thread the needle between preventing landlords from imposing retaliatory rent increases and not creating a backdoor rent control policy.

Without a de nition for the phrase in the bill, Mabrey said a judge would be the one to decide what “reasonably” means based on the circumstances their jurisdiction is facing.

“To do that in legislation is to invite or force a judge to make their own personal judgment about what’s a reasonable increase in rent,” said state Sen. Bob Gardner, a Colorado Springs Republican and lawyer who often picks apart vague language in bills.

Judges would be uncomfortable making that determination, said Jason Dunn, Colorado’s former U.S. attorney and a former state deputy attorney general.

“No judge is going to take on that role of legislating,” said Dunn, a Republican who now works in private practice for Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where he focuses on government investigations and white collar defense.

e bill has been approved by the Colorado House and is waiting to be considered by the Senate.

Dunn, who has previously served as an adviser for state legislators during bill drafting, has spent hours trying to understand what lawmakers intended when they approved bills by listening to committees and oor work. at process doesn’t always settle it though, because one lawmaker’s comments don’t necessarily represent the entire legislature’s understanding of a bill.

In one example, Dunn represented a client who shot a man on his patio near Steamboat Springs. Dunn used Colorado’s “Make My Day” law, which allows homeowners to protect themselves from intruders, as a

defense.

But Dunn’s challenge was that the law says to legally use deadly force, an intruder must have entered the person’s “dwelling,” which could or could not include a patio. Dunn won the case but said he never got a clear answer on how the legislature de ned dwelling.

“You can’t always predict what sort of factual events will come up that drive an interpretation of language,” Dunn said.

Sometimes when a bill isn’t specific, it’s because state regulators, like those at the Department of Local A airs, are charged with developing procedures later. at’s the case for some parts of Gov. Jared Polis’ recently released local land use bill. But Dunn and Gardner caution that lawmakers can’t leave all the speci cs to other authorities or the courts because eventually, it turns into its own version of policymaking.

“Courts really don’t like that at all,” Gardner said. “ ey wish we would be precise all the time so they don’t have to play at politics.”

Rep. Mike Weissman, an Aurora

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Democrat and lawyer, would prefer to see direct language in all bills.

“Wouldn’t we rather say what we actually meant in the rst instance?” said Weissman, who is chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

House Bill 1190 is another bill with some vague language. It would give local governments a “right of rst refusal” when multifamily residential properties are put up for sale.

Under the proposal, aimed at boosting a ordable housing, local governments would have the right to match any acceptable o er for the property.

at o er would have to be “substantially economically identical” to the one made by a private buyer, but that phrase isn’t de ned in the bill.

Rep. Andrew Boesenecker, a Fort Collins Democrat and prime sponsor of the bill, said the goal is to prevent a seller from favoring an o er from a private buyer over a government buyer without good reason.

“It needs to be reasonably broad in order to give a potential buyer, in this case, a public entity, the ability to make an o er that should be considered as equal,” he said. “Otherwise, you’re going to end up going through the minutiae of being able to nd one sentence that’s di erent and use that as a reason to say that the o ers were not equal.”

But there is a risk in using broad language. If a judge feels that a law is too di cult to interpret, they can deem it “void for vagueness,” Soper said.

Gardner said he’s seen a lot of legislation this session that could leave Coloradans confused about how to comply.

Russ Carparelli, a former Colorado Court of Appeals judge, sees it as part of the judiciary’s role to interpret unclear language from the legislature but that judges should also steer clear of trying to understand what an entire legislative body intended to do when passing a bill.

“If they write poorly, we’re stuck with it,” he said. “We’ve got to enforce it as they wrote it — as they wrote it poorly. at’s just the way it is. at’s the law.”

Poorly written bills have caused problems for the legislature in the past, with errors requiring lawmakers to revisit policies to correct issues.

In 2017, for instance, lawmakers passed a bill that unintentionally blocked dozens of government entities, like the Regional Transportation District and Scienti c and Cultural Facilities District, from collecting revenue from the state’s recreational marijuana sales tax. Lawmakers had to come back for a special session to attempt to x the mistake. ( e special session was unsuccessful.)

is year, House Speaker Julie McCluskie has brought a bill to x a mistake in a measure passed in 2022 that accidentally limited a housing grant program to making a single grant. e x allows for grants — plural — to be made.

Most lawmakers aren’t attorneys

e vast majority of lawmakers in Colorado’s citizen legislature aren’t coming to bill drafting with a background in law. ey are part-time politicians who typically work in the

private sector when the legislature isn’t in session.

While some have legal experience, many come from careers in activism, education, business or engineering. ere are ranchers, farmers, an emergency room nurse, a musician and a pharmacist among the chambers’ members.

Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat, is in her rst year at the Capitol. She was an activist and nonpro t leader before running for o ce.

Without legal training, she said she works to ensure she won’t be tripped up by complex language when drafting her bills, many of which are

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complicated policy areas like the legislature’s ability to issue subpoenas and immigrants’ ability to access public bene ts.

“We have turned courts into lawmakers, and that’s not what they should be. But we’ve allowed that and we’ve encouraged that by being vague,” Garcia said.

is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

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Valor Christian drops close contest against Broomfield

Highlands Ranch school is ranked 2nd

BY JIM BENTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Broom eld struck quickly at the start of both halves on April 8 and downed Valor Christian, 2-1, in a battle between the nation’s and state’s top girls soccer teams.

“We have to be ready to play,” said Valor coach Brian Schultz. “It was di cult for us. It’s di cult as the girls aren’t used to coming from behind. at was new to us.”

Broom eld, top-ranked in the CHSAANow.com April 3 poll, improved to 6-0 this season while second-ranked Valor fell to 3-1-1 for the young season.

Coach Jim Davidson’s Broom eld team is ranked third nationally in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll while Valor of Highlands Ranch was ninth.

Broom eld controlled possession for a majority of the game but it was the two quick goals by University of Denver commit Michaela McGowan that turned out out to be the di erence.

McGowan scored just over four minutes into the game to give Broom eld an early lead. And then she rebounded a goal into the the net in the rst minute of the second half to push the visitors ahead 2-0.

Davidson said his team talked about how good they

play early in the game and during the late stages of a half.

