Highlands Ranch Herald May 29, 2025 by Colorado Community Media

WEEK

Commissioners claim victory in lawsuit over meetings law

Douglas County judge turns down request for preliminary injunction

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A Douglas County judge on May 20 denied a preliminary injunction request made by Rep. Robert Marshall, former Douglas County Commissioner Lora omas and Lone Tree resident Julie Gooden.

District Court Judge Robert Lung found there were no violations of Colorado’s Open Meetings Law during the Douglas County Commissioners’ advanced planning meetings and elected o cials luncheons.

Life after breast cancer, and lessons learned

writing led her to become the senior vice president for investor and media relations at Bye Aerospace, an aerospace engineering company.

nal. Combining the details of her journal and the stories from her youth, Simard released a book in 2019 called, “ e Unlikely Gift of Breast Cancer.”

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For most of Diane Simard’s life, cancer was a topic that no one really spoke about. Simard, a Highlands Ranch resident, was a career woman. Her background in business

But in February 2015, “this unexpected thing called breast cancer hit,” said Simard. As a way to deal with the unwanted emotions that a cancer diagnosis brings, Simard looked to what she knew: writing. roughout her treatment, Simard sent email updates to her close ones, and she kept a jour-

“I spent my whole career making other people look good … telling their stories, and this was the rst chance I had to talk about myself and really learn more about who I am,” Simard said.

She added that it’s not a “do this, don’t do that” type of book. Rather, it’s about how traumatizing cancer is, the struggles

she faced while attempting to rebuild her identity and how mental health can impact the body’s physical ability to heal.

Since the release of her rst book, Simard has released two more: “Heal Forward: Transform Emotional Scars into Impact,” and “Unlikely Gifts Unwrapped: Un ltered Re ections on Life After Breast Cancer,” which looks back at the decade of bizarre experiences one can have after treatment.

On April 22, Marshall, omas and Gooden led a lawsuit against the Douglas County Commissioners claiming that the board had discussed public matters, like home rule, in a series of “behind closed doors” and “without public notice” meetings.

Earlier this month, Lung heard testimony regarding the Open Meetings Law violation claims and requested that both parties submit a proposal.

According to the ruling obtained by the Douglas County News-Press, the court had to determine, based on evidence, if the Open Meetings Law applies to advanced planning meetings.

e ruling states: “While the court is unwilling to rule that a discussion about an election can never implicate a policymaking function, the court is satis ed that there was no evidence of any policy-making function at these advance planning meetings and therefore, on the evidence before the court, the Open Meetings Law did not apply to these meetings.”

Lung also decided that the elected o cials luncheons were not subject to the state’s Open Meetings Law. He noted that the March 25 adoption of the two resolutions concerning

At the end of 2015, Diane Simard completed treatment for her non-aggressive form of cancer that behaved aggressively.

COURTESY OF DIANE SIMARD

Education bills that passed and failed in the 2025 Colorado legislative session

BY JASON GONZALES, MELANIE ASMAR AND ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT

Before Colorado state lawmakers nished their yearly business this week, they took steps to ensure public schools would be better funded in the future.

In a late addition to the school funding bill, lawmakers added a provision that will deposit millions in annual income tax revenue into the State Education Fund. In 2026, that amount will be $233 million. e fund acts as a type of savings account. e money from the new provision can only be used for school operations and student funding.

e $233 million will be stowed away into a so-called Kids Matter Fund to help lawmakers fend o another likely budget shortfall in the 2026-27 year. is session, lawmakers needed to cut $1.2 billion in spending within the 2025-26 budget, and projections show the budget hole will be even bigger next session.

is year’s shortfall also caused lawmakers to scale back the rollout of a new school funding formula and make other alterations to how the state calculates student enrollment for the purposes of doling out per-pupil dollars.

Despite the challenges, total statewide education spending will increase to $10 billion next year, and every school district will get the same amount of money or more than it did this year.

Lawmakers also passed numerous bills related to education. Here are the most consequential bills that passed and failed.

Bills on book bans, cellphones, and ﬁnancial literacy are among those that passed

Cellphones in schools

Public schools will be required to have an updated policy on student cellphone use under House Bill 1135. e law is meant to curb cellphone distractions in classrooms, but it leaves the details of how to do that up to districts.

Reading policy

Colorado public schools will be required to screen students in kindergarten through third grade for dyslexia starting in the 2027-28 school year per Senate Bill 200. e start date is a year later than advocates for children with dyslexia wanted but represents a big win after a yearslong battle for statewide screening.

Book bans

Public schools must create policies governing library book challenges under Senate Bill 63. Only parents with a child in the school will be allowed to challenge a book at that school, and reviews of the same title will be limited to once every two years. e bill also bars school library workers from retaliation for refusing to remove a challenged book before a review.

School accountability

Colorado’s school accountability system will see changes under House Bill 1278, including the creation of a new option for when schools or school districts have ve years of low ratings.

Free school meals

ey for the state’s two-year-old Healthy School Meals for All program, which provides all students with free school meals and has cost more than expected. If the ballot measures fail, Senate Bill 214 allows the state to scale back the free meals program.

Immigration enforcement

Republicanshoped to reverse statewide prohibitions on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agents under Senate Bill 47, which failed in its rst committee hearing. Instead, Democratic leaders pushed for even more restrictions and passed Senate Bill 276. e law will extend prohibitions on the cooperation and the release of records to federal immigration enforcement o cials, including by public schools, colleges and universities, and child care centers.

Black history

e Colorado State Board of Education will adopt academic standards related to Black historical and cultural studies per House Bill 1149, ensuring that Black history is taught in public schools.

Financial literacy

Colorado high school students will be required to take a nancial literacy course before they graduate under House Bill 1192

Food waste and student bill drafting power

School districts and charter schools will be encouraged to adopt policies to reduce food waste under House Bill 1059, one of the last bills proposed by the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, which lost its bill-drafting power under Senate Bill 199. e food waste bill suggests schools could donate or compost uneaten food or set up “share tables” to redistribute unused food.

Speech-language pathology

guage pathology assistants can work in schools.

Alternative education campuses

Colorado funds its schools per pupil, which can be di cult for alternative education campuses that serve students with high needs, because their enrollment tends to uctuate throughout the year. To help stabilize their funding, alternative education campuses will get priority for state grant funding under House Bill 1167. e bill also requires the state to monitor enrollment trends, student mobility, and student demographics at alternative education campuses, and it permits such schools to serve pregnant and parenting students up until age 21.

Teacher housing

Colorado will create a down payment assistance program for educators, giving priority to rst-time home buyers, under Senate Bill 167

College student transfers

Colorado will create a website with information for students transferring from one college to another after the passage of House Bill 1038. e state has an almost $900,000 grant to create the website, which will help students understand which of their college credits can transfer.

More veterinarian training

Colorado faces a veterinarian shortage, and House Bill 1131 lifts a cap on how many students can get into the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Emily Gri th associate degree

To make it easier for students to get to college, House Bill 1221 will allow Emily Gri th Technical College in Denver to o er an associate of applied science degree program.

Bill 1250, which requires school districts to distribute written or electronic materials on the topic.

School safety drills

School safety drills can be traumatizing for students, lawmakers argued. House Bill 27requires the state to create a committee to craft practices that would ensure students are less likely to be disturbed by the drills. But the state would need to receive a nancial donation to convene the committee.

Safe2Tell expansion

Educators in several districts have been able to get noti ed through the state’s Safe2Tell school safety hotline if a student has been involved in a traumatic event. Senate Bill 64, the state will slowly expand the program to more districts.

College help for students with disabilities

Students with disabilities will be eligible to receive an academic adjustment at a college or university under Senate Bill . e adjustment ensures students can get modi cations to their learning because of their disability.

Facial recognition technology e state will continue its prohibition of facial recognition technology in schools under Senate Bill 143. e law also puts some guardrails on the districts that are allowed to use this technology because they adopted it before the ban.

Child care fees

Starting Jan. 1, parents can recover some of the waitlist or application fees they’ve paid to child care programs if their children don’t land a spot within six months under Senate Bill 4

Educator pathways

Teachers will have an easier path toward getting teaching endorsements under Senate Bill 154. Teachers will be able to show their quali cations in multiple ways instead of only by passing a test.

Teacher pensions

Denver Public Schools’ contribution to the Public Employees’ Retirement Association, or PERA, will go down by 3 percentage points beginning July 1 under House Bill 1105, which will mean a boost in take-home pay for DPS employees.

Restraint and seclusion

House Bill 1248 moves the existing laws about restraint and seclusion in public schools from the section of Colorado law that deals with youth detention facilities to the section that deals with education. It also shores up data reporting about the use of such practices in public schools and closes a loophole that has created a dearth of information about seclusion.

