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MAY 14, 2020

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May 14, 2020M

County, cities receive million in CARES Act funding Governments look to cover costs stemming from pandemic, support businesses and nonprofits

BY PAUL ALBANI-BURGIO PALBANIBURGIO@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On April 30, Jefferson County was granted $101.7 million in relief funds to cover expenses related to COVID-19 and its recovery.

The funds were made available to cities and states through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which has made more than $2.2 trillion in federal funding available to state and local governments, small businesses and hospitals in addition to providing stimulus payments and unemployment benefits to individuals.

The act sets aside $150 billion for state and local governments with states receiving shares of funds proportional to their population.

Colorado’s share of that allocation was $2,223,011,164, or $387.76 per person according to 2019 census estimates. Counties with a population of at least 500,000 were then able to claim 45% of the money allocated for their share of the population with the state retaining the other 55 percent (the state also retains 100% of the revenue allocated to residents of counties of less than $500,o00 in population).

On May 4, the Jefferson County Commissioners decided that cities would receive 45% of their per-per-

son share of the county total while the county would retain the other 55% (and 100% for residents of unincorporated areas). The cities’ 45% share totals $29.8 million.

Jefferson County Manager Don Davis said a portion of the county share of its allotment will be used to cover unbudgeted county expenses incurred as a result of COVID-19.

He is currently in the process of seeking input from county departments about the amount of expenses they incurred that will need to be reimbursed.

CITY SHARES OF CARES ACT Arvada: $9,211,753 Golden: $1,456,444 Lakewood: $12,288.070 Westminster: $3,471,358 Wheat Ridge: $2,463,142

pects the county share of the funds to also be used to provide assistance to county businesses affected by COVID-19 as well as assistance to charities as well as assistance to nonprofits that are providing aid to citizens affected by the crisis.

Davis said he expects the county’s Money to help businesses and nonprofits cities to use their share of the money for simiSuch expenses lar purposes. include the costs “Of course, of operations they’ll need like reopening some of that the seventh money to floor of the cover their own jail, which the Personal ProSheriff ’s Office tective Equipdid to isolate pament (PPE), law tients exhibiting enforcement and symptoms of first responderCOVID-19. Davis type expenses, said Jefferson and things like County Public modifications Health has also faced many exBen Irwin, they might need to do to their penses related to Arvada chief communications own facilities,” the crisis. Davis said the money manager on the decision of how Davis said. “But should be the county has the money could be spent there money that’s left received to be over for them to able to cover all support opof the expenses erations within the county has their city limits, things that have received to date, but said he could been occurring, whether it’s with not say whether it would be enough a nonprofit, or small businesses or to cover all of the expenses the whatever.” county will ultimately incur.

In Arvada, Ben Irwin, the chief However, Davis said he also ex-

‘I think it will likely be a balance across those focus areas based on input from the city team.’

communications manager for the city, said the city is still in the process of determining what its share of the funds will be spent on.

However, he said the city has identified three areas of focus for the dollars that correspond to the suggested uses for the money identified

by Davis. Those areas of focus are supporting the business community based on feedback provided by the Arvada Resiliency Task Force that was formed to support businesses during the crisis, supporting nonprofit efforts and covering county expenses, which Irwin said have totaled $3,545,205, including loans.

“I think it will likely be a balance across those focus areas based on input from the city team,” Irwin said of the decision of how the money could be spent.

Golden City Manager Jason Slowinski said some of that city’s major expenses have included purchasing additional PPE for first responders and the cost of communication efforts related to the public health orders and added public safety costs.

Slowinski said that while the funds will cover the direct costs the city has incurred from COVID-19, he said he would like to see the federal government go a step further and provide cities with funding to make up for money they are losing as a result of COVID-19 and the accompanying reduction in sales tax revenue as people spend less.

“These CARES Act dollars cannot be used for that purpose,” Slowinski said. “So what we encourage our delegations to do is as they debate additional stimulus packages is include additional aid for cities as part of that.”

Lakewood to close Big Soda Lake City said the lake has been overcrowded

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Big Soda Lake at Bear Creek

Lake Park will be temporarily closed until at least after Memorial Day..

The city made the an-

nouncement on May 7 citing overcrowding and resource limitations as reasons for closing the lake, according to a release.

Parking lots and trail access to Big Soda Lake will be

barricaded while signs saying there is zero entry to the lake will be placed. Lakewood plans to have park rangers patrol to educate residents about the closure, then enforce as needed, the release reads. Vio-

lators are subject to a citation.

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May 14, 2020

Coroner’s office confirms Eric Pracht died from suicide Pracht’s remains were discovered on April 23

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office has ruled that Eric Pracht died from suicide.

Pracht’s remains were discovered by a hiker on April 23 at a Green Mountain trail near the intersec-

tion of West Alameda Parkway and West Utah Avenue. When police investigated the site of Pracht’s remains, they found a gun believed to be his.

Pracht had been missing since around midnight on July 22, 2016 after he and his fiancée had friends over to their Lakewood condo — located near Green Mountain. The group was talking about violence toward police, and after the talk, Pracht said he needed to get fresh air. He then stepped outside and was never seen again.

The Lakewood Police Department said in a release that its thoughts are with the Pracht family.

NEED HELP? If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, talk to someone.

There are resources available through the Jefferson Center for Mental Health at www.jcmh.org/ And through Jefferson County Public Health, at www. jeffco.us/public-health.

Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-TALK (8255) National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

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If You’re Surviving Covid-19 Financially, This Is a Good Time to Buy or Sell

Despite the best efforts of state, local and federal governments, there will surely be people who are suffering financial hardship and have had to put their dreams of homeownership on hold. I wish them well as they dig themselves out of this terrible situation.

For those who are surviving Covid-19, however, and don’t get sick from it in the coming months, the continued record low interest rates are making home purchase more attractive and more affordable.

As you’ve no doubt heard, the Federal Reserve has plunged hard into softening the impact of the virus and its attendant effects on the economy by reducing the Fed Funds interest rate used by banks to near zero. While this rate is unrelated to mortgage rates, we are also seeing those rates staying below 4% and approaching 3%, which is propping up the real estate market in a big way.

