Denver Herald Dispatch 0307

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March 7, 2019

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DPS starts reductions in staff at central office Cuts are part of deal to shift money to teachers, other priorities

BY ERICA MELTZER CHALKBEAT.ORG

The Art Students League of Denver, 200 Grant St., is a nonprofit that offers a wide range of art classes for children, teens and adults. But Fridays are reserved for teen classes, said Leticia Salinas, program director at the ASLD. Teens may feel nervous or intimidated in adult art classes, and often spend more time helping younger kids in classes geared toward youth. Giving teens their own set time creates a safe space for creation, Salinas said.

Denver Public Schools has begun the process of cutting more than 150 administrative positions from its central office, which will free up $17 million for raises for teachers and other district employees, as well as additional money for special education services.

The Denver district has far more administrators than others in Colorado, and Superintendent Susana Cordova has said repeatedly that the district needs to have fewer initiatives and focus on doing a smaller number of things well.

“We have too many priorities, too many people working on those priorities, and not enough impact coming out of that,” Cordova told union negotiators at a bargaining session before the teachers strike. “I am 100 percent committed to right-sizing what the central office looks like.”

Over the course of negotiations before and during the strike, Cordova committed to even larger cuts than she originally laid out in order to put more money into teacher compensation.

She also eliminated bonuses for many administrators.

SEE ART, P7

SEE DPS, P7

Theo Zander paints a project during the Teen Studio class at the Art Students League of Denver. Zender has been attending the Teen Studio for the last 3 1/2 years and said part of the draw is the ability to experiment with new materials.

COURTESY OF ART STUDENTS LEAGUE OF DENVER

‘Really fantastic art’ Teens’ creativity soars in nonprofit’s art studio class

BY KAILYN LAMB KLAMB@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After setting up tables for class, teenagers come to collect paints, markers, paper or brushes for their individual projects. Often, they stop to chat with Karl Poulson, an art teacher who has been teaching the Teen Studio at the Art Students League of Denver since 2011.

The students are relaxed, and

that’s how Poulson, 29, likes to run the class. Instead of lecturing on different art forms, he is here more as someone to talk to if students need advice or guidance. The informal environment encourages students to open up, not just with their art, Poulson said, but as individuals free to talk about whatever they want.

“You’re able to find new materials you’ve never used before, you’re able to try something that you can totally fail at because you’re safe to,” Poulson said. “That’s what I crave so much as a young artist myself. The ability to be good at failure is something that’s really powerful.”

THE BOTTOM LINE

“This is a team built to win now.”

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Daniel Murphy, Rockies first baseman | Page 12

INSIDE

VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10 | CALENDAR: PAGE 9 | SPORTS: PAGE 12 VOLUME 92 | ISSUE 18

2 Denver Herald

March 7, 2019

Grandoozy pumps the brakes Community to decide what to do with money from festival

BY KAILYN LAMB KLAMB@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Grandoozy, the new music festival that organizers had hoped would become a Denver institution, is taking a break in 2019 after one year.

The festival ran over three days last September, drawing in an estimated 55,000 attendees, according to Superfly, the company that organized Grandoozy. The festival was held at the Overland Park Golf Course in south Denver, 1801 S. Huron St. Superfly is the New York-based company behind Bonnaroo in Tennessee and Outside Lands in San Francisco, two festivals that have been around for 16 and 10 years, respectively.

David Erlich, a Denver-based organizer for the festival, told the Washington Park Profile in September that Superfly is “not looking to do something for a couple years — they’re looking to build an institution.”

Erlich and the communications staff at Superfly did not respond to a request for comment on Grandoozy’s hiatus.

The company addressed that break on its website and social media pages.

“We feel a special connection to Den-

Jennifer Matamoros holds Brady Ferguson on her shoulders during Phoenix’s performance at Grandoozy. The first Grandoozy festival was in in the Overland Park Golf Course last September.

FILE PHOTO ver and its people and intend to use this hiatus as an opportunity to create a festival that is even more unique, sustainable and integrated into the region’s local and creative community,” the post says. “We’re proud of the world-class festival we delivered for a world-class city and are truly humbled by the praise and support Grandoozy received in its inaugural year.”

Although the festival is not returning this year, community members got together last month to discuss how to use funds from September’s shows.

According to the city’s contract with Grandoozy, Denver received a portion of ticket sales for various projects, said Jill Thiare, a communications specialist with the Office of Special Events.

In total, the city received $840,000.

About $252,000 of that, or 30 percent, will be used to reimburse city offices for festival expenses. The remaining $588,000 is going into improvements for city parks and golf courses.

Thiare added that city officials are excited for the festival’s return in 2020.

Seperate from the city amount, the community also will receive $58,000 for local projects, Thiare said.

Councilmember Jolon Clark, who respresents District 7 and the Overland Park Golf Course, was scheduled to hold a meeting on Feb. 28, after the Profile’s press deadline, for community members to discuss ideas for the funds. Clark said ahead of the meeting that what happens with those funds is entirely up to the community. (Look for an update on the meeting on the Profile’s Facebook page: https://www.

facebook.com/washparkprofile) Overland Park resident Helene Orr said she hopes the money can go toward city projects that are lacking funds.

Entities like the Colorado Department of Transportation and Denver Parks and Recreation have a limited amount of money to dedicate to projects, Orr said. The community has tried to get projects off the ground in the past but has faced funding roadblocks. One idea was to protect existing trees in the Overland Park Golf Course from a sidewalk construction project. Orr also said the new community funds could help address sound barriers in the area or cars speeding on South Huron Street.

“Other possible projects might be dealing with the unsafe Evans overpass and getting some sort of fencing or barrier between pedestrians/ cyclists and the motorists flying by,” Orr said. “Other overpasses have this, but CDOT insists they don’t have the money.”

Orr added that Superfly had also committed to a community fund for local nonprofits. Superfly announced last month that it would be donating an additional $58,000 to nonprofits through the Grandoozy Works Fund.

Community members, such as Orr, recommened nonprofits. Grandoozy officials worked the Rose Community Foundation, which hosted the fund.

The Levitt Pavilion concert venue in Ruby Hill, which neighbors Overland Park, received $25,000. The Greenway Foundation received $5,000. All together, Youth on Record, Denver Urban Garden, Downtown Aurora Visual Arts, and We Don’t Waste received a total of $28,000.

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Federal lawsuit settlement also calls for storage lockers, portable bathrooms

BY COLLEEN SLEVIN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Denver will give homeless people notice before confiscating their belongings and make it easier for them to retrieve seized items under a proposed settlement of a federal class-action lawsuit that challenged the way the growing city was clearing homeless encampments.

Under the deal announced Feb. 27, the city will also provide 200 storage lockers for the homeless as well as install more trash cans and two portable bathrooms in an area near Coors Field where homeless people gather. Needle disposal boxes would also be installed in at least three parks and the city will operate a mobile health unit to serve

the homeless and people injecting drugs.

In the past, the city has said that clearing the encampments around the homeless shelters near Coors Field were necessary in order to clean them after finding human waste and needles.

Under the proposed deal, which still must still be approved by the city council and a judge, the city would give at least seven days’ written notice of any large-scale cleanups and property removal and at least 48 hours’ notice of the removal of smaller amounts of property.

Exceptions will be made for emergency removals. Notices left on belongings will include an explanation that the items can be retrieved without cost or fear of arrest, the location and hours of the storage facility and a phone number to call with questions.

The deal recognizes that homeless people have due-process rights like everyone else and will stop people

from having gear like sleeping bags and blankets immediately taken from them for violating the city’s camping ban, said the lead lawyer for the homeless, Jason Flores-Williams.

“It’s not a panacea but it is something that gives them a voice in their own city,” he said.

The six homeless people who brought the suit would each get $5,000 and Denver would pay for their lawyers’ fees under the settlement.

In a statement, Mayor Michael Hancock said the city must now focus on getting homeless people into housing and treatment services.

Maria Foscarinis, the executive director of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, said the settlement is an important step forward for a city that it has criticized in the past for its treatment of the homeless but it is not enough.

“This is not solving the problem.

It is making the problem a little less miserable for the people who have to live with it,” she said.

Denver Herald 3

March 7, 2019

Denver Zoo breaks ground on new hospital Head veterinarian calls it ‘a privilege’ to work with animals

BY KAILYN LAMB KLAMB@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Being a veterinarian at the Denver Zoo means working with hundreds of animals, from the largest cats and primates to the smallest frogs. In a world with so much diversity, staff relies on each other’s knowledge and, sometimes, learning from the animals themselves, said Scott Larsen, the zoo’s head veterinarian.

“It is a never-ending process of learning,” he said. “None of us knows everything about anything.”

In the coming year, the Denver Zoo is hoping to share a little bit of that knowledge with visitors.

Last month, the zoo tore down its old animal hospital to make room for a new, state-of-the-art facility. Named the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Animal Hospital after a nonprofit foundation, the 22,000-square-foot building will have a diagnostics lab, quarantine space and a CT scanner.

The project was paid for in part

by General Obligation Bond funds approved by Denver voters in 2017.

Denver Zoo received $20 million for master plan improvements from the bond.

“The community continues to support the zoo and all that it endeavors today, and we’re here because the people of Denver said yes to the largest general obligation bond issuance to date when they approved the Elevate Denver Bond,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock at the Feb. 7 groundbreaking. “The residents spoke loud and clear and said yes, and also said culture matters to us here in Denver. The zoo matters to Denver.”

