Parker Chronicle 033122

Week of March 31, 2022

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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO

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INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24

Parker teen heads to world competition in skydiving

VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 18

Douglas County School Board hires more legal counsel Majority directors said they want to bolster legal team in lawsuit fight

Sydney Kennett practices for the world competition of indoor skydiving in Belgium in April.

Sydney Kennett will compete in Belgium on April 5

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As Sydney Kennett steps into the wind tunnel, she adjusts her helmet,

reaches her arms out and begins to tip forward. As the wind reaches 50, 60, then 70 mph, she leans in further until finally, it lifts her off the ground.

Before long, the wind is at 120 mph and Sydney is flying through the air, flipping upside down and twisting as she adjusts to the space.

Sydney, a 15-year-old professional indoor skydiver from Parker, is training for the world cup in her

PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER

sport, which will take place April 5 through the 10 in Belgium. It’s only the fourth ever world competition for the relatively new sport, and already, it’s Sydney’s second time attending as a junior.

“It’s kind of like gymnastics in the air,” Sydney said from the iFly indoor skydiving facility in Lone Tree March 21.

Douglas County have lost two to six feet in depth of water. Local water providers have noticed their supply wells aren’t producing like they once did.

“It’s like sucking water out of the bathtub with a straw,” said Rick McLoud, water resources manager for Centennial Water & Sanitation.

“There’s only so much water in the

The Douglas County School Board has retained a second law firm in its defense against a lawsuit alleging the four board majority members violated open meetings laws.

The board’s debate about whether to bring on more counsel also broached the majority’s desire to appeal a judge’s order that prohibits serial meetings, as the four directors maintain they followed Colorado law to the letter.

The engagement letter for the Greenwood Village based firm Gessler Blue Law, run by Geoff Blue and Scott Gessler, says its fees are normally $425 an hour but that it will charge DCSD $225 an hour for attorneys’ time and $150 to $175 for paralegal work.

Blue is a former deputy attorney general for Colorado and Gessler is a former Colorado secretary of state. The board also retains Hall and Evans, which had represented board directors in the lawsuit to date.

SEE WATER, P6

SEE COUNSEL, P11

SEE SKYDIVING, P8

How thirsty is Douglas County?

Water providers work to transition to renewable sources

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On an average day, 25 people move to Douglas County. Each one needs

to drink, shower, water their lawn and wash their dishes.

The full impact of that growth is difficult to see, but it’s easy to understand: more people need more water.

And in a county where thousands of homes rely on a limited supply of underground aquifers, water providers are constantly working to shift to more sustainable resources before they run out.

Some aquifers buried under

20 22 SPECIAL SECTION

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

PULL-OUT SECTION INSIDE!

2 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

Denver transfers 33 bison to tribal nations in an effort to bolster and conserve herds Herds are from Douglas and Jefferson counties

BY KYLE COOKE, BRIAN WILLIE ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

On a snowy, blustery March morning, Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) donated 17 bison yearlings to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma.

The bison had been staying at two of the Denver Mountain Parks: Genesee Park in Golden and Daniels Park in Douglas County.

“This is what we should’ve been doing for decades as owners and as stewards of these wonderful animals: returning them, as we have nurtured them and raised them, but returning them back to our Indigenous leaders of this land, the caretakers of this land,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, who spoke at the March 21 event at Genesee Park.

According to DPR, this year is the first time in “recent history” that Denver is not holding a bison auction; that tradition ended last year when the department said it would instead “select tribes across the country that will accept the bison to build and enhance conservation herds on tribal lands.”

In total, Denver is transferring 33 bison this year: 15 to the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming; 17 to the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes in Oklahoma (which happened Monday); and one to the Tall Bull Memorial Council in Colorado.

Jordan Dresser is a member of the Northern Arapaho Tribe in Wyoming. He was at Monday’s event at Genesee Park.

“Being able to reclaim the bison is a big moment for us because it’s taking back what was taken from us,” Dresser said.

American Bison used to roam North American grasslands in massive herds but were nearly extinct in the 19th century due to commercial hunting and diseases. By 1900, there were fewer than 1,000 bison in existence, according to DPR.

A bison at Genesee Park west of Golden.

On March 22, there are about 31,000 free-range wild bison in North America. DPR operates two bison herds in the name of conservation: one at Genesee Park and another at Daniels Park. The herd was first established at City Park by the Denver Zoo, but moved to Genesee Park in 1914 and expanded to Daniels Park in 1938.

DPR’s executive director Happy Haynes said she hoped the bison transfer shows “a commitment to working to dismantle the ongoing legacies of oppression and inequities and recognize the current and future contributions of Indigenous communities in Denver and Colorado.”

“Oppression and inequity is built over hundreds of years, and it can be dismantled piece by piece,” added City Councilwoman Jamie Torres, who represents District 3 in Denver.

Various Colorado officials have made recent efforts to preserve the country’s bison population. In addition to DPR’s bison transfer last year, Governor Jared Polis and U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Boulder) recently asked the U.S. Department of the Interior to put a stop to the National

COURTESY OF RMPBS

More than 30 bison were relocated.

Park Service’s plan to kill a dozen bison in Grand Canyon National Park.

Polis and Neguse were unsuccessful.

Dresser hopes people can learn lessons from Indigenous peoples’ treatment of bison.

“The bison was important to us not only for our cultural ways but also for everyday use. We used the bison for meat, also for household items.

We utilized every single part of the

COURTESY OF RMPBS

body. So that’s important for today’s world because we live in a society that’s so wasteful.”

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online.

Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

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Parker Chronicle 3

March 31, 2022

Briefly In Parker

What would you do if you suspected child abuse or neglect?

Call 303-663-6270 or 1-844-4CO-KIDS. Visit douglas.co.us and search Child Abuse FAQs for additional information.

Full property tax payments due Payments must be received by the Treasurer’s office by April 30, 2022. Payments received after the due date must include applicable interest. To obtain the amounts due or to pay online, please visit douglascotax.com and search for your account using the Public User Access.

E-check payments are free.

Funds available to veterans

Guests enjoy tea service at Denver’s Brown Palace Hotel.

COURTESY OF BROWN PALACE

Mother’s Day Tea at the senior center On Saturday, May 7, the Parker Senior Center will host a Mother’s Day tea party between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

The senior center is located at 10675 Longs Way. Ladies can bring daughters, granddaughters, nieces and

girlfriends.

Tea party includes scones, tea loaves, finger sandwiches, assorted tea desserts, and a work renown selection of specialty teas. Perfect time to show off those fancy spring hats.

Tickets go on sale at Parker Senior Center on April 4, $30 each.

Provide input on Public Art Master Plan The Town of Parker is updating its Public Art Master Plan and is asking for opinions from residents, businesses and artists. The feedback will be used to help guide public art programming, according to the town. Those interested in sharing their thoughts can go to www.LetsTalkParker. org/PublicArtMasterPlan, to complete the short survey. The survey will be open through April 30.

required for shopping.

Fashion show and trunk sale Vicki’s Boutique will be selling new, unique fashions at the Parker Senior Center on April 9 between 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The senior center is located 10675 Longs Way. Join the senior center for the Fashion Show from 11 a.m. to noon.

Purchase tickets for a reserved seat for the show, which includes homemade cinnamon rolls, fresh fruit, coffee and juice.

Tickets are $15. No ticket is

Community Shred-A-Thon on April 23 A community shred-a-thon will be held at Salisbury Park, located at 11920 Motsenbocker Rd in Park are April 23.

Gather sensitive paperwork and join the event hosted in partnership with Parker Police Department, CORE Electric Cooperative and Parker Senior Center.

Confidential information will be shredded by DocuVault, who will ensure documents are destroyed securely.

Upon arrival, participants will be directed by volunteers to pass through the event.

It is important to remain in vehicles at all times. Volunteers will not be allowed into the cabin of any vehicle. All items to be shredded must be placed in the trunk or truck bed.

There is a limit of three copy paper boxes or kitchen garbage bags per person. There is a suggested $10 donation per car.

Proceeds to benefit the Parker Senior Center.

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.

Need help with home heating costs?

Eligible low-income households in Douglas County may apply for energy assistance through the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) through April 30.

For more information visit douglas.co.us and search for LEAP or email LEAPHELP@discovermygoodwill.org

Decode Douglas County Visit eight Douglas County Open Space or Park locations, and look for clues to crack the code. Pick up or print your 2022 booklet today, discover new places including Sandstone Ranch, and decode the secret of Douglas County outdoors! Visit dcoutdoors.org/decode to start your outdoor adventure.

Free Noxious Weed and Wildfire Prevention Workshop Did you know noxious weeds on your property can damage native flora and increase the risk of a wildfire spreading to your home? Learn to ID and eradicate them. Join land, vegetation and wildfire experts for a workshop from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 16, in-person or online.

Visit douglas.co.us and search Noxious Weed Education.

Visit douglas.co.us

4 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

Colorado is reshaping early childhood system Some school districts are nervous about proposed changes

Big changes for school districts Right now, about a quarter of Colorado’s 4-year-olds attend state-funded preschool, which serves children with certain risk factors. More than threequarters of those slots are housed in school district classrooms. Most other children attend preschool elsewhere,

BY ANN SCHIMKE in child care centers or private preCHALKBEAT COLORADO schools, for example.

In expanding to serve all 4-yearAs Colorado prepares to launch olds whose families want 10 hours of free universal preschool, lawmakers tuition-free preschool, the state expects are taking up legislation that could to lean on private providers. The idea reshape Colorado’s early childhood is to give parents a choice of settings landscape and reverberate for decades and help accommodate the influx of to come. new students.

Many advocates and early educators The state no longer will rely exclulaud the changes laid out in the bill, sively on school districts to administer including the creation of a new state state-funded preschool locally. Instead, early childhood agency, saying it will nonprofits, community groups, and elevate the profile of early childhood districts all will be able to vie for the issues, cut red tape for families and job. providers, and dramatically expand These changes, along with many preschool access. others included in the legislation, But the plan also has prompted confollow recommendations that a state cerns about how school district roles early childhood commission issued in could change and whether they’ll be November and January. Still, school left serving a disproportionate share district officials have questions and of students with special needs. And concerns. some early childhood leaders worry Smith, of the Cherry Creek district, about how fast the process is moving, said, “We don’t need private providhow many details are unresolved, and ers. We can accommodate this interwhether there are enough providers to nally,” speaking about any additional meet new enrollment demands. students who want slots under the Angela Fedler, who heads several universal program. early childhood programs for the Delta Currently, the district houses all of County School District in western Cherry Creek’s 800-plus state-funded Colorado, said, “I love the idea of unipreschool slots in its classrooms. versal preschool. I believe in the idea But many districts already contract of universal preschool. I do have some with community-based providers fears around it as well.” to offer state-funded preschool slots.

Denver, the state’s largest district, is one of them.

Priscilla Hopkins, the district’s executive director of early education, PRESENTS: said the use of both public-school — � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �classrooms � � � and � private � � �preschools � often called “mixed delivery” — works well.

“I think parents want high-quality Thursday, April 21, 2022 preschool,” she said. “As school dis6:30p.m.– 10:30p.m. tricts, that needs to be our north star.”

Fedler, of Delta County, agreed, but Location: worries that private providers could Cielo at Castle Pines, shy away from the universal preschool A NIGHT IN 485 W. Happy Canyon Rd, program if subject to lots of new qualCastle Rock, Co. 80108 ity requirements.

“It’s hard, especially in rural ColoAttire: rado, to get people to want to work Black Tie Optional with little learners,” she said. “If we start asking more of them, how many For more Information visit: more of them will walk away?”

“We’re moving really fast for such a big jump,” she said.

Bill Jaeger, vice president of early childhood and policy initiatives for the Colorado Children’s Campaign, said of the legislation, “There’s a lot of reimagining of the early childhood system to make it child-, family-, and provider-focused and break down those silos, and that requires significant statutory change.

“There is a degree of urgency,” he said, noting that some of the bill’s provisions need to get underway as soon as possible.

State lawmakers recently moved up the department’s July 1 start date to this spring. The governor likely will name an executive director in the coming weeks. Among other things, the department will roll out universal preschool in the summer of 2023. The initiative, funded largely with a voterapproved nicotine tax, is a top priority for Polis.

Scott Smith, chief financial and operating officer for the Cherry Creek school district, said his district supports universal preschool but noted the state had “some blind spots and some missteps” in planning, including leaving too small a role for school district leaders during the early stages.

“Not including school people from the beginning really left us behind,” he said.

Smith and other school district leaders said state officials have recently held regular meetings to gather feedback from district staff.

Arapahoe Community College Foundation

www.arapahoe.edu/ foundationevents

What about disabilities?

Some school district leaders worry that the universal preschool program — specifically the availability of slots All funds raised will be used in private programs — could hurt for student scholarships, children with disabilities. student emergency funding Currently, the vast majority of those and the mission of the children are served in public school ACC Foundation. classrooms that also include a sizable share of typically developing children.

But there are questions about what � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �happens � � if � lots � of�families � � with � typical children opt for private programs, segregating children with disabilities in public schools.

“We want to make sure we don’t become the special education preschool,” Smith said.

Theoretically, the families of WOODS � SON PIANO COMPANY children with disabilities may choose community-based preschools when universal preschool launches, but it’s not clear whether or how those programs will provide free therapies

or other services outlined in those preschoolers’ special education plans.

