Highlands Ranch Herald 1231

December 31, 2020

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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

HighlandsRanchHerald.net

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 16 | SPORTS: PAGE 17

VOLUME 34 | ISSUE 6

Program renews indoor dining Only restaurants that are certified can offer inside sit-down service

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The following are among the many accomplishments of the metro district staff while I was the general manager: building 16 parks including Redstone Park and Civic Green Park; building the Lucent interchange on C-470 as well as the other infrastructure that allowed Highlands Ranch to grow; building outdoor recreation programs from zero to over 11,000 participants; renovation and operation of the Highlands Ranch Mansion; helping transition

Some restaurants in Douglas County were permitted to immediately open for indoor dining after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment gave official approval for the county to begin a business certification program Dec. 23.

The program, first piloted in Mesa County, allows approved counties and municipalities to certify businesses that meet a list of advanced COVID-19 protection measures beyond what is required. These Douglas County businesses, which can open under reduced-capacity restrictions, are called “Certified COVID Best Practices Business” once certified and have a certificate deeming them so inside their store.

Because the county was able to pre-certify businesses, 33 businesses were able to immediately open under these reduced restrictions. That included 18 restaurants, 14 gyms and one indoor event venue. More than 100 other businesses were in the process of being certified as of Dec. 23, according to a news release from

SEE NOLAN, P11

SEE PROGRAM, P15

Terry Nolan worked as the Highlands Ranch Metro District general manager for 24 years. He will retire at the end of this year.

PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER

‘A culture of excellence’ Terry Nolan answers 10 questions as he prepares to leave metro district

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Beginning in January, the Highlands Ranch Metro District will have its third-ever general manager starting in the position.

But before the new leader, Mike Renshaw, begins the job, the metro district will say goodbye to its current manager, Terry Nolan.

Nolan, who held the position

for 24 years, will retire at the end of the year. Here, he answers 10 questions from the Highlands Ranch Herald about his years working with the metro district, his future roles in Douglas County and his reflections on the pandemic.

1. What has been your favorite part about working as the Highlands Ranch Metro District general manager?

It has been great working with the boards and staff to consistently deliver top-notch facilities and services but my favorite was working in the field with the troops and seeing people enjoy those facilities and services.

NEW YEAR, NEW BURGER In-N-Out’s south metro location is expected to open in early 2021 P5

2. What do you see as your biggest accomplishment as the general manager?

TAKING A SECOND LOOK

Images to remember from the past year

PAGES 6 AND 7

2 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 31, 2020D

SkyView Academy students donate to shelter network Hundreds of hygiene kits and bagged lunches were contributed

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A group of SkyView students volunteered on their first day of winter break to drop off PHOTOS COURTESY OF SKYVIEW ACADEMY donations at Craig Hospital in Englewood on Dec. 18.

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SkyView students unload their donation items from a bus Dec. 18 for the Craig Hospital “Big Give” donation program.

Siena Negron, 14, is a freshman at SkyView Academy and one of the students who volunteered to bring donations to the hospital.

to deliver the items.

“We’re doing this because even though right now we have to be physically distant, this is a great opportunity to come together and unify as a community and help others,” said Siena, a freshman. “And that’s the real holiday spirit.”

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Students from SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch collected and donated hundreds of food and hygiene items this month for those experiencing homelessness and poverty this winter.

A group of six student organizers delivered the items to Craig Hospital in Englewood on Dec. 18, just one day after they finished school for the semester.

“They came in on their first day of vacation to make the delivery to Craig Hospital,” said Kurt Holzberlein, a spokesperson for the school.

Craig Hospital organized the donations for the Severe Weather Shelter Network as part of their “Big Give” donation drive.

The entire school collected 241 hygiene kits and 371 bagged lunches and snacks for the donation, according to a news release from the school.

“It went great,” said Javier Negron, assistant principal for grades 7 through 12. “I’m certainly aware of basic needs that members of our community don’t have and anything we can do to help goes a long way.”

This school year, the school requires that high school students complete at least 20 hours of service, he said. That was reduced from 40 hours because of the pandemic.

“In a given year, we have a lot more collections, service hours and our students going into the community and providing man-hours in a wide range of services,” Negron said.

This opportunity was unique in that the school was able to team up with another community partner, the hospital, which has been on the front lines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, said Negron, whose wife works at the hospital as an administrator.

“From my standpoint, I love anything that students take the initiative and want to help in the community,” he said.

Negron’s daughter, Siena, 14, was one of the students who volunteered

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Highlands Ranch Herald 3

0December 31, 2020

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December 31, 2020D

Brainstormers create ‘Road to Recovery’ Infrastructure investment may be steepest hill in plan to bring state back from doldrums

BY JOEY BUNCH THE DENVER GAZETTE

Some of the state’s best business minds collaborated on a way to get Colorado out of the economic mess it’s in and presented in a report that came out Dec. 10.

You can read the “Road to Recovery” at www.roadtorecoverycolorado.org The way forward has three parts, according to the business leaders: 1. Prioritize Colorado’s competitiveness agenda.

2. Reimagine tomorrow’s workforce.

3. Invest in “future-forward” infrastructure.

The project collected the skill, insights and hard data from 30 business leaders affiliated with the Colorado Business Roundtable and the economists and supporters of the Common Sense Institute think tank in Denver.

The work is expected to continue for a couple of years involving more business leaders as the recovery progresses, said Debbie Brown, the president of Colorado Business Roundtable.

It’s not all bad news, but it’s not very good, either. Colorado had one of the best economies in the country — for labor and business climate — and that’s something good Brown to build on, but since then the state has lost 125,000 jobs and slipped a little from its high rankings.

The economic road map is, ideally, a fast lane to get back there with a skilled workforce, adequate infrastructure and a regulatory scheme that promotes trade instead of restricting it, business leaders said Dec. 10, spelling out the pillars of their plan.

“Colorado starts with such a great economic climate before COVID, and we’ve got a feisty collaborative spirit of Coloradans who want to lean in and try to work together to make Colorado as big of a success, if not bigger, coming out it,” Brown said. “We believe that within disruption there certainly is an opportunity — an opportunity to protect and influence our economic success and ensure sustainable and long-term economic growth.”

