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WEEK OF DECEMBER 14, 2023

VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 41

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Citizens protest Laydon, Teal over Thomas treatment

GRANTS APPROVED Local nonprofits get financial help P2

Dan Meyer, of Highlands Ranch, stands at the lectern during the Douglas County commissioners’ meeting Dec. 5, speaking in support of Commissioner Lora Thomas. Area residents gathered to speak in protest of the way PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD Thomas’ colleagues have treated her.

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

About a dozen members of the public decried the way two of Douglas County’s elected leaders have treated their colleague, with some urging the two to return the powers and privileges they’ve taken from her amid a longstanding 2-1 rift. The long train of public commenters came after several actions by Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal to punish or restrict Commissioner Lora Thomas. “We spoke loud and clear when we elected Lora to represent us,” a man said during the Dec. 5 commissioners meeting in Castle Rock, arguing that the two-leader majority’s actions appear to be “designed to negate” Thomas’ voice. The scene was reminiscent of a March commissioners meeting

where about a dozen speakers criticized the commissioners’ actions, with many taking issue specifically with Laydon and Teal. In the months since, the two-commissioner majority has continued to reprimand Thomas in response to what they say is inappropriate conduct. One commenter at the Dec. 5 meeting called the majority “big bullies.” Thomas has been investigated and criticized, but the commenter said Thomas “has been vindicated in all respects.” In response, Laydon said he feels “a great deal of compassion and sympathy for everyone in this room.” “For you to be called here and gaslit and told a lie is really disconcerting,” Laydon said, also calling Thomas “a reckless agitator.” Laydon later implied that the long session of public comment was “sub-

SPORTS: 12 | VOICES: 14 | LIFE: 16 | CALENDAR: 19

jecting (people) to theater,” eliciting an outcry from members of the audience, who objected to that characterization. Tensions ran high, with some in the audience speaking over Laydon and one man using profanity toward him. “For the record, I was not asked to come here,” the man who made the “we spoke loud and clear” comment also said. “It’s not good to gaslight people, and you should stop.” Cindy Dalton, of Lone Tree, helped organize at least part of the group of speakers that came to the meeting. She has called the majority’s treatment of Thomas “unacceptable” and “unethical.” John Swartout, who identified himself as a resident of Highlands Ranch, said he has worked with both Laydon and Thomas on positive matters. SEE PROTEST, P8

FUNDING SCHOOLS Board considers options

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Nonprofits benefit from county grants BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A Douglas County ceremony marked the awarding of nearly $200,000 in grant funds to organizations that help people with needs that span from older adult services to mental health support to addressing food insecurity for kids. “There are nonprofits in Douglas County ready to provide their services to you, funded in part thanks to $185,000 in grant funds from Douglas County’s 2023 portion of the Philip S. Miller Trust,” the county said in a news release. The selected organizations cast

“a wide safety net” throughout the county by providing programs such as suicide prevention, therapy, medical assistance and emergency financial assistance, among other efforts, the news release said. To benefit Douglas County’s growing older-adult population, organizations that serve older adults each received $25,000 grants separate from the competitive grant process that others went through. Those organizations include Aging Resources of Douglas County, Castle Rock Senior Activity Center and Parker Senior Center, according to the news release. Twenty-four other organiza-

tions applied for and were awarded amounts ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, the news release said. For more than 40 years, Douglas County has awarded more than 80 nonprofit organizations — through the annual, competitive Philip S. Miller grant process — with nearly $8 million for programs that help the community, according to another county news release. At a meeting of Douglas County’s elected leaders on Nov. 14, representatives from the organizations gathered at the commissioners’ headquarters in Castle Rock in celebration of receiving this year’s grant funds. Here’s a look at those that received funding. Who got grant funds

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The 2023 Philip S. Miller grant fund recipients, according to the county’s list, include: • Backpack Society — A nonprofit based in Highlands Ranch that collects food donations and raises funds for students struggling with food insecurity. It partners with schools in the Douglas County and Littleton school districts to reach students in need. Received $5,000. • Bridge of Hope — Provides housing and supportive services for single mothers and their children, according to Douglas County staff. Received $2,000. • Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation, or CALF — CALF connects people to agriculture through “authentic” educational programs, community projects and leadership opportunities, according to its website. Received $2,000. • Crisis Center — The Crisis Center works to end domestic violence through advocacy, education and prevention. Received $10,000. • Help & Hope Center — A nonprofit providing assistance to people in Douglas and Elbert counties who are in “serious economic need,” at risk of homelessness or in a similar crisis, providing food and other necessities, according to its website. Received $10,000. • Integrated Family Community Services — IFCS “helps individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency,” its website says. It offers financial assistance, access to food, school supplies, holiday grocery boxes and recreation center vouchers. Received $5,000.

• Manna Resource Center — A faith-based nonprofit that works to strengthen individuals and families in Douglas and Arapahoe counties and the surrounding area through “programs that provide holistic care and support in the areas of self-sufficiency, wellness, and family development,” its website says. Received $5,000. • Manna Care food pantry — Received $2,000. • Parker Task Force — Dedicated to providing individuals and families with food, limited financial assistance and other support services to help them become self-sufficient, its website says. Received $5,000. • SECOR Cares — Short for Southeast Community Outreach, SECOR helps people “faced with suburban poverty, restoring hope and dignity, and guiding them toward a selfsufficient life,” its website says. Received $2,000. • Doctors Care — A nonprofit dedicated to improving health access for low-income people in the south Denver metro area. Received $10,000. • Douglas County Christian Counseling — An organization with “professionals who will guide you or your loved ones toward the wellbeing of body, mind, and spirit,” its website says. Received $5,000. • Step Seven Ministries — Helps people build long-term, sustainable recovery from drug and alcohol use. Received $2,000. • Southeast Christian Counseling Center — “At Southeast Christian Counseling Center, we are honored to provide quality, accessible therapy in Parker, Colorado and the Denver Metro region for people of all faiths,” the organization’s website says. Received $10,000. • Lady Trailblazer — An organization that works “to enrich and empower the lives of every girl, in every community,” its website says. Received $2,000. • Best Buddies in Colorado — Best Buddies International is a nonprofit “dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD),” its website says. Received SEE GRANTS, P4

December 14, 2023

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Zillow Predicts More Homes for Sale and Improved Affordability Next Year

Zillow’s prediction for the housing market in 2024 rings true for me, as an active real estate broker. Early expectations that mortgage interest rates would fall back below 5% kept some would-be buyers from pulling the trigger, but now it’s beginning to sink in that interest rates will stay high, probably in the 7% range. Home prices are also moderating a little, so buyers who can tolerate higher interest rates are coming off the fence, just as sellers are noticing that homes are selling well in the current environment, albeit for slightly less than they might have received last year. Meanwhile, would-be home sellers who locked in 3% or lower interest rates on their current home have been described as “rate locked,” unwilling to give up their low mortgage rate and move up (or down) to another home with a higher interest rate. But Zillow feels that a growing number of such would-be sellers have grown weary of waiting for rates to drop and are ready to bite that bullet. Another option not mentioned by Zillow in their article is that of selling and moving into a rental, especially if they are seniors who will have a big capital gain (after taxes) that will outlive them, or if they want to keep their options open for

buying in the future or moving to another city, state or country. Another strategy suggested by Zillow is to hold onto one’s current home as an investment property, generating more than enough rental income to pay for a rental elsewhere. The article assumes that you’ll maintain your current low interest rate on your home, although that rate was for owner-occupied property, not an investment property. If your home has a reverse mortgage, you must pay it off if you move out, which likely means you’d have to sell your home, not put it on the rental market. Here’s their prediction of the national market for next year: “Zillow’s latest forecast calls for home values to hold steady in 2024, falling 0.2%. Predicting how mortgage rates will move is a nearly impossible task, but recent inflation news gives the impression that rates are likely to hold fairly steady as well in the coming months. Taken together, the cost of buying a home looks to be on track to level off next year, with the possibility of costs falling if mortgage rates do.”

