Denver Herald Dispatch May 8, 2025 by Colorado Community Media

Butterﬂy Pavilion starts the 2025 monitoring season

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Westminster’s Butter y Pavilion is playing a key role in identifying and preserving butter ies across Colorado, as the 2025 butter y monitoring season began May 3 at Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown.

To kick o the season, the Butter y Pavilion has released the 2024 Annual Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network report on the state of Colorado’s native butter y populations. Last year marked the 12th year of Monitoring Network as one

of the nation’s fastest-growing community science programs focused on butter y conservation.

O cials say this year’s announcement comes at a critical time in butter y habitats. A new study published in Science magazine shows a 22% decline in butter y abundance across the U.S. between 2000 and 2020.

Butter y Pavilion played a signi cant role in the research, contributing Colorado-specific data from the Monitoring Network and collaborating with nearly two dozen scientists through the “Status of But-

ter ies in the United States” working group, according to a Pavilion news release.

More data needed e ndings highlight the urgent need for local and national e orts to protect pollinators, one of the most vital and vulnerable components of our ecosystems, according to a news release.

“While we have a lot of great data, we still need more for a comprehensive picture,” said Shiran Hershcovich, Lepidopterist Manager at Butter y Pavilion and co-author in the Science study, said in the news

release. “ at’s where the public comes in with community science programs like (Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network), which allow us to cover more geographies and provide essential insights for conservation.”

In a press release, the 2024 Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network Report notes that 452 surveys were submitted across 69 monitoring routes in 12 Colorado counties. Reports came from 59 active monitors, including 40 new volunteers, that contributed 385.4 hours of butter y observations.

Park Hill could one day have a $200M park, but the deal’s not done

Proto-park could open this summer, but the city may not own land until later

BY KYLE HARRIS DENVERITE

Mayor Mike Johnston’s promise to turn the Park Hill Golf Course into the city’s fourth-largest park is moving forward, but it still isn’t a sure thing.

Denver City Council members have given preliminary approval to key parts of the plan.

e golf course is currently owned by a private developer, Westside Investment Partners. e city has proposed trading another piece of property for the land. at proposal drew support from a council committee, as did a proposal to rezone the property for use as a public park.

e Mayor’s O ce expects the land swap and a rezoning to be approved by the full council by June. Meanwhile, plans are in motion. e city is already set to spend hundreds of thousands on early plans for a major regional park on the site. e city is also hoping to allow public access to the land as early as this summer.

“We feel very con dent in the agreement going forward,” said the mayor’s spokesperson Jon Ewing.

But despite those big plans, the city will not own the property until September at the earliest. Even if the city council approves the deal, it will be subject to 90 days of due diligence, which could allow either party to bail if issues arise with the golf course or with the property that Westside is set to receive near Denver International Airport.

Johnston’s administration is so con dent that the city has already begun to work — and spend — on the project.

A male monarch pulls nectar from a rabbitbrush, which is a vital resource for the pollinators in our region. The insects rely on the nectar from those plants and others during their annual migrations. COURTESY LIZ GOEHRING

Go for Launch program aims to inspire students

Space travel experts and astronauts o ered STEM at Air and Space Port

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Michelle Lucas, founder of Higher Orbits Go for Launch, has worked at NASA’s Johnson Space Center and made her reputation preparing people for space ight. She traveled the world teaching people how to live on board the International Space Station.

But the satisfaction she received from that job is nothing compared to thrill of seeing a new generation get interested in space ight.

“Don’t get me wrong, training astronauts for space was ful lling, but being able to prepare the next generation is a next level of ful llment,” Lucas said. at’s what she and her team were aiming for April 26 and 27 at the Colorado Space Port near Watkins. e space port hosted the Go for Launch Higher Orbits event, a special STEM program, for 35 Denver-area middle and high school students.

Lucas said it’s incredibly ful lling to inspire the next generation of space enthusiasts, especially for kids that don’t have access to these kinds of opportunities.

She said she can relate.

“I’m a kid who is in love with space, from the south side of Chicago with no access to space-inspired STEM programming,” she said.

Post-its, tape and teamwork

e students learned about teamwork, communication, technology, leadership, science, engineering and brainstorming during the two day program. eir tasks include working as teams to create a tower made of paper stable enough to support the miniature NASA Orion Capsule placed on top. Each tower was tested with a small fan to assess its strength.

Global Village Academy’s Colton Burke, Prospect Ridge Academy’s Eshaan Valles and Colorado Skies Academy students Yiri Yerikanis, and Zach Schultz worked as a team.

e group of 8th grade students brainstormed how to best build their tower, each participating with structural engineering concepts and feeding o each other for inspiration.

eir nal tower was made of Post-its, paper and some tape with room for the Orion Capsule on top. eir project was tested for strength, and they won rst place. Not only that, but they had fun doing it.

at’s the goal, Lucas said. Being able to create something that she can bring to the backyards of students across the country is so meaningful to her.

Dreams of space

e impact is huge, according to Robert Ferguson from Westminster Public Schools’ Random Innovation Center. He teaches the aviation engineering pathway, including drone classes, pilot training, engineering design, aviation electronics, and aerospace.

“I’m excited about the new opportunities for the next generation and am looking forward to seeing their progress and achievements at the Colorado Air and Space Port,” Ferguson said. “I’ve had students who have gone on to be airplane

mechanics, training as pilots, and some have gone to the military, or the School of Mines, Metropolitan State University, and Colorado State University.”

Lucas said that since she was a little girl, she dreamed of working in the space industry, and had the privilege of doing that after she graduated.

“I worked at Johnson Space Center variety of di erent jobs with the International Space Station. I was part of the payload safety review panel,” Lucas said. “I was a ight controller and mission control, and then I was a technical instructor for astronauts and other instructors.”

After 12 years, commercial space started to take o , so she decided to leave NASA and start her own consulting company. “I did some work for a nonpro t internationally. We launched Higher Orbits, a

nonpro t. It’s our 10th anniversary. We’ve conducted 84 programs in 21 states, impacting over a thousand students.”

Space loomed large in Capt. Wendy Lawrence’s imagination, too. Lawrence was an astronaut with four space shuttle missions under her belt, including the Astro Two mission to the Russian Space Station Mir.