Mat Aubuchon, the director of early childhood and elementary programs in the Westminster district north of Denver, said under federal special education law, school districts must ensure that students with disabilities get the right services from qualified staff members.

“We don’t want to set an expectation that [special education] services can just happen anywhere,” he said.

Aubuchon said he’s not opposed to the mixed delivery model, but said it must be planned carefully to ensure preschoolers with disabilities are appropriately served. Placements, he said, will have to be determined case by case.

Other sticking points Besides providing for an expanded field of preschool providers, the new legislation envisions a simple application process — one that allows families to easily apply for universal preschool and other early childhood programs.

Just about everyone agrees with the idea in principle.

But some school leaders worry that integrating technologies from different programs into one application is too complicated to roll out in a year.

If it’s not done well from the get-go, it’s just “one more confusing thing for families to deal with,” said Aubuchon.

Claudia Strait, who heads the Early Childhood Council for Yuma, Washington, and Kit Carson counties in eastern Colorado, said many families in her area don’t speak English and aren’t computer savvy, so she hopes the new application process won’t leave them out.

Some early childhood leaders are also leery about the plan to empower the new agency’s executive director to make rules, which spell out how state laws should be implemented.

The provision is meant to make the new department nimble, but some observers worry it puts a lot of power in one person’s hands.

“We’d prefer to see some sort of accountability,” said Smith of Cherry Creek. “I’m not sure what mechanism exists right now that would hold that executive director accountable.”

About half of state agencies have a rule-making board and half don’t.

The new early childhood department would have a rule-making advisory council and state officials also say the executive director would have to follow state laws that require public hearings and testimony on state regulations.

Aubuchon said a rule-making board might be beneficial for the first couple years of the new department, with that authority transferring to the department’s executive director later on.

Strait said she’s a little nervous about the new executive director having so much power, but is also circumspect about the many unknowns that lay ahead.

“It’s just like anything else, anything that’s new, it’s going to be hard adjusting,” she said. “The longer that it’s in place, the smoother it gets.”

This story is from Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Used by permission. For more, and to support Chalkbeat, visit co.chalkbeat.org.

Parker Chronicle 5

March 31, 2022

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6 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

WATER FROM PAGE 1

bathtub and the sooner you suck it out with a straw, the sooner it will be gone.”

Centennial Water, which provides water to about 100,000 customers in Highlands Ranch and Mirabel metro districts, is one of the county’s providers that has noticed declines in well production.

That’s because the water they’re pulling to the surface is depleting.

And it’s not replenishing itself.

Growth is expected to continue in the county, with nearly 60,000 more people projected to move to the area by 2030, according to the state’s demography office. That means the community’s thirst is only going to increase.

To meet those demands, water providers are looking at a mix of conservation efforts, wastewater projects and new infrastructure for renewable resources of water. The county government is also looking at how to bring in more water and is considering spending a portion of their $68 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act on the issue.

‘Over-reliance on groundwater’ As Douglas County’s development has surged since the 1990s, many of the largest communities such as Parker and Castle Rock have relied on groundwater to fill residents’ bathtubs and sinks, said State Engineer Kevin Rein.

In Colorado, the Office of the State Engineer administers water rights, manages wells and their permits and monitors water use, among other water-related duties.

Groundwater from aquifers makes up about 65% of the water used by Parker Water and Sanitation, which is the provider for Parker and parts of Lone Tree and Castle Pines, and by Castle Rock Water. Centennial Water uses about 20% groundwater. Those ratios can change depending on drought conditions.

According to the state engineer’s office, Douglas County has about 440 municipal wells, which are used to drill into the aquifers.

“Douglas County is unique in that its overreliance on groundwater in some ways has spoiled it in the sense that we’re not as subject to the hydrologic cycle as other areas are,” said Brock Smethills, president of Sterling Ranch Development Company and a board member of Dominion Water and Sanitation.s That’s because areas relying on renewable surface water and snow melt will feel the impacts of a drought year more acutely.

A simulation produced by the United States Geological Survey shows that from 1880 to 2003, about half of the water removed from the Denver basin aquifers came from the South Denver Metro Region, said Suzanne Paschke, the Associate Director for Hydrologic Studies for the Colorado Water Science Center in the USGS. “That is where most of the storage depletion is occurring in the basin, according to our simulations,” Paschke said.

A diagram from a United States Geological Survey study shows a visualization of the Denver Basin aquifer system.

COURTESY OF THE UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Aquifer is depleting Since 1996, the state engineer’s office has been advising those using wells in the Denver basin to be aware that the aquifers contain a finite amount of water, Rein said.

“We recognize the non-renewable nature and we have advised… that anyone using this resource should recognize that it’s non-renewable and it may not even last for the 100 years it’s allocated on,” Rein said.

In 2003, news reports said the aquifer was in such decline that some areas of the county could run dry of groundwater in 10 to 20 years.

Studies completed by the United States Geologic Survey in 2011 and 2019 showed that aquifer declines were continuing but stopped short of giving predictions on the amount of time until they’re empty.

“We can pull out less now than we used to when we first started,” said McLoud with Centennial Water.

“We’re feeling its finiteness.”

Mark Marlowe, the Castle Rock water director, said many of their wells have seen declines in water levels, though he added it’s difficult to determine how widespread that withdrawal is within the basin.

“There’s a big supply but it is going to become more difficult to extract that supply over the long term,” Marlow said. “Quite frankly, we want to protect that supply for periods when surface water is not available.”

That’s because as the water level in the aquifer decreases, more wells must be drilled to maintain the same amount of production, causing increases in costs.

Castle Rock is currently working with Colorado State University to study their deep groundwater, Marlowe said.

“There’s still a lot to know and learn about the Denver basin groundwater in terms of how long it will be sustainable as a resource,” he said.

Ron Redd, the district manager of Parker Water and Sanitation, said from their well monitoring, they’ve also seen declines in multiple aquifers.

“On average we can see a two-tosix-foot decline,” he said.

Douglas County sits on a layer of several aquifers, including the Arapahoe, Denver, Dawson and the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifers. Most

Rueter-Hess Reservoir, which was completed in 2012, is owned and operated by PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER Parker Water and Sanitation. It has a capacity of 75,000 acre-feet.

major water providers use the water in the Arapahoe and Denver aquifers, which reaches depths of 1,700 and 600 feet beneath the ground, respectively.

“While the aquifers are thicker there, I think there’s so much use that it’s heavily impacted,” Pashcke said.

Development is growing While communities like Highlands Ranch are essentially built out, areas like Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Sterling Ranch and Castle Rock have hundreds if not thousands of homes scheduled to be developed in the coming years.

“Water is a linchpin of development around the Denver Metro Area,” Brock Smethills said.

The state engineer’s office is required by statute to allow developers to continue using the Denver basin groundwater.

“Our State Engineer’s office personnel, we’re really bound to allow this water’s use, according to the law,” Rein said. “And they should be mindful of our advice that we’ve given them about the non-renewable nature of the resource and again be aware that they may need alternate supplies in the long term or the short term.”

Under Douglas County’s guidelines for development in unincorporated areas, only the western part of the county is not allowed to rely on their groundwater for development, said Steve Koster, assistant director of planning services for the county.

Those communities must provide either a renewable water source or use groundwater from the eastern part of the county.

Koster said the county is not ac-

tively looking at requiring or incentivizing developers to instead look for renewable resources of water.

Projects to address All the major water providers in the county have said they are confident in their plans to address growth and water demands.

Parker Water and Sanitation is working on a project that will partner with a water conservancy district in Sterling, a town in eastern Colorado, to capture unused water during high runoff years from the South Platte River there and store it to pipe back to the town. The project won’t impact existing water rights and won’t allow buy-and-dry of nearby agriculture, Redd said.

In order to meet Parker’s projected water demands, the project will need to be complete by 2040, Redd said.

That project would get Parker Water to 75% renewable water and would provide water for more than 300,000 people in Douglas County, including in Parker, Castle Rock and portions of Castle Pines and Lone Tree, according to a project proposal. Castle Rock Water is a partner on that project.

Over the next 20 to 30 years, Castle Rock plans to invest about $500 million on renewable water projects including new pipelines, additional storage and water rights. Marlowe said the reason they spread out those projects over time is to keep rates for their customers down.

By 2050, Castle Rock plans to move to 75% renewable and by 2065 have a 100% renewable system for wet or average years.

Dominion Water and Sanitation, SEE WATER, P7

Parker Chronicle 7

March 31, 2022

WATER

be successful.”

Lisa Darling, the executive director for the South Metro Water Supply Authority, said she’s confident in the plans the Douglas County water providers have produced but that issues such as climate change continue to demand attention.

FROM PAGE 6

which serves about 1,200 homes in Sterling Ranch, plans to be 90% renewable by 2040. Sterling Ranch is slated to add about 11,000 more homes to their community in that same time period at a rate of 450 homes per year. Dominion also plans to include about 700 other existing homes from smaller communities to their service area soon.

Right now, Dominion is 100% renewable but is set to drill wells in the Cherokee Ranch area to blend some groundwater into their system, making it more drought-resistant, Cole said.

They are also planning to build a river intake on the South Platte River and a wastewater treatment facility, which will provide at least 1,600-acre-feet of water per year to Sterling Ranch.

An acre foot is the equivalent of a one-foot-deep pool about the size of a football field. Most homes in Douglas County use less than half an acre foot per year of water.

In the next few years, Dominion Water will also begin the state’s first pilot program for rainwater harvesting.

Paschke said she doesn’t want her work for USGS to be interpreted to mean the only solution is to completely get rid of groundwater.

Instead, she said, she advocates for a combination of approaches, including water reuse and conservation.

“It’s a balance of maybe there’s more reliance in drought years when there’s less surface water, relying more on groundwater,” she said.

Water wasted Conservation and education of the public are also big parts of all the water providers’ plans to continue providing water to the community.

“We consider water conservation to be a water supply,” Marlowe said.

“Especially given how much water is still wasted on outdoor irrigation.”

Castle Rock plans to incorporate programs in the coming years that encourage more efficient utilities and lawns that don’t require heavy irrigation. At the statewide level, a bill being considered by the legislature this session would pay residents up to $2 per square foot to rip out their irrigated turf and replace it with less thirsty alternatives.

Sterling Ranch has focused on a program they call “demand management” that allows residents to have a live look at their water usage and bills.

“It gives the residents the information to manage their water,” said Harold Smethills, an owner of Sterling Ranch and board member of Dominion Water.

Their community also has banned the use of bluegrass, a type of turf that demands lots of water. Instead they offer a variety of drought-resistant plants for landscaping.

Water providers are also working to educate their customers about the realities of the water supply.

“It’s important to us to educate and help customers understand what the water supply situation is, especially constant education so we don’t just have to go out and educate when we have a drought,”

A map from the State Engineer’s Office shows the 445 existing municipal wells in DougCOURTESY OF © OPENSTREETMAP CONTRIBUTORS las County.

Sterling Ranch, in partnership with the Denver Botanic Gardens, connects homeowners with drought-resistant plants for their landscaping. The community doesn’t allow PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER bluegrass.

said Stephanie Stanley, the director of finance and administration for Centennial Water.

Multiple entities, including Dominion, Parker Water and Castle Rock Water have already built or are planning to invest in wastewater treatment plants to reuse their existing supplies as much as possible.

Even with all the plans set, water managers say the job isn’t complete.

“There’s a lot of work to do, we’re

not done,” Marlowe said. “We live in a state that is an arid state and we need to continue to work on this for sure.”

McLoud, with Centennial, said he sees one main goal for water providers in the county.

“The work is to obtain surface water,” McLoud said. “People are doing various things to do that and they all have the pressure of the groundwater usage pushing them to

County funds As the commissioners consider how to approach the issue, $68 million in federal funds has the potential to aid in addressing the water demands of a growing community.

One proposal for the money, which the commissioners have dedicated six 2-hour meetings to discussing, would pump about 22,000 acre feet per year to Douglas County from the San Luis Valley. Renewable Water Resources, the private company proposing the project, says that’s enough for 70,000 houses.

The project has been met with ire from many in the valley, though, as multiple water conservation districts and elected officials there have said they don’t have enough to spare and it would damage their agriculture-based economy. Opponents from across the political spectrum have come out against it including Rep. Lauren Boebert, Gov. Jared Polis, Rep. Cleave Simpson and Attorney General Phil Weiser. Both state senators, John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennett, have also opposed the project.

So far, all the major water providers in Douglas County have said they are not interested in using the water from the proposal. Darling says that’s in part because many providers have already heavily invested in other projects.

“It would be difficult to foresee a provider saying ‘oh well I’ve got so much invested in that but heck, I won’t do that anymore I’m going to go swing over to this other project,’” she said.

If commissioners decide to invest the initial fee of $10 million, the project would then have to go through the water court process before it could begin. While it’s possible ARPA funds couldn’t be used directly on the project, RWR has suggested the county use the federal dollars to backfill their general county budget.

Commissioners have also heard presentations from Parker Water, who asked them to consider using about $20 million of the federal funds to fund their South Platte River project, and Dominion, who asked for help funding their regional wastewater plant in partnership with Castle Rock Water and the Plum Creek Reclamation Authority.

