Denver Herald Dispatch 1207

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December 7, 2017

DENVER Since 1926

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LIGHTING UP THE SEASON: Light displays bring joy to many during holidays P8

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DENVER, COLORADO

A publication of

LIGHTING UP THE HOLIDAYS

Price tag for sidewalks could outstrip funding Bringing entire network into compliance could cost more than $1 billion

BY ANDREW KENNEY AKENNEY@DENVERITE.COM

Regis University invited the community to help kick off the holiday season at its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 28 at its Northwest Denver Campus Boettcher Commons, 3333 Regis Blvd. For more than 25 years, a nearly 80-foot-tall white fir — one of more than 1,200 trees on campus — has played the role of Christmas tree. St. Nicholas attended the event, handing out gold coins to children, with more than 100 from the community in attendance. A brief presentation included a prayer led by Vice President of Mission Father Kevin Burke, S.J., who did the honors of flipping the switch to light the tree. The event was organized by the University’s Student Government Association, and also included ornament making and hot refreshments.

The Denver City Council gave initial approval to a plan to help residents fix sidewalks, and voters recently approved $31 million for sidewalk construction. But a new report shows that it could cost more than $1 billion to bring Denver’s walking network up to proposed standards.

A draft plan released Nov. 27 lays out the city’s potential vision for sidewalks. It finds that 40 percent of Denver blocks lack sidewalks or have sidewalks that are too small for use with a wheelchair.

The plan would set new standards for sidewalks in Denver, with five-foot sidewalks for the smallest streets and eight-foot sidewalks and 12-foot lawns alongside larger arterials.

SEE SIDEWALKS, P7

PHOTO BY BRETT STAKELIN/REGIS UNIVERSITY

THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL

‘Instead of finding an escape route into next year to quickly move away from our trouble spots, what if we looked to build upon our brightest moments and use this past year as our launching pad into next year?’

Michael Norton | columnist, Page 6 INSIDE

VOICES: PAGE 6 | LIFE: PAGE 8 | CALENDAR: PAGE 9 VOLUME 91 | ISSUE 6

2 Denver Herald

December 7, 2017

Marijuana money and education in Denver metro schools Pot-tax revenue accounts for 1 percent of total state education funding

BY SHANNA FORTIER SFORTIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Jefferson County Public Schools is hiring six more social-emotional counselors for 14 elementary schools.

Douglas County School District has one additional school counselor at each of its nine middle schools.

Littleton Public Schools can start a new program on substance abuse prevention.

And, in Adams 12 Five Star Schools, there’s a new bullying prevention program.

The school districts can thank state marijuana sales for the extra boost to mental health, counseling, dropout and other programs that help students socially and behaviorally.

School officials say they are glad to have the additional money — regardless of its source — for programs they otherwise couldn’t fund.

“Marijuana in Colorado is a done deal,” said Connie Bouwman, deputy superintendent of Littleton Public Schools. “The voters have clearly spoken. That being the case, we have a responsibility to continue to educate our students on the effects of alcohol and drugs. The dollars we receive from our portion of the marijuana tax fund two substance abuse specialists to help us further our educational efforts.”

In 2012, Colorado voters approved Amendment 64 that allowed adults 21 and older to consume or possess marijuana and required the state to set up a regulatory structure for the retail marijuana industry. That amendment, as well as later bills, also mandated a sales tax with money going to the Colorado Department of Education.

Since 2015, the Colorado Department of Education has received $230.8 million from marijuana revenue, comprising about 1 percent of the more than $5 billion the state gives to school districts. That money is divided into two main accounts — the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund and the Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) fund.

Most of the school programs are supported by four grant programs in the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund, which focus on bullying prevention, behavioral health, early literacy and drop out prevention.

The School Health Professional grant has awarded the most money from all Marijuana Tax Cash Fund grants, distributing $16.5 million during the life of the grant program.

Littleton was one of 36 school districts to receive money from the most recent distributionof this grant, which at $11.9 million accounted for the largest amount from the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund.

“These specialists provide training for school staff and help coordinate prevention activities,” said Diane Leiker, director of communications

WHERE THE MONEY COMES FROM In 2012, Colorado voters approved Amendment 64, which allowed adults 21 and older to consume or possess marijuana and required the state to set up a regulatory structure for the retail marijuana industry. It also mandated an excise tax — a specific tax on marijuana — with the first $40 million collected to be reserved for school construction.

The tax revenue comes into the state’s coffers in two ways.

1. The excise tax The first $40 million from the excise tax on wholesale retail marijuana goes into the state’s Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) fund. BEST also receives income streams from the Colorado State Land Board, spillover from the Colo-

ABOUT THE TAXES

rado Lottery and interest on the assistance fund.

School districts, Boards of Cooperative Educational Services, charter schools, Charter School Institute and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind may apply for the grants and must provide matching funds.

BEST also received a one-time disbursement resulting from Proposition BB, a successful statewide ballot measure in 2015 that allowed the state to keep the surplus in marijuana tax revenue.

This year, the state Board of Education approved $295.6 million in projects for school construction across the state in annual grant awards from the BEST program.

for Littleton Public Schools. “They also provide education, assessment, case management and treatment referrals for LPS students and families.”

Jeffco schools was also one of those recipients, receiving $825,164, an amount it will get annually for two more years depending on funding availability. Those grant dollars will pay for social-emotional counselors at 14 elementary schools that feed into Jefferson, Wheat Ridge and Lakewood high schools — the communities within the district that are closest to areas that allow retail sale of marijuana.

“Early, consistent intervention is critical to student physical and emotional health,” said Kevin Carroll, chief student success officer for Jeffco schools. “As educators we understand and value that the social and emotional well-being of our students, as well as their physical health, directly impacts their ability to fully access learning opportunities. We are very excited to have this additional support for Jeffco kids.”

The district’s Office of Student Services also was able to hire a student support coordinator to lead substance abuse prevention efforts.

“The goal is to really focus on prevention, building relationships with kids and practicing social-emotional skills early and often,” said Erin Sullivan, Jeffco schools’ social-emotional learning coordinator, who also wrote the grant.

The Douglas County School District was also awarded three-year funding totaling $2.44 million from the Health Professional Grant, which will add one full-time counselor for prevention at each of the district’s nine middle schools. These counselors will focus on substance use and mental health prevention.

“I think it’s wonderful to have

Any money above the $40 million from marijuana sales goes to the Public School Fund, which is run by the state treasurer’s office and distributes fund throughout the state.