Lawrence said she grew up reading about the Mercury or Gemini space programs, but as Apollo started, she was in front of her black and white televisions at home.

“Most of us had not migrated to color yet, and we were enthralled, amazed by what we saw. For me, it was Apollo 11 watching Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on the moon,” Lawrence said. “I just knew at that moment, I wanted to ride a rocket and have a chance to nd space.”

Lawrence said Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics programs, also known as STEM or STEAM, are an opportunity for the students to take what they have been learning in school and apply it to a particular challenge, coming up with an idea for an experiment that could be on the International Space Station.

“It’s their opportunity to apply knowledge and education they acquired, giving them experience that they can go on and take on challenges and be successful.”

Elizabeth Balga, another volunteer for the program, works as a senior human systems integration engineer and ight operations engineer at Sierra Space in Colorado.

She worked on the Dream Chaser program, which is a cargo vehicle designed to bring payloads to the International Space Station.

Balga said she was inspired by Space ight since she was a little girl and was enamored with everything in science, space, and technology in her classes.

“ is age range is where kids are trying to decide what they want to do with the rest of their lives, and allowing them to learn about space, but also STEM and space, everything it takes to go into space,” Balga said.

“It’s science, technology, engineering, art, and math. ere are also biology and aviation paths that are part of the greater aerospace realm,” Balga said. “As a kid, I didn’t have a lot of these opportunities to learn about aerospace. I would have loved to go to a ‘Go for Launch’ as a kid.”

Go for Launch volunteer Sonia Morales also works as a modeling and simulations engineer at the Aerospace Corporation.

“I’ve been looking for other opportunities to give back to students, to inspire them. I found out about Go for Launch asking for volunteers, and I was very excited to volunteer,” Morales said.

Eighth-grade students Henry Kovacs, from Thunder Ridge, Blake Chyou, homeschooled, Ben Santos, Eagle Crest High School, and Teagan Bura, Colorado Skies Academy watch to see how the tower they constructed fares against a sti wind during the Go For Launch program at the Colorado Air and Space Port. They claimed second place for the stability of their tower.

PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD

Captain Wendy Lawrence narrates a slide show about her life and when she started as an astronaut, with photos of her and her crew on all four shuttle missions she ﬂew.

Here’s What Being a “Full-Service” Real Estate Agent Means to Us

To me — and, I believe, to my broker associates at Golden Real Estate — being a “full-service” real estate agent means more than providing the minimum “uniform duties” set forth by the Colorado Real Estate Commission, with my comments in brackets:

“Broker shall exercise reasonable skill and care for seller, including, but not limited to the following:

Performing the terms of any written or oral agreement with seller;

Presenting all offers to and from seller in a timely manner, regardless of whether the property is subject to a contract for sale;

Those are the minimum duties spelled out by the Real Estate Commission for an agent representing a seller. The Commission spells out similar duties for a broker representing a buyer, tenant or landlord.

Disclosing to seller adverse material facts [about the buyer] actually known by broker;

Advising seller to obtain expert advice as to material matters about which broker knows but the specifics of which are beyond the expertise of broker;

Accounting in a timely manner for all money and property received; and

Keeping seller fully informed [throughout] the transaction.

Those are the minimum duties, whether the agent is functioning as a transaction broker or an agent. A transaction broker, which we don’t recommend, is a broker who owes no fidelity to either party, but merely facilitates the transaction. If the broker is an agent, broker has the following additional duties:

“Promoting the interests of seller with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity [above those of the buyer or him/herself].

Seeking a price and terms that are acceptable to seller [or better].

Counseling seller as to any material benefits or risks of a transaction that are actually known by broker.”

At Golden Real Estate, my broker associates and I are always seeking to “go the extra mile” when serving our clients. For sellers, that could include such things as providing a free professional staging consultation before the home goes on the market, so that it shows its best.

Sometimes the staging consultant recommends moving furniture, and, of course, we help there. And sometimes repairs are required, for which we provide our in-house handyman at the client-only rate of $30 per hour. He can handle light plumbing and light electrical matters such as replacing a vanity, toilet or chandelier, and he’s also good at doing drywall repair, including texturing.

A seller who is downsizing may need to sell or give away unwanted furniture. In many instances, we’ve been able to get the winning buyer in a bidding war to agree to purchase all the unwanted furniture — even if they didn’t want it. If there’s enough good quality furniture, we have an estate sales vendor who will run a sale and then donate the unsold furniture (using his own truck) to the International Rescue Committee, which donates that furniture to refugees from other countries for whom the IRC has found housing.

(When Rita and I sold our Golden home in 2022, we had a bidding war, and the buyer paid us $10,000 for the furniture we didn’t want in our 55+ apartment, and, best of all, I wrote into the contract that we could leave anything else that we didn’t want. That included our garage full of tools and “stuff”!)

Before our box truck died, we provided it

Here Are Some Reviews From Our Past Clients:

Golden Real Estate is the best residential real estate agency i have ever worked with. And I have bought more than 20 houses. What I like most is that they are not afraid to express their frank opinions about any piece of real estate. And I love the house they found for us on South Golden Road. — Don Parker

Dave Dlugasch did a phenomenal job working with us! We were not easy buyers because of an extensive “wish list” and he did his homework on each property we looked at until we found the right one. He gave us great advice and was very supportive of all our questions throughout the entire process.

— M. Madigan

Based on Jim Smith's knowledge, experience, and expertise in the real estate arena, we decided to work with him when it came time to downsize. We used Jim and his real estate firm to both purchase the new home and sell our existing property. All communication with Jim has been top notch. He also provided all packing materials and labor to make our move. It was a great experience from start to finish.

— R. Trujillo

We were beyond impressed with Kathy Jonke! She went above and beyond for us. She accommodated all of our needs. She was insightful and extremely helpful throughout the entire process! I can’t recommend her more!

— Eve Wilson

Not only did Jim Smith do a superb job in the marketing and sale of our home, he provided his company's moving truck and long time handyman Mark to move our belongings to our new home in Broomfield. When a problem occurred, he hired an outside moving company to help complete the move in one day instead of two! We are so pleased that Jim helped us through the process of selling our home and moving us into our new home.

