17 minute read
SEE UKRAINE
Maryna, 38, packed up her family’s lives into two suitcases, bringing only a few items, including their work laptops and a change of clothes for each of their four children.
Now, it’s two months later and after traveling thousands of miles, overcoming challenges and marveling at examples of generosity along the way, they have found themselves in Larkspur — a 200-person town in southern Douglas County.
Their home in Western Ukraine is now fi lled with relatives who moved from the eastern part of the country after Russians began targeting the region. Family members are caring for the Sheveria’s pets and keeping them informed on the status of the war. Recently, they learned the bombing has moved even closer to their home.
“We kind of hoped until the last moment that bombs will not reach there,” Maryna said. “Because it’s in the mountains, it’s very small.”
Maryna and Oleksandr spoke about their family’s journey to Colorado from the living room of the the Larkspur home.
While it’s her husband and children’s fi rst time in the United States, for Maryna, it’s not such an unfamiliar place. Just down the road is Douglas County High School, where Maryna spent a school year during an exchange program 23 years ago. The Larkspur home and its inhabitants are familiar too, as it’s the same host family Maryna lived with during her exchange program.
As they spoke, Maryna translated for her husband Oleksandr, 39, who is working on learning English.
‘It was panic’
Just a few months ago, their family had started 2022 like many others. They had fi tness goals, resolutions to learn new languages and plans for the future. On the weekends, Oleksandr would grill food for the family, or they would take their kids to play at a local park.
Oleksandr owned a business selling used trucks and cars. Maryna worked for an IT company.
Then, on Feb. 24, everything changed.
“We are used to having Russian forces on our borders and they’re doing this like eight years already,” Maryna said. “We didn’t believe it until the last minute.”
The day before the invasion, Maryna dropped Oleksandr off at the border of Ukraine, where he planned to travel to Budapest to catch a fl ight for a work trip. After she heard the news a few hours later that Russia was attacking, Maryna called to tell him she was planning to fl ee.
“It was panic,” she said. “All I thought about was the safety of my children. I didn’t think about the plans for work or business.”
She gathered the kids into her car and tried to begin the journey. But she could not fi nd any gas.
Maryna and Oleksandr Sheveria walk with two of their kids outside of the home where they are staying in Larskpur. From left, the younger Oleksandr, 14, Maryna, Oleksandr and on his shoulders, 4-year-old Taisia. PHOTOS BY ELLIOTT WENZLER
Maryna and Oleksandr Sheveria smile at each other on their new porch in Larkspur.
Four-year-old Taisia Sheveria sings while climbing a fence in Larkspur. Behind her, a Ukrainian fl ag waves.
For nearly an hour, she searched for a gas station where she could fill up. While there wasn’t a shortage at that time, stations were limiting how much customers could purchase. And the lines were tremendously long.
Eventually, she filled their tank as much as possible and began driving to Budapest to meet with Oleksandr.
When they fi nally reconnected, the family traveled to Germany. Once there, Maryna received a social media message from Helen Kellogg, who had hosted her as an exchange student back in 1999.
Kellogg offered to again host Maryna and her family at her home.
Exchange program
Kellogg, who is Ukrainian but grew up in the United States, began hosting Ukrainian students because she wanted to continue speaking the language, which was the first she learned.
“I wanted to kind of get back into the heritage,” Kellogg said. “My kids were young. I wanted “My kids were young. I wanted them to be more familiar with them to be more familiar with their Ukrainian background.” their Ukrainian background.”
Mayna spent about nine months attending Douglas County High School in Castle Rock and came School in Castle Rock and came back again a few years later. Kelback again a few years later. Kellogg remembers trying to convince logg remembers trying to convince Maryna to immigrate to the U.S. Maryna to immigrate to the U.S.
“She kept sitting there going ‘No, I need to go back home. Ukraine is going to need us, they’re going to need young people,’” Kellogg remembers. “She wanted to be part of that future of Ukraine.”
After Maryna and her family decided to accept Kellogg’s offer, they spent several weeks in Germany, waiting for their tourist visa to be approved. During that time they stayed in various hostels, hotels and apartments in Germany, often experiencing generosity from strangers.
Some allowed them to stay for free in their hotel, others gave them food and one man who saw their Ukrainian license plate at a gas station insisted upon giving them cash.
“It’s been really unbelievable,” Maryna said. “I’m touched beyond words because people don’t know us. For them, we are just some family.”
Meanwhile, Kellogg, who has worked for the county government for about 37 years, asked the commissioners if they would consider supporting the family’s visa application. They agreed to do so and wrote a letter of support.
Colorado Senator John Hickenlooper and Representative Ken Buck also voiced support for their application.
Kellogg and her husband agreed to sponsor their visa, which means they will provide shelter, clothing and food for the family.