Colorado has problems

On the other hand, many of the problems that bedeviled Colorado before have been aggravated by the pandemic, particularly housing and child care costs, the eighthhighest in the country at more

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WHO TOOK PART Among the executives participating in the “Road to Recovery” report were: • Debbie Brown, president, Colorado Business Roundtable • Chris Brown, director of policy and research, Common Sense Institute • Jack Collins, chief financial officer, BP • Jonathan Coors, co-CEO, Coorstek • Chris Jensen, region manager, JP Morgan Chase • Ray Johnson, corporate social responsibility manager, IBM • Katie Kruger, CEO, Denver Metro Commercial Association of Realtors • Scott LaBand, president, Colorado Succeeds • Lauren Larson, executive director, Governor’s Office State Planning & Budgeting • Lloyd Lewis, CEO, ARC Thrift Stores • Elizabeth Peetz, vice president of government, Colorado Association of Realtors • Roberta Robinette, president, AT&T Colorado • Chris Schmidt, managing partner, Deloitte • Henry Sobanet, chief financial officer, Colorado State University • Mark Soltes, assistant vice president, Century Link • Kristin Strohm, president and CEO, Common Sense Institute • Lee Wheeler-Berliner, managing. director, Colorado Workforce Development Council Office than $1,300 a month, said Liz Peetz of the Colorado Association of Realtors.

“Both of these issues are at a tipping point, and housing and child care are workforce issues as much as they are important issues to Coloradans,” she said. “And the reason you’re seeing us focus on those is we think we can make a difference, looking at things like expediting permits or creative uses of property.

“We have the opportunity to look at those areas with an eye toward innovation.”

Maximizing Colorado’s competitive edge, however, depends on sustainable economic growth, which requires a regulatory balance and support for fiscal policies that promote innovation, job attraction and retention, the business terrain road map states.

“Technology is evolving jobs at a pace faster today than ever before,” said Dave Davia, executive vice president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association.

As a result, “the workforce is morphing.” Higher education does a good job, Davia said, “but we believe there’s a gap.”

His committee, with bureaucrats and businesses, worked on recommendations, including apprenticeships and skilled vocational training, other than an expensive four-year degree.

The business leaders believed the state should preserve its flat tax on individual and corporate rates.

To get the state’s general workforce ready for future job opportunities, meanwhile, requires modernizing training and embracing technology. The road map calls for strengthening post-secondary

education for young and older members of workforce to attain fulfilling, sustainable careers.

And perhaps the thorniest of all in trying budget times: that futureforward infrastructure system.

Doing that, however, unleashes Colorado’s long-term potential to compete, according to the “Road to Recovery.”

Roberta Robinette, the president of AT&T Colorado, noted that conversations about the needs and how to pay for them have been around for years, but the virus made Coloradans more acutely aware of the need for broadband internet, both accessibility and home capacity.

Terry Stevinson, a shareholder and family namesake of the Stevinson Group of car dealerships, said transportation remains a critical question that raises two more: Where does the money come from and how does the state sustain it to modernize roads, bridges and other transportation?

It’s way more complicated than that.

“A multilayered infrastructure that includes education, communication, energy, water, land use, mobility, technology, human safety, services and the environment are all part of our community’s foundation,” he said. “Each is important in its own right, but each is essential to the overall group.

If we overemphasize one over another we jeopardize the whole structure.”

Product of many minds

Thirty business leaders worked on it with the Colorado Business Roundtable, the association of executives across many industries and public services, and the economists with the Common Sense Institute think tank.

The report’s co-chairs were Brown; Peetz; Davia; Stevinson; Robinette; Kristin Strohm of the Common Sense Institute; Scott Hughes of Apple; and Chris Schmidt of Deloitte.

Strohm said the plan took six months to research, and compile.

She thanked the executives for the work they put in assisting the institute’s economists with metrics and recommendations.

She said Colorado’s status as one of the best economies and business climates in the nation is being challenged, and business leaders are rising to it. This year 1 in 5 Coloradans has filed for some form of unemployment benefits. As of October, Colorado has 125,000 fewer jobs, disproportionately affecting women with children, Strohm said.

Colorado is well-poised to recover, compared to other states, but the worst could still be ahead, Strohm said.

“The COVID crisis is far from over, and as Coloradans we know that good isn’t good enough,” she said. “How do we protect Colorado’s business-friendly environment, meet Colorado’s workforce demands and improve our infrastructure — and come out of the pandemic stronger than ever?”

For more stories like this, subscribe at denvergazette.com

Highlands Ranch Herald 5

0December 31, 2020

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Lone Tree city and business officials hope In-N-Out Burger lives up to its name when it officially opens in early 2021. The recent grand openings of In-N-Out locations in Aurora and Colorado Springs suggest the Park Meadows location could have wait times reaching several hours.

“There is a general anxiousness about what the traffic will look like around the site,” said Justin Schmitz, City of Lone Tree public works director. “The opening day in Aurora — people did take notice.”

The Aurora In-N-Out Burger restaurant opened Nov. 19, and the next day, the Denver Post reported wait times reached 14 hours.

In-N-Out officials expect its Lone Tree location, at 9171 E. Westview Road, to have the franchise’s second-busiest drive-thru, capable of holding 26 cars at one time. Only the In-N-Out near Los Angeles International Airport will have a greater drive-thru capacity at 30 cars.

Lone Tree’s In-N-Out is in the final stages of construction, according to Carl Arena, an In-N-Out vice presi-

The In-N-Out location in Lone Tree, at 9170 Westview Road, is expected to open early next year, officials say.

dent, in a Dec. 14 email.

“While the nature of the new construction process makes it difficult to predict a precise opening date, we are targeting early 2021 to open in Lone Tree,” Arena said.

Schmitz does not believe the Park Meadows location is in for as bad of an experience as Aurora’s.

In-N-Out officials submitted plans for its Lone Tree location in August 2019 and city staff has been preparing for In-N-Out’s opening day for the past year, Schmitz said.

The city recently collected input from nearby property owners,

The Lone Tree In-N-Out location, expected to open early next year at 9170 Westview Road, will have the second-busiest drive-thru of any In-N-Out location. PHOTOS BY NICK PUCKETT

Schmitz said, including the Park Meadows mall, and devised an opening day traffic plan suitable to everyone.

The main goal, Schmitz said: “We wanted to keep all our public roads open to traffic.”

The city has required any staging

area for cars waiting to get in line at In-N-Out be done at an offsite location or parking lot, Schmitz said, instead of clogging service streets. Traffic monitors will be onsite, just like they would be for any

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December 31, 2020D

YEAR IN REVIEW

2020, IN HINDSIGHT Photos tell the story of a year of hardship, unrest and resilience in Douglas County

In March, empty or nearly empty aisles at stores, like this Target in Lone Tree, were common as COVID-19 hit Douglas County, prompting demand to outpace PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT supply.

