Highlands Ranch Herald May 15, 2025

WEEK OF MAY 15, 2025

Lesson of long life: ‘Be bold’

together in person to celebrate another milestone: Berkey’s 105th.

BY FRANK DEANGELI

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Due to COVID restrictions in 2020, Evelyn Berkey’s 100th birthday party had to be converted from a country club bash to a drive-by caravan of well wishers. is April, however, more than 100 Castle Rock community members came

Kanna McGuire and Charlee VanderLinden, party organizers and Berkey’s longtime friends, said the event went o without a hitch. Highlights included a slideshow of pictures from Berkey’s life, appearances from Castle Rock’s police and re departments, and, as is tradition at Berkey’s parties, a performance of “Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” sung by the birthday girl herself.

“Here’s Evelyn up there, sort of tapping, dancing away,” said McGuire.

Videos show Berkey beaming at her au-

Home-rule plan spurs contentious discourse

Douglas County voters face big decision in June

BY

Douglas County voters are set to make a rare decision next month as they weigh whether to rewrite the rules of county government. O cials agree it could be a historic moment for the county — but they’re divided on what’s at stake.

At the center of the debate is a proposal for Douglas to become a home rule county, allowing it to adopt its own governing charter. Supporters say home rule is a necessary tool to protect local interests from what they view as overreach by liberal state lawmakers. Critics argue the process has been rushed and risks entrenching a narrow political agenda.

During a four-minute special meeting on March 25, the Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted to place home rule on the ballot for a June 24 special election. Voters will be asked two questions: whether to form a home rule charter and to elect 21 charter commission members who would be tasked with writing it.

If the commission is approved and seated, the drafted charter would return to voters for approval in November. If approved, Douglas County would become just the third of Colorado’s 64 counties to enter home rule status — and the rst in nearly 50 years to do so.

What

home rule could change — and what it can’t

dience as she performed the 1920s hit.

According to McGuire and VanderLinden, Berkey’s energy and mental clarity at 105 continues to impress them and their church group, of which Berkey is a leader. McGuire said Berkey still keeps up with church group readings and actively participates in group studies.

“She’s like a 60-year-old,” said VanderLinden. “ e only thing that’s di erent about her is that she might walk slower. Other than that, she’s sharp as a tack.”

Home rule charters outline how a county or municipal government is structured, and they grant authority over more than 40 speci c areas, from reorganizing departments and de ning election processes to setting local public safety and transportation rules, taxes, term limits and salaries. Counties can use that power to tailor policies to local needs — for example, Pitkin County taxes luxury real estate. Pitkin and Weld are the only two Colorado counties with home-rule status that are not combined cities and counties.

If home rule passes in the June special election in Douglas County, the charter’s contents would be open

Castle Rock community members, including members of Castle Rock’s police and fire departments, celebrate Evelyn Berkey’s 105th birthday. COURTESY PHOTO

Evelyn Berkey celebrates 105th birthday in Castle Rock

JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Winners and losers in school finance bill

four-year student enrollment average for the next year, protecting districts with declining enrollment and phases in the new formula more gradually over seven years instead of six.

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado lawmakers on May 7 nalized a sweeping shift in how the state funds public schools, passing House Bill 25-1320 on the nal day of the 2025 legislative session. While most districts will see a boost in the coming year, a slow but steady transition toward a new weighted formula will leave some districts, including Je erson County, facing signi cant nancial challenges.

is shift in public school funding comes as lawmakers worked this spring to pass the 2025 School Finance Act against the backdrop of a $1.2 billion state budget shortfall. Initially, districts with declining enrollment faced steep potential cuts under a proposal championed by Gov. Jared Polis to eliminate “ghost students” from funding counts.

However, after weeks of negotiations, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a compromise that preserves more stability for districts while slightly slowing the transition to the new weighted formula.

e compromise maintains the use of a

It also sets a statutory minimum for total statewide funding in the 2025-26 school year, requiring the state to allocate at least $10 billion for all districts and institute charter schools combined. is gure will be updated midyear based on actual enrollment, assessed valuations and local tax revenue.

e nal bill also caps state construction grants at $150 million to free up additional operational funding.

Even with these adjustments, school funding will increase statewide next year, although some districts with shrinking enrollment will see no additional money beyond a “hold harmless” guarantee — a provision that ensures districts receive at least as much funding as the previous year, even if their enrollment declines.

A new revenue stream

As part of a late-session amendment to the School Finance Act, lawmakers also created the Kids Matter Fund, a dedicated account that will receive a small percentage of state income tax revenue beginning in the 2026-27 scal year.

While it won’t immediately change funding levels, the fund is expected to support total program costs through 2030, then shift toward base and categorical

funding. at long-term infusion could eventually help districts with high-cost student needs, though its exact impact remains to be seen.

Sen. Chris Kolker, who represents Arapahoe and Je erson counties, said the idea came from a shared concern that lawmakers could one day reverse course and divert money away from K-12 education. By designating 0.065% of state income tax into a trust beginning in the 2026-27 scal year, the amendment ensures a baseline of protected funding for public schools.

“Let’s put a priority that we’re funding education,” Kolker said. “Granted, it may not be up to the adequacy amounts by those studies, but it’s a start, based on the formula.”

How it will roll out

When the legislature passed a new school nance formula in the spring of 2024, it promised that no district would lose funding immediately. at promise held for the 2024-25 school year:

• Every district was guaranteed at least as much total program funding as the previous year.

• A “hold harmless” provision ensured that even districts with enrollment declines received at least the same amount of funding they got for 2023-24.

However, the shift toward the new funding formula o cially begins in the 202526 school year. is year, districts’ funding will be calculated based on the greater of

the two numbers:

• What the district received in 2024-25 (the hold harmless oor), or

• A phased-in amount that moves 15% closer to what the new, weighted formula would provide.

By 2027-28, the transition will accelerate, and by 2031-32, Colorado plans to fully fund schools using the new formula.

How several major metro districts are affected

A look at ve of Colorado’s largest districts shows how uneven the impact will be over time, according to the scal note attached to House Bill 25-1320 and data from the Colorado Department of Education:

• Adams 12 Five Star Schools: Relatively at. For the 2024-25 school year, Adams 12 received a slight funding increase over the 2023-24 school year. However, by 2025-26, the district is projected to face a slight decrease of approximately 1.6%. Ongoing enrollment declines and fewer qualifying high-needs students are under the new weighted formula, contributing to this dip.

• Adams County School District 14: Small drop. Adams 14 saw at funding for 2024-25 compared to the previous year. For 2025-26, projections show a minimal decrease of about 0.6%. Despite longterm enrollment loss, the district’s high

Colorado Education Association Vice President Liz Waddick holds up a sign at a school funding rally at the Colorado Capitol on March 20 in Denver.

PHOTO BY JASON GONZALES / CHALKBEAT

4 DCSD directors oppose transgender protection bill

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Four members of the Douglas County Board of Education signed an open letter dated May 5 opposing a state bill they say could infringe on parental rights, create legal confusion for schools and limit local control. e bill, which passed the Colorado General Assembly one day later, expands legal protections for transgender individuals under state law.

But a review of the bill’s language reveals discrepancies between what the board members claim and what the legislation mandates.

Board members Christy Williams, Becky Myers, Kaylee Winegar and Tim Moore submitted the letter through Douglas County resident Allyson Rydwell, who is identi ed in the letter as a parent of a child who is transgender.

It opposes House Bill 25-1312, titled “Legal Protections for Transgender Individuals,” which passed the Colorado General Assembly on May 6 and now awaits the signature of Gov. Jared Polis.

While signed by four current board members, the letter emphasizes that each signer is expressing an individual viewpoint and not speaking on behalf of the board as a whole.

e bill, also known as the “Kelly Loving Act,” includes anti-discrimination protections, gender identity recognition and updates to school policies involving

chosen names and dress codes.

In their letter, the Douglas County board members say they have “signicant constitutional concerns” and argue the bill risks infringing on parental rights by classifying misgendering or deadnaming — referring to a transgender person by a name or gender they no longer use — as forms of coercive control in child custody disputes.

“By de ning misgendering or deadnaming as coercive control in custody cases, the bill risks penalizing parents for their speech or beliefs about their child’s gender identity,” the letter states.

However, the bill does not penalize parents for speech. Instead, it allows courts to consider misgendering or deadnaming as potential evidence of coercive control when determining the best interests of the child in custody decisions. Judges retain discretion and are required to weigh multiple factors in such cases. e board members also expressed concern that the bill mandates schools to implement policies requiring the use of chosen names and prohibits gender-speci c dress codes, which they say undermines local control and creates ambiguity.