Community schoolyards

House Bill 1061 creates a grant program to build community schoolyards, which are de ned in the bill as park-like environments located at schools that provide hands-on nature play and that children can use outside of school hours. Two grants will be available: a $150,000 planning grant and an $850,000 construction grant.

Under House Bill 1274, Colorado voters will consider two ballot measures in November that would raise more mon-

To help reverse a shortage of speechlanguage pathologists, House Bill 1075 addresses how and when speech-lan-

Gun violence prevention

Students will get more information on gun violence prevention through House

Lawmakers passed numerous bills related to education, including those related to book bans, cellphones and ﬁnancial literacy. SHUTTERSTOCK

Parent groups sue state over transgender rights law

BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Four groups that oppose transgender rights have sued Colorado over a new law that enshrines additional protections for transgender people in the state’s anti-discrimination law.

e federal lawsuit argues that the law’s requirements that schools and other entities use a transgender person’s chosen name and pronouns violates the First Amendment of the Constitution by forcing some speakers to say things they nd objectionable.

e lawsuit is the second one this month to target Colorado’s protections for transgender people, following the Trump administration’s aggressive efforts to eliminate such protections in schools and elsewhere. On May 9, a conservative-leaning Colorado Springs-area school district sued the state, arguing that Colorado’s anti-discrimination law violates students’ constitutional rights by allowing transgender youth to play on school sports teams that match their gender identity.

Both lawsuits have implications for how schools treat transgender students, from the names they are called in class to the sports teams they can try out for after school.

e lawsuit takes aim at House Bill 1312, which was signed by Gov. Jared Polis. e measure, which will impact school dress code, name change, and bullying policies, as well as rules for birth certi cates and marriage licenses, represented a win for supporters of transgender rights. But now it appears parts of the law could be tied up in court for months or years.

e plainti s in the case include the Virginia-based conservative group Defending Education, which has challenged race-based initiatives and the teaching of issues related to race and gender in schools. Other plainti s include Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, Protect Kids Colorado, a health group called Do No Harm, and Travis Morrell, a Colorado dermatologist. ey are represented by the Arlington, Virginia law rm Consovoy McCarthy. e defendants in the case include Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and

the members of Colorado’s Civil Rights Division, a group tasked with investigating alleged violations of the state’s antidiscrimination law.

e lawsuit argues that Colorado’s new law “punishes those who refuse to speak using chosen names and pronouns, and it does so in order to suppress traditional beliefs about sex and gender.”

Lawmakers who supported the legislation said it was about ensuring transgender people can make decisions that afrm their identities, as well as protecting them from discrimination.

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Chris Kolker, a Democrat and cosponsor of the bill, said during a recent hearing, “I ask us not to get lost in a fog of fear. Let’s return to what this is about — keeping kids safe, preventing bullying, and ensuring our public systems re ect the dignity of all people.”

In the lawsuit, Defending Education said it “regularly litigates on behalf of its members to protect their First Amendment right to refer to individuals using biologically accurate pronouns and/or birth names.”

Referring to transgender people by their birth name instead of their chosen name is called deadnaming, and using pronouns other than a person’s preferred pronouns is called misgendering.

e lawsuit describes various types of speech that the new Colorado law could restrict and that plainti s want to continue using. For example, it notes that members of the Colorado Parent Advocacy Network, one of the plainti s, have called Rep. Brianna Titone, a Democratic state representative, “Brian Titone.” e group’s members have also said Dylan Mulvaney, a popular transgender social media in uencer, “is a man pretending to be a woman. ‘She’ is actually a ‘he’ and does not know the experience of American girls.”

e law would make it impossible for the group to “e ectively exercise their constitutionally protected right to speak in a manner that re ects their sincere belief that sex is immutable and xed at birth,” the lawsuit states.

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

Divorcing Couples With a Home Need a Realtor With Specialized Training

I have completed a CE course on “Divorce Real Estate” and would like to share some of what I learned. As a happily married Baby Boomer, I was interested to learn that my generation is experiencing the highest rate of increase in divorce. While the divorce rate for couples 55 to 64 doubled between 1990 and 2012, it tripled for couples 65 and older.

The reason, as you might suspect, starts with the absence of minor children. In addition, retirement can bring out resentments or other negative feelings that may have been dormant when one or both partners were not home as much.

Opposing values or morals (politics?)

Addiction

Absence of love or intimacy

agent could be a prescription for not selling the house within a reasonable time period.

market factors which are embodied in a real estate “comparative market analysis,” which, by the way, is free, compared to the several hundred dollars you’d have to pay an appraiser.

One spouse not carrying his/her weight

Also, as our instructor, Jocelyn Javernick of Limetree Lending Inc., told us, women are feeling an increased need to escape an unfulfilling marriage. Jocelyn shared a quote from Warren Buffett: “Wait until women find out that they are the real slaves of the world.”

She told the class that 70% of divorces are being initiated by women (of all ages), and that 50% of them are insisting they never want to marry again.

Jocelyn said the most common reasons for divorce (apparently in the order in which they were cited in surveys) are:

Loss of respect

Too much conflict; incessant arguing

Minor children

Illness

Lack of commitment

Infidelity

Lack of emotional and/or physical intimacy

Communication problems

Domestic violence

Financial pressures

Lack of shared interest

Marrying too young

Unrealistic expectations

External family pressures

Trust issues

Parenting differences

Not supportive of each others’ goals

Education

Income disparity

One always hopers for an amicable separation and divorce, which is what my stepson achieved last year with his divorce. They agreed that he would buy out her co-ownership of their home, paying her an agreed-upon sum in return for the two of them quit-claiming the house to him alone. Having no children further simplified the process. When that’s the case, lawyers don’t have to be engaged.

Jocelyn provided the class with a guidebook to share with divorcing couples, with the aim not just of educating divorcing couples on the process, but also minimizing legal fees for them. The goal should always be to engage a mediator, and to not leave a mediation session without a signed document embodying what was agreed upon. Jocelyn provided the contact info for mediators who specialize in divorce.

As for real estate, if one party isn’t buying out the other’s share of ownership, it’s important to hire the right real estate agent, and that they agree upon who that is. One party may want to hire an agent who suggests a listing price higher than the other party’s agent, but choosing that

We were provided with a template for a court order that I can share with you. Submitting a ready-made court order to your attorney instead of having him pound it out at $500 per hour, can help to reduce the costs of going through the process, because, even when the parties have agreed to the terms of a divorce, a judge must approve the agreement and will want to hear from each party to make sure that the agreement is fair and not the product of a coercive marital relationship.

Jocelyn has found that most couples with a home to sell have only consulted Zillow regarding the valuation of their home. We real estate professionals have far better tools for properly valuing a home based on the analysis of appropriate comparable sales. In a non-amicable divorce, the parties might agree on hiring an appraiser, but appraisals are not what you need, because they don’t include an analysis of current market conditions, competing listings, and other

Eighty percent of divorces include real estate, but too many divorcing couples leave money on the table because of bad advice about their home’s value, and have spent way more money than they should have on legal representation, when a non-lawyer real estate professional like myself can help them work through at least the process of liquidating what is probably the biggest asset of their marriage.

Call me at 303-525-1851 or email me at Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com, if I can be of help.

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 an ad like this on a related topic.

1-Bedroom Condo on Clear Creek Listed by David Dlugasch

LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

This 1-bedroom 1-bath condo at 640 11th Street #302 has it all. In addition to the main bedroom, there's a custom-built high-end cherrywood murphy bed in the office that's perfect for guests or to use as a second bedroom. The kitchen features granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a kitchen island. The living room has beautiful hardwood flooring and a ceiling fan. Enjoy the views of the Table Mountains on your balcony. This location is incredible, as this building backs to Clear Creek and you're one block from downtown Golden's Washington Avenue with its array of restaurants, stores, and coffee shops. To top it off, there's a reserved parking space and a nice size storage cage in the secure heated garage. Come and see this very desirable unit in the heart of Golden. View a video tour at GRElistings.com, then call David at 303-908-4835 to set a showing.

Talk About Divorce Real Estate

A new Colorado law meant to ensure transgender people, including students, are called by their chosen names is the target of a lawsuit. PHOTO BY ERICA S. LEE FOR CHALKBEAT

Simard’s cancer journey has helped her gain more clarity about what matters most to her.

“ e more I learned about myself as a result of cancer, I learned things about my dad, my family, about why things had happened in my life that had a reason and wasn’t just fate,” Simard said.

Simard’s ‘unique situation’

With no history of cancer in Simard’s family, she never thought it would be something that would impact her.

When she was just about to turn 50, Simard had a regular mammogram in early 2015. Nearly a week later, she got a call saying she needed to go back for followup testing. An additional scan revealed that Simard needed to have a biopsy.