People who can afford to buy a home and have the income to qualify for a mortgage are getting off the fence. This is evident from how many homes are going under contract quickly, often with competitive bidding.

In the first 10 days of May, there were over 2,300 homes within 25 miles of the

State Capitol entered on Denver’s MLS. 552 of them were under contract by May 10th. Another 133 homes were entered as “Coming Soon” as of May 10.

While that’s less than the first 10 days of May 2019, when 3,348 homes were entered on the MLS and 795 of them went under contract by May 10, it’s still an impressive amount of activity, and is probably due in part to the excellent mortgage situation.

Another factor that will stimulate purchasing among the wealthy is that the stock market has recovered more than half of its early losses due to the virus.

That makes it more likely that investors would liquidate stocks to finance a cash purchase of real estate.

In April 2019, about 48% of homes sold at or above their asking price, and 46% of them sold in a week or less. Of the homes that closed during April 2020, about 58% sold at or above their asking price, and about 62% sold in less than a week. Those statistics tell me that we have a pretty active sellers market, which stands in contrast to the gloomy economic situation caused by Covid-19.

It’s hard to believe that the real estate market will tank later this year if it is not tanking already.

I’m seeing that dynamic myself. As of

Most Feedback Requests Ask Unproductive Questions Just a few years ago, there were several services which handled showings of homes for sale so that listing agents and their offices didn’t have to handle showing requests themselves. Each of those showing services would send email feedback requests to the showing agent beginning right after the showing.

Have You Seen My Other Column?

If you don’t also see this column in the Denver Post’s YourHub section, you may be unaware that I now have a separate column called “Talking Turkey” which is about this year’s election. You can read previous columns at www.TalkingTurkey.online and receive future columns from me by email. Just ask! They’re also posted at www.JimSmithBlog.com.

Last year, a company called ShowingTime bought Centralized Showing Service (which we used) and now virtually all brokers are utilizing that one company to send feedback requests to showing agents and to forward responses to listing agents and their sellers.

As I’ve written in the past, the best feedback request is one which asks a single question — “What’s your buyer’s feedback on this listing?” — and provides an open text area for the response.

Instead, ShowingTime’s default email asks a few stock questions such as rating the showing “experience” and saying whether the listing price is high or low.

(That’s useless — if I were submitting a contract I’d say it was high even if it’s not.) Agents can change the default to one question with open text, but it’s not easy to do. I had to ask support how to do it.

this writing, all my own listings are either under contract or closed, including the Wheat Ridge home featured as “coming soon” a couple weeks ago.

That $550,000 brick ranch was only

listed as “active” on the MLS last Tuesday, and showings didn’t begin until Saturday, but our first offer came in on Sunday, and it was under contract with competing offers by Monday evening.

Zillow Shortchanges Agents & Buyers on Video

Despite the increased emphasis on virtual tours because of stay-at-home orders, Zillow continues to stymie those of us who want to provide narrated video tours of our listings.

Unlike our MLS — and most other MLSs around the country — Zillow does not let us link a YouTube video to our listings on their platform. Zillow gets those links from our MLS but does not display them. Instead it wants agents to become Premier Agents (which costs money) and then makes agents use a Zillow app to shoot a walkthrough video using their smartphone.

That walk-through is limited to 2 minutes and does not carry sound, which is ridiculous, since the whole point of a walkthrough is for the agent to point out the features of the home. “Don’t worry about barking dogs,” we are advised, “since your video won’t have any sound.” Isn’t that comforting?

In my opinion, there is simply no substitute for a narrated long-form video tour of a listing. We’re told that videos should be short to match the short attention span of online lookie-loos, but I do the videos for people who like what they see in the description and photographs and want to take a deeper dive into the features of a home before seeing it.

Last month I sold a $1,250,000 home in the foothills to a buyer from Washington, DC, who never saw the home in person. They had a daughter look at it in person, but they only had my 18-minute video tour to go by before signing the

contract. They didn’t even come for the inspection or closing. And that’s not the first such instance of a Golden Real Estate video tour selling a home to an outof-state buyer who didn’t see it in person until at least the final walk-through.

We can thank Zillow for getting us more comfortable with shooting a twominute silent walkthrough video, but all agents need to become comfortable with doing a video tour that functions like an actual showing. Who can show a home in two minutes — and without saying a word? Not me!

Some agents are simply shy about being on camera or speaking into a recording. Well, you don’t need to be in front of the camera, so let go of that excuse. And if you simply think of the camera as a buyer that you’re showing the home to, you know exactly what to say as you go through the home. Point out the flooring, the counters, the view out the window. It will come easily.

Lastly, don’t use your smartphone.

Buy an HD video camera with a gimble!

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

Every article in this ad is also posted at www.GoldenREblog.com

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4 Lakewood Sentinel

May 14, 2020M

Some laid-off workers refusing employers’ back-to-work calls Unemployment assistance exceeds wages for many Colorado workers

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

As limits on business operations triggered by the coronavirus pandemic are slowly being relaxed across Colorado, some employers are asking their laid-off workers to come back to work — but not all of those idled workers are agreeing to return.

And in some cases, state officials are allowing workers who refuse to go back to their jobs to continue to collect unemployment benefits.

In Colorado, employers have reported 250 job refusals in the first couple weeks since late April, around the time the statewide stayat-home order ended, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

Two of those were refusals of work from somewhere other than the person’s most recent work situation, but the rest were offers to return to the most recent employer.

Ninety-eight of those refusals had been processed as of May 7, with 93 of those state decisions determining the workers are still eligible for benefits, according to the department.

Workers can’t choose to stay on

WHAT ABOUT YOU? Are you an employer trying to re-hire laid-off workers? Are you a worker receiving unemployment benefits who’s been offered your job back? We’d like to hear about your experiences. Email newsdesk@ coloradocommunitymedia.com, write UNEMPLOYMENT in the subject line, and give us your name, the city or town where you live or where your business is located, and the best way to reach you.