2. Marijuana Tax Cash Fund In 2014, the state Legislature created the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund to collect sales tax revenue from retail and medical marijuana. Revenue from that fund must be spent the following year on health care, monitoring of the health effects of marijuana, health education, substance abuse prevention and treatment programs and law enforcement. This is the fund from which grant money is awarded for programs that address mental health, bullying prevention, drop-out prevention and early literacy.

someone dedicated to really getting ahead of the problems and doing prevention work,” said Zac Hess, director for health, wellness and prevention for DCSD. “We know from research that’s the best way to combat it. What we hope is that it’s less intervention, less putting out fires, because we’re preventing the fires from being started in the first place.”

Of all the districts applying for the Health Professional Grant funding, Denver Public Schools — the largest district in the state — has landed the most money, logging $2.78 million from 2016 to 2020.

Other districts, such as Cherry Creek Schools, Mapleton Public Schools —which includes parts of Denver, Westminster, Northglenn and Commerce City — and Adams 12 Five Star are also using money from the Marijuana Cash Fund to fight bullying, prevent at-risk kids from dropping out of school and bolster literacy.

The $74,000 that Adams 12 received from the Bullying Prevention and Education Grant will go to professional development, parent education nights and the purchase of a Buddy bench at Westgate Community School, a charter school.

“The CDE Bullying Prevention and Education Grant has given us a framework, structures and a toolbox to enact real, sustainable change in our school and larger community,” said Amanda Novak, dean of culture for Westgate Community School. “Our students feel empowered to speak out and stand up for themselves and others in the face of disrespect and bullying. Our community knows how to access support and resources, and there is an honest dedication to creating a positive and safe school.”

Jeffco will spend its three-year $607,447 grant from the Student Re-en-

How is marijuana taxed?

Excise taxes: Colorado levies a 15 percent excise tax on wholesale marijuana, which is the product before it is sold to customers.

Sales taxes: The state also imposes a 15 percent sales tax on retail marijuana as well as the regular 2.9 percent sales tax on retail and medical marijuana. Local jurisdictions may levy their own sales taxes.

How much money comes to the Colorado Department of Education from marijuana taxes?

In 2015-16, marijuana tax revenue for the Colorado Department of Education was $86.3 million. That number dropped to $54.2 million in 2016-17, but increased to $90.3 million in 2017-18. However, to put that into perspective, the marijuana tax revenue from 2017-18 was roughly 1.6 percent of the state’s K-12 education budget of $5.6 billion.

Source: Colorado Department of Education gagement fund — the largest amount awarded in the metro area —to focus on mentoring, social-emotional strategies, credit recovery and case management in five schools.

With money from the same program, School District 27J, which has schools in Thornton, Brighton and Commerce City, will focus on supporting students in its Career Readiness Certificate Program where students can acquire a National Career Readiness Certificate in combination with a GED diploma.

“The Career Readiness Certificate Program allows students who are significantly older and have so few credits accumulated that it would be challenging for them to earn a traditional high school diploma prior to turning 21,” said Innovations and Options Principal Kenlyn Newman, with School District 27J. Mapleton Public Schools and Denver Public Schools are also addressing student re-engagement strategies with the grant money. By implementing programs at five schools that focus on improving academic intervention and improving attendance and behavior.

Jeffco and Englewood schools are the only two districts in the metro area using grant money for early literacy programs.

The Early Literacy Grant will bring more than a half million dollars into Clayton Elementary in Englewood over the next three years to specifically address literacy instruction.

“Our Early Literacy Grant has allowed our staff to engage students in rigorous learning aligned with the Colorado Academic Standards and 21st Century Skills,” said Jenny Buster, principal of Clayton Elementary. “Through the use of evidencebased instructional resources and pedagogy, we are able to target the needs of all learners.”

Denver Herald 3

December 7, 2017

Some Denver schools aim for economic integration Pilot program achieves highest level of success at East

BY MELANIE ASMAR CHALKBEAT.ORG

Two years ago, Denver Public Schools approached its most affluent schools with an idea: What if, after enrolling all of the students who lived in their school boundaries, they prioritized filling their remaining open seats with low-income students from other neighborhoods?

The goal was to increase socioeconomic integration in a gentrifying city where housing patterns have exacerbated a familiar problem: At some schools, very few students qualify for subsidized lunches. At other schools, nearly all do. And there aren’t enough schools in between, even though some research shows all students benefit when schools are integrated.

Six elementary schools with poverty rates far below the district average signed on to the idea. They were joined last year by Denver’s largest and most sought-after high school, East High, where hundreds of kids compete each year for freshman spots.

The results have been mixed. While the prioritization made little difference in diversifying the student

bell, is whether the responsibility to population at some small elementary integrate Denver’s schools should fall schools, it had a bigger effect at East, where every low-income eighth-grader solely on its low-income students — or whether more affluent students who applied through Denver’s school should share the burden of traveling choice system for a spot in this year’s outside their neighborhoods for the freshman class was admitted, said sake of inteBrian Eschbachgration. er, the district’s “It really executive direcis, ‘What are tor of planning the incenand enrollment tives that are services. At needed?’” smaller schools, said Romero a limited number Campbell, of open seats and who is a lack of transpresident portation to and of Scholars from school hinUnlimited, a dered the results, local nonprofit he said. organization The small-scale that runs pilot program Brent Applebaum after-school is one of the summer strategies being Assistant principal at C3 and learning proreviewed by the grams. “If you Strengthening make it a big Neighborhoods mandate, does Initiative, a that disincentivize people and does committee made up of community it become busing all over again? The leaders whose task is recommending general consensus is that’s not what policies to drive greater socioeconomwe want to do.” ic integration in the city’s schools.

In 1973, Denver Public Schools became the first school district outside Unsettled issues the South ordered by the Supreme Questions remain about the efficacy Court to desegregate through forced and equity of expanding the pilot. busing. By the time the district was Among them, said the committee cofreed from the order in 1995, tens of chairwoman, Diana Romero Camp-

“What we talk about so much here is community, we want to be a representation of what Denver looks like.”

thousands of white students had left city schools for suburban and private ones. At the time, Denver Public Schools had about 64,000 students.

The district has tried over the past decade to attract students back, and enrollment has climbed precipitously, as has the city’s overall population.

Today, Denver Public Schools educates about 92,000 students, three-quarters of whom are students of color and two-thirds of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a proxy for poverty.

Denver has universal school choice, which means that under a system that debuted in 2012, all students can use a single form to apply to any school in the district. That includes district-run schools and charter schools, which are publicly funded but privately run.

Some charters, such as the highperforming Denver School of Science and Technology, prize integration, and their enrollment rules have always reflected that goal. As the district opened more of its own schools and set up new “enrollment zones,” which are bigger boundaries that contain several schools, it followed suit, Eschbacher said. Certain schools have enrollment “floors” that require that at least half of their students qualify for subsidized lunches.

In some cases, the goal was to make sure a school’s population reflected SEE SCHOOLS, P5

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4 Denver Herald

December 7, 2017

Mothers’ Milk Bank celebrates its 12,000th human milk donor The goal is to get 250 more donors before the end of the year CALM AFTER THE STORM

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As a neonatal nurse practitioner, Kathryn Brecht, of Denver, spends her days caring for fragile newborns, many of whom rely on donor human milk.