But the bill doesn’t require schools to adopt name policies. It states that if a school already has a chosen name policy in place, it must include all reasons a student may choose a name di erent from their legal one, not limited to gender identity.

Similarly, the bill does not ban dress codes but requires that any dress code allow all students to choose from available options, regardless of gender.

“Implementing chosen name policies across diverse school systems may conict with existing recordkeeping standards or parental noti cation policies, creating confusion,” the letter argued.

Yet the bill does not change recordkeeping rules or require schools to notify parents of name changes. It focuses on preventing discrimination based on name or gender presentation, aligning with broader civil rights protections under the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act.

e letter signers also warn that the bill could impose signi cant administrative burdens, particularly around documentation and policy enforcement, which they argue could divert attention from classroom learning.

HB 25-1312 also bars Colorado courts from recognizing laws from other states that penalize parents for allowing children to access gender-a rming care.

Additional provisions require state-issued forms to include an option for individuals to provide both a legal name and a chosen name.

e bill’s sponsors, Rep. David Ortiz (D-Littleton), Sen. Chris Kolker (DCentennial) and Sen. Faith Winter (DBroom eld), have said it is designed to ensure that transgender Coloradans can

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access public services, education and legal protections without discrimination, according to statements made during oor debate and in public remarks on the bill’s o cial legislative summary. Kolker said the bill is about ensuring all school policies are applied fairly to every student, not just transgender students, and emphasized that it does not address or alter parental custody laws.

“It’s about protecting the transgender people who are feeling under threat and making sure that we’re strengthening those protections within the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act,” Kolker said.

Despite their opposition, the Douglas County board members state in their letter that they remain committed to safe and supportive schools.

“We believe House Bill 25-1312, by placing schools at the center of contentious legal and social debates, poses an obstacle to that goal rather than a help to it,” the letter concludes.

ey argue the legislation places schools at the center of broader legal and social con icts, which they say could detract from educators’ focus on student learning and well-being.

e board members note that the letter was submitted in compliance with Colorado’s Open Meetings Law and does not re ect an o cial vote or collective board action.

If Polis signs the bill, most provisions will take e ect immediately.

Don’t

Wait to Save

for A Downpayment — Here’s How You Can Start Building Equity Now

For many would-be homebuyers in Colorado, the biggest obstacle isn’t affording monthly payments — it’s saving up for a down payment. But there’s a lesser-known solution: a unique down payment assistance program connected to FHA that offers generous terms with fewer limitations than many alternatives.

I learned about this program from Jaxzann Riggs, owner of The Mortgage Network, who explained how this option helps buyers get into homes sooner - with little or no money out of pocket.

“Some buyers have strong income and credit, but they just haven’t been able to save enough for a down payment,” she told me. “This program bridges that gap - without the typical income or location restrictions.”

HOAP, and MetroDPA, these programs often have income caps and/or location limits.

But as stated before, the national FHAbacked option offers broader eligibility, no income or area restrictions, and more flexible terms, making it a strong option for buyers who are ready now.

rising-rate environment.

Additionally, this program allows for higher debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, a hallmark of FHA financing. That means borrowers with student loans or other debt may still qualify.

Why This Matters Now

A Powerful Alternative to Traditional Down Payment Assistance (DPA)

This FHA-approved assistance is more flexible than many state or local programs. It comes in the form of a second mortgage behind an FHA loan, but here’s the twist: there are no income limits, no geographic restrictions, and more flexibility within FHA guidelines, compared to a conventional loan.

Buyers can use this program whether or not they’re a first-time homebuyer. It’s designed for those who are financially ready to buy but need help covering the minimum 3.5% down payment or closing costs. While Colorado offers down payment help through programs like CHFA, CHAC,

With rents and home prices both climbing, waiting to save for a traditional down payment could cost more in the long run. Getting into a home today versus two or three years from now allows you to start building equity instead of continuing to pay rent.

“Every month you rent is a month you’re not gaining ownership,” Jaxzann says. “This program gives you a way to step into the market faster and start growing wealth.”

Keep in Mind: Not All FHA Loans Are Eligible

It’s important to note that this assistance applies only to new FHA purchases. If you already have an FHA loan, you won’t qualify for this specific program — but there’s still a silver lining. FHA loans are assumable, meaning a future buyer could take over your low-interest mortgage without a rate hike, an incredibly valuable feature in a

“You can’t beat the ability to transfer a loan with no escalation in rate,” Jaxzann points out. “That’s something worth knowing if you already have an FHA loan.” Homeowners with existing low-rate FHA mortgages are sitting on a very valuable asset. When it is time to sell, they should consider allowing the new prospective purchaser to “assume” their existing loan.

This is done by having the prospective purchaser apply for a “qualifying assumption” with the lender that is currently servicing the loan. Because the prospective owner is qualifying to assume the existing loan, the original borrower is released from all future liability for the loan while allowing the new purchaser/owner to keep the original mortgage interest rate. The difference between the current loan balance and the purchase price of the home is paid to the seller in cash.

Weighing the Trade-Offs

As with most zero-down options, there are considerations:

 Interest rates will be higher than traditional FHA loans with full down payments. On a $500,000 home, that might mean around $550 more per month.

 You will have to pay off any remaining balance on the second mortgage when you refinance or sell.

 All FHA loans require mortgage insurance on the loan. This insurance protects the lender in the event of foreclosure.

Unlike mortgage insurance on conventional mortgages, 30 year fixed rate FHA loans require that the mortgage insurance remain in place for the life of the loan.

 You must intend to live in the home as your primary residence at the time of purchase.

Still, for many buyers, the ability to get into a home now outweighs the costs.

“This program can open doors much sooner than people think,” Jaxzann told me. “This is ideal for households with two incomes and/or those that might have been denied down payment assistance in the past because they exceed income limitations for other programs. If you’re ready to buy but short on upfront funds, it’s absolutely worth exploring.”

To learn more and find out if you qualify, contact Jaxzann Riggs at The Mortgage Network at (303) 990-2992.

NOTE: My “Real Estate Today” column that normally appears on this page is now published bi-weekly. Look for it here next week and every other week thereafter.

On those alternate weeks, look for a half-page ad like this on a related topic.

Celebrating young creators

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Elementary students across Douglas County showcased their artistic talents during the 2025 DCSD Art Exhibition at the Legacy Campus in Lone Tree. Selected by their art teachers, the featured pieces represented some of the most creative work from kindergarten through fth grade. Judges awarded top honors, including Best in Show and Legacy Picks, to standout pieces that will remain on display at the Legacy Campus throughout the 2024-25 school year.

Elementary students across Douglas County showcased their artistic talents during the 2025 DCSD Art Exhibition at the Legacy Campus in Lone Tree. Selected by their art teachers, the featured pieces represented some of the most creative work from kindergarten through fifth grade. Judges awarded top honors, including Best in Show and Legacy Picks, to standout pieces that will remain on display at the Legacy Campus throughout the 2024-25 school year.

PHOTOS BY SUZIE GLASSMAN

Douglas County assessor discusses property valuations

Residential values level out, but property tax crisis continues

BY JULIA KING

SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Eight metro-Denver assessors came together in late April to review property values across their counties. e latest numbers show Douglas County’s housing market has largely stabilized after a historic surge in 2023 — though its commercial sector isn’t faring as well.

As the new valuations roll out, property tax questions continue to loom large, with o cials forecasting that elevated taxes could persist despite stabilizing home prices.

In compliance with Colorado statutes, real property — land and anything permanently attached to it, such as buildings, fences or natural resources — is revalued every two years. e valuations the county assessors came up with last month re ect property values as of June 30, 2024, based on data from the preceding two-year timeframe.

For the 2025 valuation cycle, residential property values in Douglas County and the broader metro area were at, ranging from about -10% to +5%, with most hovering near zero. But even with stabilizing values, a property tax crisis continues, according to Douglas County Assessor Toby Damisch.

“Property taxes are still elevated. ey haven’t come down, and I don’t expect them to,” he told the Douglas County

News-Press.

Damisch said the previous property reappraisal in 2023 re ected the sharpest rise in home prices in Colorado history, driven by pandemic-era conditions. Low interest rates, corporate investment in housing and increased demand for second homes and short-term rentals fueled massive real estate in ation across the state. ese trends peaked in spring 2022 — just before the June 30, 2022, appraisal date — resulting in residential value increases of 30-to-60% statewide and near 50% in Douglas County.

e outcome, Damisch said, was a property tax “war” in Colorado. Many homeowners were hit with tax bills that jumped more than 30%, sparking political and legal clashes across the state, including an ongoing battle between Douglas County and the State Board of Equalization.