Meanwhile, as we approach the holidays, look at the market statistics in this chart of last week’s MLS activity on REcolorado within 18 miles of downtown Denver. It’s no surprise to me that the biggest number is that of price reductions, yet we are still seeing a healthy number of new listings, listings that went under contract and listings that closed last week. In other words, this is a market that is not stagnating. It is just waiting for more right-priced listings to satisfy pent-up demand by buyers, not all of whom are off the fence — yet. I’m often asked whether winter is a good time to sell a home. Well, I just listed a $1.5 million home in Golden, and in the first 24 hours of it being “coming soon” on the MLS, over 10 agents with buyers set a showing for it. It drew multiple offers — the first one before showings began — and sold above it’s asking price

in 4 days. I have another listing going on the market in mid-January, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets the same reception. It’s all about knowing the right price in that listing’s neighborhood. These two listings just happen to be in highly desirable subdivisions and in excellent condition. A listing elsewhere might get fewer showings and end up becoming one of the “price reduced” statistics. Winter, I’ve found, is a great time to list a home because there are still lots of buyers getting automated email alerts of new listings, and there are fewer listings competing for their attention.

The amount of new construction in the Denver metro area, especially of apartment buildings, has been dazzling. All year, for example, I’ve been following the construction of a 340-unit apartment building across from my 2-bed-room rental at Solana Lakewood, and last week Rita and I moved into a 3-bedroom rental in GW Apartments, a brand new building on South Golden Road. A block away on the other side of South Golden Road, there’s a yellow rezoning sign stating that a 353unit mixed-use project is planned on what is currently vacant land. Yes, new single-family homes are still being built, but they are far outnumbered by rental apartment buildings, and it’s not slowing down. About a decade ago, the construction of condos stalled because of a surge in construction defect litigation by lawyers representing condo associations the way personal injury lawyers operate. Legislation was eventually passed to reduce the incidence of such lawsuits, but it didn’t bring

back the construction of condos as many observers had expected. Developers accelerated the building of rental units as condo development stalled, and it just kept accelerating after that construction defect issue was mitigated. The completion of the FasTracks’ light rail and commuter rail project created a boom in TOD — transit-oriented development, almost entirely rental apartment buildings — within blocks of virtually every light rail and commuter rail station. Now, with the cost of mortgage lending so much higher — more than doubled in the past 20 months — the boom in apartment construction and demand remains unabated. Meanwhile, we’re seeing a slowdown in single-family construction, with the emphasis on higher-density multi-unit construction. There is also a new emphasis on local governments allowing single-family lots to add ADUs — accessory dwelling units — which is further increasing housing density across the metro area.

This Column Will Henceforth Appear Here In Every Issue

For nearly two decades this “Real Estate Today” column has been published in three Jefferson County weekly newspapers as well as every Thursday in the Denver Post’s YourHub section. We’re pleased to add this newspaper to the list of newspapers carrying our column. I hope you find it informative. You can see the variety of topics I’ve written about over the years by visiting the complete archive of this column at www.JimSmithColumns.com.

Expect More Housing Density, Mostly Apartments

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727 CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835 GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922 AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071 KATHY JONKE, 303-990-7428 “I cannot do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good I can do.” —Jana Stanfield

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GRANTS FROM PAGE 2

$5,000. • Castle Country Assisted Living — A nonprofit that offers assisted living and services to the “valued elder citizens” of Douglas County, its website says. Received $2,000. • Colorado Lions Camp — An effort to provide “exceptional camping programs to individuals with disabilities which promote independence,” its website says. Received $5,000. • Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation — Its mission is to “respond to the urgent needs of Coloradans with cancer by providing financial assistance with dignity and humanity,” its website says. Received $2,000. • Colorado State University Extension in Douglas County — The office’s goal is to assist people with questions about gardening, wildlife, 4-H and other needs. (“Head, heart, hands and

health” are the four “Hs” in 4-H, a youth development program.) Received $5,000. • Douglas County Library Foundation — The Douglas County Libraries Foundation delivers funding and resources to help sustain Douglas County Libraries and positively impact community members, its website says. Received $5,000. • Folds of Honor — A website for Folds of Honor says: “Since 2007, we’ve provided life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military (service members). And now, our mission expands to the families of America’s first responders.” Received $5,000. • Friends of Douglas County K-9 — A nonprofit committed to the financial support of the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office K-9 Unit. Received $2,000. • Rocky Mountain Wildlife Alliance — Its vision is to elevate the care and protection of Rocky Mountain wildlife by fostering a sense of community and collaboration, its website says. Re-

ceived $2,000. • Aging Resources of Douglas County — A nonprofit “community aging center” that connects people to services, information and resources that promote aging well and with independence, its website says. Received $25,000. • Castle Rock Senior Activity Center — Its mission is to make life more fulfilling and create community for seniors. Received $25,000. • Parker Senior Center — Its website describes the center as “your home for clubs, entertainment, fitness, meals, and activities.” Received $25,000. Source of funding

The Miller Grant Program is the legacy of Douglas County businessman and philanthropist Philip Simon Miller and his wife, who established The Philip S. Miller Charitable Trust in 1980, according to a county news release. “In 1980, the Millers, having no children, established the trust and named nine beneficiaries to receive an annual

cash distribution from income generated by the trust upon their deaths. Trust distributions are to be used ‘exclusively for charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes,’” the county’s website says. As one of the beneficiaries of the trust, Douglas County established the Miller Grant Program to administer the funds received from the trust. Community foundation involved

As part of a multi-year agreement with the county, the Douglas County Community Foundation administered the 2023 grant process. “The county commissioners will continue their accountability for the funds via the evaluation of funding recommendations and the final decision for distribution,” the county said in a news release. The Douglas County Community Foundation is committed to “providing support to local nonprofit organizations serving the needs within our community,” its website says.

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Douglas County offices will close at noon on Friday, Dec. 22 and will be closed Monday, Dec. 25 in observance of the Christmas Holiday. Many services are available at DoItOnlineDouglas.com

Funds available to veterans Emergency assistance is available for veterans struggling with housing (mortgage/rent), transportation, employment, healthcare or other emergency needs. To apply for the veteran assistance funds, visit douglasveterans.org or call 303-663-6200.

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E-recycling Monday through Friday, and occasional Saturdays Voters on Nov. 7 approved a $66 million annual increase for Douglas County School District teachers and staff. Ballot Issue 5A and 5B goes into effect next year. PHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES

School board considers alternative funding for new schools BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Douglas County School District will likely seek partnerships with charters to build elementary schools in Sterling Ranch and the Canyons after voters opposed a $484 million bond in November. The bond, known as 5B on the ballot, would have funded three new schools, school expansions and building maintenance. At the Dec. 6 school board retreat, Superintendent Erin Kane told the board that in order to open schools in high-demand neighborhoods by 2026, the district will have to work with charters. With continuing growth in the district and a need to maintain schools,

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Kane also said staff will probably recommend the board put another bond on the 2024 ballot. “The further we put the bond out, the more debt we will have to go into and the more cost to our taxpayers,” Kane said. Sterling Ranch and the Canyons, two of the neighborhoods that would have had an elementary school built if the 2023 bond had passed, are “on fire” with student growth, Kane said. Without bond money, the district may work with charters to build schools in the area by providing land. Kane said the charters wouldn’t be a replacement for neighborhood schools, but a faster solution to capacity issues. SEE FUNDING, P6

Visit douglas.co.us

December 14, 2023De

FUNDING FROM PAGE 5

“Right now, our value proposition for people moving to Douglas County is we need them to move in but I have to bus their children to a mobile school,” Kane said. Growth in Crowfoot Valley and Ridgegate has also outpaced the district’s estimates and will also need new elementary schools soon. Kane said it’s unlikely voters would approve a bond for five elementary schools and some neighborhoods need a more timely solution, hence seeking charter partnerships. Kane said staff will likely recommend to the board at a January meeting to begin the application process for charters in Sterling Ranch and the Canyons to try and open schools in 2026. “If we’re able to get a charter in Sterling Ranch, for example, it gives

us the room to put one of the other places that is on fire on the bond request,” she said. The district can tailor the applications to request charters that would weight student enrollment for local students and those with special education needs, to assure the schools help ease the capacity concerns until the district can build schools. Another fallout from the failure of the bond is that the district will need to use funding from their reserves to fix around $20 million in immediate maintenance issues that threaten to close buildings. “It’s not sustainable and it’s a statement to the public that we don’t have this money in the couch cushions,” Kane said. Delaying the capital projects outlined in the 2023 bond, including the new schools, will mean an approximate 5% increase per year in the cost for that work to be completed. Similarly, waiting to fix building issues can lead to mount-

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The Douglas County School Board.

ing spending for temporary solutions or unintended consequences, Kane said. “When you have a boiler or something that should have been replaced, but wasn’t, and it leaks, now you’re paying for all of the water damage in addition to replacing it,” she said. In order to address the mainte-

PHOTO BY MCKENNA HARFORD

nance needs and growth, Kane said staff will probably recommend the board return to voters for a bond in 2024. Kane said next year is the district’s next chance to ask voters for a tax-neutral bond, which would allow the district to finance capital work without increasing the cost to taxpayers, or else, in 2028.

