Clear Creek Courant June 12, 2025

GETTING TO KNOW EACH OTHER

New Middle Schoolers meet up at camp P5

Schools consider financial literacy curriculum

New law asks what teens must learn about handling money

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SUZIE@COTLN.ORG

Forget balancing a checkbook. Today’s teens need to know how to avoid identity theft, decode a credit score and gure out if that “buy now, pay later” plan is actually worth it.

With a new state law requiring all Colorado high school students to complete a course in nancial literacy beginning with students in the 9th grade on or after Sept. 1, 2026, educators now face a practical challenge: how do you design a course that prepares 21st-century teens to make smart nancial choices in a world of skyrocketing rents, digital wallets, student loans and TikTok stock tips?

e law, House Bill 25-1192, mandates a semester-long course in personal nancial literacy for every public school student, beginning with the class of 2028.

Idaho Springs church thanks fire authority

BY CHRISTOPHER KOEBERL CHRIS@COTLN.ORG

When congregation members of the Zion Lutheran Church at 1921 Virginia St. in Idaho Springs determined it was time to replace the rope to the iconic church bell, there was a problem. e bell tower is at least 30 feet up, according to Council President Eric Nordine. “It was too high for us to be comfortable to replace,” Nordine said.

But it leaves the details up to local school districts, many of which are still guring out what today’s students need most: the basics of budgeting and saving, yes, but also how to navigate the gig economy, manage online spending and protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated nancial scams.

What the law requires, and what it doesn’t

While the law sets a content requirement, it allows schools to integrate the nancial literacy standards into an existing course rather than create a new standalone class.

But, students must understand and practice lling out the federal or state -

Swift water rescue is serious business

As mountain snow melts creeks and rivers rise in flow, force and danger

BY CHRISTOPHER KOEBERL CHRIS@COTLN.ORG

Clear Creek is well known for its whitewater rafting opportunities with adventure guides or by experienced individuals – especially this time of year.

is is the time of year that mountains release their snowpacks to create Class IV and V rapids, gorging the creek to dangerous levels and speeds, or cubic-feet-per-second measurements.

“ is is the exciting time of year, June is ‘it’ on Clear Creek,” professional whitewater guide and county resident Amy Ward said.

However, the anticipation and enthusiasm for the season, Ward said, is tempered by years of witnessing the power of water and how its force can entrap a person in a heartbeat, risking lives.

“River waters have undertows and hydraulics that can be more powerful than ocean rip-tides. You can’t see them all the time but the parts that look safe aren’t always,” Ward said. “ e allure is the danger but the fun is dangerous, it comes in the same package.”

“Deceptively dangerous” and “incredibly powerful” are common phrases experienced emergency rst responders use to describe the exponential power of swift water, Clear Creek Fire Authority Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Jones said.

“Most of the injuries are trauma related, you just can’t avoid every rock unfortunately,” Jones said.

Jones advised anyone venturing into the river this time of year to wear a wetsuit, carry a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) and wear a helmet 100% percent of the time. at water is cold even in August, Jones advised.

”You just don’t want to take that chance,” Colorado Search and Rescue leader Dawn Wilson added. “A shallow amount of water at high speed can really pull people o their feet and they don’t expect it,” Wilson said.

“Deceptively

Professional whitewater rafters say respect for the uid environment is essential because ultimately the water dictates the ride.

Ward described it as a complicated relationship

“You can’t control it. It’s a dance and you need to know where the water is going in order to dance with her and she’s pretty powerful,” Ward said.

“If it is at or above your knees it has the ability to sweep you down river… so it’s deceptive,” Jones said.

e CCFA has trained and conducted swift water rescues since 1983, it’s among the rst agencies to be certi ed in Colorado.

Jones said the department works closely with local rafting out ts on rescue strategy, organization and roles in the event of a serious incident.

“ e raft companies do such an amazing job at having safeties. ey’ve really stepped up to protect the people that raft as a commercial enterprise which is good for us, it allows us to focus on the high risk stu ,” Jones said.

High risk swift water vehicle rescues

But rafts are not to be the riskiest rescues for swift water rst responders. ose tend to be the unfortunate but surprisingly common four-wheeled vehicles that somehow end up in Clear Creek, according to re authority.

“ e most complicated ones aren’t rafters as much as they’re motor vehicle crashes in the river, occupied vehicles in the creek are a very high hazard for us,” Jones said.

Constant training for rst responders – to the point of building “muscle memory” in response to an occupied vehicle in swift water – is critical. So are joint training exercises with other responding agencies, according to Jones. Every agency should know their specialized role when arriving onscene. at can save seconds or minutes – which correspond with saving a life, he said.

“Vehicles in the water, that’s the one thing that is going to determine if you’re going to have a good day or a bad day depending, on how it works,” Jones said.

and “incredibly

High-risk swift water vehicle rescues in Clear Creek County combine

dangerous”

powerful” is how emergency responders in Clear Creek County describe swift water.

What I’ve Learned About Why Condominiums Are Getting Harder to Finance

Four years ago on June 24, 2021, part of a 12-story condominium building in Surfside, Florida, collapsed at 1:14 a.m. killing 98 residents and injuring 11 others.

But that’s only one event that has contributed to the increasing difficulty of selling and financing the purchase of condos across America.

Primarily because of severe weather, especially hail storms in Colorado, master insurance policies have gotten more expensive and their deductibles increased dramatically. When the deductible in a master insurance policy exceeds 5% of the insured value, units within a condo association become “non-warrantable” according to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guidelines — and over 90% of all loans are sold to those federal agencies after closing and must therefore meet those guidelines.

home for first-time homebuyers who are less likely to have that much cash. They could also go to a “portfolio” or “non-QM” lender, but those lenders don’t typically offer the low down payments of conventional or FHA lenders.



by a single entity

Fewer than 35% of the units are the primary or second home of the unit owner (FHA only)

The HOA has inadequate reserves

Every lender has its own condo questionnaire that must be completed by the association property manager. The questionnaire addresses the numerous concern areas of the lender. The loan could be rejected if:

Master insurance deductible is over 5%

Commercial space exceeds 35%

More than 15% the unit owners are 60 or more days delinquent on HOA dues

A construction defect lawsuit is pending

Less than 10% of the HOA budget is allocated to reserves

There’s a lot of deferred maintenance

FHA does a lot of this analysis for lenders and will provide a 3-year certification which lenders can rely on, but the application process is tedious and many condo associations fail to apply for or renew their certification.

That FHA lookup website is https:// entp.hud.gov/idapp/html/condlook.cfm

Here’s what the screen looked like when I searched for the Centennial condo featured with a price reduction in last week’s ad:

Sometimes it’s hard to know whether a unit is a condo or a townhome. The simple distinction is that a townhome owns the land under it, but even a standalone home could legally be a condo.

Buyers can pay cash, of course, but condos have long been considered the entry-level

More than 20-25% of the units are owned

NAR Dilutes Its Rule Against Hate Speech by Realtors

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder by a Minneapolis cop in May 2020, and the heated rhetoric, much of it racist, which followed, the National Association of Realtors enacted a “standard of practice” to go along with Article 10 of the NAR Code of Ethics, which bars Realtors from denying professional services based on “race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

Inspired by demand for social change and an unprecedented number of complaints received by NAR relating to discriminatory conduct and language by Realtors, the Board approved Standard of Practice 10-5 with language that expanded Article 10 to include the prohibition against harassment and hate language generally and not just limited to a Realtor’s professional life.

SOP 10-5 was implemented by the NAR Board of Directors on Nov. 13, 2020, and read as follows: “Realtors must not use harassing speech, hate speech, epithets, or slurs

based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.”

Here’s the new language, which no longer enforces that rule on Realtors’ communications or actions outside their business life:

“Realtors, in their capacity as real estate professionals, in association with their real estate businesses, or in their real estaterelated activities, shall not harass any person or persons based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity.” (Emphasis added.)

SOP 10-4 continues as follows:

“As used in this Code of Ethics, harassment is unwelcome behavior directed at an individual or group based on one or more of the above protected characteristics where the purpose or effect of the behavior is to create a hostile, abusive, or intimidating environment which adversely affects their ability to access equal professional services or employment opportunity.”