Thomas Tucker, at the time Douglas County School District’s superintendent, addresses the Mountain Vista High School graduating class on June 26. Tucker resigned from his post in September, citing personal and family PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER matters.

Jen Peifer, manager of operations for Nutrition Services at the Douglas County School District, unloads coolers packed with lunches PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS for children on March 23. The district offered free meals to children during school closures prompted by COVID-19.

In late April at Seven Stones Cemetery in Douglas County, John and Maria Castillo sit beside the grave of their son, Kendrick, who was killed during the STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting nearly a year earlier. They are reflected on the polished surface of another nearby PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS headstone.

In support of the Black Lives Matter movement, protesters raise fists during a PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS demonstration decrying racism in Castle Rock in early June.

With a traditional graduation ceremony postponed, seniors and staff from ThunderRidge High School gathered May 15 for a socially distanced goodbye parade.

Teachers lined up on a parking lot sidewalk at the Highlands Ranch school while wearing face masks and carrying decorated posters congratulating the Class of 2020. Truck beds were a popular conveyance for the students.

PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER

Highlands Ranch Herald 7

0December 31, 2020

YEAR IN REVIEW

Legend High School Principal Jason Jacob gave socially-distanced high fives and thumbs-up gestures to each PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER student as his or her name was called during the June 25 graduation ceremony.

Debra Hutton, of Castle Rock, was part of a group gathered in downtown Castle Rock on Nov. 3 in support of President Donald Trump’s reelection. As of 10 p.m. on Election Night, Trump received 51.8% of the vote in Douglas County, compared to 45.8% for PHOTO BY JESSICA GIBBS Joe Biden.

In mid-December, Parker Adventist Hospital was among the hospitals in Douglas County that began administering the COVID-19 vaccine to staff members.

PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT

The Parker Farmers Market opened in June on Mainstreet.

Most visitors wore masks, kept their distance from each other in small groups and adhered to the one-way walking direction suggested by orange cones dividing the street in PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT two.

Bob Marshall, also known as “Cowboy Biden” walks at the intersection of Highlands Ranch Parkway and Broadway Nov.2. Marshall walked at this intersection most weekdays before the election. Biden won Colorado, but the national outcome had PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER not been determined as of the early hours of Nov. 4.

Jordan Green, a Highlands Ranch resident, gets a COVID-19 test at a Lone Tree facility in November.

PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER

8 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 31, 2020D

Keep It Up, Douglas County!

COVID safety measures help restaurants stay open. Thank you for your continued support. Servers and staff appreciate your gratuity. Learn more at douglas.co.us/douglascovid19/ keep-it-up-douglas-county

Mental health resources Everyone faces challenges in life that can impact their mental health. The Douglas County Mental Health Initiative has resources to help you navigate these challenging times. For more information visit douglas.co.us/mental-health-initiative

Community COVID-19 testing events COVID-19 swabbing and antibody testing with or without health insurance are available at locations throughout the County. To preregister and to learn more visit douglas.co.us/covid19-testing/events.

For information about other testing providers visit douglas.co.us/covid19-testing-locations

Do it online, Douglas!

Residents and businesses may access more than 60 online services. For your convenience drop boxes are also available for Assessor, Motor Vehicle and Recording services, Visit douglas.co.us/covid19 for more details and drop box locations.

Christmas tree recycling For drop-off locations, times and dates, as well as instructions on how to prepare a tree for recycling, visit douglas.co.us and search for Christmas tree recycling.

Funds available to veterans Emergency assistance is available for veterans struggling with housing (mortgage/rent), transportation, employment, healthcare or other emergency needs. To apply for the veterans assistance funds visit douglasveterans.org or call 303.663.6200.

Winter readiness begins now Please visit douglas.co.us and search Snow and Ice Removal as a reference guide to frequently asked questions about snow and ice removal in Douglas County.

Holiday Closure Douglas County offices will be closed Friday, Jan. 1, 2021.

Many services are available 24/7 at DoItOnlineDouglas.com

Visit douglas.co.us

Attendees at the Sept. 15 Highlands Ranch jazz performance were asked to remain in socially-distanced pods throughout the event. Each individual pod was marked by PHOTO BY ELLIOTT WENZLER flags and tape.

7 things completed by the metro district in 2020 Tough year had many challenges, but entity kept plugging away

BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

While 2020 might not have rolled out exactly how the Highlands Ranch Metro District imagined it would, the organization still accomplished several things, which it highlighted in its end-of-year meeting.

“Normally at this point I’d say ‘another great year.’ I’m not sure I can say that this year,” said general manager Terry Nolan in the Dec. 10 virtual meeting. “I can say ‘A really good response to a very tough year.’”

Here are seven of the items that were included in the round-up of accomplishments: 1. A new website This year the Highlands Ranch Metro District rolled out its new website. “(This) is a great improvement,” Nolan said about the site.

2. Held first-ever citizens’ academy The metro district hosted seven free sessions for a group of selected residents teaching them about parks and open space, public safety, history, financial stability, water and public works in the district. The goal of the program was to get more people involved in local government. Due to COVID19-related restrictions, the metro district is not planning to host the event again in 2021.

IN-N-OUT FROM PAGE 5

large event held in the city, making sure businesses and roads are not obstructed. The city even restriped Westview Road, adding an additional two-way turn lane out of the In-N-Out parking lot.

“I think there is a general ‘let’s wait and see what happens,’” Schmitz said. “I think we have a really strong plan and something that

3. Elected new director Andy Jones Highlands Ranch residents voted in the May 5 election for the metro district’s board of directors and for a Centennial Water and Sanitation inclusion election. Nancy Smith and Renee Anderson were reelected to their positions and Andy Jones was newly elected.

4. New Cougar Run park playground Construction was completed on this new playground, located at 8810 Venneford Ranch Road.

5. Held annual golf tournament The socially-distanced event raised $15,000 for the Highlands Ranch Parks and Recreation foundation, Nolan said.

6. Hosted events at the Highlands Ranch Mansion While many of the year’s events at the Highlands Ranch Mansion were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a few socially-distanced events were made possible including a jazz show, a comedy show, tours and some private events.

7. Completed the West Fork DiscGolf course A new 18-hole disc golf course opened in Highlands Ranch in July. The course, located at 9095 S. Broadway, stretches across about a mile.

“It’s amazing how much can be done in this horrible year we call 2020,” director Renee Anderson said in the meeting.

Board chair Mark Dickerson praised the metro district staff for their work throughout the year.

“I think they have just responded very admirably,” he said. “It’s been a really tough year, they’ve done just a great job.”

will mitigate any impacts to any of the adjacent businesses but also allow for the smooth and manageable flow of traffic—and those are the two things we’re trying to allow.”