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Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas applauds on stage at PHOTOS BY ELLIS ARNOLD the 2023 State of the County event in Lone Tree.

PROTEST FROM PAGE 1

“This can’t stand. This conflict has gotten out of everyone’s control,” Swartout said at the meeting. He added: “Let’s figure this out from the heart because this kind of treatment of Commissioner Thomas and the resulting conflict cannot stand.” Between pushing for an investigation and currently fighting a lawsuit Thomas filed to recoup legal fees, the county will have spent about $50,000 at the direction of Teal and Laydon. The current legal battle has reached at least $26,000 in legal fees, while the initial investigation of Thomas cost $24,000. Thomas restrained

Some of the actions against Thomas that the commenters took issue with include the following: • Laydon and Teal voted to censure — or formally disapprove of — Thomas at an Aug. 22 meeting in response to what one of the leaders has called public shaming of county volunteers with inaccurate information. For a look at the arguments behind the censure vote, see Colorado Community Media’s coverage at tinyurl.com/ThomasCensure. • Around that time, Laydon and Teal voted to remove Thomas from outside boards, or committees, that oversee organizations in the community. Teal and Laydon had also voted to remove her from leadership on outside entities around the early part of this year. See more details in CCM’s coverage at tinyurl.com/ThomasBoards.

Douglas County Commissioner George Teal speaks at the 2023 State of the County event in Lone Tree.

• Teal and Laydon voted at a Sept. 5 meeting to cancel Thomas’ county credit card, to suspend her travel and mileage allowance, and to take other action regarding Thomas’ expenses. The county credit card covers spending for items like hotel rooms and airline travel on county business, according to county staff. See more details at tinyurl. com/ThomasExpenses. Laydon has said a county policy manual provides for “budgetary restrictions” for those who break policy. Laydon and Teal had based their vote to censure Thomas on what they say is “behavior contrary to the Douglas County commissioner code of conduct.” Authority for actions

As for how the moves square with county policy, the Douglas County Commissioners policy manual outlines actions commissioners can take against each other. “The Board of County Commissioners may impose sanctions on commissioners whose conduct does not comply with the Board’s ethical standards, such as reprimand, formal censure, loss of committee assignment, and/or budget restriction,” the manual says. See the manual at douglas.co.us/ board-county-commissioners/transparency/policies-procedures. Investigations in focus

The investigations of Thomas came up again at the meeting — as they so often do in the world of the Douglas County Board of Commissioners. The disputes on the board form a complicated story.

Among other accusations, Laydon has said Thomas had attacked first responders by sharing an anonymous letter. On the other hand, Thomas has said an investigation was “exonerating” of her. Here’s a look at the ins and outs. Teal and Laydon had initiated an investigation after accusing Thomas of circulating an anonymous letter that criticized specific employees in the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office, allegedly creating a hostile work environment. They also accused her of emailing county legal representation with a request not authorized by the full board. The investigation into Thomas by outside legal counsel found that while Thomas had distributed the letter, doing so did not create a hostile work environment. It also found she did draft correspondence to legal counsel without informing the board. The outside legal counsel’s investigation report says: “Commissioner Thomas published the Alleged Deputy Letter on the website for her 2022 campaign for Douglas County Sheriff. In at least one public appearance during that campaign, Commissioner Thomas encouraged the audience to visit the website for her 2022 campaign for Douglas County Sheriff in order to review the Alleged Deputy Letter. Multiple witnesses reported seeing Commissioner Thomas personally distribute the Alleged Deputy Letter at the 2022 Republican Assembly for Douglas County.” SEE PROTEST, P9

December 14, 2023

PROTEST FROM PAGE 8

“I find it more likely than not that Commissioner Thomas used the Alleged Deputy Letter to support her 2022 political campaign for Douglas County Sheriff,” the report adds. Separately, regarding the context of Thomas’ alleged misdirection of legal counsel, the report says the board of county commissioners had a discussion regarding residents of the San Luis Valley region in southern Colorado who feared personal and financial retribution for speaking out about the “RWR proposal.” (That appears to be a reference to a controversial proposal to pump about 22,000 acre-feet of water per year to Douglas County from the San Luis Valley. Renewable Water Resources is the private company that proposed the project.) The report says the board’s direction was to “ensure that those vulnerable individuals were protected from disclosure of their personal identifying information.” Thomas drafted correspondence to legal counsel, “without informing the board, that was contrary to this board direction and (signed) it as the (then) chair of the board of county commissioners,” the report says. That legal counsel, Stephen Leonhardt — apparently in response to Thomas’ correspondence — told Thomas in an email in April 2022 that he “can request that (someone) circulate a sign-up sheet

conducted by the Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office — did not find probable cause to believe that Thomas committed the crime of first-degree official misconduct. “The Colorado criminal code does not specifically prohibit a waiver of privileged and confidential information by a privilege holder. In this case, as a member of the Board of County Commissioners, Lora Thomas is a privilege holder,” Arapahoe County Sheriff ’s Office Sgt. Bruce Peterson wrote in a memorandum. Laydon has argued Arapahoe County “got it wrong” in evaluating Thomas’ actions, saying “the privileged holder of a confidential document is the board” and not just one member of the board. He based his point on the understanding of the law of Chris Pratt, then interim Douglas County attorney. Thomas’ stance has been that there’s a lack of evidence to justify Abe Laydon, county commissioner, speaks at Douglas County’s 2023 State of the Laydon and Teal’s actions toward her. County event that highlighted the county government’s actions over the past year. Laydon has argued that “there is a The gathering took place Nov. 15 at the Douglas County School District Legacy Campus PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD difference between criminal liabilin Lone Tree. ity and civil” wrongdoing. for the attendees at each meeting cussing the confidential report that At the commissioners’ meeting identify themselves on a list … I un- showed the results of the investiga- on Dec. 5 this year, Thomas told derstand that some of the attend- tion, prompting the Douglas Coun- the audience: “I work for all of you, ees may desire that their identities ty government’s attorney to find and nothing they ever do will ever not be made public; ultimately the that Thomas could have broken the change that.” Board will decide whether any in- law by doing so. Aside from accusations against formation that we provide will beThomas had asserted multiple Thomas, claims were raised about come a public record.” times in meetings and in her news- Teal and Laydon from several years See the investigation report at letter to constituents that she be- ago during the Dec. 5 meeting. One tinyurl.com/ThomasReport. lieves the privileged nature of the man brought up an accusation that document had already been bro- Teal lied about his military record, Aftermath of the first investigation ken by Laydon discussing parts of it and he also brought up Laydon’s Thomas appeared in a CBS Colo- publicly. charge of driving under the influrado news story in July 2022 disAnother investigation — this time ence.

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Local veterinarians offer information, caution on infectious canine respiratory illness BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An infectious respiratory illness is impacting dogs across the country, including in Colorado, but national and local veterinarians say there are a lot of unknowns about the illness. The illness may be caused by several factors, according to City Vet Highlands Ranch Veterinary Clinic Dr. Jessica Shepler. “I know some of the specialists have tested animals and received some inconclusive results,” Shepler said. She described the illness as akin to a known bacterium but also showing traits of known viruses.