While property valuations have been released, actual tax bills won’t be nalized until late 2025. at’s because two key parts of the formula — assessment rates and mill levies — aren’t determined until October and December, respectively. Unless voters approve new tax increases in November, homeowners can expect relatively at tax bills, Damisch said, though they will still re ect the elevated rates from 2023.

Unlike previous cycles, there isn’t much consistency in this year’s residential valuations, Damisch said. Current valuations are “highly localized,” and aren’t based on property size, type or price — but instead vary from neighborhood to neighborhood.

e variation, Damisch explained, comes down to timing and subjectivity. Every neighborhood is on its own tra-

Highlands Ranch’s State Representative provides an open forum for feedback on the legislative session.

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM Saturday, May 17

Highlands Ranch Library • 9292 S Ridgeline Blvd

Text 970-306-7828 for more information

And THANK YOU to ALL Highlands Ranch constituents! I could not be the Representative I am without the terrific people I represent.

jectory, and since real estate is driven as much by emotion and perception as by square footage or condition, some areas that peaked during earlier market booms are now regressing, while others are still catching up.

A map breaking down these trends is available on the assessor’s website.  e appeals window for property valuations is open until June 8.

Across the region, the Denver metro area is seeing “results more consistent than they ever have been before across the eight counties,” Damisch said, adding that this is both in terms of at residential valuations and scattered trends across neighborhoods.

One area where Douglas County is diverging from its neighbors is in o ce buildings — speci cally large, single-tenant, owner-occupied properties. Ongoing remote work trends and several low-price sales in areas like Lone Tree and Meridian prompted lower valuations. Unlike Denver or Arapahoe County, Douglas County’s o ce market is more suburban and less transit-oriented, making it more vulnerable to shifts in demand, Damisch said.

In contrast, transit-oriented development sites — like o ce buildings located near a light rail station — have remained more attractive to companies seeking walkability, better access and an urban feel.

Douglas County weighs home rule as tax debate continues

Douglas County voters will decide in June whether to adopt a home rule charter — a move county commissioners say could lead to a reduction in property taxes. ough the reality might be more “nuanced,” Damisch said.

Much of Colorado’s property tax system is governed by the state constitution and statutes, which limits how much counties can change on their own.

“ ere’s no question (tax provisions in the proposed charter) have to be nuanced, because there are so many state laws and constitutional amendments about property taxes that the home rule charter can’t just outright ignore,” Damisch said.

Home rule wouldn’t allow Douglas County to completely rewrite the state’s tax architecture, but it could give the county more exibility in the areas it does control, such as adjusting the local mill levy or developing targeted relief programs like expanded exemptions for lowincome seniors. ose possibilities are still hypothetical, and would need to be explored while writing a home rule charter, said Damisch, who is running to be on the charter commission.

A home rule charter could also potentially create a stronger legal backing for valuation adjustments. For instance, in 2023, the county attempted to apply a 4% across-the-board valuation reduction to lower property taxes, which the State Board of Equalization overturned. County commissioners in March vowed to appeal that decision.

Under home rule, the county might have more exibility to implement such valuation adjustments, according to Damisch.

“In a home rule existence, the county has a little more leverage or leeway to press in certain areas and look for things where we want to act di erently … where we could not do without the existence of home rule,” Damisch said. “ at State Board of Equalization experience is one of many examples of that.”

Douglas County Assessor Toby Damisch meets with other Denver metro area assessors at the Colorado Capitol last month to review property values across their counties. COURTESY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY

Douglas County launches new interactive map to identify roadway projects

Highlands Ranch residents can expect multiple roadway upgrades throughout the summer

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Every year, construction and maintenance crews repair sidewalks, restore pavement and refresh pavement markings on roads across Douglas County. And here’s where the projects will be in Highlands Ranch.

Starting in June from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, improvements will be made to East Dutch Creek Street, East Millistone Street, East Millistone Place and South Millistone Court.

ere will also be two resurfacing projects — one on Cresthill Lane between Highlands Ranch Parkway and Gleneagles Village Parkway, and the other on Venneford Ranch between University Boulevard and Colorado Boulevard.

According to the county website, each street will be completed in phases throughout the summer. e rst phase includes sidewalk repairs and curb ramp upgrades. ese typically take between two-to-four weeks per neighborhood to be completed. However, work on a single block is about three-to-four days.

e second phase, which is expected to take about two-to-four hours per block, involves removing some of the top layer of asphalt. e nal phase will place a new overlay, and is expected to take about fourto-eight hours per block to complete.

A new interactive roadway project map

In addition to neighborhood repairs,

there are other spring and summer roadway projects taking place, which is why Douglas County has launched a new interactive map.

e map aims to help residents identify potential impacts to their commutes and help keep work zones safe.

According to the National Work Zone Safety Information Clearinghouse, at a national level, there were more than 800 fatal crashes in work zones in 2022, which is the latest data available. e data estimates that there were 10 work zone fatalities in Colorado in 2022.

e Colorado Department of Transportation states that there were 23 crashes, resulting in 31 fatalities in Colorado in 2024, which was an increase from 16 fatalities in 2023.

To help prevent these crashes and fatalities, Douglas County’s new map indicates current county projects with an orange circle and current special events — such as the Highlands Ranch Mother’s Day 5K — with a blue circle.

Upcoming county projects and special events are represented by squares in the coordinating orange and blue colors.

By clicking on the circle or square, there is a description of the project, where it is taking place, when it is expected to be complete, who the company working on the project is and contact information for the special event program managers.  e interactive map can be found at tinyurl.com/Dougco-construction-map.

Highlands Ranch projects include:

Douglas County’s U.S. 85 Widening from Highlands Ranch Parkway

to C-470

Currently underway, the project is widening the highway from four to six lanes. e project also includes reconstructing a portion of South Santa Fe Drive from Highlands Ranch Parkway, extending north of the C-470 interchange to Dad Clark Gulch.  e project is anticipated to be complete by the end of this year.

Douglas County’s Kendrick Castillo Way/Plum Valley Lane project

Crews have begun to install a new tra c signal at the intersection of Kendrick Castillo Way and Plum Valley Lane. roughout the project, tra c will be reduced to one lane in both north and southbound directions of Kendrick Castillo Way, according to the county website.  e anticipated end date for the project is mid-to-late August.

Douglas County’s C-470 Trail and University Boulevard pedestrian grade separation

Douglas County embarked on this project earlier this year after partnering with CDOT on a Safer Main Street Initiative.  e project involves constructing a grade separation for bicyclists and pedestrians using the C-470 Trail to cross over University Boulevard, instead of having bicyclists and pedestrians cross over eight lanes of tra c. is project also aims to improve tra c operations.  e project is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

Douglas County’s 2025 sidewalk repair ere will be concrete repair and adjacent landscaping restoration along the South Quebec Street median.  is work is expected to be nished by the end of May.

A screenshot of the Douglas County interactive roadway project map, indicating where current and upcoming county projects and special events will be located. COURTESY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY

for public discussion through several town halls. Commissioners Abe Laydon, George Teal and Kevin Van Winkle have already addressed their hopes for the charter — among them are reevaluating local diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives; codifying the local government’s three-commissioner structure; and diverging from state minimum wage laws.

Laydon, Teal and Van Winkle, all of whom are running to be on the charter commission, have also signaled interest in challenging state gun and immigration policies. Teal told the Douglas County News-Press that he believes home rule could o er a legal foothold to circumvent laws that don’t include a “state concern” clause.

“We have latitude in terms of preserving gun rights here in Douglas County,” Teal said. “ at’s absolutely a top priority, and I will absolutely attempt to take advantage of that.”

He pointed to Colorado Senate Bill 3 — a recently approved measure restricting the sale of semiautomatic rearms — as an example. e bill does not explicitly include a state concern clause, which he said could open the door for local opposition.

at may be wishful thinking, according to the Colorado Attorney General’s O ce. In a letter addressed to local radio host Ross Kaminsky that was provided to the Douglas County News-Press, a sta er with the attorney general’s o ce wrote that county home rule “has not been found to be an expansive source of powers” and does not allow counties to override state laws they disagree with.

Municipal home rule, governed by a different part of the state Constitution, provides more authority. e state can only override a municipality’s local laws if they fall within a “matter of statewide concern” or “matter of mixed statewide and local concern,” but county home rule has no such provision.

“Some inaccurately con ate the two, arguing that home rule counties are on equal footing and have the same broad power as home rule municipalities to follow local laws over state laws. is is not the case,” the above-mentioned letter said.

Weld County recently lost a legal challenge in the Colorado Supreme Court tied to its home-rule status. e court said Weld must comply with state redistricting laws, rejecting an argument that its home rule charter granted the county autonomy.