The search showed that this condo is approved by FHA for the 3-year period beginning July 24, 2023.

Although regulators have determined that the buyer’s agent, not the listing agent, is obligated to check whether a condo is FHAapproved, a responsible listing agent should, in my opinion, do the simple search described above and not list “FHA” as acceptable financing if the community is described as “rejected” or “expired” on that website.

Even if the website shows the association as approved, the lender will still require the long-form questionnaire from the association and study the budget, declarations, bylaws and more before approving a loan, so the lender should request those documents as soon as possible after the buyer goes under contract — certainly within a week.

The legal description can sometimes mislead a lender, broker or buyer as to whether they’re dealing with a condo or a townhome. Typically, the legal description should refer to a “condo declaration” and not have a “block and lot” description that is more appropriate to a parcel that includes land. Some legal descriptions which include the word “condo” are in fact townhomes, and vice versa. The title company can quickly research the full legal description and answer that question, which becomes critical to obtaining loan approval. Another clue would be if the association is on the FHA condo lookup database.

Back to the subject of insurance coverage and deductibles, a buyer who purchases a condo as a primary resident or second home should get an HO-6 “walls-in” condo insurance policy which includes a “loss assessment” endorsement, which would pay for the deductible which is assessed to each unit owner as the result of a hail or other claim. The annual cost of such a policy is far less than the insurance policy for a single-family home and can save you up to a 5-figure special assessment from the condo association. If the master policy does not include roof, exterior, etc., the unit owner should purchase a more expensive HO-3 policy instead of the HO-6 policy.

FHA is favored because of its low downpayment requirement — as little as 3.5% — but with a higher down payment it’s possible the lender will only require a “streamline” review, which is quicker and less expensive. That requires a minimum 10% down payment for a primary residence and 25% for a second home.

It’s important for a buyer to hire an agent experienced in condo purchases and who can refer you to the best lender.

$560,000

This updated, 4-bedroom/2-bath, 1,586-squarefoot tri-level home at 6337 W. 68th Place is in a quiet, established neighborhood. Each level has been thoughtfully renovated. The vaulted main level has new luxury vinyl plank floors, and there’s new paint throughout. The galley kitchen has new cabinets, complemented by white appliances. The upper level has 3 bedrooms with new carpet and an updated full bathroom. The lower level has a spacious family room with a brick fireplace and above-grade windows. There is a 4th bedroom, laundry, and updated 3/4 bathroom on that level. The windows and siding were replaced in 2018, and a new roof was installed last month. A narrated video tour is posted at www. GRElistings.com. Call Kathy at 303-990-7428 to request a private showing.

Where to find free meals for kids this summer

School across metro Denver o er free meals to kids all summer

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SUZIE@COTLN.ORG

When school cafeterias close for the summer, thousands of Colorado families lose access to a vital resource: free and reliable meals for their children.

Fortunately, public school districts across the state are stepping up to ll the gap through the federally funded Summer Food Service Program, which provides free meals to anyone 18 years old and under, with no registration or ID required.

Whether you live in Brighton, Fort Lupton, Golden, Westminster or the mountain communities served by the Canyon and Clear Creek Couriers, multiple locations are o ering nutritious meals all summer long.

Some locations o er breakfast and lunch each weekday, while others serve meals at parks, schools and community centers or provide grab-and-go options. Below is a district-by-district guide to help you nd a free summer meal site near you. Be sure to check dates and times. Some programs start as early as late May and run through early August, but hours and service days vary.

Clear Creek School District

(Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Dumont, Silver Plume)

Monday to Friday June 3 – August 2

Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

1300 Colorado Blvd., Idaho Springs

Eligibility: Free for children 18 and under. No registration is required.

Note: Meals must be eaten on site. Adult meals may be available for purchase.

Je co Public Schools

(Golden, Edgewater, Lakewood)

Monday to Friday, Dates vary by location

Lunch 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Edgewater Elementary, 5570 W. 24th Ave., Edgewater June 2 – June 27, no service on June 19  Deane Elementary: 580 S. Harlan Street, Lakewood June 2 – July 31, no service on June 19 and July 4 Lumberg Elementary: 6705 W. 22nd Ave, Edgewater June 2 – July 3, no service on June 19 and July 4

Eligibility: Free for children 18 and under. Adult meals are available for $5.25.

Meals must be consumed on-site. You do not need to be a Je co student.

Additional Resources

USDA Summer Meals Site Finder (www.fns.usda.gov/summer/site nder): Locate nearby meal sites across Colorado Hunger Free Colorado (hungerfreecolorado.org/): O ers a Food Resource Hotline at 855-855-4626 for statewide assistance.

Local school districts across the region are o ering meals to kids 18 and under at no cost throughout the summer months. SHUTTERSTOCK

Camping creates bonds between sixth-grade students

Students from across Clear Creek have an opportunity to meet future classmates before starting middle school together

BY CHRISTOPHER KOEBERL CHRIS@COTLN.ORG

Sixth-grade students from across Clear Creek County enjoyed an opportunity to set camp, cook meals, river raft and spend three days of ‘school’ in the wild getting to know their future classmates they will join in middle school this August.

e nal eld trip for sixth-grade students in Clear Creek County was a memorable one, according to all accounts, with Mountain Youth Network picking up the tab for three days of camping, hiking and rafting.

At least 46 sixth-graders and a few teachers from Carlson Elementary, King-Murphy and Georgetown Community schools boarded a school bus May 20 headed to the Angel of Shavano Group Campground near Salida.

e idea, according to MYN leaders, was to bring the students from the various schools together in an environment that promoted interaction and team building, also an opportunity to meet other students for perhaps the rst time before they converge at middle school in Evergreen.

“ e goal was to bring students from three di erent schools together, all from sixth grade, as they’re all going to be coming together in the seventh grade at the Clear Creek middle school so we had students from Carlson, Georgetown and King-Murphy schools,” Mountain Youth Network Youth Programs Coordinator Lucy Perez said.

New interactions

Students were removed from all screens, phones, headphones and watches, according to Perez. ey were then were assigned teams in a random order designed to mix the kids from the three schools together where they could possibly form bonds and friendship before advancing to middle school, according to Perez. Carlson sixth-grade teacher Heidi Lupinacci helped shepherd the camping trip and said she could see the goal develop as the kids started working together.

“You could tell some of the bonds that were started to be created. It was ice-breakers, ways to share part of themselves with other people,” Lupinacci said. “By the end, they were sharing phone numbers or talking about getting together this summer. It was fantastic and I love that.”

A “hands-o ” approach from teachers and counselors was also by design, “Let them do it on their own and just being around to help,” Perez said.

Many of the kids said and Lupinacci con rmed: She was tossed from the river raft and safely recovered during the trip.She was laughing while telling the Courant that story.

Clear Creek County sixth graders enjoyed a camping trip with Mountain Youth Network near Salida on May 20. PHOTOS COURTESY MOUNTAIN YOUTH NETWORK

Clear Creek County sixth graders enjoyed a camping trip with Mountain Youth Network near Salida on May 20.

Sixth graders take next step in education

Carlson Elementary highlights student success and future opportunities

BY CHRISTOPHER KOEBERL CHRIS@COTLN.ORG

Laughter, learning and memories are what educators say sixth-grade Carlson Elementary students will carry into the transition to middle school in Evergreen this August.

At least 18 sixth-grade students from Carlson Elementary had a moment with Principal Loraine Swartz and educator Heidi Lupinacci, who both acknowledged their success, accomplishments and the path forward into the bigger pond of education in middle and high school. Parents, grandparents, friends and supporters lled the gymnasium of Carlson Elementary on May 29 to celebrate and congratulate their young ones’ achievement, some of whom have attended Carlson for eight years, ever since PreK. e students assembled in a procession line to their seats, where one by one they were called to center stage to receive their recognition of passage into middle school.

Swartz and Lupinacci smiled continuously as they presented each student with a handshake and an honorary certi cate of achievement and recognition of continuation.