City staff will be monitoring and making ongoing adjustments to optimize the restaurant’s traffic flow.

Being the second In-N-Out to open in the metro area, the Lone Tree InN-Out could see a milder crowd than Aurora did, Schmitz said.

“The City of Lone Tree is interested in how this would work out,” Schmitz said.

Highlands Ranch Herald 9

0December 31, 2020

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10 Highlands Ranch Herald

LOCAL

December 31, 2020D

VOICES

Reality-based greetings as another year begins

S

ir Walter Scott said a new year is “The fittest time for festal cheer.”

I wish I had it in me.

Flipping a calendar page isn’t enough. There’s too much weight and QUIET I’m too realistic DESPERATION to believe in the illusion of a fresh start.

My wet blanket is, however, only half full.

T.S. Eliot, more tempered than Scott, said, “Last year’s words belong to last year’s voice, Craig Marshall Smith and next year’s words await another voice.”

Trouble is, “last year’s voice” will yet be heard, loud and vulgar and dispiriting, and the impact will linger, perhaps for years to come.

This column was debated. Ultimately, I decided against more hope-filled thoughts. There will be

LETTER TO THE EDITOR There is a definition of truth

The letter “Who should be the judge?” by Jeri Brown is yet another long line of complete nonsense that has accelerated as a result of the Trump era.

If someone does not like what they are being told, with basic education and a couple of social media accounts that adhere to their beliefs, they too can also be an expert in any field. Say whatever you want, yell “fake news” a few hundred times and then use that as an excuse to do whatever pleases you regardless of how it affects people.

Fortunately, the courts don’t care what your “opinion” is! I may not have loved every judicial pick the last four years, but they have shown themselves to be dedicated to the law, the constitution and the “truth,” no matter how many times a mascarastreaming Rudy showed up in front of them and regardless of the daily tweet.

James Martin Highlands Ranch

A publication of

Call first: 9233 Park Meadows Dr., Lone Tree, CO 80124 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: HighlandsRanchHerald.net To subscribe call 303-566-4100

plenty of those coming at us from other sources.

Like it or not, Americans want “to have their cake and eat it too.”

Growing up, I never understood what that meant. I do now.

We want to have all of our freedoms and liberties, and not be encumbered by common sense and responsibilities.

Like what?

Masks, social distancing, limited occupancy in restaurants and serving hours.

A New York City bar owner ran over a cop after police tried (again) to close his business down.

Men (as it were) in Michigan wanted to kidnap the governor.

Men in Michigan planned to kidnap the governor.

My Michigan-born shoulders slump every time I read something or hear something that comes out of Lansing and Detroit.

It’s going to be a while — never?

— before I forgive 74 million for voting for a liar.

And we have yet to reconcile the reasons for the protests all across

The silver lining has been a Great Reminder of the urgency and beauty of Life, and the responsibilities of its ownership.

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was a fascinating character. He was referred to as “the prince of paradox.” According to Time magazine, “He made his points with popular sayings, proverbs, allegories — first turning them inside out.”

I am old, tired, anxious and restless. You? Chesterton said, “The old man is always wrong; and the young people are always wrong about what is wrong with him. The practical form it takes is this: that, while the old man might stand by some stupid custom, the young man always attacks it with some theory that turns out to be equally stupid.”

What it comes down to, at least for me, is something Warren Zevon said, “Enjoy every sandwich.”

the country.

Over all of that, smothering everything else, there has been a pandemic, deadly and destructive, poisoning our mental health as well as our physical health.

There have been heartwarming and heartbreaking stories.

And inexplicable behavior.

This is not the space or the publication to attempt to explain human conduct during a crisis.

G.K. Chesterton wrote, “The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes.”

It makes enjoyable reading, doesn’t it? Like a lot of year-ending, year-beginning philosophical aphorisms.

Searching for inspirational quotes, I found hundreds. I refer them to you if you need some Hallmark.

The silver lining has been a Great Reminder of the values I consider most important that spare no crook or deceiver.

Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@comcast.net.

This is the year of our unbreakable resolutions

W

ith the New Year come New Year’s resolutions. Making resolutions and sharing them with others can be motivating and fun. I mean who among us doesn’t want to make some WINNING kind of change or WORDS improvement in our faith, family time, connection with friends, our fitness, or our finances?

Others of us prefer not to get wrapped up in any kind of New Year’s resolutions.

And I find that those Michael Norton of us who steer clear of making any resolutions generally do so for a couple of reasons. The first may have to do with a history or track record of not sticking to it or not following through long enough to experience any change or discernible improvement. The second is that we don’t view them as resolutions, and instead we see them as new goals.

Resolutions alone are never resolute, are they? Not unless we make them unbreakable resolutions, founded upon our commitment to change.

It’s when we are so convicted in the change we want to see or growth we would like to experience that our resolutions and goals become unbreakable. Sometimes our resolutions sound so good as we first conceive them, and even speak them out loud to others. However, if we know in our hearts and minds that they are tentative at best, we quickly try and figure out how we can walk back our thoughts and verbal commitments before anyone starts holding us accountable for living up to what we said we would do.

I have found that working with individuals, small businesses, and large multi-national organizations, that in almost every case the person or the company used one or more of these same four words; improve, increase, expand, or reduce.

Sometimes it’s a desire to improve skills such as organizational, time management, communication, sales, leadership, or some other area of personal or professional development that will help us to achieve top performance in ourselves and others on our team.

For many of us, we would like to increase the amount of time that we read, exercise, and spend time in

prayer or meditation. We would also like to increase our earnings, savings, and investments that will align with our financial goals. Some of us are determined to increase our giving in support of the causes that are most important to us. And there are plenty of businesses who set goals to increase revenue, margins, employee and customer relationships, and community involvement.

Setting a goal or making a resolution to expand could include expanding our personal and professional networks.

We may want to expand our thinking while considering other points of view.

And expanding our learning through the types of books we read and other information we consume will always have a lasting and positive impact on our lives, and usually on the lives of those around us.

The word “reduce” comes up often as we think about goals and our New Year’s resolutions. We may want to reduce our weight, reduce the amount of time on our phones or devices, reduce the amount of alcohol we consume, or reduce the number of bad habits we allow ourselves to live with.

Maybe we simply want to reduce one

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SEE NORTON, P11

Highlands Ranch Herald A legal newspaper of general circulation in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, the Herald is published weekly on Thursday

by Colorado Community Media, 9233 Park Meadows Dr., Lone Tree, CO 80124.