Following an interview and a wait period, their application was approved and they flew to the U. S. in mid-March.
Life in Larkspur
These days, the family spends their time mostly with each other in the house and yard in Larkspur. They don’t have access to a vehicle, so their travel around the area has been limited. They went out hiking once and also visited the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Mostly, they stay in. Maryna braids the three girls’ hair or the kids play with Pokemon toys. Oleksandr works on learning English.
Since arriving, Kellogg and Maryna have tried to restrict how much news they take in from the war.
“It kinda reminds me of like 911 where you just sit there and you’re so horrified going, ‘how in the heck can this be happening?’” Kellogg said.
They especially try to avoid letting the kids see or hear too much of it. While the kids know there’s a war going on, Maryna and Oleksandr try not to talk about it in front of them.
“I’m happy they didn’t see anything like a lot of children had to witness in Ukraine,” Maryna said. “They are ok. They haven’t been traumatized that much.”
For Mayna and Oleksandr, there are some complicated emotions that cross their minds as they wait to see how the war will play out.
“At first, I kind of felt guilty that I left the country. But I usually stop myself from that thought when I start feeling like that because I look at my children and I understand that it was the right decision,” Maryna said.
Both Maryna and Oleksandr’s parents are still in Ukraine along with their siblings, friends and other relatives. With some, they are still in touch and hear consistent updates about the state of the war. Others, they can’t contact and don’t know where they are or how they are doing.
For now, the couple can’t work because of their status as tourists. They have applied for Temporary Protection Status from the U.S. and hope if it’s approved, they will be able to begin working in the community.
“I miss the regular life, when you go to work, when you talk to people, just a regular schedule,” she said.
If that status is approved, perhaps they can buy a car and find a place to rent.
“We’re really thankful to Helen and Jim for hosting us here because it’s a big support on their shoulders,” Oleksandr said with Maryna translating. “It means a lot to us.”
All they can do until then, however, is wait.
The kids, ages 4, 8, 11 and 14 and are currently learning remotely in a Ukrainian school but if the family is granted TPS status, they hope to attend local classes.
“We can’t make any long-term plans at the moment because of this situation,” Maryna said. “Hopefully things will get better in Ukraine.”
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Focus is on helping struggling students
BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
More students experiencing a mental health crisis in Douglas County schools will soon have access to trained responders after county commissioners funded an expansion of the Youth Community Response Team on May 3.
The Youth Community Response Team, which pairs mental health clinicians with law enforcement to help people crises, currently serves 42 schools in the county. With the additional funding to creat a second YCRT team, the program will be able to serve all 92 schools in the district, including private and charter schools.
“We have seen — since the initiation of the pilot of the community response team — a really great added layer of support for our students,” said Stephanie Crawford-Goetz, the mental health director for Douglas County School District. “We’re getting really good at having all eyes on kids, making connections and knowing when they’re presenting signs that they’re at risk.”
The YCRT is an expansion on the country’s original Community Response Team, which began in 2017 and also pairs law enforcement with clinicians to stabilize mental health crises in the county.
“Having two specialized teams means that the YCRT team will no longer have to prioritize which call they want to respond to,” said Maggie Cooper, special projects manager for the county.
The commissioners unanimously approved a motion to reallocate about $417,000 for the second youth team. That funding will provide a clinician and case manager for three years. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Offi ce has agreed they can provide an existing deputy for the program this year but may need to hire a new employee for the position beginning in 2023.
“When you put the story of the real benefi t, the real lives that have been impacted, that’s why I think this is such a good investment,” Commissioner Lora Thomas said in the meeting. “Because it’s not only an investment in the schools, it’s an investment in the future.”
In 2021, the YCRT treated 71 children on site and placed 26 into treatment facilities. In that whole year, the team responded to 290 referrals, according to a memo about the team. In the fi rst two months of this year, the team responded to 111 referrals.
“This upward trend is likely to continue with children and youth returning to in-person learning,” according to the memo.
Following the deadly STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting in 2019, the county dedicated $13 million for school safety initiatives, including $823,000 earmarked for mental health services. So far, about $185,000 of that has been spent on surveys, social-emotional curriculum and safety trainings.
During the meeting, Commissioner Abe Laydon asked Crawford-Goetz about why the majority of county funding for mental health initiatives has not yet been utilized. She responded that the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed the rollout of some of their plans but they are still working on carrying out other portions of their initiative.
Laydon said he hopes to see programs where students struggling have some kind of intervention before it becomes a crisis.
“I would be okay with this as long as I think there’s an understanding that you are doing some measure of signifi cant peer support from other sources,” Laydon said.
Crawford-Goetz said it is their priority in these situations.