“I see the benefits of donor human milk on a daily basis when I go to work,” Brecht said. “There are a lot of babies that depend on it to get big and thrive and go home.”

That’s why when Brecht started producing too much milk following the birth to her second son, she decided to become a milk donor through Mothers’ Milk Bank.

“I’m very fortunate that I produce more milk than my baby needs,” Brecht said. “I wanted my milk to be put to good use and there’s no better way than to give it to premature or sick babies that need it.”

Last month, Brecht became the 12,000th donor at Mothers’ Milk Bank, a program of Rocky Mountain Children’s Health Foundation that has provided donor human milk to babies throughout the country, mostly in Colorado, with a wide network of hospital and community partners for 33 years.

MMB is the largest nonprofit milk bank in North America and earlier this year, observed another significant milestone, having dispensed its five millionth ounce of milk. The majority of MMB’s donations help pre-term babies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) who are so tiny they might only need one ounce per day.

“Human milk is often referred to as liquid gold because it provides hundreds of important components for newborns that are not found in formula,” said Laraine Lockhart-Borman, director of outreach for MMB. “We feel honored to provide milk to babies who need it most as it helps them through one of the most fragile periods of their lives. When deciding between providing a baby with milk from a mother or manufactured formula, there really is no comparison. Human milk is always the best choice.”

Premature birth is the leading cause of infant death in Colorado. Colorado averages 400 infant deaths per year with 38 percent of these resulting from premature birth. Babies who survive an early birth may face serious and lifelong health problems; however, the immediate availability of human milk can help prevent some of these ailments. Many mothers who deliver preterm may not yet be able to produce milk, and that’s when the Mothers’ Milk Bank steps in.

“More than 90 percent of MMB’s donations directly serve premature babies in hospital settings and it’s our mission to make sure every baby who needs milk to survive receives it,” said Lockhart-Borman. “We accomplish this with the help of

HOW TO DONATE

Mother’s Milk Bank welcomes donor milk from women throughout Colorado and most of the United States. Women interested in donating milk can contact MMB at 303-869-1888.

To be eligible as a milk donor, one must: Be confident in her milk supply and produce milk in excess of her own baby’s needs Be willing to donate a minimum total of 150 ounces throughout her time as a donor Not have any medical condition that prohibits her from giving blood Be in excellent health without any chronic illnesses or history of major medical issues or cancer, including leukemia Have no history of hepatitis after age 11 or positive tuberculosis tests Be a non-smoker and refrain from using tobacco or marijuana products of any kind Have not received blood or blood products or organ or tissue transplants in the past 12 months Have no history of intimate contact with anyone at risk for HIV/AIDS Not be taking vitamin supplements that exceed 2,000 percent Daily Value (DV) Take only approved medications and herbal supplements/teas. Mothers’ Milk Tea, fenugreek and any lactation support product containing fenugreek or other herbs is NOT compatible with donating.

Consume less than 24 ounces of caffeinated beverages a day (2-3 cups of coffee) Wait 12 hours after drinking any alcoholic beverage to collect milk to donate Be motivated to practice exceptional hygiene and carry out careful milk collection and storage methods Be willing to undergo blood testing Be less than 18 months postpartum when collecting the milk hundreds of new donors across the country every year. We need more milk donors to meet the demand and this month is the perfect time to sign up to give the gift of life.”

During the holiday season, the milk bank is in need because cold and flu season, which prevents sick donors from donating, which makes donations decrease. To help with this MMB is holding a donor drive in December with the goal of 250 new donors to sign up to give their excess human milk to babies in need.

MMB supports donation and outreach centers across Colorado in the Denver metro area, Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Greeley, Grand Junction, Lone Tree, Lafayette, Louisville, Loveland, Parker, Pueblo, Salida and Steamboat Springs.

Mothers who are interested in donating their milk are encouraged to contact MMB for a verbal screening.

Every healthy lactating mother with an infant under the age of 18 months is a potential milk donor.

Brecht encourages other mothers to share their gift of life.

“If you’re like me, you might be leery of committing to anything that might take up your time in an already busy life with small children,” Brecht said.

“But if you’re already pumping and collecting milk for your own baby, the most time-consuming part of the donation process is already done.”

Denver Herald 5

December 7, 2017

SCHOOLS FROM PAGE 3

the neighborhood population, he said.

In others, it was to ensure families didn’t self-segregate within zones: all higher-income students at one school and none at the others, for example.

Story generated idea Then, two years ago, Eschbacher read a news story about school integration efforts in Brooklyn, New York. It inspired him to dash off a proposal to Superintendent Tom Boasberg that resulted in the district inviting schools where fewer than 40 s percent of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunch to participate in a pilot prioritizing the enrollment of low-income students.

The schools’ boundaries wouldn’t change, Eschbacher explained, and they would still accept students who live within their boundaries first. But for the remaining open seats, they would give preference to low-income students who applied, boosting those students’ chances to attend one of the district’s more affluent schools, which also tend to be among its highest performing.

Asbury, Edison, Steele, Academia Ana Marie Sandoval and Creativity Challenge Community elementary schools opted in the first year, as did Slavens, which serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

The following year, East High joined the pilot, as well.

Julia Shepherd, principal at Creativity Challenge Community, said her school opted in because integration has always been one of its goals.

C3, as it’s called, opened in 2012 in a wealthier southeast Denver neighborhood as an all-choice, non-boundary school offering a curriculum that calls for collaborating with local museums and cultural institutions.

Its percentage of low-income students has historically been far below the district average. Last year, 9.5 percent of students qualified for free or reduced-price lunches. That number is up to 10.5 percent this year, but it’s 13.5 percent in kindergarten, which is the grade at which most new students enroll. Shepherd credits the increased diversity to the pilot program. Every low-income student who applied for a seat in C3’s kindergarten got in, she said.

“What we talk about so much here is community,” said Brent Applebaum, an assistant principal at C3. “… We want to be a representation of what Denver looks like.”

Success at East The pilot has been most successful at East, where historically about a third of all students have qualified for subsidized lunches. Of the 800 students in East’s freshmen class this year, 425 live in the boundary and 375 “choiced in,” Eschbacher said. The 375 includes 113 low-income students who live outside the boundary and don’t have a sibling at the school, which also gives applicants a priority.

It also includes 170 non-low-income students who fit that description.

In the past, Eschbacher said, the 113 low-income students would have been tossed into a lottery with their non-low-income counterparts and faced a 50/50 chance of getting into the district’s most-requested school.

Prioritizing them ensured they had a 100 percent chance, he said.