“When I’m speaking to clients, I’m definitely referencing it as a bacteria or virus. Because I just don’t know,” she said. “We’re not convinced that it’s not multiple things going on at once, either.” Although there are so many unknowns, Shepler and other local vets have been following the illness for several months. “This is something that has been going on for many months for us,” Shepler said. “We first started seeing it early summer, like May-June timeframe. And it progressively got a little bit worse.” She said that the news has peaked now because the story has gotten

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Dog owners are urged to consult a vet at PHOTO BY JUAN FIGUEROA the first sign of a cough.

out on social media. “I was actually kind of surprised when I started hearing all the news stories coming out about it, because we have we’ve been dealing with it for more than six months,” she said. Treating area pets has helped Shepler and other Colorado veterinarians, including the veterinarian team at Colorado State University. “CSU has been instrumental in

helping increase diagnostic testing in hopes of finding a primary cause of the outbreak,” said Dr. Gillian Gwartz, program veterinarian in the State Veterinarian’s Office. “We still don’t have a single conclusive causative agent, but we’re working with select vet clinics to try to get more samples to see if we can find a pattern.” This information helps vets guide pet owners in how to prevent the mystery illness and on what to do if their pet becomes ill. The most important thing is to vaccinate the animals and yourselves, according to Dr. Shepler. “We’re not seeing terribly high numbers when it comes to death rates or those severe infections,” Shepler said. “But it is a persistent cough. I think the basics are still the same. Make sure that you’re healthy and vaccinated before interacting with others. I think the same goes for our pets. “Just make sure that your pets are fully vaccinated, that they have all their core vaccines like rabies, and

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SEE DOG ILLNESS, P11

December 14, 2023

DOG ILLNESS FROM PAGE 10

Parvo, distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza,” Shepler continued. “And that we’re also vaccinating them regularly for Bordetella as well as the canine influenza or the canine flu.” Shepler said that vaccines may not prevent pets from falling ill, but it will ensure that several possible contributors to the mystery illness are covered. “It’s not going to provide 100% immunity. No vaccine does,” Shepler said. “But it does give the dog’s body something to go off of and some information (for vets) to start tracking.” At a recent panel by Trupanion pet insurance, Colorado State University’s Dr. Michael Lappin, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences reassured pet owners that going to the vet for those vaccines and checks was not a risk.

He said that the facilities have biosecurity protocols in place to keep pets, owners and staff safe. “If you’re only there for your routine vaccines, or you’re there for your cancer appointment or your ear infection appointment, we still want people to come in,” he said. “We’re doing our security measures. So, your animal won’t catch those things while you’re there.” Outside of vaccinations, vets are not calling for precautions with healthy pets. According to Shepler, pet owners shouldn’t worry until there are serious symptoms. She urges owners to take a coughing dog to the vet to get evaluated and treated early. “I think pet owners should start worrying when their pet is not acting like themselves,” she said. “If they’re not eating and drinking, if they seem extra tired, or lethargic if they have any sort of difficulty breathing, where it seems like their breath is really shallow, or that they

can expand their chest completely or fill their lungs with air. Obviously, that is much more concerning and becomes an emergency situation.” She went on to say that any dog, “with a cough should get checked out, just to make sure that everything is stable, and then to get started on appropriate treatment.” There is a risk of pneumonia and other more severe illnesses connected to this mysterious condition. However, Shepler said that local vets are seeing a vast majority of dogs who get the illness recover. “I think the most important thing to know is that while a few pets are getting some secondary complications that can be more life-threatening, the vast majority of the pets that we’ve seen at least, are very stable,” said Shepler. “They come in with good energy. They come in with normal vital signs, but owners just report this persistent nagging cough.” Shepler urges pet owners to see a vet when the cough starts. In addi-

tion, she reassures owners that most pets are coming out of the illness just fine. “In the 20-25 cases that we’ve seen here at the City Vet clinic, we only have two or three that have needed more significant intervention because they have developed a secondary pneumonia,” Shepler said. “So for the most part, this is an annoying disease. But for many of our patients, it has not become lifethreatening.” If your pet shows signs of a cough, fever or a change in behavior, contact your local vet. Make sure your pets are fully vaccinated before boarding, visiting other homes with pets or going to dog parks. For more information on the illness, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website, watch the Trupanion panel on the illness on the webpage for Canine Respiratory Illness Q & A with Trupanion or contact Shepler at City Vet Highlands Ranch at 720-924-3033.

December 14, 2023De

Mountain Vista girls cross country shines on national stage Golden Eagles claim third in historic Nike Cross Nationals BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After finishing third at the Nike Cross Southwest Regionals in Arizona, Mountain Vista was unsure if they’d receive that golden ticket phone call. The first- and second-place teams from regionals get automatic bids at the Nike Cross Nationals (NXN), but finishing third doesn’t guarantee you a spot. The Golden Eagles of Highlands Ranch missed out last year. But this time, after finishing third with 107 points at the regionals in Mesa, the phone rang. “It was pretty special (to get that call),” Head Coach Jonathan Dalby said. “There are only 22 high schools in the country that get to compete at

It was a muddy Dec. 2 at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Oregon, this weekend. Mountain Vista’s girls cross country team COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN VISTA XC finished third in the event after punching their ticket to nationals after a third-place regional performance.

nationals. It’s six months of prep for the girls to try and get there, so it’s

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pretty cool.” Vista traveled to Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 2 to compete against the nation’s best runners. The Golden Eagles made the most of their opportunity, and the Pacific Northwest lived up to its wet, muddy reputation. Still, the Golden Eagles shocked everyone but themselves, finishing in the top three after being ranked outside the top 10 going into the event. It was all Colorado at nationals: Air Academy finished first with 61 points, getting revenge on Niwot after coming in second to them in regionals. Niwot finished second with

72 points, and the Golden Eagles finished third with 163 points. It marks the first time in NXN history that one state has swept the top three spots. And, it was an exclamation point for Air Academy, which recently had finished first at the Class 5A state championship with an overall score of 26. For Mountain Vista, the performance was vindication. “The girls were pretty disappointed after the state meet this year,” Dalby said. “We just had an off day and didn’t put it together that day. I think SEE VISTA, P13

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Mountain Vista’s girls cross country team beams after claiming third at the Nike Cross COURTESY OF MOUNTAIN VISTA XC Nationals in Portland, Oregon, on Dec. 2.

VISTA

ond-Team All-State runners in 5A. Junior Peyton Adams finished highest for the Golden Eagles at 31st overall. “Being here is something like I’ve never experienced,” Vista junior Riley Combe said. “Most of us have run for three years in high school so far, and coming to NXN is a whole different experience. All of it is so different than anything you’re used to. The running part is the best because it’s somewhat normal compared to everything else going on this trip.” Wins like this help reinforce to the Golden Eagles that they’re a force not just in the area, but in the entire country. Not that they need reminding. Mountain Vista consistently finishes near the top of the state standings and often brings a title back home. As the pursuit for another state title begins, this strong national showing brings early momentum for a revenge tour in 2024. Plus, the team is bringing almost everyone back.

