Lone Tree Voice January 18, 2024

WEEK OF JANUARY 18, 2024

VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 46

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

‘PREEMPTIVE’ HEALTH ORDER FOR MIGRANTS

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

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

Thomas aims for Marshall’s job Republican commissioner wants to take seat held by rare Democrat representing Douglas County at Capitol

BY MCKENNA HARFORD AND ELLIS ARNOLD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas will run to represent the Highlands Ranch area at Colo-

rado’s Capitol in 2024. The move potentially pits the Republican against Rep. Bob Marshall, first Democrat to represent the area in at least a decade.

Thomas formalized her candidacy for Colorado House District 43 on Jan. 7 in filings with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

Thomas told Colorado Community Media that her resume boasts a “lifetime of service to my state and my community.”

“I’m running for HD43 because the people of Highlands Ranch have made it clear that when it comes to the issues that matter most to them

VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | PUZZLES: 24

— public safety, the continuous rise in the basic cost of living, determining the quality of their children’s education, and keeping taxes, especially property taxes, low — Bob Marshall and the Democrats are failing them on all fronts,” Thomas said.

Thomas, who claims 26 years of service with the Colorado State Patrol in various roles, progressing from a trooper to a major, has a long history in elected office. She was elected as one of the three county commissioners in 2016 and reelected in 2020. She will have to leave SEE THOMAS, P10

DETAILS ON KILLING IN HIGHLANDS RANCH

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January 18, 2024Jan

A ‘preemptive’ health order amid migrant crisis

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

pated departure from Douglas County.

Tens of thousands of migrants have come to Denver over the past year, and the influx shows no signs of stopping. As city officials have scrambled to address migrants’ basic needs, from food and shelter to bus tickets, other communities along the Front Range are bracing for possible arrivals, including Douglas County.

County leaders aren’t aware of any official efforts to bring migrants from Denver to the county for shelter, but are taking steps to prepare for that possibility.

The Douglas County Board of Health recently adopted an order with requirements for any entity that sends migrants to the county for shelter.

“At this point, we have no reason to believe that any of our neighboring governments intend to use Douglas County as a sheltering solution for the migrant population,” said Michael Hill, director of the Douglas County Health Department, in a news release. “However, the board of health believed — for the preservation of public health, safety, and welfare in Douglas County — that we should establish and communicate our expectations proactively.”

The county’s health order requires dates of a migrant’s arrival in the U.S. and Colorado, country of origin, health screening information, and other information, including antici-

‘No shelters in Douglas County’

The migrants — many from Venezuela — are fleeing economic crisis and turmoil. Many have been bused from near the U.S.-Mexico border to Denver, where officials point the finger at leaders such as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Over the course of more than a year, the City and County of Denver has served more than 37,000 migrants.

That’s according to Denver’s “migrant sheltering and support” online dashboard (updated Jan. 9).

Some migrants are already gravitating away from Denver, including to Aurora. And, in Lakewood, the former mayor expressed concerns about how to respond to the crisis.

Months before Douglas issued its health order in December, county leaders called a special meeting urging Denver not to send migrants. Officials said the county does not have the resources to help the migrants.

Asked whether Denver — or any organization that the city works with — has sent any migrants to Douglas County, a city spokesperson said: “We have no shelters in Douglas County and never have.”

“I have no idea on the nonprofits as I don’t speak for them,” added Jon Ewing, spokesperson for Denver Human Services.

“In a broader sense, I think people will go where they can find work or

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Migrants from Venezuela who have arrived to Denver in recent weeks have stayed in and around a Quality Inn hotel near Speer Boulevard and Zuni Street, used as a temporary shelter by Denver Human Services. PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA

assistance, but as far as the City of Denver goes we haven’t sent anyone to DougCo,” Ewing said.

What’s in the order

Douglas isn’t the first suburban county to react to the crisis.

In a move that grabbed headlines, Denver sent migrants to a shelter operation in nearby Adams County, prompting that county to issue a public health order that required any entity sheltering migrants in Adams to provide “personal information for each migrant” to the county.

The text of Adams County’s order cast the requirements as a necessary step to protect public health from potential risk.

“Migrant persons, primarily asylum seekers, are a particularly vulnerable population because often times (1) they have traveled from countries with limited or no access to routine healthcare — including vaccination and chronic disease management, (2) they have traveled for prolonged periods living in settings that lack hygiene and through countries with potential exposure to disease (personto-person, intestinal, vector borne, etc.),” says Adams County’s order, adopted in October.

That language is echoed in Douglas County’s order, which also requires any individual or entity sending groups of migrants to shelter in facilities in Douglas County to provide information to the county in writing.

Among other things, the order also requires that organizations pro-

vide information about facilities that would be used to temporarily shelter migrants in Douglas County.

Douglas County’s order document also says: “Douglas County Health Department acknowledges the inherent dignity and human rights of every person, regardless of immigration status.”

Talking timeline

Asked why the Douglas health board waited until December to issue a public health order with instructions for organizations who may bring migrants to Douglas County, a county spokesperson noted that the health board doesn’t meet every month.

“The board did act quickly to put in place (the) interim order, but we also wanted to take the time to review what other counties had already done,” said Doug Benevento, president of the Douglas health board.

The policy is an “interim,” or temporary, order while the health board staff conducts “stakeholder outreach” to discuss what additional steps the county should take, according to the county.

The order is in effect until April 2 and is subject to revision and extension by the health board.

If you want to help

If you or someone you know wants to help migrants who arrive in Denver, see this list from Denverite of ways to help at tinyurl.com/DenverMigrantAssist.

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January 18, 2024

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Here’s a Statistical Review of the Denver Metro Real Estate Market in 2023

Now that 2023 is in the books, I have done some statistical analysis of the year and how it compared to the other three “Covid years.”

The result of that research is reflected in the various charts on this page. In addition to the “Covid years,” of course, we have the “interest rate surge” years, which had the opposite effect.

Covid unexpectedly super-charged the real estate market, while the interest rate surge put a wet blanket on it. The effects of each are clearly visible in the charts.

One way to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the years is to look at the price per finished square foot, which is independent of the price of the home. In this first chart, you can see how the value of homes using that criterion surged during 2020 and 2021 but dropped quickly in 2022 and has more or less leveled off since:

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Looking at the both the median and average sold prices of homes, you see the same trend. I like to look at the median rather than the average when studying the market, because a few multimillion-dollar home sales can have a big effect on the average price of sold homes but has no effect on the median price.

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market but because listings go under contract so quickly. However, when interest rates surge as much as they did in 2022-2023, homeowners will refrain from moving up (or downsizing) because of “rate lock.” They don’t want to sell their home with a sub-3% mortgage only to buy a replacement home at double that rate (or more). You can see that in this chart of active vs. sold listings:

In mid-2022 as interest rates began to rise, the sale of homes began to plummet and sellers took or kept their homes off the market at a rate higher than usual. The initial surge in active listings at that time was because fewer listings already on the market were going under contract as buyers waited in hopes that interest rates would decline again. By January 2023 it was evident that rates were staying high, and the pent-up demand of buyers to buy and sellers to sell kicked in.

So, how slow did the market become?

The following charts are good measures of that. As the pandemic took effect in March 2020, buyers flooded the market (as reflected above) buying homes further from their places of work and/or with more room for home offices now that work-at-home became a thing. This depleted the supply of homes for sale (again as reflected above), and caused the median days on market to plunge to 5 or 6 days. Because there are always overpriced homes which languish on the market, the average days in MLS (DIM)

However, the fact that the average sold price is consistently higher than the median price shows how active the market in million-dollar homes is.

In a seller’s market, the number of active listings drops, not because homeowners aren’t putting their homes on the

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remained over 20 until finally sellers saw the writing on the wall and lowered their prices enough to sell, hence the low average DIM by mid-2023.