“For some reason, I had it in my mind that because I went for annual mammograms, I wasn’t going to get cancer,” Simard said.

Simard was sitting at her desk at work when she got the dreaded call. Cancer had been found in her left breast and in the lymph nodes of her armpit.

“ e race was on, so to speak,” said Simard. “My situation ended up being quite unique.”

Simard was told she had in ltrating ductal carcinoma and didn’t t the typical parameters for staging cancer. Since her non-aggressive grade of cancer was behaving aggressively and was close to spreading throughout her body, Simard was ultimately diagnosed with Stage 3c breast cancer.

Over the course of 10 months, Simard had two lumpectomy surgeries, 33 radiation treatments and 15 chemotherapy

treatments, which made her very sick.

“It’s just so debilitating what this does to you,” said Simard. “I was really starting to fall into depression.”

At her second-to-last chemo infusion, Simard had asked the nurse to refer a mental health therapist. e nurse said she is asked that question frequently, but didn’t know of anyone who specializes in working with cancer patients.

Simard said she was shocked that there

An “All Things Senior” Douglas County Event

are marriage, family and sports counselors, but no counselors speci cally for cancer patients. is led her to ask more questions about what she calls the intersection of mental health and cancer.

“It’s important to learn as much as we can about cancer, but we’re still human beings with emotions and fears,” said Simard. “Oftentimes because you’re in such a race and such a rush to deal with the cancer … there’s not another extra 10 minutes to talk about (mental health).”

Becoming an advocate for mental health

Interested in behavioral health, Simard was introduced to psychosocial oncology, a concept introduced by Dr. Jimmie

EDUCATION BILLS

Child care

Lawmakers rejected a bill that would have put new guardrails on child care chains backed by private equity or venture capital rms. House Bill 1011 would have required such child care chains to publicly post their tuition and fees and give families and employees 60 days notice after a center’s purchase before laying o sta or making enrollment changes.

Universal preschool

A bill that would have given preschools greater access to the state’s universal preschool sign-up system was killed at the request of one of its sponsors. Senate Bill 119 would also have allowed all preschools in the program to have higher class sizes and sta -student ratios. But in a tough budget year, the bill’s $1.5 million price tag spelled its doom.

Holland in the 1970s that looks at the mental health of cancer patients in addition to physical health.

“ ere’s a lot of need for this, but it’s not part of the healthcare model,” Simard said.

One year after receiving her diagnosis, Simard founded a speciality at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Professional Psychology called the Center for Oncology Psychology Excellence or COPE. e program provides graduate-level coursework in psychological oncology to clinical psychology students. Simard hopes to make credible sources and information more accessible and understandable not only for cancer patients, but also their caregivers and family. She also wants these resources to be available for patients after they complete their treatment.

“Cancer is never invited and cancer never leaves,” Simard said.

Whether it’s questioning if cancer is going to reoccur or being triggered by any medical test, Simard said there are lasting e ects, and sometimes, a lack of sympathy from loved ones for the ongoing trauma and fears.

Understanding that cancer is a di erent experience for each individual, Simard believes that having a mental health resource is bene cial for both the body and mind.

In addition to establishing COPE, Simard has had many accomplishments, including helping to establish the Ray of Hope Colorado Cancer Foundation’s mental health support grant program, and she was featured in “Courageous Warriors: Beauty from Ashes,” an awardwinning independent documentary lm.

Despite these accolades, Simard said talking with others about their cancer journeys has been the most rewarding.

“(I) helped people make a lot of money, brought them a lot of notoriety, but I never felt like I’ve impacted anyone in the way that I have until I started this advocacy work,” said Simard. “It is to consider the mental health impact.”

Find Simard’s blog and newsletter at dianesimard.com.

was the second unsuccessful attempt at banning seclusion in two years.

Student mental health

Colorado lawmakers rejected a $1.1 million proposal that would have created a youth mental health pilot program in the Department of Behavioral Health. e program under House Bill 1160 would have provided 42,000 students with access to an online behavioral health prevention tool.

School ﬁnances

Lawmakers rejected a bill that would have required each traditional public school and independent charter school to post a long list of nancial information on their websites. Senate Bill 153 would have required schools to disclose how much they spend on marketing, student recruitment, and lobbyists, among other information.

Native American history

Seclusion ban

A bill to ban seclusion was rejected by lawmakers for the second year in a row. Seclusion is the practice of shutting a student inside a room alone and blocking them from leaving. House Bill 1178

Senate Bill 123 would have required “the genocide against Native Americans, the Sand Creek massacre and other massacres, and the Colorado Native American residential and boarding schools” to be taught in public schools. e bill sponsor asked to postpone it inde nitely. Reprinted with permission from Chalkbeat, a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters.

Diane Simard has written three books inspired by her cancer journey in the hopes to educate the public about the mental hurdles after receiving a diagnosis and completing treatment.

COURTESY OF DIANE SIMARD

Bills on universal preschool, ﬁnancial transparency among those that failed

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These gun bills passed the Colorado Legislature in 2025

Bills on safety training, gun show rules already signed by governor

BY SARA WILSON COLORADO NEWSLINE

Colorado lawmakers, led by a Democratic majority in both chambers of the Legislature, passed a suite of rearm-related bills this year aimed to reduce gun violence and boost public safety.

Over the previous two years, Colorado had enacted gun laws concerning a minimum purchasing age, purchase waiting period, safe storage in vehicles, and an expansion of the type of people who can petition courts to remove a potentially dangerous person’s rearm. ey did more this year, such as passing what could be the most consequential gun law in recent history with a permit-to-purchase program for most semiautomatic ri es.

Safety training for guns with detachable magazines

Beginning in August 2026, purchasers will need a special permit to buy certain semiautomatic rearms that can accept detachable ammunition magazines. Without the permit, they can buy models of those rearms that have xed, 15-round-maximum magazines, which are far less common.

ose provisions are in Senate Bill 253. People will need to be vetted by their county sheri , take a safety class and

pass a test to get a permit, which will be valid for ve years. e training will be four hours for people who have gone through hunter education and 12 hours for everyone else.

“If you’re going to be purchasing these weapons, it should be your responsibility to make sure that you’re educated on how to safely use these weapons. I think that’s common sense,” Polis said when he signed the bill in April.

Polis wants to see nancial assistance for lower-income Coloradans who wish to obtain a permit, and he also thinks some people, such as retired law enforcement and former military personnel, should not have to undergo redundant training.

e bill was originally introduced as an outright ban on the manufacture, sale, purchase and transfer of those types of guns with detachable magazines. It was proposed as a way to enforce an existing large-capacity magazine ban. e permit-to-purchase program was amended into the bill in the Senate to get Polis on board.

Gun show security plans

e promoter of a gun show will need to submit a security plan for the event to local law enforcement starting next year under House Bill 25-1238, which Polis signed in April. Additionally, promoters will need to carry liability insurance, make sure vendors have the proper federal and state licenses and have video surveillance of all areas of the gun show, including the parking area.

Children will not be able to attend a gun show without a parent or guardian.

“One of the best ways we can prevent

gun violence is by requiring rearm dealers and gun show promoters to utilize proven methods that keep guns out of the wrong hands, like running background checks, securely storing rearms and ammunition, and boosting security measures like video cameras,” bill sponsor Rep. Sean Camacho, a Denver Democrat, said in a statement when the bill passed the House. “ is legislation helps enforce responsible gun-selling practices and that makes gun shows more resilient to illegal sales or theft.

In a signing statement, Polis emphasized the law would not impact “gun collector shows” that concern collectible rearms like curios, relics or antique rearms.

Self-imposed restrictions

Senate Bill 25-34, a suicide prevention measure, would allow people to voluntarily waive their right to buy a gun by giving their name to the Colorado Bureau of Investigations through an online portal. ey could also include information of someone to contact if they try to buy a gun while the voluntary waiver is in e ect. CBI will need to verify someone’s identity before adding them to the “Do Not Sell” list. People could then remove themselves from that list after 30 days.

“We know that when people have mental health issues, sometimes they feel better and sometimes they feel worse. And we know that when people feel better, they might know that when they feel worse, they might not want to be able to go purchase a rearm,” bill sponsor Sen. Cathy Kipp, a Fort Collins Democrat, said on the oor in April.

Polis has not yet taken action on the bill.

Gun information from schools

Under House Bill 25-1250, schools will need to provide materials about gun violence prevention to students’ parents or guardians at the start of each year. ey will also need to post the materials, de-

veloped by the state O ce of Gun Violence Prevention, online.