FROM PAGE 12

they’d been very resilient in not giving up. So, we rallied back and had a great day down there.” Mountain Vista finished fifth overall in the Class 5A state championship in November with 143 points, just behind area schools Cherry Creek (135) and Chaparral (134). Once the Golden Eagles got their call to nationals, they were determined to make the most of the experience, regardless of the outcome. “We just wanted to be happy, no n-matter the result, and work hard for each other,” Vista sophomore Carly s-Christians said in an interview with opMilesplit. “We just wanted to go out a-there and do it for each other.” ch The message was just to “finish heon empty,” according to junior Zoe anBrandt. Both Brandt and sophomore Claire Guiberson were named Secr-

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VOICES Heading to 45

t’s my birthday month. My birthday is on the very last day of the year. Many celebrate it under the guise of it being New Year’s Eve. I know for FROM THE many, turning 50 is the big mile EDITOR marker year, but for some reason this year, 44 going into 45 has been a year full of reflection. I am a busy mother with young children. There are drawThelma Grimes backs to waiting to have children when you’re older. As a nearly 45-year-old, I have to say when the 7-year-old is asking you for another game of 1v1 basketball you say no while trying to catch your breath after losing the first game. So, as a parent, I reflected a lot this year on being better in many ways and also being more accepting. That’s a hard thing for a control freak like me. My teenage daughter and I have a much better relationship after I reevaluated the standards I hold her to while realizing they can’t be the standards I would set for myself. I also looked at boundaries a lot more heading into year 45. How many boundaries should I set at work? What boundaries do I set with elected leaders who call or text on weekends or evenings? Believe me, with all the local elections this year — I had to evaluate when I took calls from candidates and the time I gave them outside of work hours. It is hard as an editor when you interrupt a game or conversation with your kids because you must “take this call.” I would say it was a victory in several of those categories. I have established more boundaries. I have been more present with kids. However, I still think I have room for improvement. I also spoke up a lot more this year. That came with both negative and positive outcomes. Me being more outspoken at home where I take care of my parents and am responsible for a lot has been good

and bad. In my professional life — same outcome. In some ways, me speaking up more is good. In some ways, I could have done better in how I did it. Heading to 45, I also looked at myself a lot. Early last year, I even wrote a column about how my New Year’s resolution was to cut myself a break. In some areas I did. I allowed myself to understand I can’t do everything. Nor should I. I can’t control everything. That is an impossible goal. It’s OK to not expect to be in charge of everything. However, I can’t stress enough that cutting yourself a break as a mother is probably where I did not meet the goal. Man, do I worry that it’s my fault the 7-year-old is not at the reading level he should be. A bit of disagreement with the hockey coach did not make my 10-yearold son happy even if I was saying something in his best interest. I constantly worry about my kids’ mental and physical health and rarely cut myself a break in those regards. Then, there is self-improvement. Heading into 45 I have vowed to work on myself. I started seeing a therapist and talking about my feelings. For a bit, it was helpful. However, like most moms, I could not justify the cost, insurance does not pay for it, and the hour sessions ended up being me talking about how to care for my parents, family and deal with work. Not so much about me and my actual feelings. Now, I look at 45. How can I take more steps to help myself? I am hoping some change of scenery will help that. I am hoping to get into the natural therapy we have around us in the coming year. Hiking, road trips and more should help me become healthier mentally and physically as I look at the next five years heading into 50. For those who know me, the fact that I am creating a five-year plan heading into 50 would not surprise any of them. Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media.

Hope amid hopelessness

hen dreams shatter, despair tightens its grip. Hurting people often lose sight of hope, instead spiraling into cynicism. Yet even in life’s bleakest moments, hope flickers for those determined to find its light. During seasons of widespread hopelessness, aspiring to hope takes courage and defiance. Hope is not denial of hardship, but refusal to let hardship have the final word. Authentic hope stares suffering in the face, mourns loss deeply, then still dares to ask — what’s possible now? It is grief and optimism entwined. Sometimes we must help rekindle hope’s faded embers in others. We can be the hopeful friend who will listen without judgment when people unload their bitterness. We can gently remind them of their strength and that better days will come. Other times, hope is a quiet personal choice — a private beacon only we can see. We tend its flame through prayer, Scripture, or moments of beauty that pierce the fog. We shield hope from the hurricane of despair raging around us. Living hopefully does not minimize others’ pain or imply we have answers they lack. It simply means we cling to possibility and light rather than drowning in gloom with them. We soften rather than harden. Zig Ziglar had a famous quote, “The doors of hope swing widest on the hinges of encouragement.” Who are you encouraging today? Who is encouraging you today? Either way, and sometimes both ways, hope is being transferred. During seasons of widespread hope-

lessness, hoping feels like an act of defiance. It is refusing to let darkness dim our vision for the future. When hope seems most improbable, that is when nurturing hope matters most. A single hopeful person can spark revival. Even when you feel Michael Norton alone in your hope, believe brighter days are coming. Hope floats on the winds of God’s faithfulness, rising and falling for a time but never fully vanishing. Where hope persists, joy follows. “It’s always something, to know you’ve done the most you could. But don’t leave off hoping, or it’s of no use doing anything. Hope, hope to the last.” - Charles Dickens As the glow of twinkling lights brightens winter’s darkness, the season of Advent arrives. These four weeks leading up to Christmas offer a sacred chance to slow down, reflect, and reconnect to hope. By practicing spiritual disciplines that prepare our hearts, we can live expectantly even amid life’s pain. Advent hope sustains us. Hope looks small and fragile in a manger, yet its power spans eternity. During Advent, we remember the birth of Jesus — God entering our world to walk alongside us with endless grace. This humble arrival birthed unstoppable hope.

WINNING WORDS

SEE NORTON, P15

December 14, 2023

Older adults encouraged to minimize risk

am Ryan Falkner, the Senior Resource Deputy at the Douglas County Sheriff ’s Office. I have been with the sheriff ’s office for 16 years. During my time, I have been assigned to the jail, inmate transportation, court security, patrol, and now community resources. I have also been on special teams such as S.O.R.T. (SWAT for the jail), S.D.U. (riot control), and Wildland Fire Crew. I was the corporal for court security before I moved to this role. I took this role to pursue my passion as Senior Resource Deputy. I have the utmost respect for previous generations as I recognize their efforts to make my generation better. With that, I want to thank everyone for their struggles, my life has been a blessing partly because of those actions. If it wasn’t for the struggles your generation went through, I would not have such a wonderful life. I am honored for this opportunity to give back to those I care deeply about. The focus of my position is to educate and inform older adults, staff members, and loved ones to minimize victimization of our senior citizens. I will be spreading information in several ways: social media, websites, pamphlets, one on one consul-

tation, and group classes. I will stay up to date on all crime trends within the communities of the county. I plan on being in the communities as much as possible. This is an effort for everyone to get comfortable with me and vice versa. I Ryan Falkner look forward to the role of your Senior Resource Deputy. During my presentation on Thursday, Feb. 1 for Seniors’ Council of Douglas County, I will talk about overall crime and safety tips for each of the following: scam protection, personal safety, and house safety. Please join us at the Castle Rock Library, 100 S. Wilcox St., at 10 a.m. to learn how to remain safe at home and around our community. Seniors’ Council aims to educate, engage, and advocate for older adults. We meet on the first Thursday of the month; meetings are free and open to the public. For information and up to date information please visit douglas. co.us/community-services/services/ senior-services/seniors-council.

NORTON

Prepare your heart, then celebrate hope’s birth on Christmas with childlike wonder. This Advent, nurture soul-stirring hope through prayer, service and song. Let it light your path today and all year through. Hope rises with the dawn — certain and resilient. It always springs anew for those who seek its glow. How about you? At a time when the world is at such odds, is your heart filled with hope? Or do you feel a little bit, or maybe even, heavy hopelessness? Either way, my hope is that you will lean into some of what I have written here and then share your story of hope with me at gotonorton@gmail. com, and when we can share some of our own hope with those who need it most, 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.

FROM PAGE 14

No matter how crushed we feel, hope lifts our gaze. When December busyness threatens to swallow us, Advent calls us to savor prayerful stillness. Carve out quiet moments to ask God to renew your weary soul. Let hope soak into your spirit. Allow sacred words from Scripture or devotional poetry to marinate. Find rest in God’s presence. Another Advent spiritual practice is serving others with compassion. Reach out to the lonely or those hurting in your community. Pack shoeboxes for needy children. Deliver meals to homebound neighbors. Tangible acts of kindness fan the flames of love — our surest source of hope. And as Christmas nears, kindle hope through song and symbolism. Deck ancient halls to welcome God anew. Sing carols declaring joyous hope like “O Holy Night” or “Joy to the World.”