By November 2022, new listings had dropped to a record low, but that was matched last month as shown in the next chart. Expired listings are another meas-

ure of the market’s health — and of how many sellers overprice their homes.

That, too, hit a peak in late 2022 and again at the end of 2023.

One of my favorite measurements of the seller’s market during Covid was the average ratio of sold price to listing price, indicating how much the average home benefited from a bidding war. In early 2021 and 2022, as shown in the following chart, it reached a record of

about 6% over asking price. Prior to 2020 it was typical for homes, on average, to sell slightly below asking price.

As this last chart shows, homes aren’t now selling for above their original

How I Define Metro Denver

Every real estate statistician I know defines the metro area using county boundaries. The statistics I have gathered for this week’s column are derived from REcolorado’s listings within an 18-mile radius of downtown Denver, as shown above.

price but are selling for about their current listing price once that price had been lowered enough.

As I’ve said so many times in the past (see the archive of my columns online at www.JimSmithColumns.com), pricing your home at or slightly below the market will typically net you more than if you list it for a wished-for price and then chase the market downhill.

Also, just like politics, all real estate is local. Even within my hometown of Golden, I have watched homes languish on the market in one neighborhood while they trigger bidding wars a mile or two away.

Bottom line, always hire an experienced Realtor like those of us at Golden Real Estate if you want to price your home right and get the highest price.

Rita and I Are on Vacation — Sort of...

As you read this, I’m in the second week of my 122day world cruise on the Viking Sky with my wife, Rita.

You can subscribe free to my daily travel-blog at http:// WhereAreJimandRita.Substack.com.

Because of the excellent internet connectivity on the ship, I’ll continue to do “business as usual,” except that my broker associates will be my “boots on the ground.” If you are on WhatsApp, you can call me, even at sea, using the same number as my cell phone. And you certainly can still email me. If you want to list or buy a home, I’ll refer you to the broker associate I feel best fits your needs.

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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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January 18, 2024J

Colorado PUC plan could cost ratepayers Clean energy investment down in effort to lower bills

BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE

Even though 2023 was the hottest year on record, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission is adding more fossil fuel-generated power and scaling back Xcel Energy’s proposed investments in clean energy.

The commission has been on the hot seat to rein in high energy bills, largely due to volatile natural gas prices, and claimed its recently ap-

proved energy plan for Xcel is a win for ratepayers.

Noah Rott, western region deputy press secretary for the Sierra Club, said they got the math wrong.

“The plan that was approved is 23% more expensive than Xcel’s portfolio that they proposed on a dollar-permegawatt basis,” Rott pointed out.

The commission’s plan added 669 megawatts from new gas power plants, which critics contended are likely to become stranded assets as Colorado and the world face a looming 2030 deadline to avert the worst impacts of climate change by dramatically cutting fossil fuel pollution. Xcel has argued natural gas is needed to maintain reliable service.

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The commission acknowledged the renewables they rejected in Xcel’s initial proposal will be needed in the near future, but balked at the company’s $15 billion price tag. By delaying investments in renewables and transmission lines, the commission hopes to better understand costs to ratepayers.

Rott emphasized punting on clean energy could result in even higher energy bills for ratepayers.

“The problem with that logic is that if Xcel is buying renewable electricity four or five years from now, instead of two or three years from now, four or five years from now it might be more expensive than it is now,” Rott asserted.

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The commission’s plan would increase Xcel’s renewable-energy portfolio to 77% by 2030 and invests in 678 megawatts of renewable-energy battery storage. But Rott noted it also cuts more than 2,000 megawatts of wind and solar capacity proposed by Xcel.

“It’s a disappointing outcome in terms of reducing carbon emissions,” Rott added. “But it’s also a disappointing outcome, I think, for customers who were really actually excited to hear that Xcel was going to build out a ton of renewable energy.”

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January 18, 2024

Son held on murder count in Highlands Ranch death

Strive to Thrive offers hot meal and assistance

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A man has been arrested in the killing of his father in a Highlands Ranch home and is facing a murder charge. Court documents say that police noted multiple stab wounds to the victim in the Jan. 7 incident, who sometimes carried a gun out of fear of his son.

Sean Gipson, 33, is being held in connection with the killing of his father, 73-year-old Billy Gipson, who died in his residence on Elmhurst Drive. Police received multiple reports of gunshots and found the deceased victim and his injured son, who had been shot multiple times, in the living room.

Those details and others are in an arrest affidavit obtained by Colorado Community Media.

Sean Gipson was conscious when deputies arrived at the home and was transported to AdventHealth Littleton for treatment. The deputies located a semiautomatic handgun and a folding pocket knife at the home.

Now, Gipson is expected to appear in Douglas County Court on Jan. 18 for a filing of charges. As of press time, county jail records show Gipson is in custody on $2 million bond, with the charge listed as firstdegree murder after deliberation.

The arrest affidavit for the case says Gipson’s mother told detectives that her son had been diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2018 and was off his medication.

The morning of the shooting, Gipson’s mother said she and her husband had a conversation with Sean about their desire that he take his prescribed medication, the affidavit says. She told law enforcement that during the conversation, Gipson closed the window drapes in the living room and approached his father. She left the residence and then heard multiple gunshots, she told police.

According to the affidavit, she

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Douglas County investigators at a Highlands Ranch home that was the scene of a killing on Jan. 7. Sean Gipson, 33, is being held in the county jail on a murder charge in the death of his father.

COURTESY DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

stated that her husband occasionally armed himself with a handgun at home, “due to his fear of Sean,” as Gipson had allegedly made threats toward family members.

Gipson had made threats before, according to court records. In 2022, he was convicted in both state and federal courts for making telephone threats in 2019 against the Arapahoe Douglas Mental Health agency, where Gipson was a past client.

Court documents from 2019 state that Gipson left threatening voicemails on the agency’s phone system that indicated he was going to kill people at the agency and would also kill police if they intervened.

Gipson also allegedly threatened to kill his mother and another person, court records say.

Investigation led deputies to discover Gipson was in New Mexico at the time of the threats, so in addition to the Colorado state conviction for telephone harassment/ threat, he was convicted of the federal charge of threatening interstate communications.

He was placed on three years of federal probation starting in spring 2022 with a sentence of time served, and the federal court in New Mexico transferred his supervision to the Colorado federal court.

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January 18, 2024Jan

DISH Network announces more layoffs EchoStar merger may not save company, some analysts say

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After laying off about 500 employees in November, satellite television provider DISH Network is laying off 157 more workers this spring.

The new layoff announcement came just eight days after DISH Network’s recent merger with EchoStar, which was completed on Dec. 31.

The layoffs will impact employees at the company’s headquarters at 9601 S. Meridian Blvd. in the Meridian area of unincorporated Douglas County, according to a notice filed with the state on Jan. 8.

DISH Network also has a sizable presence in Littleton, with a campus at the west end of downtown.

Employees being laid off will be notified over the two weeks following the announcement and will see their positions terminated on March 8.

The layoffs will mainly impact employees who work in customer service and tech support, with the company cutting 80 “wireless se-

A booster rocket sits outside of the DISH Network campus at the western end of downtown Littleton.

nior reps” and 25 “intermediate CS and tech reps.”

The layoffs come in the wake of financial challenges for the compa-

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ny. DISH Network’s third-quarter 2023 finances showed revenue totaling $3.7 billion, down from $4.1 billion for the corresponding period in 2022.

It reported losing $139 million in the quarter and Forbes reported its shares fell to a 25-year low.

Charlie Ergen, DISH Network’s founder and CEO, said the merger with EchoStar would launch “a new era of connectivity” for customers as it combines DISH Network’s satellite technology, streaming services and 5G network with EchoStar’s satellite communications solutions.

