Douglas County steps up wildfire fight
Commissioners approve ‘call-when-needed’ agreements with multiple aerial operators
BY JULIA KING
SPECIAL
TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Douglas County is doubling down on wild re preparedness as the only county in the state with its own dedicated helitack team — a crew that uses helicopters to suppress wild res, often in hard-to-reach areas.
At an April 8 meeting, the county commissioners approved public service contracts with multiple aerial re suppression vendors, adding to a growing arsenal of support options. e contracts, each capped at $100,000 and structured as “callwhen-needed,” will only be activated and paid for if their services are used.
ose deals complement an earlier contract approved in January that will provide a “hawk-level” helicopter on an exclusive basis to Douglas County for a minimum of 168 days, seven days a week, from May 17 through Oct. 31, said Mike Alexander, director of emergency management at the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce.
“We are the only locally sponsored helitack program in the state of Colorado,” Alexander said.
Other helitack programs exist, but they are either funded and sponsored by the State Division of Fire Prevention and Control, the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management.
Wild re risk maps from the U.S. Forest Service consistently rank parts of California and Colorado among the most high-risk regions in the nation. Commissioner Abe Laydon said the e ort to bolster Douglas County’s aerial resources re ects its aggressive approach to re mitigation.
“ e number one potential threat to Douglas County is the threat of wild res,” Laydon said.
“One square mile in Douglas County represents over $150 million in property values. We know that a catastrophic wild re can be just around the corner.”
Douglas County’s helitack team responded to 34 wild res last year, including nine outside of county lines. Despite the ramp-up in resources, the county didn’t need to raise taxes to fund its wild re mitigation e orts — relying instead on a combination of American Rescue Plan Act funds and general fund dollars, according to Laydon.
Proposed Sterling Ranch charter school draws scrutiny
School touts classical education, but critics cite redundancy, ideology, lack of local oversight
BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
John Adams Academy’s application to the Colorado Charter School Institute, submitted in March, provides the clearest look to date at what the charter school proposes for Sterling Ranch, including its vision for a classical K-12 program, a projected enrollment of 825 students and a multimillion-dollar budget.
e academy plans to open in August 2026, starting with grades K-7, and aims to expand by one grade each year until it reaches a full K-12 model.
e 644-page application outlines a curriculum built on patriotic rituals, mentorship and liberal arts instruction rooted in America’s founding ideals. While supporters call it a welcome addition to the growing community, critics argue that the school’s approach is ideologically driven, duplicative of some existing education models in Douglas County, and designed to avoid local oversight.
“ is is a blatant attempt to sidestep the district and impose a rigid, politically-charged model that doesn’t re ect the values of most families here,” one Sterling Ranch parent wrote in a letter to the Douglas County District Accountability Committee. “We just passed a bond to build a neighborhood school. We don’t need this.” e decision to seek state-level authorization has fueled the controversy surrounding the charter school’s proposal.
Last December, the Douglas County school board narrowly voted to release the charter’s application to the Colorado Charter School Institute, shifting control away from the district and cutting o future oversight.
“Once you four vote to do this, they will be gone forever and they will never be required to communicate with us again,” board member Brad Geiger said during that
Douglas County’s helitack team, the only locally sponsored program of its kind
across the region.
Space Command HQ report o ers no clear answer
Inspector general highlights concerns on move to Alabama
BY LINDSEY TOOMER
COLORADO NEWSLINE
A U.S. Department of Defense inspector general report evaluating the decision on where to house U.S. Space Command headquarters highlights the key points of contention in the selection process and why certain agencies had a preference on where it should be located.
e report found that while Air Force leaders decided Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, was the preferred location for Space Command because of cost e ciency, Space Command leaders argued Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs, where the headquarters are currently located, made more sense for operational readiness and civilian workforce retention. e agencies also came to di erent conclusions around risk assessment and risk mitigation.
Space Command leaders argued that many of the full-time employees in Colorado Springs would not move to Alabama and would leave their positions. Constructing secure operational facilities in Huntsville would take three to four years after the nal basing decision was made, the report says.
Space Command’s nal location has been a matter of intense debate between Trump’s rst term and former President Joe Biden’s term. Colorado o cials expressed concern that Trump’s decision
to move headquarters to Alabama was politically motivated, because he waited until after the results of the 2020 election to make a decision. Trump won Alabama, but Biden won Colorado. Space Command reached full operational capacity at Peterson Space Force Base by December 2023 after Biden announced at the end of July 2023 it would stay in Colorado Springs.
en-Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall also did not announce a nal location decision after the required environmental review in Huntsville was complete, the inspector general report notes. e report says that the Air Force secretary and the then-secretary of defense, Lloyd Austin, were not interviewed by the inspector general, as the White House would not make them available without Department of Defense legal counsel present.
“A nal location decision by the (Air Force secretary) would have allowed USSPACECOM to begin the process of relocating to (Redstone Arsenal),” the report says. “However, USSPACECOM continued to accelerate its approach of (fulloperational capacity) at its provisional HQ location in Colorado Springs.”
Elected leaders weigh in e report does not make any conclusions about which location would be a better home for Space Command, though members of Congress on both sides of the issue have claimed the report supports their state as the rightful location.
Colorado Democrats in Congress issued a joint statement saying the report con rms that keeping Space Command
in Colorado is in the best interest of national security. at includes U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, and U.S. Reps. Jason Crow of Centennial, Diana DeGette of Denver, Joe Neguse of Lafayette, and Brittany Pettersen of Lakewood.
“Any relocation of U.S. Space Command’s headquarters would threaten our military readiness, cost years of valuable time and resources, and result in an irreversible loss of personnel and expertise,” the statement says. “As our nation’s adversaries are rapidly developing their own space capabilities, we don’t have time to waste. e decision to keep Space Command in Colorado was the right one and will ensure continued operations to safeguard America’s national security.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, an Alabama Republican, claimed soon after President Donald Trump won the 2024 election that the president would relocate Space Command to Alabama. Colorado o cials in Congress from both sides of the aisle have opposed that idea.
Colorado’s Republican delegation in Congress wrote to Trump at the start of April urging him to maintain Space Command’s operational readiness in Colorado Springs, citing the area’s already robust space military infrastructure.
Republican U.S. Reps. Je Crank of Colorado Springs, Lauren Boebert of Windsor, Je Hurd of Grand Junction, and Gabe Evans of Fort Lupton issued a joint statement saying the report con rms that losing civilian personnel in Colorado “will signi cantly impact the full operational capability during a time when our foreign
adversaries pose a real risk to our national security. We cannot a ord to move backwards during such a critical time.”
“China and Russia have advanced the weaponization of space, and the national debt has increased nearly 30% in the past few years,” the statement says. “Transferring the Command at such a turbulent time would jeopardize our national security, needlessly put American lives at risk, and create an unnecessary waste of taxpayer resources.”
Crank’s district, the 5th Congressional District, is home to Peterson Space Force Base and Space Command.
In a statement, Rogers — who chairs the House Armed Services Committee — said the report con rms the Trump administration was correct in choosing Huntsville to house Space Command and that the report “reveals an astounding lack of transparency and accountability by the Biden Administration.”
“ e fact is that the Air Force recommended SPACECOM HQ be built in Huntsville, that any disruption associated with that move could be mitigated, and that moving to Huntsville would save the taxpayer over $420,000,000,” Rogers said in a statement.
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong, also an Alabama Republican, issued a statement on X saying Biden’s decision to keep Space Command in Colorado was “an attempt to further President Biden’s political agenda.”
is story is from Colorado Newsline. Used by permission. For more, and to support the news organization, visit coloradonewsline.com.
U.S. Space Command is provisionally located in the Hartinger Building at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs.
Next Week Colorado Homeowners Will Receive Updated Property Valuations From Their County Assessors
During the first week of May in every odd numbered year, Colorado’s county assessors are required to notify every property owner of the full valuation which the assessor has assigned to each property. Unless revised downward through the statemandated appeal process, that valuation will be the basis of the property tax charged for that year and the following year.
The valuation you receive by letter or postcard is the assessor’s best guess as to what your property might have sold for on June 30th of the previous (even-numbered) year. That assumes, however, that the condition of your home is the same on Jan. 1st of this year and next year as it was on June 30th of last year. If your house is bigger or smaller as of January 1st, that year’s valuation and therefore your property taxes must be adjusted accordingly.
The system actually depends on your participation in correcting the assessor’s valuation which was the result of a computer-driven “mass appraisal” system, because there’s no way that the assessor’s staff of human appraisers could create a valuation for every home in your county. Those appraisers will, however, read or listen to your appeal of the valuation which their system generated for your home. Bottom line, therefore, is that you owe it to yourself and to the county to help the assessor come up with the proper valuation for your home. So how do you do that?
So how do you do that? For commercial properties, which pay roughly four times the
property tax per $100,000, a whole industry has arisen to help property owners (for a fee) get their valuations reduced. Residential taxes are so much lower that those professionals don’t solicit business from residential property owners to assist them in arguing for lower valuations and thereby lower property taxes.
The county assessors are expected to make it easy for property owners to determine whether they correctly estimated your home’s value as of June 30, 2024. For Douglas County, your first step is to visit the assessor’s website https:// douglas.co.us/assessor/, where you can click on the link for 2025/2026 Property Valuation.
For Arapahoe County, the website is https:// arapahoeco.gov/your_county/county_departme nts/assessor/property_search/ but it is not nearly as user friendly as Douglas County’s.
If your home is in a different county, Google that county assessor’s website and the process should be similar to what I describe below.
On the assessor’s web page for your own home, you should be able to look for qualified neighborhood sales that occurred during the eligible period, which is the 24 months prior to June 30, 2024. If you find a good comp to use in your appeal, you need to “time adjust” its sale price. Douglas County does that calculation for you on each comp.
Time adjustment is based on how much homes increased in value during those 24 months. The Arapahoe County assessor will announce the average percentage increase (I’m guessing 2%) in values from June 30, 2022 to June 30, 2024 for that county. Divide that by 24 months to get the increase in values for residential properties per month. That “time adjusted” price is what you need to cite in your appeal.
Note: If, by chance, you bought your home
Celebrate Earth Day With Free Film Screenings This Saturday
The Colorado Environmental Film Festival (CEFF), which I wrote about and co-sponsored in February, returns to the Green Center on the Colorado School of Mines campus this Saturday, April 26th, 1 to 3 pm, for a screening of two environmental films. Admission is free, although a contribution of $12 or more is encouraged.