“Some of the most devastating and preventable tragedies in our nation’s history have happened in Colorado schools, and one in three Colorado middle and high school students say they can access a rearm in their home,” bill sponsor Sen. Lisa Cutter, a Je erson County Democrat, said in a statement after it passed the Senate. “Safe storage dramatically reduces rearm suicides and overall youth rearm fatalities. Information is power, and this bill simply helps inform and educate students and their families about gun violence and how to prevent it.”

Polis has not yet taken action on the bill.

New felonies for gun thefts

A rare bipartisan gun-related bill, House Bill 25-1062, would make all rearm thefts a felony, instead of structuring the charge based on the value of the stolen gun. All rearm thefts would be a Class 6 felony, which can result in a prison sentence up to four years and nes up to $100,000.

Bill supporters say it will deter gun theft and reduce the circulation of stolen guns in illegal markets. e potential misuse and lethality of guns are reasons to treat them di erently than other stolen goods, they said.

“By setting a consistent felony classication for rearm theft, the state signals that stealing guns carries a signi cant consequence,” bill sponsor Rep. Ryan Armagost, a Berthoud Republican, said during oor debate on the bill. “Stolen rearms often end up in the hands of people who cannot legally purchase rearms, such as felons or minors, and are frequently used in violent crimes.” is bill passed on a bipartisan vote. Polis has not yet taken action on it. is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.

The Colorado state Capitol, pictured in 2023.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

Economic Factors, Policy Landscape Lead to Budget Shortfall

Fire and medical emergency response services are at

risk

The Challenge

There’s been a 20% increase in calls for service since 2019.

This includes structure, vehicle, and wildland fires; explosions and hazmat incidents; water rescues; vehicle crashes; public or police assistance; and medical emergencies.

Emergency medical calls now account for 65% of all response – this is expected to increase with an aging population.

Costs have increased dramatically in six years; for example:

The cost for a fire engine has gone from $725,000 to $1.3 million (79% increase).

The cost for protective bunker gear has gone from $4,321 to $6,047 (40% increase).

To continue providing quality fire and emergency response, South Metro needs an additional $34 million annually.

State legislation that passed during a special session in 2024 reduces property tax revenue South Metro collects by $16 million in 2026 and $270 million over 10 years.

South Metro Fire Rescue is facing an immediate budget shortfall due to years of rising costs, consistent increases in demand, and new state legislation. Without new revenue, the organization will not be able to maintain the high level of service for fire and emergency response that residents and businesses deserve, and have come to expect.

Did You Know?

South Metro is a full-service department Here are a few key facts:

stations across 30 square miles 287

personnel across 800 divisions 8

residents, which will serving 571,500 in grow to 595,0004 years municipalities and 12 counties 3

Including:

Centennial Airport, Lockheed Martin, Highlands Ranch, 4 Square Mile, and The Pinery

The Bottom Line

With $34 million needed to address increased demand for services and rising costs, plus the $16 million shortfall, South Metro needs to identify how it will generate $50 million in additional funding annually.

Lone Tree breaks ground on new justice center o RidgeGate Parkway

Police, court, civic facility expected to open in 2027

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Construction is underway for the City of Lone Tree’s rst justice center, which aims to include not only the police department, but also the municipal court and a civic gathering space.

“ is groundbreaking is more than just a construction milestone,” said Lone Tree Mayor Marissa Harmon on May 22. “It’s a symbol of public safety and service, a symbol of trust, transparency and operational excellence that Lone Tree residents and businesses desire, expect and deserve.”

Located o RidgeGate Parkway, e Lone Tree Justice Center will be part of the city’s expansion to the east of Interstate 25. It is expected to open in 2027. Currently, the police department is housed in Lone Tree’s municipal building, which includes a variety of other city sta and departments, such as human resources, nance and community development.

When addressing members of the public at a town hall event this past fall, Harmon spoke about one of the reasons for having a justice center.

“ e challenge is when you retro t a police department into an o ce building, it has not only become cramped, but there’s a safety component to it,” said Harmon.

Kirk Wilson, Lone Tree’s chief of police,

PHOTO

HALEY LENA

JUSTICE CENTER

added that although the department is facing sta ng and recruiting challenges — a challenge seen nationwide — the need for the building is immense as the department was over owing in the municipal building.

Not only will the justice center give a permanent home to the police department, but Harmon said they hope it will help attract, recruit and retain “top-teir” o cers.

Just before shovels hit the ground on May 22, Wilson spoke about how the justice center will continue the department’s commitment to public safety, as well as the city’s support of its employees.

“It’s something that I believe our police

department deserves,” said Wilson. “It’s something that our community deserves.”

A break-down of the police department

Authorized to have 60 police o cers, the Lone Tree Police Department has a little more than 50 o cers. Additionally, the department also has 15 civilian sta and about 25 volunteers.

Within the department, there are three commanders — one for the operations division, patrol division and professional standards division.

e professional standards division includes records keeping, a support services manager, a volunteer coordinator and a crime analyst; while the operations division includes criminal investigations, the special services unit, the victims services coordinator and the volunteers.

e operations division also has three full-time school resource o cers that al-

at the May 22 groundbreaking event for the city’s new justice center.

ternate between the elementary schools, Eagle Academy High School and Legacy Campus.

One of the most robust divisions is the patrol division. is includes patrol operations, part-time community safety volunteers and a mall unit with a substation located at the Park Meadows Shopping Resort.

In addition to the unit’s six sergeants, there are tra c o cers and volunteers who drive the community safety cars, conduct house checks and assist patrol with tra c accidents by ensuring the scenes are secure.

e division also has community service o cers. ese o cers, often seen wearing yellow shirts, take a lot of the reports that do not involve suspects and assist with actions that allow the police ocers to take priority and emergency calls. Collaboration is also a high priority for the department, Wilson said. Lone Tree partners with the Parker Police Department in that they split the cost of a dispatch center and evidence storage. And, whether it’s with the tactical response team, fraud investigations unit, IMPACT Team or the HEART Team, Lone Tree also collaborates with the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce.

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Saturday, June 14 presented by 6:00 pm: GLITTER IN THE AIR • 8:30 pm: LAST MEN ON EARTH

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Lone Tree Chief of Police Kirk Wilson speaks

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Music-ﬁlled memories are soundtrack of our lives

It was 1975. Bruce Springsteen had just released “Born to Run,” and my world changed. e moment I heard that heart-pounding anthem, I knew I had to hear more. at led me to “Greetings from Asbury Park” and “ e Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shu e.” I was ocially hooked. But Bruce was just the beginning. e 70s were a golden age of music: e Eagles, Elton John, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin, e Rolling Stones, James Taylor, Jackson Browne, Carole King, Carly Simon, Simon & Garfunkel, Meatloaf, the list goes on. ose songs weren’t just on the radio; they were the backdrop of our lives. When one plays now, I’m immediately transported. I can recall exactly where I was, who I was with, and sometimes even what we may or may not have been doing (use your imagination, we didn’t have cell phones to capture the evidence, after all). ose memories live in the melodies. en came the 80s, and everything changed again. MTV crashed onto the scene and revolutionized how we expe-

WINNING

rienced music. Artists didn’t just sound di erent, they looked di erent. Videos added a new layer of storytelling. Pat Benatar, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Dire Straits, Prince, U2, e Police, Tears for Fears, Hall & Oates, Bon Jovi, Huey Lewis, Phil Collins and so many more, they weren’t just on our screens; they were in our souls. Every club at the Jersey Shore, every party, every new crush or heartbreak had a soundtrack. Some of those songs still hit so hard, they bring tears or laughter or a smile that stretches back decades. e 90s? at was a di erent rhythm for me, but it still left its imprint. Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Oasis, and Counting Crows weren’t my core, but they were the music of the era my kids were born into. I remember birthday parties, backyard barbecues, and road trips that all came with a soundscape. ose songs

Ihold a di erent kind of meaning, connected not to my youth but to my fatherhood. Post-2000, sure, there were great songs and new discoveries, but I started to realize something: I was stuck, in the best way, in the 70s and 80s. And honestly, I’m good with that. To this day, my friends and I send each other songs that trigger a shared memory. We post them on social media, tag each other, laugh, sometimes cry, but always remember.

Music does that. It’s not just entertainment; it’s a time machine. A three-minute melody can bring you back to your rst dance, a broken heart, a long-forgotten friend, or the moment you realized you were truly in love. It lls us with joy, nostalgia, grief, healing, and often all at once.