LIVING AND AGING WELL

Memory In Loving

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

December 14, 2023D

LOCAL

LIFE

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

taring into a kiln glowing orange at 2,350 degrees, an artist armed with thick leather gloves holds a fragile piece of molten glass at the end of a steel rod. This is the point where creativity, talent and inspiration combine to create a one-of-a-kind piece of glass never to be duplicated. Sand and silica are the main components; soda ash and lime are combined to the mixture as raw ingredients, Corey Siverman of The Furnace: A Glassworks in Lakewood said. Industrial glass that’s made in a factory by machines works in a different way versus what we do by hand. The Furnace is a glass workshop that dedicates 90% of its production to retail sales, according to Siverman. Thousands of ornaments will be handmade and shipped from this location. “I have galleries all around the country. I’ve got over 100 galleries that buy my work,” Siverman said during a recent interview at his small production facility. “I sell to magazines. I sell to corporate gift companies. I sell to a lot of retail buyers through our store here. As well as Etsy, so we have a wide variety of customers.” The months leading up to the holidays are the busiest time of year for Siverman and his coowner and wife, Leanne. Siverman started blowing glass objects/art more than 30 years ago, he said he’s still learning. “You start with a clear glass that’s molten out of the furnace at 2,100 degrees, gather it up on your blowpipe, and apply a color called Frit,” Siverman said. “You then reheat the glass, shape it and put a bubble into it after you put a pattern into it with your color. Once you’ve got your shape the way you want it you let it stabilize, you finish it off and put it in the oven (about 500 degrees) for as many as 12 hours.”

The Furnace is not only a commercial facility, employing less than a dozen production and distribution assistants, it’s a learning environment, offering introductory instruction to anyone with a desire to learn the craft. “You learn something every time you walk through the door,” Siverman said about the classes. However, patience, practice and commitment are prerequisites. “People ask me, ‘How long will it take me to get good?’” Silverman said. “I like to tell people it’s a 10year commitment before you’re really good at this. You have to be very committed to it.” Yet, each piece is completely original to the artist. “The goal is to make products that will not be like anything you’ve ever seen before,” Siverman said. Cremation Glass Art offers ashes in eternal suspension In an unassuming garage in Greeley, an artist incorporates the cremated ashes of loved ones

and even pets into molded and forged glass pieces that are incomparable. “For the cremation art I do believe that working with human ashes is what hits my heart and soul the most,” said Tiffany Koehn with Red Manx Studio. During a recent visit with the artist, Koehn worked to fold, curl and mold a small piece of molten glass in a 2,150 degree gas-fired kiln. The idea of incorporating precious ashes within the glass was conceived in 2009, Koehn said. The epiphany was achieved with a very personal story. In 2008, Koehn’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. “Mom’s cancer journey and watching her and everybody in that chemo room teetering on death hit me,” Koehn said. “Mom came out of it, but there’s a lot of people in that chemo room that didn’t live through their experiences.” SEE GLASS, P17

December 14, 2023

GLASS FROM PAGE 16

“If I can help families get through it with something more special than a box on a mantel, then that’s what I want to do, especially with the children’s pieces,” Koehn said. Here the customer, their story and vision are incorporated in each unique color selection and swirl of soft molten glass. Koehn welcomes each buyer to be part of the process and witness the creation of the unique glass piece as it’s conceived and shaped in her small garage. Nearly a dozen times over, Koehn heated and shaped the glass at the end of a metal pipe. Koehn uses a unique tool made of wet wood which is created by several species of bacteria that enter a tree through wounds, keeping the wood malleable, which is perfect against the blazing hot temperatures of the molten glass. The soft cylindrical shape of the wood creates the rounded edges with continuous turning of the delicate glass. Koehn spends at least 18 hours repeating the process of heating, shaping, molding and cooling each glass piece. In the end, each customer is presented with a keepsake unlike any in existence, just like their loved one.

Tiffany Koehn of Red Manx Studio in Greeley displays a recent piece of glass art she created.

The Furnace in Lakewood owner Corey Silverman displays a recent glass piece he created. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

Tiffany Koehn of Red Manx Studio in Greeley uses a kiln at 2,100 degrees to make glass malleable enough to shape.

The Furnace in Lakewood owner Corey Silverman delicately cuts soft glass ornament with scissors.

Jamie Kent works with red-hot molten glass at The Furnace in Lakewood.

December 14, 2023D

Top five films from the 20th annual Vail Film Festival

t’s rare to find a modern film festival that goes out of its way to celebrate the world of independent cinema and the filmmakers who make that world so thrilling. Over the its first 20 years, the Vail Film Festival has made this celebration one of its guiding ethos, along with a focus on works made by female filmmakers. And aside from two decades in existence, the festival had something else to celebrate during this year’s run from Dec. 7 through 10 — the return of an in-person event for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. “The festival has always been about building community and fostering relationships, so we’re really excited to have the event in person again this year and to bring the event to the Vail community again,” said co-founder and executive director Sean Cross, in an email interview. “The 20-year milestone is a big one, and I think it really is due to the community support we’ve received from the very beginning, and the continued excitement from filmmakers to come to Vail and experience the beauty of this area.”

This year’s fes- Radnor and Rob Huebel) are strug- acceptance. COMING tival gling over where they are in their Anyone who has found hope and ATTRACTIONS more thanfeatured 70 film careers, while their parents Sue and salvation in art will love the film,

screenings from around the world, as well as two special presentations: actress Alicia Silverstone received the Excellence in Acting Award and Ava Acres received Clarke Reader the Rising Star Award. Of all those entries, I was able to see 15 films and as usual, was wildly impressed with their quality. You can’t go wrong with any of the 2023 movies, but here are five you should really keep an eye out for in the coming months.

Roy (the always stellar Becky Ann Baker and John Ashton) are settling into post-retirement life. Or trying to. The resulting story is funny and utterly human, full of recognizable and relatable characters. It’s the best kind of film — one full of people you want to spend time with. ‘Chasing Chasing Amy’

For more information: www.chasingamydoc.com It’s difficult to imagine a more personal filmmaking project than Sav Rodgers’ funny and insightful documentary, “Chasing Chasing Amy.” The film tells the story of Rodgers’ obsession with Kevin Smith’s ’90s queer rom-com and how it provided a crucial lifeline to a young Kansas teen when it was needed most. Rodgers artfully blends the historical, personal and political, exploring how and why the film was made, the ways it helped and further marginalized the LGBTQIA+ movement and how it inspired him on his own path to finding personal love and

‘All Happy Families’

For more information: https:// www.imdb.com/title/tt15388560/ “All Happy Families,” Haroula Rose’s return to the Vail Film Festival, centers on the Landrys, all of whom gather at the family home in Chicago to do some repair work in preparation for renting a room out. Brothers Graham and Will (Josh

because it’s the best kind of cinematic love letter — one right from T the heart. ‘Glue Trap’

For more information: www.instagram.com/gluetrapmovie/ In Justin Geldzahler’s slow burn horror film, “Glue Trap,” one couple learns all about the dangers of being stuck together. Struggling pair KJ and Dan head off to a cabin in Virginia for a little badly needed reconnection time, but get more than they bargain for when a surprising guest arrives out of the blue. As with all great horror experiences, the less said, the better. The film is deeply insightful and knows exactly which tools to use at the right time. It gets under your skin and stays there. ‘Golden Vanity’

For more information: www.facebook.com/goldenvanitymovie/ SEE READER, P22

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w/ 24-mo.agmt. Advanced Receiver ServiceFees $15/mo. and Regional Sports Fees up to $15.99/mo. are extra & apply.

