MAKING IT EASIER TO PADDLE BARR LAKE
New self-serve rental service debuts P4
Colorado fire risk grows as federal funding wanes
Uncertain federal support undercuts preparedness in Colorado communities
BY LINDSEY TOOMER
Wild re experts say the best way for Colorado to reduce the destructive power of wild res is to prepare a proactive response supported by the federal government. But it’s uncertain whether federal resources will continue to support re mitigation and resilience projects, and organizations that work on those projects are no longer sure whom to talk to at federal agencies they’ve previously worked with. In a re-prone state that’s entering the warm months, this has reduced mo-
mentum on re prevention e orts some experts say are essential to protecting Colorado communities.
e Trump administration has upended federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management with sta reductions and reorganizations. And the federal hiring freeze Trump implemented on inauguration day has meant many open positions are left un lled.
Rebecca Samulski, executive director of Fire Adapted Colorado, a nonpro t that supports wild re resilience professionals around the state, said the energy around proactive
mitigation has “kind of stalled right now,” as organizations determine how to stay a oat without the guarantee of federal support. With all of the moving pieces, prevention experts have again become reactive while trying to “stay sane.”
“I just think it’s really important that the federal government continue to have a role in the proactive wild re resilience work,” Samulski said. “We know that it’s a lot more cost e ective to do the work up front with communities than to wait and to respond to disasters or recover from them.”
Matt McCombs, Colorado State Forest Service director, said that in what is expected to be an average wild re season — which “is a really bad year in Colorado” — work to improve resiliency and protect commu-
nities and watersheds is essential to safeguarding Colorado’s billion dollar recreation and outdoor economy.
e Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control’s 2025 Wild re Preparedness Plan warned that Colorado may have “slightly above-average wildland re activity” this year, as well as the potential for delayed response times and fewer re ghting resources because of concerns around federal funding. at can jeopardize communities, natural resources and infrastructure in Colorado.
e wild re season is longer and more intense in Colorado and the West due to the e ects of climate change, as well as prolonged drought and
SEE WILDFIRE, P8
Support for Medicaid cuts low in Colorado
Just 21% favor decreased Medicaid spending
BY DELILAH BRUMER NEWSLINE
Just 21% of Colorado voters want Congress to decrease Medicaid spending, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Concerns about gutted health care access come as U.S. Senate Republican leaders work to push through a tax and spending bill that would cut Medicaid by an estimated $625 billion over the next decade.
e poll zeroed in on the 8th Congressional District, which includes the northern Denver metro area and parts of Weld County. In the district, where1 in 4 residents receive Medicaid bene ts, 63% of voters said they would be less likely to vote for a candidate who voted to cut Medicaid.
e 8th District is represented by Republican Gabe Evans, who voted in favor of the plan that would reduce federal Medicaid spending when it was brought to the U.S. House of Representatives in May.
A spokesperson for Evans defended the vote, saying a proposed provision to institute part-time work requirements for some people to retain Medicaid eligibility would make “the program more e cient by cutting out fraud, waste, and abuse.”
“Congressman Gabe Evans has been steadfast in his support of protecting Medicaid for the vulnerable populations it was created to serve — pregnant women, kids, and disabled people,” said spokesperson Delanie Bomar in a statement Tuesday.
Evans, who was elected to the House last year, represents one of the country’s few congressional swing districts. According to the poll, 42% of voters in the district want to see increased federal Medicaid spending, 20% want it to stay about the same and 28% want it to decrease.
Summer day in Carmichael Park
Brighton Summerfest hit all the right notes
BY BELEN WARD BELEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
e Brighton Summer Fest at Carmichael Park on June 9 was a lovely, hot day lled with live music, vendors, food trucks, and fun activities for kids.
is year, the festival featured the Colorado Military Historical Group, a group of Word War II reenactors from throughout Colorado and Wyoming.
“We have members as far north as Cheyenne and as far south as Pueblo,” member Kurt Scholar said. “We even have some members in New Mexico.”
e group is dedicated to preserving the history of the United States military.
“Our primary focus is World War II, but we also cover timeline events extending from modern times back to the American Revolution,” Scholar said.
e festival’s music stage lineup featured e Dreamboats, Aubrey Dale, Christine, and the Northwoods performing di erent decades of music.
e 2025 Summer Fest sponsors include FNBO, United Power, Allo Fiber, e Home Depot, Intermountain Health Platte Valley, Select Health, Waste Management, E-470 Public Highway Authority, Raisin’ Canes Chicken Fingers, Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, Blackjack Pizza & Salads of Brighton, and Inside the Orchestra.
United Power o ers detail for $35,000 in scholarships
BY BELEN WARD BELEN@COTLN.ORG
United Power has awarded $35,000 in scholarships to 20 high school students who demonstrated exceptional grades, test scores, extracurricular involvement, community service, and a written essay, according to a news release on June 3. e 2025 United Power Scholarships recipients are: Ryan Brown of Frederick High School, Bill Berens Memorial Scholarship, $1,000; Kennedy Cardillo, Weld Central High School, Lois Lesser Education Scholarship, $1,000; Alora Tortorelli Cruz, Riverdale Ridge High School, Colorado College Scholarship, $2,000; Isaac Gri th, Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School, United Power Community College Scholarship, $1,000; Trevor Kurtz, Mead High School, Colorado College Scholarship, $2,000; Madison Miller, Mead High School, United Power Technical/Vocational Scholarship, $1,000; and Adisyn Rademacher, Mead High School, United Power Youth Leadership Scholarship, $1,500.
In addition, United Power also gives Bright Futures Scholarships to 13 students from each high school within its service territory, each receiving $2,000, including three “at large” selections. Bright Futures Scholarships for 2025 were awarded to Ava Allen, Frontier Academy; Arely Chavez, Weld Central High School; Olivia Cornelius, Riverdale Ridge High School; Ethan DeBoo, Legacy High School; Kalei Dreiling, Prairie View High School; Carina DuLong, Fairview High School; Laneya Harris, Fort Lupton High School; Anna Jorstad, Brighton High School; Rolando Mijares Miranda, Frederick High School; Taryn Petruncola, Erie High School; Matthew Pineda, Stargate Charter School; Nicole Price, Mead High School; and Arnav Sudheer, Prospect Ridge Academy.
For more information about the United Power scholarships and to view a video of this year’s recipients, visit https://www. unitedpower.com/scholarships. e scholarship application is available on the United Power website every December.
Twenty high school students were awarded scholarships by United Power who live in its service territory. FILE PHOTO
Haley Roll, with K9cation out of Firestone and Hudson, o ers dog boarding and training but she has also trained other animals, including Lilo the goat, who now knows how to give a high five.
PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
Brighton Fire Rescue District gave kids a ride on an impromptu train around Carmichael Park during Summerfest.
Grant Keller is having fun creating giant bubbles at Brighton Summerfest June 7 in Brighton’s Carmichael Park.
Lincoln Withan, Scott Chartier and Lyle McCully, with the Colorado Military Historical Group. The group brought their WWII reenacting skills to Brighton’s Summerfest.
Emma Beham received a balloon animal from stage magician Thomas Graham, owner of White Rabbit Magic Camp. Graham had a booth at Brighton’s Summerfest this year.
Sellers Are Putting Homes on the MLS, But Buyers Are Playing Hard to Get
In this article, I’m going to provide a market analysis that you won’t find anywhere else. Using my access to the Denver MLS, I will show you what is happening among listings within a 25-mile radius of downtown Denver that are active, pending and sold between $550,000 and $650,000.
I chose the price range because $600,000 is the median sold price in our market, unchanged from a year ago. I chose the 25-mile radius because that defines the metro area in my opinion. Every other statistical report you’ll read analyzes listings in 7 to 10 metro area counties, some of which extend many miles into the mountains (Park county) or out onto the plains (Adams, Arapahoe and Elbert counties). If you live in the Denver metro area as most people define it, my statistics are going to more accurately reflect the reality of our metro market.
Currently, as I write this on Tuesday, there are 1,543 active single family homes listed in that price range and in that 25-mile radius on REcolorado. Only 180 of them have been on the market 7 days or less, so 88.3% of them have been on the MLS over a week without selling Median days on the MLS is 38
dian listing sold for its listing price, but 20 sold for between 5 and 14 percent below the listing price.
738 listings are “pending,” and 219 of them went under contract within 7 days, so 70.3% of them lingered on the market over a week before selling. Median days on market for the pending listings is 11
Now let’s look at the 561 listings which closed in the last 30 days, not the month of May. Ten of them sold before they were entered on the MLS, and another 224 went under contract in 7 days or less. So, 57.9% of those closed listings lingered on the MLS over a week. Median days on the MLS before going under contract was 11. The me-
Denver Leads the Nation in Increase of Unsold Listings
Compare those percentages, which I have put in bold for easy spotting. There’s over a 30% difference between the percentage of sold and active listings that have lingered unsold on the MLS for over a week.
Also compare the days on MLS. The median pending and closed listings went under contract in 11 days, but the active listings have a median days on MLS of 38. Any real estate professional will tell you it’s pricing. Many active listings may now be at a price that would have sold quickly, but they were overpriced in the beginning and now fail to get buyers’ attention.
979 days on the MLS — 95 have reduced their prices, but not enough to go under contract yet. Some of those price reductions are pretty dramatic, too. Nine of them have reduced their prices by $100,000 or more, and one by $250,000 — and they still haven’t gone under contract! As mentioned above, I would wager that if those listings had started out at their current price as new listings, they would have sold quickly and possibly above their current listing price, but they remain active today as stale listings, which are harder to sell at any price.
The bottom line of this analysis should be clear by now. If a home is not priced right in the beginning, it runs the risk of lingering on the market. Price reductions should be considered within a week if there are few showings and no offers. Don’t wait a month or longer to reduce the price.
The above article first appeared on the real estate page of last Saturday’s Denver Post.
Decline in First-Time Homebuyers
The chart from realtor.com displayed below shows the wide disparity in the increase of active listings compared to before the pandemic. The darker the red, the greater the increase over pre-pandemic levels, and Denver is the darkest at a 100% increase, or double the number of pre-pandemic listings. Coming in second was Austin with 69% increase, then Seattle with 60.9% increase.
Of course, many of those active listings which haven’t sold will either be withdrawn from the MLS or will expire without selling. Indeed, there are already 87 listings in that price range in that area that were “withdrawn” from the MLS in the last 30 days. That means they are still subject to a listing agreement but have been withdrawn from the MLS for one reason or another. The median days on the MLS before being withdrawn was 41.
The cities in blue still don’t have as many active listings as they did prior to the pandemic. Worst cases are Hartford at minus 77.7%, Chicago at minus 59.3%, and Virginia Beach at minus 56.7%.
See http://RealEstateToday.substack.com for additional analysis.
Check Out My Two Blogs
Everything you read in this ad (and more) is posted on our Real Estate Today Substack blog. Scan the QR code at left to open and subscribe to it — free of course. Each article and listing is there, often with additional content and graphics, plus useful hyperlinks.
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There are 760 listings in that price range and area which “expired” without selling in the last 30 days, with a median days on the MLS of 70. Of them, 51 expired despite price reductions of up to $125,000.
Of the 100 oldest sold listings (between 68 and 339 days on the MLS) that went under contract in that price range and in that area, all but 9 of them only sold after reducing their listing price at least once. The average price reduction was $39,000, with the highest being $251,000.
Among the 100 oldest listings that are still active on REcolorado — ranging from 152 to
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports only 24% of housing sales last year were by first-time homebuyers, down from 50% in 2010. The typical purchaser is also older than in the past, with an average age of 38, or about 10 years above historical norms.
Roughly 20% of listed homes in March were affordable for households with $75,000 in annual income, according to a NAR analysis of property listings. Today, a household with annual income of $50,000 can only afford 8.7% of listings, down from 9.4% a year ago, according to the data.
These are national figures, however. The NAR report (for which you’ll find a hyperlink at http;// RealEstateToday.substack.com) does not provide separate figures for our market, which is probably even more severe in this regard.
These Past “Real Estate Today” Columns May Interest You
Clickable links for each column can be found at www.JimSmithColumns.com
Feb. 20, 2025 — We Have a Tool to Help You Find the ‘Perfect’ Home That’s Not on the MLS
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Dec. 19, 2024 — What Are the Costs of Buying or Selling a Home in Colorado?