Some analysts think the merger might not be enough to save DISH Network, saying the merger would provide DISH access to funds for its remaining 5G network build-out, but the company would still need to fund its debt.

In regards to the reason for the new layoffs, DISH Network spokesperson Ted Wietecha said the company continually evaluates and adjusts its workforce to meet the needs of the business.

With DISH Network employees living across the south metro re-

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF LITTLETON

gion, some localities are thinking about how the layoffs will impact their communities.

Neil Marciniak, Centennial’s community and economic development director, said many Centennial residents in the workforce are employed by businesses outside of the city, as is common in regional economies like metro Denver.

“The DISH layoffs in Douglas County will undoubtedly impact households throughout metro Denver and in Centennial,” he wrote in an email. “I know that these impacted employees will be connected to job search resources like Arapahoe/Douglas Works and hopefully can land roles with other businesses in the Denver South region.”

Arapahoe/Douglas Works is a partnership that provides no-cost services to job seekers and businesses to develop and connect the region’s workforce.

The Littleton Independent reached out to Littleton and Englewood for comment on the recent layoffs and did not receive responses by press time.

January 18, 2024

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January 18, 2024Jan

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Rep. Frizell hopes to move to state Senate in 2024

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Republican state Rep. Lisa Frizell has announced her candidacy for Colorado Senate. She’s seeking the District 2 seat that includes Castle Rock and stretches north into Parker..

Frizell, who currently represents House District 45, which includes Castle Rock, said that she wants to move to the state Senate to focus on affordability issues and to overhaul property taxes.

“I am excited to bring my problemsolving skills, fiscal responsibility, and common-sense leadership to the Colorado State Senate,” Frizell said in a Jan. 9 news release. “These challenging times demand fresh ideas, and I am the right candidate at the right time for Senate District 2.”

Frizell pointed to legislation passed in the special session to address skyrocketing property taxes that revived elements of the failed November ballot question, Proposition HH, as one example of Democrats not listening to voters.

Senate District 2 is currently represented by Sen. Jim Smallwood, R-Parker. He has not filed to run in 2024, according to records with the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

The only other candidate who has

State Rep. Lisa Frizell announced she will run for state Senate in 2024 to represent SenCOURTESY LISA FOR COLORADO ate District 2, which includes Castle Rock and Parker.

filed to run in Senate District 2 is Stephen Hamilton of Canon City, representing the American Constitution Party.

Frizell currently serves on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, Business Affairs and Labor Committee, Finance Committee and Appropriations. Prior to serving as a House

representative, Frizell was Douglas County’s elected assessor.

“In just five years of one-party rule, the Democrats successfully priced people out,” Frizell said. “If this past election and special session taught us anything, it is that the Democrat party does not care what their constituents think.”

Outgoing Congressman Ken Buck’s staff to hear resident concerns

BY MCKENNA HARFORD MHARFORD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In U.S. Rep. Ken Buck’s final months in office, his staff will host in-person office hours throughout Douglas County in January and February.

The office hours will be on Wednesdays from 5-7 p.m. at Douglas County libraries.

Highlands Ranch Library on Jan. 17; Castle Pines Library on Jan. 24; Lone Tree Library on Jan. 31; Rox-

borough Library on Feb. 7; Parker Library on Feb. 21; and Castle Rock Library on Feb. 28.

During office hours, Buck’s staff will be on hand to answer questions and help constituents with issues such as tax returns, veterans’ disability compensation, retirement benefits and Social Security payments.

“My district staff is here to serve constituents,” Buck said in a statement. “I hope you take advantage of my office as a resource for your con-

cerns and a forum to hear what I’ve been working on.”

Outside of Douglas County, Buck’s staff will also host office hours in Yuma, Fort Morgan, Loveland, Calhan, Bennett and Strasburg.

Buck, a Republican, announced on Nov. 1 that he would retire from representing Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, leading a number of candidates to launch campaigns, including U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who will vacate her seat in the 3rd district.

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January 18, 2024

Charter school group facing legal challenge Windsor and Grand Junction Group fires management ton, — terminated its contract early with organization Ascent that helped launch schools management Classical Academies, which is a Golden-based nonprofit with a simiin Brighton, Lone Tree lar name that establishes and operBY ERICA BREUNLIN THE COLORADO SUN

A Colorado charter school network in December fired the management group that helped it launch four schools across the state, triggering a chaotic series of events that included the dismissal of more than 300 employees, swift action to rehire all staff under a new management group and, now, a potential lawsuit.

Ascent Classical Academy Charter Schools — the governing board over charter schools serving nearly 2,000 students in Lone Tree, Brigh-

ates charter schools.

Both the governing board and parents say the schools have faced multiple challenges with ACA over the past six years since their first school began operating in Lone Tree, including high turnover among school leaders and teachers and debates over what curriculum to use. The board in September unanimously voted to end its contract with ACA on June 30, 2024, “contingent upon continued cooperation by ACA,” minutes from a Sept. 26 board meeting show. Rob Williams, the charter SEE CHARTER SCHOOL, P16

Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County in Lone Tree, pictured Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, is part of a network of Colorado charter schools undergoing management changes after the network’s governing board fired its original management group PHOTO BY ERICA BREUNLIN THE COLORADO SUN and replaced it.

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January 18, 2024Jan

THOMAS FROM PAGE 1

office near the end of this year; she cannot run again because of term limits rules.

Thomas also served as county coroner from 2011 to 2015 and ran an unsuccessful campaign to become county sheriff in 2022.

Asked whether her campaign for state legislature will take time away from her duties as a county commissioner, Thomas said: “I’ve always been a multitasker.”

“No matter how much gets put on my plate, I always get the job done,” Thomas said. “I say what I mean and I mean what I say, and when I said I will serve my final year fully and faithfully, I meant it.”

Thomas is currently the only candidate who has filed to run in the district, but Marshall said Thomas’ announcement now makes him more likely to run for a second term.

“I don’t think she is going to contribute to the environment down there at all given her long history of friction and animosity with everyone she works with,” Marshall said, citing Thomas’ well-publicized battles in recent years with her fellow commissioners and the sheriff ’s office.

Thomas has been mired in a drawn-out drama with Commissioners Abe Laydon and George Teal.

Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas will run for Colorado House District 43 to represent Highlands Ranch, positioning COURTESY PHOTOS her to potentially run against Rep. Bob Marshall, the first Democrat in the seat in at least a decade.

The two voted to investigate claims that Thomas created a hostile work environment for government workers in 2022. But outside legal counsel determined the allegations were unfounded. Since then, Thomas has fought with the commissioners for a

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reimbursement of nearly $6,000 in legal fees that she said she incurred defending herself.

Laydon and Teal, both Republicans, have recently taken several actions to punish her. They voted to censure — or formally disapprove — of Thomas and stripped her of positions on outside boards that oversee organizations in the community.

The two commissioners also canceled her county credit card.

Marshall has not been immune to conflicts with his peers and controversies.Marshall was named in a lawsuit in which a judge found last week that he and fellow Democrats broke open meetings law by using an anonymous voting method among lawmakers to prioritize funding.

Marshall has called the suit a political attack and said he received assurances last year from Democratic leaders that they would not use the system.

And, Marshall was at the center of a different open meetings law case last year. He joined with Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, to sue Democrats and Republicans, alleging the caucuses didn’t properly provide notices of meetings and that representatives illegally used a disappearing messaging app to discuss

legislative business. That suit was settled in September.

In yet another open meetings lawsuit, Marshall prevailed against the Douglas County School Board after suing it for having a series of private conversations before firing former superintendent Corey Wise.

Thomas argues that Marshall being named in the anonymous-voting suit highlights his “hypocrisy.”

“I think it’s important to actually walk the walk and not just talk the talk,” Thomas said.

Marshall said his inclusion in the lawsuit is a political “hit job” because of his outspoken stance on transparency, adding that he doesn’t support secret votes.