The first film is Peaks to Prairie and is described as follows: “In Boulder County, an ambitious initiative harnesses the power of nature to combat climate challenges in the peaks and prairie ecosystem. As megafires rage across the Western U.S., millions of acres of nearby agricultural prairies remain degraded, stripped of the nutrients vital for a thriving landscape. To address these challenges, three ecological partners—Boulder Watershed Collective, Grama Grass & Livestock, and Boulder Mushroom—have come together in a pioneering effort to restore the land.”
The second film is Common Ground (43 minutes). It’s described as follows: “From the creators of Kiss the Ground (CEFF’s 2021 Best of the Fest), this eye-opening film explores the regenerative farming movement and its potential to heal the soil, reverse climate change, and restore human health. Featuring passionate farmers, activists, and thought leaders, Common Ground offers a hopeful vision for the future of our planet— and the role we all play in shaping it.”
This nicely updated and well-maintained condo at 10259 W. 55th Drive is in the Skyline Estates subdivision east of Kipling between the campus of Red Rocks Community College’s Arvada campus and the athletic fields on 58th Avenue. When you look out the bedroom window or from the enclosed patio between mature evergreen trees, all you see in greenbelt, a children’s playground and those athletic fields. No traffic noise, just the sounds of birds enjoying our spring weather! This condo is in great condition, as you’ll see when you come to my open
this
The screenings are followed by an audience chat “to dive deeper into the stories, themes, and action steps from each film.”
The Green Center is located at 924 16th Street in downtown Golden. Street and lot parking is free on weekends. I put a link for ordering tickets for as little as $0 on our blog, http://RealEstateToday.substack.com. There are trailers you can click on for each film.
Lennar to Build 1,500 Denver Area Homes Using Geothermal Energy
Lennar, one of the nation’s biggest home builders, announced recently that it is going to build 1,500 homes in the Denver area using geothermal energy to heat and cool them. It’s likely that these will be all-electric homes, although that was not mentioned, since gas will not be needed for space or water heating.
Dandelion Energy is the builder’s partner in the project, using heat pumps to extract heat from the ground in the winter and to extract heat from the homes in the summer. Each home will have its own individually drilled geothermal wells, which surprised me. If the homes are close together, a community geothermal system might make more economic sense.
The goal is to complete the 1,500 homes by the end of 2026, making it the largest residential deployment using geothermal so far.
on or close to June 30, 2024, don’t assume that your purchase price will be the assessor’s valuation of your home, because, regardless of what you paid for your home on June 30, 2024, its valuation is based on what eligible comps indicate it should have sold for. Your home will be only one of three or more comps that the assessor uses to value your home.
Using the procedure described above, it’s possible that your home was valued correctly, but if it was overvalued, you need to appeal using a form that is hopefully on the assessor’s website.
Your form is due in the assessor’s office by June 8, 2025, so you’ll want to mail it by June 1st if you can’t deliver it in person to the assessor’s office. My recommendation is always to request an in-person meeting with the assessor’s office. You can make an appointment or simply show up and wait in line, if it’s like my county.
Spend some time surfing around your county assessor’s website to learn about the appeal process.
Remember above all, the intention is to
This Ad Will Appear Bi-Weekly Instead of Weekly, Starting This Week
Writing the articles for this full-page “advertorial” has been my privilege and passion for over two decades, but I have decided to give myself a break and publish every other week instead of weekly so I can devote more time to my thriving real estate practice and family life. All 26 newspapers in which it appears have graciously allowed me to make this change, and I look forward to having next week “off”! Look for me to return every other week starting now. On those “off” weeks, including May 1st, I’ll be publishing half-page ads on related topics. In next week’s ad, I start a series on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Look for it on this page.
determine what your home was worth on June 30, 2024, not what it is worth today! Your taxes for both 2025 and 2026 will only be based on what your home was worth back then!
Review: My Mustang EV Is a Fine Replacement for My Tesla
A couple months ago, I reported that I had traded in my Tesla Model Y (which I loved) for the Ford Mustang Mach E after testdriving multiple other brands, including Chevrolet, Toyota, Hyundai, Kia and Nissan. Now that I’ve put 1,000 miles on my Mustang, and knowing that many readers may be thinking of trading in their Teslas, I thought it time to play automotive critic and write a review of the Mustang.
A few years ago, I spent 2 weeks driving an F-150 Lightning, which I liked, so I knew I would like the Mustang. Its “BlueCruise” hands-free driving, which only works on divided highways, is quite nice, but not worth (to me) the $50/month subscription fee after my three months’ free trial. It’s nowhere near as nice as Tesla’s “Full Self-Driving (Supervised)” which I reviewed favorably in my Nov. 21, 2024, column and which costs twice times as much ($99 per month or $8,000 purchase).
Without “BlueCruise,” there is lane-keeping and adaptive cruise control which can be used on city streets and arterials. The lanekeeping is not as effective as in the Tesla, wandering to the very edges of lanes instead of keeping strictly to the center, and it gives out on sharper curves, which Tesla is great at. But what I prefer about Ford’s lane-keeping is that it’s automatic. When I break the lanekeeping to change lanes, it locks into the new lane without me having to set it again.
The adaptive cruise control is much better than Tesla’s, because when the posted speed limit changes, it automatically resets the set speed. Since I set it for 10 mph over the speed
limit, when it resets, it sets the new speed control accordingly. Not true on the Tesla. My favorite feature is the “1-Pedal” setting for driving. This uses regenerative braking to slow down the car at a good rate when you release the accelerator pedal. And when it comes to a stop, it holds the car whether on an incline or not. The best thing about it is that once I have set it to “1-Pedal” driving, it is already set every time I drive. (It’s not the factory default setting, which is with minimal regenerative braking and unwanted “creep” as if you were driving a conventional car.)
The “frunk” is not as big as in any Tesla, but it’s bigger than other brands of EV, some of which have no front storage at all.
Like the newer Teslas, there is no need for a key fob (although they give you two), because your phone is your key. Instead of door handles, you touch a button above each door, which pops the door open enough to pull on it. There’s a smartphone app. It’s useful, but not as complete as Tesla’s.
There’s an EV round-up happening in the Arvada United Methodist Church’s lot at 68th and Carr St. this Sunday, April 27, from 9 to noon. I’ll have my car there if you’d like to get a closer look. Also, I wrote more about it at http://RealEstateToday.substack.com
Charities Which Used Our Free Box Truck Miss It. Our GoFundMe Campaign Is Off to a Good Start.
Back in February, I announced that our truck needed a new engine and other repairs and that we decided to retire it instead. This was a big loss to such non-profits as Operation Feed the Troops, Family Promise, BGoldN, Christian Action Guild, Buffalo Bill Days, and the International Rescue Committee, among others, which used the truck more often than our clients!
The truck is off the road but still available to be repaired. So far, we’ve received over $2,000 in donations. If you’d like to contribute, visit www.BringItBack.info. Thanks!
Douglas County turns to Mental Health First Aid
Course was first developed 24 years ago in Australia
BY JULIA KING SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Community health leaders in Douglas County are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected approach to mental wellness.
One tool they’re using is Mental Health First Aid — a course originally developed in Australia in 2001 that is designed to help people recognize signs of mental health or substance use struggles and o er support. Not a diagnostic tool, it’s about giving people the skills to care for one another, said Melissa Harris, community engagement manager at All Health Network, a nonpro t mental health and substance use treatment agency in Colorado.
“Mental health can be everybody’s business, without being in somebody’s business,” Harris said.
Mental Health First Aid courses are offered several times each month in Douglas County. Each session takes about six to eight hours and can be done in person or virtually. Anyone can participate, not just licensed professionals.
ere are several modules available, including Youth Mental Health First Aid, which teaches adults how to support adolescents aged 12 to 18. ere are also classes that focus on rural communities, tribal and Indigenous communities, older adults, teens and veterans.
But at the core of these di erent classes, “the skills are all the same,” Harris said.
Participants are taught to follow “ALGEE,” a ve-step action plan for supporting someone in a mental health crisis.
e acronym stands for: Assess for risk of harm, Listen, Give reassurance and information, Encourage professional help such as calling 911 or 988, and Encourage self-help strategies like breathing exercises or connecting with loved ones.
Suicide is among the leading causes of death in the United States, and the numbers continue to trend upward. From 2015 to 2019, there were “widespread increases” in depression without equiva-
lent increases in treatment, according to a study by the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Health professionals in Douglas County have been weaving a safety net in the hopes of bringing those numbers down and reducing the stigma around mental wellness. Mental Health First Aid training became part of that e ort in 2019, when the Mental Health Collaborative, formerly the Douglas County Mental Health Initiative, created a blueprint for a community-based mental health system.
e training was proposed as part of that blueprint “to change the culture in Douglas County around emotional wellness,” said Laura Ciancione, manager of the Douglas County Mental Health Division.
e blueprint identi ed four demographics — middle-aged men, older adults, transition-aged youth and rural communities — as most likely to bene t from Mental Health First Aid training because they are “at disproportionate risk for suicidal ideation and suicide attempts,” said Ciancione.
Across the country, deaths continue to
be more common among boys and men than girls and women, according to 2024 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. e highest suicide rate for any group was in men ages 75 and older, at about 44 suicides per 100,000.
Older adults — those in their late 50s to seniors over 70 — face unique challenges like social isolation, loss of family and a lack of support networks, which can contribute to psychological distress, said Laura Larson, Douglas County’s assistant director for community health.
Also to contend with is the signi cant impact of social media and technology on youth, which was particularly clear during the pandemic. e isolation caused by COVID was especially hard for youth, as that time “took them to a place where they no longer had their peers around them,” Larson said.
“We’re continuing to try to gure out how to create safe spaces where people can come in and really feel like they can connect with others who may be walking on the same journey as they are,” Larson added. “So, we’re getting there.”
Community members in Douglas County are attending Mental Health First
Aid for reasons “across the board,” according to Jennifer Morris, a special education teacher for the Douglas County School District, who is also certi ed to teach the course.
Sometimes, companies or organizations will suggest that their sta take the training. But typically, people have a personal connection, whether it’s a family member, a friend, or their own mental health journey.
“ e interventions themselves are very basic … it really shows people they do have the skills to support someone,” Morris said. “I think people are often hesitant to help because they don’t know what to do or they don’t want to do the wrong thing.”
e Mental Health First Aid training is made possible through a grant from the Behavioral Health Administration. e training is one piece of the county’s larger initiative. As part of a wider push, the Board of Douglas County Commissioners in 2023 announced seven bene ciaries of suicide prevention grants, totaling a $1.37 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding investment in suicide prevention in the county over three years.