Service subject to DIRECTV delivered via internet terms and conditions (see directv.com/legal/legal-policy-center/). Available only in the U.S. (excludes Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I.). Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Early termination fees apply for a maximum of $480, prorated at $20 per month over the 24-month term. Requires high speed internet. Minimum internet speed of 8Mbps per stream recommended for optimal viewing. Pricing: $84.99/mo. for two years. After 2 years, continues month to month at then-current prevailing prices unless cancelled. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes Advanced Receiver Service Fees of $15/mo. (which is extra and applies to all packages) and Regional Sports Fees of up to $15.99/mo. (which is extra & applies to CHOICE pkg or higher. State and local taxes or other governmental fees and charges may apply including any such taxes, fees or charges assessed against discounted fees or service credits. See directv.com/directv-fees/ for additional information. Gemini Air Device: First device included for well-qualified customers, otherwise $120 for new Gemini Air. Applicable taxes due at sale. Additional Gemini Air: Additional device for well-qualified customers $10/mo. for 12 mos., otherwise $120 each. Purchased Gemini Air may be returned within 14 days of the Ship Date for a full refund however all monthly fees, including additional monthly fees, will continue to apply. Additional Gemini Air(s) purchased on installment agreement subject to additional terms and conditions. If service is cancelled within the first 14 days of ordering, you must return the included device to avoid a $120 non-return of device fee. A full refund of charges will be applied, and the early termination fees will be waived. If service is canceled after 14 days, you can continue to access DIRECTV through the end of the bill period, but there is no refund or credit for partial-month or unwatched content. See cancellation policy at directv.com/CancellationPolicyStream for more details. If you are subject to a lease agreement, $7/mo. lease fee per each additional device will be charged on your account. Lease Equipment Non-Return-Fees: If you cancel your service, you must return your leased equipment. Failure to return any equipment will result in fees of $120 for each DIRECTV device. Regional Sports & Local Channels: Regional Sports available with CHOICE and above. Not available in select areas. Channels vary by package & billing region. Device may need to be in billing region in order to view. Limits: Programming subject to blackout restrictions. DIRECTV Svc Terms: Subject to Equipment Lease (equipment lease not available in select sales channels) & Customer Agreement. Taxes, surcharges, add-on programming (including premium channels), DIRECTV TECH PROTECT, transactional fees, and Federal Cost Recovery Fee are not included in two-year price guarantee. Visit directv.com/legal/ or call for details. All offers, programming, promotions, pricing, terms, restrictions & conditions subject to change & may be modified, discontinued, or terminated at any time without notice. See directv.com for details. ©2023 DIRECTV. DIRECTV and all other DIRECTV marks are trademarks of DIRECTV, LLC. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

December 14, 2023

Thu 12/21 Featured

Bone, Thugs & Harmony @ 8pm DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Denver Tech Center, 7801 E Orchard Rd, Greenwood Village

Sat 12/23

Wed 12/27 Featured

Featured

Mark Masters Comedy: Mark Masters on Comedy Saved The Video Star (South South Broadway Comedy Show) at Western Sky Bar & Taproom @ 8pm Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 S Broadway, Englewood

Neil Z @ 6pm 2 Penguins Tap and Grill, 13065 E Briarwood Ave, Centennial

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Wednesdays - 'Bout Time Pub & Grub @ 8pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Five8 @ 9pm Thank Sool, 2222 S Havana St E, Aurora

Featured

Thu 12/28 Featured

Fri 12/22 Featured

Featured

Ninety Percent 90s @ 7pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Q's Pub @ 8pm Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat‐ �eld Ave, Littleton

brentgill: Comedy | Headlining Comedy Works @ 9:45pm Comedy Works South, 5345 Land‐ mark Pl, Greenwood Village

Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Q's Pub @ 8pm Q's Pub and Grill, 10133 W Chat�eld Ave, Littleton

The best place to promote your events online and in print. Visit us @ https://littletonindependent.net/calendar

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Coal Mine Ave Brewing @ 7pm Coal Mine Ave Brewing Company, 9719 W Coal Mine Ave unit a, Lit‐ tleton Calendar information is provided by event organiz‐ ers. All events are subject to change or cancella‐ tion. This publication is not responsible for the ac‐ curacy of the information contained in this calendar.

December 14, 2023De

H O L I D AY

WORSHIP

Grace Presbyterian Church All Are Welcome at the Table of Grace Worship Every Sunday at 9am and 10:30am A Guided Conversation The 2nd Tuesday of Every Month at 6:30pm Located at Rock Bottom Brewery In Highlands Ranch, CO

Free Holiday Light Show Set to classic Christmas tunes at Grace Presbyterian Church

DRIVE UP AND TUNE IN Every Night Thru Jan 5 • 5pm-10pm

Christmas Eve Services 4pm Family-Friendly Service 6pm Band-Led Celebration Service 8pm Traditional Choir Service 11pm Communion Service

www.GraceColorado.com

9720 US Hwy 85 N Highlands Ranch, CO 80125

Service Times: 8:30am & 10:30am Englewood 9:00am & 11:00am Colorado Springs, Westminster, and online: bravechurch.online/christmas

Englewood

3800 E Hampden Ave Englewood, CO 80113

Westminster

11500 Sheridan Blvd Westminster, CO 80020

Colorado Springs

3337 N Academy Blvd Colorado Springs, CO 80917

December 14, 2023

H O L I D AY

WORSHIP

5PM • Christmas Eve Service O’Brien Park - Downtown Parker 10795 Victorian Dr, Parker, CO 80138

Sunday, Dec 24

Sunday Worship • 10AM American Academy Lincoln Meadows 10260 Twenty Mile Road Parker, CO 80134

5pm • O’Brien Park Downtown Parker

V I S I T U S O N L I N E AT W W W. C R O S S F A M I LY C H U R C H . O R G

FROM ALL OF US AT COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

December 14, 2023De

READER FROM PAGE 18

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You don’t often get to see true feats of acting anymore, but that’s just what audiences are treated to by Melora Hardin in the hysterical and heartbreaking “Golden Vanity.” A true one-woman feature film, the story is centered on Mabel Montgomery Mayflower (Hardin), a fading actress who has no interest in quietly leaving the stage. On one night in 1967 she records her memoirs as she grapples with what the Hollywood system has done to her and her life. There are moments of true hilarity, but Hardin is equally capable of breaking your heart as you see what life in the spotlight truly costs. ‘Heightened’

In Sara Friedman’s “Heightened” — which she wrote, directed and starred in — two characters struggling with anxiety form an unlikely bond in a surprising place. The film focuses on Nora, a young woman on the cusp of becoming a lawyer when she has a nervous breakdown. She returns home to Maine to attempt to get better and is assigned to work park maintenance with ranger-in-training Dusty. As the two get to know each other better they find common ground in struggling with mental health and finding a way forward to the lives they actually want. Friedman does great work in her triple role, realistically capturing the struggles of relating to a world where everything feels uncomfortable. I saw a lot of myself in it and I know I won’t be the only one. Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

Thank You

For more information: heightenedfilm.com

www.

HIGHLANDS RANCH & LONE TREE!! Bud’s Home Team 4th Annual Toy Drive.

Over 200 NEW and UNWRAPPED TOYS Donated to Toys for Tots.

I continue to be amazed at the generosity and the kindness of the people in our community. Special Thank You to Chris Brock, Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A in Highlands Ranch, and Erin Addenbrooke with Colorado Community Media (Highlands Ranch Herald and Lone Tree Voice Publisher), for your incredible partnership and support of this event.

Bud Doyle - Realtor Bud’s Home Team / Keller Williams Realty DTC 303-903-6910 bud.doyle@hotmail.com www.budshometeam.com

Impacting Lives Thru Real Estate. I donate 10% of my income from real estate to charities that have impacted the lives of my clients.

December 14, 2023

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December 14, 2023De

Solution

TRIVIA 1. GEOGRAPHY: Which famous highway that stretches across the United States is sometimes known as the Will Rogers Highway? 2. MUSIC: Which country did the pop group ABBA come from? 3. TELEVISION: What article made Frosty the Snowman come to life in the popular TV special? 4. FOOD & DRINK: What is colcannon? 5. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the Volcanoes National Park? 6. MOVIES: What is the name of the acapella group that Anna Kendrick joins on “Pitch Perfect”? 7. INVENTIONS: Who invented the Barbie doll in 1959? 8. MATH: How many tablespoons are in 1 cup? 9. LITERATURE: What is the title of the sequel to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl?

10. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which elected president is the only one to fail to gain his party’s nomination for a second term? Answers 1. Route 66. 2. Sweden. 3. A magic hat. 4. Mashed potatoes and cabbage. 5. Hawaii. 6. The Barden Bellas. 7. Ruth Handler. 8. 16. 9. “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.” 10. Franklin Pierce. (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

December 14, 2023

.com/Classifieds

DEADLINES:

CLASSIFIED LINE ADS: FRIDAY, 12 P.M.

SERVICE DIRECTORY: WEDNESDAY, 5 P.M.

LEGALS: TUESDAY 5 P.M.