Metro employers talk layoffs, returning workers

unemployment simply because they’re taking in more money that way, said Cher Roybal Haavind, the labor department’s deputy executive director. That’s important because, in light of the new federal program that gives an extra $600 per week on top of a state’s regular unemployment assistance, the possibility of people making more on unemployment than they would while working has become a hot topic.

On average, Colorado workers eligible for unemployment benefits are receiving nearly as much in benefits now — with the $600 boost included — as they were paid on the job as of late 2019, the New York Times has reported. That means that a large percentage of Colorado laid-off workers are paid more in benefits than they were in wages.

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Lakewood Sentinel 5

May 14, 2020

Band brings concert to senior home The Westside Detours performed for residents at the Avenida Senior Living Community

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

R

esidents at the Avenida Senior Living Community in Lakewood can’t go to concerts right now — so The Westside Detours brought a concert to the senior living facility.

The Westside Detours, a local band that specializes in rock and roll music, performed for over two hours at the Avenida Senior Living Community on May 9. Residents at the senior living facility could watch, listen and dance from their balconies while still keeping a safe distance from others. The band performed at three of the facility’s courtyards.

Doug Cressler of The Westside Detours plays the guitar. The Westside Detours specialize in rock and roll music and performed for the Avenida Senior Living Community on May 9.

PHOTOS BY JOSEPH RIOS

Nancy Jones smiles from her balcony as she watches The Westside Detours perform music. Many residents clapped along, danced and cheered to the performance.

Mike Ryan and Carol Ryan dance on their balcony at the Avenida Senior Living Community in Lakewood on May 9. The couple was dancing to music that was performed by The Westside Detours.

11 Critical Home Inspection Traps to be Aware of Weeks Before Listing Your Lakewood Home for Sale

A courtyard view from the Avenida Senior Living Community. The Westside Detours performed for over two hours for the senior living facility on May 9 in Lakewood.

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altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you're looking for, and knowing what you're looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

To help homesellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled "11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection" has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

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Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn't cost you the sale of your home.

2020 This report is courtesy of Wilson Group Real Estate. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers currently under contract. Copyright © 2018

6 Lakewood Sentinel

May 14, 2020M

Non-essential businesses go back to work in Lakewood

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Joey Romero, owner of Crisp Barber Shop in Lakewood, which also provides tattoos, went nearly two months without giving a haircut. And before the COVID-19 pandemic, business was booming.

It wasn’t unusual to see a UFC fighter or a player from the Denver Broncos getting a haircut when you walked into the barbershop. On Saturdays, Romero said it was typical to see a father and his children come in for a haircut.

And while things aren’t the same as they were before COVID-19 silenced the clippers at Crisp Barber Shop, Romero was finally able to give a haircut on May 9.

Jefferson County’s stayat-home order expired at midnight on May 8, paving the way for businesses like Crisp Barber Shop and other nonessential businesses to reopen with some restrictions under the state’s safer-at-home order.

Non-critical businesses are allowed to bring customers inside as long as they comply with regulations like wearing a face covering, staying at least six feet away from others and not allowing more than

Lori Denham, owner of Moxie Med Spa. Denham’s business was able to reopen on May 9 as Jefferson County has shifted to a safer-athome order.

JOSEPH RIOS 10 people in their respected businesses.

Personal services like Crisp Barber Shop are required to provide service by appointment only, have customers wear face coverings or masks, conduct symptom checks for customers and provide contactless payment options per Jeffco’s safer-at-home order.

Communal gathering spaces like waiting rooms are strictly prohibited under the order.

Romero said he put some benches outside his barbershop so that his customers don’t wait inside for a haircut.

“The hard thing is the barbershop is a place that is supposed to be comfortable,” said Romero, a Lakewood

native. “The struggle for me as a business owner is to keep everyone safe and everyone comfortable.”

Barbers at Crisp Barber Shop are required to regularly wash their hands and conduct symptom and temperature checks, according to Jeffco’s safer-at-home order. Romero said him and his barbers are licensed through the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies, and because of that, Crisp Barber Shop has always put an emphasis on cleaning and sanitizing their equipment. After haircuts, barbers at the shop are cleaning down their stations in between clients to provide a clean atmosphere.

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“Just like every other business, we’re going to have to adapt for the time being like everyone else,” said Romero.

Other personal services like Moxie Med Spa, that specializes in hair removal and skin care services, have also reopened in Lakewood.

Once the spa was forced to be shut down in mid-March, Lori Denham, owner of Moxie Med Spa, laid off all 13 of her employees because of financial reasons. Now that the spa is reopened, Denham has brought back three full-time employees and one part-timer.

“It’s been interesting because we asked them if they are comfortable coming back.

It’s more making sure where (employees) stand and making sure they are telling us the truth about their health,” said Denham. “It’s okay if they are not ready (to return to work).”

Denham’s customers are required to fill out an electronic questionnaire upon arrival to her spa that asks questions about their health. Once her customers enter the spa, they have their temperature taken.

“My biggest concern is people may not be truthful on the questionnaire, and we end up exposing our staff mem-

bers to (COVID-19) because someone wanted service that bad,” said Denham.

Aligned Health Chiropractic, owned and operated in Lakewood by Lauren Sullivan, started taking clients in days before the county’s stay-at-home order was lifted as the business is considered essential in the state.

Sullivan said she is wearing a mask and gloves when working with patients. Patients are also required to wear a face covering, and Aligned Health Chiropractic has hand sanitizer for its customers. Sullivan is spreading out her appointments so that she has time to clean in between patients.

Aligned Health Chiropractic has had to contact all of its patients to let them know it is open again — but Sullivan found that some of her patients went to other states for chiropractic services where restrictions aren’t as strict as they are in Colorado.

Sullivan said she has to be strategic and make sure she is doing what she has to do to redevelop and grow her business while providing care for her patients.

“It has been slow reopening — similar to building a practice again,” said Sullivan.