The Douglas County Mental Health Collaborative celebrated its 10-year anniversary last year in Castle Rock. COURTESY OF DREW BOUCHARD/DOUGLAS COUNTY PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Republican Lopez makes 3rd run for governor
Former Parker mayor, 4th CD stand-in says ‘We can’t a ord to sit back’
BY CAITLYN KIM CPR NEWS
Republican Greg Lopez is hoping the third time’s the charm.
He’s joining an increasingly crowded field of candidates and launching another bid for governor.
“It feels like we’re losing the Colorado we love, but we don’t have to accept this,” Lopez said in a videotaped announcement. He highlighted affordability issues, public safety and government regulations. “The future of Colorado is on the line. We can’t afford to sit back.”
His message also stressed political unity.
CLEAR VISION
Greg Lopez speaks during the GOP assembly at the Broadmoor World Arena on Saturday, April 9, 2022, in Colorado Springs.
PHOTO BY HUGH CAREY/THE COLORADO SUN SEE LOPEZ, P7
“We’ve been told we must pick sides, we’re too different to work together. But I don’t believe that for a second. We don’t need more political games, we need real leadership,” he said.
Lopez touted, “people over politics,” in his gubernatorial launch, saying it was a movement “about listening, not dividing.” It’s a phrase that’s been used by congressional Democrats in the last few years.
Earlier this year, Lopez finished a short
term-stint as a member of Congress. He was elected in a 2024 special election to finish the rest of GOP Rep. Ken Buck’s term in the Republican-stronghold 4th Congressional District.
He touted himself as a place holder candidate during the vacancy committee meeting, vowing to serve only six months and not run for a full term in the seat, which is now held by U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert. Lopez ran for the Republican nomination for governor in 2022, losing out to Heidi Ganahl in the primary. In 2018, he came in third in the Republican primary.
He was also the lead plaintiff in a
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case last year to try to overturn Colorado’s limits on campaign contributions, which was seen as a sign that Lopez planned to try again to be the state’s chief executive.
Lopez was elected the mayor of Parker in the 1990s. He also served as the Colorado Director of the Small Business Administration from 2008-2014. In 2020, the Trump Department of Justice and Lopez settled claims that he violated conflict of interest rules.
Current governor, Democrat Jared Polis, is term-limited.
The last time a Republican was elected governor of Colorado was in 2002, when Bill Owens won his second term.
A number of Republicans have already entered the race, including state Sen. Mark Baisley, state Rep. Scott Bottoms and Teller Country Sheriff Jason Mikesell. Two Democrats have also entered the race: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser. The primary is more than 14 months away. This story was produced by the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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Other Front Range counties are also strengthening their wild re response strategies, though they’re taking di erent approaches.
For example, Je erson County is working to secure funding for ground-based re mitigation and suppression crews. e Je erson County Sheri ’s O ce has identied resources needed for a more comprehensive response program, including suppression resources like crews and engines, and has submitted proposals and funding requests, according to Mark Techmeyer, director of public a airs for the sheri ’s o ce.
Boulder County does not have an aviation program of its own “primarily because of the costs associated with such resources,” said Seth McKinney, re management o cer in Boulder County.
Instead, Boulder relies on mutual aid agreements and the nearby state and federal helitack resources based in Broom eld, and the county has a “large, dedicated” workforce of re ghters trained in both engine and handcrew operations.
It’s not necessarily critical for every county to have its own helicopter, Laydon said. Ultimately, Douglas County envisions a more collaborative approach to expanding re mitigation infrastructure across the Front Range. at could mean working with nearby counties to jointly fund and base a Type 1 “ rehawk-level” helicopter, Alexander said. Unlike
state or federal assets that can be deployed elsewhere, this aircraft would be dedicated to Front Range counties contributing to the partnership.
“ is would be a tremendous boost to our re response capability,” Alexander said. “ e nice thing about this concept is this helicopter would be dedicated to these counties, as opposed to our state and federal partners ... which have jurisdictions far, far larger than just the metro region.”
With warmer days ahead, the area is bracing for an active re season. On April 12, a U.S. Forest Service helicopter responded to a wild re near the Turkey Tracks Shooting Range in Douglas County — an early reminder of what may come.
“ e current long-range forecasts predict a drier and warmer-thanaverage start to summer,” said Alexander. “ at can tend to lead to an increase in re activity.”
Still, he noted, forecasts can shift quickly.
“Mother Nature has her way of changing things as soon as we think we know what she’s doing,” Alexander said. “Weather can change. Welcome to Colorado.”
Last year was Douglas County’s busiest wild re season yet for helicopter deployments. Since 2006, Douglas County has seen about a 60% increase in the ve-year average re occurrence.
e county is o ering a 50% costshare program to residents who are willing to clear wild re-prone vegetation — such as dry brush and Gambel oak — from their properties. So far, the initiative has helped mitigate over 1,500 acres.
Douglas County’s helitack team in action. Pictured is the team responding to the 2024 Twin Forks fire on US 285 in Je erson County. COURTESY OF DOUGLAS COUNTY HELITACK EMPLOYEES
Coalition holds ‘Justice for Jalin Seabron’ at sheri ’s HQ
Man holding gun outside shooting scene was killed by deputy
BY FRANK DEANGELI
TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
A coalition of Black-led groups held a “Justice for Jalin Seabron” rally outside the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce in Castle Rock on April 17. e stated purpose of the rally was to demand accountability for a Feb. 8 police shooting at Main Event entertainment center in Highlands Ranch that left 23-year-old Seabron dead.
Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership CEO MiDian Shofner, acting as the Seabron family’s representative, delivered the opening speech before introducing various local and national guests.
“We came out to Douglas County today because this is where the story is at right now. is is a moment inside of a movement,” Shofner said. “Jalin Seabron should be alive, period.”
Seabron was fatally shot by a Douglas County sheri ’s deputy while he was brandishing a handgun outside of Main
Event, following a shooting inside the facility in which his half-sister, Nevaeha Crowley-Sanders, now stands accused.
District Attorney George Brauchler’s ofce investigated the deputy’s shooting and found it justi able.
Shofner introduced Texas activist Quanell X, leader of the New Black Panther Nation in Houston.
“ is will continue to happen unless Black people in Colorado mobilize and organize themselves to where they will be respected, because your unity is so powerful, your unity is so strong,” said Quanell X. “We want complete, constructive, absolute change in the hearts and minds of those in power when it comes to Black life.
In addition to his speech at the Castle Rock rally, Quanell X said his o ce has sent letters to the federal Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and to Gov. Jared Polis with the intent of opening new investigations into Seabron’s death.
Shofner, who has previously requested a conversation with Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Gov. Jared Polis, said she has not heard from either regarding Seabron’s case. e coalition is “assuming that (they) are going to have to provoke that intervention.”
We partner with some of the best enrichment providers in Colorado to put together a variety of camps in theater, art, science, and more to give kids unique opportunities to explore the world of culture through creativity! Half-day and full-day options are available.
MiDian Shofner addresses a crowd during a “Justice for Jalin Seabron” rally on April 17 outside of the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce in Castle Rock.
PHOTOS BY FRANK DEANGELI
Two activists stand outside the Douglas County Sheri ’s O ce in Castle Rock during a “Justice for Jalin Seabron” rally on April 17.
CHARTER SCHOOL
December meeting.
e board members who voted in favor of the request said they favored charter autonomy and believed it would protect the school from leadership changes that may oppose policy waivers.
Ellie Reynolds, founder of John Adams Academy in Douglas County, did not respond to a request for comment by Colorado Community Media by press time.
Curriculum rooted in classical ideals
According to the application, John Adams Academy would implement what it calls an “American Classical Leadership Education” model. e curriculum emphasizes the study of classic literature, primary source documents and Socratic discussion. It also includes oral exams, patriotic songs and daily ag ceremonies as part of a school culture focused on civic virtue and character development.
e school’s stated goal is to cultivate “servant leaders” prepared to defend liberty and participate in self-government. Lessons would center around four pillars: Core Values, the Classics, the Liberal Arts and the Art of Mentoring.
e application frames its approach as a departure from “modern education models that simply focus on standardized testing and workforce preparation,” and instead prioritizes developing students who can “think deeply, lead ethically and defend freedom.”
Despite its distinctive ideological framework, the school’s academic plan commits to meeting or exceeding Colorado’s graduation standards. e application outlines plans to align coursework with state benchmarks, implement Individual
Career and Academic Plans and o er required credit hours across core content areas.
John Adams Academy currently operates three campuses in northern California, serving more than 4,000 students. e application describes those schools as high-performing, with an equal number of students on waitlists.
But critics in Douglas County have pointed to publicly available data suggesting those campuses underperform compared to state averages.
One Sterling Ranch resident wrote in a letter to the District Accountability Committee: “ ese old-fashioned methods sti e creativity and critical thinking and exacerbate existing learning de cits.”
Others have questioned whether the model is designed to serve a broad public audience or a narrower ideological niche.
“ e way they describe the curriculum makes it clear they’re pushing a very particular worldview,” said one parent who spoke at a recent district meeting. “It doesn’t sound like education for everyone — it sounds like education for people who already agree with them.”
Enrollment demand or duplication?
In its application, John Adams Academy projects steady growth from 410 students in its rst year to 825 by year ve. As of March 24, the school reported collecting 291 letters of intent and said it expects to reach 350 before the Colorado Charter School Institute makes a nal decision in June.
But that gure still falls short of the 410 students needed to meet the school’s rstyear enrollment goal, and, potentially, its budget assumptions. e proposed budget relies heavily on per-pupil funding, meaning under-enrollment in the rst year could trigger nancial shortfalls or require signi cant adjustments.
Even among the intent-to-enroll numbers, there are signs of a mismatch. ree dozen families expressed interest in enrolling eighth graders, but the school does not plan to o er eighth grade until the second year. at gap raises additional questions about how many letters of intent re ect students who would actually be eligible to attend when the school opens. e application frames early interest as evidence of unmet demand in the Sterling Ranch area, where population growth continues.
However, critics argue that demand doesn’t justify launching a new charter school, especially when the district already plans to open a neighborhood school in the same area in 2027.
students and 31 teachers.
e application includes no tuition revenue and minimal outside fundraising, meaning nearly all income depends on meeting enrollment projections and receiving full state funding. If the school fails to enroll enough students, it could face a signi cant gap between expected revenue and actual funding.