As each student’s name was called, an eruption of cheers and applause would surface from one section or another in the auditorium as dozens of cell phones recorded every minute of a once-ina-lifetime event.

“It’s an emotional rollercoaster because you’re super proud of them and you’re sad to see them go at the same time,” Lupinacci said. Lupinacci spent months with this group of students, watching them grow, imagine, explore and in some cases, eventually reach beyond her realm to educate themselves.

“I’m so excited to see where they’re going to go, what they’re going to accomplish next,” Lupinacci said.

As recognition of the Class of 2025, Lupinacci crafted and read her poem “6th Grade Dynamite” to students and audience, ending with:

“‘Cause you gon’ rock next year, cuz you are prepared. You gon’ be alright, cuz you are prepared… Now I told you once. Now I told you twice, you gonna light 7-up, like it’s Dynamite.”

At the conclusion, students ran to their loved ones.

“I de nitely teared up a little bit, but I’m very proud of all the kids and what they’re doing,” Caden Smith’s mother Daryl Weeks said. “I’m very proud of all the kids, I’ve seen them grow up from Pre-K to now. It’s just so good to see them all graduate and all be together. ey’re like brothers and sisters.”

Carlson Elementary Principal Loraine Swartz presents awards of academic achievement to students who achieved a 4.0 grade point average during a Continuation May 29 in Idaho Springs. CHRIS KOEBERL

LITERACY

nancial aid form (FAFSA or CAFSA), unless they and their parents opt out.

Colorado has one of the lowest FAFSA completion rates in the country, according to the Colorado Department of Higher Education. is means Colorado students are missing out on signi cant amounts of federally available grant money.

e law doesn’t include a standardized curriculum or end-of-course exam. Instead, it points to existing high school standards, last updated in 2020, as the foundation. ose standards cover budgeting and saving, credit and debt management and understanding taxes. But they also include topics like risk management and insurance, fraud prevention and identity protection and nancial decision-making and planning for college.

Each district will determine how to implement the course, whether as a graduation requirement embedded in current o erings or as a standalone class

What’s useful for teens in 2025

Anneliese Elrod, chief operating o cer of Westerra Credit Union, says the curriculum must go far beyond “checkbook math” to prepare students for real-life nancial challenges. at includes understanding how credit cards work, budgeting realistically and navigating everything from nancial aid to digital payment scams.

“Budgeting by available balance is one of the most common mistakes we see young people make,” Elrod said. “ ey don’t understand the di erence between their current balance and what’s pending. It can lead to overdrafts or worse.”

She said teens should learn how to read a pay stub, build a credit score and avoid scams on payment apps like Venmo and CashApp. Lessons should also guide them through how to evaluate nancial decisions, such as whether to rent an expensive apartment or sign up for a “buy now, pay later” plan.

“Even understanding basic investing, like what a Roth IRA is or how to open an interest-generating savings account can give them a huge head start,” Elrod said.  Elrod said she was especially glad to see FAFSA covered in the new requirement.

“ at knowledge is something you just don’t intuitively understand, and it’s a very convoluted maze,” she said. “If we are doing it for that reason — bravo.”

Additionally, she emphasized that understanding FAFSA and student loans is crucial, as many students miss out on nancial aid by skipping the application process, which can leave them paying o debt well into the future.

While today’s teens may be more aware of traditional scams than older generations, Elrod said, they’re often more vulnerable to savvy marketing and high-pressure sales tactics.

“Marketers are very good at making it feel good and immediate,” she said. “And kids are all about that.”

Keeping teens engaged in a dry subject

Teenagers may not be thrilled about taking a required money class, but educators can keep them engaged with real-world scenarios, Elrod said. at starts with relevance.

“ ey’re not going to understand purchasing a house. ey are going to understand going out to dinner with friends or buying new clothes,” she said. “Making the examples relevant helps students connect the dots.”

Elrod’s team at Westerra Credit Union offers a classroom simulation that gives students a job, a salary and bills to manage and

then throws high-pressure sales pitches their way.

“It’s one thing to talk about budgeting,” she said. “It’s another to experience the consequences of blowing your budget on an apartment with killer mountain views and realizing you can’t a ord to eat.”

When students walk through those decisions, Elrod said, the lessons tend to stick. “You can tell them they need to budget, but letting them feel what it’s like to make the wrong choice is much more e ective.”

What parents can do at home

Financial education doesn’t have to stop at school. Elrod encourages parents to involve teens in family budgeting, talk openly about money and consider opening joint accounts or debit cards when they’re ready.

“Every student is di erent. Some are ready at 10, others not until 16,” she said. “ e key is creating habits early and making the conversation feel relevant.”

Elrod recommends apps that help families gamify chores, savings and spending. Some allow parents to set savings rules, such as automatically diverting one-third of every allowance into savings and help kids track their spending in real-time.

“ e goal isn’t to lecture,” she said. “It’s to build con dence. When teens feel in control of their money, they make better choices.”

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The often-missed path to greater success

After decades of working in the personal and professional development space, I’ve had the opportunity to evaluate businesses, teams, and individuals across a wide range of industries. Whether we’re conducting a classic SWOT analysis; strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, reviewing assessment data on talents and competencies, or sitting down for interviews with key players, one thing becomes abundantly clear time and time again: when strengths and weaknesses are laid out side by side, far too many people zero in on the weaknesses. at focus makes sense, on the surface. After all, we’ve been taught to improve what’s broken. If a machine isn’t functioning, we x the faulty part. If a report is wrong, we nd the error. But when it comes to people, teams, and businesses, this singular focus on “ xing” weaknesses can back re, especially when it comes at the expense of building upon strengths.

Now, let’s be clear: acknowledging and addressing weaknesses is important. In fact, neglecting them altogether is a recipe for stagnation or decline. I make a point each year to take assessments that shine a light on areas where I need to improve. And yes, that list is always longer than I’d like. Without a plan to address those areas, they’ll only grow into bigger problems.

But here’s the truth I’ve come to embrace, and what I hope you take away from this column: the real momentum, the kind that lifts us to the next level, comes from doubling down on our strengths. When we rene what we already do well, when we lean into our natural talents, repeatable behaviors, and reliable competencies, we nd traction. And that traction leads to tangible, repeatable success. ink about it. Professional athletes are the best in the world at what they do, yet they spend countless hours re ning their strengths. ey don’t stop practicing their signature moves because they’re already good at them. In fact, they practice them more, seeking that slight edge that will make them unstoppable. e same holds true in business, entertainment, and high-level leadership. Top performers rarely become top performers by trying to be great at everything. Instead, they become elite by identifying what they do best and doing it better than anyone else.

WINNING WORDS

is is a transferable truth. Whether we’re talking about a business unit, a leadership team, or a highpotential employee, there is incredible value in identifying the strengths and intentionally investing in them. at might mean assigning roles that align with natural abilities, providing tools that elevate alreadystrong performance, or simply encouraging more time and focus on the work that brings energy and results.

Let’s not forget the psychological bene t. When we only focus on weaknesses, our mindset often follows. We begin to feel like we’re always behind, constantly catching up, never enough. at kind of thinking can be toxic. But when we focus on strengths, we tap into con dence, momentum, and engagement. It’s a motivating force, one that propels us forward rather than weighing us down.

Ultimately, this isn’t an either-or conversation. It’s about balance. We absolutely must identify and work on our weaknesses, creating long-term strategies to grow in the areas that need improvement. But we must also capitalize on our strengths for near-term success and con dence-building wins. at balanced approach, acknowledging both what needs to change and what needs to be ampli ed, is the real key to unlocking potential.

So the next time you conduct a self-review, a team evaluation, or a strategic plan, pause. Before diving into all the things that need xing, ask: What’s already working? What strengths can we build upon? at might just be where your next breakthrough lies.