Send address change to: Highlands Ranch Herald, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

Highlands Ranch Herald 11

0December 31, 2020

NOLAN FROM PAGE 1

fire and emergency services from the City of Littleton to South Metro Fire Rescue, which has improved service and includes the opening of our fourth fire station next March; our financial strength, which allows great facilities and services. That said, I am most proud of helping develop a culture of excellence in which people take pride in what they do for the great community of Highlands Ranch.

3. What do you hope to see in the future of the Highlands Ranch Metro District?

A continuation of that culture.

4. What are you looking forward to after retiring?

After more than 50 years of working in public service with the U.S. Navy and the metro district, I look forward to continuing to serve as a volunteer with

Douglas County Libraries, the American Legion, the Highlands Ranch Mansion, First Tee and perhaps with the Douglas County sheriff. I also look forward to uncrowded midweek skiing and hiking.

5. What can you tell our readers about the differences between Highlands Ranch when you first started the job and now?

There’s just more of it.

When I started we had 33,000 people, 10 parks, some open space and one recreation center. Now we have close to 100,000 people, 26 parks, lots of open space and four recreation centers. But I do not think that change is bad because we have executed the master plan, which allowed for enough of the things we need so that we have the same high quality of life as we did when I started. There are just a lot more people enjoying our great lifestyle.

6. What will you miss the most about this position?

The great people that I have been so fortunate to

have worked with, including our many partners and board members, but mostly the outstanding metro district staff.

7. What’s your favorite spot in Highlands Ranch?

That’s easy — the Highlands Ranch Mansion and its grounds, ultimately to include the rest of the historic park.

8. What has it been like to work in this role over the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic?

Challenging. Just about everything we do has been impacted. We stayed open and working throughout but it took tremendous resilience by our staff to deal with the ever-changing guidelines. Perhaps our facilities and services are even more important than normal because people need to be able to get outdoors when indoor facilities are closed or limited. I am really proud of the way the metro district staff adapted to continue to provide excellent facilities and services during these

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep in mind the following rules: • Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

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• Not all letters are published at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

• Letters must be no longer than 250 words.

NORTON FROM PAGE 10

bad habit and replace it with a good habit.

What if we could also be resolute in our commitment to reducing the number of times we find ourselves playing the blame game, getting angry, being unkind, unforgiving, and unloving? And then be equally as committed and resolved to improving, increasing, and expanding our capacity to understand others, offer kindness, and live with more love and forgiveness. What would we feel like 12 months from now as we look

• Do not use all caps, italics or bold text.

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• Letters advocating for or against a political candidate will not be published within 30 days of an election.

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We will not publish any letter that appears to be part of a letter-writing campaign or that copies text from an outside source, such as a website.

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• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on social media. back on how making that kind of unbreakable resolution impacted all our relationships?

How about you? Is there a history of incomplete goals or abandoned resolutions? Is this the year to make the commitment to stand firm in your desire to make a change or improvement? I would love to hear your story at mnorton@tramazing. com and when we finally live up to our unbreakable resolutions, it really will be a better than good year.

Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.

challenging times.

9. What’s something you’ve learned this past year with all the struggles and difficulties we’ve seen as a result of the pandemic?

I’ve learned that we, all of us, have a tremendous ability to adapt and still deliver even during this particularly challenging time. If it means completely revising a recreation program to meet federal, state or Tri-County Health Department guidelines — we did it. If it means conducting a polling place election under pandemic protocols — we did it. If it means conducting public meetings of the board of directors via Zoom — we did it.

10. Any other final thoughts for the community?

This is my home for many good reasons — great people, just look at all the volunteers who play a vital role in all of the organizations that serve Highlands Ranch as well as the terrific people who work on the

staffs of our service providers; great facilities, just look at our 26 outstanding parks, HRCA’s four great recreation centers, Douglas County Libraries’ terrific Highlands Ranch library, Centennial Water’s wellmaintained and reliable water and wastewater system, excellent schools provided

by Douglas County School District, great roads maintained by Douglas County, excellent Douglas County sheriff ’s substation and the awesome open space maintained by the metro district and HRCA which is 60% of our community. All of this and more is provided for very reasonable taxes, fees and assessments. I encourage my fellow residents to take a look under the hood of these service organizations, you will like what you find. You can start with the Metro District at highlandsranch.org. I am proud to call Highlands Ranch home.

See you on the trails and pickleball courts and in the parks and recreation centers.

OBITUARIES GRIFFIN

Richard C. Griffin

Nov. 12, 1946 - Dec. 10, 2020 Richard C. Griffin, 74, of Highlands Ranch, CO, passed away peacefully at home on December 10, 2020, after a fast-growing lymphoma cancer resurgence. He was born November 12, 1946, in Valparaiso, Indiana, to Frank Oliver Griffin, Sr. and Betty Louise Bednar Griffin. He married Sheila Walters on August 15, 1992, who survives. He is also survived by his daughters Kristin (Rod) Spearman and Karin Griffin, his four beloved grandsons Kyle and Scott Spearman and Devon and Drew Heywood, three brothers (Robert (Juanita), Frank Oliver, Jr. (Shawna), and Craig (Michelle), a sister Darlene Griffin, all in Colorado, a sister-in-law Judy Griffin of Las Vegas, and his ex-wife Linda Dalton of Chesterton, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Nick Griffin.

Rich graduated from Chesterton High School, Chesterton, Indiana, in 1964. He was an outstanding quarterback and led the 1963 CHS Trojans to an 8-2 record. Early in that season, he suffered a concussion in a game, which resulted in double vision. To compensate, he wore a patch on one eye for the rest of the schedule, earning a bit of notoriety of overcoming what could have been a season-ending injury.

He graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and earned a CPA degree from the University of Illinois in 1974. He was an Army veteran, serving as an E5 Sergeant whose primary duty was paying soldiers who returned

from Vietnam. Rich was honorably discharged in December of 1971. He served as CFO of Ken-Caryl Ranch Home Development from 1973-78. He also started an oil/gas exploration company before turning his full attention to accounting. In 1995, he founded Taxtime, a tax accounting firm in Centennial, Colorado, that provided expert tax analysis and preparation for hundreds of clients until he sold the company and retired in 2013.

Rich was an outstanding athlete and played fast-pitch hardball well into his 50’s.

He was a musician and an avid golfer who truly enjoyed rounds with his wife and friends to demonstrate both his athletic skills and accounting acumen. Most golfers do not even realize that you can amortize, depreciate, and even write-off strokes!

He loved Colorado and its magnificent outdoors, backpacking on horses and hunting game in the Rockies. He tried helicopter skiing in Canada and even indulged in a sky diving adventure.