The numbers of low-income students who were accepted at each of the six elementary schools were so small that Eschbacher said he couldn’t disclose them for privacy reasons.

Part of the reason is that the factors that make the pilot work at East — lots of open seats and lots of demand — don’t exist at many other schools in the district, Eschbacher said. The seats at most more-affluent schools fill up with students who live in the boundary; Asbury had just five open kindergarten seats in 2016, according to district statistics, while Slavens had only six.

Full boundaries leave little room for choice students, low-income or not, Eschbacher said. “Are we giving them a boost no matter what?” he said.

“Yep, we’re definitely trying. But one of the lessons we learned is that when few seats are available, it’s not going to move the needle very much.”

For enrollment prioritization to work, affluent schools must also attract enough interest from low-income students who want to choice in. That can be tough given that the district doesn’t provide transportation to most students who exercise choice. A recent district map of the percentage of low-income students in each elementary school boundary shows poor students are clustered in certain boundaries while wealthier students are clustered in others.

The Strengthening Neighborhoods Initiative has been meeting since June, and Romero Campbell, the co-chairwoman, said that all options are on the table as its initial work draws to a close. The committee has two more meetings scheduled and is expected to release its recommendations in December.

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6 Denver Herald

December 7, 2017

LOCAL

VOICES These days, a press conference is more like a guess conference

T

he story goes that Robert Johnson sold his soul to the QUIET devil.

In Rosedale, Missis- DESPERATION sippi.

In exchange for musical genius.

(Tommy Johnson’s character in the film “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” is an allusion to that contract.)

What would you ask for in exchange Craig Marshall for your soul?

Fame, fancy cars, Smith and big cigars? To be forever young? A significant weight loss?

Or maybe six figures and a national spotlight for four years?

Would you be willing to stand in front of a hundred people, and a national television audience, and say with conviction, “All men are created equal’ has

been widely misinterpreted”?

That blue is red and night is day and denial is a river in Egypt?

The ability to contour a fact into a new fact is something to behold.

In fiction it’s called “believable lies.”

I am a big believer in believable lies, but only the harmless kind.

Humor is based in rearranging commonly held beliefs.

Steven Wright said, “A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I’m afraid of widths.”

I once told a class that Monet and Manet were the same man.

Some of them believed me.

It was a reminder that people in a position of authority can convince some people of almost anything.

When I attended umpire school, I was told over and over to “sell” the call, even if I wasn’t certain.

Never, ever say, “Out?” I had to say “Out” with the belief that I was right, no matter what.

I was never told, however, to choose

sides, and influence the outcome on behalf of the team I had chosen.

It’s possible to believe in someone who is wrong most of the time, whose allegations are refutable, who does far more harm than good, and convert all of it, every speck, into a convincing defense. And to do it in the moment, extemporaneously, and to make doubters and those who question you seem like nincompoops.

It’s a sight to behold.

“Yesterday he said a 6 was a 9, and now you’re telling me that I listened to his statement when I was upside down?”

“That’s right.”

I am not sure what it would take to get me to say something that was disingenuous, that I knew was wrongminded, might be hurtful, was intellectually broken, and make it sound like fair goods.

Someone up there wouldn’t like it.

My father. My father never misled me. He never promised me that he was

going to have someone else build and pay for a swimming pool.

He never told me that he knew American history when he didn’t. He never chased skirts. He never turned his errors into triumphs, and, most of all, he was never boastful.

His kind of clarity is AWOL in America right now. I have no plans, however, to walk the streets with a lamp during the day, looking for an honest man.

I guess I am too old for that, and resigned, and exasperated.

The silver lining is this: I appreciate some people far more than I did before last November, and I appreciate some things — like good music, good art, and good literature — far more than I did before last November.

What would you ask for in exchange for your soul?

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

He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

Instead of putting down last year, try building up next year

I

t is usually at this time of the year, or maybe even sooner, that we hear someone we know say something like, “I am so glad this year is coming to an end.”

Or, “I can’t wait for the year to be over so I can start fresh again next year.” I actually overheard someone say that on last New Year’s Eve they had a really bad feeling about 2017 and then sure enough it had been. And in their words, “It has been the year from hell.”

Oh my goodness, there is no doubt that we can look back on these past 11 months, or any prior year for that matter and find war, violence, political unrest, unhealthy rivalries, divorce, death, heartache, disease, natural disasters, tragedies and more horrific events and situations than we know what to do with. And it’s no wonder that at this time of the year, or maybe even sooner, many people are looking for an escape route into next year.

But here’s the thing, if we go looking for the bad in life, we will certainly find bad things. If we look for the good, we will also find the good.

We should never put our blinders on when it comes to reality. Now that works both

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ways, doesn’t it? I mean when people use that expression, they are usually referring to putting blinders on so we ignore the bad things happening around us or uncomfortable situations we are trying to avoid. So, the other side then is this, that we also shouldn’t put blinders on to ignore all the good and positive that is happening all around us as well.

Instead of finding an escape route into next year to quickly move away from our trouble spots, what if we looked to build upon our brightest moments and use this past year as our launching pad into next year? Even if we had only one bright spot, and I would bet that we could find more if we really tried. Success begets success, good is a force multiplier, a positive attitude fans the flames of inspiration. The only thing that negativity does or that looking for the bad accomplishes is that they bring the fire extinguisher to the party of opportunity.

If we proclaimed last year, before the New Year even started, that it was going to be a bad year, then of course that is what we would have strived to prove out. We placed our stake of negativity in the ground and by

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God, come hell or high water, we are going to make sure it’s bad for us and everyone else. Let’s turn that around and proclaim that the New Year will be filled with abundance, overflowing with opportunity, abundant in hope and encouragement, and topped off with a year full of loving relationships. And, should we use 2017 as our launching pad and make that proclamation, will we not stand up and strive to prove that out as well? I bet we would. And I bet you, you reading this column right now, you would too.

So how about you? Have you gotten caught up in the bad things that happened last year and are 100 percent focused on those? Or are you looking at what you did accomplish in the past 12 months and have a plan to build upon each success? Either way I would love to hear all of your stories at gotonorton@ gmail.com. And when we can forget the escape route and start building our launching pad, it really will be a better than good week.

Michael Norton is a resident of Castle Rock, the former president of the Zig Ziglar Corporation, a strategic consultant and a business and personal coach.

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December 7, 2017

5 things to know about NASH liver disease Englewood medical office one of few places to get non-invasive screening

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Fatty liver is a condition that’s misunderstood too often, one doctor in Englewood says — and that’s a deadly misunderstanding to make.

Marcelo Kugelmas, a doctor with an office at Englewood’s Swedish Medical Center, helps detect problems before it’s too late. His office, a South Denver Gastroenterology location, is one of the only places where patients can get a fibroscan — a non-invasive procedure that can help detect NASH, a kind of liver disease that’s estimated to affect 3 percent to 5 percent of the United States population.