— Reese & Sally Ganster Chuck Brown is a superb Realtor. He is very knowledgeable regarding the market, very

proactive and highly professional. Chuck was great at identifying potential properties that met our criteria, he moved very quickly to show us potential properties and his analysis of property values was on point and very thorough. Chuck was extremely proactive and responsive in his communications with us. Chuck went above and beyond our expectations. My wife and I have done six real estate transactions and we think Chuck is the best Realtor ever. We would highly recommend Chuck to other home buyers. — S. Diamond I was helping my mom and her husband sell the house. David Dlugasch was very accommodating to this dynamic. He arranged for all the paperwork to be done at the nursing home for the ease of my mom. David and I worked together to get the very full and dated house ready to go on the market. He went above and beyond by going to the paint store and hardware store etc. He was always available via text for any question I had along the way. He had a lot of resources. The best one was Mark, the handyman. I could always count on Mark. Mark was very meticulous and could do anything. What a great team! I could not have taken on this monumental task without them!!

—Heidi Warner

Greg Kraft was knowledgeable and professional. He was very easy to work with and was super proactive in searching the listings. That was a key in us managing to buy the townhome in a very competitive market. He was also very responsive and communicated really well with us and the listing agents. We would recommend him without reservation.

— J. Knight

Jim Swanson was kind and patient while listening to my questions. He helped me to translate the real estate language and manage the sale process. He connected the dots, allowing me to make good decisions, maintain my personal integrity and profit from the sale when a great offer came to the forefront. Jim, Thank you for putting communication and community first. — Name Withheld

for only the cost of gas used by buyers and sellers, and we still have a storage shed full of previously used moving boxes of all sizes, packing paper and bubble wrap, which we provide free to clients. Many times I have delivered those boxes and packing materials to a client so they don’t have to pick them up. (We’re running low on small moving boxes, if you have some you’d like to give us.)

Sometimes a seller will need to move furniture or other belongings into a storage unit so their home shows better, and we have been able a couple times to procure a free first month’s rent, with no contract beyond that.

Our personal “cleaning lady” isn’t taking on new accounts but is always available for one-time move-out cleanings of our listings. I just found out that she pulls out the range and refrigerator and cleans behind them, which I wouldn’t have expected, but which makes sense, because the buyer is likely to replace one of those appliances and would be disgusted at how dirty it was there! Thanks, Cybil!

Golden Real Estate is still one of the only brokerages which shoots a narrated video tour for every listing and posts it on YouTube, with links to the MLS, which in turns gets it onto the public and broker websites which get their listings from the MLS. We’ve been doing that for two decades, yet other brokers have been slow to realize its value. It has resulted in some out-of-state buyers (including one last fall) going under contract without seeing the listing in person until they fly in for the home inspection.

We also have switched to a photographic vendor owned by Zillow for shooting the magazine-quality still photos and Matterport interactive photos for our listings. They also

“Real Estate Today” will be on this page every other week, so the next time you’ll see it will be May 22. On those alternate weeks, you will find a half-page ad on a related topic. Next week it will be my monthly “Let’s Talk Home Financing” column. On May 29th it will be on a

to sustainability.

create accurate floor plans of every listing and shoot a drone video and aerial photos. Because the vendor is owned by Zillow, our listings garner priority display on that important website.

I’m also a member agent on Homes.com, the nation’s new #1 listing website, which garners each of our listings many times more views than otherwise. Here’s a recent statistical report sent to one of my sellers:

These Past “Real Estate Today” Columns May Interest You

Clickable links for each column can be found at www.JimSmithColumns.com

Feb. 20, 2025 — We Have a Tool to Help You Find the ‘Perfect’ Home That’s Not on the MLS

Dec. 26, 2024 — As Pro-Tenant Laws Expand, Some Small Landlords Are Considering Cashing Out

Dec. 19, 2024 — What Are the Costs of Buying or Selling a Home in Colorado?

Nov. 7, 2024 — We Need to Take Seriously the Pollutants Emitted When Cooking With Gas

Oct. 31, 2024 — Cooperative Living Presents an Attractive Alternative for Downsizing Seniors

Sept. 26, 2024 — Some Thoughts on Keeping Your Death From Becoming an Undue Burden on Your Heirs

Sept. 5, 2024 — What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?

Aug. 8, 2024 — Seniors Over 70 Might Consider Downsizing Into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home

July 25, 2024 — Many Homeowners Don’t Understand Title Issues, Which Could Lead to Big Problems Later On

June 6, 2024 — Here Are Some Simple Steps to Take to Avoid Unpleasant Surprises After Closing

Mar. 21, 2024 — What’s Behind the Buzz About ‘Indoor Air Quality’ and ‘Sick Building Syndrome’?

Feb. 22, 2024 — Most Sellers Don’t Know How to Interview a Listing Agent. Here’s Some Guidance.

Dec. 21, 2023 — D.R. Horton Inks Deal to Build Homes With OSB Made From Grass Instead of Wood

Nov. 23, 2023 — Scamming Has Become Its Own Industry, and We’re All Prospective Victims

Sept. 28, 2023 — Insurance Companies Are Pulling Out of California. Is That in Our Future?

Aug. 10, 2023 — What Are Some Common Mistakes That Homeowners Make When Selling?

June 15, 2023 — Don’t Let Capital Gains Tax Deter You From Cashing Out on an Investment Property

May 11, 2023 — Do Agents Inflate the Cost of Buying or Selling Your Home with ‘Junk Fees’?

Apr. 20, 2023 — What Are Some Affordable Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers?

Mar. 16, 2023 — Here Are Some Ways to Make Your Home More Accommodating to Seniors

Feb. 9, 2023 — Understanding Indoor Air Quality and How It’s Managed in Super-Insulated Homes

Oct. 27, 2022 — Sales Taxes May Be Lower, But Property Taxes Are Higher in Unincorporated Areas

Oct. 6, 2022 — How to Make Sure That the House You Buy Will Not Be a ‘Money Pit’

Sept. 22, 2022 — What Steps Can You Take to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?

July 28, 2022 — Aging in Place vs. Moving to a 55+ Community: Here Are Some Considerations

May 26, 2022 — Reflections on Selling Our Home and Moving Into a 55+ Rental Community

Jan. 6, 2022 — Marshall Fire Is a Wake-up Call for Building More Fire-Resistant Homes

Dec. 2, 2021 — My Favorite Home Improvements When Purchasing a New-to-Me Home

Oct. 14, 2021 — Court Rules That Sending an Email Can Bind You, Even Without Signing It Oct. 7, 2021 — What Are the Most Common Foundation Issues You Might Encounter in a Home?