Schultz applauded the way his team kept playing despite the de cit but Valor had trouble generating many shots on goal against the stout Broom eld defense.

Jo See, Valor’s leading scorer, scored on a penalty kick with 2:15 remaining in the contest to cut into the lead but the team could never mount another threat.

Valor starts play in the 5A Je erson County League on April 11 and Schultz pointed out that it will be tough with games against teams that received votes in the CHSAA poll, such as Columbine, Arvada West, Ralston Valley and Chat eld.

State football championships

e 4A and 5A CHSAA state football championship games will be held at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins next season as the CHSAA announced a partnership with Colorado State University.

e 3A state title game will move to Canvas Stadium in 2024-25 and all three games will be played the same day.

e underbowl in Pueblo will be the site for the 2023 state title football game.

Empower Field at Mile High has hosted the 5A/4A football championship contests since 2005. e contract with the Denver Broncos and Colorado Sports Hall of Fame ended at the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year.

CHSAA Commissioner

Mike Krueger said it was difcult to leave Empower Field but the move to Fort Collins could be bene cial.

“I believe it is a strength when we recognize the diversity in our state and acknowledge that our kids come from all over,” he said. “Bringing this championship event to Fort Collins continues our

e orts to build upon that strength.”

e Colorado Sports Hall of Fame released gures from the 18-year agreement with the CHSAA to help host the games.

All the game day expenses were paid by the Hall of Fame in exchange for 100% of the ticket revenue. e

CHSAA was guaranteed no less than $60,00 for each event. Net revenues for the Hall of Fame were donated to youth sport organizations in Colorado.

Largest attendance at the state title games was in 2021 when 15,952 people watched the games. e gross revenue in 2021 was $244,995.

Vista golfer keeps a positive attitude

13th holes but recovered with pars on the nal ve holes.

BY JIM BENTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Abby Aeschleman, a senior at Mountain Vista high school, has tucked a positive attitude into her golf bag so far this season.

Aeschleman fashioned a 3-under-par 69 to take medalist honors at the Continental League’s second tournament of the season on April 4 at South Suburban golf course

She was pleased with her playing, noting: “I made some good putts.”

She made four birdies on the front nine and was 5-under-par after 11 holes.

She bogeyed the 12th and

“I just try to stay postitive and not be negative,” Aeschleman explained. ‘I don’t know how to explain it but I always just try to think about the good stu . Like if there is water, I’ll ignore it and think it’s going to go on the green or in the hole. I like to be super con dent.

“I just try to think about the next shot and what I can do with that.You never know, you can make a great shot and turn a bad hole around.”

Mountain Vista coach Ray Bikulcius was not surprised by Aeschleman’s 69 at South Suburban.

“She created a plan for the course during our practice round and she was very committed to that plan,” he said. “Her course demeanor was excellent all day. As a coach I don’t know if she is

under par or 10 over. I’m so proud of her commitment to make the team better and as captain it starts with her.”

e start of the girls golf season can be tough because of the spring weather and the lack of time to be outside playing golf during the winter.

“I worked a lot over the winter indoors and did a lot of things with coach but it is so hard to get outside with the weather,” said Aeschleman. “It is de nitely a disadvantage to be playing in the spring instead of the fall (like high school boys).

“I just try to focus and try to keep it simple like hitting balls on the range and don’t try to overcomplicate it.”

Aeschleman was fourth last year at the state tournament and has high hopes for this season’s CHSAA state championships.

“My goal this year is to

win state,” she aditted. “I’m excited for that. You have to treat state the same. A tournament is a tournament whether it be at state, so you have to kind of have the right mindset.

“I would say my putting is the biggest improvement in my game. I’ve always been pretty good tee to green but once I get on the green my putting has alwys let me down. is year I’ve worked really hard and try to make those putts.”

Besides Aeschleman, sophomore Ashleigh Wilson of Rock Canyon had a 1-under-par 71 at the April 4 league tourney.Rock Canyon’s Ashley Chang red a 76 and Brooke Hudson of Chaparral carded a 79.

Rock Canyon took team honors in the league’s second meet wirh a 325 total to edge Mountain Vista (328) and Legend (350).

Kay Morse (3) of Valor Christian tracks down the ball during the April 8 game against Broomfield.

PHOTO BY JIM BENTON

Mountain Vista senior Abby Aeschleman carded a 3-under-par 69 to capture medalist honors on April 4 at the Continental League tournament at South Suburban golf course. Aeschleman has averaged a score of 72 in the league’s first two tournaments this season. PHOTO BY JIM BENTON

Abby Aeschleman is medalist at season’s second tourney

utopia, which maintains an embarrassing track record of unsuccess.

Excessive housing costs, like so many other challenges that Coloradans face, are created by government meddling. We repeatedly hear from the Democrats that “we must do everything possible to x this problem.” And I repeatedly respond that they do not possess the humility to “do everything possible.”

A study by the National Association of Homebuilders concludes that, “Regulations imposed by all levels of government account for 23.8% of the current average sales price of a new single-family home …” NAHB Chairman added that, “ is study illustrates how overregulation is exacerbating the nation’s housing a ordability crisis and that policymakers need to take bold steps to reduce or eliminate unnecessary regulations that will help builders increase the production of quality, a ordable housing.”

Adding to the cost of regulation is the $250% increase in lumber costs thanks to the Biden administration’s in ationary supply chain mess. is accounts for an additional $35,872 premium to the average house.

If the Democrats were honest with themselves, they would direct their attentions to reducing in ationary housing regulations. But their religious devotion to government micromanagement concludes as it always does; treatments for the symptoms while clinging to the causation.

e Colorado Legislature should “do everything possible” to address a ordable housing by weeding out costly regulations from the existing laws. en, watch the magic of free enterprise do what it has always done — respond to demand with attractive supply.

Mark Baisley

Back assault-weapons ban Cavitation (noun): the formation of an empty space within a solid

object or body. is is the mechanism by which the ammunition from an assault-style weapon penetrates another person’s body. If that person happens to be a child, like the 19 children slaughtered at Robb Elementary on May 24, 2022; or one of the three 8- and 9-year-olds from the Covenant School in Tennessee on March 27; then the impact and penetration will essentially liquefy their organs. I challenge anyone reading this to nd a reason why any American citizen who is not in the military has a need to possess a weapon that can liquefy the organs of a child with the pull of a trigger.