But the greatest delights of his life were his daughters and grandsons. He was a very “hands-on” grandfather, keeping the boys busy making sure grandpa’s yard was always beautiful.

He also played baseball, hockey, and golf with the kids.= and took the time to teach a few guitar chords to those who were interested.

Indeed, he lived a full and active life and will be missed by his numerous family and friends.

Place an Obituary for Your Loved One.

Private 303-566-4100

Obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

12 Highlands Ranch Herald

Highlands Ranch Herald 13

December 31, 2020

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14 Highlands Ranch Herald

LOCAL

LIFE

December 31, 2020D

Icing on the lake Veterans, novices take to Evergreen Lake for winter fishing

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

I

t’s 12 degrees as the sun rises on Dec. 14, as about a dozen ice-fishers make their way onto Evergreen Lake.

Armed with gear, provisions and equipment, the men and women are ready to brave the cold, hoping to catch a few trout.

For some, ice-fishing is a new experience, while others are veterans of the winter activity.

Some bring popup tents to keep out the winter weather, and on weekends, Evergreen Lake looks like a tent city thanks to all of the ice-fishers.

Friends Ray Trujillo and Michael Romero set up their ice-fishing spot, choosing not to bring too much gear. Romero calls himself a fishing addict, though he’s new to ice-fishing.

“I’m not going to let the ice stop me,” he said.

Trujillo and Romero like coming to Evergreen to icefish because it’s a beautiful spot and the ice freezes sooner here than down the hill.

Nearby, Dennis Jones of Westminster and his family set up their spot. Dennis was practically born ice-fishing. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, he joined family members in the sport often in his youth.

While he’s lived in Colorado 40 years, Dec. 14 was only his second time on Evergreen Lake, bringing his wife Carol and son and daughter-in-law Corey and Vanessa along, and all were part of the action.

Carol Jones said the secret to weathering the cold was dressing in layers, and masks helped a lot to keep out the cold. She explained that her husband was a great fishing guide and patient as he taught his family about the sport.

The Joneses had a popup tent with a small space heater, and the women settled in there with their poles.

Vanessa Napier Jones added: “He is very prepared. We brought a lot of stuff with us,” including plenty of hot coffee, soup and sandwiches to get them through the morning. Dennis planned to stay in one spot for about 30 minutes, and if they weren’t having much luck, they would move on to another spot.

Jones barked orders, getting everyone and everything situated, teaching along the way. It wasn’t long before they saw the fruits of their labors: a 12-inch rainbow trout.

“This guy knows his stuff,” Corey Jones said of his dad, while Dennis noted, “It’s a great way to start the day.”

Dennis Jones of Westminster baits a hook while his son Corey Jones holds the rod as they were ice fishing on Evergreen Lake on Dec. PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST 14.

Corey Jones of Westminster patiently waits for a fish to bite. Soon after, he nabbed a rainbow trout.

Ice fishing huts dot Evergreen Lake on Dec. 14. On weekends, the lake looks like a tent city.

Highlands Ranch Herald 15

0December 31, 2020

PROGRAM FROM PAGE 1

the county. A list of the certified businesses can be found at www. douglas.co.us/documents/publiccertified-business-list.pdf.

Douglas County submitted its application to the state Dec. 18 in hopes of being one of the first counties permitted to begin Colorado’s new “5 Star State Certification Program.” The county was pre-approved for the program Dec. 21 with the contingency that the county needed one more day of declining hospitalizations on record to meet the state’s eligibility requirements.

In order for level red counties, like Douglas County, to apply for the state program, they had to have two weeks of declining cases per 100,000 residents along with steady decreases in hospitalizations and in the positivity rate for COVID-19 tests.

The positivity rate must also be below 10%, according to the state’s guidelines for the program.

Certified businesses are only able to open under reduced restrictions if and when they are approved by the county to do so. Any restaurants that open indoor dining before being certified could risk being unable to do so later, said Jennifer Ludwig, deputy director of Tri-County Health Department.

“I know businesses Ludwig are really antsy to get open but they can’t open (under reduced restrictions) until we have approval and they’ve been certified,” Ludwig said.

Summit County was the first to apply for the program, according to the state spokesperson.

Webpage takes applications

Douglas County has a webpage that is accepting applications from businesses interested in the voluntary program. The site is available at douglas.co.us/certify-my-business.

“We are going to get this done,” County Commissioner Lora Thomas said in a Dec. 16 meeting about the program.

The program allows Douglas County businesses to move from their current level red status — the second most restrictive phase — back to orange, which allows restaurants to offer indoor dining service with 25% capacity or 50

Requirements for becoming certified

people, gyms to have 25% capacity or 25 people, and indoor events to take place with 25% capacity or 50 people.

While any business can apply, the county plans to prioritize certifying restaurants and indoor event centers for approval, as they have taken the biggest hit in the most recent round of the state’s level red restrictions. The county was placed on that level after local COVID-19 data skyrocketed in November, which was the worst month yet for the pandemic, according to Tri-County Health Department. Level red bans indoor dining at restaurants, but allows for outdoor dining as well as takeout and delivery services.

After applying with the county, it could take up to seven days for businesses to be inspected for their certification, according to a county spokesperson.

Tri-County checks on complaints

The county’s municipalities, chambers of commerce, Tri-County Health Department, police chiefs, the sheriff ’s office and the library

district have all signed letters in support of the program.

Municipalities and county staff are in charge of completing the certification process of businesses in their jurisdiction, including on-site inspections of businesses. Tri-County has begun training those staff members in how to complete those steps.

“We may not have people who are normally trained to do this type of work but I do believe we will be able to provide enough information and confidence to go out and do this work,” Ludwig said. “It’s pretty straightforward, this checklist. We trust that restaurants and owners want to open and want to protect public health.”

While Tri-County staff members are not completing the certification process, they still follow up on complaints they receive about businesses not in compliance.

“We don’t have the capacity to be able to do on-site inspections for certification,” Ludwig said. “We are hyper-focused on other parts of the response.”

Municipalities, the county and

Tri-County are also randomly following up with certified businesses to ensure they continue to follow the required protocol, Ludwig said.

“We hope that by slowly and methodically opening businesses and providing this reduced capacity, it will allow them to be open and allow patrons to visit places while not increasing transmission,” she said.

While the data appears to be improving and approved restaurants and other businesses can now loosen their capacity restrictions, it’s vital that residents continue to practice safety measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and reduced personal interactions, Ludwig said.

“We can’t let our guard down but we also understand the need for businesses to open,” Ludwig said.