Here are a few things to know about the disease.

What is the disease?

NASH is a term for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a severe form of fatty liver disease, which stems from a buildup of fat in the liver that causes inflammation. (“Steato” means fat, and hepatitis is liver inflammation, Kugelmas said.) It usually doesn’t cause symptoms until a person has

SIDEWALKS FROM PAGE 1

Of course, that won’t always be possible. The proposed plan makes allowances, simply calling for walkways “as wide as possible” when space is limited.

Building out the full sidewalk network would cost $800 million at minimum and up to $1.4 billion if all the subpar sidewalks are retrofitted, according to the Denver Moves report.

“Completing the sidewalk network will take many years and will likely require new thinking in Denver regarding funding. A commitment to walkability in Denver must be accompanied by a commitment to funding,” the plan states.

Comments on the plan will be accepted through Dec. 11.

It’s unclear how or when this might be funded, but the city already has a start: Voters on Election Day approved a bonds package that included about $31 million for citywide sidewalk hconstruction, and pedestrian improvements are included in the budgets for many major corridor overhauls in the .bond program.

The proposal splits up potential projects into several tiers. The top priority for sidewalks would be in areas where pedestrians are frequently hurt, as identified in Mayor Michael Hancock’s Vision Zero initiative.

experienced advanced liver damage — the disease can progress for years without a person knowing they have it.

Left unchecked, it can lead to liver scarring, liver failure, cancer or death. And a similar condition to NASH is also rampant in the country.

“There’s a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease,” Kugelmas said. “It results from accumulation of fat in the liver in people who don’t drink enough alcohol to cause that problem (just) from the alcohol drinking.”

Known as NAFLD, it’s the more general form of the disease — NASH is its more aggressive form, and about one in four NAFLD sufferers may have it, Kugelmas said.

Is this new?

No, but it has become more common over the years. It wasn’t recognized 50 years ago, Kugelmas said.

“Most people think you only get liver disease from drinking too much or from having (viruses) that cause hepatitis, but there are many other reasons for chronic liver disease,” Kugelmas said. “NAFLD and NASH will become, over the next decade or two, the most common cause for liver disease for liver cirrhosis (or scarring), for liver cancer, for patients undergoing liver transplantation and from people dying from liver disease.”

These high-priority sidewalks could be built for around $25 million, the report says. The next priority would be areas around high-frequency transit.

The top tier also includes bridges over railroads and busy roads at numerous locations, such as a potential connector from Brighton Boulevard to National Western Drive. There are six tiers in total.

Finally, the document lays out potential projects that would complete the city’s bike and pedestrian trails network. The trails projects could cost an additional $400 million, according to the plan.

In Denver, property owners are generally responsible for maintaining the sidewalks near their property. However, the city rarely forces people to make repairs. As a result, a lot of sidewalks are in rough shape.

Under another new plan — separate from the Denver Moves report — the city would ramp up enforcement, but it also would make $4 million available to ease homeowners’ financial pain.

The city would pay for some people’s repairs and offer low-interest loans for others, depending on the homeowner’s income.

The Denver City Council approved the creation of the fund without objection at a meeting the night of Nov. 27.

Denverite is an online local news source for everything you need to know about Denver in 5 minutes. Visit denverite.com/subscribe for more.

What are the risk factors?

Major risk factors for NASH are Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. NASH affects Hispanics and men more than other ethnic and gender groups.

Fatty liver disease and NASH can also affect kids, and people who develop it early are likely to end up with more aggressive diseases at a younger age, Kugelmas said. Treatment plans can include lifestyle modifications or the possibility of participating in clinical trials, which help researchers determine if certain treatments are effective.

“You can cure fatty liver — you can get rid of all fat and inflammation, and the scarring depends on each particular individual,” Kugelmas said. Younger livers respond better than old ones, and there is a “point of no return” beyond which doctors can’t make it better, he added.

To do that, they need to check you out.

How does the machine work?

The imaging test, called a fibroscan, is a painless test that’s done with very little preparation — you just need to show up after fasting for three hours.

“There’s no risk,” Kugelmas said.

It assesses the degree of fatty infiltration in the liver and the

degree of scarring a person might have. It’s seen by many as equal to a biopsy, which, on the other hand, is invasive, carries some risk and is much more expensive, Kugelmas said.

The fibroscan machine his office uses regularly is one it’s only had for a few months, Kugelmas said.

The machines are usually only found at academic institutions, and very few private practices — and only those in urban areas — offer it, Kugelmas said.

Aside from the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System in Denver, Kugelmas’ office at 499 E. Hampden Ave. is the only place in the Denver metro area that offers the scan technology, based on website information from Echosens, the company that provides the machines. A location in Colorado Springs is the only other place in Colorado at which to get the scan.

How can I prevent liver disease?

Cut out excess calories and processed carbohydrates, Kugelmas said — extra calories get stored as fat. Exercise is key, too, and one hour per day six days a week is recommended, but it varies personto-person.

“If today is better than yesterday, and tomorrow is better than today, you’re in the right direction,” Kugelmas said.

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LOCAL

December 7, 2017

LIFE

B

AREA LIGHT DISPLAYS

Blossoms of Light Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver Lights on display through Jan. 1 5 to 9 p.m.

A Purchase tickets in advance at to ensure entry at www.botanicgardens.org

Denver City and County Building 1437 Bannock St., Denver Lights on display until Jan. 21 J 5:45 to 10:45 p.m.

Holiday’s Evening on the Littleton Museum Farms 6028 S Gallup St, Littleton, CO 80120 Dec. 10 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 10 Will feature candlelight and bonfires S as visitors stroll through the historic farms. Music, snacks and Santa. Tickets in advance at Littleton Museum and Bemis Library.

For the first year, Chatfield Farms near Littleton will be home to Santa’s Village, featuring Mr. and Mrs. Claus, as well as live reindeer. Below, the Denver Botanic Gardens’ York Street location features thousands of lights and is a popular spot for families, as well as for couples to get engaged.

PHOTOS BY SCOTT DRESSEL-MARTIN/COURTESY OF DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

Shining a

Santa’s Village at Chatfield Farms 8500 W. Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton Lights on display Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 24 R 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Purchase tickets in advance at to ensure entry www.botanicgardens. org

light on the season

Zoo, botanic gardens, downtown offer holiday beauty

BY CLARKE READER CREADER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Even though Grace Ramírez is a Denver native and works for the City of Denver, it’s still a thrill to see downtown and the Denver City and County Building all lit up for the season.

“It’s been part of our family tradition for years,” said Ramírez, senior adviser for community affairs. “It’s a touchstone for a lot of families, and even though the lights are different every year, we have decorations we use every time. People have their favorites, which they are on the lookout for.”