Nov. 7, 2024 — We Need to Take Seriously the Pollutants Emitted When Cooking With Gas
Oct. 31, 2024 — Cooperative Living Presents an Attractive Alternative for Downsizing Seniors
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Sept. 5, 2024 — What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?
Aug. 8, 2024 — Seniors Over 70 Might Consider Downsizing Into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home
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June 6, 2024 — Here Are Some Simple Steps to Take to Avoid Unpleasant Surprises After Closing
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Feb. 22, 2024 — Most Sellers Don’t Know How to Interview a Listing Agent. Here’s Some Guidance.
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Nov. 23, 2023 — Scamming Has Become Its Own Industry, and We’re All Prospective Victims
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Aug. 10, 2023 — What Are Some Common Mistakes That Homeowners Make When Selling?
June 15, 2023 — Don’t Let Capital Gains Tax Deter You From Cashing Out on an Investment Property
May 11, 2023 — Do Agents Inflate the Cost of Buying or Selling Your Home with ‘Junk Fees’?
Apr. 20, 2023 — What Are Some Affordable Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers?
Mar. 16, 2023 — Here Are Some Ways to Make Your Home More Accommodating to Seniors
Feb. 9, 2023 — Understanding Indoor Air Quality and How It’s Managed in Super-Insulated Homes
Oct. 27, 2022 — Sales Taxes May Be Lower, But Property Taxes Are Higher in Unincorporated Areas
Oct. 6, 2022 — How to Make Sure That the House You Buy Will Not Be a ‘Money Pit’
Sept. 22, 2022 — What Steps Can You Take to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?
July 28, 2022 — Aging in Place vs. Moving to a 55+ Community: Here Are Some Considerations
May 26, 2022 — Reflections on Selling Our Home and Moving Into a 55+ Rental Community
Jan. 6, 2022 — Marshall Fire Is a Wake-up Call for Building More Fire-Resistant Homes
Dec. 2, 2021 — My Favorite Home Improvements When Purchasing a New-to-Me Home
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Barr Lake opens paddleboard and kayak kiosk
Self-serve service will be open when the park is
BY BELEN WARD BELEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Barr Lake State Park has opened a new kayak and paddleboard rental kiosk, operated by Whenever Water Sports, as of June 6
“I am very excited to bring the kayak and paddle board rental kiosk to Bar Lake. e kiosk o ers rentals seven days a week, making water sports more accessible to the public, especially on weekdays,” said Lisa Gill, the park manager of Barr Lake State Park.
Gill said that the opportunity was essen-
tially the reason for o ering the paddleboard and kayak rental kiosk at Barr Lake.
“5280 Paddle Sports operated at Barr Lake for 10 years and also at Chat eld Reservoir, and we had a great relationship with them. Michelle Seubert is the previous Park Manager who worked with them, and they decided to operate just at Chat eld Reservoir,” Gill said. “It created an opportunity for us to invite someone else into the park, and two groups contacted me; one of them was Whenever Water Sports, which we selected.”
Whenever Water Sports’s edge is that the paddleboard and kayak rental kiosk will be available seven days a week, whenever the park is open, Gill said.
“It’s easier to try those sports if you don’t own your equipment. When 5280 Paddle Sports operated out of Barr Lake,
it was a great company to work with, but they were only available here on the weekends,” Gill said.
“Sometimes you’re busy during the day, and you may want to go out after work. We’re conveniently located not only near the Denver Metro area but also close to Denver International Airport. We have a beautiful lake with a prairie landscape.”
Gill said it provides accessibility for people who might be unavailable on weekends but are free during the week. She also liked this company, which operates in various states and two other Colorado State Parks.
“I trust that their customer service is wonderful. So, if anyone has an issue, we have a liaison right here in the local community since they don’t have someone actively sta ng it on-site,” Gill said. “ is
Whenever Water Sports Kiosk is set up for easy rental, it is conveniently located next to the Barr Lake for easy docking.
arrangement makes their prices much more a ordable, especially with the rising costs of everything. e price of renting a kayak or paddleboard at Barr Lake is going down. It was a huge sell for me.”
Gill said they had their rst rental on Saturday, June 7, and it went smoothly.
“I hope it becomes more popular at the park and in the community. Barr Lake is beloved in Adams County and in Brighton; I am fortunate to be the Park Manager and invite more people out here to enjoy,” Gill said.
Scheduling equipment
Gill said that scheduling an appointment for a kayak or paddleboard is easy from your phone or computer. Pad-
The Cardenas family, Julio Sr., Aveyon, and Julio Jr., head o to explore Brighton’s Barr Lake from the water on a sunny June 10 day.
PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
The Cardenas, Julio, Aveyon, and Julio Jr. head o for a nice summer day of kayaking June 10 on Barr Lake.
Taylor Swift wins protection from Adams County man
Henderson man claims a relationship with pop star
MONTE WHALEY MONTE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
An Adams County man who claims rock superstar Taylor Swift is the mother of his son is the target of a restraining order issued at Swift’s request.
e restraining order against 45-year-old Brian Jason Wagner of Henderson was issued by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge.
e order prohibits Wagner from harassing, stalking, assaulting or disturbing Swift as well as contacting or approaching within 100 yards of Swift, her home, and her workplace. e order is e ective through the court hearing in the case on June 30, according to USA Today.
Wagner couldn’t be reached for comment Wednesday morning.
In her June 6 petition to the
dlers can reserve their equipment on the Whenever Water Sports website, https:// wheneverwatersports.com/brighton-co.
Equipment can be rented an hour, two hours or all day.
When nish return the equipment to the kiosk, following the instructions, scan to con rm or take a picture to verify that you’ve completed the task.
court, Swift said she lived with “a fear of imminent harm” due to Wagner’s alleged repeated visits to her home and “concerning and threatening” communications with her sta , USA reported.
“I do not share publicly where I reside and have never shared my address or the location of my Los Angeles residence with Mr. Wagner,” Swift wrote to the court. “ erefore, the fact that Mr. Wagner has determined where I reside and visited the property several times, refusing to leave and claiming to need access, makes me fear for my safety and the safety of my family.”
Swift’s ling was submitted two weeks after Wagner allegedly made two consecutive appearances at her Los Angeles home on May 21 and May 22 “...asking to see me personally and stating that he was there checking on a friend (again, this is entirely untrue).”
Wagner rst visited Swift’s home on July 9, 2024, and returned at least two more times that month, according to her petition and reported by USA Today.
“During each of these visits, I am informed that Mr. Wagner made various statements about living at my property (not true), being in a relationship with me (not true), believing I am the mother of his son (not true), and needing to see me in person, all of which are untrue and disconnected from reality,” Swift wrote to the court.
In addition, Swift said, Wagner “tried to divert mail from my residence to his attention” and successfully changed his driver’s license residence to re ect her address.
An additional declaration from one of her security sta ers, Alex Welch, revealed Wagner’s new California driver’s license was mailed to Swift’s home, which alerted her security team to the fact that he was falsely claiming to live there, USA Today states.
“Of course, there would be a fee if you leave their equipment out on the lake somewhere, so you’re accountable for making sure that it gets returned, Gill said.
“ ey have a helpful video that shows you how to pick up the kayak or paddleboard, and it provides a life jacket.”
Gill said they do have rangers patrolling the lake, but they may not always be on a boat during the day.
“But if anyone were to get in trouble, it would be important to call 911 so we can be dispatched through 911 and come out to help you,” Gill said.
Gill mentioned that an afternoon wind could sometimes be a safety issue for our community if you are on a paddle craft or kayak. She urges paddlers to not go out into the water if it’s windy.
“Before you know it, you might be separated from your paddleboard or your kayak and be in some serious trouble. Barr Lake is huge. It’s about 1900 surface acres, which makes it larger than both Chat eld and Cherry Creek Reservoirs,” Gill said.”
“Being out on that lake can be a scary experience, even if you’re a good swimmer. If you were to stay in the water and
get a cramp, or if the waves were lapping over your face, it could become a frightening situation. You could get seriously injured or drown.”
Gill advised being cautious about the weather. ose afternoon thunderstorms with lightning are not safe for people to be outside. Always wear the provided life jacket. Additionally, other boaters may also be on the lake and can assist you or call 911.
To schedule an appointment, visit https://wheneverwatersports.com or call customer service at 860-837-0334.
Adams County man accused of stalking Taylor Swift. BRIAN FRIEDMAN / SHUTTERSTOCK
Reflections from a father, through his sermons
Reunion author publishes her father’s sermons as an homage
BY BELEN WARD BELEN@COTLN.ORG
When Reunion-based author Andrea Lende wanted to honor her father, the Rev. Dr. Richard J. Einerson, his words were what came to mind – speci cally, ten sermons he wrote recently.
“My dad was a pastor for many years. He’s 89 and turns 90 in July. Recently, he sent me about 10 sermons he wrote during his later years, after retirement,” Lende said.
Lende helped dedicate his recently published book, “Still Speaking: Sermons from a Pastor Who Walked with the People,” featuring those sermons from late in his career, including his experiences in the South during racial unrest.
Beatitudes Publishing has just published the book, along with two others by Einerson: “Can You Trust the Bible,” which discusses the Bible’s origins and composition, and a book of prayers he wrote, called “Prayers for the People.”
Lende said they were all released in time for his 70th wedding anniversary.
“He was asked to step in as interim pastor for several di erent churches, and so he found some sermons that we could publish in a book and leave as a legacy to his kids, his grandkids,” Lende said. “We’re thrilled with the cover of this book; it’s a picture that we have in our home, and it’s probably my favorite picture of my Dad.”
Lende said the picture of him on the cover of the book was taken at Sayles Memorial Church in the Providence, Rhode Island suburb of Lincoln, where some of her best years were spent on the East Coast, she said.
“He took a picture of that portrait, and it now hangs in his o ce. Our cover designer did an amazing job of creating our cover. I was brought to tears when I saw this.”
College to Civil Rights
Paci
c College and graduated in 1957 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He subsequently pursued his Master of Divinity degree at the Paci c School of Religion, graduating in 1961. He earned a Danforth Foundation Grant and spent a year at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, where he worked with students and studied with a historical theology professor, Dr. Langdon Gilkey, Lende said.
“In February of 1960, while he was at Vanderbilt University, the South began to hemorrhage with the civil rights movement. e black students of that era created an organization called the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee.”
Lende said that Civil Rights leader John Lewis, later a United States Congressman for Georgia, became the rst president of the organization as these young adults came together in the community to quietly advocate for their rights.
Her dad was profoundly a ected by this movement and he integrated it into his ministry and years of service.
“ e kids were sitting at the counters where they weren’t supposed to be sitting, and people were putting cigarettes on their backs. It was a horrible time,” Lende said. “It did a ect him for the rest of his life, shaping how he saw things, how he pastored, and his philosophy on various matters in one of his sermons.”
He began his Doctor of Ministry training at Andover Newton eological School in Newton, Massachusetts. After earning his degree in 1972, he moved to North Dakota to take a chaplain position at St. Luke’s Hospital.
“He served as a chaplain for St. Luke’s, now MeritCare, for eighteen years, ushering many through the corridor of life into death, praying with numerous individuals,” she said.
He retired from his chaplaincy career in 1995 but served as the interim pastor for several churches until his nal retirement at the age of 77. His interim pastor career took him to several churches across the country, from Minnesota to Colorado.
“I think he served as interim for three di erent churches after retirement; he had a hard time retiring. He just kept serving,” she said.
Lende said that quote in the book by Charles Spurgeon says, “One of the great-
est rewards that we ever received for serving God is the permission to do still more for him.”
“ at’s been my dad,” Lende said.
Charting his ministry
Lende said my father’s book gives readers insight into the history of his ministry featuring sermons from a pastor who walked with the people.
“It is a blessing to be able to publish this book for him as his daughter, and have it ready for his 70th wedding anniversary, which was last week, Lende said.
“We nished the book in time to have ve copies ready for him so he could sign them for the grandkids and my twin sister. erefore, we had a small book signing in Phoenix, Arizona, last week, just for our family. He is so pleased at his age and to have published his words in print.”
Lende said her father published a book last year called “Can You Trust the Bible, a Biblical Primer for Lay People.” As a preacher who studied theology extensively and learned Hebrew, Greek and
other languages used in writing the Bible, he had gained signi cant knowledge, she said.
“He wanted to give laypeople, like myself, who haven’t studied the Bible in a theological sense insight into how the Bible was put together and how they found all the books,” Lende said.