With new projects, costs are also a factor. Water providers often work to spread out infrastructure needs to keep their customers’ costs down.

That’s one concern Darling has with the county considering funding multiple major water projects.

“I don’t think it’s practicable to expect to have a number of these huge projects and play on that same customer base,” she said. “That’s a huge economic impact.”

Still, as water becomes harder to find, Darling says costs are likely to go up regardless.

“It would be hard to believe that in future, anything that is becoming scarcer would become less expensive,” she said.

8 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

SKYDIVING FROM PAGE 1

During her routines, Sydney does flips, splits, twists, stationary poses and more inside tunnels that usually span about 12 feet wide and 45 feet high.

“Some people have called her a hummingbird,” said Michelle Kennett, Sydney’s mom. “Because of how finely detailed she is and how she can fly so close to the wall but not hit it.”

While the sport includes multiple disciplines, Sydney mostly competes in the freestyle division, where she’s required to complete both free routines, where she decides on her own tricks, and compulsory routines, where she’s required to incorporate certain moves. The free routines last about a minute and 30 seconds and the compulsory routines are about 45 seconds.

She gets two scores for her routine: one based on the difficulty and the other on how well she executes the moves. Points for each trick are not yet standardized, so judges choose subjective scores.

“Sydney usually has one of the hardest difficulty routines,” Michelle said.

Leading up to a competition, Sydney practices about four hours per week inside the tunnel. The work isn’t finished when she’s out of the wind however, she also works on flexibility and weight training. In the past, she’s also taken contortion classes to improve her routines.

Her mom and dad are her coaches and the three of them choreograph her routines together.

“Usually we will just like sit down at the dinner table and talk about it,” she said “We gather my moves together and then talk about how they could flow together.”

When Sydney was 4-years-old, her dad — a longtime skydiver — wanted her and her sister to try it out. With age restrictions on skydiving stopping them from actually jumping out of a plane, they ended up at the iFly in Lone Tree.

Four years later, she joined the kids club there and started practicing. About a year after that, she went to her first competition in Chicago.

“It kind of just took off from there,” she said.

Sydney Kennett, 15, poses for a portrait inside the wind tunnel at the iFly facility in Lone Tree.

At first, it was a cardio workout, but before long it became more of a mental exercise as she focused on the isolated movements required for her tricks.

Now, Sydney is sponsored by iFly; Cookie, which makes skydiving helmets; and Deem, a skydiving suit manufacturer.

A sophomore at Ponderosa High School, Sydney also recently started pole vaulting for the school’s track team. In some ways, it’s similar to indoor skydiving, she said.

Through social media, Sydney works to introduce more people to the sport of indoor skydiving.

“That’s basically my main goal is just to show people it’s actually a sport and not just an amusement ride,” she said.

At the last world competition in 2019, Sydney competed as the youngest person there as a 12-yearold and received third place. This year she has a different goal.

“I’m hoping to bring back the gold this time,” she said. “That would be really exciting.”

Sydney Kennett, a professional indoor skydiver from Parker, practices a routine in a Lone Tree wind tunnel March 21.

Sydney Kennett said she sometimes talks to herself while she flies in the wind tunnel.

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Sydney Kennett does the splits while hovering in a Lone Tree wind tunnel, which is PHOTOS BY ELLIOTT WENZLER producing wind of about 120 mph.

Parker Chronicle 9

March 31, 2022

Bill to protect workers who use cannabis fails House Bill 1152 was rejected on a 12-1 committee vote

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

A Colorado House committee voted down a bill that sought to stop employers from denying jobs to or firing workers for their off-the-clock cannabis use, either medical or recreational.

House Bill 1152 also sought to require employers to let their employees consume medical marijuana while on the job. The legislation included exceptions for workers whose jobs are in dangerous fields or require fine motor skills, such as positions involving the use of heavy machinery.

The bill was rejected on a 12-1 vote in the House Business Affairs and Labor Committee on March 23 afternoon even after the measure’s sponsor, Rep. Edie Hooton, a Boulder Democrat, offered an amendment to dramatically scale back the legislation before the vote was taken.

The amendment, which was adopted, would have erased all of the bill’s provisions and instead convened a panel to study the issue and make recommendations to the legislature about how employers can accommodate medical marijuana users. But even that wasn’t enough for lawmakers on the committee,

SHUTTERSTOCK

who were concerned about any move toward forcing employers to allow their employees to use marijuana on or off the job.

Many in the business community are fiercely opposed to the measure and testified in opposition to it on March 2.

“I wasn’t surprised,” Hooton, who has brought similar legislation for several years, said of the outcome.

“I got a lot of very, very valuable feedback about how we might be able to move forward in the future.”

The question of whether the use of cannabis off the clock can disqualify a person for a job or lead to their firing has been swirling in Colorado since voters passed

Amendment 64 in 2012, which legalized the sale and use of recreational cannabis. Most states that have lifted prohibitions on pot leave the question of how to handle employees’ marijuana use up to employers, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Nevada and New Jersey are two exceptions. In New Jersey, employers can prohibit employees from using cannabis while on the job or from showing up to work impaired.

But they are not allowed to penalize an employee solely because of their off-the-clock recreational cannabis use.

In 2015, the Colorado Supreme Court sided with Dish Network,

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which fired an employee, Brandon Coats, after he tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol – or THC – in a random drug test. Coats had a medical marijuana card as a result of back spasms caused by his quadriplegia. Muscle spasms are one of the seven debilitating conditions for which medical marijuana can be recommended under Colorado law.

The closely watched case highlighted Colorado’s pot paradox: Marijuana is legal but consuming it can still be grounds for termination.

Amendment 64 included the following provision: “Nothing in this (ballot measure) is intended to require an employer to permit or accommodate the use, consumption, possession, transfer, delay, transportation, sale or growing of marijuana in the workplace to affect the ability of employers to have policies restriction the use of marijuana by employees.”

Amendment 20, the 2000 ballot initiative allowing medical marijuana sales and use in Colorado, included a provision about how it does not “require any employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any workplace.”

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

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

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10 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

Douglas County School Board names superintendent finalist The district offers superintendency to Erin Kane

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In a divided 4-3 vote, and with one board director participating remotely from a hospital bed, the Douglas County School Board named Erin Kane as the sole finalist to become the next superintendent of Douglas County Schools.

The board listened to more than two and a half hours of public comment in its March 22 meeting, much of which focused on the superintendency and showed passionate support for each of the two finalists. Board directors commended both — Kane and Executive Director of Schools Danny Winsor — as outstanding candidates.

Still, majority board Directors Mike Peterson, Becky Myers, Christy Williams and Kaylee Winegar said Kane is the leader needed to refocus the district on academic performance, pass a mill levy and bond ballot measure in November, and unify a deeply divided community.

“I am extremely humbled,” Kane said after the board voted to offer her the job.

Kane said she has spoken with people on both sides of district issues in recent weeks and found “people are tired of the conflict.”

The community has more in common that it might appear, she said, and vowed to work with all seven board members.

Director Susan Meek voted against selecting Kane, saying the charter school director should have disclosed she had prior relationships with some board members.

Peterson has previously confirmed he reached out to Kane before the position was open to see if she had interest in being superintendent.

Kane also made $50 donations to the majority’s campaigns, he said March 22.

Meek noted some people in public comment spoke about Kane attending a private retreat the majority held after they won the November

Erin Kane

election.

Kane is executive director at the charter school American Academy and a former interim superintendent for the district. American Academy comprises three campuses and enrolls roughly 3,000 students in preschool through eighth grade. Kane worked in the high technology industry for more than a decade before working at American Academy.

Winsor is an executive director of schools for DCSD and oversees the district’s choice programming department and postsecondary readiness programs. He is a former principal, counselor, teacher and coach. He joined DCSD in 2013 and has worked in education for 20 years.

Peterson said Kane will represent the teacher voice, and will push back and challenge any board director if needed. Peterson also said she respects the role of the parent, including in making health decisions. His “final testament is her followership,” he said, which he called emblematic of her leadership and unparalleled in the district.

Supporters of Kane who spoke during public comment on March 22 said she has the needed experience after leading the district from 2016 and 2018 as interim superintendent.

The Douglas County School District continues to deal with the fall out after SuperinPHOTO BY THELMA GRIMES tendent Corey Wise was fired.

“Now, we have a chance to bring her back, and the choice couldn’t be more clear,” one woman said.

But to critics, selecting her would do the opposite. Speakers who opposed Kane said she was a divisive choice, particularly after widespread scrutiny the board majority pre-determined her as the next superintendent well before launching the search.

Winsor was a proven educator who was nonpartisan and less polarizing, his supporters said.

“Not only is his career experience far more suitable for the job, but his hiring does not continue the theme” of dishonesty and collusion, one speaker said.

Board Director David Ray had argued Winsor was a symbolic, unifying choice. Kane was a qualified leader, he said, but she came with much baggage because of community perceptions of her.

Winegar said both finalists clearly love the district, understand its needs and have a heart for children.

“For me, one was more confident, courageous and not afraid to challenge the narrative,” she said.

Winegar also made a surprise announcement at the meeting’s start — she gave birth to her daughter

that morning. She participated in the meeting remotely and voted for Kane from her hospital bed.

Former Superintendent Corey Wise was fired without cause in a split board vote on Feb. 4. The board minority of Directors Ray, Meek and Elizabeth Hanson vehemently opposed removing Wise, saying he was a beloved district veteran and highly qualified leader.

Wise spent his entire 26-year career with the district and served in the superintendent role for less than a year.

Board majority Directors Peterson, Becky Myers, Christy Williams and Winegar said they questioned not whether he was well-liked or a good person, but whether he was the right leader for Douglas County Schools.

Some of their concerns with Wise included his management of masking mandates during COVID-19, the district’s implementation of its educational equity policy, and suspicions he had undermined them among district staff.

In moving forward, the district and Kane will next enter contract negotiations, although it was unclear when Kane will be officially voted in as the next superintendent.

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Parker Chronicle 11

March 31, 2022

COUNSEL FROM PAGE 1

Douglas County resident Robert Marshall sued the board on Feb. 4 alleging directors Mike Peterson, Becky Myers, Christy Williams and Kaylee Winegar used a chain of private, one-on-one meetings to evade quorum requirements and plan the former superintendent’s removal.

A judge has issued a preliminary injunction in the case prohibiting the use of serial meetings or violations of Colorado open meeting law.

President Peterson said he brought the idea of retaining Gessler Blue Law before the board on March 22 so it could consider diversifying its legal representation moving forward.

The resolution passed in a 4-3 vote does not require the board to use the firm but will place Gessler Blue Law on retainer for this specific lawsuit.

“My fear is if this case moves forward and we don’t have competent legal representation and variety and diverse opinions on what the impact could be,” Peterson said, “that this could create new Colorado law.”

Peterson also noted the judge pointed to cases in other states in his preliminary injunction.

Colorado does not appear to have case law regarding the use of serial meetings, walking quorums or daisy-chain meetings, although several states have found they violate open meeting requirements.

Director Susan Meek said it’s impossible for a firm to represent the full board without a conflict of interest. What’s best for the majority directors might differ from what’s best for the district, she said.

The lawsuit names Peterson, Myers, Williams and Winegar individually in addition to the Douglas County School Board.

Marshall sued after Meek, Ray and Hanson made public allegations that the majority broke open meeting laws by privately asking former Superintendent Corey Wise to step down.

‘If you feel like it’s appropriate for daisy-chain conversations to happen outside of public meetings, work with your legislators and try to get that passed. Those are steps you can take to work on clarifying the open meeting law. Try to make changes that you can make, but do it on your dime not on the taxpayer dime.’

Susan Meek, Douglas County School Board member

Peterson had countered Meek, saying minority directors have a conflict of interest “to even vote on this, seeing as they were witnesses for the plaintiff,” also adding they provided evidence used

by Marshall’s legal team.

Director Elizabeth Hanson fired back at Peterson for implying minority directors voluntarily acted as witnesses and informants for the plaintiff’s attorneys.

“President Peterson, that’s a gross misrepresentation of what happened, and I think you know that,” she said.

Hanson emphasized that Meek and Ray were subpoenaed to provide documents in the case and called as witnesses by the plaintiff’s attorneys, who could call anyone to testify.

“They don’t have an option whether or not to show up, and they don’t have an option whether or not to produce documents,” she said.

Ray said hiring an additional firm was premature before the judge decides on a permanent injunction or makes a final decision in the case. Ray and Meek also argued that the firm was a lightning rod because of its political ties.

“The optics are horrible,” Ray said.

Meek said in 2013 Gessler campaigned for past DCSD board directors known as the reform

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board. The community would likely see that as connecting the current board with the controversial reform era, she said.

Meek also called hiring additional counsel for an appeal a frivolous use of district funds.

“If you feel like it’s appropriate for daisy-chain conversations to happen outside of public meetings, work with your legislators and try to get that passed. Those are steps you can take to work on clarifying the open meeting law.

Try to make changes that you can make, but do it on your dime not on the taxpayer dime,” Meek said.

Peterson chastised Meek for her comments about the reformer era and said he was only concerned with finding competent legal counsel, not with political narra-

tives in the community.

“Mentioning a narrative that could affect this is, in some cases, a creation of that narrative or reinforcing a narrative,” Peterson said.