New hospital a boon for animals and visitors While the new building is under construction, the zoo will be caring for its animals in a former welding space on site that they have renovated as hospital space, Larsen said. The space is only about 1,200-square-feet.

In the new building, guests will have space for animal demonstrations.

From an elevated lobby, visitors can look down into surgery rooms and the laboratory. The zoo is estimating the hospital will open in mid-2020.

The larger space will help the zoo care for the animals here in Denver, but Larsen said it also will help staff who work in the zoo’s conservation efforts in the wild.

“We try to take what we learn from our animals here and make improvements with how we work with those animals in the wild,” he said.

The same can be said for visitors. By teaching people how the zoo cares for its animals, Larsen said he is hoping

Veterinary staff at the Denver Zoo perform surgery on a tiger in this archive photo. The zoo is rebuilding its hospital to include a CT scanner as well as a diagnostic lab and quarantine space.

COURTESY OF DENVER ZOO that will translate into people caring about those same animals in the wild.

The hospital was first built in the 1960s, then renovated in the `80s, Larsen said. The renovation offered visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the zoo’s newest animal additions, the babies born into the zoo’s care. One of the zoo’s most famous set of newborns, polar bear cubs Klondike and Snow, brought veterinary care front and center.

But over the past several decades, the zoo has changed a lot in how it cares for its animal collection, Larsen said. Although some of the zoo’s babies stay in the hospital’s nursery section, staff were making more efforts to keep those animals in the care of their mothers, Larsen said.

SEE ZOO, P6

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4 Denver Herald

March 7, 2019

No refund? Some shocked by impact of new tax law Experts caution it is too early to draw broad conclusions

BY SARAH SKIDMORE SELL ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wait, I owe the IRS? The first tax filing season under the new federal tax law is proving to be surprising, confusing — and occasionally frightening — for some Americans, especially those accustomed to getting money back from the government.

Take Andy Kraft and Amy Elias of Portland, Oregon. The couple had grown comfortable getting a small refund each year, a few hundred dollars or more. Then they found out they owe $10,160 this year.

“I will never forget the moment, I thought ‘We look good’ and then we added in the next W-2 and my jaw hit the floor,’’ Kraft said. “There was no way I wanted to believe that what I was looking at was accurate.’’

President Trump promised a reduction in taxes with the new law. And by most measures, the majority of Americans will see one. The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center projected the tax law would reduce individual income taxes by about $1,260 on average, although it benefits higher earners more.

So not everyone will see a massive tax bill or a drop in their refund. Some

people already saw the benefit in the form of bigger paychecks. That’s because the law forced employers to change what they withheld. But the system is far from perfect, and many workers didn’t have enough in taxes set aside. Now, the IRS wants that money.

In addition, the law also eliminated personal exemptions, increased child credits, limited popular deductions and generally upended many familiar practices that determine what happens at tax time. That has taxpayers feeling a bit unmoored.

“We were very comfortable with our tax law, it had basically been there since 1986, suddenly all these things that were very important to people changed ... it’s all different,’’ said Howard Gleckman, a senior fellow at the Tax Policy Center.

Kraft and Elias are able to pay their tax bill but he’s still stunned. He even tried to reverse-engineer things to figure out where they went wrong, diving into page after page of IRS rules.

He painstakingly put together all the numbers. The couple ultimately asked a CPA to verify the figures they were seeing on TurboTax. Crushingly, they were correct.

Their total tax was up slightly — by about $300 because of changes to their financial picture. Their effective tax rate was lower, but they still owed the government.

“I feel like I have reached a stage of grief of acceptance,’’ he said. “In a twisted way I should have been paying

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$1.4M gift to Regis Money to go toward construction of new practice facility on northwest campus STAFF REPORT

A $1.4 million donation to the Regis University athletics program will go toward the construction of a multifunctional practice facility, providing additional training space and accommodations for student athletes, according to a news release from the university.

The Berce Athletic Center will feature two full basketball courts, volleyball courts, auxiliary centers for athletics training, strength and conditioning, and more.

The largest single gift to the athletics department kicks off the first phase of the university’s 20-year master plan. Construction is set to begin in July with an anticipated opening in November, the release says.

Dan and Annie Berce, of Fort Worth, Texas, are Regis alumni. Dan earned his accounting degree in 1975, while Annie earned a degree in business administration in 1977. Dan serves on the Board of Trustees at

Regis and has been an active volunteer leader at the Jesuit, Catholic university for many years.

“We are thrilled to be able to make this gift, especially since it will directly benefit students and student athletes,” Dan Berce said in the release. “Access to quality athletic facilities is an important part of the Regis experience.”

Dan has served as president and CEO of GM Financial in Fort Worth since 2005. Previously, he was president from 2003-05 and chief financial officer from 1990 to 2003. GM Financial is the captive auto finance company for General Motors with operations in North America, South America and Asia. The company serves 14,000 dealers and 6 million customers worldwide, and has earning assets of nearly $100 billion, according to the most recent reports.

The approximately 24,000-squarefoot facility will be north of the Regis Field House on its Northwest Denver Campus at West 50th Avenue and Federal Boulevard.

“The Berce Athletic Center transforms our campus and athletics program by providing expanded opportunities for all, including our surrounding community,” David Spafford, assistant vice president and director of athletics, said in the release.

Denver Herald 5

March 7, 2019

Many veterans ‘Still Coming Home’ Writing workshop leads to book of veterans’ stories

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CASEYVANDIVIER@YAHOO.COM

When a dozen or so Denver veterans joined a writing workshop in 2017, they had no idea they would be reading their work to hundreds of community members just a year later — and that they would be published, too.

In August 2018, the Denver Veterans Writing Workshop published 13 participants’ work in the workshop’s first anthology, “Still Coming Home.”

All contributors were regular participants in the workshop, started by author and veteran Jason Arment in 2015 after finding there were no consistent writing workshops for veterans in Denver.

Arment quickly realized one of his biggest challenges would be spreading the word about the group.

“For people who want to get stuff started with veterans, it’s ridiculously hard to get the word out,” he said, adding that most organizations offering veteran services are extremely busy.

“All these places are maxed out as far as what they can do,” he said.

“There’s no organization I can call to say `disseminate this information.’ ” Advertising fell to Arment, and he accepted the challenge, putting thou-

TO LEARN MORE The Denver Veterans Writing Workshop meets at 3 p.m. on the third Sunday of every month at the Lighthouse Writers Workshop, 1515 Race St., Denver.

Over the next few months, Colorado Humanities, which helped publish the workshop’s first anthology “Still Coming Home,” has planned various events at which veterans will read their work at locations throughout the Denver metro area. You can find a schedule at coloradohumanities.org.

You can also obtain a free copy of the book by emailing info@coloradohumanities.org or by attending one of the events.

For more information, go to coloradohumanities.org/content/veterans-writing. sands of flyers up around town.

He also reached out to other writers, as well as Colorado Humanities’ Center for the Book. The center supported the workshop, which regularly attracts 10 to 15 participants each month, as part of its mission to connect local veterans with the humanities.

“We asked veterans what we could help them change, and they confirmed that their difficulty was coming home,” said Colorado Humanities’ Josephine Jones, director of programs and Center for the Book. “And they said if people could hear their stories and know them as individuals, it

Michael McAndrew reads one of his poems to guests gathered for a reading of the anthology.

CASEY VAN DIVIER would help.”

Colorado Humanities invited Arment to submit writers’ work to appear in an anthology, which the organization assisted in publishing.

One title, countless stories For many of the writers, the anthology was their first experience publishing work, just as the workshop was their first experience sharing their work with anyone.

“I’ve actually written poetry all my life. I’ve just never shown it to anyone until then,” said veteran Michael

McAndrew, who wrote several of the poems in the anthology.

“I guess if I had any goal, it was just to meet other veterans,” he said. “I wanted to hear what they had to say and say something myself.”

While most of the group members have served in the military, the workshop welcomes any local writers.

One such writer, Crisosto Apache, simply wanted to be around other writers.

SEE VETERANS, P6

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6 Denver Herald

March 7, 2019

Donation helps animal shelter build new facility STAFF REPORT

The Denver Dumb Friends League is one step closer to helping shelter pets across the state get adopted.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) donated $250,000 toward the Denver Dumb Friends League capital campaign project in January, according to a news release.

In 2017, the nonprofit launched the Building a Better Way home campaign to rebuild and renovate its shelter space at 2080 S. Quebec St. in Denver. The ASPCA donation will go toward a space dedicated to animals being transferred from other rescue organizations. The separate space will allow the Denver Dumb Friends League to work with larger groups of animals and immediately address any health concerns, the release said.

VETERANS FROM PAGE 5

Apache has never served in the military; however, one of his favorite parts of the workshop is having the opportunity to hear from the veterans in his community.

“I’m so appreciative, because I’m sitting in a group people who have served in the military,” he said. “It’s

“We often do not have enough pets available for people looking to adopt, so we have created ethical animal transfer partnerships with shelters and rescue organizations in Colorado, as well as other states,” said Dr. Apryl Steele, president and CEO of the Dumb Friends League, in the release.

“This investment by the ASPCA will not only help build this advanced transfer space, it will directly impact the lives of homeless pets that may otherwise wait months, or even years, to be adopted.”

The space will be named in honor of former Dumb Friends League president and CEO Bob Rohde and is expected to be completed later this year.

So far, the nonprofit has raised more than $36 million toward the $40 million campaign. For more information on the Denver Dumb Friends League, visit https://www.ddfl.org/ nice to listen to their experiences.”