Similar to Douglas County, Weld ocials publicly opposed Senate Bill 3, but

spite having home rule status.

“Any refusal to perform the duties that this legislation delegated to the O ce of Sheri will have a negative impact on the citizens of Weld County,” Reams said in a press release.

Critics question the process

State Rep. Bob Marshall, a Democrat who serves House District 43 covering most of Highlands Ranch, said he is “agnostic” to home rule in principle, but has concerns about how it’s being framed to voters.

While home rule “could be a good thing,” Marshall said, it shouldn’t be presented as a way to sidestep state laws. Any attempts to challenge the state on those grounds could result in costly legal battles for Douglas County, he said.

“( e commissioners) are saying, well, we could ignore Colorado’s gun laws — that’s not true. (And) that the sheri will be able to arrest migrants who haven’t committed a state crime and help enforce federal immigration law. Well, that’s not true, either,” Marshall added.

Beyond legal questions, Marshall is also watching how home rule could reshape the county’s political structure.

Marshall supports expanding the county’s board of commissioners to ve members. But depending on how it’s drafted, the home rule charter could cement the current three-member structure — a move Marshall sees as a way to keep “power concentrated in just a couple people’s hands.”

shall, along with Lone Tree resident Julie Gooden, have joined forces in a lawsuit alleging the commissioners violated Colorado’s Open Meetings Law in their e ort to initiate the home-rule process.

e lawsuit is asking a judge to nd that the commissioners violated the law, issue an injunction requiring future compliance, and invalidate the March 25 meeting, which would force the home-rule process to restart.

e topic of home rule has been discussed in Douglas County for years, Teal said on the witness stand last month. It has been a talking point since the COVID-19 pandemic, he claimed, and both he and Van Winkle discussed the topic during their campaigns for seats as commissioners. It has also been mentioned in the county’s 2023 community survey, which showed that a vast majority of voters — 79% — view “more independence from state controls over county administration” as a high- or medium-priority ballot issue.

omas argues that data doesn’t necessarily mean voters understand home rule — or that they’re the ones driving the conversation. E orts in other counties to become home rule were citizen-led, she said. In Weld and Pitkin counties, residents mandated charters after they became frustrated with their local governments.

“(In Weld and Pitkin) the voters got together and they did it,” omas said. “ ere has to be something that draws the citizens together to do it. Here, there is no

impetus for the people to get behind it.” e home-rule statute mandates three public meetings, each at least 45 days apart. Douglas County’s current plan would align with this requirement, including an administrative meeting right after the charter commission is elected, followed by two more to approve and submit the charter.

But omas still believes that the process is rushed, and calls for more public input before locking in a new government structure.

“I would like to see (in Douglas County) what Weld County did. Seven and a half months, 45 meetings, lots of citizen comment, lots of input,” omas said. omas also criticized the candidate selection process for the proposed charter commission. She claimed the county GOP coordinated to ensure 21 preferred candidates made the ballot before any opposition could organize. An email sent by the Douglas County Republican Party chair on March 24 included a list of those 21 candidates.

“We are writing a charter that (would) represent everyone in this county,” omas said. “For the commissioners to just pick 21 Republicans — it’s not democratic. e people should be able to choose among Democrats, Republicans and una liated … rough good conversation, you get better results.”

Despite their opposition to the homerule process thus far, both Marshall and omas are running for seats on the charter commission.

At a press conference on March 25, the Douglas County commissioners were joined by several elected o cials from across the county.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Business filings tell story of uncertainty

Colorado added 48,600 new businesses in Q1, but lost about 17,000

BY TAMARA CHUANG

THE COLORADO SUN

A high number of new business lings in Colorado in the rst quarter this year helped put the state back on a normal growth rate post pandemic, according to the latest data shared by the Secretary of State’s O ce on May 5.

More than 48,600 businesses started up during the quarter, up 19% from the December quarter. at was the highest quarterly number since second quarter 2023, when the state o ered a ling fee discount to reinvigorate small business post COVID.

But the gain was probably more about seasonality than anything else, said Brian Lewandowski, executive director of University of Colorado’s Business Research Division at the Leeds School of Business, which works with the Secretary of State to produce the quarterly report.

“It’s a seasonal pattern,” Lewandowski said. “In fact, when I look back over time

from 2005 and onward, it’s even a little bit lower than the average increase (of) 23% or 24%. e point is, this is the usual increase.”

Richard Wobbekind, a senior economist at Leeds who works with Lewandowski, called the uptick “encouraging, especially in light of the current uncertain economic environment.”

On the other hand, the number of companies that led to dissolve their business also increased, to 16,929, just barely up 0.7% from a year ago. But the number of companies in good standing continued to grow, up 1.1% from a year ago to 973,615 at the end of March.

Whether folks are starting a new business because of a lost job or the uncertainty they feel about the economy, other economic indicators seem to have Colorado holding steady with no large increases or declines.

Job growth continues, though the 2,300 jobs gained in March from a year ago was a mere 0.1% growth. Colorado’s unemployment rate of 4.8% in March was higher than the nation’s 4.2% in April. e state still has a high level of adults who work, ranking sixth-highest nationwide for its labor force participation rate, at 67.8%.

Lewandowski said that he feels the job

growth numbers are underrepresented based on how the Bureau of Labor Statistics is analyzing the data. According to his division’s forecasts, they’re projecting meager job growth for the next two quarters in Colorado.

“Some of our models even have a loss of jobs. But that’s not our baseline forecast,” he said. “ ere are scenarios where, if we

enter into a recession, we actually could see some job loss. But I’m not quite there yet. I think we could see some really thin job growth later this year.”

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

Anxiety steers economic indicators, report says

BY SARAH MULHOLLAND CPR NEWS

Colorado economic signals are mixed as businesses try to make sense of President Donald Trump’s ip- ops on tari s. e number of people ling to start a business was up in the rst quarter compared to the end of last year, according to a joint report from the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business and the Secretary of State’s O ce.

At the same time, the state’s executives are feeling deeply anxious about how the new administration’s trade policies are going to impact their bottom lines, the report found. “ e indicators in this report do not show any immediate or signi cant economic

disruption to Colorado … but it does show business leaders in Colorado are nervous about these disruptions,” Secretary of State Jena Griswold said during a webinar about the report.

Colorado’s economy started slowing before Trump was sworn in for his second term. As of April, the state added 2,300 jobs during the prior 12 months, which equates to a growth rate of 0.1 percent. at compares to the U.S. rate of 1.2 percent.

Colorado now ranks 44th for job growth among the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

“We were hard-charging for a long time. Now, some of the other states are catching up and are continuing to have that growth that we had,” said Richard Wobbekind, senior economist and faculty director at CU’s

Leeds School of Business. e state’s per capita personal income and labor force participation still rank high, he said.

“We are a prosperous state, and we are growing, we’re just growing at a slower rate,” Wobbekind said.

Colorado’s professional business services, which includes the tech sector, took a big hit in the past year. at sector has 8,400 fewer jobs than a year ago.

“ at had been a disappointment in terms of job performance in 2024. And so far it’s continuing into 2025,” Wobbekind said.

is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t public broadcaster serving Colorado. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

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1605 and 1615 California St. in the Central Business District. Aug. 19, 2023.

PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY / DENVERITE

President ridicules green energy e orts amid proposed $20B cut to Energy

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

e National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden red 114 of its thousands of staers and contractors May 5, as part of the Trump administration’s e orts to sharply trim research spending across nearly all elds supported by federal agencies in the past.

e laboratory sta laid o includes employees and subcontractors in both research and operations, NREL said in a statement. “We appreciate their meaningful contributions to the laboratory. NREL’s mission continues to be critical to achieve an a ordable and secure energy future,” the statement said.

But the layo s could just be the start of slashes to the 3,675 employees NREL most recently listed on its website, if President Trump’s scal 2026 budget proposal survives at all intact through Congress.

e White House is pitching $19.3 billion in cuts to the Department of Energy’s allotted 2025 spending, according to the website utilitydive.com.

e White House budget request goes out of its way to ridicule renewable energy research and subsidies promoted heavily by the Biden and Obama administrations: “ e Budget cancels over $15 billion in Green New Scam funds committed to build unreliable renewable energy, removing carbon dioxide from the

from NREL as part of Trump cuts

air, and other costly technologies burdensome to ratepayers and consumers,” the budget proposal says.