How about you? Do you tend to focus too much on what’s wrong? Or do you take the time to take inventory of your strengths and then leverage those strengths? As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can learn to lean into our strengths to tap our true potential, it really will be a better-than-good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

Finding joy to help overcome struggles

For 10 years as Assistant Principal at Eaglecrest High School, I had the privilege of overseeing the program for students with unique educational needs. at experience was transformational. One portion of my responsibility included a program known as the Integrated Learning Center, ILC. at primarily self-contained classroom included students with particularly unique learning needs. In the ILC, I observed new dimensions to the human spirit and courage to depths I did not know possible. I learned what fun a lack of inhibition can be for everyone around and about the joy of being recognized. I actually had to stand outside the ILC to listen to what the teacher was saying before I entered the room, so that the students’ learning was not disrupted by an inevitable chorus of voices saying “Hi, Mr. Roome!”

During that decade, the two most profound lessons I learned from students were about having an unwavering love of life and determination without bounds.

I watched students bounce with joy because they glimpsed a friend or grasped a favorite toy. I observed full-on belly laughs because of a word or a wink. In fact, I cannot think of a time when the room was void of smiles. It is not that life is easy or the road is clear for students in ILC. In fact, just the opposite. Students’ lives can be lled with unimaginable hardship, and yet there is still time for drinking the joy of living. ere is a great lesson in that room for all of us. Why would we have been put on this earth if it were not to bask in the joy of living?  at bottomless well of joy sits next to determination, which outshines all other ideas in the ILC. Determination to live, to be, to thrive, determination to overcome. e goal might be to walk or to

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

No Kings protest in Golden June 14 ere is an upcoming No Kings protest in Golden at 10th and Washington (and spreading out from there) on Saturday, June 14, 3-5 p.m.

Golden residents, please support this protest. DOGE cuts to USAID have caused an estimated 300,000 deaths; 103 people an hour are still dying; and 1,500 babies a day are born HIV-positive. Shame on Trump, Musk, and Congress. ey were warned this would happen. In addition, DOGE cuts have harmed veterans. It’s important to mobilize.

So please join in supporting the No Kings

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

speak, or to share an idea. e size of the mountain does not matter, determination rules the space. We can learn from the students and ll our lives with the determination to overcome the mountains we encounter.

Six years ago, I stopped overseeing the ILC program. To the end of my days, thoughts about those wonderful students will bring a smile to my face and a resolve to my heart because of the joy and determination I observed in that space.

Whatever your struggle, my hope is that you, too, will nd a lesson in this story of amazing students and that you will ll your week with joy and determination, no matter the struggle.

You have got this.

I hope my words encourage you and that you will share them with those who need support. ank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me so far; I truly appreciate hearing about the valuable ideas you nd in these columns and how you use them to uplift those around you. You can reach me at jim.roome@gmail.com.

Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife, Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences. Contact him at jim.roome@gmail.com.

nationwide protest on June 14. e No Kings protest in Golden is part of a nationwide protest that will include a number of cities in Colorado. Golden residents, please come and bring signs if possible. Bring your neighbors too. is is not a matter of Republican or Democrat, right or left, or conservative or liberal. is is a matter of democracy versus “autocracy,” where the head of state acts like a king with absolute power. President Trump has ignored 9-0 and 7-2 rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court and thumbed his nose at the idea of separation of powers or the rule of law. He must be stopped. Tom Locke, Golden

Michael Norton

Jim Roome

We’d like to know about events or activities of interest to the community. Visit www.clearcreekcourant.com/calendar/ and post your event online for free. Email ckoeberl@coloradocommunitymedia.com

UPCOMING

Meet Clear Creek County Commissioners: 6 p.m. Wednesday June 25 at the Idaho Springs Health and Wellness Facility 1969 Miner St.

Empire Adopt-a-Highway Cleanup: 8 a.m. Sat. June 14th Help us tidy up 2 miles of Hwy 40 through Empire, CO. Meet at the Empire Visitors Center 30 Park Ave, Idaho Springs.

ONGOING

Idaho Springs Lions Club meetings: 7:30 a.m. every rst and third ursday of the month at Marions of the Rockies, 2805 Colorado Blvd., Idaho Springs. Come join us and help to serve our community. For information – www.islions.org, email info@isLions.org or call 720-608-1140.

Clear Creek Democrats: 5-7 p.m. “ irsty 3rd ursday” at the Vintage Moose, 12 16th Ave. in Idaho Springs. Non-alcoholic options and snacks are provided.

through an Evergreen-based organization called Resilience1220. Composed of licensed therapists, Resilience1220 serves individuals and groups in the foothills including Clear Creek County. ey also facilitate school and community groups to build life skills in wellness and resilience among youth. For more information or to schedule a counseling session, visit R1220.org, email Resilience1220@gmail.com or call 720-282-1164.

Dental clinics: Cleanings, X-rays, dentures, tooth extractions and more. Most insurances are accepted including Medicaid. Sliding scale/low-cost options are also available. No appointment necessary. is is a mobile dentist that comes once a month. Call program manager Lauralee at 720205-4449 for questions.

CASA of the Continental Divide seeks volunteers:CASACD promotes and protects the best interests of abused and neglected children involved in court proceedings through the advocacy e orts of trained CASA volunteers. Be the di erence and advocate for the youth in our community. e o ce can be reached at 970513-9390.

Clear Creek EMS/Evergreen Fire Rescue Launch Mugs for Rugs Campaign: Bring an old throw rug and you’ll leave with a bright green mug! You can bring them to Station 1A in Dumont, 3400 Stanley Road, or you can email captains@clearcreekems. com and CCEMS will come to you to make the trade. Clear Creek EMS also o ers fall-risk assessments by bringing someone from the re department to make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working properly. To request a visit, ll out the form at clearcreekcounty.us/1388/Community-Outreach.

Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meetings: Clear Creek Rotary 2000 meets at 7:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Marion’s of the Rockies. 2805 Colorado Blvd., Idaho Springs. For more information, email loe er806@comcast.net.

Support after suicide loss: A safe place to share and learn after losing a loved one to suicide. is group meets every fourth Wednesday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m. via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. For ages 14 and up. Suggested donation for this group is $15. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.

Blue Spruce Habitat volunteers needed: Blue Spruce Habitat for Humanity is looking for volunteers. A variety of opportunities and exible schedules are available on new construction sites as well as for exterior minor home repairs. No previous construction experience needed. Contact volunteer@bluesprucehabitat.org for information.

Resilience1220 counseling: Young people 12 to 20 can get free counseling

Sensitive collection: Resilience1220 strives to inform and support highly sensitive people to live healthy and empowered lives. It meets the third Wednesday of each month from 6-7 p.m. and is o ered via Zoom or in person at the Resilience1220 o ce. Register at resilience1220.org/groups.

Public Health o ering sexual health and family planning: Clear Creek County Public Health is now o ering Sexual Health and Planning Services at the Health and Wellness Center in Idaho Springs. Public Health o ers counseling, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, STI and HIV screenings, basic infertility services and birth control options and referrals. ese services are con dential. Public Health can also now bill Medicaid and most private insurance. However, if you do not have insurance, fees are based on a sliding scale — and no one will be turned away if they are unable to pay.

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:

• Email your letter to scott@cotln.org. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

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

Clear Creek County Lookout Alert: e CodeRED alerts have been replaced by the Lookout Alert. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts county-wide by signing up at www. lookoutalert.co. e new site replaces CodeRED following the switch to JeffCom911 for emergency dispatch earlier this year.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

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

Sell Practical marketing solutions to local businesses.

Sales territories currently available in various communities.

State Patrol warns motorists to watch for wildlife

CSP enforcement ramps up for calving season

e Colorado State Patrol is stepping up patrols on Colorado State Highway 74 in Evergreen to protect motorists and local wildlife. e e ort is especially important in June and July during peak calving season for elk in the state.

e CSP’s “Give Me a Brake” campaign is being unveiled to increase enforcement and education about wildlife crossings, especially in Evergreen in Je erson County.

CHURCH BELL

“Highway 74 in Evergreen, like so many picturesque areas of Colorado, is an example of a roadway that sees many wildlife crossings,” said Col. Matthew Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol in a news release.  “We want to warn drivers to slow their speeds and stay alert during this high activity season for new animals traveling with their mothers.”