I love rolling up my own sleeves and getting dirty for my clients. Once I used a logging chain and my truck to pull juniper bushes out of the front yard of a listing to improve its curb appeal. I look forward to the opportunity to surprise and delight you with what we consider being a “full service” Realtor! Jim

What losing $24M of federal money really means for Denver

Funding loss may foreshadow campaign to cut from cities that support immigrants

BY ANDREW KENNEY DENVERITE

e federal government just made it o cial: It won’t be paying $24 million the city of Denver had expected to get back.

e city spent the money in 2023 and 2024 to run emergency shelters for tens of thousands of immigrants who were arriving in the city. Under the Biden administration, the federal government promised to reimburse cities for that kind of spending.

Under President Donald Trump, that’s not happening. e Federal Emergency Management Agency told the city this month that it wouldn’t be paying about $24 million in reimbursements that the city was expecting.

“ at’s $24 million that the city worked to procure — for a crisis that it did not create — that it will not be getting,” said Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for Mayor Mike Johnston.

e loss of funds could foreshadow a longer federal campaign to cut funding for Denver and other cities that support immigrants. Separately, a new executive order issued by Trump Monday requires the federal government to compile a list of “sanctuary” jurisdictions and take action against them.

e $24 million in question was spent

in large part to aid people who had turned themselves in to Border Patrol and then were paroled into the country with the CBP One app.

e letter from FEMA didn’t accuse the city of doing anything wrong. Instead, it said that the spending “is not consistent with (federal Department of Homeland Security’s) current priorities” because of its support for immigrants without legal status.

e letter stated that the grant program provided money for “shelter, food, transportation, acute medical care, and personal hygiene supplies for individuals released from [Department of Homeland Security] short-term holding facilities,” arguing that it provided “support for illegal aliens.”

e letter states the agency can terminate grants if they no longer align with its goals or priorities.

“It was a really onerous process to apply for that reimbursement. It took a really long period of time to le for that, but we did everything by the federal government standards so as to receive that money, and, you know, be made whole, or at least be partially compensated for this work,” Ewing said.

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, of Denver, said in an interview that the city and state would ght back.

“I have no doubt that Denver and Colorado will push back,” DeGette said, “because we can’t be subservient to an authoritarian leader who just decrees that we have to do whatever he wants or he’s not going to give us the money that we’re legally entitled to.”

e city was awarded $32 million from

the reimbursement program, and had already received $8 million, according to Ewing. City o cials are hoping that the federal government is only blocking the payout of the remaining money, and not pursuing a clawback of the money it already granted.

FEMA has been aggressive in canceling these grants elsewhere. e agency pulled $80 million of funding from New York City’s bank accountsin Februaryand was pursuing another $106 million as of April 1, Gothamist reported.

What does the loss of funds mean for Denver?

e city has already spent the money in question, dipping deep into its savings in 2024 to pay for its immigration response.

e good news, at least for the city’s budget, is that Denver o cials hadn’t expected to be paid anytime soon, anyway.

“We don’t incorporate those [reimbursements in] our budget, really, until they’re in house, or until we have a really good assurance that we’re going to receive them. So in this case, we weren’t factoring those into the budget for this year or next year,” Ewing said.

Still, the loss of the money adds to the already signi cant pressure on the city’s budget. Denver ran a $108 million decit last year, in part because of a surge of spending on immigration and homeless responses.

e city cut spending to bring the budget closer to balance in 2025. But it’s now facing another tough budget year for 2026, with slow revenue growth due to a shaky economy — one that Ewing blames on Trump’s trade war.

REVERSE MORTGAGES

at $24 million would have come in handy, especially with the city’s depleted savings account. It doesn’t seem Denver o cials are holding out much hope of getting the money back. e city Department of Finance will go “back and forth” with the feds to try to get the grants paid, Ewing said. But at this point, he added, there’s no plan to go to court.

What’s next?

Ewing said he was unaware of any other speci c threats to federal funding for Denver. But bigger changes could be coming. On Tuesday, Trump issued anexecutive orderthat wasdescribedas “cracking down on sanctuary cities.”

While it didn’t name Denver or other cities speci cally, it ordered federal ofcials to publish a list of states and cities that “obstruct the enforcement of Federal immigration laws.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem are to publish the list within a month. e federal government is then to identify federal funds to those “sanctuary” jurisdictions “for suspension or termination as appropriate.” Denver has received from about $100 million to nearly $220 million in federal grants in recent years.

“ e city does not have the capacity if all of that federal funding were to go away to back ll it. And so that is another risk that we are carefully monitoring and very concerned about,” said Justin Sykes, the city’s budget director.

Home values dip, signaling tax relief for homeowners

BY BRIAN EASON THE COLORADO SUN

Home values across the Denver metro area largely held steady or declined in the latest tax assessment period, county assessors announced April 30, in the latest sign that Colorado’s housing market has cooled o from its pandemic fever.

County tax o cials said it will be several months before they can de nitively say whether most residential tax bills will go up or down next year. at’ll depend on whether local governments raise mill levies when they set their budgets later this year and how the state’s new property tax laws play out in di erent communities.

But at least one thing’s assured: e typical homeowner won’t experience major spikes in their 2026 tax bills like they did after the last re-assessment two years ago, which led to several rounds of property tax cuts at the state level.

“If there’s a headline for us in Douglas County this year, it’s breathing a sigh of relief,” Toby Damisch, the county tax assessor, said at a news conference in Denver.

In Douglas County, the median residential value dropped 3.5% in the preliminary assessments, which re ect market values as of June 2024. at’s a night-andday di erence from this time two years ago, when residential values were up nearly 50% in Douglas County, and more than 30% in Denver.

Damisch said it was the rst time since the Great Recession he’s seen residential values fall in his county. And they could fall further in the coming months, when property owners have the chance to appeal their values.