“NREL continues to navigate a complex nancial and operational landscape shaped by the issuance of stop work orders from federal agencies, new federal directives, and budgetary shifts. As a result, NREL has experienced workforce impacts a ecting 114 employees across the laboratory, including sta from both research and operations, who were involuntarily separated today,” NREL’s statement said.

e Golden lab runs premier international research facilities and experiments in improving wind turbines and solar photovoltaic cells for power generation, in addition to dozens of other programs in biofuels, e ciency, hydrogen and fuel

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright addresses members of the media April 3 while visiting NREL’s Golden campus. Wright discussed the need to bolster the country’s electricity grid, saying demand has stayed relatively flat over the last 20 years while costs have gone up.

PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

cells, transportation, and more. e lab frequently partners with universities and private business on innovative projects, such as the Colorado “SunTrain” proposal late in 2024.

NREL was to help Colorado govern-

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ment, Xcel and entrepreneurs apply for a $10 million grant to run trains with massive batteries charged up by solar and wind farms on the Eastern Plains. e trains could then roll into metro Denver or any other area in need of large-scale energy storage and output.

Some fans of the lab’s work had been encouraged it would maintain a top role in government research through involvement in Trump-favored concepts.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright came to the Golden lab in early April to promote a Trump administration plan for a private data center and power plant on land owned by NREL. e administration plans such facilities at 16 national laboratories.

“Private data center companies, that’s where the capital is, that’s where the investment is and on federal land, we make a commercial arrangement with them,” Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

to the Ben Franklin Academy Class of 2025!

A very special group of students are graduating from BFA this year! We’re very proud of this imaginative, supportive and enthusiastic group of students. We’re going to miss their caring nature, their spunkiness and the way they’ve contributed their many talents to enriching the BFA community. During their time at BFA, they explored new interests, began life-long friendships, and grew into responsible, independent and intelligent young adults.

Graduates - We know your positivity and determination will inspire others and help you excel as you transition into high school. We wish you the very best!

Introducing our exceptional eighth grade graduates:

Wyatt Ackerman

Morgan Adrian

Jiya Agrawal

Diksha Arunprakash

Anna Babbel

Ethan Bahl

Londyn Bender

Jack Besch

Cadence Beshany

Soren Borstad

Jacob Bradley

Liam Brown

Camden Brzezicki

Natalie Bullock

Kyle Castor

Aislynn Chatterton

Grace Chavez

Walker Corson

Kayla Cottrell

Olivia Crowe

Alivia Michal Davila Ramirez

Delaney Deidel

Emma Dennis

Rowan Eframo

Stephen Elsmore

Allie Erickson

Driyana Fernando

Leyton Frank

Courtney Funderburg

William Grade

Rylea Graves

Hannah Hackerott

Samantha Hawkins

Levi Hayes

Tanner Henbest

Ada Ho

Jacob Holder

Connor Johnson

Madison Kane

Andrew Keillor

Obadiah Kim

Eli King

Nicolas Kolody

Rishikesh Lakkireddy

Braden Leverson

Elias Lidstone

Norelle Lucero

Tanner Majors

Grace Marino

Ava Mills

Olivia Moore

Chinmay Nair

Bryce Neal

Gabriel Ortiz

Abby Pettersen

Lauren Poore

Hudson Preeo

Madeline Pyne

Ema Quirindongo

Mary Raddatz

Teo Remillard

Jane Riches

Caroline Riffle

Brayden Ritchie

Matthew Rodriguez

Logan Ryan

Francesca Sabia

Parth Saha

Andrew Sarver

Easton Schroeder

Teo Shoemaker

Grayson Slaughter

Kellen Smythe Talulla Snyder

Brayden Street

Paisley Todd

Dylan Toney

Reese Turner

Jayden Vega

Addison Vogt

Maya Weaver

Annika West

Colin Whiteman

Hunter Williams

Gianna Yerxa

Zee Ziegler

We are living in a time of incredible pressure, and tragically, it’s our children who are carrying the heaviest burden. Anxiety and depression among children and teens have skyrocketed, with every credible study pointing to culprits like social media, internet access, and mounting academic, athletic, and social expectations. It’s overwhelming — and that’s putting it lightly.

It’s easy to point ngers at TikTok, Instagram, and the endless pursuit of “perfection.” And sure, those factors are real. But if we’re serious about loving and leading our families, we must ask the harder question: Are we doing enough at home to ease their worries, doubts, and fears? For most of us, the honest answer is not yet.

VOICES

Communicating through the storm

it, over-communication.

e Critical Role of Communication. Communication isn’t a “nice-to-have” in this battle for our children’s hearts and minds, it’s everything. And not just when problems show up. Proactive, frequent communication. Maybe even, dare I say

The Seniors’ Council of Douglas County (SCDC) June meeting will be held at the Douglas County School District (DCSC) Legacy Campus on ursday, June 5. Our visit from 10 to 11:30 a.m. will include information about what our teens are learning and the ways older adults can become involved with and bene t from the school district. ere will be a tour and refreshments. Seniors’ Council meetings are free and open to older adults, service providers, and the public.

Superintendent Erin Kane will explain what happens at the school district and the DCSD Gold Card that is free and o ers special benets to older adults. We will meet at the DCSD Legacy Campus, Room 243, 10035 S. Peoria St., Lone Tree.

“At DCSD, every student can nd a post-high school path that ts their unique passions — whether college, career, military, or another option. We are grateful to our college and business partners for helping students gain real-world experience and save on tuition. At the Legacy Campus, we cultivate a Career and Technical Education environment where post-secondary and industry partnerships provide relevant learning opportunities for high school students and the Douglas County community in order to ensure a competitive advantage and workforce readiness.”

— Erin Kane, DCSD superintendent

e Seniors’ Council of Douglas County monthly meetings are on the rst ursday of every month at various locations in Douglas County. Meetings include announcements of interest to older adults and those who support older adults, a presentation on a topic relevant to older adults, and community conversation. A new

Our kids navigate a digital battle eld every day.

e loudest voices tell them they aren’t good enough. If we don’t ll their emotional tanks with hope, encouragement, love, and acceptance, someone else will, and it will be with poison, not life-giving truth.

I’ll never forget an incredible moment I witnessed with Zig Ziglar, one of the greatest motivational speakers ever.

At a packed seminar, a man stepped to the mic, thanking Zig for shaping his own life but sharing that his son was struggling. Zig’s response was pure wisdom: He told the man to sit on his son’s bed, look him in the eyes, and say:

“Son, I am so glad God entrusted me with your life. You are a blessing to me. I am proud of you. And I love you.”

Zig encouraged him to say it every

Seniors to get campus tour

LIVING AND AGING WELL

morning and night, not once, not when convenient, but every day.

As cameras panned the audience, thousands wiped away tears. Sitting beside me was Zig’s son, Tom Ziglar, a grown man and CEO, with tears streaming down his face. When I asked if Zig had done that for him, Tom smiled through the tears and said, “Yes. And he still does, even now.” ink about that: A father who never stopped telling his grown son how proud he was. Every single day.

Fighting for eir Hearts. If we want to lead and love our children in today’s chaotic world, we must show up with our words, not just advice or correction, but daily, intentional a rmation.

ey need to hear it when they get straight A’s. ey need to hear it when they fail a test. ey need to hear it when they make us proud, and especially when they break our hearts.

Because mistakes don’t de ne them, grace does. Growth does. And our unwavering love does.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Our communication must be a ood of love, encouragement, and constant reminders that they are more than enough that no failure can separate them from our love, and no outside voice can ever be louder than the voice of their family. e pressures and dangers are real. But so is our power to counteract them. If we don’t communicate, the world will. If we communicate relentlessly, intentionally, and lovingly, we can raise a generation that walks through the storm without losing their way.

Let’s speak up, every day, every chance we get. eir future depends on it. I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@ gmail.com. And when we intentionally communicate through the storm, 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.

Jean Spahr WINNING

childcare volunteer training program will be highlighted at the July meeting. In other news …

Plans are underway for a full-day educational event, Vintage and Vibrant 2025, on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Senior Center in Highlands Ranch. is special event will feature engaging speakers and interactive breakout sessions plus door prizes, breakfast, and lunch. Registration will begin in August.

e SCDC recognizes June happenings including:

— Alzheimer’s & Brain Health Awareness Month plus Men’s Health Month.

— Flag Day is June 14 — a great day to display Old Glory.

— Summer solstice — more daylight than any other day; the days grow shorter after the solstice on June 20.

— Father’s Day — on June 15 we remember fathers, uncles, and grandfathers as well as coaches, teachers, and those who serve as mentors.

— e abundance of owers and plants, including native and drought resistant. Have you considered joining a garden club? ere are several in Douglas County — do a Google search or stop by a Douglas County Library branch for assistance.

e SCDC is supported by Douglas County Community Services. For information and updates call 303-660-7460. e SCDC motto is Living Well/Aging Well.

is guest column was written by Jean Spahr, publicity chair of the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County.