While dusk and dawn are the most common times for wildlife-vehicle collisions, they can happen at all hours of the day –and they do. Colorado State Troopers will also be conducting weekly enforcement on Highway 74 this June to keep speeds down and increase knowledge on how to spot wildlife and what to do, the news release states.

Last year, animal-involved crashes

were the third most common crash factor among all crash types (fatal, injury, and property damage), the news release states. Troopers investigated 3,573 of these crashes. Ninety-six percent of the crashes caused property damage only for the motorist, but the wildlife often did not survive, the CSP states.

e State Patrol o ered practical tips from Wild Aware and their Wild Eyes Program can reduce the risk of motorist/wildlife collisions. ey urge drivers to scan roads or shoulders for movement and eye shine and ask drivers to use bright lights at night when safe and ash lights at oncoming cars to warn of wildlife on the road. Do not honk at wildlife in or near road if stopped and use hazard lights to warn other drivers.

ment, expressing admiration for what, they said, is a true community department and resource.

So, the congregation reached out to the Clear Creek Fire Authority, and Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Jones answered the call.

“He sent in a request to put a new rope on the bell on the church that you can’t really access from a ground ladder safely, it’s just hard to get to,” Jones said.

CCFA re ghters showed up shortly after with a ladder truck and crew to safely re-string the church bell.

“We could access it safely from the ladder truck, so we restrung the bell for them, which prevented anyone from getting hurt,” Jones said.

Nordine and congregation members were thankful for the response and the accomplish-

“Having support from our local re department for community projects such as this gives us a sense of security that they will be there during a real time of need. anks to them,” Nordine said.

Being truly embedded in the community that is Clear Creek County is what Jones said the department has historically taken pride in.

“It’s kinda what we’ve historically done for those hard to reach places in the community, like a agpole at a school in Silver Plume or a bell on the church,” Jones told the Courant.

“It’s good for us to give back and it’s good training for us because it keeps our operators pro cient, so it’s a win-win.”

Fire ghters Dan Noell and Donal Koogle were also personally recognized and thanked by the church.

ey also urge drivers to slow down and not to exceed the speed limit. Wildlife-vehicle collisions can be very costly to drivers, the CSP states. According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, the insurance industry pays out nearly $1.1 billion yearly in claims for all wildlife collisions nationwide. e average property damage cost of these crashes is estimated at over $3,000.

If you are involved in a crash with an animal, Colorado State Patrol wants you to call 9-1-1 just as you would in any other emergency. In addition, if you witness wildlife in distress from possibly being struck on or near the side of the road, call *CSP for the proper resource to be notied and sent to the scene.

LIFESTYLES

AN ADVERTISING SECTION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

| VOL. 17 ISSUE 6 • JUNE 2025

FEATURE OF THE MONTH

If you’ve driven past our showroom recently you may have noticed something: ags, ags, and more ags! We decorate our building every year to celebrate the holidays. Not the traditional holidays, but the ones that are focused on love for our country.

ese holidays are Armed Forces Day, Flag Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.

What the Four Spring//Summer Holidays

Mean

Armed Forces Day, May 17, 2025 (third Saturday of May)

Armed Forces Day honors and expresses gratitude to the men and women currently serving in all branches of the United States armed forces.

Ronald Reagan said in 1988, “You may have heard me say before that one of the things I like most about my job as President is visiting and talking with our young men and women in uniform. I’ve met them all over the world … And everywhere, I’ve seen that their commanders are right: ey’re the best we’ve ever had. I mention this because today is Armed Forces Day. Yes, this is the day for all of us to salute the soldiers, sailors, marines, and aviators who stand sentry on the frontiers of freedom all over the world … One last thought for Armed Forces Day and every day: If you see someone in uniform, would you go up, shake their hand, and thank them.”

Memorial Day, May 26, 2025 (last Monday of May)

Memorial Day honors and remembers the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. A visit to any national cemetery is an incredibly powerful experience. Even more so at Arlington National Cemetery, where the verdant rolling hills of Virginia are the nal resting place for over 400,000 men and women and rows upon rows of graves stretch as far as the eye can see as a somber reminder that freedom isn’t free.

Memorial Day sometimes seems like just a good weekend to buy a mattress but, it’s really a time to remember that freedom isn’t free.

Some notable thoughts about these holidays include:

“ e willingness of some to give their lives so that others might live never fails to evoke in us a sense of wonder and mystery. One gets that feeling here on this hallowed ground. And I have known that same poignant feeling as I looked out across the rows of white crosses and stars of David in Europe, in the Philippines and the military cemeteries here in our own land. Each one marks the resting place of an American

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From Page 11

hero.” — Ronald Reagan, May 31, 1982.

“My fellow Americans, on this Memorial Day, let us commit ourselves to a future worthy of their sacri ce.” — Bill Clinton, May 25, 1998.

“ e day will come when no one is le who knew them. When no visitor to this cemetery can stand before a grave remembering a face and a voice. e day will never come when America forgets them. Our nation and the world will always remember what they did here, what they gave here, for the future of humanity.” — George W. Bush, May 27, 2002.

“Our nation owes a debt to its fallen heroes that we can never fully repay, but we can honor their sacri ce, and we must.” — Barack Obama, May 30, 2011.

“ is is the mission of our time. Our

memorial to them must not be just the day when we pause and pray. It must be a daily commitment to act, to come together, to be worthy of the price that was paid.” — Joe Biden, May 30, 2022.

“ e cost was everything to them and to their families. Our debt to them is eternal, and it does not diminish with time. It only grows and grows and grows with each passing year,” Donald Trump, May 26, 2025

“Memorial Day is not a happy day. Memorial Day is not for those who served and came home. It’s for those who served and didn’t.” — VP J.D. Vance, 2025

Flag Day, June 14, 2025

Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the rst national ag by the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777. Flag Day is a day to honor what the U.S. ag represents: independence, unity, and American ideals. is year on Flag Day, we also celebrate the 250th anniversary of the forming of the United States Army.

In 1917, Woodrow Wilson said, “We meet to celebrate Flag Day because this ag which we honour and under which we serve is the emblem of our unity, our power, our thought and purpose as a nation.”

Independence Day, July 4, 2025

Independence Day commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It marks the birth of the United States as an independent nation. e holiday symbolizes the American ideals of freedom, independence, and patriotism.

Here’s what some notable patriots and politicians had to say about our freedom:

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare,

Please see SERVICE, Page 16

When It Comes to Interests Rates… Mortgage Loan O cer Grant Brewster

Has Your ‘Best Interests’ at Heart

By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles

Grant Brewster, a Colorado Foothills native and mortgage broker with Edge Home Finance Corporation, has over 30 years of experience helping clients navigate the mortgage process. As an independent broker, not a bank employee or a liate, Grant has access to a broad network of lenders and loan products that might suit a variety of borrowers’ needs, including Conventional, FHA, VA, USDA, second and/or home equity loans.

Whether you are buying a house or making home improvements, Grant Brewster knows the world of loan nancing can be di cult to understand. With thirty-plus years proven experience in the industry, Grant Brewster is an intermedi-

Unlike a bank, a mortgage broker represents YOU, the customer, not the lender.

ary who helps his clients explore competitive loan packages and loan term options. He recognizes the importance of obtaining the right loan nancing that will meet your goals so you and your family can continue your journey to enjoy milestones and build memories in your “home sweet home.” Interest rates and loan options vary based on individual quali cations. Grant

listens, provides clarity when needed, and has your back when challenges arise. Located at Flow eory Coworks, 3540 Evergreen Parkway, Grant Brewster’s has your “best interests” at heart for all your home nancing needs. Contact him at (720-668-4183) or online (grant.brewster@ edgehome nance.com/www.grantbrewster. com).

ArborRx Family Tree Service Understands that Fire Mitigation MATTERS!

By Jo Ann M. Colton Special to Lifestyles

Since 2010, ArborRx Family Tree Service has served its residential/business/commercial customers in Evergreen/Conifer/ Denver, and beyond. e all-season company o ers tree/plant prescriptive treatments, wellness care and more, pest alleviation/reduction, snowplow services, storm damage repair, and re mitigation.