I’ll save you some time: we do not need access to these weapons. ere is absolutely no reason to have unfettered access to these weapons. When the Bill of Rights was rati ed in 1791, assault ri es had not yet been developed. I think we can easily assume that our Founding Fathers did not intend for the Second Amendment to be a free pass for untrained, average citizens to access rearms that are solely for the purpose of hunting and slaughtering other human beings, including children.

Voting to pass HB23-1230 and ban assault weapons in Colorado will send a number of crucial messages to Coloradans. It will tell us that our elected o cials are dedicated to the safety of their citizens. It will also tell us that they hold a great respect for our Founding Fathers, our Constitution, and the Second Amendment — as its original intention was not, in fact, to give citizens the right to weapons of war. And nally, most importantly, it will send the message to those who have survived the abject terror of being targeted by an assault weapon — that they matter, and everything will be done to prevent it from happening again.

To my fellow Coloradans reading this: get on Twitter, get on social media, and start sending emails to your elected o cials. We deserve better. Let’s show our neighbors in Tennessee who are currently outraged with their lawmakers about inaction on this issue; that we know how to organize and hold lawmakers accountable to protect their constituents.

Gina M. Myers Castle Rock

State senator for District 4, including rural Douglas County Woodland Park

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STATE OF COLORADO ) ) S.S. COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE)

I,

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JOAN LOPEZ, COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER AND EX OFFICIO CLERK TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN AND FOR THE COUNTY AND STATE AFORESAID, DO HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE AND FOREGOING IS A FULL, TRUE AND

COPY OF THE LISTS OF COUNTY WARRANTS ALLOWED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISIONERS AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES UNDER THE DATES OF 03/01/2023 THROUGH 03/31/2023 DRAWN FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE FUNDS. IN WITNESS WHEREOF I HAVE HERE UNTO SET MY HAND AND SEAL OF THE SAID COUNTY AT LITTLETON THIS 04/03/2023. JOAN LOPEZ, CLERK TO THE BOARD

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CASE NO. SDP21-005, DOVE VALLEY COMMERCE CTR / SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN

PROPOSAL: The applicant, RealArchitecture

LTD, on behalf of the property owner, Personal Warehouses LTD is proposing to develop a vacant four-acre lot, located at 7852 S. Wheeling Ct., in the Dove Valley Business Park development. The applicant is proposing four private warehouse / office buildings, consisting of 10 light industrial office warehouse units and 40 high-end personal warehouse units, for a total of 50 units. The proposed warehouse units are expected to be sold to individual purchasers for use for airconditioned storage.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 2, 2023, the Arapahoe County Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing at 6:30 P.M., or as soon as possible thereafter at 6954 S Lima St., Arapahoe Room, Centennial, CO 80112; at which, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the above-described SDP21005, Dove Valley Commerce Ctr / Specific Development Plan. The agenda will typically be posted by the Friday afternoon preceding the hearing and can be viewed on our website at https://arapahoe.legistar.com/Calendar.

You can also listen to, or speak at, the meeting by calling 1-855-436-3656. To join the speaking queue, press *3 on the telephone keypad.

More information about this proposal is available at the offices of the Arapahoe County Public Works and Development Department, Planning Division, 6924 S Lima St., Centennial CO 80112 (please call ahead to schedule an appointment if you plan to walk-in), by calling 720-874-6650, or by emailing planning@arapahoegov.com during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1179

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

PUBLIC NOTICE

Colorado law requires the county assessor to hear objections to real property classifications and valuations beginning May 1, 2023. Objections to the valuation or classification of real property must be postmarked, delivered, or presented in person to the county assessor’s office no later than June 8, 2023.

Colorado law requires the county assessor to begin hearing objections to personal property valuations no later than June 15, 2023. Objections to personal property valuations must be postmarked, delivered, or presented in person to the county assessor’s office no later than June 30, 2023. For additional information, contact the county assessor’s office at 303-795-4600.

PK Kaiser, County Assessor

Legal Notice No. Arap 1178

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

Public Notice

ARAPAHOE COUNTY NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

CASE NO. UASI22-001, TENDERFOOT PIPELINE EXPANSION / USE BY SPECIAL REVIEW WITH 1041 PERMIT

PROPOSAL: Tenderfoot Pipeline Company,

LLC is proposing to install approximately seven miles of 12-inch diameter natural gas gathering pipeline from the previously permitted Tenderfoot Pipeline, approved by the Board of County Commissioners on March 3, 2022, in Arapahoe County, and terminating at a tie-in with a pipeline system located in Section 22 of Township 5 South, Range 64 West, known as the Houlihan Pipeline. The project area is located north of the intersection of County Road 29 and East County Line Road.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on May 2, 2023

the Arapahoe County Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing at 6:30 P.M., or as soon as possible thereafter at 6954 S Lima St., Arapahoe Room, Centennial, CO 80112; at which, all interested persons will be given an opportunity to be heard concerning the above-described Case No. UASI22-001, Tenderfoot Pipeline Expansion / Use By Special Review with 1041 Permit. The agenda will typically be posted by the Friday afternoon preceding the hearing and can be viewed on our website at https://arapahoe.legistar.com/Calendar. You can also listen to, or speak at, the meeting by calling 1-855-436-3656. To join the speaking

queue, press *3 on the telephone keypad.

More information about this proposal is available at the offices of the Arapahoe County Public Works and Development Department, Planning Division, 6924 S Lima St., Centennial CO 80112 (please call ahead to schedule an appointment if you plan to walk-in), by calling 720-874-6650, or by emailing planning@arapahoegov.com during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday).

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1182

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice CITY OF CENTENNIAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Centennial, Colorado will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. regarding ORDINANCE 2023-O-04, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CENTENNIAL, COLORADO CREATING AND ESTABLISHING THE WESTRAY BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, AP-

PROVING THE INITIAL OPERATING PLAN AND PRELIMINARY 2023 BUDGET, AND APPOINTING THE INITIAL DIRECTORS. The public hearing will be held at the Centennial Civic Center, 13133 E. Arapahoe Road, Council Chambers, Centennial, Colorado 80112. Copies of Ordinance No. 2023-O-04 are available for inspection by the public on the City’s website: www.centennialco. gov. Interested parties may file written comments with the City Clerk, at: councilcomments@centennialco.gov or by mailing them to City Clerk, 13133 E. Arapahoe Rd, Centennial, CO 80112 any time prior to April 18, 2023. Any written comments received will be provided to City Council prior to the Public Hearing and made part of the record.