“ e title was a little scary: Can you trust the Bible? Ultimately, yes, you can trust the Bible, but we must exercise caution in our approach to it. After all, it took many years — hundreds, even thousands — to compile it all.”
Lende said her dad explains how the books were formed and assembled, including what came rst and who came rst, which is fascinating.
“He o ers valuable insights for those of us who are detectives and wish to learn about the Bible and its origins. It was gratifying to assemble that, and he completed it before he could no longer continue,” Lende said.
Lende said her father attended Warner
The cover of Rev. Dr. Richard J. Einerson’s new book, released this month in honor of his 77th wedding anniversary. COURTESY IMAGE
Andrea Lende with her father, Rev. Dr. Richard J. Einerson, today. COURTESY PHOTO
Deputiies kill man suspected of killing inlaws
Police shoot man armed with knife in Sherrelwood
BY MONTE WHALEY MONTE@COTLN.ORG
A man is believed to have killed his father-in-law and mother-in-law Friday morning before exiting the couple’s Adams County home armed with a knife in
the area of Lofton Court and Kokai Circle near Sherrelwood Park.
Adams County Sheri ’s deputies then shot the 51-year-old suspect after trying several methods to get him to drop the knife.
Deputies used a Taser on the man several times, but it had no e ect, Adams County Sheri ’s Sgt Adam Sherman said. ey also used “soft pellets” on the suspect before shooting him. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced
dead.
e suspect called 911 and and told dispatchers what he did and also said he wanted “deputies to encounter him,” according to KUSA-TV Denver.
“ ere was some sort of family dynamic or dispute going on, and the suspect sent out a series of messages or phone calls to extended family members early this morning that created some alarm,” Sherman told KUSA-TV.
Deputies had responded at 5:11 AM to
the home for a well-being check. When deputies got to the home, they were immediately met by the man, who refused to drop the knife, deputies said.
Deputies later found the bodies of the victims, both 79, after he was shot, and deputies entered the home to conduct a “safety sweep, deputies said.
A vehicle had crashed into the home and deputies were trying to determine if the crash was related to the deaths.
Thornton denounces anti-semitic Boulder attack
Northglenn, Thornton city councils assure Jewish residents they are safe
BY MONTE WHALEY
Two local cities issued sharp rebukes to the June 1 attack on Boulder’s Pear Street Mall, when a man allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at a group that walks each Sunday to advocate for the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
“We are community leaders, I think it means a lot that we take a stand,” ornton City Councilman Justin Martinez said Tuesday.
He and other councilmembers spoke about showing solidarity toward the Jewish community before voting unanimously to support a resolution condemning the Boulder attack.
e Northglenn City Council also passed a resolution condeming the attacks and Westminster o cials said a similar move is on the Westminster City Council’s June 23 agenda.
Deliberate, hateful violence
e ornton resolution said the individual used a makeshift amethrower to target participants of the Run for eir Lives Walk, a peaceful event to raise awareness of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks against Israel. e Boulder assault
burns requiring airlift to a medical facility.
“… is attack, occurring on the eve of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot, represents a deliberate and hateful act of violence against the Jewish community and their supporters, exacerbating fears amid a signi cant rise in antisemitic incidents across the United States following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks,” the resolution states.
“… Antisemitism poses a growing threat in Colorado and globally, manifesting in physical violence, harassment, vandalism, and hateful rhetoric, including tropes that falsely blame Jews for societal issues or con ate Jewish individuals with the policies of the Israeli government,” according to the resolution.
“… e City of ornton has previously
Thorn-
ton City Councilors assured Jewish residents they are safe as they condemned an anti-semitic attack in Boulder.
condemned hate speech, including antisemitic, white supremacist, and homophobic materials distributed in the Hunters Glenn neighborhood in 2022, and remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive community for all residents,” the resolution states. “… the City of ornton recognizes the fundamental right of all individuals to live, work, and engage in peaceful activities without fear of intimidation, violence, or discrimination, and acknowledges the profound impact of this attack on the Jewish community’s sense of security.”
Councilmembers said they wanted to assure the city’s Jewish residents that they were safe in ornton. “We are here to protect you,” Councilwoman Karen Bigelow said.
Combat Antisemitism Movement
Northglenn City Council also unanimously passed a resolution Monday night that states the city has partnered with Combat Antisemitism Movement – CAM – a global coalition committed to ending antisemitism in all forms, to strengthen the city’s understanding and response to antisemitism hate.
“… e City of Northglenn has previously taken action to denounce and remove hate speech messages, including antisemitic messages distributed on private property and hateful gra ti found in public parks, and remains committed to swift responses that reinforce community values of respect and inclusion,” the Northglenn resolution states. “… e City of Northglenn values the safety, dignity, and rights of all residents and visitors, and stands united in its commitment to oppose hatred, violence, and discrimination.”
“… e Northglenn City Council condemns antisemitism, along with all forms of hate, including racism, Islamophobia, xenophobia, and other acts of prejudice that seek to divide and harm our communities,” the resolution states.
City of Westminster spokesman Andy Le said via email that councilors on Monday night expressed their sympathies for the victims, spoke out against antisemitism, and highlighted Westminster’s work to be an inclusive community.
“ ey will vote to approve a resolution in support of Boulder on the June 23 meeting,” said Le, noting the June 16 meeting is a study session.
For those in search of a full life cultivated from the land, Farmlore represents a wonderful slice of small-town living that harkens back to a time when kids on bikes outnumbered cars, and neighbors could be spotted chatting over coffee or lemonade on the front porch.
Farmlore is located in Brighton, just west of Prairie Center, on 144th Ave.
a buildup of dry fuels. e three largest wild res in state history all occurred in 2020, and the most state’s most destructive re — the 2021 Marshall Fire — leveled entire subdivisions during winter in an urban area once thought relatively safe from wild res.
Vail Fire Chief Mark Novak said there are three tenets to the nationally recognized “cohesive wild re management strategy”: resilient landscapes, re adaptive communities, and a safe and e ective response. In Vail — where the town is 4.5 square miles surrounded by hundreds of thousands of acres of U.S. Forest Service land — collaboration with the federal government is essential to successfully reduce the threat forests can pose in the event of a re.
“In a community like ours where we’re surrounded by the forests, there’s a lot we can do to protect our community by creating that re-adapted community and by having a good response, but ultimately we have to have all three pieces of the cohesive strategy and we need to have resilient landscapes,” Novak said. “If that pipeline of the work that needs to be done slows down, it makes us more vulnerable, so that’s very concerning.”
Fire Adapted Colorado and the Colorado Forest Collaboratives Network wrote to Colorado’s members of Congress in April asking them to intervene because of how funding freezes and executive orders are “severely hampering” wild re preparedness. at includes the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. e state’s Fire Prevention and Control
was in the process of applying for the resilient communities grant under FEMA to support education and training for local jurisdictions as it looks to roll out its newly developed wild re resiliency code. Christopher Brunette, chief of the division’s re and life safety section, said the division is looking for other ways to provide that training without federal funding.
At the end of April, Colorado’s entire Democratic delegation in Congress, as well as Republican U.S. Rep. Je Hurd of Grand Junction, wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and asked her to reinstate Forest Service sta who were trained to respond to wild re incidents outside of their primary work duties.
“ e Forest Service is now entering peak re season in a compromised position, placing an even greater re danger on communities across Colorado,” the lawmakers said in their letter.
U.S. House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse of Lafayette and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, both Democrats, also sponsored legislation that would reinstate all sta at the Forest Service and the National Park Service who were “wrongfully terminated” by the Trump administration.
Novak said he’s heard estimates that 25% of the Forest Service’s resource positions in Colorado, such as those who conduct environmental analysis on projects and verify eld work is being done properly, are open and likely won’t be lled.
“People have left them or there’re seasonal positions that won’t be lled, so we’re very concerned about being able to actually implement projects, even projects that already have approval,” Novak said.
A statement from the U.S. Forest Service said that wildland re ghting positions
are considered public safety positions, which are therefore exempt from the federal hiring freeze under an April order from Rollins. e forest service “remains operationally ready to support wild re response e orts” with state and local partners, the statement said.
About 5,000 “non- re” Forest Service sta have left their positions or are in the process of doing so across the country, the statement said, but it did not provide more information on those positions or what they did.
While many of the “primary re” positions have been exempt from reduction in force e orts, Novak said many “secondary re” positions, like biologists who could help as a resource adviser in the event of a re, have left their roles.
“So if we look at re suppression as a system, we know that system has less capability than it did just last year,” Novak said.
Vail Fire hires seasonal foresters to help with projects during the warmer months, and Novak said it just hired someone who left a full-time forest service position for a six-month seasonal position.
“I don’t want to speak to their motivations, but I think it’s pretty telling when people are leaving full-time positions to take seasonal positions,” Novak said.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Interior, which oversees the BLM, cited a “joint re memo” signed by Rollins and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to ensure wildland re ghting in the U.S. is “highly coordinated and focused on ghting wild res quickly and e ectively.”
at order allows an exemption from the federal hiring freeze for certain positions.
previously funded from other sources, and were frozen by the Trump administration, Samulski said. While some grant programs have been unfrozen, others haven’t, and the uncertainty has led some groups to search for other revenue sources.
“Many of the organizations are trying to gure out how to pivot and be less reliant on federal funding, and I’ve already had to pause … projects on the ground or cancel projects because they don’t know if they’ll get the reimbursement,” Samulski said.
ose projects include removal of hazardous fuels on the ground or vegetation surrounding state, federal or private lands near communities, homes or watersheds, Samulski said. She said organizations focused on wild re prevention have been growing in recent years as they realized they need to be more proactive.
“No amount of re ghting is actually going to change the outcomes that are happening on the ground that much,” Samulski said. “We need to do more in advance of the res, and so there’s kind of been this recognition and a shift in terms of trying to build up that capacity.”
“ e Department is working to hire key positions that will continue to protect public and tribal lands, infrastructure, and communities from the impacts of wild res through hazardous fuels management, wild re preparedness, and close collaboration with interagency partners,” the spokesperson said in a statement.
Dependent on federal funding McCombs said Trump’s budget proposes a wholesale elimination of an arm of the U.S. Forest Service that provides support on non-federal lands and is a core component of the state forest service’s funding. He said Colorado State Forest Service is proud of how it uses the resources it receives from the federal government, which it and other state forestry services have done for decades.
In the 2024 scal year, running through the end of June 2024, the CSFS spent about $11.1 million from federal grants, which is just under 36% of the state forest service’s budget.
Samulski said many wild re prevention organizations do their work with the support of federal funding, with several becoming reliant on those federal funds to continue operating. Some groups have reduced their work or shut down entirely because of the fear that they will lose funding, or because there aren’t projects being funded right now, she said.
Many long-standing grant programs shifted to receive funding from the Ination Reduction Act under the Biden administration, even though they were
Dissolving partnership agreements On top of its primary responsibilities of overseeing state and private forestry projects in Colorado, the CSFS has agreements with the federal Forest Service and the BLM under the Good Neighbor Authority, a concept McCombs said started in Colorado. e Good Neighbor Authority allows federal agencies to establish agreements with state agencies to conduct forest management activities such as fuels reduction, forest health improvement and habitat improvement on federal lands.
e CSFS has about 25 active projects under the Good Neighbor Authority, with 15 full-time employees sta ed through funding from the GNA. e state forest service has completed over 15,000 acres of forest treatment through the GNA on federal, state and private land.
“I don’t think there’s a national forest in the state where we are not under agreement to do some work to support and build capacity for the (U.S. Forest Service) so they can accelerate the critical forest health wild re mitigation work that needs to be done,” McCombs said. “Our people know each other, they trust each other. Sometimes it’s not easy for federal and state entities to work well together. We do this really well in Colorado.”
As agencies potentially a ected bynancial cuts at the federal level wait to see the nal outcomes, McCombs said CSFS leaders remain in consistent communication with their USFS counterparts to determine how state foresters can best help and continue working together.
“ at’s a really positive thing that even amidst all of this rapid and in some instances, unwanted or unwelcome change, we’re still striving to try to stay in communication and keep moving things forward, because the wild re is not going to wait,” McCombs said. “We’ve got to keep driving forward under whatever context we’re operating in.”