On the expense side, the school proposes average teacher salaries starting at $52,000, with administrative sta ng ramping up alongside enrollment.
e budget also accounts for payments to the American Classical Lyceum, a contracted public bene t corporation tied to John Adams Academy in California. e application does not detail the cost breakdown of that relationship or how much will be spent on management fees, curriculum licensing or other services.
Several opponents also noted in letters to the district that the district is closing or consolidating neighborhood schools in nearby Highlands Ranch due to declining enrollment, raising questions about whether capacity is truly a concern.
Still, some families argued that the interest in John Adams Academy re ects a legitimate desire for educational alternatives.
“My neighbors and I have had to send our kids outside the area just to access charter schools,” one Sterling Ranch resident wrote in a letter supporting the application. “ ere are more than enough students here for two schools.”
Budget and sta ng raise sustainability questions
In year one, John Adams Academy anticipates bringing in just under $4.6 million to support 410 students and 16 fulltime teachers. By year ve, that number climbs to more than $9.8 million with 825
e Colorado Charter School Institute requires new schools to present a realistic and sustainable nancial plan. According to its guidance, budgets should re ect conservative enrollment estimates and include contingency planning – areas where critics say the John Adams Academy proposal falls short.
“ ey’re relying almost entirely on optimistic enrollment numbers and state funding,” one opponent wrote in a letter to the District Accountability Committee. “ ere’s very little room for error. If the numbers don’t materialize, the school and its students will feel it immediately.”
e Colorado Charter School Institute has 90 days from the submission date, March 24, to evaluate the application and issue a decision. at process includes a public meeting, a sta review and a
nal vote by the board.
Ellie Reynolds, a founding member of the proposed John Adams Academy charter school, speaks to the Douglas County School Board at a previous meeting. John Adams Academy’s application to the Colorado Charter School Institute was submitted in March.
SCREENSHOT OF DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
Sterling Ranch, a fast-growing planned community in northwest Douglas County, is projected to include more than 12,000 homes at full build-out, according to the Sterling Ranch Commu-
Authority Board.
Tivoli taphouse closes for good on Auraria Campus
BY ANDREW KENNEY
Tivoli Brewing Company is ending its 10-year run on the Auraria Campus in Denver.
e taphouse has been closed since Dec. 16, but the campus and the beer company said they were working on a new lease.
at never happened, and the closure of the taphouse became o cial with a joint announcement on April 15.
“We appreciate Tivoli Brewing Company’s contributions over the years and extend our best wishes for their future endeavors,” read a statement from the Auraria Campus, which is home to CU Denver, Community College of Denver and MSU Denver.
Tivoli’s location posed challenges
Ari Opsahl, the CEO of Tivoli Brewing Co., previously said it could be di cult to operate a bar on a college campus.
“Parking can be a challenge. Most of our business is driven by either students on campus, obviously above 21, or events at Ball Arena,” Opsahl told Denverite earlier this year. “When those two things are not there, it is extremely di cult to pull consumers and customers into the taphouse.”
e taphouse was a popular spot for Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche fans on their way to Ball Arena.
e Tivoli name has a long history on
the campus.
e “Colorado Brewery” was the rst brewery in the state when it opened in Auraria in 1864, according to the Colorado Encyclopedia. It was later renamed as the “Tivoli” brewery, housed in a “one-ofa-kind” structure with “a unique combination of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Rococo in uences,” according to the encyclopedia.
e historic brewery building later became a shopping center and then, in the 1990s, it was transformed into the Tivoli Student Union, serving students of the Auraria Campus.
More recently, Tivoli Brewing Company was resurrected by local entrepreneurs in 2012 and opened a taphouse in the Tivoli Student Union building in 2015.
Tivoli Brewing made beer on-site for several years after opening the taphouse, but moved production to La Junta in 2023.
“ e Tivoli Student Union and the Tivoli Quad names will remain the same,” campus spokesperson Devra Ashby wrote in an email. “ e Auraria Campus is in talks with a potential partner about the space. We will release more information when we are able.”
e building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
is story is from Denverite, a Denver news site. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite. com.
DENVERITE
The Tivoli Student Union and Brewery, the heart of the Auraria Campus that serves the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the Community College of Denver.
PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY
The season of new beginnings
Spring has arrived, bringing with it the unmistakable signs of new beginnings. e air is warmer, the days are getting longer, and nature is waking up from its winter slumber. e robins are back, hopping across lawns as they search for food, and the trees are beginning to bud, promising a vibrant canopy of green. Flowers are cautiously peeking through the soil, eager to bloom. For those of us in colder climates, this change is not just welcome, it’s eagerly anticipated. We aren’t quite yearning for the sweltering heat of summer, but the gentle warmth and the hint of what’s to come are a comfort. In past columns, I’ve shared thoughts on new beginnings, each time re ecting on how they can mean di erent things to di erent people. Whether it’s the New Year, a new job, or even a signi cant life transition, the idea of starting fresh resonates with all of us in one way or another. Yet, spring brings a unique sense of renewal. It’s not just the visible changes in nature but the feeling of being reinvigorated after a season of waiting and hoping.
of year. While some see the New Year as a moment to set new goals or make resolutions, Easter carries a deeper meaning for many of us. It’s not just about making a change; it’s about being transformed. It calls us to look inward, examine our spiritual lives, and consider how our relationship with God might shape who we are becoming.
Easter is one of the most profound symbols of new beginnings at this time
Easter invites us to re ect on what we want to do di erently and who we want to become. It’s a time to think about how to deepen our relationships, with our families, friends, and even strangers. Easter has always been more about the heart than the calendar. As I grow older, I focus less on grand resolutions and more on small, intentional steps that lead to meaningful change. is change is not driven by external forces or societal pressure but by a desire to live with greater purpose and connection. In a world that is changing faster than ever, driven by technology, evolving social norms, and shifting perspectives,
There is one major di erence in how an average person approaches investing compared to a high-networth individual: e wealthier one can a ord to invest like they don’t need to. No surprise — the more money you have, the less you need to keep your assets liquid for near-term use. As performance tends to improve the longer you are invested, this may be a good lesson for dealing with the current stock market volatility. Long-term investors are not tempted to sell when prices are low but instead are likely to invest more.
Invest like you don’t need to FINANCIAL STRATEGIES
A recent study shows that the top concerns of high-net-worth investors are similar to those of anyone trying to grow their net worth. According to the CNBC survey,¹ the biggest deterrents to personal wealth are poor stock market performance, rising in ation and U.S. government dysfunction. Since all of these things are out of our control, it can be di cult to plan — unless you only invest money you won’t need in the near future. It’s human nature to be competitive and want instant grati cation. at makes it hard to stick with your losers and trim your winners. However, the shift in di erent asset classes early this year makes a clear argument for active rebalancing. e huge increase in large-company tech stock value in 2024 was obviously too good to last. Even so, many investors did not heed the warning signs that a few stocks were overvalued and missed attractive opportunities in the rest of the market.
It is also helpful to watch activity quarterly, or at least annually, across di erent asset classes to see what is in favor. Monitoring these patterns helps establish a realistic time frame for investments, revealing, for example, that categories such as small-company value stocks may take ve years or more to deliver competi-
it’s essential to recognize that true personal growth is a slower, more deliberate process. Unlike technological advancements, which seem to burst onto the scene almost overnight, personal change often happens quietly, through re ection and commitment. It’s born internally, shaped by our deepest desires and new insights, and slowly manifested in our actions and attitudes.
We can’t overlook that the world inuences how we think and feel about new beginnings. e information we consume, the conversations we have, and the voices we choose to listen to all shape our beliefs and attitudes. at’s why it’s so important to pause and listen to the voice from our heart and mind, especially in a season like this when we’re naturally inclined to think about renewal and transformation.
Easter remains a powerful reminder of the most signi cant new beginning I can embrace, strengthening my relationship with God. It’s not about making sweeping changes or setting lofty goals but about seeking more profound connections with God, those I love, and those I don’t yet know. It’s about being more welcoming, open, and intentional in
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Home rule is political theatrics
how I show up in the world. As the world around us continues to change, sometimes at a dizzying pace, let’s remember that the most meaningful changes are the ones that start within us.
As we embrace this season of renewal, let’s challenge ourselves to witness the new growth around us and nurture it within us. Let the robin’s song remind us that change is inevitable and beautiful. Let the budding trees and blooming owers inspire us to grow in ways that re ect our values and aspirations. And most importantly, let the spirit of Easter guide us toward becoming the best version of ourselves, rooted in faith, love, and the promise of new beginnings. I would love to hear your “new beginnings” story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we can begin that transformative journey from within, 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.
tive returns. ese stocks clearly march to a different drummer, so they could add diversi cation — as long as you buy them with money you won’t need for a while.
Economic conditions also play a role here; as interest rates change, smalland mid-size companies are impacted di erently than their larger counterparts. is is where your nancial advisor can help you navigate with an updated plan.
Most advisers track weekly heat maps that show how stock valuations are changing and where market performance lies per category. ese maps reveal trends in value and growth strategies, among other investment types. e heat map for the rst quarter of this year is predominantly red, indicating a negative return across value and growth, and small-, mid- and large-cap stocks in eight out of nine categories. Only large-cap value is slightly positive. is is a big adjustment from last year when growth greatly outperformed value and all segments were positive.²
Trimming those winners could have helped reduce volatility in your portfolio. is is very di erent than trying to time the market, which is more likely to give you whiplash and unnecessary stress. Now more than ever, it is crucial to keep your plan current and schedule an update meeting with your advisor.
1. CNBC.com/2023/06/07 millionairesbiggest-wealth-threats
2. Capital Market Performance JHancock.3.28.25
Douglas County residents will soon be asked if they want to become a home rule county. Do not be misled by this. It doesn’t do what it sounds like. It mostly pertains to mundane procedural matters. e county isn’t going to be able to thumb its nose at the state and do whatever it wants. It isn’t going to be able to poke the governor in the eye. It isn’t going to be able to opt out of state law. Masking would have still been required. Grocery bag fees aren’t going away. is is political theatrics. It’s grandstanding by the county commissioners so they can say they’re “ ghting for you.” It’s performative.
I suggest you educate yourselves and research what home rule really means. en tell the commissioners to put the election money to better use.