/s/ Barbara Setterlind, MMC, City Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531338-60338

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice

TOWN OF BOW MAR, COLORADO RESOLUTION TO AMEND 2022 BUDGET AND APPROPRIATE ADDITIONAL FUNDS RESOLUTION 2023-R-02

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Town of Bow Mar (the “Town”) certifies that at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Town held on April 17, 2023, a public hearing was held regarding the 2022 amended budget, and, subsequent thereto, the following Resolution was adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Trustees:

WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees of the Town adopted a budget and appropriated funds for the fiscal year 2022 as follows and as set forth in Attachment A:

General Fund

$1,115,719 and;

WHEREAS, the necessity has arisen for additional expenditures by the Town due to additional costs relating to road maintenance and repair which could not have been reasonably anticipated at the time of adoption of the budget, requiring the expenditure of funds in excess of those appropriated for fiscal year 2022; and

WHEREAS, funds are available for such expenditure from the Building Permits and the Transportation Utility Fees collected.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Trustees of the Town does hereby amend the adopted budget for fiscal year 2022, as follows:

General Fund

$1,337,050

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that such sums are hereby appropriated from the revenues of the Town to the funds named above for the purpose stated, and that any ending fund balances shall be reserved for purposes of complying with Article X, Section 20 or the Colorado Constitution

ADOPTED this 17th day of April, 2023.

TOWN OF BOW MAR

Legal Notice No. 531338

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

ARAPAHOE COUNTY NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

To whom it may concern: This notice is given with regard to items in the custody of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office that have been released for public auction. The Sheriff’s Office will release numerous items including but not limited to, bicycles, jewelry, audio/ visual equipment, automotive parts, tools, sports equipment (such as camping, rafting, skiing gear, etc.), household goods and other items of personal property to a private auction company identified as Roller Auction. These items will be released for on-line bidding on the last Tuesday of each month. This Auction is open public.

If any citizen believes they have property in the possession of the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office that can be identified, and for which they can show proof of ownership associated with a written report that has been filed with the Sheriff’s Office prior to this announcement, can contact the evidence section of the Sheriff’s Office. Joan

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ARAPAHOE COUNTY WATER AND WASTEWATER

PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

PETITION FOR INCLUSION

PROPOSAL: A petition for inclusion into the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Public Improvement District has been filed with the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, acting as the ex officio Board of Directors of the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Public Improvement District.

Petition Information:

Name(s) of Petitioner(s):

Mountain Plains Investment Corporation

Description of Property:

Vermilion Creek – a portion of the NE1/4 & N1/2, SE1/4 of Sec.32 and NW1/4 & N1/2, SW1/4 of SEC.33, T5S, R66W, of the 6th PM, City of Centennial, County of Arapahoe

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on April 25, 2023 at 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the calendar of the Board of County Commissioners permits, the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, Colorado, acting as the ex officio Board of Directors of the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Public Improvement District, will hold a public hearing at which all interested persons and citizens will be given the opportunity to be heard concerning the Petition for the above-described inclusion into the Public Improvement District in accordance with the provisions of Section 30-20-520, Colorado Revised Statutes. All persons having objections to this Petition may appear at this public hearing and show cause why the Petition should not be granted. The hearing will be held in the East Hearing Room, Arapahoe County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado.

The Petitioners are the owners of property proposed to be included into the Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Public Improvement District. Additional information about the Petition is available in the Office of the Board of County Commissioners of Arapahoe County, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado.

Joan Lopez, Clerk to the Board

Legal Notice No. Arap 1176

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen

Metropolitan Districts

Public Notice

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS

IRON WORKS VILLAGE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on February 28, 2023, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Iron Works Village Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 2, 2023, is hereby cancelled.

The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:

McCarter Harris Shaver

The following office remains vacant: VACANT

May 2025

VACANT May 2025

VACANT May 2025

/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie

Designated Election Official

Contact Person for District: Clint C. Waldron, Esq.

WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON

Attorneys at Law

2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122

(303) 858-1800

Legal Notice No. 51339-60339

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent and the Centennial Citizen Public Notice NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTIONS and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS SANTA FE PARK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 1-4

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to §

1-13.5-513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on February 28, 2023, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Santa Fe Park Metropolitan District Nos. 1-4 (collectively, the “Districts”). Therefore, the elections for the Districts to be held on May 2, 2023 are hereby cancelled.

The following candidates for each District are declared elected by acclamation:

Denise Hogenes Until May 2027

Reggie Carveth Until May 2027

Christopher Osler Until May 2027

/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie

Designated Election Official

Contact Person for Districts: Clint C. Waldron, Esq.

WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON

Attorneys at Law 2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800

Legal Notice No. 531337

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Bids and Settlements

Public Notice NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

contractor or subcontractor, may in accord with section 38-26-107 (1) C.R.S., file with the Director of Finance, City of Englewood, Colorado, a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim, which statement must be filed on or before September 23, 2022.

Claims must be submitted to Jackie Loh, Director of Finance, 1000 Englewood Parkway, Englewood, Colorado 80110-2373, (303) 762-2416.

Failure on the part of a claimant to file such statement prior to the final settlement date and time will relieve the City of Englewood from all and any liability of such claim as provided by law.

Jackie Loh, Director of Finance City of Englewood, Colorado

Legal Notice No. 301837

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Second Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: ENGLEWOOD HERALD

Public Notice

INVITATION TO BID

The Town of Bow Mar is accepting bids for the Bridle Path Improvements Project. The anticipated scope of work consists of the installation of approximately 3,800 linear feet of a 6’ wide crusher-fines trail, replacement of several concrete bench pads, installation of new site furnishings including benches and a dog waste station, installation of landscape boulders and plantings. The work generally includes mobilization, traffic control, site preparation and demolition, erosion control, grading, trail construction, site furnishings, plantings, and restoration necessary to complete the project.