He particularly values his comembers’ military experience, as it often brings helpful insight into his work. His pieces — which are based on his experience as a Native American and member of the LGBTQ community — play a role in his effort to resolve his feelings about past events. This is something his fellow group members understand well, he said.

“Still Coming Home” includes es-

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This rendering shows the interior of the new Denver Dumb Friends League garage space for dogs from shelters around the state. The nonprofit received a donation from the ASPCA toward the new space.

COURTESY OF DENVER DUMB FRIENDS LEAGUE says, poetry and fiction. Each piece ties into the title of the book, which was decided upon by the contributors and the book’s editors, Arment, Steven Dunn and Bethany Strout.

The theme applies to each contributor’s work in different ways.

Luke Martinez, for example, is a veteran and genealogist whose work focuses on his ancestor who fought in the Civil War. He said he appreciates the way the title applies to his co-members’ modern day pieces as well as his historically based story.

“Even though we’re 150 years after the Civil War, people are still coming home,” he said. “People still continue to serve and come home after their service experience in all these different conflicts.”

ZOO FROM PAGE 3

“That part of what we do that is very, very different,” he said about the new system of staff “assit-rearing” of baby animals.

The veterinary staff has also grown over the years, Larsen said.

The larger staff has allowed the zoo to perform surgeries on the smallest of animals. But even still, the renovated space from the 1980s is falling behind new technology.

“We have made every effort to keep up with the pace of veterinary medical technology in our current facility, but now we need enhanced spaces, combined with state-ofthe-industry tools, to ensure our animals’ well being for another 50 years,” said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of the Denver Zoo, in a news release.

Caring for animals ‘a privilege’ Larsen agreed. The zoo is home to more than 3,500 animals, which Larsen has helped care for over the past seven years.

“We do so much more with our collection than we used to,” he said.

“Really, we’re not able to continue to

For McAndrew, his writing is a way to understand the significance of key moments during his deployment — from a simple meal to the moment he saw a man throw his wedding ring into the ocean.

“It’s reflecting on what that moment meant to me then,” he said, “but also what it means to me now.”

For those who contributed to the first anthology, the workshop now represents an opportunity to continue growing in a craft they all enjoy.

“We’ve made some writers out of people who didn’t realize they were writers, and now they do,” Arment said. “And we’ve definitely pushed veteran issues forward in ways that just weren’t happening.” meet the needs of our collection at the level of care that we feel that we should provide.”

Larsen has seen some ups and downs in the time he has been at the Denver Zoo. In 2017, a tiger the zoo received through a breeding program died of a rare and aggressive form of cancer. Although the zoo had to euthanize the animal, Larsen said he was proud of how quickly the veterinary team responded in caring for and diagnosing the large tiger.

Last fall, when Tonks the aye aye was born, staff noticed her mother was not showing maternal instincts.

The U.S. has fewer than 30 aye ayes, a rare nocturnal Madagascan primate related to the lemurs.

Larsen spent the night sleeping on his office floor, getting up every few hours, to feed the baby and try to keep it warm.

Staff members have thankfully been able to get the mother to take care of the baby, and they’ve been together ever since, said Larsen, who counts his contribution toward caring for the aye aye as a memorable one.

“It was one of my last experiences of the old hospital,” Larsen said. “It was not a burden — it was a privilege.”

Denver Herald 7

March 7, 2019

Voodoo Comedy Playhouse under new ownership Pair aim to draw diverse, high-quality performances STAFF REPORT

Voodoo Comedy Playhouse in Denver is under new ownership.

Nick Armstrong and Jack Nicols bring more than 20 years of experience to the Denver comedy community, according to a news release. The new ownership was officially effective Jan. 1 at the club, located at 1260 22nd St. Armstrong is an actor, improviser and writer. He has been on the EmmyAward-winning shows “The Office” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and has made appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “New Girl,” “Stan Against Evil,” “Brooklyn Nine Nine” and “Parks and Recreation.” In addition to co-owning the playhouse with Nicols, Armstrong will also serve as general

manager, according to the release.

“We’re excited to work with the talented Denver comedy community,” Armstrong said in the release. “We’re dedicated to creating a safe inclusive place that promotes growth both personally and comedically.”

Nicols will serve as the artistic director at Voodoo. He is a founder of Spectacles Improv Engine in Fullerton, California. He is the founder and former director of The Improv Cup, a charitable improv tournament that raises money for The Painted Turtle, a summer camp for children with lifethreatening and chronic illnesses.

He has been performing improv for 24 years and coaching/teaching for a decade.

“I want to create an environment that helps to maximize the potential of our community, while spreading joy to audiences,” Nicols said in the release.

The Voodoo Comedy Playhouse

ART

stay close.

For Zender, Poulson is part of what makes the class so special. “I wouldn’t be half the person I am without meeting Karl,” Zender said.

Both Zender and Peña agreed they look forward to the art class at the end of the week. The class also allowed them to experiment with new materials they wouldn’t have at home, Zender said.

“It’s a very supportive community,” Zender said. “This was such a good place for me to find myself in that and find my artistic self.”

“Having other people to talk to with new opinions and new ideas is really nice,” Peña added.

Poulson is a professional artist who works under the name Karl Orion.

He grew up in Denver and attended classes at the ASLD starting at the age of 9. He then attended Denver School of the Arts and the Art Institute of Chicago. As a working artist, Poulson hopes that students can use him as a resource in their own creative ventures. But he said he also learns from the teens.

Hearing students talk about topics as wide-ranging as global politics, sexual orientation and technology, Poulson said his students are in the know of what’s going on in society.

“Some of the smartest people I’ve ever met are in this class,” he said.

“Change is happening — I get to have a front row seat to it.”

A year and a half ago, Ashley “Z” Farrell began teaching the class along with Poulson. Ferrell helps students with more sculptural projects and 3D art. Poulson said that Ferrell has helped expand the class into more mixed media.

For Ferrell, joining the class has meant helping students expand their knowledge of art outside the twodimensional space. But after working with Poulson and the students, she said she also witnesses the students creating their own community and safe space. It’s one of her favorite parts of the class.

“I enjoy helping them be more emotionally stable as teens,” she said.

“With the safe space comes really fantastic art.”

email. “We will consolidate or realign central office teams to align with Superintendent Cordova’s vision and core beliefs and eliminate redundancies in our work.”

Cordova said during negotiations that the individuals who would lose their jobs care about children and are doing important work — but paying teachers more is even more important for the district’s mission.

District officials are not yet speaking publicly about which positions are being cut. Alejo called the reductions “extremely painful” and said they require the district “to make challeng-

ing trade-offs.” District officials want to wait until the internal notification process is complete before discussing the cuts in more detail.

“In a state as wealthy as Colorado, we should not have to be making these choices, but given the low state funding to schools, we have little recourse,” Alejo said.

In addition to teacher pay, money from central office cuts will go toward higher pay for hourly workers, such as paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and food service workers. The district is also setting aside money for recommendations from a task force on special education.

FROM PAGE 1

Teen Studio is offered on Friday nights from 6-9 p.m. for teens ages 14-17. In January, the ASLD received a $10,000 grant from the Harvey Family Foundation for the Teen Studio.

Before the grant, the nonprofit offered drop-in rates for the Friday class at $15. The Harvey Family grant enabled the ASLD to subsidize the cost, dropping the rate to $10. Scholarships are also available. The goal is to eventually make the class free for everyone, Salinas said.

The program has grown since Rachel Bayse, executive director of ASLD, first decided to offer Teen Studio. On peak days, 30 to 35 teens drop in for the program. Overall, the program serves about 900 teens from across the Front Range, Salinas said.

“It’s really thinking about how do we provide teens with quality art training, portfolio-building opportunities and really looking at what are those art classes that can go beyond what their school is offering,” Salinas said.

Theo Zender has been coming to the class for 3 1/2 years along with Tabitha Peña. The pair used to attend the same school, but after Zender transferred, going to the art class together allowed the friends to

DPS FROM PAGE 1

Last week, Cordova released an “entry plan” laying out her priorities for the next several months, with a focus on “equity, instructional excellence, and collaborative teamwork.” The district also started notifying employees who would lose their jobs.

“We are refocusing our efforts where it matters most,” district spokeswoman Anna Alejo said in an

has provided a home for artists since 2011, offering shows Tuesday through Saturday while featuring full bar service. It also offers improv classes and corporate workshops.

“I love comedy, I’ve dedicated my life to it. And I hope to bring that enthusiasm to the Denver comedy community. I want to be a resource to the comedy community to help them reach their dreams,” Armstrong said in the release.

According to the release, the Voodoo mission is threefold: to provide highquality and diverse show offerings that exemplify the amazing Colorado comedy and improv communities; to offer professional-grade comedy and improv classes and workshops that enhance the skills and visibility of its performers; and to open their doors to the Colorado comedy and improv communities as a unique all-inclusive gathering space where all types of performers can grow and flourish.

Tabitha Peña said she likes hearing people’s opinions when talking about art at the Teen Studio on Friday nights at the Art Students League of Denver.

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March 7, 2019

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Looks like America isn’t good enough for America’s pastime

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lay ball.

The 2019 Major League Baseball season is about to get underway.

Did I just hear yawns?

Attendance was down at 17 MLB stadiums last year from the year before.

There are a number of theories about why baseball is no longer America’s game.

Here’s one: Americans think baseball is boring.

It’s not action-packed, like professional basketball.

One local sports writer thinks the game should be shortened to seven innings.

Why not to five? Why not to one?

Americans don’t deserve baseball.

It’s too subtle. Americans prefer constant overstatement and hoopla.