SEE WILDFIRE, P9
Coalitions and Collaboratives, a Colorado-based nonpro t that advocates for resilient ecosystems, also works under a cooperative agreement with the Forest Service to help with wild re resilience and mitigation. Jonathan Bruno, CEO of COCO, said the group helps local programs working on resilience and mitigation e orts ensure they have long-term sustainability. e nonpro t also distributes grants funded by the Forest Service.
After the Trump administration took over, Bruno said all of his organization’s grant agreements with the Forest Service were put under review and frozen. He said about 90% of the funding his organization works with comes from the federal government.
“ at delay thankfully was short-lived, thanks to the courts, but I’m scared because it feels as though maybe those court rulings may not hold up,” Bruno said. “How do you budget if you don’t know that you’re going to even have a dollar?”
Bruno said his organization is “being
MEDICAID
Medicaid, the state-federal health care program for lower-income people and some with disabilities, serves more than 70 million U.S. residents.
The poll of 675 registered Colorado voters was conducted by Broomfieldbased firm Magellan Strategies on behalf of the nonprofit Healthier Colorado. It has a margin of error of 3.7%.
really cautious” about entering into any new agreements since he’s unsure they will get all the funding they have been promised. While COCO already selected recipients for their spring grant cycle this year, they haven’t executed any contracts yet.
Under the ve-year agreements COCO historically enters with the Forest Service, Bruno said it makes adjustments every year depending on actual funding needs and developments in its projects. As he is planning adjustments to those agreements with his federal partners this year, both parties are unsure what to expect.
“ e challenge is that the internal people that I’ve worked with for years and the people that I’ve trusted, they don’t know either,” Bruno said. “ ere’s a lot of uncertainty in the system, which makes everyone really nervous and uncomfortable.”
Bruno said the mitigation work of many people in the Forest Service is already thankless, and they do it simply because they care about protecting their communities. He’s had to pivot from working with those local, on-the-ground Forest Service sta to working with the higherups now making the decisions.
“It’s never what we wanted, because
“Politicians are saying that they want to cut Medicaid to make it better, but the poll shows clearly that voters aren’t buying what they’re selling,” said Jake Williams, CEO of Healthier Colorado.
“It shows that there’s real political peril for any candidate who votes to cut Medicaid.”
Bomar pointed to the poll’s findings that many respondents, especially those who are Republicans or unaffiliated, said Medicaid “should only be for U.S. citizens or legal residents, with some calling for stricter eligibility en -
those that have the most to lose and gain are those people in a community, not the politicians,” Bruno said. “We need to make sure that those that are in these powerful, decision-making positions have the information they need to make well-de ned, well-reasoned sort of judgments on who’s going to live and who’s going to die.”
Historically, Vail Fire has collaborated with the Forest Service to get federal approval for fuels reduction projects, and the two entities split the costs for the review process as well as the actual fuels management once projects are approved. Recently, it’s become unclear whether funding previously guaranteed to projects with Vail will come through.
“Pretty much every kind of landscapelevel project we’ve done has been on Forest Service land,” Novak said. e process can take years and can cost millions. One project Vail Fire is currently working on with the Forest Service took about three and a half years to plan and get approval, Novak said, and Vail paid about $300,000 throughout that process with the understanding that the Forest Service would pay for the actual treatment. ey’ve received “some direct funding,” but not nearly all of the funding
forcement.”
Immigrants who are in the U.S. unlawfully are not eligible for federal Medicaid benefits, but Colorado and 13 other states provide some state-funded coverage to immigrants lacking permanent legal status. Under the proposed federal cuts, an estimated 7.8 million people, most of them citizens or lawful residents, would lose access to Medicaid, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
Some of the main reasons cited in the poll by respondents who said they have
needed to fully implement the $3 to $5 million project, he said.
While apprehension around federal re mitigation, prevention and suppression capabilities continues, local government re ghters will still be there to protect their communities, Novak said. For about 80% of all res, the initial response comes solely or partially from local re ghters and responders — though prevention should be prioritized, he said.
McCombs said he views the success of the Forest Service and the BLM’s work in Colorado as Colorado’s success, and less funding and sta for those agencies is “an explicit translation to less work.” “ e alternative is uncharacteristic wild res that have damaging, just wildly disruptive impacts and long-term impacts to things that are really important to Coloradans,” McCombs said. “We’re communicating through our partners and engaging with those that have a vested interest to make sure that folks are aware of some of the trade-o s that exist when funding is reduced and when staing in particular is reduced.” is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
favorable opinions of Medicaid are the benefits it provides to low-income Coloradans, seniors, children, people with disabilities and single parents.
“The poll shows that Medicaid cuts would have devastating effects for both our health and economy here in Colorado,” Williams said. “I also think it shows that Colorado voters aren’t dummies.”
This story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
State utilities see no beauty in the federal budget bill
Two U.S. representatives from Colorado, Je Hurd and Gabe Evans, will be walking a tight rope posed by One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
How exactly will they explain why they voted for the sprawling 1,000-page bill. If adopted by the Senate as written, the law would certainly raise electricity rates and slow the adoption of electric vehicles.
Together with the topsy-turvy tari s imposed by President Donald Trump on China, the bill may help drive up prices of gas-fueled cars and trucks, too.
In Durango, La Plata Electric Association has already seen impacts of the bill. e electrical cooperative received bids for its all-sources solicitation for 150 megawatts of generation. Wind, solar, natural gas — even geothermal and nuclear were eligible. Because of the uncertainty of federal tax incentives, all bids were higher than otherwise expected.
Chris Hansen, the chief executive, said most interesting to him were impacts of the proposed bill coupled with Trump’s 50% tari s on steel and aluminum. e cost of new electrical transformers has already gone up signi cantly.
We discussed the development of socalled emerging technologies like geothermal. Developers need long-term certainty to justify their investments. “ ey’re much more di cult to do if you have policy uncertainty,” Hansen said.
Hurd and Evans were among 21 Republican representatives who in March signed a letter to legislative leaders that asked tax credits for clean energy be preserved to “increase domestic manufacturing, promote energy innovation and keep utility costs down.” Hurd signed another letter in early May asking that the incentives for innovation in nuclear energy remain.
Trump visited Capitol Hill two days before the vote, threatening any Republicans who voted no to expect opposition in their primaries. Two Republicans in the House did anyway, although two others did not vote and one merely showed up. All Democrats opposed the bill.
Evans won election last November by a whisker in the purplish Eighth Congressional District north of Denver. Hurd has a more comfortable margin in the Republican-leaning ird Congressional District. It covers much of the Western Slope and sprawls eastward to Pueblo and within shouting distance of the Oklahoma border.
Colorado, particularly along the Front Range, has become a hotspot for energy innovation and investment. Will a contraction occur if the House bill survives Senate scrutiny?
Vestas, the manufacturer of blades and nacelles for wind turbines at factories in Brighton and Windsor, invested $40 million in expansion and hired 700 people in expectation of orders for 1,000 turbines during 2025.
At Namaste Solar in Boulder, chief executive Jason Sharpe said he is unsure whether to plan for expansion or constriction. “As a business owner, how do you plan a business with this amount of uncertainty, trying to thread the needle between coping with political change and not creating panic among my em-
BIG PIVOTS
ployees? It’s challenging,” he said.
Republicans hold a three-vote advantage in the Senate, but four Republican senators in April sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John une cautioning against “the full-scale repeal of current credits.”
And Evans was among 13 Republicans in the House who led a letter on June 6 to une calling for the Senate to “substantively and strategically improve clean energy tax credit provisions” in the budget reconciliation bill.
“We just hit half-time. We’re still very much in the middle of this game,” said Harry Godfrey, who manages federal priorities for Advanced Energy United, a national industry association that monitors Colorado and 16 other states.
“ ey really went after just about everything that they could in the realm of clean energy and electric vehicles,” said Will Toor, who directs the Colorado Energy O ce. “I would certainly hope that cooler and wiser heads will prevail in the Senate.”
Soon after the House vote on May 22, Sen. Michael Bennet got an earful from leaders of Xcel Energy, Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association and other Colorado’s electrical utilities.
“ is casts a broad shadow on lots of the progress that the state has made in terms of power supply,” United Power CEO Mark Gabriel told Bennet.
“I am a practical businessman. I don’t have dreadlocks. I don’t wear Birkenstocks. is is not a crusade,” said Gabriel in a later interview.
At issue, he emphasized, is resource adequacy and reliability for his utility, which serves one of Colorado’s fastestgrowing areas north and east of Denver, including many oil and gas operations. Because electricity is increasingly used in oil and gas extraction and transport, it could raise their fossil fuel costs, too.
“ ese tax credits are critical to keeping costs, and therefore rates, stable for our members,” said CORE Electrical Cooperative, which serves Castle Rock and other south-metro areas, including part of U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert’s district, who also voted for the bill.
Holy Cross Energy has a goal of 100% emission-free electricity by 2030. In October and in April it surpassed 90%. For 2025, it expects to end up north of 80% compared to 50% just a few years ago — while maintaining among the lowest electrical rates in Colorado.
One of its programs, Power+FLEX, would be especially impacted. It encourages Holy Cross members to install batteries in a way that bene ts the homes and businesses but also allows Holy Cross to draw upon them when needed. Loss of the tax credit will make the batteries more expensive, dampening future demand.
e bill before the Senate is indeed big. Beautiful? Not to Colorado’s electrical utilities.
is was extracted from a deeper dive on the budget reconciliation bill that can be found at BigPivots.com.
We the People: America Is an Idea
What is a country? What makes it up? Is it an enclosed area populated by people speaking a common language, honoring certain customs and traditions, and practicing similar religions? Are there traits a country’s people share? Perhaps love for a particular sport: football, sumo wrestling, rugby. Or cuisine: lasagna, frog legs, sushi. What about size and history? Ideas abound when thinking of a country’s makeup.
My questions aren’t meant to be a query into geo-political dynamics but instead to prompt thinking about how America is distinct relative to other countries.
Peggy Noonan says America was invented. I prefer constructed or built since it was a matter of our Founders piecing together building blocks that had been created over the ages including democracy, trial by jury, and due process. Maybe it’s a matter of semantics because in the end we’d probably agree America’s founding was unique.
A few countries are ancient despite undergoing iterations throughout their history. China and India along with Egypt and Greece come to mind. Others formed through evolution. Due to the migrating tribes that swept into Europe over the millennia, sometimes displacing and sometimes blending with the native populations, Europe is lled with such countries. It’s a fascinating story, one that might add spice to your research into your family’s origins.
America, though, is di erent. Other than the native populations, people didn’t happen upon here; they intentionally came, initially from Spain, France, and England mainly. Most carried with them their birth country’s traditions and practices, especially religion.
But the English colonists’ experience di ered from the other two. First, they were primarily Protestant, not Catholic, and largely guided by the Calvinistic Puritan Ethic. Further, their unifying principle centered around one broad idea: freedom. And with that came diversity, tolerance, and acceptance, even if they weren’t ideally practiced.
With the Magna Carta, the instinct for liberty became ingrained in the English consciousness. It was enhanced by the rise of mercantilism and the schism between the English and Roman Churches. So by the 1770s, it became a fool’s errand for King George III, Lord North, et al to try to whip the Americans, who no longer consider themselves English, into shape. It was that mindset that led to the Americans to take up arms. ey fought, bled, and died for freedom. ey bequeathed it to us, and that idea is a tenet of America to this day. at said, there are some in great positions of power who have a di erent view about the meaning of America. eirs is
JERRY FABYANIC
Columnist
a transactional, self-serving perspective. It’s not principled. Rather, it’s utilitarian, which according to Merriam-Webster, means “the aim of action should be the largest possible balance of pleasure over pain.” ey see America as a playground, a venue to accumulate wealth. It’s a tension currently being played out in our socio-political exchange.
at and them aside, there’s more than the sanctity of freedom and opportunity that bind us. ere’s social trust, among us the people and in our institutions. ere are commonly shared traditions and customs like reworks on the Fourth of July and football on anksgiving Day. ere are honored and sacred sites that should be inviolate—places of worship and learning and forums for free speech, from sidewalk soap boxes to press rooms— even if one doesn’t believe in their preachings and agree with their teachings and opinions.
It’s been an ongoing struggle to defend and expand that fundamental idea of America. It got especially ugly in the Civil War, but it didn’t doom the American experiment. A poignant tale from it is telling and relevant.