Ray said the firm was also controversial because Gessler representats Tina Peters in Mesa County — the clerk and recorder who was arrested on allegations of facilitating a breach of the county’s election equipment.

The comment regarding Peters drew ire from Myers, who said Ray was politicizing the debate by bringing up Peters’ case.

She criticized Ray for “alleging (Peters) is already guilty,” but then appeared to imply Peters is innocent.

“She was just doing her job,” Myers said.

Director Winegar, who gave birth to her baby that morning and participated in the meeting remotely from her hospital bed, said she was interested in in finding new legal representation.

Winegar said Hall and Evans “didn’t do the best representation of us,” as evidenced by judge’s preliminary injunction in the plaintiff’s favor. She wanted to try a new firm as the board challenges the order, she said, adding “we have every right to appeal that.”

“The person who we should be looking at that’s wasting district money is the plaintiff. They are the ones who brought this case against us,” she said. “We know we did nothing wrong. Unfortunately, we disagree with how the judge interpreted the law.”

12 Parker Chronicle

LOCAL

March 31, 2022

VOICES

Mental health dilemma

S

ince the start of the pandemic, there appears to be a lot more emphasis on doing something about the mental health crisis in this country. The problem is the help is coming at a pretty late date.

In talking to a clinician at the UCHealth hospital in Highlands Ranch, she was adamant that this crisis did not grow from the pandemic. Instead, she compared the situation to a pot, filled to the rim, and FROM THE once the COVID-19 crisis hit the world, EDITOR the pot boiled over out of control.

If we could point at something good coming from that pot boiling over — it is that we as a society can no longer just ignore or place small Band-Aids on a catastrophic problem. The state, cities, counties and hospitals and doctors are now turning their focus to the crisis and doing a lot more to address it.

Recently, through a Kaiser Permanente grant, Englewood Public Schools Thelma Grimes put $300,000 towards addressing mental health needs for students. This is a great start here. It is great that Kaiser made the project possible.

In Douglas County they are ahead of the curve. Good thinking many years ago has led to a great program there aimed at helping adults and children struggling with mental health. They continue to focus on getting people help rather than throwing them in jail cells.

They focus on going directly into homes and showing that someone cares through the Community Response Teams.

The county initiative is also inside the schools, making sure students who need help are getting it.

At the college level, a recent discussion with a school official said young adults are taking on more today than ever before. They are trying to pass full class loads while working 40 hours a week just to be able to pay rent and get by.

As this official said, all of these students are one flat tire away from having full-blown meltdowns. To some, a flat tire should be seen as no big deal, but to the student juggling everything and barely holding it together, the flat tire is the last straw.

The pandemic has shown that while we often say our young children are resilient and will be fine — evidence shows the opposite. We should be applauding what Children’s Hospital Colorado had the foresight to do in 2021. That foresight was essentially speaking out.

CHC said hospital beds are not being filled with physically sick children. Instead, they are being filled with children and teens causing self-harm.

CHC called out the state government for not doing enough to address the issue. That has led to more discussions, more effort to help our children.

The problem, however, is the pot is boiling over and the concern now is did we wait too long to really start taking the crisis seriously? Can we stabilize an out-ofcontrol situation?

I know there are a lot of local programs and community leaders who are taking on the crisis head on. As citizens, hopefully we too can jump in and help where we can.

Thelma Grimes is the south metro editor for Colorado Community Media

Learning through serving

Y

ears ago, I had the opportunity to caddie several times for a good friend of mine Chris. He was an awesome amateur golfer playing in the state’s mid-amateur tournaments.

I refer to this as an opportunity to volunteer to serve Chris as his caddie because it gave me the opportunity to spend a few days watching and learning from the other great amateur golfers like Chris.

As I watched, I became more familiar with the rules of the game. I observed the way that fantastic golfers approach different shots and how they managed the course. I was happy to carry Chris’ bag for free because he and the other golfers were helping me to learn the game and improve my own score. During one of those seasons, I was carrying his bag for the weekend, and he won the state mid-am championship. That meant that we were paired up with some really terrific golfers, so I had the best of the best amateurs to learn from along that journey.

In my earlier career I was also given the opportunity to be an observer in board of directors meetings. This meant giving up evenings and sometimes weekends, but the knowledge and experience I gained was worth every hour that I invested in being amongst some brilliant minds for a few hours every month and for a longer meeting each quarter.

During those meetings I managed to make myself useful by serving coffee,

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making sure there was water in the room, and most importantly taking notes. I also took notice of the way these leaders asked questions, including their line of questioning, it was truly impressive. I paid attention to what they wrote down as important, and how they navigated difficult decisions to come Michael Norton to an agreement amongst nine members of the board.

I was truly learning by serving.

A young man that I coach and mentor, and who lives and works with a servant’s heart, aspires to be a keynote speaker himself one day. I had an opportunity where I was delivering a keynote speech in Chicago, so I invited him to join me. I covered his travel costs, but he invested two days of his time to come and experience how corporate events like this work.

He also made himself useful by handing out books and materials and collecting business cards from people he thought that I might want to meet one day. When the event was over he shared how much he had learned, and that he was grateful for the opportunity.

Two of my favorite places to serve are

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Parker Chronicle 13

March 31, 2022

New options in end-of-life care

C

olorado now has more options available for care at end of life than ever before.

The vast array of options allow for more personal choice during the final days of life, as well as for funeral and body disposition. Every option available may not be right for you personally, but knowing and understanding your options will help you make the best choices for you and your loved ones.

The need for end-of-life doulas Many people are familiar with hospice care for the terminally ill. Although hospice services are immensely helpful, there is a gap between what hospice can provide and what the dying person needs to successfully navigate the end of life. This is where end-oflife doulas, or death doulas, come in.

End-of-life doulas are nonmedical support for the dying.

They are not a replacement for hospice, but are in addition to hospice to help fill the gap. One of the major gaps in hospice care today is the limited time hospice workers are allowed to spend with patients. End-of-life doulas are able to provide the time for additional care, such as offering emotional and spiritual support and companionship, serving as a liaison for the care team, completing a life review, creating leg-

NORTON FROM PAGE 12

through my church and in my community. We are a part of a small church in our town. My wife and I both have volunteer positions within the church.

Again, giving up a few hours each month is absolutely worth the investment of time as we work with others in our church, engaging and learning as they manage each of their different ministries.

In the small town that we live in, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and serve. I have coached a few young people for free, putting in the time and energy to help them improve their skills, make a hard decision, or find the right career path. Again, what I get out of the opportunity is incredible and gives me insights into how the

acy projects, developing a vigil plan, providing respite care and sitting vigil, just to name a few. Some doulas also serve as home funeral guides to help families and communities who wish to care for their own deCindy J. Kaufman ceased at home, as was both custom and tradition years ago.

Each end-of-life doula brings their own unique skills, experience, and talents to their work.

Thus, no two doulas are alike.

In searching for an end-of-life doula, it is recommended that one interviews several doulas to find the one that best fits.

LIVING & AGING WELL

Additional autonomy options at end of life Choice in care is one way to exercise autonomy at end of life.

Another is in making personal decisions about when and how one’s suffering will end. Colorado’s End of Life Options Act went into effect in early 2017, allowing the terminally ill access to medication to end their suffering peacefully and on their own terms. Since then, hundreds of terminally ill patients have been prescribed the aid-in-dying medication, even though barri-

younger generations are thinking these days. By giving of my time and serving, in return I was receiving tremendously valuable information that would help in understanding the different age groups and how they learn, what motivates them, and how they see the future.

There are so many great benefits when it comes to volunteering our time and serving other.

How about you? Is there something that gets you excited about serving others? Do you live and work with a servant’s heart? I would love to hear your story at mnorton@xinnix.com, and when we realize that we can learn while we serve, it really will be a better than good year.

Michael Norton is the grateful president of XINNIX, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself.

In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and nonpartisan journalism. It covers everything

from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun.com.

ers to access remain problematic for many people across Colorado.

The need for education still exists around this option to help those who want access.

Another available option is called Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking, or VSED. This process falls under the terminally ill person’s legal right to refuse medical care, which includes nutrition and hydration.

For both the Medical Aid in Dying and VSED options, it is best if one has an experienced support system of hospice workers and/or end-of-life doulas to safely carry them out.

Choices for body disposition Colorado is at the forefront in terms of options available for body disposition. No longer are embalming with interment or fire cremation the only two options. The desire for more environmentally friendly ways of final disposition have given way to more sustainable methods. Colorado now has alkaline hydrolysis (aka water crema-

tion or aqua-cremation), natural organic reduction (aka human composting), and a dedicated green burial preserve.

The most important thing to realize is that you have choices available and knowing your options will help you make the decisions that honor your own personal wants, needs and desires at end of life, as well as knowing you can make your last act on earth a kind one.

Cindy J. Kaufman, MEd, EdS is president and co-founder of Colorado End-of-Life Collaborative. To learn more contact 720-989-1929, cindy@coeolcollaborative.org or visit coeolcollaborative.org.

This column is hosted by the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County. Please join us for our next virtual online presentation May 5 at 10 a.m. Cindy J. Kaufman will be our presenter and provide an overview on end-of-life care. For more information, please visit www.MyDougCoSeniorLife.com, email DCSeniorLife@douglas. co.us or call 303-663-7681.

Memory In Loving

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

14 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

LOCAL

LIFE

Some Front Range mental health workers are using nature as a ‘co-therapist’

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

L

ots of Coloradans spend their free time hiking through the forest, climbing mountains and backpacking through the wilderness, but some of these adventurers are simultaneously working on improving their mental health.

That’s because of a variety of outdoor mental health programs along the Front Range that are using nature as a “cotherapist.”

Whether it’s the guided meditations

Climbers working with Aleya Littleton in adventure therapy make their way up the rocks.

COURTESY PHOTO

A group of climbers that work with Aleya Littleton in adventure therapy show off their COURTESY PHOTO muscles at the crag.

of forest bathing, the extended alone time of wilderness therapy or the activitybased programs of adventure therapy, there are multiple options for people who want to improve their mental health but aren’t interested in sitting in an office or a clinical setting.

Adventure therapy Aleya Littleton, an adventure therapist based in Golden, uses a variety of experiences in nature as the backdrop for her therapy work.

“It’s using nature as your office and your co-therapist,” she said. “Nature herself creates a neutral and regulating space for us to be in while we’re feeling and talking about difficult things.”

Littleton’s work includes hikes at North Table Mountain, climbing at a nearby crag or even camping and backpacking. While her clients are pulling on their climbing harnesses or stopping to take in mountain views, they’re also talking about and addressing specific mental health concerns.

Littleton, who is a trained rock climbing guide, also takes out new and experienced climbers to work on things like fear and body autonomy.

“What happens when you climb is you have to refine and renegotiate your relationship with your body, with the rock and with other people,” she said.

“You get to learn about yourself with a constant, neutral backdrop.”

One of her priorities during these excursions is to allow the climbers to make their own decisions about whether they want to push forward or come down.

“We celebrate choice and people who are learning to listen to their body,” she said. “It’s not about the actual climbing, it’s about you being good to you and making wise decisions for you.”

Littleton points out that from the research she’s seen, adventure therapy is equally as effective as traditional forms of therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, but for some people it’s just a better fit.

“What makes the difference is that relationship with the therapist,” she said. “And your belief that it’s going to work.”

Forest bathing When Sandy Troyano tells new clients about her work in forest bathing, they often picture something involving a swimsuit.

The reality of the practice is far from that, however.

Instead of diving into a body of water, when Troyano, an Evergreen resident, meets with a client or group of clients, she walks them through a series of sensory-opening exercises followed by a long, slow walk through the forest.

“There’s a saying that the guide opens the door, but the forest actually does the work,” Troyano said.

The practice comes from a Japanese concept called shinrin-yoku, which literally translates to “forest bathing.” The sessions have an approach that’s similar to meditation, with exercises intended on opening up clients’ senses through slow, deliberate walks in nature and a focus on the present moment.

Troyano begins her sessions — which can be one-on-one, groups or couples — with a type of sensory-focused, guided meditation that includes feeling the textures of the earth, noticing smells in the air and deeply listening to sounds both near and far away.

“The next step is take a small walk, a slow walk and notice everything that’s moving around you,” she said.

Then, she invites the forest bathers to find places to sit still for about 15 minutes each, observing the world around them. The process takes about two and a half hours.

“It’s really about putting yourself into the present moment,” she said.

Troyano has worked with clients who are grieving or dealing with mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety. But she believes everyone can benefit from the practice, she said.

Troyano, who is a certified nature and forest therapy guide, said the mindfulness practice also helps clients become more in tune to the nature around them even when they’re not in the forest.

“Once you open your SEE NATURE, P15

Parker Chronicle 15

March 31, 2022

‘1776’ on stage through April 3

F

ranklin, Jefferson, Adams, Washington ... The Performance Now Theater company, which started out in Highlands Ranch some years ago, is performing “1776” at Lakewood SONYA’S Cultural Center, SAMPLER 470 Allison Parkway, Lakewood, through April 3.

Box office: 303-9877845, lakewood. org/Government/ Departments/Community-Resources/ Arts-and-Culture/ Lakewood-CulturSonya Ellingboe al-Center/Ticketing-and-Box-Office.

Colorado Gallery of the Arts Arapahoe Community College’s Colorado Gallery of the Arts is holding an online exhibit for Littleton Student work through April 8. My understanding is that exhibits this year are online only.