Tax o cials pointed to a few factors to explain the dip. High interest rates and economic uncertainty have depressed home sales in recent years. And in retrospect, the June 2022 valuation came at the worst possible time for homeowners struggling with the cost of living. Home prices peaked across much of Colorado that summer, meaning tax assessors took their biannual snapshot used to determine tax bills at the absolute height of the market.

Je erson County Assessor Scot

e latest Trump order also called for action to prevent federal bene ts for undocumented immigrants and against policies “favoring aliens over any group of American citizens.” at includes o ering in-state tuition to immigrants, as Colorado does.

This ﬁght has been happening since the ﬁrst Trump term.

Trump issued similar “sanctu-

Kersgaard said his area was the only one to see an increase in residential values — and even there it was a minor 2% bump. Across the rest of the Front Range, home values held steady or dropped a few percentage points. Nonetheless, housing a ordability remains a major challenge across the metro area. Damisch said the cost of homeownership remains “the highest it’s ever been” in Colorado, thanks to high interest rates and insurance costs. In Boulder County, where median home values are down about 1%, prices actually went up for condos and townhomes, making it harder for entry-level buyers to purchase their rst home.

JoAnn Gro , the state property tax administrator, said she won’t have numbers from all 64 counties until August, but in preliminary surveys from earlier this year, the rest of Colorado looked similar to metro Denver, with residential values mostly at or slightly down.

ary” ordersin Januaryand at the beginning of his rst term in 2017, with both facing legal challenges.

e 2017 order was blocked that year by federal Judge William Orrick III, who issued a nationwide permanent injunction against it.

e earlier 2025 order was temporarily blockedby the same judge last week. With the most recent order, the Trump administration is trying again.

City leaders have generally denied that Denver is a “sanctuary” city, though the city of Denver and the state of Colorado have passed numerous laws that limit

But that isn’t the case everywhere. In mountain communities, where housing costs are the highest, prices are still going up. Mark Chapin, president of the Colorado Assessors Association, told e Colorado Sun that median home values are up 8% in Eagle County, where he serves as the tax assessor. In Gar eld County, home to Glenwood Springs, residential values are up 14%, he said.

Along the Front Range, local governments should see tax revenue stay relatively at, assessors said. Commercial values were up across the metro area, largely o setting the declines in home values. Keith Er meyer, the Denver assessor, said growth in warehouses and other commercial properties more than made up for a downturn in the o ce sector, where vacancies are up as more people work from home.

Absent future tax hikes, at tax revenue could lead to budget cuts for many local agencies, as

cooperation with law enforcement or provide bene ts for undocumented immigrants. ose laws are the result of decades of advocacy.

Local o cials have defended many of these policies as good for public safety, arguing it harms the wider community when immigrants are afraid to report crime because of the threat of deportation, or drive without insurance because they can’t get a driver’s license.

“We do not harbor anyone,” Johnston said last month after testifying in Washington. “We

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they grapple with in ation and declines in state and federal funding.

But county tax o cials insisted it was too soon to say what the valuation would mean for homeowners and local governments. In a change from previous years, homeowners won’t get an estimated tax bill with their valuation notice, due to a change in state law.

at will give counties time to determine if revenue is expected to grow faster than the state’s new property tax cap, requiring cuts to the assessment rate. And it will prevent homeowners from being given an estimate that turns out to be wrong when local government o cials set their mill levy rates later in the year.

“ e taxes are going to get gured out later — that’s just how it works now,” Damisch said. is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalistowned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

were providing services. I think there’s no federal law that makes it illegal to give someone food who is hungry, or put someone into an overnight shelter who is at risk of freezing. I think that’s just common decency and humanity.”

CPR Washington correspondent Caitlyn Kim contributed to this article.

is story is from Denverite, a nonpro t Denver news source a liated with CPR News. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite. com.

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Parcel maps on display at the Denver City-County Building, where county assessors announced the results of the 2024 valuation on April 30, 2025. PHOTO BY BRIAN EASON / THE COLORADO SUN

Visitors can examine fossil specimens that paint a picture of evolution and adaptation, including Jurassic sharks and the dangerous mosasaurs of the Cretaceous. ere are beautiful artistic recreations of many of the animals, so guests can get a real sense of how they lived and moved.

“ e visual components are a wonderful use of technology to show what these animals were like when they were alive,” Chevrin said. “It also teaches about jobs like paleoartists, that people don’t often think about.”

DMNS works hard to ensure there are local touches on all touring exhibits and Jurassic Oceans features plenty of handson activities and touchable items, including a mosasaur jaw with teeth and a plesiosaur vertebra fossil. ey can also meet some of the scientists behind critical discoveries, like Mary Anning, a paleontologist whose discoveries helped shape the modern understanding of prehistoric marine life.

e aim is that people come away from the exhibit with a new appreciation for the animals that lived in the ocean and how they changed over time.

“I’m really excited for people to learn about how diverse the oceans were and how life evolved,” Chevrin said. “ is is a great summer exhibit for both kids and adults.”

For more information and tickets, visit www.dmns.org/exhibitions/temporary-exhibitions/jurassicoceans/.

Chanté Moore Brings Soulful Vocals to Lone Tree

As part of the Lone Tree Art Center’s, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree Sessions series, the center is hosting R&B vocalist Chanté Moore at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.

Gerald Albright, jazz and R&B legend, is the artistic director for the sessions, which highlights legendary and emerg-

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ing talents in the genre. According to provided information, Moore has placed more than a dozen songs on Billboard’s R&B Chart, including “Love’s Taken Over” and “It’s Alright.” She’s also worked with e Isley Brothers. Get tickets at www.lonetreeartscenter. org.

Celebrate World Migratory Bird Day at BCLP Spring is a wonderful time of year for birders and all those who appreciate the beauty of nature in motion. To mark World Migratory Bird Day, Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Morrison Road in Lakewood, is hosting a pair of special events from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10. ere will be a Birding at Bear Creek Lake Park event from 7:30 to 9 a.m. that will feature naturalists and a volunteer from Denver Audubon guiding a walk along the trail and looking for migratory birds. en, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., there’s the World Migratory Bird Day Festival, featuring crafts, live birds, vendors and more.

For more information, visit www.lakewood.org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Beach House at Mission Ballroom e duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally have been making music under the name Beach House for about 20 years and their ensorcelling dream pop music continues to captivate listeners. Over the course of their career, they’ve perfected a heady take on indie rock that you can just wrap yourself up in and get lost in.