Chris Demarest, Castle Rock
School meals program is essential
I am writing in support of Healthy School Meals for All. is is an essential program for Colorado’s schoolchildren. Ensuring no-cost healthy school meals for all students helps mitigate educational disparities that are exacerbated by hunger and poverty and helps to ensure that all children can thrive.
Research shows that food insecurity signi cantly impacts the ability to learn in the classroom, which translates into signi cant health, economic, and social disparities in the future. Access to healthy school meals improves academic achievement. It boosts attendance and improves student behavior. It also helps to improve health outcomes. Healthy School Meals for All is a critical component of addressing hunger and helping to advance both racial and food justice. is helps level the playing eld and reduce longstanding disparities in nutrition, health, and education.
rates of poor health by at least 29 percent. School breakfast, in particular, has been linked to positive impacts on mental health, including reductions in behavioral problems, anxiety, and depression. As a pediatrician, I see the health bene ts of free school meals every day. As a Coloradan who cares about children’s health and cares about creating more just communities, I urge our state lawmakers to pass House Bill 25-1274 to ensure that this e ective and successful program is fully funded.
Making sure that kids have access to free and healthy school lunch reduces
Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All program provides healthy and free breakfast and lunch to students in K-12. It is making a positive di erence to ensure that kids in our state have the nutrition they need to be healthy, to learn, and to thrive. It is critical that our state lawmakers ensure this e ective and successful program is fully funded by passing House Bill 25-1274. School meals are an investment in our kids, our schools, our families and our communities.
Dr. Margaret Tomcho, MPH/MSPH American Academy of Pediatrics — Colorado Chapter, Denver
Elizabeth alumni say: Return the books In response to the article “Library limbo continues in Elizabeth”: We now direct this question, rst posed by mis t teen Miles in “Looking for Alaska,” to Superintendent Snowberger and the Elizabeth C-1 School Board regarding their September 2024 decision to eliminate 19 books (including aforementioned book) from school libraries under the partisan justi cation of a “commitment to conservative values.” As district alumni, we are outraged not only by the removal and alleged destruction of these books but also the district’s continued appeal — funded in part by taxpayer dollars — of the court’s repeated instruction to return the titles.
Patricia Kummer is managing director for Mariner, an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.
Patricia Kummer
LETTERS
Let’s be clear: Censorship disguised as moral stewardship is still censorship. This book ban violates the Supreme Court’s ruling in Board of Education v. Pico affirming “local school boards may not remove books … simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books.” Worse, the district demonstrated a shocking disregard for professional standards and lack of due diligence in the book evaluation process. The district relied on a now-defunct, non-credentialed, volunteer-run site promoting arbitrary obscenity ratings called Book Looks. This removal process and continued appeal have since emboldened hateful rhetoric among community members; some commentary equated stories about queer and trans-identifying individuals to pornography and labeled judges as groomers. These actions by the district set a dangerous precedent. They undermine trust in public education, callously distort our shared intellectual legacy, and give a platform to amplify prejudice.
For a district whose Profile of a Graduate claims to prepare “independent learners,” how can one expect students to be openminded thinkers if their access to ideas is dictated by partisan ideology? Shielding students from diverse human experiences and perspectives doesn’t prepare them for adulthood. Rather, it diminishes their readiness to navigate our complex world. Removing “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison stripped students of a critical Advanced Placement text and places them at a competitive disadvantage for college readiness. Removing “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini erased one of the few district library texts describing Afghan culture and Taliban rule.
End this legal battle and sensationalized media tour.
Use tax dollars to expand student opportunity, not destroy it.
Return the books.
Colton Arciniaga, Denver (EHS Class of 2020, valedictorian)
Marianne Hughes, Brooklyn, New York, (EHS Class of 2016, valedictorian)
Ellen Hughes, Denver (EHS Class of 2013, senior class secretary)
Henry Imperial, Castle Rock (EHS Class of 2013, band leadership, Young Republicans)
Vote no on home rule
As citizens and taxpayers in Douglas County who believe in transparency, accountability, and responsible governance, we are deeply concerned about the current push for home rule — and we strongly urge voters to say no on June 24.
First, this rushed initiative to place home rule on the ballot will come at a steep cost to taxpayers — a staggering $500,000 for a special election that didn’t need to happen this way.
Second, unlike other grassroots-led efforts, this push is being driven by just three people in power, not by the broader community. When those already holding authority take the reins of such a significant change without wide public input, it raises serious red flags.
Most troubling are indications that open meeting laws may have been violated, and that much of this process was planned outside the public’s view. That’s not how good government works — that’s how trust erodes.
We believe in good governance, not governance behind closed doors. That’s why we encourage voters to protect transparency and accountability by voting no on Home Rule on June 24.
Doug and Eiko Browning, MD Highlands Ranch
Home rule is waste of money
When I heard that Douglas County was considering home rule one question jumped out — Why? Why do the county commissioners want home rule?
There is not anything inherently good or bad about home rule. At its simplest level, adopting a home rule charter allows a local government to restructure itself to legislate on issues of a purely local concern. Importantly, home rule does not allow local governments to exempt themselves from existing state laws. There are 102 home rule municipalities in Colorado, including every city and town in Douglas County.
Home rule counties are more unusual. Of Colorado’s 64 counties, only four are home rule. Two of those, Denver and Broomfield, are integrated city and county entities — essentially large municipalities. Another is Pitkin County, which is essentially just Aspen, Snowmass, and Basalt. The final home rule county in the state is Weld — which would also make it the only similarly situated county to us if Douglas County adopts a home rule charter. Weld County adopted its home rule charter 50 years ago.
This disparity makes sense because most of the benefits of home rule are more easily realized at the municipality level. Building codes can vary by city. Municipal criminal codes address local concerns. City police departments enforce those codes with charges written into municipal courts. Meanwhile, we already have county courts and municipalities within a county may want different building codes. With all Douglas County cities and towns already under home rule charters, what need is there for a county home rule charter?
And yet, the county commissioners already spent $500,000 in taxpayer money to start a project that may end up costing much more. Commissioner George Teal is quoted as listing “COVID-19 precautions, gun regulations, taxation and immigration” as the motivation for home rule. But COVID is long past over, home rule does not allow the county to exempt itself from state gun laws, and it’s unclear what the county thinks it can do on taxation or immigration.
County home rule is a solution searching for a problem, not the panacea the county commissioners would have us believe. We’re talking about a process that allows reorganization of the government structure, not secession. We already enjoy any benefit that home rule can provide because every municipality in Douglas County is already home rule. This is a waste of taxpayer money with no benefit. Vote no on home rule.
Tom
Walton, Parker
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Veronica Blugerman, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend passed away peacefully at the age of 95, in Centennial, CO. Veronica will be remembered for her inner and outer beauty, intelligence, strength, loyalty, perseverance, sense
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Parker mom honors deceased son through the literary world
Book sales help support suicide prevention and awareness charities
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
Ever since she can remember, Parker resident Jill Marks has had a love for reading and writing.
She remembers her fth-grade teacher introducing her to “ e Hobbit,” and learning big words through the Lockheed Martin technical documents that her mom read for work.
“I’ve always had a love for words,” Marks said.
After years of trying to cope with the loss of her son, Marks looked to her long-time passion to help turn her pain into an ongoing adventure while keeping her son’s memory alive.
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Marks’ son, Guy, was a light in her life. He loved DC Comics — Batman being his favorite — was a hard worker, graduated from Chaparral High school and, at 6-foot-7, he was the one the family would call to reach the top of the Christmas tree.
“ e easiest way to describe Guy was that he was younger than his years,” Marks said.
But he also faced di culties. Guy was diagnosed with borderline Asperger’s syndrome and throughout school, he often had to face bullies.
After graduating from high school, Guy moved to Oregon. en on May 11, 2017, Guy took his own life at the age of 18.
Every month on the 11th, rain or shine, Marks goes out to Seven Stones Chat eld Cemetery to spend time with her son, who is buried under a Crimson Spire Oak tree. e sunglasses he used to wear all the time remain in the branches of the tree.
“It’s tall and skinny like him,” Marks said of the tree. ree years ago, while sitting in front of her son’s headstone,
which reads, “warrior up,” Marks began to tell Guy what his life would have been like had he lived. e scenario entailed Guy earning his CNA license and a degree in physical therapy, and marrying a woman with whom he traveled the world to help children.
A few months after her son’s death, Marks adopted a blue and brown eyed, 6-year-old shih poo named Princess Buttercup and there was an immediate bond.
A year later, she got another dog named Westley.
It was a February morning in 2024 when Marks woke up and had the idea to write a story that included her dogs and family. She grabbed a notebook and pen, and within ve hours, “ e Travels of Princess Buttercup and Westley: Bye-Bye to New York” was born.
“It just came to me,” said Marks. “It incorporates my love for my fur babies and the love for my family.”
Marks started her own publishing company, Bubbles Publishing Limited, found an illustrator and taught herself how to format the book. e rst book holds a photo of her children and real dogs as a dedication.
is year, Marks released her second book, “ e Travels of Princess Buttercup and Westley: Bye-Bye to Great Britain.
Both books are inspired by one of her favorite memories of spending time with her family. When Guy was 15, the family spent 24 hours in New York, immediately followed by 10 days in
Great Britain.
In the books, dad Mike, mom Jill, and children Lilly and Guy travel with Princess Buttercup and Westley to explore iconic landmarks, castles and villages. roughout the books, Westley overcomes his trepidation by trying new things, and learns that saying “bye-bye” to home isn’t always a bad thing.
Marks hopes the books will inspire kids and their families to travel the world, just as she has been doing in the past few years.
Based on her travels to South Africa, Marks’ next book will be “ e Travels of Princess Buttercup and Westley: Bye-Bye to South Africa.”
She also hopes the books will help kids learn vocabulary, as well as about di erent cultures. She includes bigger words throughout the books, and on the sides of the paragraphs are “Big Word Bubbles” with the big word in it and a description of what the word means.
For example, she has “pranced means bouncy steps,” and “exploration means to look around.”
Writing these books has been part of Marks’ healing process and a way for her to feel close to her son. e books will allow Guy to “live forever in the literary world,” Marks said.
“ e Travels of Princess Buttercup and Westley” books are available on Amazon. A portion of the proceeds are donated to suicide prevention and awareness charities.
Jill Marks, a Parker resident, reads her second book, “The Travels of Princess Buttercup and Westley: Bye-Bye to Great Britain,” at The Studio at Mainstreet in downtown Parker.