A 5% bid bond is to accompany the bid. The successful contractor will be required to provide a payment and performance bond and a 2-year materials and workmanship warranty bond for the work.

An on-site pre-bid meeting will be conducted on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Bids are due by and will be publicly opened on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the office of The Architerra Group. Both electronic and hard copy bids will be accepted.

Interested contractors can obtain the bid documents by contacting the Town Clerk via email to townclerk@bowmar.gov, with copy to parks@ bowmar.gov and referencing Bridle Path Improvements.

Legal Notice No. 531339

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE OF CONTRACTOR’S

FINAL SETTLEMENT

West Metro Fire Protection District – Station No. 16 Renovations

/s/ Ashley B. Frisbie Designated Election Official

Contact Person for District:

K. Sean Allen, Esq.

WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law

2154 E. Commons Avenue, Suite 2000 Centennial, Colorado 80122 (303) 858-1800

Legal Notice No. 301836

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Public Notice

NOTICE OF CANCELLATION OF ELECTION and CERTIFIED STATEMENT OF RESULTS

SOUTHGLENN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 1-13.5513(6), C.R.S., that, at the close of business on February 28, 2023, there were not more candidates than offices to be filled, including candidates filing affidavits of intent to be write-in candidates, for Southglenn Metropolitan District (the “District”). Therefore, the election for the District to be held on May 2, 2023 is hereby cancelled.

The following candidates for the District are declared elected by acclamation:

David Jordan Goldberg Until May 2027

Douglas S. Hatfield Until May 2027

Timothy O’Connor Until May 2027

The following offices remain vacant:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 38-26107, C.R.S., that on May 2, 2023 final settlement with Insituform Technologies, Inc. will be made by South Englewood Sanitation District No. 1 for the “2021 Capital Improvement Program Project” subject to satisfactory final inspection and acceptance of said facilities by the District. Any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other legal entity that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or its subcontractor, in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that has supplied laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, and whose claim therefor has not been paid by the contractor or subcontractor, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid, and an account of such claim with South Englewood Sanitation District No. 1, c/o, Darryl Farrington, Semple, Farrington, Everall &Case, PC, 1120 Lincoln Street #1308, Denver, CO 80203, on or before the date hereinabove shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement of claim prior to final settlement will release the District, its Board of Directors, officers, employees and agents of and from any and all liability for such claim.

s/s South Englewood Sanitation District

Legal Notice No. 301833

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald

Public Notice

CITY OF ENGLEWOOD

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT 2022 MILL AND OVERLAY

On or about April 30, 2023 the City of Englewood will make a final settlement to: Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 1627 Cole Blvd, Suite 200 Lakewood, CO 80401

For the construction of: 2022 Mill and Overlay

Notice is hereby given that after 5:00 p.m. local time on April 30, 2023 final settlement to Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Contractor, will be made by the City of Englewood, Colorado for and on account of the contract for the construction of the above-referenced project.

Any person, co-partnership, an association of persons, company, or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by the contractor identified above or any subcontractor thereof in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that has supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work whose claim therefor has not been paid by the

West Metro Fire Protection District 433 South Allison Parkway Lakewood, CO 80226

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that West Metro Fire Protection District is announcing completion of the following construction project:

West Metro Fire Protection District –Station No. 16 Modernization – Phase 4 located at: 3880 Upham St, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-26-107, the General Contractor, PG Arnold Construction, LLC. and all contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, vendors and manufacturers who have provided any materials or labor in connection with this construction project, are hereby notified that Final Settlement on this construction project is scheduled for April 24, 2023. Final settlement will be held at the district headquarters, located at 433 South Allison Parkway Lakewood, CO 80226. The General Contractor, or any contractor, subcontractor, supplier, vendor and manufacturer who provided any materials or labor in connection with this construction project, and who claims to have not been paid for all or any portion of such materials or labor, shall submit a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim to West Metro Fire Protection District on or before the date and time scheduled for final settlement. All claims shall be submitted in writing to:

West Metro Fire Protection District c/o Jay Jackson, Division Chief – Support Services 433 South Allision Parkway Lakewood, CO 80226

By: /s/ Jay Jackson, Division Chief – Support Services WEST METRO FIRE PROTETION DISTRICT

Legal Notice No. 531331

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent

Summons and Sheriff Sale

Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, ARAPAHOE COUNTY, STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, CO 80112

Plaintiff: PARK AVENUE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. vs. Defendant(s): LESLIE J. FORSYTH; BELLCO CREDIT UNION; ARAPAHOE COUNTY PUBLIC TRUSTEE

Attorneys for Plaintiff: Orten Cavanagh Holmes & Hunt, LLC Hal R. Kyles, #23891 1445 Market Street, Suite 350 Denver, CO 80202

Phone Number: (720) 221-9780

Matter ID #2189.0024

Public Notices

Case No.: 2023CV030026

Division: 14

SUMMONS [BY PUBLICATION]

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

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 or other response within 35 days after the service of this Summons upon you. Service of this 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 of foreclosure pursuant to Rule 105, C.R.C.P. to the real property situate in Aurora, Colorado more particularly described as Lot 98, Block 1, Castle Creek Subdivision Filing No. 2, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado.

Dated: April 3, 2023.

ORTEN CAVANAGH HOLMES & HUNT, LLC

By: /s/Hal R. Kyles

Hal R. Kyles, #23891

This Summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4(g), Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.

Legal Notice No. 531328

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: May 11, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

Case Number: 2022CV031414 Division: 204

Plaintiff: HUNTER’S RUN CONDOMINIUM

ASSOCIATION, INC., a Colorado non-profit corporation

vs.