Colorado Renaissance Festival delayed

BY MARK HARDEN MHARDEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Colorado Renaissance Festival — a popular summer attraction that draws throngs to south Douglas County — has been postponed for several weeks because of the coronavirus pandemic and will now start Aug. 1, organizers said.

The festival in Larkspur, midway between Denver and Colorado Springs west of Interstate 25, had been scheduled to open its 43rd anniversary season on June 13.

“Due to the current health concerns and taking into consideration the safety of our patrons and Renaissance community the Colorado Renaissance Festival will be postponing its 2020 opening day,” says a notice on the festival’s website.

“The new dates will be Saturday August 1st, 2020 for 8 weekends with a closing day of Sunday, September 20th, 2020. Dates will be posted publicly on both our website and announced through our social media outlets,” the notice says. “Please stay safe during these unsettling times and we look forward to seeing everyone soon!”

The festival, set in a faux-16th century Tudor village, celebrates Renaissance culture with a bawdy mix of shows and music, jousting matches, animals, costumed characters, games, food and drinks. It’s one of dozens of similarly themed events staged across

Entertainers greet people from above as they pass through the gates of the Colorado Renaissance Festival castle in July 2019.

JESSICA GIBBS the country each summer.

The festival typically draws about 200,000 attendees during its run, The Gazette of Colorado Springs reports.

The announcement comes as “stay at home” orders are being gradually relaxed across Douglas County and most other parts of Colorado, but people are still being urged to practice social distancing and to avoid crowds larger than 10 people to help contain the spread of COVID-19.

Lakewood Sentinel 7

May 14, 2020

Lakewood’s economic recovery task force launches The task force is made up of business owners and leaders

Anthony Martuscello, owner of WestFax Brewing Company, stands inside his Lakewood brewery on May 8. Martuscello is part of Lakewood’s economic recovery task force. The task force is working to assist the city’s response to business needs and to provide potential solutions to Lakewood City Council.

JOSEPH RIOS

BY JOSEPH RIOS JRIOS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Tom Quinn says it will be key for businesses to adapt and be innovative during the COVID-19 era. He says restaurants are the best example of adapting to restrictions that have been placed like those that are offering curbside pickup.

He added that businesses have to create a sense of confidence in their workers that they will be safe.

Those businesses also have to provide a sense of confidence in their customers as well to make them feel safe to go to an establishment, in Quinn’s eyes.

“The recovery from this, to be frank, will be more of a marathon than a sprint. We’re not going to sprint right back, and everything will be normal in August,” said Quinn, who serves as the executive director for Alameda Connects, a nonprofit that promotes the Alameda Corridor in Lake-

wood.

“That is not realistic. You don’t resolve economic disruptions like this overnight,” he added.

The marathon toward recovery for Lakewood businesses is being guided by the city’s economic recovery task force which includes business owners and leaders in Lakewood like Quinn. The task force, which was formed last month, is assisting the city’s response to business needs and working to provide potential solutions to Lakewood City Council.

One of those potential solutions includes a COVID-19 business relief grant and loan program that is up for a final

Lakewood City Council vote on June 1.

Eligible Lakewood businesses could receive individual awards from the program in either a one-time grant of up to $2,000 or a one-time loan of up to $10,000.

To be eligible, businesses would have to be in Lakewood, have a designated workspace or office space, must have been in operation since Jan. 1 and must be in good standing with the city for permits, licenses, fees or taxes. Eligible businesses also can’t have more than 50 full-time employees and must have been forced to temporarily close or to dramatically limit operations due to public health

orders. Religious institutions, political organizations, marijuana businesses, residential living facilities and 501-C-3 non-profit businesses would be ineligible to apply, if the program is passed.

The COVID-19 business relief grant and loan program was assembled with feedback from Lakewood’s economic recovery task force. Quinn said the task force is a dynamic group that has had good discussions about strategies to assist businesses.

“What will come out of this process is a list of strategies boiled down to just a few. At this point, it’s a brainstorming process,” said Quinn.

“We’re going to turn that into a set of strategies that can be implemented.”

Businesses like WestFax Brewing Company, owned

by Anthony Martuscello, are providing input to the task force. He said business during the pandemic has gone better than he expected and that the brewery is seeing strong support in the West Colfax area.

WestFax is offering to-go beers and has started releasing new beers every Saturday.

“We are pivoting from a retail taproom business to a full sale and package busi-

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ue to the COVID-19 impact on our economy, the future of the housing market is uncertain.

Some experts believe real estate values will remain strong while others believe values will drop. Regardless, Silver Leaf Mortgage knows that for homeowners 62 and older, the need for financial assistance has never been higher. And, the time to seek assistance and financial relief in the form a reverse mortgage is now.

ness. It’s what we have to do to survive,” said Martuscello.

The task force has been going through all Lakewood industries, and representatives from those industries have been sharing challenges they’re facing.

One of the challenges WestFax has faced is not being able to have its customers drink beer in its taproom — a service that accounted for a large portion of the brewery’s sales.

“If we have to stay like this long-term, I am confident we can figure it out, change our business model and make it work,” said Martuscello. “It’s just a lot more work for less money.”

Lakewood Economic Development Director Robert Smith, who is part of the task force, said the task force wants to encourage industries to collaborate with other industries for solutions and creative ideas to help businesses through the pandemic.

“We also want to have everyone thinking in the short, medium and long run so that we’re keeping our eyes on the horizon and what is in front of us. It’s a fluid situation,” said Smith. “We’re trying our best.”

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8 Lakewood Sentinel

May 14, 2020M

WORKERS FROM PAGE 4

make biweekly reports to the labor department, and those updates must say if a person refused a job offer. From there, the department evaluates whether that person is still eligible for benefits.

Failing to report job refusals when requesting benefit payment can be considered a fraudulent act under Colorado law, said Philip Spesshardt, a manager at the state labor department. That rule applies for any job offer, not just an offer to return to a previous position.