“I don’t think (the secret anonymous voting) is appropriate, but I had a commitment that they weren’t going to use it anymore,” Marshall said of Democratic leaders.

On a legislative front, Marshall has passed a bill to expand property tax exemption to veterans with disabilities. He also opposed gun control legislation and voted against the bill that would become Proposition HH, which overwhelmingly failed last November.

The nonpartisan redistricting committee rated House District 43 a plus 7.4% for Republicans in 2021.

January 18, 2024

11

12

LOCAL

January 18, 2024J

VOICES Motivating unmotivated people

T

he “quiet quitting” and its more aggressive cousin “act your wage” are gaining momentum, or as some who write about hot topics might say, they are setting the internet ablaze. We can sit back and try to wait them out, but the only thing wrong with that strategy is that soon enough there will be a next catchy phrase for those who aspire only to mediocrity or to do the bare minimum.

A second and even more dangerous strategy would be to incentivize them by paying higher wages for underperformance. It’s like the donkey and the stick idea where we hold out a carrot in front of the donkey in hopes that he will chase it looking for that bite. The problem is sooner or later the donkey catches on, and we need to allow the donkey to take a few bites. This is only a temporary fix as we would have to continue sweetening the carrot and shortening the stick just to get the donkey to do the work that is asked of him.

Another strategy to consider, but which rarely works, is trying to motivate the quiet quitter or act-yourwage people on the team with fear.

What we are seeing is that this method simply doesn’t work. The only

people who would fear losing their jobs are the ones who have a tremendous work ethic. They are diligent about their job and take pride in their work. The parttime workers receiving full-time wages on the team couldn’t care less, they feel Michael Norton like they can simply find the next gig and ride it out there until that gravy train runs out and they are on the move again.

Not only do we have frustrated leaders, managers, and human resources professionals, there are plenty of hard-working individuals in the same age groups who resent their half-hearted counterparts.

And the danger for any organization is allowing the quiet quitter and act-your-wage employees to be seen as equal to those who are actually doing the work. Eventually, if the problem isn’t fixed, not only do the minimalists wind up leaving, but top performers will also leave.

Incentive-based motivation doesn’t work or last, fear motivation

WINNING WORDS

only makes the problem worse, and inconsistent management and motivation between hard workers and those who have decided to do less creates an unsustainable culture and unstable workforce.

We could take the approach of, “Who cares? Some will make it, some won’t, who’s next?” This is perhaps the worst of all the strategies as it becomes an increasingly expensive revolving door.

The strategy that does work is personal growth motivation. This is different than temporary incentives, this gets at the heart of what each member of the team wants to do or become as a part of the team.

This has to start early on, setting expectations during the recruiting, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding process. And this must be inspected often. Weekly or bi-weekly 1:1 meetings help surface anything getting in the way of their personal success that contributes to the team’s success.

When we take the time to build better people, those people will build us a better business. Getting to know their personal drivers up front, understanding their “What’s in it for me?” desires, helps us lead these individuals and hold them account-

able for doing their part in reaching their goals.

We also live and work in a world of isolation. We cannot manage what we do not see or do not know. The best approach for solving this particular problem is frequent communication and tighter collaboration.

This is not micro-managing, nobody want that. This is leading people out of the trenches of self-pity who have gotten stuck in this kind of negative thinking, and helping elevate them to the levels of achievement that they can be proud of and feel like they are a strong contributor to the team.

Are you working with or managing quiet quitters? Have you tried to improve engagement and haven’t found the recipe for success yet? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can manage and motivate our team to working together at a higher level, and each owning their part, 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.

A new look at a new year

W

hat a difference a year makes! While 2022 was horrible for many investors, 2023 showed a considerable rebound for equity asset classes. Investors who stayed focused on their goals and strategy should have been rewarded. Those who sold out and did not buy back in before the recovery will be hard pressed to find a reasonable return. The adage “It’s about time in the market, not timing the market” certainly held true this past year.

Last year was all about the Federal Reserve, and there will be a lot to learn from the Fed in 2024 as well, but rapidly rising interest rates along with the threat of recession created a choppy but positive market in 2023.

Now for 2024, there are several potential outcomes in the tea leaves but more good news than bad, accord-

ing to Jeff Krumpelman, CFA.1 He recommends looking at the facts, not the headlines. The key metrics of inflation trends, revenues, earnings, and interest rates support positive returns and are trending in the right direcPatricia Kummer tion. However, it is important to avoid whiplash when there is short-term volatility.

Economic growth is expected to slow as inflation comes down. If the Fed hits its target, then watch for it to pivot from tightening to easing. The consumer continues to spend and will likely increase purchases as infla-

FINANCIAL STRATEGIES

tion comes down a bit.2 There are always potential risks, such as this being an election year.

There is still a shadow of a possibility of a recession, but that will likely trigger the Fed to cut rates sooner if it does materialize. Lower interest rates should help bond prices recover and equities are expected to be favorable.

Especially for those stocks that remain undervalued.

I suspect that this will be a pivotable year for inflation to calm, interest rates to reverse, and recession worries to abate. Therefore, the investor can expect continued volatility but could be rewarded for creating and sticking to a strategy that matches the time frame of your goals.

Designing custom portfolios this year will be crucial for investors, especially if you were able to tax-loss har-

vest last year. You have a clean slate to begin a new strategy in the new year that fits with your financial plan.

Don’t wait to get in front of your advisor. Plan well while the year is young.

Fourth-quarter earnings season is here, and many year-end numbers and current-year forecasts will hit the charts. It is best to be prepared when this information becomes available and provides potential opportunities.

1 Jeff Krumpelman is chief investment strategist and head of equities at Mariner Wealth Advisors 2 JP Morgan 2024 Outlook Patricia Kummer has been a Certified Financial Planner professional and a fiduciary for over 37 years and is managing director for Mariner Wealth Advisors, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.

13

January 18, 2024

There’s no ‘Misery’ at new Miners Alley

F

an culture has never been as prevalent as it is in the age of social media, but toxic fandom has been around as long as there have been celebrities. One of the most famous examples of this is Annie Wilkes, from Stephen King’s classic story, “Misery.”

Most people might be familiar with the famous 1990 film starring Kathy Bates, but there’s also a stage version, which Golden’s Miners Alley Playhouse is doing as their first production of 2024.

“It’s a show about survival, celebrity, and how far we can be driven when we’re not fulfilling our true dreams,” said director Warren Sherrill. “It asks the question, how far can someone push the human spirit?”

“Misery” runs at Miners’ new location, 1100 Miners Alley, from Friday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 11. Performances are at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The production is a reunion for Sherrill and lead actress Emma Messenger, who played Annie under Sherrill’s direction at the Edge Theatre seven years ago.

“I think we are both thrilled to get

the chance to build COMING on what we had ATTRACTIONS discovered the first

go round,” Messenger wrote in an email interview.

“Annie is such a delight to embody.

Here you have a mentally teetering woman who lives by her own rules.

Clarke Reader She’s a character of emotional extremes, flying from child-like yearnings to brutal rages and back again, all within seconds.”

The story follows the trials of romance novelist Paul Sheldon (Torsten Hillhouse), who is rescued from a car crash by Wilkes. She turns out to be his biggest fan, but when she discovers the author is killing off her favorite character, Misery Chastain, she demands he write a different novel.

Both Sherrill and Messenger spoke glowingly about the team at the new Miners Alley location and how crucial they are in making the production everything it can be.

SEE READER, P16

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

14

January 18, 2024J

LOCAL

LIFE

STARTING 2024 WITH A SPLASH

More than 400 locals inaugurate the new year at Evergreen Lake Plunge

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

W

hether they wanted to support a local cause or wash off any remnants of 2023, more than 400 people from across the Denver metro area celebrated New Year’s Day by jumping into Evergreen Lake.