Defendants: MICHAEL ANGEL ANAYA

CHAVEZ; ANGEL ANAYA DURAN; MORTGAGE

ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., individually and solely as nominee for, THOMPSON KANE & COMPANY, LLC.; and SUE SANDSTROM as the ARAPAHOE COUNTY

PUBLIC TRUSTEE

COMBINED NOTICE OF SHERIFF’S SALE

This is to advise you that a Sheriff sale proceeding has been commenced through the office of the undersigned Sheriff pursuant to the Arapahoe County District Court’s Order for Default Judgment and Decree of Foreclosure dated January 19, 2023, and C.R.S. §38-38-101 et seq., by Hunter’s Run Condominium Association, Inc. a Colorado non-profit corporation, (“Association”), the current holder of a statutory lien. The judicial foreclosure is based on a default under the Hunter’s Run Condominium Association, Inc. a Colorado non-profit corporation Condominium Declaration recorded on July 3, 1984, at Reception number 2426225 (“Declaration”). The Declaration, as recorded, establishes a lien for the benefit of Hunter’s Run Condominium Association, Inc., a Colorado non-profit corporation WHICH LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AND IMPROVEMENTS legally described as follows:

CONDOMINIUM UNIT 101, CONDOMINIUM

BUILDING H, HUNTER’S RUN CONDOMINIUMS PHASE VI, ACCORDING TO THE CONDOMINIUM MAP THEREOF, RECORDED ON MARCH 20, 1996 IN BOOK 127 AT PAGE 29 IN THE RECORDS OF THE OFFICE OF THE CLERK AND RECORDER OF THE COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, COLORADO, AND AS DEFINED AND DESCRIBED IN THE CONDOMINIUM DECLARATION FOR HUNTERS RUN CONDOMINIUMS RECORDED ON JULY 5, 1984 IN BOOK 4201 AT PAGE 472, AND ANNEXATION RECORDED MARCH 20, 1996 UNDER RECEPTION NO. A6033386. COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

Also known by street and number as: 2575 South Syracuse Way, Unit H-101, Denver, CO 80231.

The Sheriff’s sale has been scheduled to occur at 10:00 A.M., on the 8th day of June, 2023, at the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, located at 13101 East Broncos Parkway Centennial, CO 80112, telephone number 720-874-3845. At the sale, the Sheriff will sell the above described real property and improvements thereon to the highest bidder. Plaintiff makes no warranty relating to title, possession, or quiet enjoyment in or to said real property in connection with this sale.

**BIDDERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CASH OR CERTIFIED FUNDS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE MINIMUM BID AT THE TIME OF SALE.**

The name, address, and telephone number of the attorney representing the Plaintiff is: Kathryn Willard, #50236, Vial Fotheringham, LLP, 12600 W. Colfax Ave., C200, Lakewood, CO 80215; telephone: 720-943-8811.

Date: March 7, 2023

Tyler S. Brown Sheriff of Arapahoe County, Colorado

USA NAMEHOLDER(S): Patrick McBride care of, 17551 East Eldorado Circle Aurora Colorado 00000 USA

McBride:

Representative, care of, 17551 East Eldorado Circle Aurora Colorado 00000 USA McBride, Patrick care of, 17551 East Eldorado Circle Aurora Colorado 00000 USA

If you submit an attachment, it will be incorporated into this document. If the attachment conflicts with the information specifically set forth in this document, this document supersedes the data referenced in the attachment.

By typing my name, I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/ her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath.

SIGNED BY: Patrick; McBride: Authorized Representative Work Item 1382959500021

Original File Number 1382959500021 STATE OF MINNESOTA OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FILED

03/26/2023 11:59 PM

Steve Simon, Secretary of State

Legal Notice No. 531320

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 13 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

To: First Mortgagees of Units in Meadow Hills IV Condominium Association, Inc.

Date: April 6, 2023 and April 13, 2023

Re: Notice of Proposed Declaration Amendment

The purpose of this notice is to provide written notice of the proposed First Amendment to the Condominium Declaration for Meadow Hills IV Condominiums (“Declaration Amendment”) to first mortgagees of Units within the community of Meadow Hills IV Condominium Association, Inc. (“Association”), pursuant to C.R.S. § 38-33.3217(1)(b)(I). The Association, through its Board of Directors and with assistance from legal counsel, has prepared the proposed Declaration Amendment to the existing Condominium Declaration for Meadow Hills IV Condominiums to be recorded with the Clerk and Recorder’s Office for the County of Arapahoe, Colorado on March 3, 1992, at Reception Number 9200020440 / Book 6393 and Page 019, (“Declaration”) covering certain real estate in the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, as it may have been amended and supplemented from time to time (“Declaration”).

The consent of fifty-one percent (51%) of first mortgagees is required to approve the proposed Declaration Amendment, pursuant to Sections 15.1 and 18.1(b)(2) of the Declaration. The general purpose of the Declaration Amendment is to amend the maintenance requirements of Owners. The general nature of the Declaration Amendment is to transfer maintenance responsibilities of certain utilities to the Owners, particularly if it is a utility which serves only that Owner’s Unit.

A first mortgagee shall be deemed to have approved the proposed Declaration Amendment, if said first mortgagee does not deliver to the Association a negative response within sixty (60) days after the date of this notice, pursuant to C.R.S. § 38-33.3-217(1)(b)(II). You may deliver your response in writing to the Association, c/o Moeller Graf, P.C., 385 Inverness Pkwy., Suite 200, Englewood, CO 80112, but you are not required to respond.

Please review this notice carefully. It may affect first mortgagees’ rights in the Lot(s) within the Association’s community in which first mortgagees may have an interest.

A copy of the proposed Declaration Amendment may be obtained by contacting Attorney Joe Hinson at Moeller Graf, P.C., at 720-279-2568 or via email at jhinson@moellergraf.com.

Legal Notice No. 531314

a/k/a STEVEN LEROY SHARON, and a/k/a STEVEN SHARON, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30137

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative, or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before July 31, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Personal Representative: Cinda Champlin

c/o Christopher Cole, Esq. Sherman & Howard L.L.C. 675 Fifteenth Street, Ste. 2300 Denver, Colorado 80202

Legal Notice No. 531287

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of David E. Godfrey, a/k/a David Emanuel Godfrey, Deceased Case Number 2023PR30308

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

David Godfrey, Personal Respresentative

c/o Pearman Law Firm 4195 Wadsworth Blvd Wheat Ridge, CO 80033

Legal Notice No. 531332

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of JEFFREY R. JACOBY, a/k/a JEFFREY JACOBY, a/k/a JEFF JACOBY, Deceased Case Number: 2023-PR-30370

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 14, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Michael W. Reagor, Attorney for Personal Representative 8400 E Prentice Ave., Suite 1040 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. 531333