Some reasons a person could turn down a job offer and still collect unemployment benefits, according to Haavind, include: • The work environment is not complying with social distancing or the guidelines of Colorado’s recent saferat-home order.

• The person is part of a group that is more vulnerable to COVID-19 than others.

• The person has COVID-19 or is caring for someone with the disease.

• Work offered involves an “unreasonable” reduction in the rate of pay.

• Work offered is substantially different and less favorable to the employee than their prior experience with the employer.

The department is asking employers who make a return-to-work offer, or any job offer, that is not accepted to report it on the coloradoui.gov website.

After either an unemployed Coloradan or an employer reports that a

job offer has been turned down, the department suspends the Coloradan’s benefits while it contacts both parties about the job offered and the reason for the refusal before issuing a decision.

The process typically takes between two and five business days, depending upon the responsiveness of both parties, Spesshardt said. Any decision can be appealed by either party, according to Haavind.

Gig, self-employed, contract workers For gig workers — such as Lyft drivers — and self-employed and contract workers, their unemployment benefits come through the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, a new stream of money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. In April, the state announced that people who have lost gig work and similar previously ineligible positions would be able to apply for benefits.

Federal guidelines for returning to work for those groups are not explicit, Haavind said.

The state doesn’t judge when workers should return to work based on market demand in their field.

Such labor market information does not determine whether individuals on regular state unemployment should continue to be eligible for benefits, so any labor market information related to gig workers and the self-employed also would not determine eligibility on pandemic unemployment assistance, Spesshardt said.

“The information would more commonly be used to determine whether

an individual is performing an active and reasonable search for work when required,” Spesshardt added.

Record-breaking numbers During the fallout from the Great Recession, the week with the highest number of claims for unemployment assistance filed in Colorado was the week ending Jan. 9, 2010, with 7,749 claims.

This year, the week ending March 21 — when Colorado closed dine-in restaurant and bar service, and hair and nail salons, spas, and tattoo and massage parlors — shattered that record with 19,745 new unemployment claims filed.

Then, the next three weeks saw the numbers increase fivefold. And although the numbers have dropped off from that high point, Colorado continues to see historic numbers of claims each week.

In the week ending April 11, the department counted 104,217 initial claims filed.

There were 67,334 initial unemployment claims filed the week ending April 18, more than 79,000 initial claims filed the week ending April 25 and more than 41,000 filed the week ending May 2, according to state Labor Department news releases.

For those last two weeks, the total includes both regular unemployment and pandemic unemployment assistance for those such as gig workers and the self-employed.

The week ending April 25, there were 40,906 pandemic unemployment assistance claims. There were 13,149 of those claims filed the week ending May 2.

ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE WITHOUT WORK To apply for unemployment benefits, visit colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/file-claim.

For questions about eligibility, see the different sections of that site, or call 303318-9000.

A state partnership called OnwardCO also offers help for those who have lost a job. Coloradans can use onwardco.org to: • Connect to emergency resources such as food, shelter, child care and money.

• Find training programs for a new career.

• Find job opportunities.

The online resource was launched by Bitwise Industries in coordination with Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and the Kapor Center, according to a news release.

EMPLOYERS FROM PAGE 4

Quattrochi’s husband, Sam, said he does have some concerns that those workers, who make less money than stylists though still well above minimum wage, might not want to come back to work.

“I could see definitely if this progresses and in a month we have to be off for another two or three months they’re going to be in a terrible position, and that that could become more of a possibility for them,” he said.

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Lakewood Sentinel 9

May 14, 2020

BECAUSE THIS YEAR IS DIFFERENT

2020 GRADS

We want to honor your grad!

VIEW ALL GRADS | HONOR MY GRAD

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The class of 2020 has it tough and we want to help you do something special for them. We’ve launched an online feature to help parents tell the world how proud you are of your 2020 grad — whether it’s high school, college or even elementary school.

• We’re offering a FREE photo and listing of your grad’s sports, honors and activities, displayed in a grid with all the other grads. Each grad will also have their own page and we’ll host it all online for a year.

• Want to really make a splash about your grad? You can expand their page with fun family photos, highlights, memories, a favorite quote, a top 10 list.

You can even invite family and friends to contribute to their page.

• You also have the option of publishing your grad’s accomplishment in the paper.

hes

I don’t remembe r all my 5th graders, but you were a special one and I’m so prou d of your degree. You’r you for getting e going to go places!

Mrs, Wheeler

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The best part is that it’s all easy.

Just fill out a simple form at

ccm.honormygrad.com and you’re set.

10 Lakewood Sentinel

May 14, 2020M

A change of plans at Bear Creek thanks to virus How one experiential program has been altered

by COVID-19

BY ZOE SCHACHT SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

The cornerstone event for the Bear Creek program had been an annual rafting trip, forcibly canceled this year.

COURTESY OF STEVE PORENTAS

When you get your invitation to take the 2020 census, make sure you’re counted.

Did you know funding for the community programs you care about is based on census numbers? Make sure you and your community are counted by responding to the 2020 census.

we’re in this together

This year, you can answer online, by phone or mail.

Learn more about the census at 2020census.gov.

A room normally filled with high school seniors, now ghostly empty, displays a whiteboard marked: “2020, the year of COVID-19.”

After eight years of leading the Senior Field Studies program at Bear Creek High School, Steve Porentas could never have predicted how the 2020 school year would play out.

Porentas, 42, runs Senior Field Studies, one of the few experiential education programs in Jefferson County. The program focuses on exposing high school seniors to urban, rural and wilderness environments through firsthand experiences. While educators around the country are struggling to deliver online education, teachers like Porentas, who lead experiential programs, face a completely different challenge because those programs are designed to bring students outside as a group.

Every January, Porentas starts the semester by telling his students that their class will be “known for something.” For example, 2019 was “the year that wasn’t” because of the 2019 government shutdown followed by constant poor weather that cut short or canceled many trips. He started this year the same way. “I just can’t tell you what this year is because it has been going so perfectly,” said Porentas to his current class.