See arapahoe.edu/littleton-publicschool-district-art-show-2022.

Reminder to artists Entries are invited to the All Colorado Show at the Depot Art Gallery, via CaFE, callforentry.org.

Limited to the first 150 submissions of one to three works. Entry fee: $30-All Colorado at the Depot.

Juror is Doug Dawson. Deadline SEE SONYA, P18

The musical “1776” is on stage at Lakewood Cultural Center through April 3.

NATURE FROM PAGE 14

senses, you start noticing more,” she said. “More comes into you.”

Wilderness therapy When Anthony Riske was first introduced to wilderness therapy, the programs were typically nomadic backpacking trips accompanied by clinical support. The clients were often teens or young adults with substance abuse problems or lifestyle issues.

Now, his work includes more consultations for those interested in trying out “solos,” where they spend extended time alone in the outdoors as a way to treat mental health concerns.

“We spend so much time with machines that we think that we are machines now,” he said. “But really, we are a part of nature.”

Riske, who is a therapist originally based in Arvada but currently living in Costa Rica, meets virtually with clients to help them set up their own wilderness therapy experience. Often, his clients will search for an isolated area and camp there for up to 72 hours.

He recommends journaling prompts, symbolic ceremonies and books for them to engage with during their time alone.

“If you get bored, look closer,” he said he advises people. “Find the trail of ants, the different kinds of soil.”

Riske usually advises clients to slowly work their way up to spending more time alone outside and ensures that the client is comfortable with

Aleya Littleton, who has a master’s degree in adventure therapy, takes clients on hikes and climbs for their therapy sesCOURTESY PHOTO sions.

safety precautions.

Often, clients will report that during the first 24 hours alone, they remained busy with their assigned activities along with setting up camp and eating. After 48 hours, some say they feel good but somewhat exhausted from their thoughts, he said. Many of those who remain for 72 hours, though, say they reach a blissful, relaxing state.

In the past, he’s also led group backpacking trips with therapy intertwined and solo therapy meetings in the outdoors.

“People are certainly more interested in that kind of experience,” he said. “And in Colorado, you just head straight up into the foothills.”

COURTESY OF RDG PHOTOGRAPHY

16 Parker Chronicle

BEST OF THE BEST

March 31, 2022

‘Weathered’ exhibit is treat for the eyes Depot Art Gallery hosts show through April

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

2022 BEST OF THE

BEST VOTE NOW! Through April 15th

ParkerChronicle.net To provide the most accurate results by geographical area, Colorado Community Media does not require, but does encourage readers to vote for businesses in their immediate local community. All nominated businesses have an equal opportunity of winning, no purchase required. Please see voting website for complete contest rules and regulations.

A brisk wind was challenging several guests who visited Littleton’s Depot Art Gallery on March 22.

Appropriate introduction to the new exhibit, “Weathered,” which runs through April! The wind pushed us in through that front door.

Well-known Denver painter and collage artist Sandra Kaplan was the juror for this new collection, which covers the subject in many ways — from an approaching storm to a composition of weathered wood scraps to a wrinkled old man’s face. (“Rugged Years,” watercolor by Sharon Wink.)

It’s always fun to see what imaginative artists do with a stated theme. “Reclaimed Fences,” by Tippy McIntosh, was named Best of Theme and features pieces of an old, weathered barn, mounted on a slab of Camphor veneer. This artist’s husband is a homebuilder and she likes to incorporate building materials like this veneer in her artwork.

Paintings range from Richard Simpson’s “Parry and Eva,” a detailed small landscape/mountain painting named second place by Kaplan, to Lorraine Herrera-Bonilla’s strong statement, “Stalwart” (third place), and Mary Clarke’s glowing, circling gold and orange feline trio, “Keeping Warm on a Winter’s Night,” one of several honorable mention award-winners.

Others named by Kaplan for honorable mention were photographer Peggy Dietz’s “International,” an aerial view, Talia Johns’ “Keeper of the Souls” and Bobbi Shupe’s small, detailed painting, “History.”

Merrie Wicks’ entry is a strong watercolor of one of those sad, sagging old homes one sees in Colorado’s ghost towns. It’s called “Deer Creek Derelict” and longtime member Paul Nutting has a small, subtlyhued oil painting called “Prairie Dawn,” with mist and clouds.

Active member Pam Roth O’Mara’s work is an acrylic painting named “Winter at the Sod Home,” inspired by the sod home at the fascinating Plains Conservation Center on East Hampden Avenue in Aurora, where she volunteers time.

(Readers will want to add this spot to their “to be explored” lists for summer.)

Kathy Triplett exhibits a mosaic made from broken teacup plates and beaded cabochons on a fiddle-shaped form and another called “Ready for My Cameo.”

Near the entry door, a visitor finds a trio of handsome glass vases, with painted decoration by Chris Schranck, and member Gold Orman exhibits sculptural works in fused glass nearby.

“Reclaimed Fences” by Tippy McIntosh was named Best of Theme in the “Weathered” COURTESY PHOTO exhibit at Littleton’s Depot Art Gallery.

IF YOU GO Housed in an original Santa Fe Railway depot used by early Littleton travelers and commuters, the Depot Art Gallery, at 2069 W. Powers Ave., downtown Littleton, is open from 11

a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Sunday. Closed Monday. Admission is free and exhibits change monthly, more or less. 303-795-0781, depotartgallery. org.

Parker Chronicle 17

March 31, 2022

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18 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

Ancient Egypt beckons at DMNS

A

s Barbara Bridges, founder of Denver Film’s Women+Film program explains, a festival curator is a bit of a matchmaker.

“You have audiences and these great movies,” she said. “And we say they should meet.”

For the first time in two years, audiences can meet some of the best films by and about women in an actual theater as part of the 13th Annual Women+Film Festival, which runs from Tuesday, April 5 through Sunday, April 10 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver.

The event kicks off with a presentation of National Geographic Documentary Films’ “Fire of Love,” which tells the story of a married couple and volcano enthusiasts, Katia and Maurice Krafft. And it wraps up with “Charlotte,” which introduces audiences to Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish painter who grew up in Berlin at the beginning of World War II. Featuring the voice work of Kiera Knightley and Marion Cotillard, it’s another unique and powerful love story.

“What Charlotte created with her `Life? or Theater?’ work ended up being the first graphic novel,” said Matt Campbell, Denver Film artistic director.

“We love showcasing strong, powerful biopics that give voice to women that haven’t had their

due or women who should be celebrated more.”

In between those bookends, the festival will screen films like Holly Morris’ “Exposure,” which follows a Muslim chaplain, French biologist, Qatari Clarke Reader princess and eight other women from the Arab World and the West who explore the North Pole, and Mariano Cattaneo’s “The Strangest Girl in the World,” a Spanish family film about a 15-year-old with a vivid imagination and whose drawings come to life.

As a regular Denver Film event, attendees know that in addition to the screenings there will also be discussions with filmmakers and other events to bond cinephiles over their favorite art form.

“Part of a film festival is having the opportunity for filmmakers to interact with audiences and have a dialogue and conversation,” Campbell said. “To create a connection between people and spark thought is what we’re trying to do.”

If audiences can come away from a film having enjoyed what they saw on the screen and gained a little understanding for those around them, then the fes-

COMING ATTRACTIONS

Sat. April 9, 2022, 10am to 5pm Sun. April 10, 2022, 10am to 3pm

tival will have achieved its ends, Bridges added.

“Powerful women and interesting stories are what we like to provide to the audience,” she said. “I hope audiences learn about the world and are inspired by these incredible women and empathize with these incredible stories. Even if they’re so different, there’s something within these lives we can connect with.”

The schedule and tickets are available at denverfilm.org.

The power of persistence with the Lakewood Symphony The Lakewood Symphony Orchestra will perform their “Persistence is the Key” concert at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway. The program will feature Verdi’s “Nabucco Overture,” Bizet’s Selection from “Carmen,” and Grieg’s “Symphonic Dances, Op. 64.”

Verdi’s “Nabucco Overture” features selections from the opera of the same name, along with orchestration and brass chorales. “Carmen” by Bizet is one of the most well-known and recognizable pieces of music ever written, so audience members of all ages might recognize it.

And finally, Grieg’s “Symphonic Dances,” highlight his persistent use of Norwegian folk music.

Tickets and information for this show can be found at www. lakewoodsymphony.org.

Have a creative conversation with Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy Explaining the creative process is a ridiculously challenging proposition, but Jeff Tweedy — the founder and leader of Wilco - does about a good of it as anyone. In his two bestselling

SONYA FROM PAGE 15

is May 15 or the first 150 submissions, whichever comes first. Must have been created in the past three years, no more than 30 inches in height and width and weighing less than 25 pounds. Hanging works are limited to 20 inches height and width, 10 inches depth. Notification by June 17.

More than 70 booths to explore along with a beautiful drive up to the Foothills Vendors: Booth space is available through the 31st

Conifer High School | 10441 County Hwy 73, Conifer

TICKETS: $5 AT THE DOOR

OR bring 2 non-perishable food items for complimentary entry for the Mountain Resource Center or the 285 Backpack Project for details: www.FoothillsHomeShow.com or email foothillshomeshow@gmail.com

Curtis Center Small prints by members of the Boston Printmakers will be exhibited at the Curtis Center for the Arts, 2349 E Orchard Road, Greenwood Village — one of many area exhibits that are part of the Month of Print (MoPrint). Reception April 2, 6-8 p.m. Free admission. This traveling show includes 130 small prints from across the country.

All are no larger than eight by 10 inches and are about the theme of communication. Some area galleries already have exhibits of prints, and we expect there will be more, but have not been notified. (Blame COVID!) Hours: open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 303-797-1779.

books — “Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back)” and “How To Write One Song” — he humanely and humorously discusses how his life and experiences inform his writing.

In a rare opportunity, fans can hear from the artist directly at A Conversation with Jeff Tweedy at the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7. The event will feature comedian and actor John Hodgman chatting with Tweedy about his work and then will be opened up to the audience for conversation and a Q&A session.

Grab a spot for this unique event at www.ticketmaster.com.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Charli XCX at the Ogden Theatre Thank heavens for the English.

While we wait for new works from our pop queens Carly Rae Jepsen and Taylor Swift, across the pond Adele and Dua Lipa are keeping us feeling things. And now we have “Crash,” the latest offering from Charli XCX to soundtrack the spring and summer. The album is another sparkling collection of club-ready bangers but - and here’s Charli’s superpower - she’s also capable of tracks that sound fantastic through headphones.

In support of the record, she’s stopping by the Ogden Theatre, 935 E. Colfax Ave., at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. She’ll be joined by Atlanta rapper Baby Tate. Get tickets at www. ogdentheatre.com/events/detail/416660.

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

Reader@hotmail.com.

Genealogy group Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society meets at 1 p.m. in-person and on Zoom. Meeting April 12 at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 8545 E. Dry Creek Road, Centennial. Presenter: Jonathan Fairchild, historian for the National Park Service, at 1 p.m. speaking about Homestead Laws (Homestead Act of 1862) and techniques for researching homestead records and the effect the act had on the United States. On April 19 at 1 p.m., via Zoom, Susie Wickman will present “Mapping Your Family History.” columbinegenealogy. com.

‘Blue Ridge’ Miner’s Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave., Golden, opens a regional premiere of “Blue Ridge”

by Abby Rosebrock, playing April 15 to June 5. 303-935-3044, minersalley.com.

ACC Foundation The Arapahoe Community College Foundation presents “A Night in Monte Carlo,” its annual fundraiser to bring in money for student scholarships, on April 21 at Cielo at Castle Pines. Office phone for information: 303-797-5602.

Parker Chronicle 19

March 31, 2022

Democrats push abortion bill through Gov. Jared Polis agreed to sign into law

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Democrats in the state legislature on March 23 sent Gov. Jared Polis a bill affirming access to abortion and contraception in Colorado.

After the vote, Polis said he will sign the measure, House Bill 1279, into law.

The legislation passed the Senate on a 20-15, party-line vote after it was debated on the floor for about 13 hours on March 22 and then more than two hours on March 23 as Republicans fought the measure’s passage.

The bill was debated in the House earlier this month for 24 consecutive hours in what was one of the longest debates in the legislature’s history.

Democrats introduced the legislation in response to questions about the future of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision protecting the right to an abortion without excessive government restriction.

The court could overturn the precedent in the coming months in a ruling in a case out of Mississippi, potentially opening the door for abortion restrictions in Colorado at the county or municipal level.

Colorado, which in 1967 became the first state to loosen its abortion laws, is among the states with the fewest

abortion restrictions in the nation.

Abortion access wouldn’t be immediately affected in Colorado if Roe v. Wade is overturned, but abortion rights advocates warn there could still be threats.

The concern among abortion rights groups is that conservative Colorado counties or municipalities could try to pass local measures banning or significantly limiting abortion access. Without the protections in Roe v. Wade, those local measures may not be challengeable in court without the passage of affirmative abortionaccess legislation at the Capitol.

But because House Bill 1279 changes only state law, Republicans would still be able to introduce bills and ballot measures seeking to limit abortion access. Only a constitutional amendment, which would require approval by 55% of voters, could more permanently settle the question.

Colorado voters have consistently rejected ballot measures seeking to restrict abortion access.