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Yun Hoe Cha, aka Yun H. Cha, aka Yun Cha, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30104

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before July 30, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Maria Zalessky Maria Zalessky, #52405 The Burnham Law Firm, P.C. Attorneys for Personal Representative 5990 Greenwood Plaza Boulevard, Bldg. 2, Suite 110 Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. 531307

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Larry Dietz, a/k/a Larry G. Dietz, a/k/a Larry Gerard Dietz, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30320

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe, County, Colorado on or before August 6, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Thomas Dietz, Personal Representative 1648 Wildlife Drive Red Bud, Illinois 62278

Legal Notice No. 301818

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Mary Lou Lowry, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30301

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe, County, Colorado or on or before August 6. 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Susan K. Griebel, Personal Representative 3605 S. Oneida Way Denver, CO 80237

Legal Notice No. 531328

Publication: April 6, 2023

named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Carla Lynn Glass Palmer c/o Mollie B. Hawes, Miller and Steiert, P.C. 1901 W. Littleton Bvd. Littleton, CO 80120 Legal Notice No. 531330

District Court, Arapahoe County, Colorado Arapahoe County Justice Center 7325 S. Potomac St., #100 Centennial, CO 80112 on or before July 31, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jennifer Paige Willingham-Lents Personal Representative c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC 4500 Cherry Creek Drive South, Suite 960 Denver, CO 80246

Legal Notice No. 301815

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Public Notice

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 14, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Patricia J. Ayers, Personal Representative 237 South Downing Street Denver, CO 80209

Legal Notice No. 531335

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Kem E. Kistler, a/k/a Kem Edward Kistler, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30387

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the District Court of Arapahoe, County, Colorado on or before August 25, 2023 or the claims may be forever barred.

Vicki Kistler, Personal Representative 11528 E. Highline Place Aurora, CO 80010

Legal Notice No. 531334

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of JEAN SUZANNE MACEK, a/k/a JEAN S. MACEK, a/k/a JEAN MACEK, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30299

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 6, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Hanna M. Warren, Personal Representative 3790 S. Broadway Englewood, Colorado 80113

Legal Notice No. 301831

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of DIANE M. SNIVELY, a/k/a DIANE MARIE SNIVELY, Deceased Case Number 23PR30335

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Linda Marie Jackson Baker, Personal Representative c/o Patrick A. Schilken, PC 7936 E. Arapahoe Court, Suite 2800 Centennial, CO 80112

Legal Notice No. 531340

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Martha Moore Larson, a/k/a Martha M. Larson, a/k/a Martha Larson, a/k/a Marti Larson, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30337

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado or on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Theresa Kuntzsch, Personal Representative 1612 Ensenada Street Aurora, CO 80011

Legal Notice No. 301834

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Matter of the Estate of: CARRIE LOUISE FEIDLER, aka LOUISE C. FEIDLER, aka LOUISE FEIDLER, Deceased Case Number: 2022-PR-31239

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before July 31, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred. Dated this 22nd day of March, 2023.

HUBERT T. MORROW Personal Representative to the Estate 1800 W. Littleton Blvd. Littleton, CO 80120 Home Phone: (303) 794-4510

Legal Notice No. 531298

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of JACQUELYN JEAN KASTELIC, aka JACQUELYN J. KASTELIC, aka JACQUELYN KASTELIC, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR030282

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Arapahoe County Probate Court on or before August 8, 2023 or the claims may be forever barred.

Dana Smith, Personal Representative 5739 Angel Oak Court Parker, CO 80134

Legal Notice No. 531322

First Publication: April 6, 2023 Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Wayne Dean Bernhardt, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30294

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 7, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Laura Ann Pulscher, aka Laura Ann Bernhardt Personal Representative 13515 South Bellaire Street Santa Fe, Texas 77510

Legal Notice No. 531312

First Publication: April 6, 2023 Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Z. JANE CARPENTER, also known as ZELLA JANE CARPENTER, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR030373

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jane Elizabeth Carpenter Personal Representative 1805 Homer Dr. Ft. Collins. CO 80521

Legal Notice No. 531336

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS the Estate of William B. Cox, aka William Bower Cox, aka William Cox, aka Bill Cox, aka W.B.Cox, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30234

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before July 30, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Susan N. Mickus Skipton Law, LLC Attorney for Personnal Representative Lisa Cox 2 Inverness Drive East, Suite 102 Englewood, CO 80112

Legal Notice No. 301816

First Publication: March 30, 2023

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to:

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of JACK RAY GUESS, deceased

Case Number: 2023PR105

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before July 30, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

RONALD E. HINTON

Personal Representative 25100 E PHILLIPS DR AURORA, CO 80016

Legal Notice No.531291

First publication: March 30, 2023

Last publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Charles Joseph Ciancio, Jr., a/k/a Charles Joseph Ciancio, a/k/a Charles J. Ciancio, Jr., a/k/a Charles J. Ciancio, a/k/a Charles Ciancio, Jr., a/k/a Charles Ciancio, Deceased

Case Number: 2023PR30341

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 6, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Stacey Malone, Personal Representative 447 S County Road 137 Bennett, CO 80102

Legal Notice No. 531315

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Robert M. Francois, Deceased

Case Number: 2023PR108

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before July 31, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Janet E. and Gerald I. Testerman

Personal Representative 7528 E. Long Circle Centennial, Colorado 80112

Legal Notice No. 531286

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of John Timothy Ryan, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30233

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before July 31, 2023 or the claims may be forever barred.