While leaving the suburban high school on March 12 — the last day of in-person schooling for the academic year — he read what his students had inscribed on the classroom whiteboard. Now, his students knew what their year would be known for.

Porentas was drawn to taking over the program because “100% of the students were passionate about what they were doing and couldn’t wait to get to school in the mornings.” The teacher found himself wanting to go to work every day, enjoying the time he spends in and out of the classroom.

Growing up in Canton, Mich. Porentas spent most of his time outside.

There he grew a passion for protecting wild spaces. Now, he teaches his students that time spent outside should be like “coming home.”

Porentas attained a degree in literature from the University of Michigan and began long-term substitute teaching in 2001. In 2004 he made his way to Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, where he found a home and taught English for eight years.

The program Mark Leachman created Senior Field Studies in 1975 when experiential education was on the rise in Jefferson County. In 2012 when Leachman retired, Porentas made the quick decision that the program was his calling after participating in one of the classes’ backpacking trips three years prior. “It was stressful. It was like

hearing Mick Jagger needed a replacement in the Rolling Stones,” Porentas said.

Leachman has stuck around since retiring, making the eight-year transition “easy” for Porentas.

Because of Leachman’s guidance, Porentas has avoided hiccups with his takeover. However, in 2013, his first year leading a trip, he decided to continue hiking students through a blizzard. “There was so much fear and insecurity,” said Danielle Rowland who accompanied that trip as a firsttime leader. Rowland recalled that the other leaders were unsure of how safe their decision was, but the students made it out safely.

Rowland, 33, supports Senior Field Studies trips as a leader and when not playing that role she manages the program’s social media. As a leader, Rowland passes her backcountry knowledge onto students to keep them safe and informed during their trips.

Rowland is grateful for the community the program has brought to her. “It means everything,” said Rowland.

Each year Porentas awaits the last night of the classes’ final trip, a 10-day long river rafting trip. Even more than the thrilling rapids, he anticipates the chance to see if his teachings rubbed off, in an occasion he calls “the fishbowl.” The event is where the class shares individual experiences from the program while they sit in a circle and watch one student speak at a time in the center. “You’re the fish,” said Leachman who created the event. This year, the fishbowl is being exchanged for a virtual concert by Joel Van Horne, a Senior Field Studies alum.

All Senior Field Studies alumni have been invited to make the class of 2020 feel welcomed.

In replacement of living on a farm, Porentas collaborated with the Colorado Farm Bureau to introduce students to some of the farmers and ranchers they would have stayed with through videos and zoom calls.

Porentas says that the pandemic has removed the first-hand experiences that Senior Field Studies was created for after the program had to cancel planned travels. The teacher now faces the challenge of losing the time he has spent trying to get his students out of their comfort zone, only for them to be stuck in isolation.

For Senior Field Studies student Jordan Parker, the pandemic has halted her personal experience with the program. For the first time in her education, she misses attending school. “All [of] my teachers I’ve had [in] my high school career I feel like they haven’t really cared. I know for a fact that Steve is a really good person,” she said.

On April 3, the Jeffco school district announced its schools would remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

Porentas has since adapted the program to be a discussion-based class students can virtually attend from home. Porentas still hopes his students will have a valuable takeaway from the course.

“I want them to come away with the confidence that whatever it is that they want their life to become they’re in charge of that,” Porentas said.

Lakewood Sentinel 11

May 14, 2020

Robotics tournament canceled, but Jeffco kids ready for next year Students reflect on challenges, highlights of year in robotics club

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Throughout the 2019-2020 school year, students at 16 local elementary and middle schools have been competing their way toward a final robotics tournament, held by the Jefferson County school district. Qualifying hasn’t been easy for students in the robotics clubs, who have gotten together during club meetings and sometimes during recess as they’ve prepared to go head-to-head with other Jeffco students.

After students qualified through a number of preliminary tournaments, they were looking forward to a final district tournament March 14. But with a district-wide decision made March 13 to postpone in-person

learning because of the coronavirus, that final tournament wound up being canceled as well.

“There was so much sadness and some tears when kids realized they weren’t going to be able to compete,” said Andi Johnson, digital teacher librarian at Fairmount Elementary in Golden. “We are left with seven robots ready for a tournament that will not be.”

However, after months in a club all about persevering through obstacles and challenges, the students are now focused on how they can improve for next year, as well as looking back on the highlights of this year.

“I felt really bad it was canceled, but told myself that I could join the club next year,” said Fairmount fourthgrader Ian Boeckman. “I liked building the robot and I want to make up for the tournament we didn’t get to go to.”

For Boeckman and his teammates, fourth-graders Edward Sum and Evan Warren, focusing on next year begins with reflecting on a process of im-

provement that began with this year’s initial tournaments. The competitions ask students to use remote controls to have their robots navigate an arena, picking up cubes or balls and placing them on top of different structures.

The Fairmount students have been making improvements to their robot after each tournament, from changing the wheels to adding new modifications they have won at competitions.

“We kept improving,” Sum said, until the team ultimately received an award — the `Excellence Award’ — which was “the best part of robotics this year,” he said.

Likewise, at West Woods Elementary in Arvada, chances to improve have helped the students to learn new life skills, said fourth-grade students Oliver Nations and Ram Yalavarthy.

“Discussing different options and working together helped me and my teammates build a better robot,” Yalavarthy said. “I have also learned

that things can go wrong unexpectedly and robots can fall apart but if we stay calm, we can work together to fix anything.”

While Yalavarthy and Nations did not qualify for this year’s finals, they are sad for their friends who missed out on the tournament — and hopeful that all of them will get another shot next year.

“I do plan to be part of the club next year,” Nations said. “I’m excited to build a new robot because I feel more confident with my two years of experience in the Vex Robotics program.”

As fun as the competing aspect of the club has been, Warren added the club also offers academic and social benefits.

“It’s a good opportunity if you want to be an engineer and a good opportunity to make friends. It’s a club that all kids can be a part of,” Warren said.

“It’s an awesome idea they’re actually doing this in Jeffco schools.”