During the holiday season,

Denver and surrounding cities have for years lit up the night with flashing and twinkling lights, music and family fun. All visitors need is a coat.

The holiday lights at the Denver City and County Building have been a feature of the holidays since 1932, though its roots go back to 1919.

The Denver Zoo’s annual Zoo Lights is entering its 27th year, and the Denver Botanic Gardens has hosted Blossoms of Light at its York Street Garden for 29 years, while the facility’s Chatfield Farms location has played host to lights for nine years — first as Trail of Lights, and this year as Santa’s Village.

A Hudson Christmas Hudson Gardens, 6115 S. Santa Fe S Drive, Littleton 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dec. 8, 9, 10 and nightly Dec. 15 to 31 The model train will be decorated, a giant Christmas tree will dazzle, as will countless evergreen trees.

Walk through a lighted tunnel, enjoy reflections in the pond and C shining snowflakes. Hot drinks, sweet treats and gift items are available and, of course, Santa is on hand to greet visitors. Tickets available at hudsongardens.org or at the door.

Because of this, each has become part of the season for families all over the metro area.

“We’re the Rocky Mountain region’s largest lighting event, with most of our 60 acres lit up, as well as 130 animated animal sculptures,” said Sean AndersonVie, public relations manager with the zoo. “People really take in all the different animals, which is great, because a lot of detail goes into the sculptures.”

Beyond providing terrific holiday atmosphere, there are some unique activities available for visitors: SEE LIGHTS, P9

Zoo Lights Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St., Denver A Lights on display through Dec. 31 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Dec. 1 to 31 Purchase tickets in advance at to ensure entry at www.denverzoo.org

The Denver Zoo’s 60 acres are full of lights and animated animal sculptures during Zoo Lights, which runs through Dec. 31.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DENVER ZOO

Denver Herald 9

December 7, 2017

THINGS TO DO

Anansi: The Itsy BiTSY Spider Stories: 7:30 p.m. Fridays, 1 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m.

Sundays through Dec. 17 at The BiTSY Stage, 1137 S. Huron St., Denver. Show is free; reservations required. Call 720-328-5294 or go to www.bitsystage.com.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat: through to Saturday, Dec. 23 at Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd. Performances at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays; 1 p.m.

Wednesdays, and 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Call 720-898-7200.

Santa’s Big Red Sack: 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday through Dec. 24 at Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., Denver. For mature audiences; this is a holiday show you should not take your kids to. Call 303-321-5925 or go to Avenuetheater.com.

Seussical, The Musical: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 30 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. No show on Dec. 24. Tickets available at the arts center box office, by calling 303-794-2787 ext. 5, or online at townhallartscenter.org.

ComedySportz: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 31 at The Avenue Theater, 417 E. 17th Ave., Denver. Two teams compete for laughs and points, with a referee keeping things moving and calling fouls. Fans judge the scenes and games and decide the winners and losers. Call 303-321-5925 or go to http://www.avenuetheater.com.

MUSIC

Rejoice! Our Light Has Come: 3 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 9 at The Sanctuary, 3101 W. 31st Ave., Denver. Concert presented by the Lutheran Chorale. Annual silent auction and bake sale preceds the concert at 1:30 p.m.

Go to www.thelutheranchorale.org.

And on Earth, Peace: 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 17 at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver. Featuring Chancel Choir, Augustana Ringers, AVE and Stratus Chamber Orchestra. Call 303-388-4962 or go to www.AugustanaArts.org.

ARTS/CRAFTS

Holiday Miniatures Show: Dec. 9-31 at Abend Gallery, 1412 Wazee St., Denver.

Opening reception from 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9. Gallery hours are noon to 6 p.m.

Tuesday to Saturday. Call 303-355-0950 or go to www.abendgallery.com.

Quilting: An American Tradition: 6-7 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 11 at Eloise May Library, 1471 Parker Road, Denver. Jeananne Wright, a quilt historian, will share about the evolution of quilt making from the 1800s to present day. She’ll also show off some quilts in her collection. Go to arapahoelibraries.org.

Legacy: through Dec. 31 at the Denver Public Library, Vida Ellison Gallery, 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver. Exhibition of

EVENTS

Galactic Knight Training Camp: 3:30-4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at Sheridan Library, 3425 W. Oxford Ave., Denver. Are you one with the force? Prepare to protect our galaxy from the dark side in honor of the newest “Star Wars” saga. Save your spot at arapahoelibraries.org.

Santa’s Flight Academy: through Dec. 24 at Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Children transform into members of Santa’s crew.

Kids get a badge, are fitted with a virtual flight suit, get to navigate a flight path and prepare Santa’s 22-foot-tall sleight before takeoff. Go to www.shopcherrycreek.com for hours and other information.

HEALTH

Foods to Fight Stress: 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7 at Eloise May Library, 1471 Parker Road, Denver. A whopping 75 percent of adults report experiencing moderate to high levels of stress in the past month. So what’s the secret (and surprising) weapon to combat daily stressors? Your diet. Natural Grocers will identify key nutrients you can add to your diet to knock out stress with a one-two punch. Save your spot at arapahoelibraries.org.

Infant CPR, Choking Relief Training: 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16 at North High School, 2960 N. Speer Blvd., Denver. Free; walk-ins welcome but RSVP suggested. Go to www. heart.org/savealifeco.

Adult Hands-Only CPR Training: 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon Saturday, Dec. 16 at North High School, 2960 N. Speer Blvd., Denver. Free; walk-ins welcome but RSVP suggested. Go to www.heart.org/savealifeco.

Immunization Clinic: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 16 at Colorado Miners Community Center, 4809 Race St., Denver. Call 303-602-3520 or go to www.shotsfortotsandteens.org.

LIGHTS FROM PAGE 8

Pop the question in a winter wonderland The lights at places like the zoo and the Blossoms of Lights top most home displays, which makes them the perfect places to get engaged.

The zoo sees plenty of engagements, Anderson-Vie said, and Blossoms was the site of so many that it started an engagement package.

“For people who want to propose, they can buy one of these, which provides them an hour to set up on the Green Roof, on top of our Offshoots Café,” said Erin Bird, communications manager at the Denver Botanic Gardens. “They can bring champagne up there and up to three guests to celebrate with them.”

Interacting with the light The challenge with traditional activities is bringing people back with something new, and this year visitors will get to interact with the lights in different ways.

The lights at the Denver City and County Building are synced to a music show, which begins at 5:30 and 6:45 p.m. Those looking to get even more hands-on can volunteer to actu-

During Zoo Lights, about 130 animated animal sculptures fill the Denver Zoo.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DENVER ZOO

ally switch the lights on.

At Blossoms of Light, there’s an interactive light display set up in the theater that features a large field of sound-reactive, animated LED lights.

As Bird explains, the lights react to the tones of voice and of drums.