The annual Evergreen Lake Plunge had record participation in 2024. Nonprofit Active4All, which fundraises for local parks and recreation programs, sold out its 400 pre-registered spots and limited day-of registrations.

The weather was likely a factor, as several plunge veterans said the sunny conditions and 40-degree temperatures made a difference. In other years, participants have faced cloudy, windy weather and literal 0-degree conditions, which made getting out of the water that much worse, they described.

This year’s participants were also a mix of returners and newcomers, with many convincing their friends and relatives to jump too.

Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer said doing a Polar Plunge-type event has been on his “bucket list” for years. So, when he decided 2024 would finally be the year he’d take the literal plunge, he convinced three of his loved ones to do it with him.

SEE SPLASH, P15

Wearing a shark hat, Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer leaps into the water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge.

Moyer, a newcomer to the plunge, convinced some of his family members to do it with him, saying it was one PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN of his “bucket list” items.

15

January 18, 2024

SPLASH FROM PAGE 14

Moyer even sported a shark hat for the occasion, which was one of many fun costumes people wore to the event.

Evergreen’s Jon Balliet dressed as a hummingbird — complete with sound effects.

Balliet, who’s done the plunge seven or eight times, said he wears a new costume each year. He’s won the costume contest before as a shark eating a person and decided to dress as an elk for 2023’s event.

This year, he chose a hummingbird, saying, “They’re all over Evergreen.”

Brothers Stephen and Greg Leathers — from Highlands Ranch and Englewood, respectively — donned Christmas sweaters and pajama pants for the plunge. Stephen said he talked Greg into doing it, as they both thought it’d be fun.

Greg had plunged before at Lake Michigan, but both were newcomers to the Evergreen event. They appreciated the community aspect of it, noting how many people decided to start 2024 this way — plunging into icy waters together.

Several groups like Evergreen Country Day School seventh-graders and the Evergreen High School girls basketball team plunged together.

Golden High School swimmers Mica Gillaspie and Hanna Heard decided to as well.

Gillaspie, a member of the Evergreen Hurricanes swim team, said she heard about it from her coach and roped Heard into doing it too.

The two said their goals for 2024 included helping the Golden Demons “make it to state.”

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is also a fun New Year’s Day outing for the spectators, like bagpiper Dan Kingsley.

The Lakewood resident said event emcee Alan Gionet recruited him to provide music while participants are waiting in line. Kingsley’s now performed at the event five or six times, describing it as an overall positive experience.

“So many people are out here having a great time,” he said. “ … It’s a good way to start the year off fresh.”

So long, 2023!

Some participants signed up for the 2024 Evergreen Lake Plunge because they had a less-than-ideal 2023 and wanted a powerful way to transition

Dressed as walruses, the Bebarta siblings of Greenwood Village approach the platform for the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Emma Bebarta, who was doing her third plunge, said she signed her siblings up to do it with her this year.

Centennial’s Tricia Holloway reacts to the cold water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Holloway and her friends dressed as phoenixes to symbolize starting PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN 2024 by “rising from the ashes,” they described.

into the new year.

Greenwood Village siblings Emma, Grace and Owen Bebarta described their 2023 as “eventful” and “weird.”

So, they wanted to start the new year “with a bang.”

Emma, who was completing her third plunge, said she signed up the first time because she “wanted a refresh” after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, she made her siblings do it with her.

Emma and Grace — who are both in college — and Owen — a junior and a swimmer at Cherry Creek High School — described the plunge as a fun activity they could do together while they were all on winter break.

In that spirit, they donned matching walrus costumes for their family

plunge.

Likewise, Tricia Holloway and Michelle Kemberling — both from Centennial — and Annie Zdrojewski of Evergreen dressed as phoenixes to symbolize starting 2024 by “rising from the ashes.”

The three friends plunged last year, saying it was a strong way to start 2023. Their intention when they plunged, they described, was to have a year of transformation.

2023 was ultimately a transformative year with a lot of growth, they said, but perhaps not in the way they wanted. They described it as “a burning year.”

So, the three were being more specific with their 2024 intentions, asking for transformation mixed with calm, stability and gratitude. And, rather than donning the tutus they wore in 2023, they dressed as phoenixes — creatures burn but rise to soar again.

Holloway, Kemberling and Zdrojewski recommended others try it, as it’s a “beautiful way to start the year” that people won’t regret.

All4 a good cause

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is Active4All’s biggest fundraiser, raising at least $25,000 annually for Evergreen Park & Recreation District’s special education program — called INSPIRE — and other programs.

Balliet said the fundraising aspect is a big reason he plunges every year.

“It’s a great cause,” he said. “Everyone should have access to parks and recreation.”

That’s something Clint Frost and his family know all too well.

Frost’s 9-year-old son is an INSPIRE participant, attending the annual summer camp, and going on regular outings like swimming and horse riding. Frost said his son really enjoys skiing and being in the mountains, adding, “That’s his happy place.”

So, Frost plunged this year to support his son and other INSPIRE participants who benefit from Active4All’s fundraising. Frost said he’s plunged before in 2016 or 2017, but travel and COVID-19 prevented him from doing it again sooner. Now, though, he wants to be a regular.

He described how hard everyone works to make the annual event a success, from the sponsors and organizers to the firefighters and volunteers. The participants’ financial contributions and word-of-mouth advertising are also big factors.

Frost said of everyone who helps make it possible: “I can’t thank them enough.”

16

January 18, 2024Jan

CHARTER SCHOOL FROM PAGE 9

school network’s temporary president who has long served as the board chair and treasurer, told The Colorado Sun that the board decided to sever ties sooner.

“We sped that up,” Williams said.

“We didn’t feel like we were going to make it to the end of the year because they weren’t cooperating.”

When the governing board in November decided to pull funding from ACA beginning in January, the management organization “was left with no choice but to layoff its school level staff mid-year,” Derec Shuler, executive director of the organization, wrote in an email to The Colorado Sun. That meant that 313 employees across the four campuses — which educate more than 1,950 students in grades K-12 along with nearly

READER FROM PAGE 13

“It’s a very technical show, with special effects on stage and everything. Right now, we have the right cast, the right technical crew and the right space,” Sherrill said. “It’s a horror novel, a horror movie and now a horror play and I want people to

230 additional students in a home school enrichment program — were out of a job at the end of December.

“Our desire from the beginning was to ensure any terminations would have minimal impact on students, which is why we planned transitions take place in the summer,” Shuler wrote. “This unnecessary and untimely mid-year transition will have impacts on students that we hope are handled to provide for the best experience for families.”

But Williams, who has a daughter at the Lone Tree campus, says neither students nor teachers are feeling any effects since the governing board hired Minga Education Group to take on some of the responsibilities formerly held by ACA. Minga Education Group rehired all school staff members and many of the home office employees within the charter school network so there was no disruption to their employment, according to Williams.

The board also circulated a letter

to parents and staff in November explaining its plan to transition to Minga Education Group starting in January. That letter reiterated the board’s plan to move all employees over to the new management group.

“This should be invisible to families and the students especially,” said Kim Gilmartin, a co-founder of the schools who previously worked for ACA and left last June and is now consulting the governing board.

“The curriculum will stay the same.

They will continue to get the same level and quality of education that they always had.”

ACA alleges that the governing board breached its contract with the company, including by deciding to stop paying them in January without a formal board vote or notice to terminate their agreement earlier than June 30, Shuler wrote. ACA said it would file a lawsuit this week against the governing board, likely in federal court.

Williams maintains there was no

breach.

“We have followed the contract with them,” Williams said, declining to comment further because of “threatened litigation.”

He also declined to cite specific reasons for the board’s decision to cut ties with ACA because of potential litigation.