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12 Lakewood Sentinel

LOCAL

May 14, 2020M

VOICES

Imagine your own quarantine scene

ALCHEMY

Andrea Doray

N

ormalcy. Normalization. Stabilization. Even mobilization. These are words being thrown around about the next “phase” of the coronavirus.

My colleague here on these pages, Michael Alcorn, wrote in his column last week that if some of our accepted societal norms become, well, normal again, he wants out. I’m with you, Michael.

And, while much of the world is trying to find that way back to “normal,” I can’t help but wonder about the people who still must self-isolate or self-quarantine, to protect themselves and others. What are they experiencing, especially those who’ve found themselves alone during this time, without the solace, support, or even annoyance of

someone else at home?

In my fortunate position – I work from home and we are both healthy enough – I’ve been musing about what I personally would do if I needed to self-isolate for 14 days, without anyone else in the house.

Let’s say that I had all that wait-and-see time on my hands. Say that I knew everything would all be okay. Say that I knew this craziness would somehow come to an end.

What would I do?

Posing that question to myself, I realized that much of what I would choose to do – or not to do – could actually carry over into the “new normal” … whatever than means.

For example, first and always, I would sleep in. Seriously sleep in, at least on the

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Essentially confused Is anyone as confused as I am regarding essential and non-essential workers? Does anyone believe this will give our government pause to reconsider what the real job of government entails? Why do I doubt it? National and local governments seem to have infused themselves into every aspect of our lives. Does not the constitution (State and National) clearly state the roles of government? For example, there is nothing in the constitution giving the government the ability to act as a charity. Yet, that seems to be one of the defining roles currently being transferred to governmental agencies. Isn’t this an area that could be better handled by nonprofits and churches?

Ever since the national government inserted itself into our school systems with such programs as Common Core and No Child Left Behind, we have more functionally illiterate students than is logical for a country with our technological ability and educational potential and resources, with a smaller core of extremely well educated students. In some areas charter and private schools are greatly preferred. There is no constitutional mandate for the federal government to interfere with education, this is a state function.

We are also seeing various aspects of government interfering with our daily lives with no mandate to do so. How much of this is “nonessential?” Will we take this event to reconsider what we really want

A publication of

Call first: 14143 Denver West Pkwy., Suite 100, Golden 80401, 303-566-4100 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: LakewoodSentinel.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100

from our governmental systems?

Perhaps we should consider this the next time we vote. Will your vote be for more, or less, governmental interference?

William F Hineser, Arvada Right call I refute letters like Tracy Abell’s and Mary McWilliams’ about Michael Alcorn’s language and use of “Wuhan Virus” as “politically incorrect.” Even Bill Maher thinks this is wrong as he stated at the end of a recent episode, and he hates Trump. It’s always been “political correct” to name a virus after its point of origin as these diseases have generally killed great numbers of people worldwide no matter its origins.There are too many examples to list.

Political correctness here is being used as an attack on First Amendment rights.

No political system has ever been proven to be totally correct or for everyone. Political correctness is one-sided thinking and discrimination like homophobia, racism, sexism orthe like. It’s just another labeling system like these other terms and used to denigrate and demean others. Political correctness is now more representative of “Political Corruption” or “Political Criminality.” It’s my opinion that many federal, state and local politicians and the media are using this pandemic to steal more from every

F

SEE LETTERS, P13

weekends. Skip the alarm and sleep till noon. Then an egg-salad sandwich and a nap. In fact, I’d nap on every horizontal surface in the house.

I might also tackle the autobiographies on my bookshelves, the ones I know will be entertaining and informative, but that just seem too heavy to start. Of course, I wouldn’t do this at bedtime, because books don’t help me sleep. Just the opposite, really … hence the sleeping in.

Unfortunately, if I were quarantined here alone, I’m all too sure I would be spending more time on my phone, a habit I hope not to bring into the new normal. I’ve always SEE DORAY, P13

Disease that’s spreading isn’t entirely about virus

our dead in Ohio,” the song says. It was recorded by countertenor Neil Young and the other members of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on May 21, 1970, just weeks after a tragic incident on the Kent State University campus.

“Kent State” for many has a similar recall effect that “Columbine” does.

I heard the song QUIET on the 50th anniverDESPERATION sary of Kent State and saw the familiar media images of the massacre, notably Mary Ann Vecchio screaming over the body of a student lying face down.

At the time, college students were protesting the war Craig Marshall in Vietnam. Many of Smith us carried homemade signs, had long hair, and stood in defiance of government-imposed rules and regulations.

Sound familiar?

It’s unlikely, however, that a song will rise from the current coronavirus protests that will change the nation like “Ohio” did. But who knows?

There are other similarities between then and now: The nightly news then had a body count; likewise, the nightly news now.

Protesters then were called every name in the book. Protesters now are called every name in the book.

The line of separation, it seems, is represented by nothing more than a face mask.

Many refuse, can’t be bothered.

One woman said masks were “uncomfortable.” I wondered what she would think about a ventilator?

Photojournalism student John Filo’s photo of Vecchio, who was 14 at the time, won a Pulitzer Prize.

Vecchio was kneeling over the body of Jeffrey Miller, who had been shot by the Ohio National Guard.

Vecchio was a runaway from Florida. She exchanged her colorful story to a reporter for a ticket to California but was returned to her home. Currently she is working as a respiratory therapist, a field that generally requires her to wear: A mask.

The B-side of “Ohio” was “Find the Cost of Freedom,” a song that did not chart.

The band recorded “Ohio” in just a few takes. Young later said David Crosby cried after one of them. His voice can be heard during the fade.

“Four, why? Why did they die?”

Sadly and ironically, on the leadup to the Kent State anniversary, a security guard at a Family Dollar store in

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

JERRY HEALEY President

MINDY NELON Marketing Consultant

jhealey@coloradocommunitymedia.com

mnelon@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MARK HARDEN Editor

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager

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SEE SMITH, P13

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Lakewood Sentinel 13

May 14, 2020

LETTERS FROM PAGE 12

American than since this country’s constitutional founding.