SERVICE DIRECTORY ADS AND CLASSIFIED LINE ADS

Contact Erin Addenbrooke, 303-566-4074 eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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December 14, 2023De

MARKETPLACE

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Real Estate Brokers

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Classifieds

Continues Next Page

December 14, 2023

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December 14, 2023D

SERVICE DIRECTORY Fence Services

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PUBLIC NOTICES

First Publication: 12/14/2023 Last Publication: 1/11/2024 ILENE DELL'ACQUA Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Colorado Registration #: 31755 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

Public Trustees PUBLIC NOTICE Littleton NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2023-0177 To Whom It May Concern: On 10/12/2023 8:30:00 AM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: Christoffer Hoover Original Beneficiary: Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc. Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, as Trustee for MASTR Specialized Loan Trust 2006-03, Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 6/26/2002 Recording Date of DOT: 7/5/2002 Reception No. of DOT: 02065786 Book 2364 Page 957 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $234,026.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $173,610.47 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: the failure to make timely payments required under said Deed of Trust and the Evidence of Debt secured thereby. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 25A, ROXBOROUGH VILLAGE FILING NO. 16-A, 1ST AMENDMENT, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 9812 Falcon Lane, Littleton, CO 80125 NOTICE OF SALE The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust. THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended. First Publication: 12/14/2023 Last Publication: 1/11/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 10/12/2023 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

7700 E. ARAPAHOE ROAD, SUITE 230, CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (877) 369-6122 Fax #: Attorney File #: CO-23-967206-LL

*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: https:// www.douglas.co.us/public-trustee/ Legal Notice NO. 2023-0177 First Publication: 12/14/2023 Last Publication: 1/11/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press PUBLIC NOTICE Highlands Ranch NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2023-0175 To Whom It May Concern: On 10/12/2023 8:34:00 AM the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in Douglas County. Original Grantor: TARA ANDRICKSON Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. ACTING SOLELY AS NOMINEE FOR PARKSIDE LENDING, LLC Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 12/20/2019 Recording Date of DOT: 12/26/2019 Reception No. of DOT: 2019088643 DOT Recorded in Douglas County. Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $452,000.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $461,634.96 Pursuant to C.R.S. §38-38-101 (4) (i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations of the terms thereof. THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN. The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust. Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 130, HIGHLANDS RANCH FILING NO. 110-I, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 10459 Hollyhock Ct, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Dated: 10/12/2023 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: RYAN BOURGEOIS Colorado Registration #: 51088 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700, DENVER, COLORADO 80204 Phone #: (303) 350-3711 Fax #: Attorney File #: 00000009900085 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: https:// www.douglas.co.us/public-trustee/ Legal Notice No. 2023-0175 First Publication: 12/14/2023 Last Publication: 1/11/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

City and County PUBLIC NOTICE PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR LAW OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, Epic Pickleball Club Pickleball HR, LLC d/b/a Epic Pickleball Club has requested the Licensing Officials of Douglas County to grant a Liquor License for a Lodging and Entertainment liquor license at the location of 1980 E County Line Rd, Unit B, Littleton, CO 80126. The Public Hearing on this application is to be held by the Douglas County Local Liquor Licensing Authority at 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104 on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Date of Application: November 16, 2023 Officers: Andrew Motz James Gray Perry Leyden Charles Williams Lisa Williams Legal Notice No. 946494 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press

Bids and Settlements Public Notice

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC INVITATION TO BID

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust described herein, has filed written election and demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

Separate sealed bids for 2024 Sidewalk Repair and Curb Ramp Retrofit Project CI 2024-001, will be received by the Owner, Douglas County Government, Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104, until Tuesday, January 23,2024, at 2:00 p.m. This project consists of placement of sidewalks, curb, and gutter at various locations throughout Douglas County. Bid items include the removal of sidewalk, replacement of sidewalk, curb ramp retrofit, removal and replacement of concrete pavement, emergency repairs and erosion control.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S Miller Building Hearing Room, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, I will sell at public auction to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will deliver to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law. If the sale date is continued to a later date, the deadline to file a notice of intent to cure by those parties entitled to cure may also be extended.

The Contract Documents will be available after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2023, through Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System Website (www.rockymountainbidsystem.com) or they may be obtained at the above address. Electronic versions of the Plans obtained by any other means than as described above may not be complete or accurate, and it is the Bidder’s responsibility to obtain a complete set of the Project Plans and Specifications. Douglas County

will not be held responsible for misinformation NOTICE OF CONTRACTORS SETTLEMENT received from private plan rooms. COUNTY OF DOUGLAS legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com STATE OF COLORADO A PRE-BID CONFERENCE will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the Department of Public Works Engineering, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104. All questions are due to Keith Burke, Project Manager by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. The Bid Opening will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, at the same address. The Project includes the following major items and approximate quantities: • • •

Removal of 3,080 SY of Concrete Pavement 34,484 LF of Removal of Curb and Gutter, Type 2 (Section MS) (6 Foot-6 Inch) 1,938 CY of Aggregate Base Course (Class 6) (Haul and Replace)

Prior to submitting a Bid Proposal, Bidders shall have received prequalification status (active status) with the Colorado Department of Transportation to bid on individual projects of the size and kind of work as set forth herein. Any questions on the bidding process shall be directed to Keith Burke, Project Manager at 303.660.7490. Plan holder information, can be found on the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System Website. Legal Notice NO. 946537 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Second Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Account Number: 2734 PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF CONTRACTORS SETTLEMENT COUNTY OF DOUGLAS STATE OF COLORADO NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended, that on January 7, 2024, final settlement will be made by the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, for and on account of a contract between Douglas County and Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. for the 2023 Asphalt Overlay Project, Douglas County Project Number CI 2023-003, in Douglas County; and that any person, co-partnership, association or corporation that has an unpaid claim against said Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or any of his subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, or that supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on said 01/07/2024, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Board of County Commissioners, c/o Director of Public Works Engineering, with a copy to the Project Engineer, Keith Burke or Brian Schultz, Department of Public Works Engineering Division, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104. Failure on the part of the claimant to file such statement before such final settlement will relieve said County of Douglas from all and any liability for such claimant's claim. The Board of Douglas County Commissioners of the County of Douglas, Colorado, By: Janet Herman, P.E., Director of Public Works. Legal Notice NO. 946478 First Publication: December 7, 2023 Second Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Account Number: 2734 PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended, that on the 8th day of JANUARY 2024, final settlement will be made by the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, for and on account of a contract between Douglas County and H.W. HOUSTON CONSTRUCTION, LLC for the PRAIRIE CANYON RANCH BARN and SALOON REHABILITATION ~ REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) #010-22; and that any person, co-partnership, association or corporation that has an unpaid claim against said H.W. HOUSTON CONSTRUCTION, LLC for or on account for the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or any subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, or that supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on said 8th day of JANUARY 2024, to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Douglas County Government, Board of County Commissioners, c/o Department of Community Development, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104. Failure on the part of the claimant to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve said County of Douglas from all and any liability for such claimant’s claim. The Board of Douglas County Commissioners of the County of Douglas, Colorado, By: Carolyn S. Riggs, CPPB, Purchasing Supervisor, Douglas County Government. Legal Notice No. 946468 First Publication: December 7, 2023 Last Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF CONTRACTORS SETTLEMENT COUNTY OF DOUGLAS STATE OF COLORADO NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended, that on January 7, 2024, final settlement will be made by the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, for and on account of a contract between Douglas County and Chato’s Concrete, LLC, for the 2023 Sidewalk Repair and Curb Ramp Retrofit Project, Douglas County Project Number CI 2023-001, in Douglas County; and that any person, copartnership, association or corporation that has an unpaid claim against said Chato’s Concrete, LLC for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or any of his subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, or that supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on said 01/07/2024, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Board of County Commissioners, c/o Director of Public Works Engineering, with a copy to the Project Manager, Keith Burke or Brian Schultz, Department of Public Works Engineering Division, Philip S. Miller Building, 100 Third Street, Suite 220, Castle Rock, CO 80104. Failure on the part of the claimant to file such statement before such final settlement will relieve said County of Douglas from all and any liability for such claimant's claim. The Board of Douglas County Commissioners of the County of Douglas, Colorado, By: Janet Herman, P.E., Director of Public Works. Legal Notice NO. 946479 First Publication: December 7, 2023 Second Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Account Number: 2734

Highlands Ranch Legals December 14, 2023 * 1

December 14, 2023De

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