‘Wildfires

Bryan Nash ArborRX Family Tree, LLC

“Wild res are a year-round threat in our Foothills, which is why re mitigation matters,” said Bryan Nash, Certi ed Fire Mitigation Specialist, member of National Fire Protection Association, and co-owner (with his wife Jennifer) of ArborRx Family Tree Service.

ArborRx Family Tree Service can deliver re mitigation services to residents and re/rescue/forest groups to harden homes/properties and create a defensible

space to enhance the safety of residents/ property and wildlife. e company’s Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Review assesses your property’s strong points and resolves any weaknesses. e Immediate Zone represents from 0-5 feet of your home, the Intermediate Zone extends 5-30 feet past your home, and the Extended Zone stretches 30-100 feet beyond your home’s boundaries.

“We also have a tract-steer mounted masticator (similar to a woodchipper) that moves through a forest to grind/chip/or break apart into small pieces fuels such as brush, small trees, and slash,” said Bryan Nash.

For services/more information/appointments, contact ArborRx Family Tree Service (720-629-7033 or https://arborrxfamily.com) and follow them on Facebook.

How to Turn a Fireplace Renovation from To Do to Ta-Da!

We love relatively minor home renovations that pack a big punch.

We think a house isn’t a home without a re feature - including those with replaces that never get used: ugly outdated replaces, wood stoves that spew smoke like a volcano, or cold, dra y replaces. But the thought of a big renovation can mean replace projects sit on the To Do list forever.

A replace renovation can completely transform the way you enjoy your home. Here are some ideas that can be ready in time for replace season!

Boost E ciency With a Wood or Gas Stove Insert

Rejuvenate an old wood- or gas-burning replace with a new insert. It will be more stylish, much more e cient, easier to use, and safer than decades-old models! An insert uses an existing chimney so no expensive demo is required. Keep your existing tile or stonework, or update it. And yes, you can switch from wood to gas or

vice versa.

Room Upgrade: Add an Electric Fireplace Electric replaces are simple to install in almost any existing interior or exterior wall without the need for a chimney. Cozy up a dreary corner. Add luxury to a boring dining room. Boost the warmth in a cold basement. Add romance to your bedroom. Put a replace where you never thought you could!

Add Heat & Ambience Where You Want It

With a Freestanding Stove

e biggest advantage of a freestanding stove is that you can put it almost anywhere. Traditional replaces were o en installed in formal living rooms. A freestanding stove can be installed where you actually live! Gas stoves add heat in a convenient design that can be vented through the wall to expand your design possibilities. Wood stoves o er the charm of a wood re in a highly e cient package that minimizes emissions while adding

signi cant heat.

Give Your Fireplace a New Face Don’t replace a functioning replace just because it’s dated! Reface it instead. No more ugly louvers or ‘90’s brass, just a clean modern look. We can reface both wood-burning and gas-burning replaces or inserts. Let us show you the possibilities!

Combine a new face with a new surround for a very satisfying aesthetic upgrade at a fraction of the cost of a new replace! Check out the before-and-a er gallery on our website, www.mthnp.com, to see some dramatic transformations.

Transform a Wood-Burning Fireplace with a Gas Log Set

Nobody wants to gather around an unused replace, especially in winter when frigid dra s make the surrounding space unwelcoming. A gas log set consists of a detailed faux log arrangement with gas burners and decorative media. It is made to mimic a traditional wood re but with the

convenience of gas, and transforms a dra y wood replace into a cozy focal point.

Ta-Da!

ere’s incredible satisfaction in a beautiful and functional nished project. e best part? We handle everything from start to nish! Kick back with a glass of wine and enjoy someone else doing the dirty work. We’ll help you choose the best solution. We’ll handle all project planning and logistics. Our expert installation teams come ready to rock and roll (most installations are done same-day), and operate under a NO MESS GUARANTEE to minimize disruption to your home. We hope these ideas will help you turn an overwhelming To Do to a hugely satisfying Ta-Da without extensive renovations. Get inspired at our website, www. mtnhp.com, which has tons of inspiration. Stop by the showroom at 7001 Hwy 73 in Marshdale, or give our friendly experts a call at 303-679-1601!

From Page 16

and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” — Preamble to the U.S. Constitution

“In the truest sense, freedom cannot be bestowed; it must be achieved.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

“ e essence of America—that which really unites us—is not ethnicity, or nationality, or religion. It is an idea—and what an idea it is: that you can come from humble circumstances and do great things. at it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going.” — Condoleezza Rice

“So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania! Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado! Let freedom ring from the curvaceous peaks of California! But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia! Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee! Let freedom ring from every hill and every molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.”— Martin Luther King Jr.

“Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy.” — Margaret atcher

Our United States

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” — omas Je erson

“Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty.”

— John F. Kennedy

As we remember those who made this country possible, let’s come together as Americans in the spirit of unity: or community. In this incredible melting pot, in a democracy unlike any other, we must never take our freedoms for granted.

During these holidays that focus on our great nation, let’s rise above our di erences. We’re in this together. Let’s make our fallen, retired, and active servicemen and women proud.

Semper Fi!

From the dedicated men and women of Mountain Hearth & Patio

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Housing proposal at odds with Wild Animal Sanctuary

Sanctuary supporters downplay threats of violence by

fans

BY MONTE WHALEY MONTE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An attorney representing two landowners in Weld County is accusing the supporters of an iconic wildlife sanctuary of issuing death threats against the two women for resurrecting plans to put a housing development on 40 acres of land adjacent to the facility.

Jeremy Brett Daz Fletcher also says that recent comments made by Pat Craig – executive director of Wild Animal Sanctuary near Keenesburg – via social media posts criticizing the development could be libelous and are interfering with an earlier contract between the sanctuary and landowners. e death threats have also been elded by real estate agents handling the sale of the eight home sites, said Fletcher in his letter to Craig.

“As we have expressed in our earlier statement,” Fletcher states in the letter, “we were saddened and disheartened that you chose to proceed in the manner you have. at statement remains true.”

Craig rejected the claims about death threats from backers of the sanctuary and an o er from the development group to sell the acreages to the sanctuary for $4 million.

ere is no proof anyone has threatened the two owners – Sherry Boris Wigaard and Velois Smith – nor their agents, said Craig, who opened the 33,000-acre sanctuary over 31 years ago.

“Who really thinks someone is going to travel to Florida and try to nd these ladies to hurt them? Our core demographic is women 45 and older, with most having Masters or PHD’s and (who) are wealthy. Is that the kind of crowd that threatens to kill other women?” Craig said.

Craig said via email that Fletcher has not acknowledged the two women refused to communicate with the sanctuary for nearly seven months.

“Everyone seems to skip over this important fact. Had they been willing to keep the lines of communication open we would not be in this position today,” Craig said.

He also termed the buyout o er as ridiculous as the owners - who live in Florida - are not trying to cover their expenses or even the projected sales of the sits. ey originally o ered the land to the sanctuary 10 years ago for $2 million. “We

couldn’t a ord that either,” Craig said. Fears of being forced out e sanctuary is home to over 550 animals including lions, tigers and bears. ey were rescued by Craig and others from mostly roadside zoos and basements and were badly abused by the people who kept them in captivity.  In 2023, sanctuary o cials rescued animals held at the abandoned zoo in Puerto Rico, which drew international attention. e sanctuary largely depends on donations to help with the sanctuary upkeep and rescue work.

Craig fears that the housing development and the resulting complaints from homeowners will eventually force the facility out of the area.

“When we moved to rural Weld County 31 years ago, there were wheat elds and open farmland for miles around – with the nearest house miles away,” Craig said.

But as more people moved into the area around the sanctuary complaints started piling up.