Shuler questioned how the governing board selected Minga Education Group as its new partner, saying he was aware that the board was going to issue a request for proposal and invite ACA to participate. He said he never saw the board go through with a public process and added that the Colorado charter schools will lose their licenses to the Ascent name due to the alleged contract breaches.

Williams responded that the board did not issue a formal request for proposal but asked groups including ACA to submit proposals and interviewed multiple organizations. He

be sitting on the edge of their seat. I want screams, jumps, all of that.”

While the show does explore some larger truths about society, it’s the type of production audiences are going to love just for the experience.

“I hope audiences come away feeling like they’ve just survived the best theatrical roller coaster of their lives,” Messenger wrote. “I hope it’s scary and fun in all the best ways. There’s a surprising amount of humor hidden

in all that shattering horror, so I can’t wait for audiences to buckle up and enjoy the ride.”

Information and tickets can be found at https://minersalley.com/ mapac_shows/misery/.

“Newsies.” The show is held at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Directed by Bernie Cardell, the show is based on the 1992 musical movie that tells the story of the Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. The show features some classic musical numbers, so don’t miss your chance to see it live.

Tickets and information can be found at www.performancenow.org.

Head south of the border with Northglenn Arts

The City of Northglenn is kicking off 2024 with an artistic celebration of the culture of Mexico. Hosted in partnership with the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC), ¡Viva México! opens on Friday, Jan. 19 with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Parsons Theatre Lobby, 1 E. Memorial Parkway in Northglenn.

The free exhibit is open whenever the theater is and, according to provided information, aims to capture the essence of “Mexico’s beautiful people, mesmerizing music captivating dance, delectable food, breathtaking landscapes and the deep spirituality that permeates the country.”

Find all you need to know at www. chacgallery.org/events/viva-mexico-exhibit-opening.

Subscribe to the final weekend of ‘Newsies’

Call 866-977-2602 to schedule your free quote!

I’m sure I’m not biased in assuming that everybody is interested in anything related to the newspaper industry. With that being the case, you can’t miss the final weekend of Performance Now Theatre Company’s production of Disney’s

SEE CHARTER SCHOOL, P22

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — The Lone Bellow and Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Hall

Brooklyn’s The Lone Bellow make the kind of folk rock that fits perfectly during this time of year — it’s warm and layered with harmonies and a sense of humor that hits all the right notes. Over the course of their five albums, the band has explored a sonic and lyrical landscape that is at times wry, but always deeply thought out and felt.

The Lone Bellow will be joined by the Colorado Symphony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 at Boettcher Hall, 1000 14th St. in Denver. This is certain to be an evening of truly beautiful music, so get your tickets at https://coloradosymphony.org/.

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

17

January 18, 2024

ct nof

fic to n-

powered by

nonThu 1/11 he ng Featured nd he th he se me s. rd or ng rHe

North Mississippi Allstars @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Englewood

Editor's Pick Eric Golden @ 7:30pm Wide Open Saloon, 5607 US-85, Sedalia

Featured

Editor's Pick Amaryllis The Band

ARTS: Piano Class: Beginning/In‐ termediate @ Southwest @ 11:45pm Jan 11th - Mar 14th Denver Parks and Recreation (SOU), 9200 W Saratoga Pl., Denver. 720-913-0654

Fri 1/12

School Break Camp - 1/15 @ 7:30am / $52 Parker Fieldhouse, 18700 E Plaza Dr., Parker. 303-805-6315

Rotating Tap Comedy: Comedy Night @ Chain Reaction Brewing Company

Torreys Peak Ages 8-11 - 2024 League Session #1

@ 8pm Chain Reaction Brewing Company, 902 S Lipan St, Denver

@ 4:30pm / $350 Jan 15th - Mar 9th Elevation Volleyball Club, 12987 E Adam Aircraft Drive, Englewood. 720-524-4136

BoomBox: Dangerous Waters Tour

Tue 1/16

@ 9pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐ wood

Art: Florals in Watercolor (18+yrs) Jan.

Fleming Mansion Open House Tour (for future customers) @ 9:30pm Fleming Mansion, 1510 S. Grant St., Den‐ ver. 720-913-0654

Sat 1/13 Editor's Pick The Inablers: Matt Hynes Acoustic - Old 121 Brewhouse @ 4pm Old 121 Brewhouse, 1057 S Wadsworth Blvd #60, Lakewood

@ 5:30pm / $40 Z Ultimate Studio - Parker, 12999 S Parker Rd, Parker. 515-708-0433

@ 8pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 South Broadway, Englewood

Mon 1/15

@ 7pm Moe's Original BBQ, 3295 S Broadway, Englewood

Ninja Robotics and Coding Parker

North Mississippi Allstars

Featured

Live Music at Western Sky Bar & Taproom

Patty Larkin @ 8pm Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Den‐ ver

Editor's Pick

Thu 1/18 Mollie O'Brien

Rotating Tap Comedy @ Fiction Beer Company

@ 7pm Swallow Hill, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

@ 8pm Fiction Beer Company, 19523 Hess Rd. #103, Parker

Featured

Editor's Pick John Jorgenson: J2B2 at the Lone Tree Arts Center @ 8pm Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St, Lone Tree

Lucy Kaplansky @ 8pm Swallow Hill Music, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

@ 7pm Jan 13th - May 25th Western Sky Bar & Taproom, 4361 South Broadway, Enlgewood. westernskybarco@ gmail.com

John Gorka

Immortal Sÿnn, Burning Silence, and more at Herman's Hideaway

Jesse Ahern: ROLL WITH IT TOUR

@ 7pm Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver

@ 12am Jan 16th - Jan 29th PACE Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker

@ 8pm daniels hall, 71 E Yale Ave, Denver

Sun 1/14 @ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐ wood

Jason Gray in Concert

Blockhead

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo - Tailgate Tavern & Grill

@ 7pm Lakewood Vineyard, 6800 W Hampden Ave, Lakewood

@ 7pm Gothic Theatre, 3263 S Broadway, Engle‐ wood

@ 8pm Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker

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

Eric Golden @ 7:30pm Tailgate Tavern & Grill, 19552 Mainstreet, Parker Finn O'Sullivan: Herman's Hideaway @ 8pm Herman's Hideaway, 1578 S Broadway, Denver 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.

powered by

18

January 18, 2024Jan

Faith-based music school looks to grow Centennial business got its start in November 2022

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With melodies rushing through their veins, Kaye Dee Richards, her daughter, Victoria Richards, and former student, Taylor Worley-Glazier, hope to inspire young people to take a deeper dive into the world of music.

Taylor took lessons from Kaye Dee and she was roommates with Victoria at Bob Jones University where they both received music degrees.

Through their shared passion for music, they became close friends.

“We dreamed about starting a company together,” Taylor said.

But they did not expect their dream to become a reality so soon.

Just over a year ago, Kaye Dee opened Inspire Music Arts, a faithbased music school in Centennial.

There, children and teens learn everything from music theory to how to play instruments and sing.

The three women will always remember the day the school opened.

It was a very snowy November day, yet people still attended their open

As guests walk into the lobby of Inspire Music Arts in Centennial, they are met with two grand pianos. With multiple music degrees, Kaye Dee Richards, her daughter, Victoria Richards and former student Taylor Worley-Glazier teach voice, piano, violin, PHOTO BY HALEY LENA cello, viola, harp, recorder, flute, guitar, ukulele and harp.

house. With about 50 students now, the women are looking to continue to grow the school.

Music has always been part of Kaye Dee’s life. In addition to being a member of several professional music organizations, she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in music, piano and music education from Bob Jones University. Her specialty CLOG-FREE GUTTERS

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is the harp.

Music has also been important to Kaye Dee’s husband, Colin. Since the beginning of their marriage 31 years ago, the couple have been in ministry together, bringing along music to many churches. As they often moved around the country, Kaye Dee taught music privately and worked in a few churches they were a part of.