One of my proudest joys as a parent is that my kids know Springsteen songs word-for-word. Every year we used to take road trips, and our tradition was to kick o each morning with our favorite Bruce songs. Each child had their own anthem. And now, when those songs play, I’m instantly back in the truck, sun rising over the highway, our voices

Family stories build foundation of hope

grew up in a family with clear and consistent routines. On weeknights, everyone was in bed by 9 p.m. Saturdays included a scheduled two-hour slot for cleaning the house. My assigned tasks for that work always included vacuuming, while my sister took care of cleaning the bathrooms.

blending with e Boss himself. So as summer approaches and you start building your playlists, do yourself a favor. Include those songs. e ones that take you back to a school dance, a beach party, a road trip, or a quiet moment that changed everything. Let those verses and notes wash over you. Let them carry you back to where you’ve been, and remind you who you’ve always been.

Music lls our memories because it lls our hearts. Don’t just hear it. Feel it. And then … pass it on.

How about you? Do you have songs that just touch you to the core? As always, I would love to hear you story at gotonorton@gmail.com and when we get to relive our most memorable moments through the gift and beauty of music, 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.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Support Van de Water for commission

We knew, every night, that dinner started a little after 5:30 p.m. and we each sat in “our spots” around the circular table in the kitchen for that meal.

ose dinners were a formative time for me. We shared details of our day, and at some point, in the conversation, usually my father, but occasionally my mother, would be reminded of a tale and share a story from their younger days.

We heard about Mom’s childhood experiences living on Detroit Street in Denver and stories of Dad’s family with nine children. We knew the stories by heart but always enjoyed the tales and especially the punchline explaining things like advice my paternal grandfather gave his children, “if you have to do that (pass gas) step toward the cellar door” or him explaining to the seven boys in the family that he helped around the house declaring, “just watch me, when Mom is really busy in the morning, I will get my own spoon and bowl.”

ose tales helped me develop a love of stories, taught me the power of conversation, and the comfort of consistency. ey also enhanced my love of history. I realize now that those stories did even more. ey aided in de ning us as a family and me as an individual. Knowing those stories meant understanding my place in the

family, it gave context to my existence in time and space. As I moved out into the world, it gave me a rudder for supporting my decision-making.

Since my diagnosis with MS in 2009, I have come to a greater understanding of the role of stories in my life. In those rst three years after my diagnosis, when I struggled, many of the stories I told myself were about declining ability, loss of opportunity, and all the things that I would miss because of the disease. Day after day, I was living out that debilitating and angry narrative. My life changed forever when, instead of seeing loss, I saw possibility and began to tell myself stories of limitless potential. It was in those new stories where I found hope and encouragement. It was in those new stories that I was able to rede ne myself, my worth, and my opportunities. It was in those stories that I, among so many other things, found my voice as a writer.

Every day, we tell ourselves stories. If the ones you are telling yourself are limiting, it is time to change the narrative. It is time to tell the tale of possibility. You have got this.

I hope my words encourage you and that you will share them with those who need support. ank you to everyone who has shared their stories with me so far; I truly appreciate hearing about the valuable ideas you nd in these columns and how you.

Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife, Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences. Contact him at jim.roome@gmail.com.

On June 24, Douglas County residents, including myself, will decide whether to establish a Home Rule Commission. Candidates for the commission will also be elected on that date. With great enthusiasm I support Gordon Van de Water for the Home Rule Commission. His experience, management skills, and ability to bring people together make him an excellent candidate for the commission.

Libby Bortz, LCSW, Highlands Ranch Charter plan doesn’t put ‘kids ﬁrst’

On December 10, 2024, the “Kids First” majority members of the Douglas County School Board voted to release a proposed classical charter school, John Adams Academy (JAA), to the Colorado Charter School Institute (CSI) rather than consider the application itself. e e ect of this action shifts control away from the district and cuts o future district oversight. is determination was made for seemingly no reason other than that the requesting JAA board member requested it. Majority board members provided no reason that DCSD could not consider the charter school application (the standard course for similar applications).

JAA is proposed to open in the Sterling Ranch neighborhood. Many members of the community have voiced serious concerns about this proposed school. As a Sterling Ranch resident and parent of an almost school-aged child, I am deeply concerned about the school itself, the choice to release the application to CSI, the lack of transparency throughout the process, and the poor performance of existing JAAs. Among my concerns is the pattern that has emerged in public comments in favor of JAA, both at the December 2024 DCSD meeting and at the April 2025 CSI meeting. Time and again, individuals voicing their “support for the school,” instead stood to advocate for the concept of school choice in Colorado. On the March 17, 2025, episode of e Dan Caplis Show, former GOP gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl addressed the Sterling Ranch community’s opposition to JAA and stated that those opposed to JAA “don’t want school choice.” Being an advocate for school choice does not mean that you should advocate for sub-par schools.

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

Jim Roome

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

LETTERS

JAA is based out of California where they have three schools currently open. ose three JAA schools pale in comparison to Douglas County charter schools in nearly every measurable metric. is includes reading pro ciency, math prociency, graduation rates, and rates of the graduating students’ college readiness. Even the staunchest supporters of school choice in Colorado should demand educational excellence. is is especially true given that charter schools receive per-pupil funding paid for by the taxpayers.

e majority board members have claimed to be “Kids First,” but their actions are “Politics First.” Anyone who truly puts kids rst should reject JAA and any other sub-par school. Voters will remember that in November.

Alyssa Little, Sterling Ranch

Home rule is all for commissioners

I am an active voter of 22 years in Douglas County who has been piecing together information from various sources to understand home rule and what it would mean for Douglas County. e article published 5/12/25 (Debate grows over scope, speed of Douglas County’s homerule plan) mentioned a key point that I hope more voters will consider.

Only two of 64 Colorado counties (Weld and Pitkin) have established home rule. In both cases, residents in the 1970s (for those of us who remember the 70s, that’s half a century ago) initiated and mandated charters after they became frustrated with their local governments.

Key words: Residents. Initiated.

In Weld and Pitkin, home rule was an action of the people, by the people, and for the people — exactly the way democracy is supposed to work. By contrast, in Douglas County, home rule has been initiated by sitting county commissionersan action of the commissioners, by the commissioners, and for the commissioners. Home rule is an example of government taking action to give government more power. at’s a big red ag for me. On top of initiating the home rule issue, all three Douglas County commissioners have included themselves as at-large candidates for the Charter Commission. ey are three of seven at-large candidates, and voters select — three. is seems to be a signi cant con ict of interest and creates additional opportunity for self-dealing. Of, by, and for the people? Or of, by, and for the commissioners? e answer is clear here.

e 5/12 CCM article reported that Weld County’s citizen-initiated home rule process involved multiple opportunities for public input with 45 meetings spanning over seven months. By contrast, Douglas County’s process is happening in less than half that time and with commissioners o ering only a single town hall for questions and discussion before the June election. Of, by, and for the people? Or of, by, and for the commissioners? Again, the answer is clear.

In my e orts to learn about home rule, I’ve found other reasons to vote against

it. is one is the most glaring. I have decided to run for the Charter Commission in District 3 to represent the people of my district if home rule passes. I urge voters to vote no on home rule in the June 24 election. In that same election, in case the home rule initiative passes, my name will be on your ballot for District 3. I would be honored to earn your vote.

Michael Lees, Highlands Ranch

Home rule: survey doesn’t say

Regarding the news story “Debate grows over scope, speed of Douglas County’s home-rule plan”:

Spoiler alert: Douglas County commissioners are spending $500,000 to advance a “priority” that was ranked dead last in a 2023 survey in which only 0.2% of Douglas County voters responded.

Douglas County commissioners have asserted that 79% of Douglas County voters see home rule as an important priority. Analysis of the DC 2023 Voter Opinion Poll raises serious questions about the commissioners’ transparency on that point for two critical reasons.

First, that statistic comes from a survey of a scant 760 voters who responded to the 2023 survey; those 760 voters represent a mere 0.2% of Douglas County’s 314,780 voters. e commissioners don’t want you to know that they’re spending half a million dollars based on a survey of 0.2% of Douglas County voters.

But it gets worse.

Even if we accept the results of a survey with such a small and likely unrepresentative sample of voters, home rule was at the very bottom of a list of four di erent goals or objectives that survey respondents rated as priorities for county ocials. Here’s the full list of priorities and their rankings:

96% — An adequate water supply that meets the long term needs of county residents.

89% — Better mental health programs that are easier to access.

83% — More facilities and elds for youth sports and adult recreation.

79% — Greater home rule, that is, more independence from state controls over county administration.

To be clear, the commissioners are spending $500,000 on a special election to push forward a “priority” that was ranked dead last in their survey of 0.2% of Douglas County’s voters.

Survey results like these should never be used to make decisions for the entire county. Instead, they might be an impetus to engage more constituents on the issues of highest priority. However, the commissioners are doing the polar opposite — not asking for greater input from constituents on the issues but instead pushing forward with their own pet political priority despite the fact that it was ranked dead last by (a small percentage of) their constituents.