PHOTO BY HALEY LENA
Guy Marks’ senior photo from Chaparral High School. COURTESY OF JILL MARKS
Student group inspired these 7 state laws
Now, funding woes will likely end Colorado Youth Advisory Council
BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT
State Rep. Hugh McKean saw a problem. Although Colorado had an outlet for students to talk with lawmakers about issues relevant to them, those conversations happened near the end of the legislative session, and the students’ priorities often got lost.
So in 2019, the late Republican lawmaker from Loveland helped pass a law to revamp the Colorado Youth Advisory Council. It allowed students to meet before the legislative session to discuss priorities and present policy proposals, with up to three getting drafted into bills.
“ ey can come and present their ideas and re ne those ideas right here in the Capitol,” McKean said at the time.
But now, after six years of being able to draft real bills that have a shot at becoming law, COYAC is expected to lose that power. What started as a conversation among state lawmakers about cutting about $50,000 to run the program amid a $1.2 billion budget shortfall this year turned into altering the program after Republican leadership said it has strayed away from its original mission.
Republican leadership also said that legislators are paying for the group to draft laws — a few of which conservative lawmakers, who are in the minority, have opposed. ey’ve argued the legislature doesn’t do that for other groups.
e program was created in 2008 by former Durango Republican Rep. Ellen Roberts and brings together 40 students between the ages of 14 and 19 from Colorado’s 35 Senate districts and the Ute Mountain Ute and Southern Ute tribes.
Students serve two-year terms.
Since 2019, student ideas have inspired more than a dozen bills, including the three under consideration this year. One proposal would reduce food waste in schools. Another bill would have students on the council advise lawmakers on the youth opioid crisis.
Sarah Moss, COYAC director, has pointed out how valuable the program is to the students. She’s pleaded with lawmakers to keep it, because students learn about
the legislative process, how to talk with lawmakers, and other valuable skills. While the program will go on helping students learn and experience the legislative process, it’s clear students won’t be able to get legislation in front of lawmakers any longer. With that power gone, here are seven of the most signi cant laws that the council has helped inspire:
Student preferred names
One of the council’s more contentious bills, House Bill 24-1039 was an e ort by students to support transgender youth and protect them from bullying. e law says educators must call students by their preferred name upon request. Supporters said it reduces discrimination against transgender students and creates a more inclusive environment
statewide. Colorado House and Senate Democrats, who are in the majority, overwhelmingly supported the bill.
Meanwhile, opponents at the time pushed back because they felt it would infringe on educator and parent rights.
College financial assistance for foster youth
In 2021, COYAC students recognized that students in the foster care system had trouble getting to college. Citing a report from the University of Denver’s Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab, they highlighted that only 13.4% of students who entered foster care at age 13 enrolled in college by age 21.
eir focus on the issue helped lawmakers le Senate Bill 22-008. e law sets aside $5 million a year in nancial aid support for the about 4,500 foster kids
statewide who might decide to go to col-
Student mental health resources
COYAC students had a hand in the information on Colorado student identiHouse Bill 22-1052 requires the identication cards to include the number, the website, and text to talk number of the 24-hour state’s crisis service center and Safe2Tell, a violence intervention and prevention program for students to anonymously report threats.
Eating disorder prevention
Colorado residents also have resources about eating disorders thanks to student
Senate Bill 23-014 created the Disordered Eating Prevention Program within the Department of Public Health and Environment, as well as a research grant that helped fund studies on the impacts and how to prevent eating disorders. e program holds information for Colorado residents on interventions, treatments, and other educational resources. Budget cuts will eliminate the program
Student voice in academic
Senate Bill 23-008 created opportunities for students to get involved in the state’s education standards review, giving students a voice in what they learn.
Student discipline review committee
A COYAC idea helped the state dig into discipline practices and whether certain groups of students were being disproportionately disciplined. Senate Bill 23-029 created a task force made up of 18 members and charged with reviewing discipline data and policies. It released a nal report in August.
Free menstrual products in schools
Colorado schools are required to provide free menstrual products in school bathrooms after House Bill 24-1164. e law ramps up how much schools must provide. For instance, schools must provide at least 25% of applicable student bathrooms in all applicable school buildings by June 30.
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.
The Colorado state Capitol, pictured in 2023.
PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
From hand painted cross stitch patterns to intricate knitted designs to textile complex quilts, artists and hobbyists alike are drawn to the array of ber arts shops and organizations strewn across the Denver metro.
Owners and employees of these establishments say the Denver ber arts scene is lively and inclusive. “We all have di erent vibes,” said Marsha Corn, owner of the Tangled Ball. “We all carry some of the same, some di erent, we all specialize. (But) we’re in it for the same reason because we all love ber and we all want to succeed and maybe make our customers love bers as much as we do.”
The Tangled Ball: ‘A community’ e Tangled Ball, located at 5505 W. 20th Ave. in Edgewater, is not just a yarn shop – it’s a vibrant community hub for individuals of all ages and skill levels to come together and engage in the ber arts.
“We have classes here, we have work-
shops here, we have events here,” Corn said. “It’s a safe place for people to come and just hang out and create.”
Corn said her mother inspired her passion for the ber arts, and she was inspired to open the Tangled Ball after sitting in a shop with some friends and wishing there was one similar near where she lived.
“So my mom taught me how to knit and crochet (and) do all that kind of stu ,” Corn said. “I’ve always wanted to open my own business, so I proposed the idea to my husband about (opening) a yarn store, and it was one of the few that he was like, ‘yeah, we could do that.”’
e location Corn chose was ideal because it’s within a marketplace that o ers food, drink and ample parking — creating a perfect environment for a community-centered store.
e Tangled Ball opened its doors in July 2020, after delays caused by the pandemic, and it has since grown into a space that serves many.
For Corn, the best aspect of the Tangled ball is the way it provides support to people.
“We solve each other’s world prob-
lems. We get people through divorces. We get people through breakups. We get people through what to make for dinner. It’s just such a great community,” Corn said.
As a lover of the ber arts, Corn feels di erent forms — such as needlepoint, knitting, crocheting and more — are both for those searching for a hobby and those skilled in the art of all of it.
For Corn, something like a hand-knitted article is a work of art.
“It’s the yarn. e color of the yarn. e texture of the yarn. e composition of the yarn. (It) has linens and silks and rolls blended into it, and it’s just beautiful,” Corn said. “It’s an art form of design patterns. I do say we don’t knit or crochet now out of necessity, we knit out of joy or hobby.”
Corn believes people especially enjoy the ber arts because it allows them to focus on something other than the stresses and challenges of day-to-day life.
“I’m not thinking about all the junk going on up here in the world,” Corn said. “I’m focused on what I’m doing, even if it’s just 10 minutes. I’m not thinking about what to make for dinner. I’m not thinking about politics. I’m not
thinking about religion. I’m just concentrating on what’s in front of me.”
Diversions Needlepoint: ‘Keeping needlepoint alive’
Similar to Corn, Colorado native and co-owner of Diversions Needlepoint, Cari Davis, was inspired by her late mother to practice the art of needlepoint. It was her passion for the art that eventually led her to pursue it as a career.
“I saw her doing it and wanted to do it,” Davis said. “(I love) the color, the people, the challenge, the creativity, and I love the tactile. I enjoy the kinesthetic.”
Davis and her mother, Mary Lou Kidder, initially opened Diversions in Vail. It is now located at 410 W. Hampden Ave., and for over 50 years, the store has brought ber arts supplies and knowledge to people throughout Colorado. Davis now runs the shop with her own daughter, Mandy Adams, who grew up in the ber business – even making her rst project, a belt, at the age of 4.
One of hundreds of quilts on display throughout the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden. This quilt was created by David Taylor. PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY
FIBER ARTS
Adams brought her own artistic talents to the shop, o ering custom design services such as hand-painted canvases for needlepoint projects. Her ability to turn a customer’s vision into a unique work of art quickly became a hallmark of the store.
“I was just born artistic,” Adams said. “I always drew and painted and played with color from the time I was just a little one. (I am) awful at math and everything else, but I can kind of draw.” e sta at Diversions, a mix of paid employees and volunteers, is knowledgeable and passionate about needlepoint. Many of the sta members have been with the shop for years, ensuring that customers always receive expert guidance and support.
“We’ve got a great group of women and wonderful people that volunteer here to help people,” Davis said. “Every day is di erent. You never know what’s going to happen or who’s going to walk in the door, and that makes it fun.”
Adams said she enjoys the challenge and the creative aspect of her art.
“You’re making heirlooms,” Adams said.
As the shop celebrates over ve decades of business, it remains committed to providing a welcoming space where people can explore their creativity, build connections and nd inspiration.
For Davis and Adams, it’s not just about selling products — it’s about building a community of makers.
“We hope to keep making people happy and inspire future generations and to keep needlework alive,” Davis said.
Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum: ‘All about stories’
Another institution that works to educate and foster a community of ber arts enthusiasts is the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum in Golden.
Located at 200 Violet St. Suite 140, this museum is dedicated entirely to the history, teaching and fundamentals of quilting.
“It’s a place where people really nd an opportunity to experience what quilts are all about,” said Holly Bailey, the museum’s education manager. “And quilts are all about stories — stories of the people who made the quilts, stories of people who owned the quilts and got to experience the quilts. Even brand new quilts, the makers, almost always have a story of why they made the quilt or things that happened along the way while they were making it.”
e museum has over 850 quilts in its permanent collection and about 150 quilts in its educational collections.
“(With) the permanent collection, preservation is kind of the primary thing that we’re concerned with, and then exhibiting so that people can see those quilts,” Bailey said.
e education collection contains quilts that don’t make it into the permanent collection.
“ ey’re still really valuable for education purposes,” Bailey said. “So we use those quilts to be able to bring them out. We take them out in trunk shows around the community and (country). e audience can touch
them. So the education collection has the ones that you can get up close and personal with.”
For Bailey, quilting began not as a lifelong passion, but as a deeply personal project.
“I started doing it for kind of a strange reason,” Bailey said. “My sister was a quilter and she was the major caretaker for my parents and lived very close to them. I lived 1,500 miles away.”
Bailey said her mother had Alzheimer’s. So as a way to help her stay engaged in the story of her life, Bailey and her sister decided to make a quilt of their mother’s memories.
“She could talk about it and it didn’t really matter whether she was right or wrong or anything, but it was conversational and it would be something that she would get to enjoy,” Bailey said.
Based on her experience, Bailey believes many people begin quilting due to sentimental purposes and then just fall in love with the storytelling element of the art.