But the biggest change is at Chatfield Farms, where the Trail of Lights and its country approach has been replaced with a North Pole theme.

“Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there, and we’ll even have live reindeer,” Bird said. “Tickets also get you hayride, and we have a Christmas cinema set up as well.”

No matter where one looks, a chance for holiday traditions old and new.

Downtown show stretches back to 1919 and colored bulbs and strung them around the building.

The story of the Denver City and County Building’s lights began in 1919 when John Malpiede changed the white globes in Civic Center to red and green and twined some evergreen branches around the decorations. Then in 1920, the first Christmas tree was erected in Civic Center.

The City and County of Denver municipal government moved to its current location in 1932, and the tradition of lighting the building the Friday after Thanksgiving continued.

Malpiede eventually convinced Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton in 1926 that city hall, then located at 14th and Larimer streets, should be decorated for the holidays. Stapleton gave him $400 for equipment and decorations that year, and with that money Malpiede and four city electrical inspectors bought wiring

A crew of six to eight people begins putting up lights in mid-October. In 2009, the city installed approximately 585 LED permanent light fixtures on the building and more than 2,000 feet of LED rope lights are used. Approximately five miles of electric wiring is utilized for the entire project.

EDUCATION

The Nobel Prize: 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Central Library, 10 W. 14th Avenue Parkway, Denver. Active Minds traces the history of the Nobel Prize, highlighting notable laureates, notable omissions, and a controversy here and there. No RSVP required.

Take a Bite of the Big Apple: 2-3 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 13 at Heather Gardens, 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora. Join Active Minds in exploring New York City. Call 303-751-1811 Dinosaurs: 6:45-7:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14 at Sam Gary Library, 2961 Roslyn St., Denver.

Join Active Minds for a look at discoveries that will change our thinking about dinosaurs.

Editor’s note: Calendar submissions must be received by noon Thursday for publication the following week. Send listings to calendar@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

No attachments, please. Listings are free and run on a space-available basis.

Solution © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

THEATER

Beau Jest: through Dec. 10 at Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver.

Presented by Cherry Creek Theatre Company.

Performances at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Additional show at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 10. Call 303-800-6578 or go to www.cherrycreektheatre.org

prominent painters working in the field of realism today. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Go to http://www.gallery1261.com/

10 Denver Herald

December 7, 2017

Stage shows share magic of holiday season Festive theater for all

BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

• “Seussical” at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton, is delightful and some dates may be sold out. Check for tickets at 303-794 2787, ext. 5 or at the box office or at townhallartscenter.org. Reservations recommended.

• “Making Merry” is Stories on Stage’s annual celebration and it’s at the King Center (Metropolitan State University campus), 855 Lawrence Way, Denver at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 17. Beloved actor Jamie Horton will read from “Wind in the Willows”; GerRee Hinshaw will read “Crimble Wocky,” inspired by Lewis Carroll; and Anthony Adu will read “The Goldfish,” about a young immigrant in London. Tickets: $15-$28, storiesonstage.org, 303-494-0523.

• “Home for the Holidays” is an audience favorite musical show at Lone Tree Arts Center, 10075 Commons St., Lone Tree, Dec. 7-17. Also: A Kantorei Christmas on Dec. 19, Cherish the Ladies on Dec. 20, Michael Martin Murphey’s “A Cowboy Christmas” on

Dec. 22. Lonetreeartscenter.org, 720509-1000.

• “A Christmas Carol” is at Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington Ave. in Golden, through Dec. 23. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Dec. 20; 1 p.m. Sundays; and 6 p.m. Dec. 10 and 17. Adaptation

by Josh Hartwell. Tickets: $15-$38.

Minersalley.com or 303-935-3044.

• “A Christmas Carol” is at the Stage Theatre, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, through Dec. 24. The DCPA is at 14th and Champa streets in downtown Denver. Tickets: $47-$97.

The elaborate, traditional production is here. Denvercenter.org, 303-893-4100.

• “Santaland Diaries,” by Joe Mantello, based on David Sedaris’ short story, runs through Dec. 24, starring Michael Bouchard. Jones Theatre at the Denver Center complex, 14th and Champa streets, downtown Denver.

Staged by Boulder Ensemble Theatre Company. Note: mature language — 16 and over. Tickets: denvercenter.org, 303-893-4100.

• “Elf the Musical” is at the Buell Theatre, also at the Denver Center at 14th and Champa streets in downtown Denver, through Dec. 17. Suitable for all ages. Tickets start at $25, 303-8934100, denvercenter.org.

Events celebrate opening of Martinizing Dry Cleaning STAFF REPORT

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PLAYING!

Martinizing Dry Cleaning will have a dual grand opening Dec. 8-9 for its two newest stores in Denver — at 6265 E. Evans Ave. and at 2200 W. 29th Ave. Both events run from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will feature ribboncutting ceremonies by owner Bran Ambridge, free goodie bags for the first 50 customers, a chance to win a $250 Martinizing gift certificate, giveaways, refreshments and grand opening pricing.

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the dry-cleaning business and learn how the green cleaning process works during store tours at the East Evans store; tours begin at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 8 and at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 9.

“This is truly a landmark occasion for us. We see our two grand openings as our first chance to connect with our new neighbors, and we couldn’t be more excited,” said

owner Brad Ambridge.

Customers can request service using a Martinizing mobile app. They submit their email address and ZIP code through the app and schedule a pickup time for their order.

Martinizing also offers residential and commercial lockers in apartment and commercial buildings in the area. Customers place their clothes in a secure locker and schedule a pick up using the app. Orders are picked up and returned to the lockers within 48 hours, freshly cleaned and folded.

The East Evans store is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday. The West 29th Avenue store is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Both stores are closed on Sundays. Call 303-504-9855.

Learn more about the company and its stores at www.martinizing. com.

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Notices

Denver Herald 11

December 7, 2017

Public Notices PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Alice K.M.H. Bakemeier, aka Alice K. Bakemeier, aka Alice Bakemeier, aka Alice Millett Bakemeier, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31347

Public Notice

Notice To Creditors Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of LARRY K. GRAHAM, also known as LARRY KENT GRAHAM, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31349

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 March 24, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Sheila Greeve Davaney, Personal Representative 2550 S. Monroe St. Denver, CO 80210

Denver Probate Court, City and County of Denver, State of Colorado 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230 Denver, CO 80202

Notice To Creditors

In the Matter of the Estate of: MICHAEL A. GALVAN, a/k/a MICHAEL ANTHONY GALVAN, AND MICHAEL GALVAN, Deceased Attorney or Party Without an Attorney: M. Kent Olsen Atty. Reg.#: 6431 The Law Offices of M. Kent Olsen 650 South Cherry Street, Suite 850 Glendale, CO 80246 Phone Number: (303) 329-4670 FAX Number: (303) 329-4671 E-mail: mkolsen@mkolsenlaw.com Case Number: 2017PR31408 NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO ยง15-10-401, C.R.S.