“These certified businesses will be leaders in the community, and as long as they’re upholding those strict measures, we will all be upholding public health.”

Ludwig asks that Douglas County patrons respect the rules put in place for businesses so that they don’t lose their certifications.

Local leaders are hopeful that by setting up this program as quickly as possible, they will be able to support local businesses in a particularly difficult time.

“We are going to save a lot of businesses that otherwise would have failed,” said Jason Gray, mayor of Castle Rock.

‘Live with what there is’

William Brinkerhoff, owner of Sierra and La Loma restaurants in Lone Tree and Castle Rock, respectively, is one of the business owners who was recently in the process of being pre-certified. He submitted both of his locations to the county’s webpage and was waiting to hear from the City of Lone Tree and the Town of Castle Rock about their inperson inspections.

Brinkerhoff has been frustrated by the state’s recent limitations on restaurants and has seen revenue losses as a result.

“It’s grossly unfair,” he said.

“We’re going to be fine, but I think of all the people who have a little shop.”

Brinkerhoff said he’s concerned about restaurants that won’t be able to provide 10 feet of distance between tables, a state requirement for the variance program.

“We just have to live with what there is,” he said. “It doesn’t do any good to complain about it.”

We rise together to serve our most vulnerable.

These are unusual times. In the midst of change, Catholic Charities knows that no matter the circumstance, our community will always need care and support, love and kindness, dependability and grit. We know there are challenges ahead and we stand ready to help our communities rise.

There is no better time than now to make a difference for our communities through your support.

Join us in our rising, help us help each other.

Visit CCharitiesCC.Org to find out how you can change lives.

GIVE HOPE. RISE.

Help us help each other.

16 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 31, 2020D

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Highlands Ranch Herald 17

LOCAL

December 31, 2020

SPORTS

Tough year had some bright moments

Mid-January date set for prep practices to begin CHSAA secures variances from state through long series of meetings

BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With multiple meetings through mid-December, including weekend work, the Colorado High School Activities Association has secured variances from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and state officials that will allow all Season B sports and activities to begin practice on Jan. 18.

The following sports have been approved to start practice on Jan. 18: ice hockey, skiing, girls swimming, wrestling, basketball, and competitive spirit. The approved calendar will be revised to begin competition on Jan. 25.

Originally, Season B was proposed to begin on Feb. 1.

Through collaborative nego-

tiations, the Jan. 18 start date aligns with Gov. Jared Polis’ announcement to prioritize in-person or hybrid learning models.

“For months, our office has been laser-focused on students and the safe resumption of high school sports and activities in 2021,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “The conversations with CDPHE and the governor’s COVID Response Team to resume Season B sports have been intentional and assertive. Though it has taken many late nights and weekends, we are thrilled that our student-athletes, member schools and local school communities have a resolution.

Educationally-based athletics are a vital extension of the classroom.”

The CHSAA administrative staff has planned a series of virtual meetings for athletic directors and coaches to provide details on the implementation of each sport. These meetings will begin on Jan. 4.

Under the current dial levels, CHSAA-sponsored events

could not be conducted due to public health restrictions at the state level that limited the number of athletes allowed to practice or compete in a facility. For example, the current guidelines only allow basketball to have 10 total individuals (including coaches, athletes, trainers, etc.) in a gym.

Therefore, variance approval from CDPHE and state officials were critical to begin any sport or activity. For example, the basketball variance will permit teams to have 24 players total, as well as coaches and trainers.

Approval of these variances allows for statewide consistency and sustainability of competition when diverse local health interpretations could restrict member participation regionally.

“We’re all in this together,” Blanford-Green said. “Our state officials, especially CDPHE, have a responsibility to prioritize student safety. We appreciate their support and advocacy for resuming athletics and activities for the state of Colorado in 2021.”

B

eing asked to write a column for the new year usually means wrapping up the highlights from the previous year.

But 2020 was a frustrating, discouraging, disappointing, terrible year and there are many more adjectives that could be used to describe the past OVERTIME 12 months.

So the list of 2020 highlights for high school sports are shorter and not close to being normal, which is the word being used a lot for the hopes of 2021.

A few winter sports teams completed the 2020 seasons but the state girls and boys Jim Benton basketball tournaments were canceled as the coronavirus surged last March and the entire spring sports seasons were canceled.

The Colorado High School Activities Association was forced to curtail seasons and state playoff formats last fall (called Season B) but four fall sports were able to play before delays for Season C (usual winter sports, indoor teams) were announced on Dec. 7.

So here are some highlights for the 2020 season.

Valor Christian captured the 2020 state hockey title with a tense 1-0 five-overtime victory over Fort Collins that saw Lambkins SEE BENTON, P23

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18 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 31, 2020D

C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E

‘Healing Arts Show’ set for hospital display

C

astle Rock Adventist Hospital, 2350 Meadows Blvd., is the site for a “Healing Arts Show” organized by Heritage Fine Arts SONYA’S Guild from Jan. 6 to March 31, which SAMPLER may be viewed “in person.” Most are for sale. All are 16” x 20” and techniques include oil, watercolor, acrylic and pastels. When this exhibit ends, the art will move to Denver Community Sonya Ellingboe Credit Union, 100 W. Mineral Ave., Littleton. If interested in purchasing a painting, contact hfagwebsite@gmail.com.

Town Hall

Town Hall Arts Center in Littleton has started some virtual programming and has put out an audition notice for actors, which is good news. Coming in January: concert by Robert Michael Saunders, Megan Van De Hay and Traci Kern on Town Hall’s YouTube Channel. Future plans: “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder”; “Almost Maine.” Will send details as they appear. Town Hall also won John Moore’s True West Award for the September-October production of “Almost Heaven: Music of John Denver” which was performed under the stars at Hudson Gardens this fall.

Flag display

Museum of Outdoor Arts displays the Gilbert Baker flag at Englewood Civic Center. Created by Genevieve Waller, in cooperation with RedLine Gallery in Denver, it is a homage to the man who made the first Rainbow flag for the LBGTQ community and will fly until Feb. 15, 2021. The Robert Rauschenberg exhibit at MOA is extended until Feb. 15, 2021 — we’ll hope to revisit. MOA has

a new website, which reminds us the sculpture by Robert Mangold, “Sculpture on the Green,” is extended to March 2021. Four large works are near Fiddler’s Green Circle.

OAO

Littleton’s annual “Own an Original” exhibit is available online while closed up at the Littleton Museum. Painter Cindy Welch of Castle Rock has three paintings included in the exhibit, she writes. See the Dec. 17 papers for winners.