“I think a lot of people get involved because of friends or family or somebody else,” Bailey said. “Maybe they learn it from their relatives or people they’re around. But it’s very creative. Most of the time it’s very relaxing. Touching fabric has a value in and of itself. It’s almost like giving somebody a hug when you give them a quilt because it’s something that’s going to wrap around them and they’re going to nd comfort in it.”
Bailey said many di erent people — from children to seniors — visit and enjoy all the services the museum has to o er, including its extensive library and classes.
Classes range from beginner quilting to advanced textile arts, with topics like hand-stitching, machine quilting and even digital-to-fabric design. One recent class explored how to turn a photograph into a quilt, using technology to manipulate and print images on fabric.
Another key highlight is the museum’s summer kids’ camp. Running for four weeks in June, the camp o ers young artists, ages 8 to 16, the opportunity to design and complete their own quilts.
“ ey do everything,” Bailey said. “From the design of it through all of the sewing, all of the quilting, the binding.” e museum also o ers free community groups, including hand-stitching circles, study groups and technique-focused clubs.
Despite the richness of the ber arts scene in the Denver metro area, Bailey feels there’s room for deeper collaboration.
“ ere’s a lot of variety, but we don’t come together very often and really trade ideas and crossover in our teaching,” Bailey said. “It would be nice if we could maybe be a little more intentional about that.”
One step toward greater unity is an upcoming partnership with the Embroidery Guild of America. e two groups will share knowledge through workshops, such as one on crazy quilts, which often incorporate intricate embroidery.
e team has recently expanded into a third unit of their building, with hopes to eventually occupy the entire space. e overall goal is to create a full- edged quilting and ber arts complex and a destination for locals and visitors alike.
Marsha Corn, owner of the Tangled Ball, spins yarn for a customer on a wheel at her shop in the Edgewater Public Market. The market address is 5505 W. 20th Ave. in Edgewater.
Co-owners of Diversions Needlepoint and mother and daughter Cari Davis and Mandy Adams stand among the thousands of skeins of thread available at their shop at 410 W. Hampden Ave. in Englewood.
PHOTOS BY ELISABETH SLAY
Sand Creek memorial coming to Capitol steps
Statue replacing Civil War soldier that was removed in 2020
BY LUCAS BRADY WOODS KUNC
In front of descendants of Sand Creek Massacre survivors, Colorado lawmakers unanimously greenlighted a memorial sculpture to commemorate the 1864 atrocity at the State Capitol.
“Our hope is that this memorial will be a turning point when Colorado says, ‘We are not afraid to confront our past because we believe in a just and honest future,’” said Sen. Kyle Mullica, a ornton Democrat and sponsor of the memorial resolution.
Both chambers unanimously approved the proposal for the project that will be built in front of the west steps of the building, overlooking Civic Center Park and downtown Denver.
e bipartisan resolution was co-sponsored in the Senate by Cheyenne Wells’ Republican Rod Pelton. In the House, it was sponsored by Democratic Rep. Tammy Story and Republican Rep. Ty Winter.
e memorial will comprise of a massive, 24-foot-tall sculpture of an Arapaho chief, a Cheyenne chief and a Native American woman holding a child.
e current plan is for the sculpture replace a Civil War statue that was pulled down by protestors in 2020. e location, right in front of the iconic Capitol building, has been boarded o since.
e 1864 Sand Creek Massacre is possibly the worst atrocity in Colorado history. About 250 Arapaho and Cheyenne civilians, mostly women, children and the elderly, were killed by U.S. troops along
Colorado’s eastern plains, near the modern day town of Eads.
Otto Braided Hair is a representative for the Northern Cheyenne and a descendant of Sand Creek Massacre victims. He was on the Senate oor during Monday’s vote on the resolution.
“ ere’s got to be some kind of acknowledgement. at’s a beginning of the healing,” said Braided Hair. “When we rst went to go set up the work on the massacre site, they were unfriendly. Today, the Cheyenne and Arapaho nations are recognized, acknowledged, both unanimous support from the House side and Senate side. And I’m just beside myself.”
Braided Hair and other Sand Creek victims’ descendants have been working for decades to memorialize the massacre at the Capitol. Coming more than a century and a half after the initial event, they say this is just one step in the healing process.
“Restorative justice. is is a good step towards that. We’re not there yet. We still got a long way, but this is a good step,” said Chris Tall Bear, also a descendant of the massacre’s victims and a member of both the Arapaho and Cheyenne tribes.
About a dozen other Cheyenne and Arapaho community members joined Tall Bear and Braided Hair to witness the resolution’s passage.
e artist, Gerald Anthony Shippen, said he wants the piece to invoke heroism.
“I’m a conduit, you know, to carry this forth,” said Shippen, who is from Wyoming. “ is is a statue that represents the people who have survived. e gures will be seven feet tall. So that makes them
heroic. e tepee, at about 23 feet tall. at’s pretty much life size, you know, for a tepee.”
e memorial will be installed in 2026.
is story was produced by the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between
KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS and e Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Otto Braided Hair of the Northern Cheyenne and Chris Tall Bear of the Cheyenne and Arapaho stand in the Colorado Capitol rotunda on April 14. Both are descendants of Sand Creek Massacre victims and were at the statehouse to witness a resolution to build a memorial for the atrocity on Capitol grounds.
PHOTO BY LUCAS BRADY WOODS/KUNC
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Get to know the candidates running for the Highlands Ranch Metro District board of directors
BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITY
is spring, there are 12 candidates vying for the four available positions on the Highlands Ranch Metro District board of directors. Here’s your opportunity to learn more about the candidates.
With more than 103,000 people in the metro district, the district is divided into seven regions, which can be found at tinyurl.com/highlands-ranch-regions. ose elected on May 6 will join Andy Jones, Nancy Smith and District Chair Renee Anderson.
Visit the Highlands Ranch Herald at highlandsranchherald.net to read the candidate Q&As in full and learn more about their views.
Northwest region
Randall Daughtry
After retiring a few years ago, I sought meaningful ways to give back to my community. is led me to complete the HRMD Citizen’s Academy, where I gained valuable insight into the complexities of managing our community and the many volunteer opportunities available. Serving on the board would allow me to contribute strategically to initiatives that enhance the quality of life for residents.
What are three areas of focus for you?
• Enhancing and maintaining our parks and recreation services to support a vibrant, active community.
• Strengthening collaboration with county and state agencies — including the sheri ’s o ce, re department and search and rescue – to ensure safety and responsiveness.
• Driving strategic community development initiatives that align with residents’ needs and long-term sustainability.
Eric Rysner
Editor’s note: Rysner provided a bio for his responses:
Eric is your incumbent director for the HRMD. He is a strong scal conservative who actively works with board and sta to keep your mill levy low. Eric delivered his 2022 campaign promise to build the Senior Center, which opened January 2025. He also kept his promise to build a pickleball complex, which is expected to open late 2025 at the corner of Broadway and County Line. Eric was a strong voice and supporter of sta and many partner organizations in the collaborative response to
the June 2023 tornado. He also listened to and respected concerns of residents of the Toepfer Park redevelopment when voting for the plan. Eric has lived in Colorado since 1991 and Highlands Ranch since 2002. He has been a small business owner and practicing dentist in Highlands Ranch since 2002, currently employing 10 people. Eric plans to continue using his conservative duciary beliefs, leadership and teamwork skills to guide Highlands Ranch as we near complete build-out. He is an avid skier, typically logging 25 days a year on the mountain. Last summer, he and his wife of almost 30 years climbed over 30,000 vertical-feet, hiking many 13,000-foot mountains and a couple of 14ers. Eric’s two sons also joined when they were able.
South Central region
Cali Wolf
I’m running for the HRMD board of directors to bring strong leadership to our community for over 100,000 residents. As a director, I will foster unity and collaboration, ensuring a stronger future for Highlands Ranch through shared values and nonpartisan teamwork. With no term limits, some directors have served for several decades. While I respect and ap-
preciate their contributions, I believe it’s time to bring in new leadership with fresh perspectives that better re ect our growing and evolving community.
What are three areas of focus for you?
• Fiscal responsibility: I will uphold the metro district’s commitment to responsible spending while maintaining highquality services and low property taxes, especially as the costs of living continue to rise.
• Prioritizing schools and fostering collaboration: As a mom to young children in public school, I will work to improve collaboration with the Douglas County School District to address mutual community and infrastructure concerns such as pedestrian safety. As our community faces school consolidations, I’m dedicated to ensuring that the future uses of these closed schools re ect what the community wants and needs, and that public input is not only collected, but heard and considered.
• Preserving our water, parks and future: e e orts we take today in regards to water conservation and reducing our carbon footprint by o ering accessible services such as composting will ensure that our 70 miles of trails and 26 community parks will be available for future generations to come.
Lee Johnston
My family and I have lived here for almost 25 years. I’d like to give back to the community. As Highlands Ranch evolves, it is more important than ever to bring fresh voices to leadership and nd ways to strengthen civic engagement across all demographics. Forty-year-old master planned communities tend to go in one
of two directions. I’d like to help ensure it stays awesome and even gets better.
What are three areas of focus for you? Infrastructure, community engagement and scal responsibility. All three are interconnected. Strong infrastructure supports recreation, engaged residents back smart budgets and scal discipline enables both.
Jerry Richmond
I have sat on several metro district boards as board president with duciary responsibilities to the entire community for years. I feel like doing this now for the community I live in would be appropriate. Water, or lack thereof, is impacting our entire state and country, and we need to protect it. ere are many options for this that I have learned by being in the development business my entire career. What are three areas of focus for you?
Status of our renewable water, conservation trends and current guidelines for conservation.
Carolyn Schierholz
I am a 20+ year resident of Highlands Ranch, married, with a daughter and a dog. My main goal is to stay within the HRMD mission and to focus on our core services, while maintaining lower taxes. ese services include maintenance and management of parks and open spaces/ trails, storm drainage facilities, roadway adjacent landscaping, Highlands Ranch Senior Center, Highlands Ranch Mansion and outdoor recreation programming. What are three areas of focus for you?
• Continue to keep tax rates low in High-
From left, Randall Daughtry, Eric Rysner, Cali Wolf, Lee Johnston, Jerry Richmond, Carolyn Schierholz, Michael Davis, Lora Thomas, Steve Kinkaid, Mark Dickerson, Rita Salcedo. Marie Snow is not photographed.
COURTESY OF CANDIDATES
BY HALEY LENA
Who are the candidates running for the South Metro Fire Rescue board of directors?