In “ ese Generals Were the Closest of Enemies,” Peggy Noonan recounts an anecdote, originally told in Michael Shaara’s “ e Killer Angels,” about the enduring friendship between two Civil War generals, Win eld Scott Hancock of the Union and Lewis “Lo” Armistead of the Confederacy. As fate would have it, they nearly met face to face at the Battle of Gettysburg. Scott was wounded but survived; Armistead died of his wounds in a Union hospital tent.
When the war began, Armistead sent Hancock’s wife a package that she was to open only in the event of his death. She honored his request. It was Armistead’s family Bible.
Peggy says stories like these are part of our history and shouldn’t be lost because if we lose them, we lose part of ourselves and “part of the gift we give our immigrants.”
“We’ve overcome a great deal,” she writes. “We see this best if we don’t deny our history but tell the whole messy, complicated, embarrassing, ennobling tale.” Now, there’s an idea for you.
Postscript: My thanks to reader Gary for reminding me that Steve Goodman, not Arlo Guthrie, wrote “City of New Orleans.” My phrasing in “American Pie” implied otherwise.
Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.
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Have you ever noticed how sometimes you see the shape of a heart in the most unexpected places? Maybe it’s in the clouds as they part and rejoin, or in the way the sunlight cuts through a break in the sky. Perhaps it shows up in the pitting of a worn sidewalk, the irregular pattern of asphalt, or the jagged edge of a stone. It might be in the bark of a tree, the curve of a seashell, or the delicate lines of a fallen leaf. I know it’s not just me, when I’ve shared these little sightings with others, they nod and smile. They’ve seen them too.
Recently, during my morning walks, I’ve noticed more hearts than ever before. At first, it felt like a happy coincidence. But then I started wondering: Why now? Why am I seeing hearts everywhere I look?
The answer came quietly but clearly: Maybe it’s because my heart is open, open to loving and being loved, open to noticing the signs, open to receiving the messages all around me.
And perhaps these heart-shaped reminders are just that, messages. Messages that love is always present. Not
ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
When everything looks like a heart
WINNING WORDS
whisper: You were loved. You still are.
that love is always worth it.
just in grand gestures or hallmark moments, but in the everyday. In nature. In the people around us. In our memories and in our moments of stillness.
It reminded me of that old country song, “Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places.” Maybe we need to start looking for love in all the right places, the kind of love that isn’t loud or flashy but present, steady, generous, and sometimes even quiet. The kind that leaves clues if you’re willing to see them. As I walked and reflected, each heartshaped find brought to mind someone I love, my wife, my family, my friends, my coworkers, my church family, and those kind souls whose presence lifts me. But it also opened the door to grief, reminding me of those whose faces I no longer get to see. There’s a tender pain in that kind of remembering, but also a deep beauty. The memories themselves carry love. They become a gentle
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I’ve come to believe that when everything starts to look like a heart, it’s a sign that our emotions are not just alive but awake. We are tuned into something deeper. We’re allowing love to rise to the surface and shape how we see the world.
Of course, not everyone walks through life looking for hearts. Some seem to make it their mission to find what’s broken. They focus on the bad, the unjust, the messy. And while we should never turn a blind eye to pain or pretend problems don’t exist, there’s something to be said for being a goodfinder, someone who seeks out what’s beautiful, kind, and loving. Or better yet, a love-finder.
There’s no denying the division and noise that echo through the world today. But maybe, just maybe, there’s truth in another song lyric: What the world needs now, is love, sweet love. Not the abstract kind. The real kind. The kind that sees hearts in tree bark and cracks in the pavement. The kind that sees people fully. That gives generously. That believes again and again
So if your heart feels a little more open lately, or even if you’re just beginning to crack the door, I hope you start seeing the signs. I hope hearts show up in unexpected places. I hope you let those shapes turn your thoughts to the people you love and to the memories that still breathe warmth into your spirit.
And maybe, just maybe, when everything starts to look like a heart, it’s God reminding you of what truly matters. After all, we’re called to love as we have been loved.
So here’s my prayer for you: May your days be filled with hearts. May your heart be open. And may love always find its way in. As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com, and when we take notice when everything looks like a heart, it really will be a better-than-good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
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Michael Norton
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NEWS BRIEFS
Co ee with a cop
Fort Lupton Police set aside one morning each month to share a few cups of co ee with residents.
Co ee with a Cop is a chance for police to meet with community members and discuss many topics, including parking regulations. To accommodate more people, they have changed their meeting location to the MultiPurpose Room at the Fort Lupton Rec Center!
e same time is on the rst Wednesday of each month at Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S Harrison Ave, Fort Lupton. e next scheduled event is from 8-9:30 a.m. on July 2.
Co ee with a Cop is an easy way to get to know the men and women who serve our community and tell them about the issues that matter most to you. Remember that you can always reach our police department at our non-emergency number, 720-652-4222.
Fort Lupton celebrates America’s Birthday Bash
Fort Lupton’s Independence Day celebration is set from 3-8 p.m July 4 at the Community Park at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. e festival is free to attend and features a country blues concert with Eric Golden and Delta Sonics. Food trucks will be on hand as will more than 50 booth vendors, o ering everthing from good to treats like Cotton Candy, ice cream, kettle cornand funnel cakes. All sales at the adult Beer Garden will bene t the Fort Lupton Food and Clothing Bank.
starts at 10 a.m. every last Saturday of the month.
All ages are welcome.
Fort Lupton replacing water meters
e City of Fort Lupton has hired Northern Colorado Contractors to replace the water meters in town.
Over time, meters age and require replacement to ensure accurate measurement and e ciency of water use. e majority of the meters in the City are reaching their useful life, prompting this program. e replacement of the meters is entirely free of charge to residents.
According to the city, the current meters continue to work properly; however, some meters do not transmit the data from the meter to the system. e meter must then be read manually.
ere will also be carnival rides, bounce houses, give-aways and a most patriotic competition, so dress to impress.
Citywide Yard Sales July 10 & 11
Fort Lupton invites everyone to participate in the annual Citywide Yard Sales July 11 and 12.
If you are interested in having a yard sale at your property and would like to be included on the City map of the event, please submit your information by June 26. Submit information for the yard sale here. https://forms. gle/QAbjuL5TvjkWG6xs5
A map of participating sales is located here: https://tinyurl.com/37tde y.
Post o ce seeks new location in Hudson
Accounts with meters that can’t be manually read will be estimated. If the actual amount consumed is lower than the estimated amount previously billed, then the bill will be adjusted to re ect the higher usage. When the new meter is connected, it will re ect the correct usage moving forward.
Contractors will notify residents when they will replace meters in their vicinity. For houses with meters that are outside and accessible, the contractors will let residents know when they plan to replace the meter. For houses that have inaccessible meters that are inside, in a basement or a crawl space, residents should contact Public Works to schedule an appointment.
More information can be found herehttps://www.fortluptonco.gov/1240/WaterMeter-Replacement-Program.
Due to space constraints, the Postal Service must relocate retail services to a yet-tobe-determined location within the zip code of 80642, which includes Hudson and the surrounding area.
e desired size of the new facility needs to be approximately 2,750 square feet with adequate parking.
e relocation project will consist of procuring a suitable substitute location, as close as reasonably possible to the existing location. Retail Services will continue at the current location until necessary preparations are completed at the new location.
Instead of a public meeting, the Postal Service is inviting residents and property owners to send comments on the proposal to “United States Postal Service, Attn: Hudson, CO MPO Relocation, PO BOX 27497, Greensboro, NC 27498-1103.”
e Cemetery Committee, Parks and Recreation Committee, Golf Committee, the Library Board, Public Safety Committee and the Senior Advisory Committee have openings. e openings consist of a two-year term running through the end of 2024. If you or anyone you know is interested in serving on a committee, please complete a committee application at https://www.fortluptonco. gov/966/I-Want-To-Apply-for-a-Committee on the city’s website.
Help for vets
Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, has several power chairs, scooters, and electric wheelchairs available.
Acts of Connection seeks to lessen loneliness Weld County and North Range Behavioral Health are working to target social isolation and build personal connections throughout the county with the Acts of Connection Initiative.
According to the group, four of ve adults younger than 24 and seniors older than 66 all reported feeling lonely at some point. e campaign encourages everyone to nd ways to connect with others, build relationships, and promote a stronger sense of wellbeing and a culture of connection for all. e group has sponsored a website at https://actsofconnectionweld.org/ to survey members of each group, o er some tips to help and take pledges to connect to the community and connect with other members of the community.
e Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
Saturday pancakes
e Fort Lupton Public Library hosts a simple pancake breakfast on the last Saturday of each month in the library’s community rooms. is month’s pancake breakfast runs from 9:30-10:30 a.m. June 28. e library is located at 370 S. Rollie Ave.
e VA o ers urgent care services to eligible veterans at VA medical facilities or several in-network urgent care clinics that are closer to home.
To nd the closest facility to you, visit www. va.gov/ nd-locations or call 720-600-0860.
Quali ed Listeners also needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries, and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.
Donation time
e Fort Lupton Food & Clothing Bank is asking for donations of canned fruits and nuts, varieties of dry pasta and pasta dinners, peanut butter and canned meat such as tuna (including the pouches).
Visit the e ort’s website at https://actsofconnectionweld.org/ for more information.
Brighton Art in the Park seeks local artists e City of Brighton will host its annual Art in the Park festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern St. ose artists interested in showcasing and selling their artwork can visit www.brightonartinthepark.com for more information and to apply. e deadline for booth applications is Aug. 15. is one-day festival brings together talented artists, live performances, interactive activities, and a vibrant artist market. For more information, contact Communications & Engagement Director Kristen Chernosky at 303-655-2146 or kchernosky@ brightonco.gov.
Other potential donations could include chicken, Vienna sausages, spam and salmon. e bank also needs personal items, such as toiletries and baby needs.
Drop o donations at the food and clothing bank’s back door, 421 Denver Ave., on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Call 303-857-1096.
Free short-term radon test kits
Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement.
Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 4002226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.
Silver Sneakers
Silver Sneaker Yoga is available three times per week, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 to 9:45 a.m. and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave.
e event is combined with the library’s weekly reading program, so families can enjoy a good meal while listening to popular cult classic children’s stories that never get old. Breakfast starts at 9:30, and read-aloud
Blessings in a Bag
Fort Lupton’s Backpack Program helps schoolchildren in need with a backpack of healthy food. It’s an all-volunteer program and needs volunteers. If interested in volunteering or donating, call 303-718-4440.
City committees need members
Fort Lupton is looking for several community-minded individuals to ll openings on several boards that advise the City Council and help run city programs.
Free short-term radon test kits
Weld County residents can receive a free radon test kit (one per household, while supplies last). Test kits can be requested online at www.drhomeair.com/weld, according to a statement.
Call the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment at (970) 4002226 or visit: www.weldgov.com/go/radon.
Volunteers needed
Quali ed Listeners, a veteran and family resource hub serving northern Colorado and southern Wyoming, needs volunteers to drive veterans to and from appointments, run errands for veterans who cannot get out, provide handyman services, help administer veteran and family resource guide inventory in local libraries and veterans to be trained to become quali ed listeners.
Visit quali edlisteners.org/volunteerapp and ll out the form or call 720-600-0860.
Water aerobics
e city’s water aerobics class meets from 6 to 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays and ursdays at the Fort Lupton Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Ave. Call 303-857-4200.
A Collection of Summer Artistic Activities
Summer is o cially here, which means Colorado truly shows itself as a place with cultural options for every interest and activity. e days are lovely and long, so you’ll want to take advantage of all there is on o er.
I’ve gathered a range of activities to celebrate the start of the season — nd something you like and head outside.
Take an Artistic Rest at SeeSaw Art Gallery ere are few things summer is better for than getting some relaxation time, something that SeeSaw Art Gallery, 5 W. Radcli Ave. in Englewood, is celebrating with its new exhibition,Rest Awhile. It’s on display until Aug. 3. e rst solo show from artist Amanda K. Snyder, Rest Awhile “re ects on how oftentimes it’s the carefree moments in life that are relished most; the instances when there’s permission to relax, let go and re ect,” according to provided information. ey become cherished memories and moments we aspire to return to. e exhibit features “rediscovered” mid-century paintings that capture familiar places of leisure.
Find more information at www.seesawgallery.com.