(What would the Super Bowl have been without Maroon 5? Answer at the bottom.)

Professional baseball is a brilliant, deliberate, nine-course meal. Professional basketball is a greasy drivethru.

Americans are impatient, and they want to know what is going on where

they are not.

Security scans everyone at the gate for knives and guns. Security should scan for phones too. Phoning and texting in a stadium, in an art gallery, in a concert, and in line in a grocery store is disrespectful.

But, it’s entirely QUIET American.

DESPERATION Yes, sometimes things drag. There are pitchers who ponder and wander and debate and spit between every pitch.

There are batters who pray and pace and redo their batting gloves between every pitch.

Craig Marshall There are too many trips to the Smith mound (although fewer than there used to be).

Managers swap pitchers endlessly.

No one pitches a complete game anymore.

My favorite baseball player, lefthanded pitcher Warren Spahn, started 665 games and completed 382.

Left-handed pitcher Clayton

Kershaw has started 318 games and finished 25.

The local sports writer compared the length of the average baseball game to the length of his favorite movie, “The Godfather.”

The average Major League Baseball game in 2018 took 3:04.

“The Godfather” took 2:55.

Major League Baseball teams play a total of 2,430 games. All of them can’t be masterpieces.

And all films can be masterpieces either. There were 871 feature films released in 2018. I would rather watch a baseball game between two lastplace teams, than 95 percent of the films that get made every year.

As much as I appreciate baseball and its history and all of the statistics, it’s shooting itself in the foot with absurd salaries.

“Mr. Personality,” Manny Machado, just signed a 10-year contract for $300 million. The Padres also threw in an island.

Machado will get paid whether he bats .320 or .220. Even if he is on the “injured list.”

(Baseball will no longer refer to it as the “disabled list.”)

Idiotic salaries mean owners have to do something about attendance, so they have idiotic promotions and stunts.

They give away bobble-heads, T-shirts, budgies, plug-in air fresheners, and kittens. In Milwaukee, there are racing sausages. (The wiener is always the winner.)

If you’re a purist, every promotion and stunt diminishes the game.

Maybe you’ve heard that some stadiums now have peanut-free sections.

Some stadiums no longer sell Cracker Jack.

Things change. Baseball, however, hasn’t changed as much, or fast enough, as many would like it to. A lot of casual fans don’t pay any attention until October.

Stunts, by the way, are nothing new.

St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck once had a player standing 3-foot-7 bat. Eddie Gaedel walked on four pitches.

(Answer: Much, much, much, much, much better.)

Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident.

He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

Knowing when it’s time for a change

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ave you ever felt the need to change something in your life? My guess would be yes, we all have at some point. And the anguish and torment we struggle with while we go through the thought process often significantly slows down our decision-making, and sometimes even keeps us from making the changes we know that we need to make.

One of the reasons we don’t make changes or like to make changes is that it forces us out of our comfort zone. We get excited about the change or we become frightened about the change, so instead of making the change we find ourselves stuck in a state of confusion and limbo.

Here’s the thing, once we do finally make the change we needed to make, we enjoy this amazing feeling of freedom. Initially we may feel a little remorse, we may feel like we have even made the wrong decision to change, but then as we start something new and when we learn to let go of the past and remember why we wanted to

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change in the first place, we begin to replace remorse with enthusiasm.

Most of us know the changes that need to be made, but we let whatever it is that we need to change hold us hostage. So there really is nothing more exhilarating and freeing than to move ahead and passionately pursue the WINNING changes that we want WORDS and that could really be life-changing.

Getting comfortable with change and breaking through our comfort zones is easier for some than it is for others. And the best path to break through our comfort Michael Norton zone is to release our grip on fear. When fear creeps in, it is followed by doubt, and then worry is not far behind. And when that happens, we begin the negative self-talk in our heads, and before we know it, we have talked ourselves

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right out of the change we know we need to make.

Recently I have lived through the entire cycle of change. As a matter of fact, I was trying to make this change for about three years, and every time I tried to make the change, I talked myself out of it, or I let someone else also talk me out of it. Stay the course, play it safe, don’t take the risk, and why take a chance on something new.

Those were the lies I told myself and the lies I allowed others to use to convince me not to make a change or a move at that time. And these conversations went on year after year.

The good news is that the change finally happened. And as I described above, I went through the cycle of emotions including remorse, holding on to the past, fear, worry, and doubt, and I even tried to keep a little control over what it was that I was changing from, not really letting go completely and unable to truly move forward with my new changes.

And then it hit me, it was some-

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thing I needed to change and wanted to change for years, and I did exactly what I am writing about here and encouraging you to do as well. I officially let go and let the amazing feeling of freedom and excitement propel me forward towards my new chapter in life. Freedom, excitement, something new, something I could be passionate about again, and a welcome and long overdue change.

So how about you? Is there a change that you know you need to make but have talked yourself out of it or maybe even let others talk you out of it? Or are you already a change champion? I would love to hear your story of change at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we know when it’s time to change and we do what is necessary to achieve that change, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is a resident of Castle Rock, the president of the Zig Ziglar Corporate Training Solutions Team, a strategic consultant and a business and personal coach.

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March 7, 2019

XQ Super School Live: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at the Ogden Theatre, 935 East Colfax Ave. XQ and Pop-Up Magazine Productions present XQ SUPER SCHOOL LIVE, a new, one-of-a-kind, immersive storytelling tour. Expect a night of high school drama full of stories, selfie confessionals, viral gratitude, and multimedia adventures that celebrate the everyday heroes transforming America’s high schools. Visit XQ.live for more information.

Robert Anderson Gallery/Month of Photography: Small Works: 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday, March 8 at Robert Anderson Gallery, 1278 Adams St. As part of the Month of Photography celebration in Denver, the Robert Anderson Gallery hosted a national/international competition for small photographic pieces. Over 700 images were submitted for consideration by 2 jurors who narrowed the group down to 62 photos for display at the gallery from March 8 through April 27. March 8 is the opening reception for the exhibition. Awards will be given out that evening for the top pieces and the jurors’ favorites. This event is open to the public. Visit robertandersongallery.com for more information.

Happy Hour Chamber Concerts: An Evening with Zachary Carrettín: 6 to 7:15 p.m. Friday, March 8 at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 790 S Corona St. Plan on enjoying a remarkable evening of beautiful music and new insights into the intricacies of early music performance.

Tickets: $15/$13 in advance; $17/$15 at the door. Visit happyhourconcerts.org/ buy-tickets for more information.

Veterans Free Monthly NonNarcotic Care Pop Up Clinic: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at VFW Post 1, 841 Santa Fe Drive. Healing Warriors Program (HWP) offers free non-narcotic clinic therapy for pain and PTS on the 2nd Saturday of the month in Denver at VFW Post 1 for all service members and spouse/partner/parent. Therapies include Acupuncture, CranioSacral Therapy and Healing Touch Therapy. Please bring proof of military service, i.e. DD214 or military ID. Visit healingwarriorsprogram.org for more information.

Breaking Down Cancer by Building with Your Hands: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9 at Anatomy in Clay Centers, 2207 S. Delaware St. Using the Anatomy in Clay® Learning System, students will improve their health awareness by building relevant h portions of human anatomy in clay on scale model skeletons. All are welcome. Space is limited. Registrations will be taken until . one week before each session (March 2 for the March 9 workshop). To register, contact Mary Bahus-Meyer at 800-950-5025 or MaryB@anatomyinclay.com.

Stories on Stage presents “I Love a Mystery”: 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 10 at Su Teatro Cultural and Perform-

Denver Herald 9

THINGS to DO ing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Dr. Celebrating their 18th Season, Stories on Stage presents renowned actors performing dynamic and entertaining short stories. Single tickets are $15 - $28 - storiesonstage.org or 303-494-0523.

joined with others to create a larger design element. She uses Clay, stains, glazes to create the 3-D components of the pieces. Visit coreartspace.com for more information.

The Basque Things in Life: Through April 14 at The BiTSY Stage, 1137 S. Huron St. Performances are Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at Noon and 2:00 p.m. and Sundays at Noon. Join us as we meet a Basque family who is struggling to make a new life in Idaho without losing the parts of themselves they’ve always known and loved.

All performances are FREE; donations are accepted. Reservations at bitsystage.com.

Appropriate for all ages.

Creating Authentic Connection Women’s Circle: 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 10 at the Sheridan Library, 3425 West Oxford Ave. Create greater levels of connection in ALL of your relationships and increase your capacity to love and be loved by those you care about. Fee to Attend: $20. RSVP: authenticconnection.eventbrite. com.

How to Speak so Men Will Listen: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 14 at The Commons on Champa, 1245 Champa Street, Room 2. Katherine McGraw Patterson, better known as KP, has been an entrepreneur, consultant, and business coach for women for almost 20 years. In this program, KP will help us understand the communication differences between men and women so that women aren’t left feeling unheard and undervalued in business settings. Visit abwa-denverdowntown. org for more information.

Gobs O’Phun XXV St. Pat’s Concet: 8 p.m. Friday, March 15 at Highlands United Methodist Church, 3131 Osceola St. Gobs O’Phun traditional Irish folk with special guest musicians: Chris Daniels (from the Kings), Rich Moore (from the Mollie O’Brien Band), Peggy Fasing (formerly with CO symphony), Harry Tuft (Legendary “Godfather of Folk”), plus more… All Ages. General Admission Tickets: $12 In Advance Online / $15 At the Door. Secure Link for Tickets: gobsophun. brownpapertickets. com.