Abortion rights groups are considering whether to pursue a ballot measure in 2024 enshrining abortion access in Colorado’s constitution.

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

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

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20 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

High Line Canal Conservancy announces new COO Veteran public planner Tracy Young to manage 71-mile waterway

BY ROBERT TANN RTANN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The High Line Canal Conservancy, a nonprofit working to protect and enhance the 71-mile waterway that runs through four metro counties, announced March 4 that it has named founding board member Tracy Young as its COO. Young has been with the conservancy since 2014, serving as its board secretary in 2020 and 2021. For the last 30 years, Young has worked as a landscaper and public planner for several urban areas and currently works as the planning, design and construction manager for Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space.

“I’m excited for a change, I’ve been in the public sector for over 30 years and I’ve absolutely loved every single minute of it,” Young said. “But this new position, working for the conservancy, is basically a dream job for me.”

Young said she has a long relationship with the High Line Canal, a 140-year-old human-made waterway that now serves as a popular recreation trail. She first began working on the canal with the City of Denver in 1990 and has since been involved in projects in Aurora.

“Tracy embodies everything anyone could ever ask for in a public servant and leader,” said Josh Tenneson, High Line Canal Conservancy board secretary, in a statement.

“She has always remained committed to making the community that she lives and works in a better place.”

As COO, Young will be tasked with helping implement the vision of the recently-formed High Line Canal Collaborative, a partnership of local governments, agencies and nonprofits working to provide $130 million in spending on the canal over the next 15 years.

Of that, about 20% to 30% will

Tracy Young, a 30-year veteran of landscaping and public planning, will become COO for the High Line Canal Conservancy COURTESY OF TRACY YOUNG March 23.

come from private donors, according to Suzanna Fry Jones, senior director of programs and partnerships for the conservancy. This will include individual donors, regional and national foundations and some corporate groups. About 40% to 50% of the funding will come from local and regional governments, with some possible federal funding.

The money will go towards a host of canal improvements and projects with an emphasis on accessibility and environmental stewardship.

The collaborative is eyeing new bridges, underpasses and mile markers as well as removing dead trees in the forests surrounding the canal and planting thousands of more drought-tolerant trees by 2030.

These initiatives will build on current projects already underway such as enhancements to stormwater mitigation to filter out pollutants, such as sediment, salt, phosphates and oil that may be collected by rain or snow when it touches the ground and drains into the canal.

Built with the “promise for a bet-

The High Line Canal diversion dam on the South Platte River above the mouth of FILE PHOTO Waterton Canyon. The canal is more than 140 years old.

ter future,” according to Young, the canal has historically served as an irrigation system for residences, governments and businesses. From the mouth of Waterton Canyon in southwest Douglas County, the waterway winds through Douglas, Arapahoe, Adams and Denver counties, making it one of the longest continuous urban trails in the U.S. But as climate change continues to make the state dryer, drought has been an ever-present problem for waterways like High Line.

“Water conservation is something that is on everyone’s mind in the West these days,” Young said. “We have been experiencing drought, more and more drought, and there are also pretty strong new development patterns happening in our region.”

With this, Denver Water, the canal’s owner, has signaled a need to wean current users off the waterway in favor of more sustainable

irrigation services with a focus on transitioning High Line to a purely recreational canal.

Currently, there are about 35 entities in the metro area that still rely on the canal for irrigation, including schools, parks and residences, according to Tom Roode, chief operations and maintenance officer for Denver Water.

“We have this great resource … and the challenge for us is it’s no longer a good asset for us to deliver irrigation water, but we don’t want to just let it fail,” Roode said in a previous article.

Ultimately, Young said she sees her work, and the work of the collaborative, as a means of bringing more people together to enjoy the recreational space.

“I see the canal as the way to enhance the connection between people, people from different backgrounds, people from different communities,” Young said.

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Parker Chronicle 21

March 31, 2022

Dangerous materials used in firefighting foam are showing up in drinking water, soil Lawmakers to address ‘forever chemicals’

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

The sale of many products containing the dangerous “forever chemicals” known as PFAS would be banned in Colorado as early as 2024, under legislation recently introduced and backed by a host of consumer and environmental groups.

Toxic PFAS chemicals, used as lubricants and repellants in products ranging from firefighting foam to clothing and cooking utensils, leak into groundwater and have been found in drinking water supplies in Colorado and across the country.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser recently joined multiple states in suing the chemical manufacturers for decades of contamination that is proving exorbitantly expensive for state health departments and local water agencies to clean up.

“We know these things are dangerous for our health. We know they are forever chemicals that are poisoning our water supply,” said Danny Katz, executive director

of the nonprofit consumer group CoPIRG, in welcoming the bipartisan bill. “We need to act now to phase out as many of them as possible to protect our health and protect Colorado’s water.”

The first sale ban would begin Jan. 1, 2024, for products with PFAS intentionally added in these categories: Carpets or rugs; cookware; cosmetics; fabric treatments; food packaging; juvenile products, oil and gas products; and textile furnishings. Through 2030, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment would be charged with identifying more categories of goods, and those would be added to the banned list.

“I’d rather do the right thing, as quickly as possible,” said Rep. Lisa Cutter, a Littleton Democrat who is one of the bill’s prime sponsors.

“But because there are manufacturers and companies that have been using these products, we’re trying to allow a reasonable offramp.”

The earliest categories are in businesses where alternatives to PFAS are already being developed, sponsors said.

Colorado may have the largest number of sites in the nation that have handled PFAS chemicals, due to firefighting drills and operations at military installa-

tions, mountain wildland firefighting, and from PFAS chemicals in firefighting and other industrial materials at oil and gas exploration sites.

About 21,000 industrial sites in Colorado appear on the previously undisclosed EPA database of locations that “may be handling” PFAS, with more than 85% of those places related to oil and gas, and heavy concentrations of possible locations at the industry’s core in Weld County, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, which forced EPA to release the data.

The same properties that make PFAS a lubricant or seal cookware also make them resistant to longterm impacts of heat or water, conferring the moniker “forever chemicals.” CoPIRG and others say the chemicals have entered Colorado waterways and “polluted communities like Fountain, Frisco, parts of Denver, South Evergreen and Golden,” threatening serious health impacts.

State health officials have launched a buyback program taking firefighting foam containing PFAS off the hands of local fire departments and replacing them with alternatives.

Consumer and environmental protection groups want the federal

EPA to move faster to set absolute drinking water standards to force PFAS cleanups. Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment moved deeper into PFAS regulation when it demanded more monitoring of the chemicals coming off the Suncor Energy refinery in Commerce City.

Colorado will, for the first time, monitor and limit runoff of PFAS at Suncor as part of the draft of the company’s water quality permit unveiled in November.

Regulators and consumers are finding out how ubiquitous PFAS chemicals are throughout industry and consumer goods, Katz said.

“We’ve targeted mostly firefighting foam in the past, but this bill will also get at a number of consumer products including things like carpets and rugs, furniture, cosmetics, food packaging, and even things like dental floss,” he said. “We want to phase those out.”

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

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22 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

Colorado parks are full and getting fuller How will the state decide who gets in, and who gets hurt?

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

If anybody could work the system and get access to wildly popular open space this summer, you’d think Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commissioner Taishya Adams would have a good shot.

But there she is, just like everyone else, penciling early March on her planner as the day she can first swing sharp elbows online to get summer group backpacking reservations at Rocky Mountain National Park, not far from her home in Boulder.

“I’ve had it marked in my calendar for six months,” Adams told her fellow commissioners last week. She endorsed a new timed entry proposal for Eldorado Canyon State Park, where overflowing parking lots on weekends back up onto lawns in the little town of Eldorado Springs.

But she added a warning message: Intergenerational families love the big picnic areas at Eldorado and other state parks. They come in more than one car. Managing crowds by managing cars should not shut out diverse uses of state open space.

“I would hate to see that become a barrier,” Adams said.

Up, up and away Everyone agrees Colorado’s open spaces are growing alarmingly crowded on popular days. The numbers are startling.

Visitation at close-in Front Range state parks has doubled or nearly tripled. Sprawling Lake Pueblo had to turn away cars for the first time in 2020, the year it passed 3 million visitors. Jefferson County Open Space does not have gated entry for counting, but believes visitation to its 28 foothills gems passed 7 million last year.

Staunton State Park near Conifer rocketed from 89,000 in 2015 to 277,000 in 2020. Barr Lake in Brighton, a hit with birders and flatland bikers, went from 119,000 in 2015 to 258,000 in 2020, before settling back a bit with indoor pandemic restrictions easing in 2021. Open space officials expect use to keep climbing rapidly, if not quite as steeply as in the first year of the pandemic.

Made with Flourish A Center for Western Priorities study of reservable camping spac-

Colorado Parks and Wildlife says state parks closest to the Front Range, including Staunton State Park southwest of Denver, which opened in 2013, are being loved to death, as people seek quick access to wild and scenic areas, such as Elk Falls.

PHOTO BY LARRY RYCKMAN/THE COLORADO SUN

es at federal and local public lands showed more than 95% of sites were taken at peak periods, with an overall 39% increase in summer camping at public spaces.

And the state parks commission may have just opened the gates on a new flood — the annual Keep Colorado Wild state parks pass will be only $29 in 2023, tacked on to annual car registration with an option to decline it, less than half the current $80 fee for one car.

Need to find a better solution than first come, first served Open space managers across the West are scrambling to accommodate the growth without provoking a public backlash against new rules. Mandatory shuttles from remote lots, parking fee add-ons, timed entry, seasonal trail closures for wildlife protection, and extra fees for non-residents are all under consideration in every parks-related office.

“You do have to be ready to say OK, first come, first served

doesn’t work if you have an entrance line that’s a half mile long every day,” said Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the nonprofit Center for Western Priorities, which advocates for expanded public lands and more parks funding. “We have to find a better solution.”

The answer can’t just be forcing everyone to online reservation systems or discouragingly high fees, Weiss and others say. The fix has to include more open land, they argue, including the Biden administration’s executive order seeking to protect 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030.

“Increased use of state and federal lands is a good thing, and the solution isn’t to curtail access, but rather increase it by conserving more land and removing barriers to entry from those who feel excluded or unable to access the outdoors,” said Jackie Ostfeld, director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All campaign.

“The threat of overuse poses in these small spots, and it is a legitimate threat, is miniscule compared to the threat posed by development,” Weiss said.

Anecdotal evidence and polling data show the online ticket jockeying and the turned-away cars, from Pueblo to Roxborough, are altering the way Coloradans use — or try to use — the great outdoors.

About 58% of Coloradans said crowding in the last two to three years has changed where and how they recreate, according to this year’s annual State of the

Rockies Project poll of Western states by Colorado College and New Bridge Strategy. The average across all eight Western states polled was 48% changing their time and location of outdoor recreation.

Larimer County hiker Suzy Paquette said she understands the need for control experiments like timed entry, but added that the online regimen started at Rocky Mountain National Park last year did change how she and her husband get outdoors.

Even on weekdays in the summer, the national park passes are “gone like lickety split,” she said.

“So that’s one of the problems, you can’t just say ‘Oh, let’s go to the park today.’”

It’s not just the human visitors and residents whose behavior and attitudes are impacted by the outdoors rush, said Dana Bove, a volunteer who helps keep track of eagles and hawks at places like Barr Lake, St. Vrain, Boyd Lake and county parks. He feels he’s lost his own “solace” in the crowded parking lots and packed trails, but worries more about the birds.

“These days, most of my walks on the trails where we live are at dusk or in the evening,” Bove said. He can choose to walk later, but he said, “wildlife is not so fortunate, as they have already moved away or been displaced from the ever increasing human traffic.”

SEE PARKS, P23

Parker Chronicle 23

March 31, 2022

PARKS FROM PAGE 22

The outdoors are turning into an overcrowded theme park Pueblo is proud that people come from all over to boat on Lake Pueblo, swim at Rock Canyon, or mountain bike on dozens of miles of trails, said Jamie Valdez, who has led mountain bike classes at the state park. Pueblo gets less snow, and the warm winter sunshine attracts recreation from multiple states, he said.

Valdez has his eye now on the city’s Pueblo Mountain Park, with its own hiking trails in the foothills southwest of town sitting as a hidden gem. “It’s a beautiful, beautiful park, and it seems to be almost forgotten,” he said.

The nonprofit Boulder Climbing Community weighed in early on the proposed changes to how Eldorado Canyon is managed, knowing many of its members go dozens of times a year and count on driving, rolling or striding in just a few minutes after class or work.

To their credit, Boulder County and the state have consulted closely with climbers on improving the shuttle to the park and making sure timed car passes aren’t hoarded or sold, said Boulder Climbing Community executive director Kate Beezley. The shuttles have spaces for climbers’ crash pads and other gear.

Robert Fix of Westminster and Mike Wright of Boulder prepare to go climbing at Eldorado Canyon State Park in Eldorado Springs on March 4. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America) Robert Fix of Westminster and Mike Wright of Boulder prepare to go climbing on March 4, 2022, at Eldorado Canyon State Park in Eldorado Springs. (Olivia Sun, The Colorado Sun via Report for America) More controlled-entry rules for open space are inevitable, Beezley said, so parks managers need to make sure they consider all the user groups and keep things fair.

“Who is the primary user group? Who are your frequent flyers? And how can you help them maintain those patterns of their health and well-being?” she said.