PAVILION

e band hasn’t released any new music in several years, but they’re still coming to the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 14. ey’ll be joined by singer/songwriter Cass McCombs for an evening of terri c music. Information and tickets are available at www.axs.com.

Clarke Reader is an arts and culture columnist. He can be reached at Clarke. Reader@hotmail.com.

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gets involved, they become stewards of our environment and champions for native invertebrates.”

As of Oct. 15, 2024, the program had documented 144,002 individual butter ies through 4,764 surveys, totaling 4,899.8 hours of monitoring since 2013. Participating counties in 2024 included: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomeld, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Gilpin, Je erson, Larimer, and Weld.

Big growth for 2025

e Butter y Pavilion is aiming for ambitious growth of the Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network in its 13th season, according to the news release. e 2025 goals include expanding the program to 18 counties, recruiting 90 monitors, and surveying 80 sites along 90 routes. In addition, Butter y Pavilion will begin in-depth analysis of its decade-long dataset to better understand trends and inform conservation strategies statewide, the news release states. “ is is people-powered science,” said Hershcovich. “When our community

e Monitoring Network trains volunteers to monitor butter ies in their communities from May to September. After attending a training session, monitors choose a route and walk it at least three times per season, recording every butter y they see within a six-meter radius. Volunteers also note weather conditions, time, and habitat data. is year’s training dates and locations include three joint sessions with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Program: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 at Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at Cherry Creek State Park in Denver and 10 a.m. to noon May 17 at Lory State Park west of Fort Collins. A fourth program hosted solely by the Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18 at East Boulder Community Center. Self-paced online video training is also available. ose interested can visit and sign up here: https://butter ies. org/research-and-conserve/butter ymonitoring/

Rosie the tarantula statue guards the entrance to the Butterﬂy Pavilion PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Justine Williams came to Colorado from England, she pursued horse therapy for people with disabilities.

“As a kiddo in England, I was one of those kids who asked my mom and dad if I could ride horses, and I’ve always loved horses. So, they bought me a horse for my birthday, and I took 10 riding lessons and worked at the barn to pay for my riding lessons,” Williams said. Williams said that when she was 11 years old, her friend had a stroke, so she grew up with her childhood friend being disabled.

“By the time I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to work with people with disabilities, and I found out about therapy horses,” Williams said.

Williams went to Budapest to train in conductive education at the Pet Institute.

“It’s where I learned about therapy and horses,” she said.

She ended up getting married and then came to the U.S., moving to Colorado in 2001. With her passion and education as a therapist, she started her Rhythm of the Horse therapy services in Fort Lupton in 2021. Williams works with children with di erent types of disabilities, such as kids with autism, who don’t speak much.

“With training, I initiate a lot of language when they are on the horse. I teach them to say ‘go’ or ‘stop’ with my horses, Chloe or Gus,” Williams said. “It could be overwhelming to make the horse move, which is what they want, but they need to say something. So, they’re motivated to say something,”

She also works with children and adults with cerebral palsy.

“I also work with disabilities from stroke, ADHD, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, anyone with neuro-motor dysfunction, and I also work with other neurodivergent issues such as autism (and) sensory processing disorder,” Williams said.

Rhythm of the Horse also has a program for horse reading for children who are new readers or struggling readers, and can learn to read with a horse.

“So, they’re learning to feel more comfortable and con dent about reading by partnering with the horse. It’s very special,” Williams said.

William said Rhythm of the Horse also o ers its Equine Assisted Learning Program for people who may be overwhelmed in life or have relationship issues.

e children and adults can choose which horse they want to work with and eventually build a bond with that horse to get through their fear, anxiety or whatever they are experiencing.

Rachel Sartucci, who has cerebral palsy, comes once

Karen MacDowell, a volunteer with Rhythm of the Horse

a week for training for up to an hour. Her mom, Elizabeth Robinson, said Rachel, who is now 30, started the program when she was 21.

“I think the program is helping her not get old and tight as quickly. She has cerebral palsy, a type that makes her muscles contract and not go back out. Her right side is weaker, so when she’s on the horse, it relaxes her muscles,” Robinson said.

Karen MacDowell is retired, and has been volunteering with Rhythm of the Horse for about ve years.

“I’ve been working with Rachel the whole time I’ve been here. It’s important work, and it makes you feel good to help others,” MacDowell said.

Colleen Larson is also retired and has been volunteering for four years, helping Williams with the clients.

“What Williams does with the horses and with riders is amazing. When they get on and o the horse, it’s nothing short of miraculous,” Larson said.

Rhythm of the Horse is a nonpro t and o ers scholarships based on nancial need. e organization applies for grants and fundraises.

“We are looking for volunteers to come and help with the di erent programs. We welcome high school students or adults — anybody who is interested,” Williams said.

COVER: From left, Elizabeth Robinson, Rachel Sartucci, Justine Williams and Karen MacDowell assist Rachel, who has cerebral palsy, get mounted on the saddle for her training.

TOP: Justine Williams and Karen MacDowell help Rachel Sartucci with hands-and-arm stretching exercises while mounted on a horse.

BOTTOM: Justine Williams and Karen MacDowell work with Rachel Sartucci to use her voice to command the horse to go or stop with music, while Colleen Larson leads the horse. This therapy helps with communication, cognitive abilities and social-emotional growth.

EQUINE THERAPY

In addition, Williams stated that she is initiating a program to nd local do-it-yourself enthusiasts who would like to come together and form their own small group and social network.

“ ey could help build and x things on the farm — such as walking ladders for the children learning to walk or x a fence — where they can socialize with the kids,” Williams said.

Williams has a large barn arena on her property, but it needs someone to put electricity in it so she can expand and use it on hot days and cold days to train her clients.

“I have multiple sclerosis,” Williams said. “Before my mother passed in 2015, she always worried about me working in the heat. I work outside in the heat, which exacerbates my MS symptoms.”

Williams said she hopes to launch a capital campaign to run electricity underground from her house to the barn.

“I could have more classes throughout the day on cloudy days and wintertime to get some heat in here and some lights in the evening to do train-

For more information on Rhythm of the Horse therapy, contact Justine Williams, executive director and therapist, at 303-681-8183 or email her at justine@rhythmofthehorse.org. The website is www.rhythmofthehorse.org.