Month of Photography Show at Niza Knoll Gallery: On display through March 22 at Niza Knoll Gallery, 915 Santa Fe Drive. “3631: A Solo Cycling Journey Across America” chronicles Randall Sampson’s trip to the lonely reaches of the northern United States and Ontario, Canada via photographs and written narrative. Visit nizaknollgallery.com for more information.

One World Singers present: 7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 22 and 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 2201 Dexter, Denver. Concert featuring a 50s Cabaret with a soda shop theme. Tickets are $20 each ($23 at the door), children 12 and under free. They may be purchased on our website oneworldsingers.org.

Positioned: Work by Annette Coleman and Jean Smith @ Core New Art Space: Through March 24 at Core New Art Space, 900 Santa Fe Dr. Smith’s current work is based on the feel of the Mid-Century Modern decorating shapes and placement from the mid 60’s, and 70’s. Each wall composition can be an entity of its own or

hood, Experiences (ACEs) and brain/body adaptations to trauma. Register at https:// coloradocsti.org. You will need to login or create an account, and click on “Learning Experiences” to find the course.

Trauma Responsive Care Training: 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 12 at CoBank Leadership Center, Busse Board Room, 711 Park Ave. W. Learn about Adverse Child-

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March 7, 2019

LIFE

Staycations can be perfect for

WHEN IS SPRING BREAK? Douglas County School District: March 18-22 Cherry Creek School District: March 18-22 Littleton Public Schools: March 25-29 Englewood Schools: March 25-29 Denver Public Schools: March 25-29 JeffCo Public Schools: March 25-29 Adams 12 Five Star Schools: March 25-29 Westminster Public Schools: March 25-29

Those taking advantage of the Castle Rock Zipline Tours fly over Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock.

For some, sticking around is how they (don’t) roll

BY ALEX DEWIND ADEWIND@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

or many families, spring break is a prime time to travel — the perfect week for an escape to the mountains, a road trip to another state or a flight to a beach destination.

But for others — who may be stuck at home because of work, schedule conflicts or the cost of traveling — spring break is just another week.

Luckily, your kids don’t have to suffer. The Denver metro area has a plethora of activities for all ages.

Whether it’s an overnight stay at a historic hotel downtown, a day camp in Arvada or an outdoor adventure in Castle Rock, we’ve got what you need to plan the ultimate “staycation.”

Check out a new hotel Downtown Denver and surrounding neighborhoods are home to some of the metro area’s oldest, most luxurious and unique hotels.

Looking for a mom-daughter spa day? The Four Seasons Hotel Denver, 1111 14th St, is a one-stop-shop for hair and nails, a massage and access to the hotel’s five-star spa facility, equipped with a steam room and whirlpool. Spa guests must be 18 years or older, but teens between the ages of 14 to 17 are allowed in with a

signed waiver from a parent.

Historic hotel For an option rich in history, try a night or two at Denver’s second longest operating hotel, the Brown Palace, 321 17th Street. Built in 1892, the hotel has seen nearly every president, the Beatles and a long list of famous socialites. The elegant interior and famous cigar lounge are reminiscent of another era, a flashback in time.

While you’re there: spend an afternoon in the tea room, complete with scones and finger sandwiches, or take a personally guided tour of the hotel.

Sign up for a camp Keep the kids busy over spring break with one of the metro area’s many day camps.

“They’re designed for all ages and stages of ability and adventure,” Jamie Noebel, community relations manager at the Highlands Ranch Community Association, said of its day camps. “Some of the camps are just several hours a day, or you can drop your child off all day and have them be busy for the week.”

The HRCA offers a long list of options the week of March 18-22 —Douglas County School District’s spring break. Day camps have a number of themes, including jewelry making, cupcake baking and swimming. Also offered are one-day classes. For a full list of camps and prices, visit https:// bit.ly/2TcjoxC. After a successful round of summer camps, Arvada Center for the

FILE PHOTO

Arts asked its leaders to return the week of March 25-29 — JeffCo Public Schools’ spring break. The arts center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., hosts weeklong, morning and afternoon camps in drama, comedy, arts and more. For a full list, visit https://bit. ly/2GA0vyv.

For families at Adams 12 Five Star Schools and Westminster Public Schools, the city of Westminster offers a day camp to keep your kids busy the week of March 25-29. Each day has a different theme —Monday’s “Fins and Pins” includes a visit to the Denver Aquarium and bowling at Brunswick Zone. Tuesday’s “Jumping Dragons” features a movie followed by an afternoon at Jump City. To register, visit https://bit.ly/2BKB5ud.

Get outside Outdoor lovers, there are familyfriendly options for you, too.

Spend a day with 4,000 animals at the Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. Gates are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Or check out a safari camp for kids in grades pre-K through third.

The creature-themed day camp is offered the week of March 25-29 — Denver Public Schools’ spring break.

For more information, visit denverzoo.org/spring-safari.

Touted by reviewers on TripAdvisor as a must for tourist and locals, Banjo Billy’s Bus Tours is a weekend experience. On Saturdays, a rickety-looking wooden school bus, filled with couches and recliners, takes guests on a

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Looking for activities to do over spring break? Visit with an elephant at the Denver Zoo. The facility is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

COURTESY OF DENVER ZOO 90-minute interactive tour of Denver’s rich history — ghost stories included.

Children under 5 ride free with an adult. To register for the March 23 slot, visit banjobilly.com/buy-tickets.

Let it fly And if you want the ultimate outdoor adventure, head down south.

At Castle Rock Zipline Tours, 1375 W. Plum Creek Parkway, soar along a 10-line zip course at speeds reaching 50 mph, over 1.5 miles of untouched land. While you’re there, check out a 42-foot climbing wall and a ninja warrior course.

Denver Herald 11

March 7, 2019

Free exhibit looks at how photography shares experiences

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any of us use art to experience things that we will probably never get to do or see ourselves. But the Gravity of Perception exhibit at the Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Center for Visual Art, 965 Santa Fe Drive, asks how images influence our perception of things we’ve never experienced.

The exhibit features the work of COMING seven photo-based ATTRACTIONS artists and explores how photography can tell a story and share someone else’s experiences.

The free exhibit is on display through March 23. There will be numerous artists’ talks before the exhibit closes, and Clarke Reader a closing reception and dance performance by university students on Friday, March 22. For more information, visit www.msudenver.edu/ cva/exhibitions/gravityofperception/.

Getting down and dirty One of the many things that March means is it’s about time to start thinking about your spring plans if you’re a fan of gardening.

As part the comprehensive 2019 library programming initiative of Adams County’s Anythink Libraries, those interested in improving their green thumb can participate in the Dig It series. The library system partnered with experts including The GrowHaus, Colorado State University Extension, Butterfly Pavilion and the Colorado Cactus and Succulent Society to provide a series of gardening and backyard farming programs at different library locations.

“We’ve seen a lot of enthusiasm around gardening from residents through our community gardens, the farmers market we started last year, explained Stacie Ledden, director of innovations and brand strategy with Anythink. “Adams County is rich in agricultural history; it’s part of the community’s DNA. In celebration of this, Dig It seemed like a perfect fit for this spring.”

Each Anythink location will host several opportunities for all age ranges to participate. Program themes include a bug safari with the Butterfly Pavilion, vermiculture with The GrowHaus and growing produce for sale at farmers markets with the CSU extension.

Dig It is the first in a series of three district-wide celebrations hosted by Anythink in 2019, according to information provided by Ledden. The second celebration, Pop It, will be held in May, and will celebrate all things pop culture in conjunction with Denver Pop Culture Con (formerly Denver Comic Con). In September, participants will sharpen and develop career and life skills to help them get ahead with Own It. Kicking off the year with Dig It is not only a great way to get people outside, but it also teaches useful skills that can help improve the environment, make a little extra money, and spend time with family and friends.

“No matter your age or skill level, your garden’s size or shape, we have something for you at the library during Dig It,” Ledden said. “Not only will we offer programs where you can learn tips and techniques, this is a great opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors who have similar interests.”

For a complete list of Dig It series programs, visit anythinklibraries.org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Steve Earle at Twist and Shout Records

Your care may be super, but you’re only human.

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Steve Earle is one of the great voices in the alt-country scene and has been ever since he started releasing music in the early 1980s. His 1986 album “Guitar Town” is prime example of the musical styles and sharp lyricism that would not only define the genre, but the ensuing 30 years of Earle’s career.

Earle is now gearing up for the release of his new album “Guy,” which will be released on March 29. Part of said gearing up will be an in-store performance and meet and greet at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 8 at Twist and Shout Records, 2508 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver.

A wristband can be secured by purchasing “Guy” on CD or vinyl, both of which will be on sale early for this event.

The event is sure to be crowded, so get all the necessary information at www.twistandshout.com.

Lil Rel, big laughs at Comedy Works If you saw the Oscar-winning thriller “Get Out,” you know Lil Rel Howery is one of the funniest people on the planet right now. And while he’s becoming a bigger and bigger name in the entertainment industry, he hasn’t given up on standup yet.

All of this means his performances at Comedy Works Downtown, 1226 15th St. in Denver, are an honest-to-God chance to see a comedy star work on his chops. He’ll be performing at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 7; 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. on Friday, March 8, and Saturday, March 9; and 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 10.

Find tickets and more information at www.comedyworks.com/comedians/ lil-rel.

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

DU students to build home powered by renewable energy STAFF REPORT

A team of 20 University of Denver students will be participating in the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2020 Solar Decathlon Build Challenge, the university announced in a news release.

In a series of 10 events, the event challenges students from across the U.S. and Europe to build and design a home in their community that is powered by renewable energy.