Thornton Pride Throws a Retro Beach Party e City of ornton is celebrating Pride Month in the perfect summer way
COMING ATTRACTIONS
— with aRetro Beach Party e free event is held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at ornton Arts and Culture Center and Lu Murray Park, 9209 Dorothy Blvd. Attendees are encouraged to dress for the beach and have fun putting together an out t. At the Culture Center, visitors will enjoy live entertainment and more, while at Lu Marray Park, visitors can dance to music from a DJ and other live performers. ey can also dine at food trucks and participate in a range of activities, including arts and crafts, cornhole, limbo, face-painting, beach ball volleyball and more. is is a great way to blend all the fun of summer with the important recognition of the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community. All the details are available at www.thorntonco.gov/community-culture/festivals-events/2025-thorntonpride.
Plenty of Music and Tasty
Food at Edgewater Music Festival
Delicious barbeque and killer blues music just seem to go together, which is one of the reasons that people ock
to Edgewater every year for the annual Edgewater Music Festival. e 28th iteration is from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 at Citizen’s Park, 5401 W. 22nd Ave. All the proceeds from the event bene t Habitat for Humanity Metro Denver and other a ordable housing programs.
Some new features this year include a Harley-Davidson ra e and two stages of live music, including performers like Hand Turkey, Wild Love Tigress and Chris Daniels and the Kings.
Attendees will get to peruse the wares of a fun and eclectic range of vendors, like Puppet Me is, e Metaphysical Shop and Skultin Wire Works. And don’t forget the food—it’s a critical and ngerlicking component to the proceedings.
For more information and tickets, visit www.edgewatercomusicfestival.com.
Work Up a Sweat at Lakewood’s Family Fun Day
Summer is the time when you want to be outside and getting really active, so the City of Lakewood is throwing an event to let families do just that.
Lakewood’s Family Fun Day is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 21 atCarmody Park, 2200 S. Kipling St. e aim of the free event is to celebrate tness for all ages and features a variety of ways to get going.
Some of the events people can partici-
pate in are a color run, scooter obstacle course and sports and tness demos, including Zumba, hip-hop and pickleball. ere also will be water games, parachute play and a gymnastics course. Fun prizes will be available for some of the winners.
Attendees can bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the park and then get a cold treat from Kona Ice to cap things o . More information is available a twww. Lakewood.org/FamilyFunDay.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Tash Sultana at Red Rocks
Australia’s Tash Sultana is one of those musicians that once you catch wind of, you wonder where they’ve been your whole life. e singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist writes tunes that can get under your skin, with immaculate grooves and a sly wit. ere’s elements of pop, blues, R&B and even hip-hop in their music. Plus, Sultana is a top-tier guitarist but can play just about anything — and often does.
Sultana is coming to Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 20. It’ll be a great evening of music under the stars, so get tickets at www.axs.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
Clarke Reader
BY RYLEE DUNN
For many, the feeling is all too familiar: hands awkwardly gripping the fretboard, the sharp bite of the strings digging into ngertips, an out-of-pitch buzz emitting from the soundhole — the early days of learning to play guitar can dissuade even the most persistent student from the pursuit.
Yet those who persist often discover the hard-earned spoils of guitar playing. Camp res become enlivened with sound, impromptu jam sessions serendipitously come together and in some cases, bands and long-standing musical careers are formed.
While many guitarists learn the instrument when they’re children, others come by it later in life – and the instrument has plenty to o er folks no matter when they pick it up. David Gilbert, a father of two from Englewood, began playing recently because he wanted to expose his young children to the magic of live music.
“I’m pushing 40,” Gilbert said. “At this point, the likelihood that I’m going to end up some guitar virtuoso is pretty slim, but what I recognize is that I can get to a point where I can subject my family to some camp re songs.
“And I think that kind of speaks to the essence of guitar — kind of as this common man’s instrument that doesn’t take too much to get to a point where you can play
some simple sing-along songs with kids, or get to a point where you can just make a fun sound or a little tune,” he continued. “So at this point, that’s my goal; to learn enough chords that I can play some music.”
Gilbert, like many other later–life guitar learners, has turned to a common source of information in the modern age for instruction: YouTube.
e widely utilized social media site is sought out by both novices and seasoned professionals alike.
Warren Rubin is a lifelong guitarist who began playing at an early age and now plays bass guitar in the Arvada-based band, Dive Bar Diva. Rubin works as a soundman for artists such as Hazel Miller and operates an ampli er repair shop out of his garage. He is sometimes known as the “Amp Whisperer.”
Rubin says that there are more resources out there for aspiring guitarists now than there have ever been.
“You don’t have to take classes every week or every month; as much as you need to just pursue interesting ideas,” Rubin said. “Watch other people who have other approaches to the instrument. We live in a golden age for this sort of thing, because you can turn to YouTube and there are people who are just absolutely brilliant guitarists showing you what they do and how they do it.”
Guitarist Kevin Pounds has played in a number of Colorado bands, including We Are Not A Glum Lot (pictured). PHOTO BY MACHKNE RUDNICKI
GUITAR
FROM PAGE 14
Some of the YouTube channels Rubin and Gilbert recommend are Rick Beato, Justin Guitar, Paul Davids, Andy Guitar, and Wings of Pegasus.
While Rubin acknowledges the utility of something like YouTube, he also continues to take in-person lessons at the Olde Town Pickin’ Parlor in Arvada, despite having played the instrument for over six decades.
“All of the best guitar players I know — including my teacher, who has a master’s degree in jazz — continue to take classes,” Rubin said. “If you can a ord it, take lessons, not because it’s the only way to learn the instrument, but it gives you a strong set of fundamentals.”
e Denver metro area is awash with music schools that o er guitar lessons. Arvada’s Pickin’ Parlor, Denver’s Swallow Hill Music, Englewood’s Denver Music Institute and the Littleton School of Music all o er lessons for a variety of di erent styles and skill levels.
While many continue to take lessons long after rst picking up the instrument, other players eschew them altogether. Kevin Pounds — a Colorado Springsbased musician who records under the name Kevin Lbs. and has played in bands including We Are Not A Glum Lot and e Short-TERM — is completely self-taught and learned the instrument by ear.
“I spent my rst year playing, probably hours a day, sounding out Nirvana songs by ear,” Pounds said. “Just dragging my ngers up the strings until I heard some semblance of what was coming out of the speaker across from me. I became a bit more literate with time. I started to realize that certain chords that I was learning matched individual notes on my fretboard.”
Pounds echoed Rubin’s sentiment about trying to learn from others.
“Try not to compare yourself to others,” Pounds said. “It can be very discouraging. But on that note, don’t be afraid to steal their tricks or techniques. You’re always going to put your own scent on it anyway.” Gilbert said the main hurdles he’s dealt with as a newer player are developing the muscle memory to be able to quickly change chords and nding time to practice.
“It reminds me, actually, somewhat of where I started to feel a little stumped with learning a foreign language,” Gilbert said. “Doing rapid chord changes is still something I’m training my ngers to do.
“ e other big challenge for me right now is just time,” Gilbert continued. “You know, I’ve got a full-time job and I’ve got kids, so, if I’m lucky, I’ve got half an hour in the evening to sit down with a YouTube tutorial and mess around with guitar. But that’s sort of the bene t of the YouTube thing. I don’t have to build lessons into my schedule. I can t them in where it works.”
Rubin said that instead of seeking out mastery, one should play simply for the enjoyment of the instrument.
“If it brings you joy, you already play well enough,” Rubin said. “And you know, what brings you joy? Is it just playing three chords and being able to sing some of your favorite songs? Is it being able to sit in your chair and noodle a little bit while you watch television? Do it. It’s never too late to start.
“You don’t need to become a virtuoso,” Rubin continued. “I’m not going to live long enough to be a virtuoso, but you don’t need to be a virtuoso for playing to bring you joy.”
Guitarist Kevin Pounds learned the instrument by figuring out songs by ear, demonstrating one of the many paths one can take on their way to learning to play.
PHOTO BY MACHKNE RUDNICKI
Folks of any age can learn to play guitar, and there are lots of methods available by which to do so.
PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT
Though Warren Rubin has been playing most of his life, he advocates for players to continue with lessons and keep sharpening their skills. COURTESY PHOTO
SPORTS LOCAL
New rules for 2025-26 high school basketball season
Goaltending, bench decorum among main focuses
BY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO TRUST FOR LOCAL NEWS
We’re still a year away from Colorado adopting a shot clock for high school basketball. e rule kicks in for the 202627 season, with a 35-second timer for all classi cations. However, some changes are coming ahead of the 2025-26 season also.
e National Federation of High Schools adopted new rules and procedures changes for the coming highschool basketball season.
Goaltending/basket interference
A main focus is on dealing with goaltending and basket interference. e goaltending rule says a ball is on its downward arc toward the basket once the shot hits the backboard. If a defender touches the ball after it hits the backboard, it’s two/three points for the shooter’s team. Before this rule change, it was up to ofcials to determine whether the ball was still climbing toward the goal before any potential goaltending call.
“By establishing that a ball is considered to be on its downward ight upon contacting the backboard, this rule change introduces a clear and objective standard,” said Monica Maxwell, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee, in a statement
posted to CHSAANow.com. “It signicantly reduces the need for o cials to make subjective judgments regarding the trajectory of a shot, thereby enhancing consistency and accuracy in goaltending calls.”
e rule regarding basket interference
has also changed.
Now, only a defensive player can commit goaltending. e NFHS statement said the rule change disposes of the need to determine whether the ball in ight is a eld-goal attempt or a pass.
“Any alliteration of a shot attempt with
contact to the basket or backboard by an o ensive player would be considered basket interference,” the statement said.
Also, intentionally slapping or striking the backboard during a eld-goal try becomes basket interference and not a technical foul.
Also, incidents in which players who intentionally delay returning to the court after being out of bounds and then become the rst to touch the ball will result in an infraction and not a technical foul.
Bench rules
e NFHS also changed a rule related to time-outs.
Players on the oor when o cials call for a timeout are now “bench personnel.”
e NFHS statement said the switch “ensures consistent enforcement of penalties for unsporting conduct by allowing o cials to issue technical fouls to bench personnel during time-outs.”
Before the change, game o cials had to determine whether a player who warranted a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct was actually on the oor or the bench at the time.
“One of the points of emphasis this year will be bench decorum,” said Billy Strickland, executive director of the Alaska School Activities Association and chair of the NFHS Basketball Rules Committee, in the NFHS statement. “How can we help coaches and o cials know that communication is a two-way street? It just needs to be done in a proper manner.”
Keep up with all rule changes and sports at CHSAANow.com.
Seeing stars among new NWSL team
Colorado sports titans rally to bring professional women’s soccer to town
BY JOHN RENFROW JOHN@CTLN.ORG
Since the announcement in January, Colorado has been abuzz about Denver being awarded the newest National Women’s Soccer League team, set to begin play in 2026.
Between powerhouse additions to the ownership and investor groups and the groundbreaking on a new state-of-the-art performance center in Centennial, Coloradans have made it clear that professional women’s sports are long overdue
in the area.
e club also unveiled plans for a future stadium district in downtown Denver, which will represent the largest investment in women’s team sports infrastructure in history.
e exclamation point came on June 3, when Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback (and obvious Denver legend) Peyton Manning joined the club as a Denver NWSL investor.
e Sheri announced his involvement in a cheeky video of him FaceTiming his brother, NFL legend Eli Manning, a minority owner of Gotham FC in New York.
But the ve-time NFL MVP and twotime Super Bowl winner’s addition is just the icing on a star-studded cake of owners and investors for the new soccer club. See the full list below, with details pulled from DenverNWSL.com.
Olympic Alpine Skier Mikaela Shi rin
A Colorado legend is joining the Denver NWSL group as an investor. Shi rin has 101 World Cup victories, is a two-time Olympic champion, an eight-time World Champion and a ve-time Overall World Cup Champion.
“I’m beyond thrilled to join the ownership group of Denver NWSL and support something so meaningful in the community I call home,” Shi rin said in a statement. “ e sport culture in Colorado is rich and deep, and — most notably — the growth of women’s sports is one of the most exciting movements in our culture today.”
General Manager Curt Johnson
With seven major NWSL trophies under his belt, Johnson already has a decorated resume in the sport.
According to Je Kassouf at ESPN, “Johnson left the North Carolina FC and North Carolina Courage organization in December after 14 years combined with the men’s and women’s teams. As chief soccer o cer, he oversaw the rise of the Courage’s NWSL dynasty that included back-to-back NWSL Shields and NWSL Championships in 2018 and 2019.” Johnson is a two-time NWSL champion, a three-time NWSL Shield Winner and a two-time NWSL Challenge Cup Winner.