Legal Notice No.: 8236 First Publication: November 23, 2017 Last Publication: December 7, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice NOTICE TO CREDITORS In the Matter of the Estate of CLAUDIA HITESHEW PORTER, a/k/a CLAUDIA H. PORTER, a/k/a CLAUDIA PORTER, Deceased.

Case Number: 2017PR31273 All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative at the following address: Christopher A. Porter Personal Representative c/o The Damon Law Firm, LLC 4465 Kipling Street #101 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 Or to: The Denver Probate Court of the City and County of Denver, Colorado on or before March 24, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Legal Notice No.: 8237 First Publication: November 23, 2017 Last Publication: December 7, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch Public Notice Denver Probate Court, City and County of Denver, State of Colorado 1437 Bannock Street, Room 230 Denver, CO 80202 In the Matter of the Estate of: MICHAEL A. GALVAN, a/k/a MICHAEL ANTHONY GALVAN, AND MICHAEL GALVAN, Deceased

Attorney or Party Without an Attorney: M. Kent Olsen Atty. Reg.#: 6431 The Law Offices of M. Kent Olsen 650 South Cherry Street, Suite 850 Glendale, CO 80246 Phone Number: (303) 329-4670 FAX Number: (303) 329-4671 E-mail: mkolsen@mkolsenlaw.com Case Number: 2017PR31408

To: George Galvan Last Known Address, if any: 12900 Wide Acres Road, Golden, Colorado 80401 A hearing on Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative for the probate of his estate will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued: Date: Tuesday, January 2, 2018 Time: 8:00 a.m.

Courtroom or Division: Room 230 Address: Denver Probate Court, 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 Legal Notice No.: 8239 First Publication: November 30, 2017 Last Publication: December 14, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Alice K.M.H. Bakemeier, aka Alice K. Bakemeier, aka Alice Bakemeier, aka Alice Millett Bakemeier, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31347 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 March 30, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Katherine T. Millett Personal Representative c/o Goddard & Hawkins, PC 1444 Blake Street Denver, Colorado 80202 Legal Notice No: 8141 First Publication: November 30, 2017 Last Publication: December 14, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

Do you know what laws / ordinances are changing in your community?

NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO ยง15-10-401, C.R.S. To: George Galvan Last Known Address, if any: 12900 Wide Acres Road, Golden, Colorado 80401

A hearing on Petition for Adjudication of Intestacy and Formal Appointment of Personal Representative for the probate of his estate will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be continued: Date: Tuesday, January 2, 2018 Time: 8:00 a.m.

Courtroom or Division: Room 230 Address: Denver Probate Court, 1437 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80202 Legal Notice No.: 8239 First Publication: November 30, 2017 Last Publication: December 14, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

Read the legal notices and you will!

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 March 30, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Notice To Creditors

Katherine T. Millett Personal Representative c/o Goddard & Hawkins, PC 1444 Blake Street Denver, Colorado 80202

Legal Notice No: 8141 First Publication: November 30, 2017 Last Publication: December 14, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Matthew Eli Herbst, aka Matthew E. Herbst, aka Matthew Herbst, and Matt Herbst, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31335 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 March 23, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Michael Herbst Co-Personal Representative Deborah Herbst Co-Personal Representative c/o Nancy R. Crow, Esq. Hutchins & Associates LLC 1999 Broadway, Suite 1400 Denver, Colorado 80202 Legal Notice No: 8238 First Publication: November 23, 2017 Last Publication: December 7, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Donald E. Norblom, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31393 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 March 30, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Donelle A. Jordinelli Personal Representative 4032 South Olive Street Denver, Colorado 80237 Legal Notice No: 8240 First Publication: November 30, 2017 Last Publication: December 14, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

PUBLIC NOTICE

To advertise your public notices 303-566-4100 NOTICE call TO CREDITORS

Notice To Creditors PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of William Bruce Henderson Jr., Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31420 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 March 30, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Shiela Thomas Koppenheffer Attorney to the Personal Representative Koppenheffer & Koppenheffer LLP 11106 Livingston Drive Northglenn, Colorado 80234 Legal Notice No: 8243 First Publication: November 30, 2017 Last Publication: December 14, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Eltima Brown, aka Eltima M. Brown, aka Eltima Marion Brown, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 548 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 April 9, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Pierre LaCaille Personal Representative 3000 Colorado Blvd.

Denver, Colorado 80207 Legal Notice No: 8246 First Publication: December 7, 2017 Last Publication: December 7, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of John Jerome Sorensen, aka John J. Sorensen, aka John Sorensen, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31416 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 April 7, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Estate of John Jerome Sorensen, aka John J. Sorensen, aka John Sorensen, Deceased Case Number: 2017 PR 31416

Notice To Creditors

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 April 7, 2018, or the claims may be forever barred.

Robert Craig Sorensen Personal Representative c/o Goddard & Hawkins, PC 1444 Blake Street Denver, Colorado 80202 Legal Notice No: 8247 First Publication: December 7, 2017 Last Publication: December 21, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

Misc. Private Legals Public Notice

DPS Conservatory Green Addition, Himmelman Construction Inc. is accepting bids from MBE, WBE, DBE, SBE contractors. Project bids 1207-17 @ 9:00am. HCI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages participation from qualified subcontractors. Contact 303-790-1984 for additional information.

Legal Notice No.: 8244 First Publication: December 7, 2017 Last Publication: December 7, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

City and County Public Notice

Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless (Verizon Wireless) proposes to build a 31-foot CityPole Communications Tower at the approx. vicinity of 2918 N. Roslyn St., Denver, Denver County, CO 80207. Public comments regarding potential effects from this site on historic properties may be submitted within 30 days from the date of this publication to: Trileaf Corp, Alex, a.grigsby@trileaf.com, 10845 Olive Blvd, Suite 260, St. Louis, MO 63141, 314-997-6111.

Legal Notice No.: 8245 First Publication: December 7, 2017 Last Publication: December 7, 2017 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press The Denver Herald-Dispatch

BE Informed!

Robert Craig Sorensen Personal Representative c/o Goddard & Hawkins, PC 1444 Blake Street Denver, Colorado 80202

Legal Notice No: 8247 First Publication: December 7, 2017 Last Publication: December 21, 2017 Publisher: The Denver Herald-Dispatch

County and city governments run legal notices each week in this newspaper. Find out which laws are changing or new laws being considered; how the county / city is spending your tax dollars; liquor licensing requirements; bidding on government projects; final settlements for those projects; times and dates of public hearing; and others. Remember, the government works for you.

Denver Herald * 1

12 Denver Herald

December 7, 2017