Questions for DCSD candidates e end of the school year brings DCSD one step closer to the November Board of Education election. As a parent of three DCSD graduates, a long-time volunteer in neighborhood schools, and an una liated voter, I’m tired of Board of Education directors pursuing divisive national political agendas instead of focusing on hiring and retaining the best educators and supporting their work to optimize learning outcomes for all of our kids.

When candidates for the four open director seats in 2025 are announced, these are questions voters should expect them to answer, based on local issues in DCSD:

CCM reported on 3/7/25 that DCSD remains the lowest paying district in the metro area. How will you work to make DCSD an employer of choice that can e ectively attract and retain high quality educators in the face of a growing teacher shortage?

How will you work to repair the culture and reputation of DCSD in the wake of the sustained attacks on DCSD’s equity policy endorsed by Directors Williams, Winegar, Myers, and Moore and the pending federal civil rights lawsuit against DCSD? How will you ensure welcoming and accessible schools for students and families, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and di erences in physical, emotional, and learning abilities?

Will you put your duty as a director above your personal politics and keep culture wars out of our non-partisan school board? Actions speak louder than words.

On 2/13/24, Denver Post reported that Director Moore, while a deputy, violated the Douglas County Sheri O ce’s policy against political endorsements.

CCM reported in April that Board President Williams signed a letter urging CHSAA to exclude transgender students from athletic competition in alignment with divisive antiLGBTQIA+ rhetoric.

Similarly, Director Myers also highlighted her partisan beliefs in her close a liation with the controversial advocacy group G4K (reported by CCM in April).

I hope to see all candidates for the DCSD BOE directly address questions like these and commit to doing better. Douglas County deserves directors who will bring our community together, support our educators and truly prioritize our students.

Kim Turnage, Highlands Ranch

DCSD must do better

To the Douglas County School Board: As a 25-year resident of this district and parent to two transgender people, I address you with both deep investment in our schools and rsthand knowledge of their shortcomings regarding transgender students. is district has repeatedly articulated commitments to supporting high standards in education, inclusion, and anti-bullying policies. Yet the consistent implementation of these values remains selective at best.

What empirical data informs your positions on the transgender student policies which a ect a small number of students? Where is the evidence-based approach that should be foundational to educational decision-making?

e discrepancy in advocacy is striking. When the dyslexia screener bill was under consideration — a measure directly a ecting 20 percent of DCSD student welfare — there was no comparable public letter or organized response from this board. is board majority didn’t even advise their costly lobbyist to support a dyslexia screener. is selective concern raises legitimate questions about priorities, leadership and consistency.

If elected, what speci c actions will you take to ensure adherence to Colorado Open Meeting Laws? Directors Williams, Winegar, and Myers violated the Colorado Open Meetings law in the rst few months of their term, costing the district more than $250,000 as reported by CCM on 9/27/23.

Transphobia in our schools is not theoretical. It manifests in concrete ways: inconsistent enforcement of anti-bullying measures, bureaucratic resistance to a rming students’ identities, and the move by two of you to systemically exclude them from full participation in school activities. Each of these instances fundamentally undermines our district’s direct obligation to educate every student equitably.

I formally request:

1. Transparency regarding what data informs your positions on transgender student support

2. An evidence-based assessment of transgender students’ experiences within our schools

DHS o ers $1,000 to immigrants who self-deport

BY ARIANA FIGUEROA COLORADO NEWSLINE

WASHINGTON — e U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced May 5 that the agency will provide $1,000 in what it called “travel assistance” to people in the United States without permanent legal status if they self deport.

It’s the latest attempt by DHS to try to meet the Trump administration’s goal of removing 1 million migrants without permanent legal status from the country. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem touted the option as cost-e ective.

“If you are here illegally, self-deportation is the best, safest and most cost-e ective way to leave the United States to avoid arrest,” Noem said in a statement. “ is is the safest option for our law enforcement, aliens and is a 70% savings for US taxpayers.”

It’s unclear from which part of the DHS budget the funding for the travel assistance is coming, as it would roughly cost $1 billion to reimburse up to $1,000 to meet the goal of removing 1 million people.

DHS did not respond to States Newsroom’s request for comment.

President Donald Trump gave his support for the move Monday afternoon, according to White House pool reports.

“We’re going to get them a beautiful ight back to where they came from,” the president said.

LETTERS

3. Implementation of accountability measures ensuring policies are applied with consistent delity

4. A public discussion addressing why certain student welfare issues receive vigorous advocacy while others do not I request these as a longtime commu-

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Self-deportation would be facilitated by the CBP Home app, which was used by the Biden administration to allow asylum seekers to make appointments with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. e payment would apparently not be made in advance. DHS said that once those who use the app to self deport arrive in their home country, they will receive a travel stipend of $1,000.

According to DHS, the Trump administration has deported 152,000 people since taking o ce in January. e Biden administration last year deported 195,000 people from February to April, according to DHS data.

DHS said already one migrant has used the program to book a ight from Chicago to Honduras.

“Additional tickets have already been booked for this week and the following week,” the agency said in a statement. e Trump administration has rolled out several programs to facilitate mass selfdeportations, such as a registry to require immigrants in the country without legal authorization to register with the federal government.

Immigrants who don’t register with the federal government could face steep nes and a potential prison sentence. is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline. com.

nity member who has invested a quarter century in this district — both as a taxpayer, an advocate, and as a parent these answers are long overdue.

More importantly, all students deserve a school board whose actions consistently align with their stated values.

I look forward to a substantive public discussion of these crucial questions. DCSD deserves better.

Jennifer

Iversen, Castle Pines

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Art gives voice to people who need to heal

Woman leads e ort for AdventHealth Parker hospital’s art cart

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Like many children at the age of four, Marie Williams enjoyed drawing. As decades began to pass by, her interest in art never faded and her desire to help others grew.

Williams attended the University of Colorado Boulder in 2013 to pursue an art degree.

“It was during that time that I realized that art could give a voice to people that needed to heal,” said Williams.

Carrying that sentiment with her for more than a decade, Williams is now helping expand the Healing Arts program at AdventHealth Parker hospital with her very own Moxie Art Cart to help give patients, visitors and sta a creative outlet for their emotions.

“ e Moxie Art Cart is supposed to bring energy, life and excitement in a situation that is overwhelming,” Williams said.

‘Take it one day at a time’

Before Williams was a volunteer at the hospital, she was a patient.

She was admitted to the hospital on Sept. 1, 2023, to have surgery after being diagnosed with diverticulosis and diverticulitis.

Diverticulosis is a condition in which small pouches push through the weak spots in the wall of the colon, and diverticulitis develops when the pouches — also known as diverticula — become in amed. is can lead to chronic pain and bleeding.

According to the National Institutes of Health, about 30% of adults between the ages of 50 and 59 have diverticulosis and less than 5% of people with diverticulosis develop diverticulitis. However, the chances of developing the condition increases with age.

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Williams’ surgery went well, but her body wasn’t healing properly and she began to have life-threatening complications.

“I actually don’t remember 12 days,” said Williams. “I remember kissing my husband before I went in (for surgery) and I knew that I was really afraid, but I don’t remember anything until I woke up in the ICU.”

CORRECTIONS

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Her husband told her she was coherent coming out of the initial surgery, however was struggling to come out of an additional surgery that “washed out” a leak that had occurred and went into septic shock.

She was intubated and went through dialysis for several days in the ICU.

Williams was released from the ICU on Sept. 15, her birthday. She can vividly remember nurses dancing around and singing “Happy Birthday” to her, and receiving a birthday cake from her surgeon.

“I’m alive,” said Willaims. “It’s the best birthday ever.”

liams had a myriad of compilations. She had developed anemia, blood clots, pockets of uid, pneumonia, had to have an ostomy bag, blood transfusions and six surgeries.

“You just take it one day at a time and listen to what they say, advocate for yourself and work with them (doctors and nurses),” Williams said.

The thought behind the art cart

During her 64-day stay at the hospital, Williams remembers how the hospital’s Healing Arts program helped her through her recovery.

e program features certi ed therapeutic music practitioners who provide music throughout the hospital.

e rst time the musicians knocked on her door, Williams said she was having a particularly rough day, but her mindset had changed after the musicians played for about a half an hour.

“It was wonderful,” said Williams. “Not only did I get to hear the song that was played at my husband and I’s wedding, we got to listen to other pieces.”

roughout her stay, Williams noticed that the days the musicians came to play, she was more willing to do activities like physical therapy. Once she got out of the hospital, Williams felt a strong drive to give back to the nurses at the hospital.