Having lived in Colorado for more than a decade and wanting to open a music school that would be an easier location for parents to be able to drop off their children and run errands, Kaye Dee pitched the idea of opening a new studio to her husband and he was all in.

However, opening the studio has come with its challenges, such as getting children involved and being flexible with schedules as they understand the love for sports and its commitment.

Between Kaye Dee, Victoria and Taylor, they teach voice, piano, violin, cello, viola, harp, recorder, flute, guitar, ukulele and harp.

Additionally, Victoria is certified in Orofacial Myology, a method of therapy that works with the muscles of the mouth, tongue and face from the Coulson Institute.

Inspire Music Arts offers private lessons for 25 or 50 minutes for those 5 years old and up. Students wishing to take private lessons must audition for the instrument they want lessons in and have an additional interview.

“It’s really nice that I can have interviews with my students and I can place them where they’re needed,” said Victoria.

Victoria added that close bonds can form between music teachers and students.

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January 18, 2024

MUSIC FROM PAGE 19

“We get to hear a lot about their lives,” said Kaye Dee. “We get to cheer them on and grieve with them when they’re sad and rejoice with them when they’re doing fantastic.”

Most of the students who take other instruments are also taking piano, said Taylor, because music theory makes more sense when students can understand the visual references a piano provides.

The school also provides group lessons where students ages 6 to 12 learn music foundations such as rhythm, vocal exploration, sounds and symbolism and more. These lessons also provide an interactive environment for children to learn the instrument of their choice.

They have also started doing family group classes, which Victoria says is a nice way for everybody to

learn. And for outside families that are interested but don’t know what instrument to choose, they can get a little taste of each instrument at the school’s Discovery Camp in the summer.

And to get a head start in music, the school has a Petite Academy for kids ages 2 to 5 where they incorporate music and play that helps children learn the basics of music.

“It’s amazing how music really enhances everything in the brain,” said Kaye Dee. “The more they know about classical music, the better they’re going to do in their basic core subjects at school.”

Although it’s a tough ambition because of the many wonderful teachers in the community, said Kaye Dee, she would like to see Inspire Music Arts be recognized as one of the premier music schools in the area.

Inspire Music Arts is located at 8200 S Colorado Blvd, Unit A and can be contacted at 303-841-8899 or info@inspiremusicarts.com.

Victoria Richards, a teacher at Inspire Music Arts in Centennial prepares for lessons PHOTO BY HALEY LENA in her office.

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January 18, 2024Jan

As seen on TV Centennial business lets contestants try hand at game-show routine

BY RACHEL LORENZ SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

As lights swirled, energetic music swelled and another point went on the board, members of the Torres/ Schreier family clapped, cheered and high-fived each other in Arena 1 at Game Show Battle Rooms in Centennial. For an hour, the group of eight — some Colorado residents, some visiting from out of state — matched prices, solved word puzzles, tossed oversized dice and stood in the spotlight to spin a giant wheel.

Sterling Ranch resident Michael Schreier booked the activity for the Saturday following Thanksgiving after seeing an ad for the recently opened business on Facebook.

“We have done so many escape rooms,” Schreier told Colorado Community Media. “We wanted something different.”

Game Show Battle Rooms opened near the intersection of South Colorado Boulevard and East County Line Road on Oct. 20. Formerly a dance studio, the location now houses a pre-show lobby and two rooms where groups as large as 32 people can come for the game show experience, complete with a microphone-wielding host and golden-throated announcer. Each group is divided into two teams and every group member, or contestant,

Becky Garcia Torres of San Angelo, Texas, cheers after giving the wheel a spin at Game Show Battle Rooms in Centennial.

Colorful props, professional lighting and entertaining hosts all contribute to the PHOTOS BY RACHEL LORENZ game show experience at Game Show Battle Rooms in Centennial.

has the opportunity to compete in a handful of fast-paced games of chance and knowledge.

For those who grew up watching “Family Feud,” “Wheel of Fortune” or “The Price Is Right,” the activities at Game Show Battle Rooms may seem familiar. But Ron Taylor, manager of the Centennial location, shies away from comparisons.

“We try to keep our own identity with the games that we have, but I would say there’s some similarities,” Taylor said.

Game Show Battle Rooms in Centennial is the company’s ninth location. The first opened near Minneapolis in 2017, and 11 were slated to be in operation by the end of 2023.

Kevin Letnes, who co-founded the business with David Sauer, said they’re not necessarily game show

junkies, just people who like to have fun and know the value of experience-based businesses.

“We felt like this was kind of the experience that would allow for all groups, all ages, all walks of life, to really have those unforgettable, memorable moments,” Letnes said.

“That was our goal from the beginning.”

The business typically attracts corporate team-building groups during the week and groups made up of friends and families on the weekends, Letnes said. Its location in Centennial gives it great access to both types of customers.

Professional-level lighting, sound and props set the stage for a realistic experience, Taylor said. Hosts and show producers usually have theater, improv or radio backgrounds

plus training specific to Game Show Battle Rooms.

“I feel like it’s impossible to be overworked here,” said producer Zach Neeb, after running the Torres/ Schreier family’s showdown. “I’m getting paid to have fun.”

And while the contestants on TV might go home with cash prizes, a dream vacation or a new car, host Lukas Chaffin said winners at Game Show Battle Rooms get to leave with “clout and glory.”

“It’s very much, exactly like, being on a game show,” Taylor said. “Outside of winning money, of course.”

IF YOU GO Game Show Battle Rooms is at 8230 S. Colorado Blvd., suite B3, in Centennial and is open seven days a week. Shows run for 60 to 75 minutes, depending on group size, and must be booked at least four days in advance. Tickets range from $35 to $40 per person and can be purchased at gameshowbattlerooms. com.

To advertise your place in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email Servingof theworship southeast Denver area eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com Castle Rock

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January 18, 2024

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22 

CHARTER SCHOOL FROM PAGE 16

said the Colorado charter schools will continue to use the Ascent name, citing the board’s contract with ACA. The contract held between Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County and ACA states that “the name ‘Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County’ shall be a trade name of the school, and the school shall have the right to use the (name) after termination of this agreement without additional compensation to Ascent.’”

Charter schools are public schools managed by outside nonprofit operators that establish a performance contract with an authorizer — a school district, or in Colorado, the Colorado Charter School Institute. The contract gives charter schools more flexibility than traditional public schools over how they educate kids, but they are still subject to the same standards and assessments as traditional public schools.

Not all charter schools rely on a third-party management organization with more charter schools in Colorado running on their own rather than with outside help, according to Terry Croy Lewis, executive director of the Colorado Charter School Institute. The statewide charter school authorizer acts as an independent agency under the state education department.

Charter schools that opt to bring on a management organization in some cases delegate back office responsibilities like human resources, hiring employees, managing payroll, bookkeeping and budgeting, Croy Lewis said.

A management organization has no authority over charter schools, Croy Lewis noted.

The authorizer, which holds a contract with the governing board, oversees the schools’ operations, academics and finances, evaluating schools each year and lending

January 18, 2024J different levels of support in areas like school finance, student programs and data submissions, she said.

Meanwhile, the governing board acts as the school board for the charter schools, setting benchmarks for academics, enrollment, finances and spending and holding each school accountable for hitting expectations, Williams said.

The Colorado Charter School Institute has supported Ascent Classical Academy schools and the governing board throughout its transition to a new management organization, making sure the schools had what they needed to submit enrollment numbers to the state education department during Colorado’s annual count of students in October.

The governing board has the right to select which management company best fits its needs and to switch companies if a particular company is not aligned with the direction of the schools, Croy Lewis said.