President Jen Millet
A Colorado native, Millet is Denver NWSL’s rst employee.
According to the club’s website, Millet joins Denver NWSL from Bay FC, where she served as chief operating o cer for the
Prairie View’s Lani Waterhouse lets the shot go against John F. Kennedy’s Keana Venegas-Alvarez during the first round of the Nate Howard Memorial Girls Basketball Tournament at Prairie View High School on Nov. 30. STEVE SMITH
Thu 6/19
Evergreen Lake Kids Club
@ 9am
Evergreen Lake House, 29612 Upper Bear Creek Road, Evergreen. 720-880-1000
Chief Hosa Lodge Open House Tour (for future customers)
@ 2pm
Chief Hosa Lodge, 27661 Genesee Lane, Golden. 720-913-0654
March To August
@ 5pm
The Well at Bradford Junction, 27051 Barkley Rd, Conifer
Neil Z at the Chart House @ 5pm
Chart House, 25908 Genesee Trail Rd, Golden
Little Moses Jones Live at the Thornton Juneteenth Concert! @ 7pm
The Copper Children @ 7pm
Little Bear Live, 28075 CO-74, Ever‐green
Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks @ 7:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Defected @ 7:30pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thorn‐ton
Carpenter Park Fields, 11000 Colorado Blvd, Thornton
Fri 6/20
Craft Night - Native American Beading @ 6pm Clear Creek Recreation Center, 98 12th Avenue, Idaho Springs
Nate Amor: Sofar Sounds - Golden, CO
@ 7:30pm Jim's House, Golden
Chauncey Jones at The Stillery Colorado @ 8:30pm
The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
Chauncey Jones at The Stillery Colorado @ 8:30pm
Dirty Side Down Band: Dirty Side Down @ Trailside Saloon @ 8pm Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton
Sat 6/21
Amanda Hawkins & Barry Hawkins @ 5:30pm Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Ave, Golden
Dave Mensch - Floodstage Ale Works - Brighton, CO @ 7pm
Flood Stage Ale Works, 170 S Main St, Brighton
Fathom @ 7pm
The Stillery, 10633 Westminster Blvd #900, Westminster
Sun 6/22
Colorado Rockies vs. Arizona Diamondbacks @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
Halsey: For My Last Trick @ 7pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison
Mon 6/23
Silent Stars @ 9am / Free Jun 23rd - Jun 27th
Golden History Museum & Park, 923 10th St, Golden. 303-278-3557
Skyhawks Flag Football Camp Pioneer Park @ 9am Jun 23rd - Jun 27th Pioneer Park, 5902 Holly St., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Tue 6/24
Teens : WaterWorld : June 24 @ 9am Fort Lupton Community / Recreation Center, 203 S. Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
Trailside Saloon, 10360 Colorado Blvd, Thornton
Wed 6/25
Food That Built America: I Got Beef @ 1pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Park‐way Dr., Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Live @ The Rose - Country Line Dancing Night with Jeff Goodwin And The Front Range Cowboys @ 6pm / $10
Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue, Golden. information@buffalorose.net
Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers @ 6:40pm Coors Field, Denver
Charley Crockett @ 7pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison
Thu 6/26
Sunny Stride 5 K @ 6:30am / $35-$35 10600 Westminster Boulevard, West‐minster
Colorado Rockies vs. Los Angeles Dodgers @ 1:10pm Coors Field, Denver
National Women’s Soccer League’s (NWSL) 14th expansion franchise. Millet will return to the Mile High City to lead all of Denver NWSL’s business operations, including partnerships, ticket sales, marketing, and venue operations.
Founder Rob Cohen Cohen is the chairman and CEO of IMA Financial Group, Inc., a top-25 North American insurance brokerage specializing in risk management, insurance, wholesale brokerage and wealth management headquartered in Denver. In 2001, Cohen founded the Denver Sports Commission, whose mission is to proactively identify, pursue and attract regional, national and international amateur and professional athletic competitions and events to Denver. e commission has helped bring notable events such as the All-Star Games of MLB, NBA, NHL, Women’s Final Four and Hockey Frozen Four to the greater Denver area. Cohen also served as a founding member of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation (USOPF) and is the chair of the Games Hospitality Committee. He most recently was on the Salt Lake City Bid committee, which was awarded the Winter Olympic Games for 2034. He has served on the board for the United States Olympic Museum and has attended 15 di erent Olympic Games in his lifetime.
Alternate Governor Mellody Hobson Hobson is co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, LLC (“Ariel”), the rst and oldest African-American-owned
mutual fund company in the United States. Ariel is the parent company of Project Level, which is investing in the Denver NWSL franchise.
Led by Hobson and former Washington Commanders President Jason Wright, Project Level’s mission is to level the playing eld in women’s sports through investment and ownership. In 2022, Hobson made history as one of the rst Black owners in the National Football League, as part of the Denver Broncos’ WaltonPenner Family Ownership Group. She is also a shareholder of the Chicago White Sox, the Women’s National Basketball Association and League One Volleyball.
The Borgen/Moritz Families
Working closely with Cohen and in alignment with the team at For Denver FC on the nearly two-year journey, siblings and founders Jon-Erik Borgen and Kaia Borgen Moritz were key contributors in the early movement and eventual bid to bring an NWSL team to Denver.
Together with their spouses, Brooke Borgen and Misha Moritz, and the recent addition of sister Randi, the Borgen family has a distinguished legacy of nancial, athletic and philanthropic impact and success in Colorado. is community-focused investment through their FirstTracks Sports Ventures, LLC, represents their passion for women’s athletics, elevating opportunities for all and their commitment to bringing the rst professional women’s soccer team to Denver.
Molly Coors
It’s not Denver pro sports if Coors isn’t involved.
Coors is a fth-generation Coloradan. She played collegiate lacrosse at Connecticut College and worked for Alli-
anceBernstein for 14 years (in the U.S. and abroad) from 2008 to 2022.
Coors is also on the Young Guns Committee for the National Western Stock Show.
Brooke Woody
Another connection from North Carolina, Woody entered the women’s sports arena with a minority ownership stake in the NC Courage.
She recently served on the board of the Community Impact Fund, is a director of a local foundation and volunteers at a community food bank.
Neelima Joshi and Dhiren Jhaveri
Two powerhouse investors also joined the group. Denver NWSL’s page details their experience below.
Joshi is a Colorado native and seasoned nance professional with experience in corporate nance, community leadership and non-pro t board governance. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Food Bank of the Rockies. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Biennial of the Americas, an organization which was established by the Colorado Governor’s o ce to promote cultural exchange, innovation and collaboration throughout the Americas.
Jhaveri is the founder, chairperson and CEO of Kuvare, a global technology-enabled nancial services platform with $46B in assets that provides insurance, reinsurance and asset management solutions. Additionally, Kuvare has a strong commitment to community enhancement, infrastructure development and sports-related investments. More information can be found at denvernwsl.com.
Cordillera Investment Partners
According to Denver NWSL’s website,
Cordillera Investment Partners is an investment management rm focused on investing in niche, non-correlated assets. Its investments are generally in sectors that are misunderstood, undercapitalized and uncorrelated with traditional assets. Cordillera manages approximately $1.8 billion of capital on behalf of endowments, foundations, family o ces, wealth advisors and other institutional investors.
The Soin Family, led by Vishal Soin Raj Soin and Vishal Soin represent two generations of entrepreneurial leadership and philanthropic commitment of the Soin Family. More online at denvernwsl.com.
For Denver FC Capital Partners (SPV)
Founded in 2022 by Ben Hubbard, Tom Dunmore, Jordan Angeli and Nicole Glaros, For Denver FC launched the movement that ultimately brought professional women’s soccer to Colorado. e club’s site reads, “For Denver FC’s work was instrumental in the early stages of Denver’s pursuit of an NWSL franchise, helping lay the foundations for Denver’s successful bid by generating deep grassroots enthusiasm, exploring infrastructure solutions, and engaging Rob Cohen and other key members of the ownership group. In early 2025, Hubbard, Dunmore, Angeli and Glaros were joined by Stacy Carter to form ForDenverFC Capital Partners, which includes Yoav Lurie and Lana Kimayeva, Jodi Asarch, Sebastian Somen, omas and Carrie Hutchinson and others. Follow Denver NWSL on social media channels for updates on stadium-building, partnerships and more. All other information can be found at denvernwsl. com.
1. MOVIES: What is the title of the rst James Bond lm?
2. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What is the color of the “black box” that records an airplane’s performance?
3. TELEVISION: What is the theme song for the long-running sitcom “All in the Family”?
4. LITERATURE: What is the name of Ron Weasley’s family home in the “Harry Potter” series?
5. GAMES: How many dice are used in a game of Yahtzee?
6. SCIENCE: What does a mole measure in chemistry?
7. MYTHOLOGY: What is the Greek god of darkness called?
8. FOOD & DRINK: Which type of liquor is traditionally used in a gimlet?
9. ASTRONOMY: How many moons does Saturn have?
TrIVIa
10. CHEMISTRY: What is the chemical symbol for gold?
Answers
1. “Dr. No.”
2. Orange.
3. “ ose Were the Days.”
4. e Burrow.
5. Five.
6. e amount of chemical substance.
7. Erebus.
8. Gin.
9. 274.
10. Au.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
LLC and Josh Friberg
SHERIFF’S COMBINED NOTICE OF SALE AND RIGHTS TO CURE AND REDEEM
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
R Sheri s Sale o Real roperty pursuant to a Judgment entered on May 30, 2004 in the original amount of $109,750.00 in favor of Shanna Bernstein against Josh Friberg, a Transcript of the Judgment on August 7, 2024 as Reception No. 2024000043196 and an additional Transcript of Judgment on October 1, 2024 as Reception No. 2024000054096 of the real property records of Adams County, Colorado (“Judgment Lien”), Assignment and Sale o the ud ment to May ower apital ompany ro t Sharin lan dated ctober 9, 2024, and an Order Granting Motion for Default Judgment Pursuant to C.R.C.P. 55(b) and C.R.C.P. 121 § 1-14 directing the Adams ounty Sheri to oreclose the ud ment ien in the same manner as prescribed by statue for the sale of land on execution.
The principal and interest due and owing on the Judgment as of April 15, 2025, is as follows:
Principal:
$127,639.46 Interest (18% per annum)
320 days x $27.97 =$8,950.40
Total $136,589.86
This is to advise you that a Sheri s Sale proceeding has been commenced through the o ce o the undersi ned Sheri pursuant to above-referenced documents. PLEASE BE ADVISED THE LIEN BEING FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN ON THE FOLLOWING REAL PROPERTY, legally described as follows:
A PARCEL OF LAND LOCATED IN THE S 1/2 OF THE NW 1/4 OF SECTION 5, TOWNSHIP 3 SOUTH, RANGE 67 WEST OF THE 6TH P.M., BEING MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED AS FOLLOWS:
COMMENCING AT A POINT ON THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID S 1/2 OF NW 1/4 OF SECTION 5, A DISTANCE OF 492 FEET 8 INCHES WEST AND 105 FEET NORTH OF THE SE CORNER OF SAID S 1/2 OF NW 1/4 OF SECTION 5; THENCE NORTH AND PARALLEL WITH THE EAST LINE OF SAID S 1/2 OF NW 1/4, A DISTANCE OF 65 FEET; THENCE WEST AND PARALLEL WITH THE SOUTH LINE OF SAID S 1/2 OF NW 1/4 OF SECTION 5, A DISTANCE OF 120 FEET; THENCE SOUTH A DISTANCE OF 65 FEET; THENCE EAST 120 FEET TO THE POINT OF BEGINNING, COUNTY OF ADAMS, STATE D lso o s ee d number as 6813 LOCUST STREET, COMMERCE CITY, CO 80022
THE REAL PROPERTY TO BE SOLD AND DESCRIBED HEREIN IS NOT ALL THE PROPERTY THAT IS CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE JUDGMENT.