“All I wanted to do was support them and give back all that they had given me,” said Williams. “With all of my history and all of my knowledge, I decided that I was going to kind of beat down the door on Parker hospital and say, ‘I want to do this.’”

After attending the University of Colorado Boulder, Williams attended the University of Houston

bring art therapy to hospital patients.

On March 17, Willaims launched her Moxie Art Cart at AdventHealth Parker hospital in which patients can request the cart to make personal work for themselves or others.

“It doesn’t matter if they say yes or no, it’s the fact that they got to choose whether or not they wanted to do something,” said Williams. “In a situation where you are having to make decisions in hard places — which feels more like you just have to do what they’re telling you … this activity gives a sense of control.”

e cart is not just for patients. It’s also for visitors, nurses and hospital sta — anyone who needs to take a break from reality

Although art carts are popular at hospitals across the country, Williams said that it’s just a starting point to help the art program at Parker’s hospital grow. She would love to eventually have volunteers come in and help with the carts so more people can have the experience.

Williams would also like to create a room where people can go in to unwind and spend time working on art, and take patients outside to guide them on how to take professional photos.

“Not only do I understand what a visitor or a patient is going through, but to see what (nurses, doctors and sta ) are going through and supporting them is a big part of what I want to do,” Williams said.

Explore her art at mwilliamsart. com/.

Marie Williams stands with her Moxie Art Cart at AdventHealth Parker hospital, ready to help patients, a few years after her life was saved at the hospital. COURTESY OF ADVENTHEALTH PARKER

A piece of artwork created with the art cart, a new element of AdventHealth Parker hospital’s Arts Healing program. COURTESY OF MARIE WILLIAMS

Ski legend joins women’s soccer team ownership

BY LINCOLN ROCH

THE COLORADO SUN

e greatest alpine skier of all time is stepping onto the soccer eld, as an owner.

Colorado’s own Mikaela Shi rin is joining the ownership group of the National Women’s Soccer League’s Denver expansion team, the team announced May 6. With 101 World Cup victories, two Olympic gold medals and eight world championship titles, Shi rin is widely considered the most decorated alpine skier in history. Born and raised in Vail, she started competing on the World Cup circuit at age 16.

Shi rin is the only athlete to win all six of the World Cup disciplines: slalom, giant slalom, super-G, downhill, combination and parallel combination. In 2023, she won the annual ESPN award as the best athlete in women’s sports and was one of Time magazine’s 100 Most In uential People.

e skier joins an ownership group led by Rob Cohen, CEO of Denver’s IMA Financial Group, and Ariel Investments Co-CEO Melody Hobson through Project Level — Ariel’s fund dedicated to investment in women’s sports. e Colorado Sun asked NWSL Denver what percentage of the team Shi rin would own. ey declined to provide the information.

“ 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,” Shi rin said in a statement. “To be

part of it, and to help bring professional women’s soccer to Colorado, is not only an incredible investment opportunity — but it is both an honor and a joy.”

Denver was announced as the 16th NWSL team in January. eir $110 million expansion fee is the most expensive in U.S. women’s sports history. Since then, the team has been rapidly preparing for its 2026 season debut. In April, the team announced Jen Millet as its rst president. Millet has served as chief operating o cer of Bay FC and previously worked for the Golden State Warriors, StubHub and Pandora.

In April, the team surpassed 10,000 season ticket deposits. ey are partnering with the Cherry Creek School District to build a temporary venue in Centennial for their rst two seasons. A 20,000-squarefoot, purpose-built training facility will also be located on the same property.

e ownership group and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston are asking the City Council to approve $70 million in public funding to help build a stadium at Interstate 25 and Broadway at the Sante Fe Yards. e total cost would range from $150 million-$200 million and be built by the team. at request passed its rst hurdle late last month, but has not yet reached the full council. If the money is not approved, Cohen has hinted that the team might leave Denver.

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

With 101 World Cup victories, two Olympic gold medals and eight world championship titles, Mikaela Shi rin is widely considered the most decorated alpine skier in history. SHUTTERSTOCK

BELOW: The Columbine Library is part of the Je erson County Library system.

ROAD TRIP

Bemis Public Library

6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, CO 80120

Nestled in a sleepy grove across from the Littleton Historical Museum, Bemis Public Library is one of the few independent libraries in the metro area, meaning it is not part of any library system.

Instead, the library was built by the City of LIttleton in 1965 and is the namesake for former Littleton Independent Publisher Edwin A. Bemis.

Now, the library — which is walking distance from Downtown Littleton — sports a large kid’s section that sometimes hosts storytimes, as well as a teen area that is separated from the rest of the library.

Bemis Public LIbrary is also home to resources for

groups the library welcomes through its doors. e library also eliminated overdue fees in 2023 as an e ort to become more equitable to patrons.

Koelbel Library, Arapahoe Libraries

5955 S. Holly St., Centennial, CO 80121

Arapahoe Libraries comprises eight community libraries, a jail library and a bookmobile, all of which provide valuable resources to their patrons.

Oliver Sanidas, the executive director of Arapahoe Libraries, said that Koelbel Library in particular offers unique programming thanks to its cafe, meeting spaces, 39-seat theater, outdoor space and public art installations.

“We want to provide a place and services that help meet not only the information needs of our patrons, but also the social needs,” Sanidas said. “ e library provides a place for people to connect with others who

share their interests and passions. We do this through events and programs, and by providing spaces for patrons to meet, work and enjoy fun activities.”

Sanidas said that meetings rooms are used for birthday parties, business owners use the library’s cafe to meet with clients, tutors can meet with students and adults participate in book clubs and open mic nights at the library’s facilities.

“We want our library to be a community hub,” Sanie library’s cafe serves bites and sips from local vendors, and o ers a rotating series of drink speciale. e Koelbel Library Cafe is currently featuring a Purple Rain Latte, a Crimson and Clover Latte and a Strawberry Fields Lemonade.

Anythink Wright Farms, Anythink Libraries

5877 E. 120th Ave., ornton, CO 80602

Anythink Libraries branches o er all of the usual trappings of a library with a fun added twist: TryIts, a program wherein a patron can check out a kite, tarot deck, toy, musical instrument, games and more. e program is o ered throughout the Anythink system.

e library system’s agship branch, located at Wright Farms, features a digital lab featuring video, audio and design software that allows teens to work on their digital editing skills and push their creativity. e agship branch also contains a one-acre park adjacent to the li-

Castle Rock Public Library, Douglas County Libraries

100 S. Wilcox St., Castle Rock, CO 80104

e new Phillip and Jerry Miller Library in Castle Rock was built in 2023 and was constructed with an emphasis on creating space for working adults, families and Douglas County history.

“ e Castle Rock location features two outdoor Aloha Plazas East and West, an interactive children’s play space called e Ranch, sponsored by Castle Rock Rotary Club, and DCL’s Archives & Local History, its collections and the Sjostrom History Lounge reading room,” said Melissa Anciaux, the sta writer for Douglas County Libraries.

e branch replaced the old Phillip S. Miller Library that stood at the same location.

Douglas County Libraries also partners with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which o ers books to children up to 5 years old that the youngsters are able to keep.

RIGHT : The Koelbel Library in Arapahoe County.

LEFT: The Castle Rock Library in Douglas County was built in 2023.

COURTESY PHOTOS

An artist’s exploration of a Congo seaport

‘Port De Banana’ exhibit opens at Littleton Museum May 30

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Prior to the 15th century, the Congo River Basin in Central Africa was inhabited almost exclusively by the Bantu people, an expansive sociolinguistic group of nearly 400 culturally-similar tribes.

rough the Congo River Basin runs the Congo River, the second largest river in Africa and the ninth longest river in the world. is river runs from the Atlantic Ocean to the border of Zambia. e historic Bantu people relied on the river for their livelihood, depending on the owing giant for water and food, and as a means of transportation throughout the region.

e Congo River Basin saw Portuguese explorers enter the region in the latter half of the 15th century, followed by an in ux of traders and settlers in the 18th and 19th centuries. ese settlers revolutionized the area, creating a bustling inter-African and cross-sea trading industry. As commerce in the Congo Basin thrived, so did the devastating slave trade.

Port De Banana was at the mouth of the Congo River, the last spot slaves stopped before being transported to the Americas along the Atlantic Middle Passage. Congolese-Belgian artist, Lio-Bravo Bumbakini, tells the story of Port De Banana in his upcoming exhibition at the Littleton Museum.