“We’ve really stressed strongly that the board needs to have strong oversight of any education management organization they work with, that they need to hold them accountable and they need to evaluate them on a year-to-year basis to ensure they are getting the services that they have spelled out in the contract,” she said.

The governing board of Ascent Classical Academy schools has worked with ACA to create cost efficiencies across the four schools, Williams said, with the management organization handling dayto-day operations of schools, helping hire staff as well as making sure that employees get paid, that the schools are compliant with HR policies and that the schools are meeting requirements detailed in their charter with the Colorado Charter School Institute, for example.

Some management organizations promote a specific type of curriculum, which has been a sticking point between the governing board and ACA. The schools

use a curriculum affiliated with Hillsdale College, a small Christian college in southern Michigan focused on classical liberal arts.

ACA no longer wanted to partner with Hillsdale College, Williams said, and he’s not sure why. The board explicitly directed the management organization to stick with the curriculum at public meetings for many months, he added.

ACA spokesperson Amy Willis said ACA is not opposed to partnering with Hillsdale College for curriculum. However, the college’s K-12 Education Office wanted to sign an agreement with ACA “through which ACA’s larger operations would be negatively impacted,” Willis wrote in a text message to The Colorado Sun. She declined to talk about specific details of the agreement, explaining that “the terms of the proposed agreement are not public.”

The governing board also was unhappy with persistent turnover among its schools, including among headmasters, Williams added, noting that the Lone Tree school had two headmasters in the course of one particular school year.

Centennial mother Annie Kaess was among the parents who helped found Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County in Lone Tree, the first Ascent Classical Academy charter school in Colorado. Kaess said she walked in parades to promote the charter school.

Four of her six children attend the school, which she was drawn to because of its focus on classical education — a liberal arts-based approach to education that focuses on critical thinking as well as studying classic literature, history and philosophy and building moral character.

“We knew there were going to be a lot of bumps, and so we gave a lot of grace for the first three or four years,” Kaess said.

But when the school was still “limping along” a few years after it opened, Kaess said, she began asking questions. She was particularly

troubled by the constant churn of staff, including headmasters and teachers, as well as the decision of other families to leave, including families who had advocated alongside her for the charter school to launch.

“To me, that was the big red flag,” Kaess said. “Why did we keep having this much turnover and this much instability at a school that people fought to get open?”

She relayed her concerns to the board, urging board members to hold ACA accountable and ensure they were delivering on services they had promised. She also signed a parent petition in the fall pushing for the charter school network to remain affiliated with Hillsdale College.

She now supports the board in shifting away from ACA. “As a management organization of a school that claims to put kids first,” Kaess said, “I always wanted them to focus more on the success of their school, not just on academic scores but the health of the school as a whole for the longevity of the school. And it seemed like they were more focused on the growth of their network than the health of their school.”

ACA has continued to try to expand, including through a failed attempt to open a school in Boulder, the Boulder Daily Camera reported Shuler, ACA’s executive director, wrote in an email to The Colorado Sun, that the management group will continue trying to add to its footprint of schools across the country.

The organization “will lose some economies of scale in the short run as we shift to other opportunities in the Rockies, Carolinas, and other states,” he wrote, “but ACA has an opportunity to rebuild quickly and with better models of governance and operations.”

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

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January 18, 2024Ja

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

TRIVIA 1. MOVIES: What state is the setting for the 1990s movie “Twister”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Lake Okeechobee is in which U.S. state?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president adopted the expression, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”?

4. MUSIC: Actor/singer Jared Leto also is the front man for which rock music band?

5. HISTORY: The U.S. Civil War ended in 1865 when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union forces in which Virginia town?

6. SCIENCE: Which element has the symbol Pb? 7. GAMES: What is the destination in the board game Candy Land?

8. TELEVISON: Who was the longrunning host of “American Bandstand”?

9. U.S. STATES: What is the capital of Alaska?

10. LITERATURE: Who is the author of the autobiographical work “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”?

Answers 1. Oklahoma.

2. Florida.

3. Theodore Roosevelt.

4. Thirty Seconds to Mars.

5. Appomattox.

6. Lead.

7. Candy Castle.

8. Dick Clark.

9. Juneau.

10. Maya Angelou. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

25

January 18, 2024

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January 18, 2024

SERVICE DIRECTORY Cleaning

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28

January 18, 2024Ja

SERVICE DIRECTORY Handyman

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Service Directory Continues Next Page

29

January 18, 2024

SERVICE DIRECTORY Solar

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Custom Pull-Out Shelves for your existing cabinets and pantry.

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January 18, 2024

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Public Trustees PUBLIC NOTICE Highlands Ranch NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2023-0182 To Whom It May Concern: On 10/24/2023 9:36:00 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: MARK S URICH AND TE HUEY URICH Original Beneficiary: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: WELLS FARGO BANK, N.A. Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 11/8/2019 Recording Date of DOT: 11/14/2019 Reception No. of DOT: 2019077663 DOT Recorded in Douglas County.

Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $241,600.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $228,584.75 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: Borrower’s failure to make timely payments as required under the Evidence of Debt and Deed of Trust.

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: Condominium Unit 3C, Sugarmill Condominiums, in accordance with and subject to the Subassociation Declaration for Sugarmill Condominiums Association, Inc., of Highlands Ranch Community Association, Inc., recorded on August 1, 1984 in Book 532 at Page 354 and Supplemental Declaration recorded June 17, 1985 in Book 579 at Page 642 and the Condominium Map recorded September 10, 1984 in Plat Book S at Page 51, Reception No. 335337, in the of Office of the Clerk and Recorder of Douglas County, Colorado, County of Douglas, State of Colorado.

Which has the address of: 838 Summer Dr #3c, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126-3094 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 14, 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.

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

First Publication: 12/21/2023 Last Publication: 1/18/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press Dated: 10/24/2023 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: DAVID R DOUGHTY Colorado Registration #: 40042 9540 MAROON CIRCLE SUITE 320, ENGLEWOOD, COLORADO 80112 Phone #: (303) 706-9990 Fax #: (303) 706-9994 Attorney File #: 23-030368 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: https:// www.douglas.co.us/public-trustee/ Legal Notice No. 2023-0182 First Publication: 12/21/2023 Last Publication: 1/18/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Pres PUBLIC NOTICE Highlands Ranch NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2023-0183 To Whom It May Concern: On 10/24/2023 9:31:00 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: LEMUEL G. BRINKLEY, JR. AND BARRIE L. BRINKLEY Original Beneficiary: MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. ACTING SOLELY AS NOMINEE

FOR USAA FEDERAL SAVINGS BANK Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: SELECT PORTFOLIO SERVICING, INC. Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 8/1/2018 Recording Date of DOT: 8/8/2018 Reception No. of DOT: 2018047706 DOT Recorded in Douglas County.

Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $275,500.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $266,106.50 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.

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: 12/21/2023 Last Publication: 1/18/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

Dated: 10/24/2023 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee

The property described herein is all of the property encumbered by the lien of the deed of trust.

The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Legal Description of Real Property: LOT 3 BLOCK 2, A REPLAT OF HIGHLANDS RANCH FILING NO. 1, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO.

RANDALL CHIN Colorado Registration #: 31149 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700 , DENVER, COLORADO 80204 Phone #: (303) 350-3711 Fax #: Attorney File #: 00000009788787

Which has the address of: 68 Prairie Ridge Rd, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 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 14, 2024, at the Public Trustee’s office, Philip S

*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: https:// www.douglas.co.us/public-trustee/ Legal Notice No.2023-0183 First Publication: 12/21/2023 Last Publication: 1/18/2024 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

###

Highlands Ranch Legals January 18, 2024 * 1

Balancing Government Actions....

....With your right to know!

Legal

And all from your own home!

Notices

Read the Legal Notices.

You’ll be up to date each week!

Highlands Ranch Legals January 18, 2024 * 1

32

January 18, 2024Jan

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