Meredith C. Callan

Attorney to the Personal Representative 14143 Denver West Park Ste., 100-50 Golden, Colorado 80401

Legal Notice No. 531306

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Kathlene Mae Kohler, deceased Case Number: 23PR131

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 06, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Mark Andler Kohler

Personal Representative

4351 S. Galapago St. Englewood, Colorado 80110

Legal Notice No. 301819

First publication: April 06, 2023

Last publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Englewood Herald

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Bruce Luvern Smith,

aka Bruce L. Smith,

aka Bruce Smith, Deceased

Case Number: 2023PR30190

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 6, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Brenda Franklin, Personal Representative 23801 Matador Way Murrieta, CA 92562

Legal Notice No. 531327

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Case Number: 2023PR30303

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 6, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jonathan P. Shultz, Attorney for the Personal Representative 19751 E Mainstreet, Ste 200, Parker, CO 80138

Legal Notice No. 531332

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Abdalla Ismail Suleiman, deceased Case Number: 2023PR030062

a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Jaelin Anthony Crayton-Johnston be changed to Jaelin Anthony Crayton

Case No.: 23 C 100123

By: Judge Colleen Clark

Legal Notice No. 531295

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 22, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Krista Anne Culp be changed to Krista Anne van Zwieten

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Meral Tahir, Personal Representative 3801 E. Florida Ave. Ste. 725 Denver, Colorado 80109

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 06, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Nageeb Abdalla Suleiman

Representative 3801 E. Florida Ave. Ste. 725 Denver, Colorado 80210

Case No.: 2023C100214

By: Kim Boswell Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531323

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 22, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Skylar Montana Berger Lynch be changed to Skylar Meridian Graves

Case No.: 23C100183

By: Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531283

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 17, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court. The petition requests that the name of Mykyta Prykhodko be changed to Mykyta Botkins Case No.: 23C100213

By: Judge Colleen Clark

Legal Notice No. 531327

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 20, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe-Littleton Court.

Renee L. Bartlett,

Renee Bartlett,

Renee Louise Francis Bartlett, Deceased

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Lorna Kay Casorso Personal Representative 4675 West 69th Drive Westminster, CO 80030

Publication: April 27, 2023

Englewood Herald

of Richard J. Holicky, a/k/a Richard James Holicky, and Richard Holicky, Deceased Case Number: 2023 PR 30247

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Arapahoe County District Court on or before August 7, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Jeannie L. Dunham, Personal Representative 2171 S. Dallas Street Denver, CO 80231 Phone: 303-549-4039 jaydee60@comcast.net

TO CREDITORS Estate of Mary B. Walmsley, a/k/a Mary Burchard Walmsley, a/k/a Mary Jane Walmsley, a/k/a Mary J. Walmsley, and Mary Walmsley, Deceased Case Number: 2023PR30304

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 6, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Carolyn Moller Duncan, Atty. No. 33766

Attorney for Personal Representative

Duncan Legal, PC 6436 S. Racine Circle, Suite 227 Centennial, Colorado 80111

Phone No: 303-394-2358

Legal Notice No. 531319

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent

Name Changes

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on February 22, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Stephany Mendez be changed to Stephany Castro-Mendez Case No.: 23C100152

By: Judge Laqunya Baker Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531321

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

The petition requests that the name of Mary Saidov be changed to Miriam Saidov Khalepari

Case No.: 23C100225

By: Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531316

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 14, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of April Dawn Rogers be changed to April Dawn Showers Case No.: 23 C 100199

By: Colleen Clark

Legal Notice No. 531289

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 13, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Omar Adam Alnour Mohamad be changed to Omar Adam Abuzamin Mohamad

Case No.: 23 C 100

By: Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531292

First Publication: March 30, 2023

Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before August 13, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

Stephen Stubbendick and Sandra Stubbendick, Co-Personal Representatives c/o Katz, Look & Onorato, P.C. 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100 Denver, CO 80203

Legal Notice No. 531341

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Robert Charles Burdick, Deceased

Public notice is given on March 20, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an a minor child has been filed with the Arapahoe-Littleton County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Kamara Chanise Hughes be changed to Kamara Chanise Barbarin-Hughes

Case No.: 23C100215

By: Judge Colleen Clark

Legal Notice No. 531331

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent

PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on February 28, 2023, that

Public notice is given on March 14, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Jennifer Lyn Jenks be changed to Jennifer Iliff Jenks Case No.: 23 C 100196

By: Kim Boswell Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531288

First Publication: March 30, 2023 Last Publication: April 13, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 7, 2023, that a

The petition requests that the name of Abdujaber Yaya Hassen be changed to ABDULJEBAR HAJI BAME

Case No.: 23 C 100217

By: Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531318

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 15, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Gracie Von Caires be changed to Love Allen Case No.: 23C100204

By: Kim Boswell Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531313

First Publication: April 6, 2023

Last Publication: April 20, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 30, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court. The petition requests that the name of Khristina Marie Strickland be changed to Khristina Marie French Case No.: 23C100240

By: Kim Boswell Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531329

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent PUBLIC NOTICE

Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name

Public notice is given on March 27, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of an adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.

The petition requests that the name of Rachael Danielle Norquoy be changed to Rachael Danielle Cannon Case No.: 23C100231

By: Clerk of Court / Deputy Clerk

Legal Notice No. 531342

First Publication: April 13, 2023

Last Publication: April 27, 2023

Publisher: Littleton Independent ###

Publicnoticesare acommunity’swindowintothegovernment.Fromzoningregulationstolocalbudgets, governmentshaveusedlocalnewspaperstoinformcitizensofitsactionsasanessentialpartofyourright toknow.Youknowwheretolook,whentolookandwhattolookfortobeinvolvedas acitizen.Local newspapersprovideyouwiththeinformationyouneedtogetinvolved.

Noticesaremeanttobenoticed.Readyourpublicnoticesandgetinvolved!

Withoutpublicnotices,thegovernmentwouldn’thavetosayanythingelse.

IF THIS BILL PASSES IT WOULD:

• Remove the ability of homeowners associations to manage their own a airs.

• Eliminate covenant restrictions on accessory dwelling units and construction of additional dwelling units, unilaterally and without input.

• Require minimum density for areas within ½ mile of transit stations, impacting planned transit oriented development and existing neighborhoods.

• Additional density may be built with no parking requirements, tra c analysis, or coordination with water and sanitation districts - Imagine building a new development and not considering potential outcomes!

• No requirement for the State to provide opportunities for Public Hearings for projects that directly impact a property owner.

For additional information visit www.centennialco.gov/homerule

A single family home could redevelop into 6 separate dwelling units without any consideration of neighborhood character, parking requirements, water and sewer availability. There would be no requirement to engage with local residents or the City. Existing HOA and City regulations specific to residential land use and zoning would be disregarded. The State would effectively manage residential land use and zoning for our community.

The best outcomes in Colorado come from cooperation and collaboration. There’s another way to solving the housing crisis.