Parks managers flinch when they think of the potential overuse coming to stunningly picturesque, newly minted state parks like Sweetwater Lake in Garfield County, and Fishers Peak near Trinidad. Weiss, of the Center for Western Priorities, uses the word “harden” to describe how open

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space planners must anticipate the places a frenzied public will park, hike, build fires or camp, and create protections for those natural areas.

Marketing experts also must join in to help spread people out by showcasing alternatives to the closest, most Instagrammed locations, experts say.

Otherwise, Weiss said, the great outdoors becomes “this massive Disneyland problem that you end up with at Zion National Park, or at Chautauqua for that matter. There’s a lot to be said for making sure folks are aware, hey, there are equally great if not better experiences, because it’s less crowded.”

Angel’s Landing at Zion is one of Weiss’ favorite spots. But it’s no fun, he said, “If it looks like the line to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’”

Looking for other solutions So what else can be done? Scott Roush, who oversees some of the busiest Colorado state parks close to the Denver metro area, said park users should expect more experiments with timed entry like the one moving forward for Eldorado Canyon this summer.

Highline Lake State Park is a place managers worry about, he said. Parking lots fill fast on weekends at the rare body of water in the high desert near Grand Junction. Without more parking controls, people leave their cars wherever they feel like it, just as at Eldorado Canyon, Roush said.

Jeffco Open Space is adding new parking spaces at Alderfer/ Three Sisters Park outside Evergreen, community connections director Matt Robbins said. That may head off “volunteer” parking. Jefferson County also puts stock in educating park users on simple, highly effective tips like staying on the trail even in mud season. Hikers sidestepping mud create “braiding” that turns single track into 4-foot-wide throughways, Robbins said.

Charging for parking or timed ticketing are tougher, Robbins said, because Jeffco does not have controlled entry at its 28 parks in the way national or state parks do. The county did try an experiment last year partnering with Lyft for $2.50 off rides to and from open space parks. It was a bust, Robbins said.

Federal, state and county cooperation is key to pulling off more successful management techniques, said Dan Gibbs, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. Gibbs lives in Breckenridge, where one of the busiest 14,000ON AVERAGE, AARP MEMBERS ENJOY

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foot peaks in the state, Quandary, beckons from the south.

County officials worked with the U.S. Forest Service to implement a reservation system for county-owned lots at Quandary’s base, and a shuttle system for remote parking areas.

“In these high-usage areas, I think that’s going to be the future, whether it’s on state lands or federal lands,” Gibbs said.

Roush said some state parks planners are interested in trying technology aids like Lot Spot, a smartphone app that Jeffco uses to provide real time updates on park crowding and can recommend a nearby alternative. State parks are much more spread out, though, than county open space, and alternate choices may not be practical.

The public appears to be adapting to shuttle use as a way to control car overcrowding, and park planners have noticed. Eldorado’s shuttle system will run again in 2022. Shuttles to Rocky Mountain National Park’s Bear Lake are now an essential part of park operations. Buses now operate to control entry to Maroon Bells and Hanging Lake. Expect more.

“Do we have an actual numberof-people problem, or do we have a number-of-cars problem?

Because there are different solutions there,” Weiss said. “And shuttles are of course part of that.”

Another part could be other public transportation, added Weiss, who lives in Jefferson County. “Here, there are no RTD routes that get you to open spaces. That’s a problem.”

Open space managers at all levels of government are doing a better job consulting with each other and with private businesses expert in usage information and technology aids, said Tate Watkins, a research fellow at Montana’s free market oriented Property and Environment Research Center.

Reservation systems at Arches and Rocky Mountain national parks are closely watched by state and county parks managers, Watkins said. Technology companies can offer ideas on counting parking space use, “frequent flyer” perks, and integrating real-time crowding information on apps that can spread out park visitors.

Backcountry users of Great Smoky Mountains National Park — which saw 14.1 million visitors in 2021 — initially balked years ago at implementing a $4 reservation fee for remote camping spots, Watkins noted. Now they think it’s a bargain, and are re-

lieved to know there’s a spot open for them at the end of their day.

“There’s just an infinite amount of creativity and opportunity for experiment,” he said.

Open for all Open space fans and park managers worry that new layers of control and costs will widen the already large gap between tourists and outdoors enthusiasts with time and income, and those on tight budgets and less access to technology.

Fees are adding up at every level, Eldorado Canyon hiker Jeff Paquette said.

“So now you have the annual pass for your state, the annual pass for your county, and before you know it, it’s going to be for all open space,” he said.

The Sierra Club is among those fighting for more open space and recreation opportunities closer to cities, Ostfeld said. By Sierra Club’s definition of “nearby,” 100 million Americans lack easy access to open space.

“We must be very careful to ensure that the actions of public land managers don’t perpetuate the status quo, with many communities already feeling unwelcome or unsafe in some of our national and more remote parks and public lands,” Ostfeld said.

Being mindful of everyone’s time and resources is key to designing open space access, Weiss said.

“One thing we’ve learned from all of this is that any sort of time system where a clock turns over and everyone is mashing a button to try to get in, that is not fair and equitable,” he said. Some space needs to be reserved for lottery or last-minute access for those whose lives can’t revolve around one reservation window.

Colorado leaders say they are aware of all these pitfalls and will keep working to avoid them.

The new $29 state parks pass linked to motor vehicle registration will bring in money to add new parks, experiment with reservations, expand shuttle systems and more, DNR’s Gibbs said.

He said he still prefers to look at access as a good problem to have.

“In the long run,” Gibbs said, “we want people to get outdoors.

I mean, this is Colorado.”

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

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24 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

LOCAL

SPORTS

Chap baseball team downs Fort Collins 13-5 March 26 victory moved Wolverines into positive territory for season

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It was a tough question but Chaparral senior James Harbison answered quickly.

He was asked which he liked better, playing the in the outfield or closing as a relief pitcher.

Harbison did both on March 26 as Chap downed Fort Collins, 13-5, in a baseball game played at the Wolverines’ Eaton field.

He got an unexpected start in left field and made the most of it as Chap improved its season record to 4-3.

Harbison doubled and scored in the Wolverines’ five-run secondinning outburst and was summoned to pitch in the sixth inning. He pitched 1.1 innings, faced five batters, didn’t allow a hit and struck out the side in the top of the seventh inning.

“I like outfield more but it is always fun to come in and close too,” said the left-handed Harbison. “I felt really good. My off speed was working and had a good defense behind me. I felt good at the plate too.”

Chap head coach Alan DiGiosio did not hesitate to point out Harbison’s contribution.

“James Harbison was not scheduled to start in left field but he got the last start and then came in and closed the game for us,” said DiGiosio. “He had a pretty good showing today.”

Chap had 11 hits against four Fort Collins pitchers.

Andrew Isdale and Ryan Loomer each had two hits and combined for three runs batted in.

Isdale, a senior, was the starting pitcher for the Wolverines against the Lambkins and allowed just one hit in four innings of work before being relieved by freshman Ethan Adams and Harbison.

Chap compiled a 2-3 record on an early-season trip to Arizona but

Senior Andrew Isdale (19) was the starting pitcher for Chaparral on March 26 against Fort Collins. He allowed one hit in four innings and the Wolverines went on to get a 13-5 victory to improve their PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON season record to 4-3.

came home to face Pueblo South on March 25 and Fort Collins on March 26.

“We played really well down in Arizona for five games,” added DiGiosio. “Two games we had the lead in and realistically we could have come out of there 5-0. Both the last two wins were nice but in this one (Fort Collins) we did a lot more things right.”

Chap held a 5-1 lead against Pueblo South but held on for a 5-4 win on March 25. Isdale and Tanner Donner each had two hits for the Wolverines.

Senior Nathan Pitts was the start-

Chaparral shortstop Cole Jenkins (7) relays a throw to first base to complete a double play in the top of the second inning of the March 26 game against Fort Collins. The Wolverines won, 13-5.

ing pitcher in the Pueblo South game and surrendered three hits in 5.1 innings before Nick Miszuk came in to get the save.

“We’re in a stretch of our schedule right now leading up to league where we’ve got to keep building and getting better because you know what our league (Continental) is like.

“We’ve got some young pieces and some guys that are in their second time with us. “We’ve got a lot of

arms and a lot of talent. We are just hoping we can put them in the right places and play up to our potential.”

Harbison agrees.

“We’re getting a lot better as we go along,” he said. “Those first couple games we lost, it was our first games in a while. Now that we are getting back in the groove, we’ll be pretty good the rest of the season.

We got all of it and good energy on the bench. Everybody knows their role and plays it well.”

Regis upsets Douglas County in volleyball matchup

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Douglas County won the first boys state volleyball championship sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association last year.

The Huskies went 18-0 in the historic season but on March 23, Douglas County suffered its first sanctioned loss.

Regis Jesuit pulled out a 3-2 win over the top-ranked Huskies in a match played in the Douglas County gym and the 10th-ranked SEE UPSET, P25

Douglas County’s Dillen Coney (15) helps lead a cheer after the Huskies won a point in the March 25 match against Regis Jesuit.

PHOTO BY JIM BENTON The Raiders won, 3-2.

Parker Chronicle 25

March 31, 2022

C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E

Douglas County junior Landon Keathley attempts a kill shot over blockers from Regis PHOTO BY JIM BENTON Jesuit during the March 25 match, which Regis won, 3-2.

FROM PAGE 24

Raiders snapped a 19-match winning streak for County, which opened this season with a win over Littleton.

“We are much younger this year,” said Douglas County Coach Jason Fitzgerald. “We know we are going to get everyone’s very best and we are looking forward to the challenge. The game against Regis was another opportunity to grow into who this year’s team owill be. Chapter Two.” Douglas County, led by the play of Landon Keathley, Dillen Coney and Jensen Pascua, won the first

Answers

Solution © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

UPSET

set 25-20 but lost the next two sets.

The Huskies won three of the last four points to capture the fourth set, 26-24.

Fitzgerald’s team grabbed 5-1 and 6-3 leads in the decisive fifth set but couldn’t hold off the Raiders, losting 15-12.

Keathely and Coney, both juniors, each had 11 kills to pace the Huskies.Coney was credited with four blocks.

Zach Dubey finished with eight kills and Spencer Etchells had four blocks for the Huskies.

Pascua, another junior, had 32 assists, 18 digs and two service aces. Senior CJ Mullins was solid with 18 digs. Mullins, Pascua and Coney were the foundation of last season’s title team.

THANKS for

PLAYING!

CLASSIFIEDS

26 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

COLORADO COMMUNIT Y MEDIA

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Arcis Golf

Now hiring seasonal golf maintenance positions, looking for full/part time employees at The Pinery Country Club and The Club at Pradera. Pay 14-16$ per hour, golf perks, lunches provided 3 days a week, free uniform. To apply go to arcisgolf.com and choose the careers page and enter in 80134 for the zip code and apply for greenskeeper/ landscaper position in golf maintenance. You may also email eday@thepinerycc.com or jstumpff@theclubatpradera.com call (970)219-9294 Eric or (916)548-5303 Jeremiah for more information.

School Psychologist or Intern East Central BOCES is seeking a Full-Time School Psychologist or Intern to join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team of professionals for the 2022-23 school year.

Educational Specialist (Ed.S.), Colorado certified. Provide PreK-12 intervention including assessment, development of IEP’s & consultation services. Competitive salaries: ED.S $51,450-60,900 & Intern $47,600$52,400, both commensurate upon experience. excellent benefits including dental, vision, and medical insurance. May be eligible for Sign On Bonus! May also be eligible for loan forgiveness. Flexible schedule. Use of a car or mileage reimbursement. Questions contact Tracy (719) 775-2342, ext. 101.

To apply for this position, please complete the Certified Application for Employment available on the East Central BOCES website www. ecboces.org under “Jobs”. EOE

Cherry Hills Christian School is growing!

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Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Special Education Teacher for a significant needs program located at the Strasburg Elementary School. Current Colorado Special Education Teacher license required.

BA salary range $34,650-$40,950 & MA salary range $39,900$46,200, based on experience.

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Excellent benefits. Collaborative work environment with lots of free continuing education opportunities available. May be eligible for Student Loan Forgiveness.

Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101 or tracyg@ecboces. org. Please complete a Certified application located at the bottom of the “Jobs” page on ecboces.org or email tracyg@ecboces.org. Equal Opportunity Employer.

Project Analysts Visa Technology & Operations LLC, a Visa Inc. company, currently has openings in our Highlands Ranch, CO location for: Project Analysts (REF45494A) Lead and direct large complex end-to-end IT initiatives.

Work across the solution stack and technology domains (compute, storage, database, network, middleware, etc.) and collaborate with engineers, architects, and product leads to deliver new and innovative payment solutions to the masses. Sr. Cybersecurity Engineers (Job# REF45839G): Take a lead role in the continued innovation of Visas Cyber Security strategy & drive Visas competitive advantage in payments by facilitating a best in class security infrastructure using Open source solutions.

Develop innovative solutions to protect the Visa brand, networks, assets & products by implementing state-the-art detection, prevention, & response capabilities.

To apply, please reference Job#s above when mailing resume to: LJ, Visa Inc., MS: M1-12 SW, 900 Metro Center Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404.