The services Williams o ers:

ing,” Williams said. “We could hold fundraising events and bring in more fun. So that’s something that I would like to do with this indoor area.”

• Conductive education, a holistic education with individuals with neurological impairment or delays.

• Adaptive riding for individuals with special needs to learn horseback riding or transition to other programs.

• Sensor integration therapy, which helps children with sensory-processing challenges improve their ability to handle sensory input.

• e Horsepower Reading and Math program combines social emotional learning with academics to support students struggling with reading and math due to ADHD, anxiety, depression and other challenges.

• Equine-assisted learning activities with a horse, such as mounting or dismounting it, which focuses on personal development and academic skills.

In addition, Rhythm of the Horse o ers various camps during school breaks, accommodating school groups. Homeschoolers and emotional support groups are available upon request.

PHOTOS

Justine Williams hopes to raise funds to install electricity inside the barn to be able to make more use of its arena.

Justine Williams works with Rachel Sartucci to put a hoop over a pole, which works her cognitive skills.

CROWSSUPDRO ELZZ

1. U.S. STATES: Which state is last, alphabetically?

2. MOVIES: What does the acronym S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for in movies about Marvel characters?

3. LITERATURE: Who wrote the short story “ e Secret Life of Walter Mitty”?

4. GAMES: How many cards are in a standard deck?

5. TELEVISION: On which sitcom did the character Harry the Hat appear?

6. BUSINESS: When did the rst Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise open?

7. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many Nobel prizes are awarded every year?

8. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the shortest at 5 foot 4 inches tall?

9. ASTRONOMY: Who was the rst woman to travel into space?

10. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby platypus called?

TrIVIa

Answers

1. Wyoming.

2. Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.

3. James urber.

4. 52.

5. “Cheers.”

6. 1952 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

7. Six.

8. James Madison.

9. Valentina Tereshkova.

10. A platypup or puggle.

Public Notices

First Publication: April 24, 2025

Last Publication: May 8, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of JAMES N. ORLIN, (a.k.a. JAMES NEIL ORLIN), Deceased

Case Number: 25PR30335

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative (JESSICA SANTA MARIA) or to DENVER PROBATE COURT (1437 BANNOCK STREET, DENVER, CO 80202) on or before AUGUST 31, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

/s/_Kimberly Ruddell

KIMBERLY RUDDELL, Esq.

Attorney for Personal Representative 8959 E. 40th Ave, Ste 160 Denver CO 80238

Legal Notice No. DHD 3558

First Publication: April 24, 2025

Last Publication: May 8, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of WILLIAM G. MEREDITH, a/k/a WILLIAM GARD MEREDITH, Deceased Case Number: 24PR30369

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Stephen E. Nash, Personal Representative

Patrick A. Schilken, P.C. 7936 E. Arapahoe Court #2800 Centennial, CO 80112

Legal Notice No. DHD 3566

First Publication: May 1, 2025

Last Publication: May 15, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of RUSSELL L. SCHELB JR., AKA RUSSELL LAVERN SCHELB JR., AKA RUSSELL L SCHELB, AKA RUSSELL LAVERN SCHELB, AKA RUSS SCHELB, AKA RUSS L. SCHELB, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR8

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, August 25, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Adam LaGuardia of CS AdvoCare, Inc. Personal Representative

7500 E Arapahoe Rd., Suite# 101 Centennial Colorado 80112

Legal Notice No. DHD 3556

First Publication: April 24, 2025

Last Publication: May 8, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Susan C. McKown, a/k/a Susan Claire McKown, a/k/a Suzi McKown, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR30298

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Tuesday, September 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Thomas J. Olds, Personal Representative

c/o Bryan C. Benbow, Esq. Davis Schilken, PC 4582 S. Ulster St. Ste. #103 Denver, CO 80237

Legal Notice No. DHD 3575

First Publication: May 1, 2025

Last Publication: May 15, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Darwin Goltz, a/k/a Darwin D. Goltz, a/k/a Darwin Donald Goltz, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR30385

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before September, 8 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Ryan D. Goltz and Jason D. Goltz Co-Personal Representatives c/o M. Carl Glatstein, Esq. Glatstein & O'Brien, LLP 2696 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 350 Denver, Colorado 80222

Legal Notice No. DHD 3573

First Publication: May 8, 2025

Last Publication: May 22, 2025 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Diane Delgado, aka Diane J. Delgado, a/k/a Diane Julie Delgado, Deceased

Case Number: 2025PR30309

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before September 1, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Christopher Nixon, Personal Representative c/o Katherine K. Fontenot, Esq., Attorney for Personal Representative Robinson & Henry, P.C. 7555 E. Hampden Ave. Suite 600 Denver, CO 80231

Legal Notice No. DHD 3567

First Publication: May 1, 2025

Last Publication: May 15, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Judith Z. Steinberg, aka Judith Zee Steinberg, aka Judith Steinberg, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR30392

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court, Denver County, Colorado on or before September 8, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Personal Representative: Laura Steinberg

334 Hammond Street Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

Legal Notice No. DHD 3572

First Publication: May 8, 2025

Last Publication: May 22, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Jerry Colleen Harris, Deceased Case No.: 2024PR607

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Tuesday, September 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

James A. Mueller,

Personal Representative 9408 Ute Drive

Golden, CO 80403

Legal Notice No. DHD 3578

First Publication: May 1, 2025

Last Publication: May 15, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Darrell Wilfred Larson, a/k/a Darrell W. Larson, a/k/a Darrell Larson, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR030359

may be forever barred.