“We are excited to participate in Solar Decathlon 2020 and are proud to have a motivated team of 20 students working to plan, design and build a renewable home in the DU neighborhood,” said Eric Holt, assistant professor in the Burn’s School of Real Estate and Construction Management and the team’s faculty liaison, in the release. “This competition provides a great opportunity for our students to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom and be among the most innovative builders in the industry.”

Over the next 18 months, students will work on a Race Street property owned by the university. The property was built in the 1950s and is located on a floodplain. The final design of the home will be judged in Washington, D.C., next summer.

DU participated in the last Solar Decathlon in 2017, partnering with a team of students from the University of California at Berkeley. The team’s home had nearly net-zero energy efficiency, according to the release, and placed third in the competition.

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12 Denver Herald

March 7, 2019

Newcomer Murphy says Rockies are built to win First baseman joins team that is focused on reaching postseason

BY JACK MAGRUDER ASSOCIATED PRESS

Accustomed to the postseason, Daniel Murphy built his free-agent checklist around playoff contenders.

When the ascendant Colorado Rockies showed as much interest in Murphy as he had in them, working out the details of a two-year, $24 million contract was no big deal.

“When you get to a point in your career where I am at, there’s a lot more baseball behind me than in front of me,” said Murphy, who reported this week for the Rockies. “Being fortunate enough to play in the postseason the last four seasons, it is something that I want to do, and this organization is built to do that. This is a team built to win now.”

The Rockies achieved a franchise first by making consecutive playoff appearances, in the NL wild card game in 2017 and the NLDS in 2018, and Murphy sees no reason to believe the progression will slow.

“Hopefully I can be part of a ball club that goes deeper than that,” Murphy said. “The pitching staff is really underrated. What they were able to do at altitude last year was very impressive. I think the lineup is deep and dangerous.”

The move also seems a good fit for the Rockies, who will play Murphy at first base and move Ian Desmond to center field.

Murphy played in only 91 games between Washington and the Cubs last season after being delayed because of

offseason micro-fracture surgery on his right knee, but in the five previous seasons he averaged 40 doubles, 15 homers and 78 RBIs with a .302 batting average and .464 slugging percentage.

That type of production could help invigorate an offense that hit .256, had a .322 on-base percentage and will be without departed free agents DJ LeMahieu and Carlos Gonzalez.

That batting average was the lowest in franchise history, and the on-base percentage was second-lowest.

“He’s going to help our guys in a lot of ways,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “Love the experience. Love the playoff experience. He’s been with winning teams. He’s played well in the postseason. This guy is a tough, tough player. What he does through an at-bat — the lower strikeout, controls the strike zone. That’s an at-bat that everybody watches, And his ball talk is great.”

A career .299 hitter in 10 seasons, Murphy has done even more in highleverage situations. He has hit .309 in 25 playoff games, starting with a memorable 2015 postseason in which he hit three homers for the Mets in the NLDS victory over the Dodgers and four more in an NLCS victory over the Cubs. He has a career .327 batting average with runners in scoring position.

“One of the big things that I try to accomplish with runners in scoring position is being a little more aware of when I get a good pitch to hit to put a good swing on it and not miss it,” he said. “So maybe take fewer chances and try to ensure that I am going to center the baseball. Contact can kind of cover over a lack of power.”

SEE MURPHY, P15

Answers

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Denver Herald 13

March 7, 2019

Rockies relievers ready for strong bullpen minus Ottavino Veteran group will face task of bridging innings between starters and closer

BY JACK MAGRUDER ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Colorado Rockies will be without the reliever who boasted he could strike out Babe Ruth, but they believe the bridge between their solid starting rotation and premier closer Wade Davis remains sturdy.

Colorado is counting on a veteran bullpen group that includes Scott Oberg, Seunghwan Oh, Chris Rusin and Bryan Shaw to step up the way Adam Ottavino did in 2018, when his career year with the Rockies led to a three-year, $27 million free-agent deal with the New York Yankees.

“I think we have a lot of good arms and a lot of talented guys back there,” catcher Chris Iannetta said.

“I think we can piece it together and be really good. Guys have good years.

Guys have bad years. I don’t think anyone expected Adam to have the year that he had last year after the previous year. It happens all the time.”

Oberg had a strong second half last season, Oh pitched well after being acquired at the trade deadline and the Rockies are counting on a return to normalcy by Shaw, Rusin, Jake McGee

scoreless appearances in August and and Mike Dunn.

September as the Rockies moved to The Rockies’ bullpen had a 4.62 ERA a second straight postseason appearlast season, 13th in the league and a ance. He limited righty hitters to a .185 number that must be improved upon so as not to squander the quality starts batting average.

“Collectively, I think we are going to inherited from a rotation that includes be fine,” Oberg Kyle Freeland, said. “Those are German Marsome big shoes, quez and Tyler but we have a Anderson. really talented Davis had a group down franchise-record there. There is goand league- and ing to be all eight career-high 43 of us pulling of the Rockies’ together down franchise-record there.”

51 saves last Oberg has season, his first made a team-high in Colorado.

Scott Oberg, 210 relief apOttavino and Oberg served as Colorado Rockies pearances since his 2015 debut, the primary setright-handed pitcher but he is not the up men last year. only workhorse Ottavino was 6-4 returning. with six saves, a Shaw has ap2.43 ERA and a peared in 503 games since 2012, tied rate of 13 strikeouts per nine innings, for the most in the majors, and he is thus the Ruth reference he made after looking to build on a second half in signing with the Yankees. which he went 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in “He was great for us and that’s a 20 appearances after being reinstated tough piece to fill, but we are definitefrom the disabled list July 11. ly capable of it,” Davis said.

The Rockies hope to return Shaw to The right-handed Oberg, a top canthe high-leverage role he had in Arididate to inherit more of Ottavino’s zona and Cleveland before his outlier workload, was 8-1 with 2.45 ERA and of 2018, when he was 4-6 with a 5.93 was scored upon in only four of his ERA. He has a career 3.43 ERA. final 34 outings.

“Hopefully, better performances by He had a streak of 11 straight

‘Those are some big shoes, but we have a really talented group down there.’

myself will be a big contributing factor to filling his (Ottavino’s) innings,” Shaw said.

Shaw, a right-hander, spent time in the offseason at the Driveline Baseball training center in Washington, an outfit that is heavily immersed in biometrics and data analysis, spin rates, effective arm angles and more.

Former Cleveland teammate Trevor Bauer has long been a proponent, and the two talked this offseason.

“Got some good info,” Shaw said.

“The info I got from them kind of correlated with some things we were seeing and talking about here. Hopefully the data we took from them we can implement this year and get going.”

Oh was 2-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 25 appearances after being acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline.

“I try to not think that we are filling the hole for someone just because that person left,” Oh said through a translator. “It is more about always being ready whenever the game situation calls us. So my job is to be prepared every day.”

Iannetta sees “a ton of talent” in the bullpen.

“You need guys to seize the moment,” Iannetta said. “There is opportunity back there to solidify yourself as a back-end reliever. Everyone has skills. Even if you had a bad year, that’s baseball. See who rises to the top.”

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Securian Casualty Company NAIC Number: 10054 Address: 400 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55101-2098

14 Denver Herald

March 7, 2019

Assets: $ 376,102,676 Liabilities: $ 243,040,240 Capital and Surplus/Policyholder Surplus: $ 133,062,436

www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: DIVISION OF INSURANCE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY

Public Notice

DISTRICT COURT, CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO Court Address: 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 (720) 865-7800

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the Securian Casualty Company, organized under the laws of Minnesota, subject to its Articles of Incorporation or other fundamental organizational documents and in consideration of its compliance with the laws of Colorado, is hereby licensed to transact business as a Property & Casualty insurance company, as provided by the Insurance Laws of Colorado, as amended, so long as the insurer continues to conform to the authority granted by its Certificate and its corporate articles, or its Certificate is otherwise revoked, canceled or suspended.

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Misc. Private Legals Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO Court Address: 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 (720) 865-7800

Plaintiff: FIDELITY NATIONAL TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY v.

Defendants: SHAWN L. COPRICH SR., a/k/a SHAWN LYDELL COPRICH; THE ESTATE AND HEIRS OF MARY E. CURVIN; OPHELIA WYNN; PEARL JEAN HUGHES; ANNIE MAE SWINGER a/k/a ANNIE MAE GREEN; NATIONAL CITY MORTGAGE CO., a subsidiary of NATIONAL CITY BANK OF INDIANA; FEDERAL NATIONAL MORTGAGE ASSOCIATION; and ALL UNKNOWN PERSONS WHO CLAIM ANY INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER OF THIS ACTION. Attorneys for Plaintiff: VAN REMORTELL LLC, Fred Van Remortel (No. 39668) Address: 2000 S. Colorado Blvd., Annex Bldg., Ste. 250, Denver, CO 80222 Phone: (303) 484-9919 Email: f.vanremortel@fvrlaw.com Case No.: 2018CV34371 Div.: 209 SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend against the claims of the Complaint filed with the Court in this action, by filing with the Clerk of this Court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within thirty-five (35) days after service of this Summons upon you.

Service of this Summons will be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the Court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within thirty-five (35) days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the Court for the relief demanded in the Complaint, without any further notice.

This is an action to quiet title to Defendants Shawn L. Coprich Sr. a/k/a Shawn Lydell Coprich on three properties situated in Denver County, Colorado more particularly described as follows:

1.) LOTS 22 TO 24 INCLUSIVE, BLOCK 13, PARK HILL ANNEX CITY and County of Denver, State of Colorado.