And that’s what the commissioners don’t want voters to know — that they are pursuing their own political priorities, not the priorities of the people. Why aren’t the commissioners sharing these details? Why did they turn the lowest priority of a tiny percentage of voters into a $500,000 taxpayer-funded special election?

Dawn Caldwell, Highlands Ranch

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Paint, electronics recycling set for Parker

Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club hosts event on June 7

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For Douglas County residents who are looking for a safe and eco-friendly way to dispose of unused paint and electronics, the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker is hosting a paint and recycling event in Parker in early June.

e free event will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 7 at Legend High School, located at 22219 Hilltop Road, in the student parking lot that is closest to Canterbury Parkway.

“In today’s day and age, recycling … we just need to do it,” said Nate DeVine, the Rotary club’s fundraising chair.

Dozens of items will be accepted at the event, such as computers, CD players, printers.

Some items that won’t be accepted include thermostats, smoke/Co2 detectors, lightbulbs, aerosol (spray) paint, paint thinner, solvents, cleaning agents, drywall mud, roof tar and hazardous waste.

Additionally, while most of the event is free, Tube TVs and CRT monitors will have a $30 charge due to their weight.

“ ere’s a great need in Douglas County for these services,” said DeVine. “ “It’s not real easy to do.”

Since recycling services in and around the town are outsourced, it’s challenging for the average resident to be able to recycle these types of materials, especially larger items, said DeVine. He added that Douglas County residents often have to drop their items o in Aurora.

In trying to nd a way to provide these services to the community, the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker saw that the Highlands Ranch Rotary Club had previously had a successful electronics recycling event.

e Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker began to research and decided to give another opportunity for residents to properly recycle materials.

GreenSheen uses a latex paint processing technology to purify and re ne old or donated paint and transform it back into premium latex paint that is then resold at lower prices. e goal of the company is to conserve natural resources and reduce air and water pollution by prohibiting harmful chemicals from entering the land lls. Because a majority of land lls cannot accept liquids or hazardous waste, the company’s land ll diversion rate is about 84%, according to its website. is recycling process also lessens the need to manufacture new paint, as well as reduce the amount of minerals and chemicals that would typically be used to manufacture paint.

GreenSheen has a pick-up service that collects oil-based, acrylic and latex paint, stains, shellacs, lacquers, sealers, varnishes and urethanes for free.

CORRECTIONS

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Email sgilbert@coloradocommunitymedia.com if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.

Due to some partnering issues last year, the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker held a paint, shredding and battery recycling event instead. With about 2,000 cars passing through the vent last year, the club collected nearly 106,000 cubic yards of paints, 60,000 pounds of paper, and 400 lithium batteries.

“To be able to do this and perform a nice, valuable service to our community … just checks so many of the boxes,” DeVine said.

Properly recycling through partnerships

rough a partnership with GreenSheen, a paint store in Denver, the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker will be collecting unused paint again.

ose who live in Arapahoe, Adams, Broom eld, Denver, Douglas or Je erson counties and have used paint containers that, combined, hold at least 10 gallons, qualify for free pickup.

Learn more about the service at greensheenpaint.com.

Although the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker has hosted these recycling events two other times, it will be the rst year that they will include electronics.

“It’s like, everybody’s got a big bin down in their basement full of electronics that they are scared to get rid of,” DeVine said.

at’s the reason why the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker has partnered with 3R Technology Solutions, an electronic recycling company in Commerce City.

Pete Mikulin, a Parker resident and chief executive o cer of 3R Technology Solution, agrees that the people of Douglas County

have little to no options when it comes to properly recycling electronics, which is why he is excited to serve his community.

He said that the company’s two primary focuses are preventing data from being distributed and repurposing pieces of technology.

With certi cations from the State of Colorado and the Environmental Protection Agency, once 3R Technology Solutions receives a piece of technology that may contain data — like phones, hard drives and data tapes — the data is stored and tracked in secure cages. e data is then shredded mechanically.

e company has tech-rooms in which employees test the functionality of the device before they recycle. However, if something is at the end of its life, the company will shred the materials and recover what are called “fractions.”

e plastic, scrap metal and circuit boards are then re ned for gold.

“We repurpose, we test gear, we resell it and we donate a fair amount to di erent school districts,” Mikulin said.

Whether it’s a toothbrush or a tablet, Mikulin said the company will take a variety of technological pieces.

Learn more about the company at 3rtsinc.com/.

A truckload of items dropped o for a previous Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker’s recycling event.

The Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker will be hosting a recycling event for the third year at Legend High School in Parker. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NATE DEVINE

BY SARA WILSON COLORADO NEWSLINE

State to get EPA funds for contaminated sites

Colorado will receive about $11.6 million from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up contaminated properties in six cities throughout the state.

e Brown elds Grants will use funding from the Biden-era Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and are meant to help remediate sites and prepare them for redevelopment and safe use.

“Redevelopment of Brown elds properties is often an insurmountable challenge for many communities, which may lack the resources to assess and clean up these contaminated properties,” Tracie White, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Hazardous

LAWSUIT

home rule was done in compliance with the Open Meetings Law.

e judge ultimately concluded that although the advanced planning meetings could create an opportunity for violations, raising the “specter of a violation” does not su ciently demonstrate that the county commissioners made policy-making decisions at one or more of these meetings.

“ e judge’s ruling is disappointing, but under-

Materials and Waste Management Division director, said in a statement. “ e award of EPA Brown elds funds is an exciting opportunity for the recipient communities, allowing them to return blighted properties to productive use and provide community bene ts.”

e largest share of funding, at $4 million, will go toward cleaning asbestos contamination at the Sunset Park Apartments in Denver. e building has 242 units for people 62 years and older and people with disabilities. It is owned by the Volunteers of America.

e City of Fountain will get about $2 million to complete asbestos abatement on a 9-acre site that the city wants to redevelop into a community center, multifamily housing, outdoor recreation space

standable given the county refused to allow the court to consider multiple items of evidence that are available and (could) easily be presented at a full trial,”

Marshall told the Douglas County News-Press.

All three Douglas County commissioners claimed victory in statements released in a May 20 press release from the county.

Calling the lawsuit an attempt to undermine the county’s democracy and driven by “petty political grievances,” Commissioner George Teal said in a press release that this ruling sends a clear message that they

ONLINE AUCTION

and o ces for medical services and childcare.

About $1.9 million will go to treat asbestos contamination at the 142-year-old Ja a Opera House in Trinidad. Cañon City will receive about $1.5 million for two contaminated sites, including a former dry-cleaning business contaminated with tetrachloroethylene and a previous steel manufacturing site that is contaminated with heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can cause health problems like cancer and kidney damage.

e other grants will go to the Cortez Municipal Airport and two buildings in Lamar.xq

CDPHE will also get $1 million for its revolving loan funds, which nance envi-

“will not tolerate any e orts to manipulate or suppress the democratic process.”

Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle agreed and in the press release added that they are committed to protecting the rights of all Douglas County voters.

“As we move forward, the Board of County Commissioners pledges to remain vigilant in defending our citizens’ rights and ensuring that their voices are heard,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon in the press release. “We will continue to ght against any attempts to undermine the fundamental rights of the people we serve.”

ronmental cleanup activities.

“ is Brown elds grant funding is a smart investment in Colorado’s future — cleaning up historic contamination while laying the groundwork for economic growth,” EPA Region 8 Administrator Cyrus Western said in a statement. “By empowering communities to turn abandoned properties into productive assets, we’re strengthening local economies and ensuring clean land for generations to come.”

Colorado’s grants are part of about $224 million of awards throughout the country. is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.

GOVERNMENT/FLEET VEHICLES & EQUIPMENT

June 4th @ 9:00 A.M.

Inspection Times: June 2nd & 3rd from 8:15am - 4:45pm

Former Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas, left, and Highlands Ranch Rep. Bob Marshall, right, along with Lone Tree resident Julie Gooden, center, announce their lawsuit against the Board of Douglas County Commissioners on April 22 outside of the Douglas County government building.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With a baton in my hand, I stood in front of the judge with a big performance smile on my face and prepared myself to march 32 steps in a square. e music started. And as I began my routine, the 7-year-old me accidentally ung my baton at the judge, hitting her. With mixed emotions, I ran as quickly as I could to grab my baton, went back to my spot and began to march. e music had ended, but I completed the last 11 steps and struck a pose.

Shockingly, I received rst place in that competition.

But my mom brought me up to the judge to ask why I was given rst place. e judge said I had good technique. Still, I dropped my baton when no one else in my category did. So I ended up giving my rst-place trophy to the girl who got second place. at moment not only taught me the importance of practice and consistency, it also taught me about sportsmanship and being the best athlete I can be — on and o the oor.