“First and foremost is prevention, early intervention, being proactive, reaching all of our students before it needs to get to a point where students are in crisis,” she said. “That is where we want to focus the majority of our efforts but we know that there will always be a segment of our population that has intensive needs and we want to be responsible for them as well.”
The initial Youth Crisis Response Team was created in November 2019, just a few months after the STEM shooting.
After students are connected with the youth team, they decide the best way to meet their immediate needs. Then, the student continues to be monitored and contacted by a case manager.
“That’s been phenomenal to follow families and make sure that once they’ve had an initial crisis that they continue to get support and hopefully don’t have a repeat crisis,” CrawfordGoetz said. “What we found with this is that kids could stay in school. They didn’t have to be transported as much.”
Community Response Teams are being utilized by the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce and the Castle Rock, Parker and Lone Tree police departments along with the local
school district. PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES
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Dear Davis Schilken, My family and I are setting off on our dream vacation. We will be traveling around the world for one year on planes, trains, and automobiles! We have an extensive itinerary that covers all six continents, allows us to work remotely, and teach our children on the road. What should we know when it comes to handling our Estate Planning if we’re going on vacation and traveling? Sincerely, Traveling Tommy
Dear Traveling Tommy, Wow, that sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime. We commend anyone that has the gumption to put something like this together! There are a few things you should know when it comes to traveling and your Estate Planning. Always remember, your location of domicile will determine where your Estate is administered. A few things that prove your domicile are your Driver’s License, Tax Filing, Permanent place of residence, and place of involvement. That being said, if something were to happen to you while traveling (locally, nationally, or internationally), the laws where you reside will be the laws that control your Estate Plan and Estate Administration. (Ex. You are domiciled and plan in the State of Colorado, travel to Thailand, and pass away in Thailand. The laws of Colorado will control your Estate Administration.) The fi rst thing you will want to do is review your Estate Planning documents. This includes your Will, Trust (if you have one), Powers of Attorney (Financial and Medical), and your Living Will/Medical Directives. You will want to ensure that your plan still works for you. Next, you will want to communicate with your Fiduciaries or “helpers.” Make sure they know the location of your documents and how they work. Obviously, don’t broadcast your Estate Plan to the world. These are private documents that only the authors and fi duciaries should have knowledge of. You will also want to make sure that your Fiduciaries know where you are traveling. Give them an itinerary or a plan of the places you intend to go and the things you intend to do. You can never be too safe or plan too much when it comes to your Estate Plan and traveling.
If any of your documents need to be updated before you go – don’t hesitate to reach out! Call our offi ce for a no obligation meeting (303)670-9855.
The event is a feeder for Miss America
BY ELLLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After three years of holding its event in Parker, the Miss Colorado competition plans to make the town a permanent home for Memorial Day weekends.
The organization, which is a feeder for the Miss America competition, held their event at Parker’s PACE Center in 2019 and 2021 and is set to do so again this year.
The Parker Chamber of Commerce initiated the agreement after hearing interest in the idea from the organization.
“It’s just an easy economic development win because it brings attention to Parker that week every year,” said T.J. Sullivan, president and CEO of the chamber.
While there is only a contract in progress for this year’s event, the organization’s “intention is to keep it in Parker,” said Mette Castor, co-executive director of Miss Colorado.
PACE Center rates for rentals show the contract will bring in about $11,000 in revenue for the center. The event center can seat up to 500 people per day of the event.
“Hopefully it’s fi nancially benefi cial to the town and businesses,” Castor said.
The contest also incorporates the Miss Colorado’s Outstanding Teen competition during the same weekend. The teen competition is for girls ages 13 to 17 and the Miss Colorado event is for 18- to 26-year-olds.
Both competitions include private interviews with the panel of judges, a talent portion, on stage questions and evening wear. The adult contest also includes a 60-second presentation on a social impact initiative.
“It’s not just a beauty pageant,” Castor said. “Or just a bunch of pretty girls. That’s really not what it is.”
This year’s winner of the Miss Colorado competition will receive a $10,000 cash scholarship. The winner of the teen contest will receive $2,500 in cash and several options for scholarships, such as a full ride to the University of Alabama. The organization hopes in future years to offer scholarships to local universities.
“These are really smart women who have identifi ed this as a path to reach their goals,” Castor said.
As part of the deal, the Miss Colorado Scholarship Organization has joined the Parker chamber as a member. The chamber will be the “Local Host Sponsor” for the event.
Miss Colorado became interested in continuing their relationship with the PACE Center and the town after having a positive experience there during past events.
“They were so accommodating and patient and so great to work with,” Castor said of the PACE Center. “It felt more like they were going to be partners in making our show successful, not just there to do a job.”
The organization also hopes to create a relationship between residents of Parker and the competition.
“For us we want it to be more of a partnership and feeling of community,” she said.
Mette Castor,
co-executive director of Miss Colorado
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