Also known as: 3000 Fairfax, Denver, Colorado 80207 2.) LOT 5 AND 6, BLOCK 4, EAST VIEW ADDITION, City and County of Denver, State of Colorado Also known as: 3338-3342 Harrison Street, Denver, Colorado 80205

3.) LOT 19 AND 20 AND THE WEST 5 FEET OF LOT 18, BLOCK 1, SAN RAFAEL, City and County of Denver, State of Colorado.

Also known as: 5160-5164 East 33rd Avenue, Denver, Colorado 80207 Dated: January 29, 2019 By: /s/ Fred Van Remortel, No. 39668 Legal Notice No.: 8814 First Publication: February 7, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice DISTRICT COURT, CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO Court Address: 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 (720) 865-7800

Plaintiff: MOLLY M. SWIFT v.

Defendants: THE ESTATE AND HEIRS OF HELEN ERICKSON f/k/a HELEN GIANNES; THE TRUSTEES AND BENEFICIARIES OF THE TRUST DECLARATION AND INDENTURE SETTLED BY HELEN ERICKSON and DATED JUNE 22, 1994, a/k/a THE HELEN ERICKSON TRUST, ACCORDING TO THE TRUST DECLARATION DATE JUNE 22, 1994 AND RECORDED APRIL 19, 1996 AT RECEPTION NUMBER 9600051385; GLENN MOTTAU; DEBRA JOHNSON in her capacity as

Plaintiff: MOLLY M. SWIFT v.

Defendants: THE ESTATE AND HEIRS OF HELEN ERICKSON f/k/a HELEN GIANNES; THE TRUSTEES AND BENEFICIARIES OF THE TRUST DECLARATION AND INDENTURE SETTLED BY HELEN ERICKSON and DATED JUNE 22, 1994, a/k/a THE HELEN ERICKSON TRUST, ACCORDING TO THE TRUST DECLARATION DATE JUNE 22, 1994 AND RECORDED APRIL 19, 1996 AT RECEPTION NUMBER 9600051385; GLENN MOTTAU; DEBRA JOHNSON in her capacity as Public Trustee of Denver County, Colorado; and All Unknown Persons Who Claim any Interest in the Subject Matter of this Action.

Misc. Private Legals

Attorneys for Plaintiff: VAN REMORTELL LLC, Fred Van Remortel (No. 39668) Address: 2000 S. Colorado Blvd., Annex Bldg., Ste. 250, Denver, CO 80222 Phone: (303) 484-9919 Email: f.vanremortel@fvrlaw.com Case No.: 2018CV34377 Div.: 409 SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO TO THE ABOVE-NAMED DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend against the claims of the Complaint filed with the Court in this action, by filing with the Clerk of this Court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within thirty-five (35) days after service of this Summons upon you.

Service of this Summons will be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of the Complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the Court.

If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Complaint in writing within thirty-five (35) days after the date of the last publication, judgment by default may be rendered against you by the Court for the relief demanded in the Complaint, without any further notice.

This is an action to quiet the title of the Plaintiff, Molly M. Swift in and to the real property situated in Denver County, Colorado more particularly described as follows: THE WEST SEVENTY (70) FEET OF LOTS NUMBERED ELEVEN (11) TO FIFTEEN (15) INCLUSIVE, BLOCK NUMBERED FORTYTWO (42), RICHTHOFEN’S MONTCLAIR, EXCEPT THE NORTH TEN (10) FEET OF THE WEST SEVENTY (70) FEET OF SAID LOT NUMBERED ELEVEN (11).

City and County of Denver, State of Colorado.

Also known as 7101 East 6th Avenue Parkway, Denver, Colorado 80220-5532 Dated: January 29, 2019 By: /s/ Fred Van Remortel, No. 39668 Legal Notice No.: 8815 First Publication: February 7, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

Public Notice SYNOPSIS OF ANNUAL STATEMENT FOR PUBLICATION Required pursuant to §10-3-109(1), C.R.S FOR YEAR 2018 -- Form S Corporate Name: Securian Casualty Company NAIC Number: 10054 Address: 400 Robert Street North St. Paul, MN 55101-2098 Assets: $ 376,102,676 Liabilities: $ 243,040,240 Capital and Surplus/Policyholder Surplus: $ 133,062,436 TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: DIVISION OF INSURANCE CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the Securian Casualty Company, organized under the laws of Minnesota, subject to its Articles of Incorporation or other fundamental organizational documents and in consideration of its compliance with the laws of Colorado, is hereby licensed to transact business as a Property & Casualty insurance company, as provided by the Insurance Laws of Colorado, as amended, so long as the insurer continues to conform to the authority granted by its Certificate and its corporate articles, or its Certificate is otherwise revoked, canceled or suspended.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of my office to be affixed at the City and County of Denver this first day of March, 2019.

Michael Conway Commissioner of Insurance Legal Notice No.: 8841 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019

Public Notice

Public Notice

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of THOMAS VERNON ORTON, a/k/a Tom V. Orton, Deceased Case Number: 19PR30152

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Justin Foster Baird III, Deceased Case Number: 2018PR467

All persons having claims against the abovelegals@coloradocommunitymedia.com named estate are required to present them to

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the official seal of my office to be affixed at the City and County of Denver this first day of March, 2019.

Michael Conway Commissioner of Insurance

Misc. Private Legals

Legal Notice No.: 8841 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

Notice To Creditors Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of: Stanley L. Arnold, a/k/a Stanley Lee Arnold, a/k/a Stan Arnold, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30144 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 June 22, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Bradley Scott Arnold Personal Representative c/o Katz, Look & Onorato, P.C. 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1100 Denver, CO 80203 Legal Notice No.: 8837 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Nelvina M. Van Beek, a/k/a Nelvina Mae Van Beek, a/k/a Nelvina Mae Vanbeek, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30162 All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 June 21, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Cindy Jacobs Co-Personal Representative 8500 E. Jefferson Ave. #9E Denver, CO 80237 Valerie Rash Co-Personal Representative 4786 S. Pagosa Way Aurora, CO 80015 Legal Notice No.: 8838 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Myron G. Van Beek, a/k/a Myron Glen Van Beek, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30161 All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 June 21, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Cindy Jacobs Co-Personal Representative 8500 E. Jefferson Ave. #9E Denver, CO 80237 Valerie Rash Co-Personal Representative 4786 S. Pagosa Way Aurora, CO 80015 Legal Notice No.: 8839 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of THOMAS VERNON ORTON, a/k/a Tom V. Orton, Deceased Case Number: 19PR30152 All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 June 21, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

William Clark, President, St. John’s Military School

All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 June 21, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Notice To Creditors

William Clark, President, St. John’s Military School Personal Representative 110 W. Otis Ave. Salina, KS 67401 Legal Notice No.: 8840 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: Denver Herald Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Eileen Newby Swets, also known as Eileen N. Swets, a/k/a Eileen Swets, Deceased.

Case Number: 2019-PR-30157

the Personal Representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado or on or before July 8, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Notice To Creditors

Janet M. Anderson, Personal Representative 3468 Colony Hills Road Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Legal Notice No.: 8847 First Publication: February 28, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of BERITH M. SANDSTROM, A/K/A BERITH SANDSTROM, Deceased Case Number: 2019 PR 30155

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the PROBATE COURT OF CITY AND COUNTY OF DENVER, COLORADO, on or before June 28, 2019 or the claims may be forever barred.

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado, on or before June 21, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Ted D. Sandstrom Personal Representative 3176 S. Kalispell Court Aurora, CO 80113

Person Giving Notice: Gina S. Moore Personal Representative 7370 S. Xanthia Way Centennial, CO 80112

Legal Notice No.: 8849 First Publication: February 28, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

Legal Notice No.: 8842 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Nadine Patterson, a/k/a Nadine L. Patterson, and Nadine Louise Patterson, Deceased Case Number: 2019 PR 30149 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 June 21, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Brian Patterson Personal Representative 7855 Blue Gill Dr. Peyton, CO 80831 Legal Notice No.: 8843 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of William B. Vollbracht, a/k/a William Vollbracht, a/k/a Bill Vollbracht, Deceased Case Number: 19PR30039 All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 June 28, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Leslie D. Vollbracht Personal Representative One Polo Club, 2400 Cherry Creek South, #402 Denver, CO 80209 Bessemer Trust Company, NA Personal Representative 3200 Cherry Creek South Drive, Suite 600 Denver, CO 80209 Legal Notice No.: 8845 First Publication: February 28, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Justin Foster Baird III, Deceased Case Number: 2018PR467 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado or on or before July 8, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Janet M. Anderson, Personal Representative 3468 Colony Hills Road Colorado Springs, CO 80916

Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Jimmy N. Toscano, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30120

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 June 28, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Schuyler Smeltzer Personal Representative 9175 E. Stanford Place Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Legal Notice No.: 8850 First Publication: February 28, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Angelina Marino, Deceased.

Case No.: 2019-PR-30163

All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the co-personal representatives named below or to the Probate Court of Denver County, Colorado, on or before June 28, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

MARILYN K. LUCCI Co-Personal Representative 2474 Pierce Street Edgewater, CO 80214 DIANE MARTELON Co-Personal Representative 3030 West 41st Avenue Denver, CO 80211 Legal Notice No.: 8851 First Publication: February 28, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of FRANK JOHN TORRES, aka FRANK J. TORRES, aka FRANK TORRES, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30188

All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 June 28, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Monique N. Lopez Personal Representative c/o Snell & Wilmer, LLP 1200 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1900 Denver, CO 80202 Legal Notice No.: 8852 First Publication: February 28, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

Denver Herald 3.7.19 * 1

Denver Herald 15

March 7, 2019

Sun-powered shopping Cherry Creek mall switches to solar, renovates spaces, welcomes new stores

BY KAILYN LAMB KLAMB@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Cherry Creek Shopping Center will flip the switch this month on a new set of solar panels being installed on the roof.