This spring, registered voters within the South Metro Fire Rescue Districts 2, 6 and 7 will have a chance to vote for who they want to see serve on the board of directors.
The South Metro Fire Rescue Fire Protection District is governed by a sevenmember board of directors who are responsible for tasks such as looking at
HRMD ELECTION
lands Ranch.
• Finish building the pickleball facilities.
• Finish fence conversion and add attractive water-saving landscaping throughout Highlands Ranch to reduce maintenance and improve aesthetics.
Southeast region
Michael Davis
I am running to ensure Highlands Ranch remains a vibrant community as governed by fair and equitable homeowner rules and regulations. It is also important that these rules and regulations are complied with.
What are three areas of focus for you?
Metro district rules and regulations enforcement, continued evaluation of these rules and regulations, and serving as an effective community representative for the citizens of the district.
Marie Snow
Snow did not respond to the Highlands Ranch Herald’s Q&A request.
Lora Thomas
I’m running for the HRMD board of directors because my years of public service have given me a deep/thorough understanding of how the several Highlands Ranch governments work together in making Highlands Ranch such a great place to raise a family, work and recreate. As a (former Douglas County) commissioner, I’ve collaborated with HRMD’s board of directors and its staff and can immediately put that experience to work on projects like the Historic Park acquisition, Senior Center programming and community maintenance.
What are three areas of focus for you?
I am a fiscal conservative and have
demands for service, cost operations, providing safety to first responders and the community by appointing and supervising the fire chief and district legal counsel.
Richard Sokol, who is the current representative for District 2, and Kevin Leung, the current representative for District 6, are running unopposed in their districts. The two did not respond to a request to provide responses to the Q&A.
William (Bill) Shriver, the current repre-
watched the excellent financial management that has been the hallmark of the HRMD since its beginning, which is why all of the bonds were paid off four years ahead of schedule. I plan on maintaining my level of fiscal conservatism with the management of district funds. Having experience as a commissioner with oversight of parks will be helpful with the many parks managed by the district, as well as the future acquisition of the Historic Park from Shea, the developer. Being a collaborative partner with other organizations in Highlands Ranch will lead to better outcomes for our residents and I am committed to realizing those benefits.
Steve Kinkaid
I’m running for the HRMD board because it’s an opportunity to serve the community in a meaningful and impactful way. Local government shapes the character and future of our neighborhoods, yet it often operates in the background, unnoticed. I believe these decisions should be made with the voices of residents at the forefront – not driven by special interests. My goal is to represent the people of Highlands Ranch with integrity, transparency and a commitment to keeping our community a great place to live.
What are three areas of focus for you?
Interagency collaboration: Strong partnerships between local, county and state agencies improve resource efficiency, public safety and community development. Open communication ensures better emergency response, infrastructure maintenance and long-term growth.
Community engagement: an informed and involved community leads to policies that reflect residents’ needs. I will work to increase government accessibility through public participation, transparency and open dialogue.
Responsible budgeting: maintaining
sentative for District 7, is running against two other candidates.
Find where the districts are located at southmetro.org/171/District-Map-Facts.
Those who are elected will join Secretary Sue Roche of District 1, Chair Jim Albee of District 3, Bruce Stahlman of District 4 and Vice Chair Renee Anderson of District 5.
To read the candidate Q&As in full, visit your community paper’s website:
• Highlands Ranch Herald at colora-
high-quality services requires smart financial planning. I am committed to prioritizing core services like infrastructure, water management, public safety and parks while avoiding unnecessary spending. A balanced, transparent budget will keep Highlands Ranch financially strong for the future.
West Central region
Mark Dickerson
I have served on the HRMD board for over seven years and I am running to continue the strong performance we have provided for the community over that period. The board of directors must provide oversight for current initiatives, but it also must be looking forward years into the future to keep improving the community. I have served as board chair and currently am the board vice chair. It was my honor to be the board chair when we overcame the challenges of COVID-19 to begin construction of the Senior Center. I am very proud of my record and believe it shows how effective I am a member of the board. What are three areas of focus for you?
Since I joined the board, we have made significant improvements to the community. We have completed the new Senior Center, acquired Toepfer Park, built the Disc Golf Course and cut our mill levy — your taxes — twice. We continue to renew and replace one of our parks every year and we continue the fence replacement program. Going forward, my focus will be on the execution of our plans by the staff as we expand Toepfer Park and the development of programs for the Senior Center. My second focus will be on the acquisition of the remaining 200 acres at the Highlands Ranch Mansion and providing more amenities to the community around the mansion. I am looking to cut taxes more when an opportunity arises.
docommunitymedia.com/highlandsranch/
• Lone Tree Voice at coloradocommunitymedia.com/lone-tree-voice/
• Parker Chronicle at coloradocommunitymedia.com/parker-chronicle/
William (Bill) Shiver
Why are you interested in running for the board of directors?
Salcedo
I am deeply passionate about serving our community and ensuring its continued success for generations to come. I believe that preserving our heritage while embracing fresh perspectives is key to shaping a thriving future. With some board members having served for over a decade, it is important to honor their contribution while also introducing new ideas and innovative solutions as we enter the 44th year of our planned community. My commitment is to maintain the strong foundation that makes our community special while adapting to the evolving needs of our residents – from the young families to our senior members. By blending tradition with forward-thinking leadership, I will work to create a vibrant and sustainable future for all of Highlands Ranch.
What are three areas of focus for you?
The board members’ responsibilities include representing the people of Highlands Ranch, setting policy and directing the metro district’s staff in a number of areas including budget preparation, maintenance of roadway landscaping, parks and open space, construction of storm drainage facilities, major roads, street and traffic signals, and outdoor recreation programming. I believe the previous board members have done a great job in these areas. There is an underlying foundation to all of these responsibilities that I feel have been overlooked: a sense of community. Based on the 2023 community survey, at 61%, the sense of community was the lowest-rated quality of life survey point. I’m committed to strengthening community communication, partnership collaboration and community engagement across all of the core areas to ensure we continue to meet the needs and priorities of our residents within all life stages.
Rita
SOUTH METRO FIRE
I have a calling to serve the public and do what I can to improve my community. Serving on the South Metro Fire Rescue Fire Protection District board of directors has allowed me to represent the values, needs and expectations of the Parker community for re and emergency services, leverage my skills, experience and expertise, and satisfy my desire to be responsive to and serve my fellow citizens.
What are three areas of focus for you?
I would like to help provide the governance that allows South Metro Fire Rescue to be the best re prevention and emergency response organization in Colorado and the USA at large. My board decisions are based on my business philosophy that has enabled the companies and organizations with whom I’ve worked to be extremely successful. at philosophy entails: Promoting a client-driven culture that is highly responsive to providing outstanding service to our residents; attracting the best and most capable employees including the front-line personnel, South Metro Fire Rescue’s re ghters and emergency
medical professionals, and ensuring that they have the highest-quality training, equipment and support; and providing this outstanding level of service in the most cost-e ective manner possible.
Cheryl Poage
Why are you interested in running for the board of directors?
I am running for the board of directors for the South Metro Fire District as I have experience in numerous leadership roles with many governmental agencies, which I would like to provide to the citizens of the district. e board of directors is charged with balancing the increasing demands for service, the increasing cost of operations as well as providing for the safety of our re ghters and citizens. I believe this is the key role for a board member, and I believe that I am uniquely quali ed for this position.
What are three areas of focus for you? ere are three areas that I would like to explore in order to continue bringing the highest-quality of service at an equitable cost.
1. When new services are required, whether it be need-based or required by other levels of government, evaluate the cost impact with more detail. What is the call volume that will be impacted
by that change?
2. South Metro delivers signi cant levels of emergency services without any reimbursement, how can this impact be mitigated?
3. ere are signi cant requests for emergency service that are not actually warranted, what can be done to reduce this demand as it impacts cost and rescue units’ availability?
Cathy Willis
Why are you interested in running for the board of directors?
I’m interested in running for the board of directors because I care about the mission of the re department. Having supported the department for ve years in a human resources capacity, I gained a strong understanding of the challenges re ghters face — both operationally and administratively. I’ve worked closely with leadership and union representatives, which taught me the importance of transparent communication, fair policies and strategic planning. I believe I can bring a unique perspective to the board by combining that experience with my commitment to organizational improvement. I want to help ensure that our department continues to thrive — by advocating for the well-being of our personnel, improving recruitment and
retention strategies, and supporting initiatives that keep our department strong and responsive to community needs.
What are three areas of focus for you?
1. Ensure the line employees have the tools/resources they need to safeguard the public and their property.
2. I would work to ensure that the department’s budget is used wisely and transparently — balancing the need for up-to-date equipment, training with long-term nancial sustainability, initiatives that strengthen the department’s readiness for large-scale emergencies like wildland re.
3. Having worked closely with union leadership in the past, I understand the importance of maintaining a respectful, solutions-oriented relationship between labor and management. I’d aim to foster open communication and mutual trust to help address concerns early and build a stronger, more uni ed department.
Ballot information
e South Metro Fire Rescue board of directors election is a mail ballot election. Residents who live within a district that has a seat up for election will receive a ballot by mail, and can drop the completed ballot o at any of the 17 locations.
From left, William (Bill) Shriver, Cheryl Poage and Cathy Willis
represent South Metro Fire Rescue District 7.
1. MOVIES: Which animated movie was the rst to be nominated for a Best Picture Academy Award?
2. GEOGRAPHY: Interior and exterior lm shots of Alnwick Castle in England are featured in the rst two movies of which lm series?
3. TELEVISION: What was the last name of the family in the sitcom “Married ... With Children”?
4. LITERATURE: For which category is the Caldecott Medal awarded?
5. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: Also known as a double eagle, what is the golf term for scoring three under par on a hole?
6. ANATOMY: What is the protein that carries oxygen in the blood?
7. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president was the rst to name a woman as a Cabinet member?
TrIVIa
8. ANIMAL KINGDOM: What is a baby toad called?
9. FOOD & DRINK: Which fast-food chain’s secret ingredient is 11 herbs and spices?
10. ASTRONOMY: How many moons does Mars have?
Answers
1. “Beauty and the Beast.”
2. “Harry Potter.”
3. Bundy.
4. Outstanding children’s picture books.
5. Albatross.
6. Hemoglobin.
7. Franklin D. Roosevelt named Frances Perkins as Labor Secretary.
8. Tadpole.
9. Kentucky Fried Chicken.
10. Two: Phobos and Deimos.
(c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
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