EOE

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Help Wanted Speech-Language Pathologist or SLPA Positions Full-Time & Part-Time Open to School Internships. Able to provide supervision for CFY hours. Join our dynamic, multidisciplinary team of professionals for the 2022-23 school year. Administer assessments, provide direct, indirect & consultation services for students PreK-12th grades.

Competitive salaries: SLP - $44,100-$56,000 & SLPA- $36,050- $44,450, both commensurate upon experience.

May be eligible for a Sign On Bonus! May also be eligible for loan forgiveness. Excellent benefits, including full health benefits & mileage reimbursement. Flexible schedule. Questions contact Tracy at (719) 775-2342, ext. 101. To apply for this position, please complete the Certified Application for Employment available on the East Central BOCES website www.ecboces.org under “Jobs”. EOE

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March 31, 2022

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Home for Sale

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Parker Chronicle 29

March 31, 2022 Landscaping

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30 Parker Chronicle

March 31, 2022

Higher education faculty beg lawmakers to pass collective bargaining rights bill Adjunct professors often live paycheck to paycheck

BY ERICA BREUNLIN AND JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Craig Svonkin relocated to Denver 15 years ago and while he’s been able to teach children’s literacy and poetry at Metropolitan State University of Denver exactly like he set out to do, it has come at a heavy cost: his financial stability.

The associate professor of English took a huge pay cut to move from Riverside, California, and was only recently able to pay off his student debt. As an associate professor, the 58-year-old has a small retirement plan from his three years as a lecturer at the University of California, Riverside but worked many years as an adjunct professor and a teaching assistant and hasn’t built up a giant pot of money for retirement. At least twice, he opened his spare bedroom-turned-library in his downtown Denver apartment to adjunct professors who were evicted because they couldn’t pay rent.

“This is all a function of a lack of collective bargaining,” Svonkin said during a roundtable discussion with other higher education faculty and the heads of the American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors

Faculty at Colorado public universities and colleges want lawmkers to pass legislation SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE that would give them collective bargaining rights.

on March 21 morning at First Baptist Church of Denver. “This is unconscionable for a modern society to not give us a voice,” he added.

Faculty at Colorado public universities and colleges are the latest group of state employees calling on lawmakers to pass collective bargaining legislation that would allow them to unionize and negotiate for wages, benefits and working conditions.

Several Democrats in the legislature are working on the measure, but they have yet to introduce it as they negotiate the bill’s language with Gov. Jared Polis and a long list of groups that support and oppose the effort.

House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar, a Pueblo Democrat who is leading the push for the legislation, confirmed March 21 that the measure is still in the works. She said the bill will be introduced, “if there is a path forward.”

CLASSIFIEDS

College and university employees across the state say many in their industry are underpaid, especially adjunct professors who are contract employees who on average make no more than $24,000 a year teaching a few courses each semester. Some of them say they can barely pay their bills and have to rely on government resources, such as food stamps. Both leaders of AFT and AAUP and higher education faculty urge legislators to support a collective bargaining bill for the sake of the existing workforce and to help attract and retain educators and preserve quality in the classroom.

Polis has expressed skepticism about the bill. He said in January that he wouldn’t support the measure “in its current form,” but it’s not clear how drafts of the legislation may have changed in the weeks since then, and how those alterations may have af-

COLORADO COMMUNIT Y MEDIA

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fected the governor’s thinking on the measure.

Colorado’s state-run higher education institutions — including the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and Colorado School of Mines — are fiercely opposed to the bill, warning that its passage would add significant new costs that could lead to tuition hikes. They have asked to be carved out of the legislation entirely.

AFT President Randi Weingarten and AAUP President Irene Mulvey, who both met with Polis late on March 21 morning to discuss the need for collective bargaining rights among higher education faculty, are advocating for legislation that would be as expansive as possible.

Weingarten previously discussed collective bargaining with Polis on Feb. 23 but repeatedly declined to comment on the outcome of that meeting during the roundtable.

The two national organizations have together organized collective bargaining chapters in eight states that represent more than 20,000 college and university faculty members.

“Collective bargaining is an essential right for all workers,” Mulvey said during a March 21 roundtable discussion, describing current working conditions among adjunct faculty as “abysmal.” She cited low pay among

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Parker Chronicle 31

March 31, 2022

BEG FROM PAGE 1

adjunct professors in the Colorado Community College System, where statewide pay averages about $2,500 per lecture course. “(Students) deserve a stable faculty with decent working conditions that has a voice in institutional decisionmaking and are not scrambling to make ends meet,” she said.

Faculty deserve a louder voice in conversations with higher education leadership as they understand the problems plaguing institutions, Mulvey said, since “they’re on the ground doing the work.”

JoAn McCarthy, who teaches English at the Community College of Denver, said most adjuncts live paycheck to paycheck while bouncing from one college to another to make

ends meet. Adjuncts typically have to pick up whatever classes are available, often at inconvenient times of the day, and serve some of the state’s “neediest groups” of students, she said.

“The system’s broken, and it’s designed to protect and flourish the people at the top,” McCarthy said, noting that students are the ones who are ultimately affected.

McCarthy doesn’t work at multiple schools, but said many of her colleagues do. In some cases, she ends up picking up slack for them, helping their students outside class when their instructors don’t have time for office hours.

Svonkin, of MSU Denver, cited a sense of fear hanging over many faculty at campuses throughout the state as many worry about speaking up as “counter voices” for fear of retaliation.

“If people are afraid to speak up, you don’t have those counter voices in a significant way,” Svonkin said.

Faculty are also pushing for collective bargaining legislation to protect the “academic freedom” that draws so many of them to campuses in the first place, said Mary Van Buren, a professor in the Department of Anthropology and Geography at Colorado State University.

She firmly believes in academic freedom so that educators can research and teach a variety of topics whether they upset others or not. But many professors, particularly adjuncts, are constantly scared for their jobs, she said, “because they have no protections, and they’re employed at will.

“We’re muzzling our faculty in a way that really inhibits the kind of adult, free-flowing, explorative kinds of conversations that we would hope would happen in a classroom at a university,” Van Buren said, adding that collective bargaining would ensure that grievance processes and protection from retaliation were enforced on campuses.

Weingarten, of AFT — which represents 1.7 million members across the country in early childhood, K-12, higher education, nursing, public-sector employees and retirees — said the momentum around securing collective bargaining for higher education professionals is “about democracy.”

It’s also about building up institutions, the economy and individual lives, she said, so that employees like adjunct professors no longer have to turn to food banks to make ends meet.

“It says to workers in Colorado that you’re going to be valued,” Weingarten said.

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

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Public Trustees PUBLIC NOTICE Parker NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2022-0002 To Whom It May Concern: On 1/27/2022 12:00:00 PM 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: STEPHEN C. LEBLANC AND LAURAL A. LEBLANC Original Beneficiary: WASHINGTON MUTUAL BANK, FA Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: U.S. BANK NA, AS TRUSTEE, FOR THE WAMU MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2004-S3 Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 4/9/2004 Recording Date of DOT: 4/22/2004 Reception No. of DOT: 2004040505 DOT Recorded in Douglas County.

Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $960,000.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $654,052.99 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 15, STERLING TREE FARM, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 4292 Palmer Ridge Drive, Parker, CO 80134 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, May 18, 2022, 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: 3/24/2022 Last Publication: 4/21/2022 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

ANNA JOHNSTON Colorado Registration #: 51978 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700 , DENVER, COLORADO 80204 Phone #: (303) 350-3711 Fax #: Attorney File #: 00000008848731

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that on the first possible sale date (unless the sale is continued*) at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 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.

*YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www. douglas.co.us/publictrustee/

First Publication: 3/31/2022 Last Publication: 4/28/2022 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

Legal Notice No. 2022-0002 First Publication: 3/24/2022 Last Publication: 4/21/2022 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

Dated: 2/8/2022 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee

Dated: 2/1/2022 DAVID GILL DOUGLAS COUNTY Public Trustee The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

PUBLIC NOTICE Parker NOTICE OF SALE Public Trustee Sale No. 2022-0006 To Whom It May Concern: On 2/4/2022 11:25:00 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: Adrian Rocha Original Beneficiary: Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as beneficiary, as nominee for Summit Funding, Inc., its successors and assigns Current Holder of Evidence of Debt: U.S. Bank National Association Date of Deed of Trust (DOT): 7/13/2020 Recording Date of DOT: 7/17/2020 Reception No. of DOT: 2020063613 DOT Recorded in Douglas County.

Original Principal Amount of Evidence of Debt: $398,646.00 Outstanding Principal Amount as of the date hereof: $391,724.11 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 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: LOT 2, BLOCK 5, MEAD'S CROSSING AMENDMENT NO. 1, COUNTY OF DOUGLAS, STATE OF COLORADO. Which has the address of: 19915 Latigo Ln, Parker, CO 80138 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

The name, address and telephone numbers of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is: AMANDA FERGUSON Colorado Registration #: 44893 355 UNION BLVD SUITE 250, LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 80228 Phone #: (303) 274-0155 Fax #: Attorney File #: CO11277 *YOU MAY TRACK FORECLOSURE SALE DATES on the Public Trustee website: http://www. douglas.co.us/publictrustee/ Legal Notice No. 2022-0006 First Publication: 3/31/2022 Last Publication: 4/28/2022 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

Bids and Settlements Public Notice REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) #015-22 EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE and MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM The Department of Human Resources of Douglas County Government, hereinafter referred to as the County, respectfully requests proposals from responsible and qualified companies offering Employee Assistance and Mental Health Program services.

The RFP documents may be reviewed and/or printed from the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System website at www.rockymountainbidsystem.com.

RFP documents are not available for purchase from Douglas County Government and can only be accessed from the above-mentioned website.

All RFP responses are due on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 at 4:00pm. It is the sole responsibility of the respondent to see that their proposal response is received on time. Proposals will not be considered which are received after the time stated.

Douglas County Government reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive formalities,

informalities, or irregularities contained in a said proposal and furthermore, to award a contract for items herein, either in whole or in part, if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the County to do so. Additionally, we reserve the right to negotiate optional items/services with the successful vendor.

Please direct any questions concerning this RFP to Carolyn Riggs, Purchasing Supervisor, 303-660-7434, criggs@douglas.co.us, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.

Legal Notice No. 941802 First Publication: March 31, 2022 Last Publication: March 31, 2022 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press

Misc. Private Legals Public Notice NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It May Concern, and more especially to: NORMA A STALEY & TRENTON J STALEY AKA TRENTON JAMES STALEY - OCCUPANT - BUFFALO PLAINS 22 LLC - MISSION VIEJO COMPANY A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION C/O COLORADO SHEA HOMES LP - KEVIN P MURPHY VICE PRESIDENT COLORADO DIVISION MISSION VIEJO COMPANY A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION C/O COLORADO SHEA HOMES LP - JAMES B BORGEL ASSISTANT SECRETARY MISSION VIEJO COMPANY A CALIFORNIA CORPORATION C/O COLORADO SHEA HOMES LP You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 2nd day of November 2017 the then County Treasurer of the County of Douglas, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13, LLC the following described real estate situate in the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, to wit: LOT 29 BLOCK 5 HIGHLANDS RANCH # 5 .094 AM/L and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13, LLC. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent* taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2016. That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of NORMA A STALEY & TRENTON J STALEY for said year 2016 That on the 17th day of November 2021 said FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13, LLC assigned said certificate of purchase to BUFFALO PLAINS 22 LLC. That said BUFFALO PLAINS 22 LLC on the 17th day of November 2021 the present holder of said certificate, has made request upon the Treasurer of said County for a deed to said real estate; That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said at 1:00 o’clock P.M., on the 30th day of June 2022 unless the same has been redeemed. Said property may be redeemed from

said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 17th day of March 2022 /s/ David Gill Douglas County Treasurer Legal Notice No. 941690 First Publication: March 17, 2022 Last Publication: March 31, 2022 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press Public Notice NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the Same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It May Concern, and more especially to: KYLE DEAN COLLINSWORTH & JEANETTE NADINE COLLINSWORTH - OCCUPANT BUFFALO PLAINS 22 LLC - ANNE-MARIE FRISZELL & STEVEN J FRISZELL AKA STEVEN JAMES FRISZELL You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 2nd day of November 2017 the then County Treasurer of the County of Douglas, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13, LLC the following described real estate situate in the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, to wit: LOT 18-A PERRY PARK 1 PER LLAC 2020072726 0.889 AM/L and said County Treasurer issued a certificate of purchase therefore to FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13, LLC. That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent* taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2016. That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of KYLE DEAN COLLINSWORTH & JEANETTE NADINE COLLINSWORTH for said year 2016 That on the 17th day of November 2021 said FIG CAPITAL INVESTMENTS CO13, LLC assigned said certificate of purchase to BUFFALO PLAINS 22 LLC. That said BUFFALO PLAINS 22 LLC on the 17th day of November 2021 the present holder of said certificate, has made request upon the Treasurer of said County for a deed to said real estate; That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said at 1:00 o’clock P.M., on the 30th day of June 2022 unless the same has been redeemed. Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed. Witness my hand this 17th day of March 2022 /s/ David Gill Douglas County Treasurer Legal Notice No. 941651 First Publication: March 17, 2022 Last Publication: March 31, 2022 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press

###

Parker Legals 3.31.22 * 1

32 Parker Chronicle

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