NOTICE OF SALE
Notice
highest and best bidder for cash, the Real Property described above, and all interest of the Judgment Debtors in the Real Property, for the purpose of paying the Judgment amount entered herein, and will deliver to the purchasers a erti cate o Purchase, all as provided by law. First Publication:
REAL PROPERTY BEING FORECLOSED OR HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS OR SUFFER CERTAIN LIABILITIES PURSUANT TO COLORADO STATUTES AS A RESULT OF SAID SHERIFF’S SALE. YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REDEEM SAID REAL PROPERTY OR YOU MAY HAVE THE RIGHT TO CURE A DEFAULT OF THE JUDGMENT BEING FORECLOSED. A COPY OF THE STATUTES WHICH MAY AFFECT YOUR RIGHTS ARE ATTACHED HERETO.
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE PURSUANT TO C.R.S. § 38-38-104 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE SHERIFF AT LEAST FIFTEEN (15) CALENDAR DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRST SCHEDULED DATE OF SALE OR ANY DATE TO WHICH THE SALE IS CONTINUED.
IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;
A NOTICE OF INTENT TO REDEEM FILED PURSUANT TO C.R.S. § 38-38-302 SHALL BE FILED WITH THE SHERIFF NO LATER THAN EIGHT BUSINESS (8) DAYS AFTER THE SALE.
The name, address and telephone number of the attorney representing holder of the Judgment is:
Harvey L. Kramer, Esq., Registration No. 31239 Kramer Law LLC 7 1 Bu alo ane Montrose, CO 81403 (303) 282-4342 Email: hkramer@kramlaw.com
Attached hereto are copies of certain Colorado Statutes that may vitally a ect your property rights in relation to this proceeding. Said proceeding may result in the loss of property in which you have an interest and may create a personal debt against you. You may wish to seek the advice of your own private attorney concerning your rights in relation to this foreclosure proceeding.
If the borrower believes that a lender or servicer has violated the requirements for a single point of contact in section 38-38-103.1 or the prohibition on dual tracking in section 38-3810 .2 the borrower may le a complaint with the Colorado attorney general, the CFPB, or both but the lin o a complaint will not stop the foreclosure process.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or CFPB P.O. Box 2900
Clinton, Iowa 52733-2900
Telephone: 855-411-2372
Fax: 855-237-2392
Colorado Attorney General Consumer Protection Section
Ralph L. Carr Judicial Building 1300 Broadway, 7th Floor Denver, CO 80203
Telephone: 800-222-4444
Fax: 720-508-6040
Intent to cure or redeem, as provided by the aforementioned laws, must be physically delivered to the ce o the dams ounty Sheri ivil Division 1100 udicial enter Drive, Brighton, CO 80601 or via U.S. Mail to dams ounty Sheri ivil Division 0 South Adams County Parkway, 1st Floor, Suite W5400, Brighton, CO 80601.
THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED MAY BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
Dated: May 16, 2025.
Gene R. laps Sheri Adams County, Colorado
By: Kathy Grosshans Deputy Sheri
Statutes attached: C.R.S. §§ 38-37-108, 3838-103, 38-38-104, 38-38-301, 38-38-302, 38-38-304, 38-38-305, and 38-38-306, as amended.
Legal Notice No. BSB3901
First Publication: June 12, 2025 Last Publication: July 10, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade
Misc. Private Legals
Public Notice BEFORE THE ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO IN THE MATTER OF THE PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS FROM THE PRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS AS ESTABLISHED BY SECTION 34-60-118.5, C.R.S., NIOBRARA, FORT HAYS, CODELL, AND CARLILE FORMATIONS, WATTENBERG FIELD, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO CAUSE NO. 1
DOCKET NO. 250500084
TYPE: PAYMENT OF PROCEEDS
NOTICE OF HEARING
Blac well ner y ( ayee ) led a orm 38, Payment of Proceeds Hearing Request (Form 38) pursuant to Rule 503.g.(5) and C.R.S. § 34-60-118.5, for an order awarding payment of proceeds and interest due to Payees for production attributable to the below-described Wells, which are operated by PDC Energy, Inc. (Operator No. 69175) (“Payor”) and located in Adams County, Colorado. This Notice was sent to you because the Applicant believes you may own oil or gas (“mineral”) interests in the ells identi ed below and or are responsible for making payments to the owners of mineral interests.
WELLS
Gus LD #34-363 HC (API No. 05-001-10513)
Gus LD #34-366 HC (API No. 05-001-10506)
DATE, TIME, AND LOCATION OF HEARING (Subject to change)
The assi ned Hearin cer will hold a hearing only on the above-referenced docket number at the following date, time, and location:
Date:July 30, 2025
Time:9:00 a.m.
o io i u l e i i e o e
Access via Zoom
To participate virtually navigate to https:// ecmc.state.co.us/#/home and locate the Zoom meeting link on the left side of the webpage. Energy and Carbon Management Commission
The Chancery Building 1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 801 Denver, CO 80203
PETITIONS
DEADLINE FOR PETITIONS BY AFFECTED
PERSONS: June 30, 2025
Any interested party who wishes to participate ormally must le a written petition with the Commission no later than the deadline provided above. Please see Commission Rule 507 at https://ecmc.state.co.us/#/home, under “Regulation,” then select “Rules.” Please note that, under Commission Rule 510.l, the deadline for petitions may only be continued for good cause, even if the hearing is continued beyond the date that is stated above. Pursuant to Commission Rule 507, if you do not le a proper petition the Hearin cer will not now that you wish to ormally participate in this matter and the date and time of the hearing may change without additional notice to you. arties wishin to le a petition must register online at https://oitco.hylandcloud.com/DNRCOGExternalAccess/Account/Login.aspx and select “Request Access to Site.” Please refer to our “eFiling Users Guidebook” at https://ecmc. state.co.us/documents/reg/Hearings/External lin SystemGuideboo 202 . pdf for more information. Under Commission Rule 508 no petition is led the pplication may be approved administratively without a formal hearing.
ny ected erson who les a petition must be able to participate in a virtual prehearing conference during the week of June 30, 2025, if a virtual prehearing conference is requested by the Applicant or by any person who has led a petition.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information, you may review the Application, which was sent to you with this Notice. You may also contact the Applicant at the phone number or email address listed below.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if any party requires special accommodations as a result of a disability for this hearing, please contact Margaret Humecki at Dnr_ECMC_Hearings_Unit@state.co.us, prior to the hearing and arrangements will be made.
ENERGY AND CARBON MANAGEMENT COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
By: Elias Thomas, Commission Secretary
Dated: May 13, 2025
l ell e c/o Sandra J. Carter
P s d s p l o 6105 S. Main Street, Suite 200 Aurora, CO 80016 (720) 593-0963
Legal Notice No. BSB
Notice to Creditors
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
Estate of ROBERT BUTLER, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 30313
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before October 13, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Kenton H. Kuhlman, No. 9433 Kuhlman and Kuhlman, P.C. i e Littleton, CO 80125
elep o e il e u l l o
Legal Notice No. BSB3911
First Publication: June 12, 2025
Last Publication: June 26, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Patricia L Erger, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 197
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before October 13, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Judith L Graeb Pe so l ep ese i e 395 Octillo ST Brighton CO 80601
Legal Notice No. BSB3909
First Publication: June 12, 2025
Last Publication: June 26, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Orvella Y. Scott, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 203
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before October 13, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Penny Scott-Oliver Pe so l ep ese i e 2734 Bristlecone Ct. Lafayette, CO 80026
Legal Notice No. BSB3902
First Publication: June 12, 2025
Last Publication: June 26, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Barbara Ann Smith AKA Barbara Ann Wilson, Deceased Case Number: 2025 PR 199
All persons having claims against the abovenamed estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Adams County, Colorado on or before October 13, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Connie Haiar Pe so l ep ese i e 19494 County Road 10, Hudson, CO 80642
Legal Notice No. BSB3905
First Publication: June 12, 2025
Last Publication: June 26, 2025
Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of JEAN KRUGER TROUTMAN aka JEAN K TROUTMAN, Deceased Case Number:
Renaissance Festival returns for 48th season
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Step beyond the castle gates and into a world of kings and queens, knights and jousts, jesters, witches and wandering minstrels as the Colorado Renaissance Festival returns to Larkspur for its 48th season.
e festival opened on June 14 and will remain open until Aug. 3.
Nestled within towering castle walls, this beloved summer tradition transforms a forested hillside into a bustling village, where the clang of swords, the scent of roasted turkey legs and the melodies of lute music ll the air.
is year’s event promises both beloved traditions and exciting new additions. Kristy Ekiss, operations manager and performer, said among the headliners is Adam Crack, a Guinness World Record-holding whip artist, who will perform during the festival’s rst three weekends.
New artists will also join the bustling artisan marketplace, including a stained glass creator, a permanent jewelry booth and talented graphic artists.
“I think people enjoy getting away from digital entertainment and stepping into a 360 theatrical experience,” Ekiss said.
Additionally, she said the Colorado Renaissance Festi-
val is known for its fully immersive environment, where every visitor becomes part of the show. e cast is a highlight for many, renowned for being one of the most interactive festivals around.
“We are known for having one of the friendliest and most interactive casts in the country. Look for them throughout the day in the lanes and enjoy the small one-on-one interactions just as much as the big, impressive stage shows,” Ekiss said.
Tens of thousands of attendees are expected to visit the festival throughout the summer, drawn by the mix of entertainment, shopping, food and fantasy.
“I also play the Queen on the weekends, and my favorite part is meeting the children and making them smile — especially at Royal Teatime,” Ekiss said. “I think the little moments can be just as magical as the big ones.”
As the Colorado Renaissance Festival celebrates nearly ve decades as part of the state’s summer traditions, organizers are excited to welcome back returning guests and rst-timers alike.
“We are honored to be celebrating 48 seasons as a part of the Colorado community and can’t wait to see everyone,” Ekiss said.
For details on tickets, themed weekends and special performances, visit coloradorenaissance.com/.
PUBLIC NOTICES
hearing on the 24th day of July, 2025 at the hour of 11:00 am. You are hereby noti ed to be and appear at said time, before this Court located at the Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, CO 80601. Witness my hand and seal of said Court this 5th day of June, 2025.
Alana Percy Clerk of the District Court
Legal Notice No. BSB3914
First Publication: June 19, 2025
Last Publication: June 19, 2025 Publisher: Brighton Standard Blade Public Notice
DISTRICT COURT, ADAMS COUNTY, COLORADO Court Address: 1100 Judicial Center Drive Brighton, CO 80601
ild il P lis
espo de s e o i Di o d (AKA Veronica so d e o i ille
Case Number: 23JV30109 Div: S ORDER OF ADVISEMENT NOTICE TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENTS,: Veronica Diamond (AKA Veronica Jackson) and d e o i ille
YOU ARE HEREBY ADVISED that the Petitioner has led a Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship which now exists between you and the above-named child(ren);
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that the Motion has been set for hearing in Division S of
the District Court in and for the County of Adams, Adams County Justice Center, 1100 Judicial Center Drive, Brighton, Colorado, on the d d o ep e e a.m., at which time the Petitioner must prove by clear and convincing evidence that: 1) That the child(ren) was adjudicated dependent or neglected; 2) That an appropriate treatment plan has not reasonably been complied with by the parent or has not been successful; 3) That the parents are un t ) That the conduct or condition of the parent or parents is unlikely to change within a reasonable time; no less drastic alternative to termination exists, and 6) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed. OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the parent or parents have surrendered physical custody for a period of six months and during this period have not manifested to the child(ren), the court or to the person havin physical custody a rm intention to assume or obtain physical custody or to make permanent legal arrangements for the care of the child(ren); and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed. OR 1) That the child(ren) has been abandoned by parent or parents in that the identity of the parent of the child is unknown and has been unknown for three months or more and that reasonable e orts to identi y and locate the parent in accordance with section 19-3603 have failed; and 2) That it is in the best interests of the child(ren) that the parent-child legal relationship which exists between the child(ren) and the respondent(s) be terminated and severed.
If a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister of the child is requesting guardianship or legal custody o the child such re uest must be led within twenty days o the lin o this motion.
YOU ARE FURTHER ADVISED that you have the right to have legal counsel represent you in all matters connected with the Motion to Terminate the Parent-Child Legal Relationship. you cannot a ord to pay the ees o le al counsel, you are advised that the Court will appoint legal counsel to represent you at no cost to you upon your request and upon your showing of an inability to pay.
If you have
Two soldiers joust on the field at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, which runs until Aug. 3 this year. COURTESY OF DUSTIN LIANG
Young patrons dance with ladies of the court at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, which runs until Aug. 3 this year.
COURTESY OF BRITT JONES