When I tell someone that I have been baton twirling all my life, there are always a couple of common phrases that I hear: “Oh! My mom used to do that,” or, “Isn’t that the thing where you spin a stick?”

While my mom’s background in baton twirling is the reason I got into it, it is much more than just “spinning a stick.” For me — and many others —

it has been something that has not only kept me active, but has allowed me to travel, have once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and create lasting and meaningful relationships.

My mom used to teach baton twirling, and she would have to do it with me on her hip. e only way she got me to go away was if I had my own baton. Some might say she forced it onto me, but I believe that I was destined to do it.

Having been entangled in twirling for over two decades, it has been fascinating to see how it has evolved.

Misconceptions about baton twirling

Baton twirling is not just waving or throwing a baton in the air — it is an intricate skill that takes hours of practice and dedication. e coordination and multitasking that is involved in this activity is like the ultimate rubbing your stomach and tapping your head.

However, there are some misconceptions about the sport that the general public might have.

Depending on what you have seen when it comes to baton twirling, a common image people associate with twirling is the majorette on a football eld. While twirlers do wear costumes, put on makeup and perform on football elds, the skill level and opportunities to perform — and compete — has only grown.

It’s also a misconception that baton twirling is something only girls do.

In the United States and in dozens

of other countries, boys and men can also be seen performing at football games, but they have also represented baton twirling on stage at festivals, in tv commercials and even on ”America’s Got Talent.”

Baton twirling is still an active and thriving sport throughout the entire country. Yes, I said sport. Growing up, there was always debate on whether or not baton twirling is a sport.

Baton twirling is a sport

In the twirling community, we often say that baton twirlers have a lot of the same skills and qualities as other athletes. For example, the exibility and strength of a gymnast, the eye-hand coordination of a basketball or baseball player, the speed of a sprinter and the endurance of a long-distance runner.

ere is no singular de nition of what a sport is, however, various dictionaries describe a sport using similar language. According to the Oxford dictionary, a sport is “an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.” Cambridge dictionary denes a sport as “a game, competition or activity needing physical e ort and skill that is played or done according to rules for enjoyment and/or as a job.” Both de nitions state that a sport is an activity that involves skill and physical e ort.

Left photo:

I competed in the freestyle event for eight years and performed my last routine in 2018. PHOTO BY MORGAN SLAGLE

Middle photos: Me embracing my students after performing in competitions. COURTESY OF HALEY LENA

Right photo:

I had the chance to twirl with ﬁre batons at many of my high school bonﬁres during homecoming week. COURTESY OF HALEY LENA

a three-minute team routine with

and they placed second at the

competition that

TWIRLING

e sport of twirling is based around a baton, which is a metal shaft with two rubber ends, one bigger than the other. With a balance point in the middle of the baton, the larger end provides the momentum needed to create revolution and accomplish ips and large aerials. e uneven weight distribution also allows the twirler to control the speed and direction that the baton moves.

Let’s quickly break down one of the most basic twirls: a thumb ip. is skill is the backbone to everything else that we do.

Holding the middle of the baton, the twirler rotates their hand clockwise and rolls the baton partially over their thumb before pushing it up into the air.

Using this skill, twirlers can make the baton do ips from one hand to another, behind their head and toss the baton higher in the air to complete a spin, dance or acrobatic move underneath. ere are also a variety of catches, such as catching behind the back and under the leg.

Just like any other athlete, the sport comes with injuries. It’s not uncommon to see competitive twirlers with tape on their ngers, knees or ankles. I have had my fair share of broken noses, busted lips, sprains, concussions and pulled muscles. e de nitions of a sport also state that the activity includes competition, and has rules. In twirling, some of these include competing in the appropriate age category, wearing speci c shoes and matching the level of di culty to a certain level.

Although I started out twirling for fun as a child — performing in dozens of parades, malls and senior living facilities — as I got older, I became enamored with watching highly-skilled and experienced twirlers compete.

Twirlers can compete, within appropriate skill and age level, in individual events, pairs, trios and in teams. Some individual events focus on how the twirler can combine dance and gymnastics with twirling, while other individual events include twirling multiple batons.

When I performed, my favorite individual event was called freestyle because you would perform to a song of your choice instead of the standardized music. Athletes must pass various levels of speci c skills in front of a judge to be able to compete in this event. Athletes are judged on the technique of the twirling as well as the

artistic expression.

It’s nerve-racking to be standing on the side of the competition oor getting ready to perform by yourself. But there’s an unmatched thrill that you feel when you catch your most dicult trick, and again when you hit the ending pose and the music fades out and the applause starts.

However, it’s the moments on the practice oor with my teammates that I cherish the most. Like freestyle, the team can twirl to a song of their choice, but the routines are judged on synchronization, artistic expression and exchanges.

It’s this event that introduced me to my closest friends, which I still have today. In all my years of twirling, it’s the team practices that I have the most fond memories of. ere was always some type of inside joke, a scary moment that would eventually become funny and just being able to have fun with your friends.

It’s a heartwarming feeling knowing I was always going to be supported.

Beyond the competition ﬂoor

For 15 years, I won multiple state, regional and national titles. I was the feature twirler for my high school, where I had the opportunity to twirl with re. I twirled down Main Street USA in Disney World and I have performed in front of sold-out stadiums at Metropolitan State University and University of Colorado Boulder.

Now I coach the next generation of twirlers. And the experiences above don’t compare to the pride that comes with being a coach and sharing the love of baton twirling with others.

I wasn’t expecting to ever become a coach. I can vividly recall the day my own coach invited me to help with baton classes. Nerves overtook me that day. But eight years later, getting to introduce students to the sport and watching them accomplish their goals is a feeling that is hard to describe.

I thought I had experienced a lot as an athlete, but once I became a coach, I began to see the unlimited opportunities available to my students. And it’s not all about competitions. ey have performed with lighted batons in numerous local parades — including the Parade of Lights — twirled down the streets of Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day and performed at the Indy 500.

Whether it’s teaching one-on-one lessons or group classes or watching my students perform, seeing them nd joy in a sport that I grew up loving is always a surreal moment.

For me, baton twirling is more than a sport. It’s more than a passion. It has allowed me to experience all of what life has to o er.

Middle left:

2024,

choreographed

six of my students,

national

year. COURTESY OF HALEY LENA Bottom left: Hannah Vandeventer competes at

regional championships competition in the three baton event. PHOTO BY MORGAN SLAGLE

Top left: Alyssa Brewer performing in Ireland in 2022. PHOTOS BY HALEY LENA

In 2023, about 20 twirlers from across the state of Colorado came together to perform in the Denver Parade of Lights.

PHOTO BY HALEY LENA

Twirling my ﬁrst baton outside at the age of 2. COURTESY OF HALEY LENA

BY DEREK DRAPLIN

Coloradans lose big money to scammers

Coloradans led almost 45,000 fraud reports last year with the Federal Trade Commission, re ecting an estimated loss of $210.7 million.

at’s up from 41,500 reports and $170 million lost in 2023, according to FTC data.

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

FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection

Director Christopher Mufarrige said last month that “scammers’ tactics are constantly evolving.”

“ e FTC is monitoring those trends closely and working hard to protect the

American people from fraud,” he added. Colorado had over 73,200 total consumer reports, which includes other FTC consumer complaints in addition to fraud, and amounts to 1,260 reports per 100,000

people. at ranks as the 18th highest rate in the nation, according to FTC data.

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

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

“People who report to ReportFraud.ftc. gov about losing money to a scam receive next steps information on how to try to recover their money,” the commission said.

“ ese reports are a vital part of the agency’s law enforcement mission and also help the FTC to warn consumers about fraud trends in the data.”

Coloradans can also report fraud to

StopFraudColorado.gov, which is run by the state attorney general’s o ce. e attorney general’s o ce said in March there were 1,205 reported imposter scams out of 24,473 total consumer complaints led in 2024.