“Year after year we would see people moving here with romantic ideas of what life would be like living next to a wildlife sanctuary – but eventually coming to terms with some of the realities that exist,”

Craig said.

e issues that come with living near the

sanctuary, according to Craig, include; e thousands of seagulls that scavenge food and y to adjacent properties where they sometimes drop or leave food behind…. And poop on buildings, cars and houses, said Craig. e bald eagles (21 of them) that stay here year-round and scare people who think they will snatch up their “little foo-foo dogs or cats,” Craig said. e smells from the animals (they consume 100,000 pounds of food per week), so they also defecate an enormous amount, Craig said.  “We clean their habitats, but there is still a smell just like a large dairy operation might have,” he said. e large number of ies and other bugs that come to bene t from the food as well. e coyotes, raccoons, fox, and other wildlife… that also increase due to the food supplies. e sounds of the animals – especially lions roaring, as people think it is great to hear lions roaring until they hear one roaring at 2 a.m. on a still summer night and are convinced the lions have escaped and are right outside their bedroom window, Craig said. e sights of all our heavy equipment and commercial supplies being stored or parked together, as people complain to the county about their views being disrupted, he said. e carnivore sounds that scare their dogs, horses, cows

Part of the cast and two members of the original Sugarloaf band on stage at Evergreen’s Little Bear, where the crew filmed a scene from the upcoming movie, ‘I Got a Song.’ At far right is

Documentary details Denver ‘70s band Sugarloaf

Brighton man, Evergreen shop owner to star in upcoming rockumentary

BY JANE REUTER JANE@COTLN.ORG

Neither Brighton resident and Morrison bartender Cory Pearman or Evergreen business owner Eric Martinez had been born when the iconic 1970s Colorado rock band “Sugarloaf” was in its heyday.

Today, both men have been cast in an upcoming movie about the group.

Pearman is depicted on the movie’s website among the lead cast as singer/ songwriter Bob Yeazel, and Martinez has a part as bassist Bob Raymond’s adult son Aaron.

e movie “I Got a Song” is being lmed locally, including a scene shot at e Little Bear in Evergreen April 11 and more in Denver later this summer.

Sugarloaf, known for hits like “GreenEyed Lady” and “Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You,” was named after Boulder’s Sugarloaf Mountain. e movie promises to share “compelling details of the group, the unique members, how they came together and what tore them apart.”

Pearman, frontman for local bands “Float Like a Bu alo” and “ e C Minuses” and a bartender at the Morrison Holi-

day Bar, is not just playing the lead vocalist, but singing Sugarloaf’s songs as well.

“I really enjoy it,” he said. “Diving into ‘Don’t Call Us, We’ll Call You’ … I don’t have a very high-pitched voice. I had to learn that and struggled when I did it.

“Bobby was also apparently the wild man, so I’m excited about that. I get to push some boundaries.”

Yeazel was with the band for a short but prominent time, Pearman said. e group formed in 1969, and Yeazel joined them in 1971 for their second album, Spaceship Earth. He wrote or co-wrote many of the songs, including “Tongue in Cheek.”

He left the group in mid-1972 saying he was “disillusioned” with the group’s direction. Sugarloaf o cially disbanded in 1978. Yeazel, who joined the FreddiHenchi band and later wrote songs for the still-popular Chris Daniels and the Kings, died in 2016.

Sugarloaf band was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2012.

Both Pearman and Martinez said the movie centers around bass player and founding member Bob Raymond. As Raymond’s son, the actor Martinez struggles with his father’s 2016 death and later

his son Bailey’s emergence in the music industry.

Neither Pearman nor Martinez are new to acting. Martinez, who owns Evergreen’s Java Groove had a lead role in the holiday movie “Mocha and Mistletoe”, which was lmed in Evergreen in late 2024 at his urging. Sugarloaf’s documentary will be the fourth movie in which the 43-year-old has played a part, in addition to a couple of commercials and a truecrime reenactment podcast.

He saw the casting call for ‘I Got a Song’ on Facebook and auditioned in March.

“Sugarloaf was a bit before my time, and I didn’t know (much about them) before I saw the callout,” he said. “I went back and listened to their music, and I love it. And knowing their story, the way they got together, and how passionate they were about the music, makes listening to it even cooler now.”

As a young man, Pearman moved to Los Angeles to “chase the dream of being an actor.” While he had some success, he quickly realized the Hollywood lifestyle wasn’t for him. After strumming his rst guitar in 2016, “I never looked back.”

‘I Got a Song’ director Kyle Lamar had also directed some of Pearman’s music videos and asked Pearman to play Yeazel.

“He said, ‘I think you’d be great for it. You look like the guy,’” Pearman said, laughing and stroked his beard, and adding that he had to dye some of the gray

hairs that have lately appeared there to match his otherwise reddish-blond hair.

“I’m 47 playing a 25- or 26-year-old. I’m lucky I still look youthful.”   Pearman and Martinez met brie y at a June 1 cast/crew mixer and movie fundraiser at Aurora’s Rock restaurant. Martinez, who will shoot his rst scenes in June as well, also met Aaron Raymond at the fundraiser.

“I got to meet the real person I’m playing,” he said. “Not everybody (from the band) is still with us. But he is.”

Both men are open to more acting roles, though Pearman is dedicated to his musical career rst and Martinez is equally devoted to running his well-loved downtown Evergreen co ee shop and raising a family.

“Right now, I’m just leaning into it,” Martinez said.

“I’m having a blast,” Pearman said. “If it leads to more and I don’t have to move anywhere and can keep doing music, I’d be interested.

“I’m getting a little bit overwhelmed. But I’m still having fun doing it. It’s the life I chose for myself.”

‘Float Like a Bu alo’ just released a new album, and sets o on a Northwestern U.S. tour in mid-July. But before it does, the funk band will help Evergreen celebrate the Fourth of July at Foothills Fourth, playing at 3:30 p.m. on the stage at Buchanan elds.

Brighton resident and Morrison bartender Cory Pearman, who play Bob Yeazel in the film.

Cory Pearman talks about his role in the Sugarloaf rockumentary ‘I Got a Song,’ on the top patio of the Morrison Holiday Bar. The Brighton resident is also a bartender at the Holiday and leads two local bands.

JANE REUTER

BY ISABEL GUZMAN IGUZMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In a softly lit room in Centennial, Lilly Cadillac Unger shu es her tarot cards with practiced hands. e space, lled with gentle natural light, is the heart of her business, Altered Arcana. On the table, a classic three-card spread — past, present and future — unfolds a story. Among the cards drawn: Death, the Six of Cups and the Nine of Wands.

“I see here that there was some kind of huge transition,” Unger said, pointing to the Death card.

e card’s reputation, she said, is the most feared and is more Hollywood than reality — its real message is transformation and rebirth.

Unger’s journey with tarot began at age 12, sparked by curiosity and the little guidebook included with her rst Rider–Waite deck — the most popular tarot deck, she notes, and one she’s mis-

placed more times than she can count.

For Unger, tarot isn’t about predicting the future.

“Tarot really should tell you about your present,” she said.

e Rider-Waite tarot card deck, rst published in 1909, was created by artist Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of occultist A.E. Waite. e deck consists of 78 cards — 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana — with each card featuring symbolic illustrations designed to evoke intuitive and emotional responses.

Distinctive for its fully illustrated Minor Arcana, the Rider-Waite deck’s imagery draws from esoteric traditions that embrace practices that involve secret or hidden knowledge, Christian mysticism and the teachings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society that studied occultism and metaphysics, according to the University of St. omas.

Kate Kettelkamp, who reads tarot cards from her Denver o ce, also starts

with the three card spread that displays the past, present and future. After she shu es, she has the person receiving the reading pull three cards.

“I like people to choose their own cards,” Kettlekamp said. “Di erent tarot readers have di erent rules. I like people to select the cards because I feel like you bring your own energy to it.”

When the cards are pulled and laid out as reversals — meaning the card’s art is upside down — Kettlekamp said that can signify an energy blockage.

Looking towards the card that represents the past, Kettlekamp observed the Nine of Cups, reversed.

“Cups are water, so it has this emotional, imaginative quality to it,” she said. “With it reversed, it can (signify) wanting to move something forward but having some obstacle.”

When Kettlekamp moved from California to Denver almost 10 years ago, she said everyone she met in the new city knew their astrology signs and

owned a tarot deck, inspiring her to dive into the metaphysical world. She currently studies consciousness in a graduate program at the California Institute of Integral Studies.

In the program, Kettlekamp studies culture, the human journey, the soul and the environment, which she said sets her up for inquisitive knowledge for reading tarot.