“I mix vibrant colors, symbols, archetypes and mythologies with traditionalist African motifs and contemporary Western ideas,” said Bumbakini. “My ‘Port De Banana’ exhibit explores the narratives of life before and after the ‘discovery’ of the Congo from an anthropological and folkloric perspective.”

Born in Brussels, Bumbakini immigrated to the United States at 8 years old and currently splits his time between Boulder and Brooklyn. Even before his move to the United States, Bumbakini spent countless hours as a child in museum archives, collectors’ basements, gallery showrooms and places his mother frequented in her work as an African art historian and anthropologist. With babysitters scarce and childcare costly, Bumbakini would pass the time sketching the masks and statues in his vicinity or imagining vibrant worlds

IF YOU GO

“Port de Banana,” an exhibition of work by Lio-Bravo Bumbakini, runs from May 30 to Aug. 10 at the Littleton Museum, 6028 S. Gallup St. To learn more, visit www.museum. littletonco.gov.

of his own. He discovered worlds far more colorful than the muted grays of Brussels

Bumbakini’s ‘Port De Banana’ exhibit will run at the Littleton Museum from May 30 to Aug. 10. e opening celebration event will take place at 5:30 p.m. on May 29. Bumbakini will provide an introduction to the exhibit followed by a spoken word recital by award-winning scholar and poet, Toluwanimi Obiwole. e event will conclude with a live set by Congolese musical trio, Manasse Kaoma and Friends. Bumbakini will also host an Artist Talk event at the Littleton Museum on June 5.

“I believe art provides a window into the ethereal — the space between the societal, the physical and the immaterial,” Bumbakini said. “It is the door to both past human experiences and its future manifestation. Art honors and acknowledges the past and inspires the future.” is coverage comes courtesy of a grant from the Littleton Arts and Culture Program. As a matter of policy, funders exercise no control over editorial decisions.

Artist Lio-Bravo Bumbkini in front of his painting entitled “Le Zaire.” PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARTIST MUSÉE BUMBA

Painting entitled “Kiss The Moon, Dance Under The Stars” by Lio-Bravo Bumbakini.

Port De Banana at the Littleton Museum.

Be a part of Opera Colorado’s chorus

Denver’s biggest company is looking for singers for its 2025-2026 season

BY KYLE HARRIS DENVERITE

Do you sing Puccini in the shower and dream of the stage? Have you ever been to the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, watched the chorus and thought: “I could do better?”

Well, now’s your chance.

Opera Colorado is inviting locals to audition for the chorus in their 2025-2026 season shows: “La Traviata” and “Madama Butter y.”

Here’s how to audition:

If you go, expect to perform two memorized songs, with at least one in a foreign language, from the art house or opera repertoires. A pianist will be on site to accompany you.

Auditions take place Wednesday, May 28, and Saturday, May 31, from 6-9 p.m. at the Opera Colorado Opera Center, at 4121 S. Navajo Street, Ste. 100, in Englewood.

You’ll be performing for the Iranian conductor, pianist and

BERKEY

Opera Colorado chorus master Sahar Nouri.

Rehearsals will take place on weekday evenings and on weekends. “La Traviata” chorus members must be around from Sept. 11 to Nov. 17, 2025, and “Madama Butter y” chorus members from March 30 to May 11, 2026.

If you’re picked, you’ll receive a small stipend and two tickets to the nal dress rehearsal, plus discounts on performance tickets.

Singers will also have the chance to try out for smaller roles in both operas.

To request an audition for the chorus, email auditions@operacolorado.organd include a onepage resume. If you want to try out for larger roles, let the company know. Auditions are rstcome, rst-served.

For information about tickets and season memberships, go to Opera Colorado’s website.  is story is from Denverite, a Denver news site. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.

Berkey’s story cannot be told without mention of her deep Christian faith. After spending 70 years attending the same church in Oklahoma, she moved to Colorado and became a regular attendee, and eventually a deacon, at Canyons Community Church in Castle Rock. She has read the Bible in its entirety every year for

40 years — even coming up with a handwritten daily reading guide to share with friends.

Berkey became a Christian in her teenage years, and an extended hospital stay resulting from an ectopic pregnancy at age 25 solidi ed her beliefs. She attributes her long life to her unwavering faith, and her mission of spreading her faith to others perseveres halfway through her 11th decade.

“You haven’t really lived unless you’ve had a telephone prayer with Evelyn,” said

McGuire. “If you call her with a concern or problem, she says, ‘let’s pray about that right now.’ She goes into a beautiful prayer and you hang up feeling renewed.”

Both VanderLinden and McGuire have been inspired by one of Berkey’s mantras: “Be bold.” ey say that Berkey is a shining example of what it looks like to be bold in one’s faith.

Berkey’s friends said her 105th birthday party was a perfect occasion to re ect on the things that make her special. She received more than 100 cards for her 105th

birthday, and expressed her deep gratitude for her friends and family, and for the support she feels from her community.

“She’s just one of those people that everyone’s attracted to because she’s so loving and kind and sweet,” said VanderLinden. “It’s just automatic with her.”

McGuire agreed.

“She’s changed so many lives in so many ways — it’s hard to comprehend and it’s hard to share. Her wisdom is something to behold,” McGuire said.

Sara Gartland prepares to go onstage in Opera Colorado’s production of “Die tote Stadt” at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Feb. 28, 2023.

PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY / DENVERITE

Scientists say Denver is like Airbnb for miller moths, so don’t kill our guests

The moths are a critical part of our ecosystem

BY KYLE HARRIS DENVERITE

An untold number of miller moths, who have been hatching in the Great Plains, will y into Denver in the days ahead as they utter their way to the Rocky Mountains.

Some Denverites will fear them — maybe even kill them. Others will celebrate their role in the ecosystem as nighttime pollinators and delicious snacks for birds, reptiles and even bears.

After hatching from cocoons on crops, miller moths travel more than 100 miles in their few-month lifespan. ey follow the light of the moon.

In Denver, they often nd themselves smacking into lightbulbs until they realize their destination is elsewhere. Others die here, lost in the big city.  e migration through Denver is likely to start any day now and continue for several weeks. It’s unclear yet how this wave will compare to some in the past.

There’s a lot that lepidopterists (moth experts) don’t know about moths.

How many y into Denver? What is their survival rate? How is climate change impacting their migration patterns? We don’t know.

Currently, there’s not enough information out there to predict how large a migration will occur in any given year, though weather patterns likely in uence it, said Francisco Garcia, the Butter y Pavilion’s director of science and conservation.

Invertebrates represent 97 percent of

all the species on the planet, he said. And they are often misunderstood — even feared.

ere are many challenges in studying them.

“ ey have very short life cycles,” Garcia said. “ ey’re very small. And they also y all over the place.”

Another obstacle: e Trump administration is slashing federal funding for the sciences, which Garcia worries will slow down moth research critical to understanding climate change and ecosystems

Do not fear the miller moth

Moths, unlike butter ies, are often underappreciated — in part, because nighttime is stigmatized and they’re far less

People think miller moths will bite, eat their clothes, and attack pets and chil-

“ ey are completely harmless,” Garcia said. “ ey are just passing through for a

He likens Denver to an Airbnb for miller moths. ey settle here for a few days and

“ e best we can do is not harming them, turning o our lights during the night and then allowing these migrations to go through and nish,” Garcia said. “We need these pollinators. We need them pollinating all these di erent plants in the ecosystem and also feeding reptiles, birds and all these di erent animals.”

Miller moths also fuel the agricultural economy by pollinating crops worth millions of dollars. And ultimately, they help propagate the wild owers and other native plants of the Rockies.

ey may be small, but their role in the ecosystem is huge.

Garcia describes them as “tiny, little giants… our heroes.”

1. MOVIES: What is the name of Han Solo’s ship in the “Star Wars” series?

2. TELEVISION: What is Ray Barone’s job on the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond”?

3. U.S. STATES: e Baltimore Ravens’ name is a nod to which past famous resident?

4. PSYCHOLOGY: What fear is represented in the condition called “alliumphobia”?

5. LITERATURE: Who created the ctional detective Lord Peter Wimsey?

6. GAMES: Which chess piece can’t move in a straight line?

7. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby mouse called?

8. SCIENCE: What does the acronym RNA stand for?

9. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the rst to wear contact lenses?

TrIVIa

10. ASTRONOMY: Which constellation contains Polaris, the North Star?

Answers

1. Millennium Falcon.

2. Sportswriter.

3. Edgar Allen Poe, who wrote the poem “ e Raven.”

4. Fear of garlic.

5. Dorothy L. Sayers.

6. Knight.

7. A pinky or pup.

8. Ribonucleic Acid.

9. Lyndon Johnson.

10. Ursa Minor ( e Little Dipper).

(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.