Nick LeMasters, the general manager of the mall, said the amount of sun that Colorado gets, as well as changes to the industry, has made it cheaper to take the leap into using solar energy. He estimated about 40 percent of the energy used in common areas of the mall will come from the solar panels.

“We reached a point economically that solar began to make sense,” he said. “It’s very significant in the amount of cost savings.”

In addition to being a smart business decision, LeMasters said he felt it also was the right thing to do.

The solar panels are not all that’s new at the mall.

Pandora and Finish Line are renovating their stores, while Vans, the California-based shoe store, is mov-

ing to a different spot inside the mall, LeMasters said. Brooks Brothers also moved to a different space in the upper level.

Many of the chain brands in Cherry Creek do renovations to keep up to date with the look of their brand.

LeMasters said the renovations are a partnership between the mall and the stores that lease the space.

“That’s really where our focus and our emphasis is,” he said. “We are thrilled at the number of stores that are coming with us this year — or will be with us this year.”

The AMC Theater in the mall is another example of a business renovating its space to keep up with the modern brand. The theater will have a bar as well as reclining seats once the renovations are finished. It will have the movie-going experience that people have come to expect, LeMasters said.

Stores, such as menswear store Untuckit and Eyebobs, found their The Cherry Creek Shopping Center has become popular with stores that got their start homes online and are now breaking online, says Nick LeMaster, the general manager of the mall. Untuckit will be opening in into mall retail. Both stores are set to the mall next door to Warby Parker, both are online-based stores.

KAILYN LAMB open soon in Cherry Creek. They join fashion store Hermes also starting its pure internet plays that said `We want other online outlets that opened in the buildout in the mall this year, LeMasbrick and mortar.’ ” mall like glasses store Warby Parker ters said he’s excited for the rest of LeMasters also hinted that the and Fabletics, which sells women’s 2019. mall will be announcing several new athletic wear.

“It’s going to be a very big year,” he tenants in the coming months, but de“They represent the clicks-to-bricks said. clined to name the stores. With luxury idea,” LeMasters said. “These were

MURPHY

contact, there are rewards for that.

And making contact is one of the few skills that I possess in this game.”

Murphy, 33, has spent most of his caFROM PAGE 12 reer at second base and has not played first base regularly since playing 97 Murphy also has had great sucgames there in 2009 and 46 in 2011 cess at Coors Field, hitting .330 with with the Mets.

10 doubles and 19 RBIs in 26 games Both he and the Rockies see a short there.

Public Notice re-acclimation period.

“I don’t think it is necessarily a “He at this point in his career ballpark built for more homers, but it NOTICE TOknows CREDITORS Estate of Rose Deceased thatMary it isStoeber, best for him and best for the is a ballpark that is built for more ofCase Number: 2019PR30216 team he is on,” Black said. “He’s a fensive production,” Murphy said. “It All persons having claims against the above natural infi is a place that if you are able to make Public Notice named estate are required to elder.” present them to

Notice To Creditors Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Marvin Olsen, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30207

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 June 28, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

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the personal representative or to Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 8, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

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Legal Notice No.: 8855 First Publication: March 7, 2019 Last Publication: March 21, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Winifred H. Brown, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30184 All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before July 7, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

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Jason Novak Personal Representative c/o Snell & Wilmer, LLP 1200 Seventeenth Street, Suite 1900 Denver, CO 80202 Legal Notice No.: 8861 First Publication: March 7, 2019 Last Publication: March 21, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Barry Dickens Thomas, aka Barry D. Thomas, aka Barry Thomas, Deceased Case Number: 2019PR30057 All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 June 21, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Diana T. Carr, Co-Personal Representative Brian G. Thomas, Co-Personal Representative c/o Law Office of Byron K. Hammond, LLC 3900 E. Mexico Ave., Ste. 300 Denver, CO 80210 Legal Notice No: 8833 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019

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Legal Notice No: 8833 First Publication: February 21, 2019 Last Publication: March 7, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Patricia J. Gordon, Deceased Case Number: 2019 PR 30177 All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 July 1, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

Lisa Firsick Personal Representative c/o Mark D. Masters, Esq. 2696 S. Colorado Blvd., Suite 350 Denver, Colorado 80222 Legal Notice No: 8848 First Publication: February 28, 2019 Last Publication: March 14, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Jesus Rodriquez, Deceased Case Number: 18 PR 0318 All persons having claims against the abovenamed 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 July 8, 2019, or the claims may be forever barred.

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Rene' P. Koller, Esq. Attorney to the Personal Representative 5400 Ward Road, No. 1-201 Arvada, Colorado 80002 Legal Notice No: 8857 First Publication: March 7, 2019 Last Publication: March 21, 2019 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Eva M. Bechtold, aka Eva Marie Bechtold, aka Eva Marie Laursen Bechtold, aka Eva Bechtold, Deceased Case Number: 18 PR 0630

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March 7, 2019

Fight against Colorado ski traffic hampered by budget CALM AFTER THE STORM

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Solutions to I-70 congestion would all require huge expenditures

BY THOMAS PEIPERT ASSOCIATED PRESS

“Friends don’t let friends drive I-70.”

The tongue-in-cheek mantra is often uttered by Colorado skiers and snowboarders who frequent resorts far from the crowded mountain corridor, which funnels thousands of vehicles onto two lanes west of Denver every winter weekend.

“It’s nightmarish. Hours and hours in the car. I think the last time I went to Keystone (typically a 90-minute drive from Denver), I spent four hours getting there and five hours getting home,” said Cole Capsalis of Denver. “There was more time in the car than skiing.”

The 28-year-old product manager, who went to the University of Utah in part because it allowed him to hit the slopes up to 100 days a year, moved to Denver about six years ago. But his love of ski resorts quickly took a tumble because of horrendous traffic more akin to Los Angeles freeways.

So Capsalis ditched resorts for less crowded — albeit more dangerous — remote backcountry snowboarding.

“I would prefer to risk my life on some level ... as opposed to sit in I-70 traffic on the weekends,” he said.

Traffic along the route has been common for years, but it’s exacerbated by a recent population boom in the Denver area.

“Traffic has increased incredibly statewide, and nowhere do you see that more actively than on the I-70 corridor,” said Amy Ford, a state transportation department spokeswoman.

Between 2010 and July 2017, the population in Denver and its suburbs increased by an average of nearly 51,000 annually.

In 2000, nearly 10.3 million vehicles on I-70 crossed the Continental Divide, which slices through the heart of Colorado’s ski country. That figure was about 13.4 million in 2018.

“It’s always going to get worse.

We’re expecting that,” said Patrick Chavez, who works at a transportation department office at the mouth of two tunnels bored under the Divide. “We continue to try to find measures to mitigate and minimize the impact.”

But that’s getting harder as more people move to Colorado, he said.

Colorado’s population has increased 53 percent since 1990, while lane miles on the state’s highway system have only increased 2 percent, officials said.

The department’s typical $1.4 billion budget, 70 percent of which goes toward road maintenance, is only slightly bigger than neighboring

Utah’s. But Colorado has 6,864 more highway lane miles (11,046 kilometers) and 2.4 million more residents.

Unlike Utah, Colorado doesn’t dip into sales tax to fund its transportation budget, and its state gas tax, the 12th lowest in the country, hasn’t been raised since George H.W. Bush’s presidency.

High-speed rail could be built through the corridor, but may cost between $11 billion and $32 billion depending on the route and type of train used, according to a 2014 study commissioned by the transportation department.

The three viable options would require significant right-of-way acquisition, and crews would have to blast between 15 and 35 tunnels. A train on the existing right-of-way would have to travel so slowly on the interstate’s curves and grades that it couldn’t compete with driving.

That means transportation officials will continue to rely on smaller-scale solutions to an increasingly difficult problem.

They’ve created an app giving drivers real-time traffic conditions from Denver’s airport to Vail. They’re quicker at clearing accidents. They’ve installed traffic information signs at resorts and in-pavement LED lighting on areas of the interstate with poor visibility. They’ve widened tunnels and introduced a bus system that runs on I-70. And they’ve built a 13-mile (21-kilometer) toll road at a notorious pinch point on eastbound I-70.

All those steps, Ford said, have had a positive effect and reduced the number of accidents.

In 2008, nearly 1,900 accidents were reported along the corridor and in 2017, about 1,200 accidents were reported.

The transportation department also is doing a relatively good job of keeping traffic flowing through the roughly 100-mile (161-kilometer) stretch that serves major resorts like Vail, Breckenridge and Keystone.

In January 2012, for example, it took drivers an average of an hour and 50 minutes to travel west through that section during the peak of weekend traffic. The numbers fluctuate through the years for a variety of reasons, including weather, but by January 2018, it took just over two hours.

Traveling that stretch without traffic typically takes 90 minutes.

“It is a significant challenge, but that corridor is getting a lot better,” Ford said.

Still, words and numbers might not be enough to convince those who love to loathe I-70, and the department’s biggest challenge could be battling the perception that the interstate is getting exponentially worse.

“I watched it deteriorate so much ... that I would have a really hard time believing that anything significant would have changed at this point,” Capsalis said.