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

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

SHUTTERSTOCK

Thu 6/05

The Curtis Brothers Band: Denver Beer Co. Littleton @ 5pm Denver Beer Co. Littleton, 2409 Main St, Littleton

Little Moses Jones Live at Concerts in Clement Park! @ 6pm Clement Park Skatepark., 7346-7558 W Bowles Ave, Littleton

Tomato Soup @ 6pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Barrington Levy w/ Tomorrows Bad Seeds @ 7pm

Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, Denver

Fri 6/06

Denver Barn Party @ 5pm / $150

Little Moses Jones Live At The Platte @ 5:30pm Platte River Bar & Grill, 5995 S Santa Fe Dr, Littleton Summer of Peril @ 6pm Creepatorium, 1974 S Acoma St, Denver

Quinn XCII - Live at Red Rocks @ 7pm Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison

Sat 6/07

Kyle Walker @ 1pm Club Vinyl, 1082 N Broadway, Denver

Polo Reserve, 4400 West Mineral Av‐enue, Littleton. adam@denverchildrens foundation.org

Spirit Motel @ 7pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Ben Garcia: SUPPORTING JARROD MORRIS @ 7pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Sun 6/08

Film on The Rocks: 2001: A Space Odyssey @ 7pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 West Alameda Parkway, Morrison

Elton Dan and the Rocket Band @ 7pm

Eliza @ 7pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Kate Stephenson @ 7pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Wed 6/11

Shakedown Street @ 5:30pm

Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S Forest St, Denver safekeeper @ 6pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Black Oxygen Live @ 6pm

Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver

WhiskeyDick @ 6pm Lions' Lair, 3200 E 23rd Ave, Denver

Dead Posey @ 6pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Replica City @ 6pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Sea Wolf (solo) @ 6pm

Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Patrick Park @ 7pm

Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Highlands Ranch Community Associa‐tion - Eastridge Rec Center, 9568 S University Blvd, Highlands Ranch

Al Jackson @ 7pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison

Tue 6/10

Eliza & The Delusionals @ 6pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Food House Terrorizes America @ 7pm Glob, 3551 Brighton Blvd, Denver

DJ Rockstar Aaron @ 7pm Bout Time Pub & Grub, 3580 S Platte River Dr A, Sheridan

Blonde Redhead: Red Rocks Amphitheatre Supporting Bloc Party @ 7pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison

Thu 6/12

Tangerine Sky Market AURORA @ 9am / Free 18648 E Hampden Ave, 18648 East Hampden Avenue, Aurora. events@col oradomarkets.com, 303-505-1856

Streets Of Fire @ 3pm The Delorean, 1753 S Broadway, Denver

Chuck W. @ 4pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Rotimi @ 7pm The Dahlia, 119 S Broadway, Denver

Mon 6/09

DJ Rockstar Aaron @ 6pm The Angry Clover, 15350 E Smoky Hill Rd, Au‐rora Knolls

Larkin Poe: Supporting Sheryl Crow at Red Rocks Amphitheatre @ 6:30pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison

Night Jobs @ 6pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Spells @ 6pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Black Dots @ 6pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Philia @ 7pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

Clementine Was Right @ 7pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

YOOKiE @ 9pm The Church Denver, 1720 S Alcott St, Denver

Keeping your furry loved ones healthy

ER vet o ers tips on how to keep pets safe in summer

BY ISABEL GUZMAN ISABEL@COTLN.ORG

With the arrival of summer, families are headed outside to enjoy the sunshine and road trips — and they’re bringing the furry loved ones, too.

Veterinarians across the state typically see spikes in pet health emergencies during the warmer months, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. ese include emergencies such as heat stroke and injuries from being hit by a vehicle.

In 2024, 111 animal deaths that resulted from heat-related issues and another 388 animals that were rescued from the heat were reported to PETA.

“Heat stroke is a major summer emergency and is most commonly seen in ‘short-nosed’ dogs such as bulldogs and pugs,” said Danielle DeBrincat, emergency vet and medical director at VEG ER for Pets Littleton. “ ey can not release heat the same way that dogs with longer noses can, so it is extra important to keep them out of the heat, not over exercise them, and always have water on hand.”

DeBrincat joined VEG in March 2020 after graduating from Michigan State University and has been the medical director for over two months.

During her internship after college, DeBrincat developed a passion for emergency medicine.

“Having the ability to help pets and their people in the most challenging moments (is) incredibly ful lling. I haven’t looked back,” she said.

VEG ER for Pets, previously known as Veterinary Emergency Group, serves the metro area through ve locations.

Its emergency rooms employ an openconcept oor plan, where owners can see everything that’s going on with their pet and their vet team. Owners can stay with their pets throughout the duration of their stay, even through surgery.

“Although we do o er rooms for the more scared or reactive pets, most owners and pets choose to stay in the main hospital area with the nurses and doctors so that we are able to have more uid communication,” DeBrincat said.

VEG o ers quick triage and diagnostic workups for sick pets, like blood and urine tests, in addition to emergency surgery, endoscopic foreign body removal, transfusion medicine and hospitalization.

DeBrincat said that something as sim-

ple as taking your dog for a walk on a trail could be dangerous.

She warned that rattlesnake bites become more frequent throughout the summer and any dog in the foothills runs the risk of being bitten.

“If your dog is bitten, the best thing to do is to get them to an emergency veterinary clinic as soon as possible. Do not place a tourniquet or do anything to the bite area. e main treatment is antivenin and pain medication, and most dogs who receive the antivenin recover fully,” she said.

In addition to venomous bites, certain popular summer plants pose toxic threats to pets. For example, lily owers, which typically bloom in the warmer season, are toxic to cats, and wild mushrooms that grow in the Denver area can be toxic to dogs.

In native grasses, foxtail seeds can embed into a pet’s skin, ears, and nose and cause an infection.

“Dog ghts and hit-by-car trauma are both also more common in the summer as people take their pets outside more often. It is important to keep your pets on leashes in populated areas, respect other dogs and check with the owner to see if they are friendly before approaching them,” DeBrincat said.

While traveling, owners can take precautions to keep their pets safe by packing a medical bag.

DeBrincat advises to include sterile gauze and bandaging material for any wounds, tweezers to remove any foxtails, thorns or ticks, and fresh water to ush out wounds, eyes or burn areas in the emergency kit.

“Even if they love us, pets may bite if they are injured and protecting themselves, so a muzzle or rolled gauze to make into a muzzle should also be considered safe,” DeBrincat said.

Tips to prevent a pet medical emergency while traveling:

• Keep the car cool to prevent overheating.

• Always have fresh water available and make sure to make frequent stops in case they do not like to drink in a moving vehicle.

• Talk to your primary care veterinarian about any anti-anxiety or anti-nausea medication your pet may need prior to travel.

• ink of your pet as a toddler — Keep them in the back seat and ensure they are secured in a crate or with a pet seat belt and harness.

• Ensure any chemicals and toxic foods

are out of reach.

• Make sure you have plenty of the pet’s food. Many pets get upset stomachs during travel, either from di erent food or stress. Changing the diet as little as possible will help reduce this risk. When it comes to deciding when to call a vet, DeBrincat said: “If you are ever concerned, it is time to call a vet. VEG ER for Pets is open 24/7 and you will always talk to a doctor on the phone. ey can help determine if this is a true emergency or if it can wait to be seen by your primary care veterinarian.”

Common warning signs that may indicate a pet medical emergency are any changes in breathing, persistent vomiting and diarrhea, blood in vomit or stool, major change in mentation such as lethargy, pale gums, straining to urinate and not eating or drinking for 24 hours or more.

Primary veterinarians and emergency veterinarians are experts in di erent elds, DeBrincat said.

“Primary care vets are the experts at routine care and diagnosis, and at managing a plethora of chronic and longterm management disorders. Emergency vets are experts at stabilizing and treating fast-acting, life-threatening diseases in the worst stages,” she said.

Heatstroke and injuries from being hit by cars are among the top safety concerns for pets during the summer, according to Danielle DeBrincat, medical director at VEG ER for Pets.

PHOTO COURTESY OF VEG ER FOR PETS

1. ART: Where is the Prado Museum located?

2. GEOGRAPHY: What is the only country that the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn pass through?

3. LANGUAGE: What does the Latin phrase “tempus fugit” mean?

4. MATH: What is another name for the division sign?

5. MUSIC: How long did it take singer Bob Dylan to write the big hit “Blowin’ in the Wind”?

6. ANIMAL KINGDOM: How many times on average does a ruby-throated hummingbird ap its wings in one second?

7. MOVIES: Which movie features the line, “Keep the change, ya lthy animal”?

8. LITERATURE: Which novel features four children named Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy?

TrIVIa

9. TELEVISION: What is Joey’s famous line in the sitcom “Friends”?

10. ANATOMY: What is a common name for the pinna in human anatomy?

Answers

1. Madrid, Spain.

2. Brazil.

3. Time es.

4. Obelus.

5. 10 minutes, according to Dylan.

6. About 50 times.

7. “Home Alone.”

8. “ e Lion, e Witch and the Wardrobe.”

9. “How you doin’?”

10. Outer ear.

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Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

2 Day per week Early Childhood Special Education Teacher and Child Find Coordinator, for East Central BOCES for the 2025-2026 school year

• Duties include: Complete assessment & provide direct and indirect services with preschool children in rural school settings

• Requires a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Special Education Can be hired with a Bachelor’s Degree in a Related Field if willing to enter into a Master’s degree program in Early Childhood Special Education upon hire

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Senior Application Security Engineer (FT; Multiple Openings)

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