Stephanie Geiger

Personal Representative

Michael P. Miller, Miller and Steiert, P.C. 1901 W. Littleton Blvd. Littleton, CO 80120

Legal Notice No. DHD 3561

First Publication: April 24, 2025

Last Publication: May 8, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Julienne M. Huigen, Deceased Case Number: 25PR30232

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, August 25, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Gary P Johnson

Attorney to the Personal Representative P.O. Box 101434 Denver, CO 80250

Legal Notice No. DHD 3557 First Publication: April 24, 2025 Last Publication: May 8, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Grant William Mauzy, a/k/a William Earl Oberwitte, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR30386

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before September 8, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Louise Crow and Linda Axtell Co-Personal Representatives 2018 S. Balsam Street Lakewood, CO 80227

Legal Notice No. DHD 3575 First Publication: May 8, 2025 Last Publication: May 22, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Kathleen Helen McGuire, AKA Kathy McGuire, AKA Kathleen Hogan, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR30310

BY DEREK DRAPLIN THE CENTER SQUARE

Coloradans lose big money to scammers

Coloradans led almost 45,000 fraud reports last year with the Federal Trade Commission, re ecting an estimated loss of $210.7 million. at’s up from 41,500 reports and $170 million lost in 2023, according to FTC data.

Nationally, consumers lost $12.5 billion to fraud last year, with 38% of people ling fraud reports saying they lost money.

FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Christopher Mufarrige said last month that “scammers’ tactics are constantly evolving.”

“ e FTC is monitoring those trends closely and working hard to protect the American people from fraud,” he added.

Colorado had over 73,200 total consumer reports, which includes

ENROLLMENT

other FTC consumer complaints in addition to fraud, and amounts to 1,260 reports per 100,000 people. at ranks as the 18th highest rate in the nation, according to FTC data.

Most of the state’s fraud reports involved imposter scams (15,028), followed by online shopping/negative reviews (6,535), internet services (2,492), health care (2,332) and privacy/data security/cyber threat (2,322).

e FTC recommends reporting fraud cases at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

“People who report to ReportFraud.ftc.gov about losing money to a scam receive next steps information on how to try to recover their money,” the commission said. “ ese reports are a vital part of the agency’s law enforcement mission and also help the FTC to warn consumers about fraud trends in the data.”

Colorado didn’t meet benchmarks requiring class size caps of 20 and stastudent ratios of 1 to 10. Both limits have prompted heated debate over the last two years. Some private providers have argued they’ll lose money if they have to reduce class sizes below the state’s current cap of 24 and ratios below the current limit of one sta member for every 12 4-year-olds.

By the 2027-28 school year, state ocials do plan to require the class size and ratio caps recommended by the research institute for universal preschool. ere’s

Coloradans can also report fraud to StopFraudColorado.gov, which is run by the state attorney general’s o ce.

e attorney general’s o ce said in March there were 1,205 reported imposter scams out of 24,473 total consumer complaints led in 2024.

“In many cases, these scams relate directly to fraudulent telephone calls, emails, or text messages from scammers posing as a government o cial or employees from a reputable company, often seeking monetary payments through gift cards, wire transfers, and other money transfer services,” the attorney general’s o ce said.

Republished from e Center Square, a national news service that is the project of the nonpro t Franklin News Foundation, headquartered in Chicago.

one big exception though: Preschools that have one of the top two state ratings will be allowed to stick with the current caps.

Colorado also didn’t meet benchmarks related to the types of credentials teachers or assistant teachers should have or annual training and coaching for sta .

Lisa Roy, executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, which administers the universal preschool program, said when Colorado’s rules on preschool quality are fully implemented over the next few years, she anticipates the state will meet at least half of the institute’s benchmarks.

Odean noted that the institute’s 10 benchmarks look at “outputs,” but that Colorado is focused on child outcomes.

“What families tell us consistently, and

Public Notices

may be forever barred.

Margrit Parker

Attorney to the Personal Representative PO Box 454 Firestone, CO 80520

Legal Notice No. DHD 3574

First Publication: May 1, 2025

Last Publication: May 15, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Billie Jean Martin, aka Billie J. Martin, aka Bill Martin, aka William M. Martin, aka William Mahlon Martin, Jr. aka BJ Martin, aka William Martin, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR138

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Monday, September 1, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Vicki Martin, Personal Representative 5925 S. Vine Street Greenwood, Village, Colorado 80121

Legal Notice No. DHD 3573

First Publication: May 1, 2025 Last Publication: May 15, 2025 Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of REBA RENEE PADILLA, a/k/a REBA R. PADILLA, a/k/a R. RENEE PADILLA, a/k/a RENEE PADILLA Deceased Case Number: 2025-PR-30427

All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before September 8, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Christopher P. Seerveld, Attorney for Personal Representatie 8400 E Prentice Ave., Suite 1040

Greenwood Village, CO 80111

Legal Notice No. DHD 3574

educators too, is that those outcomes are what’s a priority, and that’s not contemplated in the NIEER ratings,” she said, referring to the institute’s acronym. e institute’s report describes its benchmarks as “a set of minimum criteria, established by state policy, needed to ensure e ectiveness of preschool education programs.”

Barnett said Colorado parents should think carefully before moving their children away from a high-quality program that’s not part of the state’s universal program to a lower-quality provider that is.

“When people did that in Quebec in response to [$10-a-day] child care … kids’ development su ered for a decade,” he said.

Barnett was referring to an e ort begun

First Publication: May 8, 2025

Last Publication: May 22, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Penelope Kay Collord, also known as Penelope K. Collord, also known as Penelope Collord, also known as Penny Collord, also known as Penelope K. Earl, also known as Penelope K. Enter, also known as Penelope K. Abelman, also known as Penelope K. Glassman, Deceased Case Number: 25PR30403

All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before Tuesday, September 2, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.

Roy Enter, Personal Representative 1345 Northridge Road Highlands Ranch, CO 80126

Legal Notice No. DHD 3576

First Publication: May 1, 2025

Last Publication: May 15, 2025

in the 1990s that o ered highly discounted child care to Quebec families. While the e ort allowed more women to join the workforce, many children were put in low-quality centers. Subsequent studies found negative impacts on children, including increased anxiety and aggression.

A 2019 study that revealed additional negative outcomes as the children became teens and young adults, concluded, “Our ndings provide strong support for the argument that the early childhood development environment is a crucial determinant of the long-term success of children.”

Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Estate of Holly J. Morrison, also known as Holly Jane Morrison, and Holly Morrison, Deceased Case Number: 2025PR30367

Ronalee Bogen, Personal Representative 2882 E. Lexington CT Gilbert, Arizona, 85234

Legal Notice No. DHD 3571

First Publication: May 1, 2025 Last Publication: May 15, 2025

Publisher: Denver Herald-Dispatch ###

Denver Herald-Dispatch

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