Stories on Stage

“American Drag” will be presented by Stories on Stage at 7 p.m. on Jan. 15, in a virtual performance.

Will have more information soon.

Livestreamed from Boulder’s Nomad Playhouse. “Drag” originated as British theatre slang: Men who impersonated women onstage wore baggy clothing and their petticoats would drag on the floor of the stage ... Ticket holders will receive a link to the performance. storiesonstage. org.

Colorado Theatre Guild

Actor Sam Gilstrap will perform “Podcasting in the Ghostlight” at 7 p.m. on Jan. 11 — a free Zoom workshop. It has been downloaded across the country, we are told by the guild.

Limited to 100 guests. See coloradotheatreguild.org.

MCA

Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver presents “Laugh Your Craft Off ” on Jan. 6, with a focus on Fabric Dragons. It’s the third in a series featuring an artist and a comedian: with artist Colby Moue and comedian Quinn Mardnen, the third in a series we just learned about. Use your own supplies or purchase at the museum. The MCA is open except Mondays at 1485 Delgany St., Denver. The building is a treat for architecture lovers, designed by David Adjay. See mcadenver.org.

Answers

THANKS for

PLAYING!

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

Highlands Ranch Herald 19

0December 31, 2020

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December 31, 2020D

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Highlands Ranch Herald 21

0December 31, 2020 Roofing/Gutters

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22 Highlands Ranch Herald

December 31, 2020D

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Highlands Ranch Herald 23

0December 31, 2020

Gap project hits milestone

BENTON FROM PAGE 17

STAFF REPORT

The I-25 “Gap” construction project, the monthslong effort to improve safety and mobility between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs, was scheduled to reach a new milestone by the end of December.

Two wildlife underpasses and the improved interchange at Greenland Road opened Dec. 22, according to a news release from Douglas County officials.

Crews had been working for the past 18 months on improvements to the Greenland Road interchange, which had originally been installed circa 1948, according to the release. The interchange is now a two-lane underpass, the highway widening as it approaches the interchange.

“With the bridge complete, traffic will be shifted into its final alignment on I-25,” the release states.

The first of the two new wildlife underpasses is located south of the Greenland Road interchange. The second is located just north of the County Line Road bridge.

goalie Sam Simon tie a national record with 84 saves in the loss.

Pomona won its fourth Class 5A state wrestling title in the last five seasons. Cherry Creek was second in the girls swimming state meet while Heritage’s Anna Shaw was the 50-meter freestyle champion and was second in the 100 freestyle.

So for the 2020 fall sports highlights, Cherry Creek and Valor Christian were prominent.

Creek’s Parker Wolfe won the Class 5A state cross country individual championship with a course record time of 15:10.4 while the Bruins’ Riley Stewart captured the girls individual state crown and helped Creek win the girls state team title.

Mountain Vista won its second straight boys 5A cross country championship and its sixth overall title.

Valor Christian’s Lucas Schulte eagled the final to take medalist honors in the Class

5A state golf tournament and his finish helped the Eagles win the team title. Arapahoe finished second for the second consecutive season.

Top-seeded Rock Canyon was upset in the second round of the 5A state softball tournament and Fossil Ridge captured the crown.

In football, Cherry Creek completed an undefeated season (8-0) to win its second straight state championship with a 21-0 victory over previously unbeaten Valor Christian in the game played at CSUPueblo.

Myles Purchase was the key player in the Bruins’ win. It was the 23rd consecutive victory for the Bruins, who were unbeaten (14-0) while winning the 2019 title.

The CHSAA has worked around the restrictions dictated by the Colorado Deportment of Public Health and Environment and has learned a lot in the months following the prescribed shutout of spring sports last March. The CHSAA has worked hard to get variances approved, like for instance

to have more players on a team since it would have been difficult to field teams with regulations which were first ordered.

There will be modified sevenweek schedules for teams in Season B, C and D, which isn’t great, but it is not the fault of the CHSAA in the current climate with challenging “level red” COVID-19 conditions around the state.

CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green recently conducted an Instagram session with students who asked questions. Blanford-Green said she can see the light which wasn’t visible months ago and she is optimistic that the remaining seasons can be played with alterations, which nobody will like but at least there will hopefully be sports played.

Let’s hope 2021 turns out to be a better year for all of us.

Jim Benton is a sports writer for Colorado Community Media.

He has been covering sports in the Denver area since 1968. He can be reached at jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com or at 303-566-4083.

To advertise your place of worship in this section,

call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Serving the southeast Denver area

Castle Rock/Franktown

Greenwood Village

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www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals City and County PUBLIC NOTICE PURSUANT TO THE LIQUOR LAW OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, South Suburban Park & Recreation District d/b/a South Suburban Sports Complex has requested the Licensing Officials of Douglas County to grant a Liquor Licensed Hotel and Restaurant at the location of 4810 E County Line Road, Littleton CO 80126. The Public Hearing on this application

is to be held by the Douglas County Local Liquor Licensing Authority at 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104 on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 1:30 p.m.

Date of Application: December 21, 2020 Officers: Robert Hanna, Executive Director Tatianna Langjahr, Manager Legal Notice No. 938525 First Publication: December 31, 2020 Last Publication: December 31, 2020 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Bids and Settlements PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF CONTRACTORS SETTLEMENT COUNTY OF DOUGLAS STATE OF COLORADO NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 38-26-107, C.R.S., as amended, that on the 25th day of JANUARY 2021, final settlement will be made by the County of Douglas, State of Colorado, for and on account of a contract between Douglas County and A.D. MILLER SERVICES, INC. for the HIGHLAND HERITAGE REGIONAL PARK, PARKS ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

ADDITION PROJECT - INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) #029-19 (PO#39619); and that any person, co-partnership, association or corporation that has an unpaid claim against said A.D. MILLER SERVICES, INC. for or on account for the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or any subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, or that supplied rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of said work, may at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on said 25th day of JANUARY 2021, to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Douglas County Government, Board of County Commissioners, c/o Facilities, Fleet & Emergency Support Services, 100 Third Street, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104.

Failure on the part of the claimant to file such statement prior to such final settlement will relieve said County of Douglas from all and any liability for such claimant’s claim. The Board of Douglas County Commissioners of the County of Douglas, Colorado, By: Carolyn S. Riggs, CPPB, Purchasing Supervisor, Douglas County Government.

Legal Notice No. 938508 First Publication Date: 12/24/20 Second Publication Date: 12/31/20 Publisher: Douglas County News Press

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Highlands Ranch Legals 12.31.20 * 1

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December 31, 2020