“I like to approach (tarot) from a place of inquiry. Some people ask, ‘should I break up with my partner?’ But I nd that the tarot doesn’t answer deterministically,” she said. “ en they’ll pull the Death card and I’ll say, ‘well, possibly, what do you think? It’s up to you.’ at could just be their current energy that is creating a trajectory towards breaking up.”

Kate Kettelekamp reads tarot cards at Kronos Astrology in Denver. COURTESY

Florentino re ected on the readings she’s done that the cards portray a potentially negative message, and how she communicated it to her client.

Kettlekamp said the cards do not tell the future but can give insight into what struggles someone may be currently facing. She said it’s important for readers to uphold ethics when doing a reading.

“I’ve had people come into my o ce who have been disturbed from prior readings because they’ve been told things that make them anxious. So I do think that there’s some responsibility on the reader’s part to not induce anxiety by giving a deterministic prediction about someone’s life,” she said.

When the cards convey a negative message, Rachel Florentino from Bridge the Gap Tarot in Westminster said she views the cards as morphable.

“It’s not set in stone. ( e cards) are something we can bring to the present and change if we want to,” she said.

“ ere was a client that desperately wanted a baby … When I looked at her present, the problem was, she worked 80 hours a week and she wasn’t listening to her doctors telling her, ‘no, you cannot sustain that type of lifestyle while you’re pregnant,’” she said. “It hurt me because she wasn’t going to do that. I had to tell her she has to listen to people.”

Something Florentino did not always do at the beginning of her reading journey — even when she met the woman who wanted a baby — was shielding. In an e ort to protect herself from her clients’ energies, sometimes Florentino will imagine herself wearing a cloak that acts like a shield.

During another reading, Florentino pulled the Tower card in a past, present and future spread — with the Tower card in the future pile, she said it’s the harshest card of the deck.

“It’s because there’s things that you should be doing that you’re not doing and so the universe is going to make it happen. It can be harsh because it can no longer be in your control,” she said.

According to Florentino, the Tower card can show up when someone may be losing a job if they continue down their current trajectory.

“It’s de nitely a warning of: what do we know we need to be doing but we haven’t done yet?” she said.

Regarding the seemingly worrisome card — the Death card — Florentino said the image of the card, which typically displays a grim reaper-esque skeleton with a sword, scares people, largely due to Western society’s perspective of death.

“I think Hollywood has done a great job in scaring us with (death). In the United States, we’re not open about death and don’t view it as a rebirth but as the end of something. In a lot of other cultures, death is looked at as a deathrebirth process,” she said.

Regarding the online popularity of tarot card readings — from mass-collective tarot readings on YouTube to online psychic chats — Kettlekamp and Unger suggest looking at reviews to avoid being scammed.

“I would recommend for people to nd someone that has reviews because there are people who will take your money,” Kettlekamp said. “Anybody that has a physical location, not that that’s necessary, but it can indicate how much time they spend practicing.”

For Unger, reviews and having a connection with a reader are two ways to prevent scams.

“You just have to be honest with yourself about if it resonates, and I think you should be careful who you go to,” she said.

“I think at the end of the day, getting reviews, and maybe just really asking yourself: ‘who am I being led to and why? Am I being led to this person because I saw something online that said: he’s thinking about you? And is that what I’m seeking?”’

LEFT: In the two photos, Lilly Cadillac Unger reads tarot cards in Centennial at Altered Arcana. PHOTO BY ISABEL GUZMAN

RIGHT: Kate Kettlekamp moved from California to Denver and was inspired to learn tarot card reading after meeting others who owned tarot card decks. COURTESY OF KATE KETTLEKAMP

CROWSSUPDRO ELZZ

1. AD SLOGANS: Which retail chain urges consumers to “Expect More. Pay Less”?

2. MATH: What is an obelus?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the last to own slaves?

4. LITERATURE: Author Ian Fleming’s Jamaican estate has the same name as which James Bond movie?

5. TELEVISION: How many seasons of “Wheel of Fortune” did Pat Sajak host?

6. SCIENCE: What are cordyceps?

7. MOVIES: Which actor/comedian/ lmmaker made his lm debut in the movie “Donnie Darko”?

8. ACRONYMS: What does the acronym BBC stand for?

9. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is the only bird that can y backward?

10. FOOD & DRINK: What is a mirepoix?

TrIVIa

Answers

1. Target.

2. e division sign.

3. Ulysses Grant.

4. “GoldenEye.”

5. 41.

6. A type of fungus or mushroom.

7. Seth Rogen.

8. British Broadcasting Corp.

9. Hummingbird.

10. A recipe base of onion, celery and carrots. (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.

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SANCTUARY

and pets – especially when the wolves howl or the lions roar.

People often shoot o guns and highpowered ri es near the sanctuary dispensing thousands of rounds of ammunition just yards away from animal habitats. Fireworks are also set o near the sanctuary borders, Craig said.

Homeowners also host parties where people come up to the fences at night to make noises and shining ashlights at the animals.

“ is has resulted with us nding beer cans and trash in the habitats in the next morning,” Craig said.

Weld County made the property owners, and the sanctuary enter into a contract as one of the conditions for approving the development ten years ago, Craig said,

e requirements included building a tall privacy fence to be built along the common border between the subdivision and the Sanctuary’s property. A 20-foot bu er from the privacy fence would prevent any building in the zone, Craig said.

e contract would also require a threeperson board of directors for the development’s HOA.

“ is was intended to help give a seat to a sanctuary representative so we could help manage certain behaviors or acts that might negatively a ect the sanctuary,” Craig said.

e sanctuary also required an in-person interview with any prospective buyer, Craig said.

05/12/2025HDR

“ is was required so a sanctuary representative could be open and honest about the historical issues that had already caused issues – just so the people considering a signi cant purchase would have a chance to hear the potential issues they could face,” Craig said.

e two women signed the contract in 2011 but then ended up moving to Florida not long after the approval was given by Weld County.  In 2024 they suddenly resurrected the project without contacting the County to inform them of the new work being done.

Craig said when the sanctuary sta noticed the construction began in mid-2024, he contacted the women and their Realtor.

In a meeting, the women expressed how they did not want to follow several of the contract terms.

“ ey stated the interviews might scare

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o potential buyers, which we responded that all we cared about was making sure people were realistic when considering a purchase,” Craig said via email.

e property owners also did not like the requirement that the sanctuary could help pick any replacements on the HOA’s board of directors.

“We explained that once they were either gone or moved away, the sanctuary would still need a pro-sanctuary person on the board,” Craig said.

Marketing is underway

e women have since declined to meet with Craig to iron out the outstanding issues with the contract. In the meantime, Realtors are marketing the development as being so close to the sanctuary.

“Now open! Boasting a prime location in Keenesburg and showcasing an impressive array of new homes with open

layouts and designer details, Vista West is a must-see for house hunters in Weld County. Residents will appreciate close proximity to Fort Lupton, Brighton, e Wild Animal Sanctuary and Denver International Airport. Several thoughtfully designed ranch- and two-story oor plans are available, some of which o er RV garages. You’ll love our professionally curated xtures and nishes!” says an online advertisement.

Fetcher’s letter says that Craig will receive notice of every meeting of the association and that the developers are “committed to a long-lasting relationship with the Wildlife Animal Sanctuary.”

Julie Marshall, Colorado Director for Animal Wellness Action, blasted the move by the developers.

“ is is a most egregious example of thoughtless, non-collaborative development against local Colorado values. ere will be undeniable damage to longstanding wildlife protections, local business and statewide Colorado values,” said Marshall via email.

“ e Wild Animal Sanctuary is an integral and cherished part of Colorado, and Pat is our hometown hero, who has spent decades to create what is undeniably the world’s most successful and renowned sanctuary like no other,” Marshall said.

“Local children and families go here yearround to marvel and be educated about lions, tigers, bears, wolves, bobcats and a host of wildlife — every single one saved from the thoughtless, sel sh acts of humans. Weld County Commissioners must ensure these out-of-towners adhered to their own signed contract with government and stand strong to support our local icon.”

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