Today many Americans want nothing more for our free American society but totalitarian controls and our governments paying for all we do.The problem already found with this system is it’s unsustainable. The only way governments work is by respecting all citizens, their efforts and economic inputs.

Gary Scofield, Arvada How does Jeffco’s garden grow?

Springtime is a very important season for gardeners. Food crisis looming— every day of this growing season counts heavily. This year, after springtime crops were planted, JCPS abruptly announced that gardeners were barred gardening in JCPS/DUG gardens.

The reasons for this were difficult to understand. Gardeners do not enter through building doors. Food distributions continue on school properties; joggers and dog-walkers run the grounds; and children continue playing on playground equipment.

Further, only two districts within the Denver metro area, closed school gardens. DUG maintains current leases with JCPS for its gardens;

SMITH FROM PAGE 12

Flint, Michigan, was shot and killed.

News articles and legal filings give this account: The guard told a woman her daughter would not be allowed in the store without a mask.

The woman left after spitting on the guard, and returned with her husband and son, one of whom allegedly shot the guard. All face charges of first-degree murder.

Inevitably, some of the current protesters, or their mothers, fathers and children, will be impacted by

DORAY FROM PAGE 12

found my smartphone to be friendly, but not insistent. That’s all changed now. And because I don’t watch the news anymore, I get my headlines from those pop-up notifications that keep me obsessively scrolling at all hours.

Being on my phone also reminds me, though, of the lovely people in my life that I’d like to connect with, so I’d also spend time reaching out to them. However, this would be on a take-me-as-I-come basis: no makeup, no jewelry, comfy clothes, and my hair … who knows? One thing I do know is that I will definitely take this attitude with me into the new

DUG carries all liability and insurance for its gardens and gardeners.

Seeking to clear up confusion, gardeners reached out to JCPS, but received JCPS’ rebuff: ‘It has come to my attention that several emails … have been sent to Jeffco Leadership regarding current access restrictions. Please do not contact leadership regarding garden access.’

Yes, JCPS announced it would reopen the gardens later this week, but with no guarantees they would remain open. Any seeds placed in the soil, are a roll of the dice. Gardeners will lock up shovels and become Covid-risk managers — putting the productivity of gardens and the cohesion of the garden community at risk.

Gardeners work on margins — in the margins of daylight, on the margins of JCPS properties, alongside the marginalized, too. Nurse, lawyer, homeless and handicapped — we’re all dirty, humbled, relying on patience and sweat together. Ignoring scribbles in the margin before a big test, JCPS? A gamble for sure.

Heather Walaszek, Wheat Ridge

• Wear a mask, keep your social distancing, so SOMEONE ELSE doesn’t get sick • Buy and be a personal food shopper for an elderly neighbor, friend, or someone you know who got laid off

• Can’t we put our grippes and political views aside, and work together to get through this?

Please Be Safe. Stay Strong.

Catherine Danahey, Lakewood

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Time to set things aside Did anyone take the time to?

• Thank their own personal “Higher Being” or someone, for keeping you and your loved ones safe • Thank a front line responder for their help • Donate food, money or time to a local food bank

the virus and require attention from doctors and nurses.

And they will get it, won’t they?

Fifty years ago, the nation was divided because of a war. Same thing now. Only the conflict isn’t in Southeast Asia. It’s in Flint, and it’s on Florida and California beaches. And it’s during press conferences where fingers are being pointed.

For the record, I wear a mask.

Maybe it won’t make any difference; maybe it will.

Maybe it will.

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

normal!

All of this is assuming, of course, that I am one of the lucky ones, that I will escape the misery of those truly suffering the ravages of this disease. To them I send my strength.

To those on the front lines in grocery stores and take-out windows and other “essential services,” thank you.

To those in health care, to first responders, to caregivers – to all of us who take this seriously and are doing the best we can – I salute you.

Stay well.

Andrea Doray is a writer who believes in the wisdom of her friend Martin, who wishes that “normal” was still just a setting on the dryer.

Contact Andrea at a.doray@andreadoray.com.

In Loving Memory Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. Private 303-566-4100 Obituaries@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

Funeral Homes Visit: www.memoriams.com

14 Lakewood Sentinel

LOCAL

May 14, 2020M

LIFE

From the mountains of Vail to audience’s homes

O

The scientific method For those looking to step up their homesteading game, there are few better resources than Colorado State University’s county extension offices. Focused on bringing sciencebased education and information to the community, the offices employ experts in fruit and vegetable gardening, keeping livestock, and safe canning and preserving — all just a phone call away.

“Colorado can be a challenging place to garden,” said Lisa Mason, the horticulture agent for Arapahoe County’s extension office. “We have a short growing season, a variable

ne of the most challenging things about attending the annual Vail Film Festival is spending your time inside a movie theater when you’re in such a beautiful mountain town.

That won’t be a problem this year, as the 17th festival has switched COMING an entirely ATTRACTIONS to online iteration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The festival was originally scheduled to run March 26 through 29, but this new version of the event which focuses on Clarke Reader women filmmakers and independent films - now makes its digital debut Friday, May 15 through Sunday, May 17.

“Initially we thought we would postpone the festival to the summer or even early fall, but as the situation worsened and cases continued to increase, we thought the right move was to take the festival online this year,” explained Sean Cross, who is the executive director of the festival with his brother, Scott. “We didn’t want a scenario where we would have to postpone again.”

The more than 50 films on display as part of the event run the gamut from features and documentaries to shorts and student films.

And festival director Corinne Hara hopes the online approach might expand the films’ reach to people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to make the drive.

“It’s really exciting for something that got turned on its head like this did to provide us new opportunities and partnerships,” Hara said. “The need to highlight women and independent film is still there, and still relevant.”

In bringing the festival to the digital world, the aim was to mirror the physical festival as much as possible, Cross explained. For the actual screenings, it works similarly to many streaming platforms. Films will be available for 24 hours on their assigned day, and can be streamed on your phone, computer or Apple TV. Just like at the festival, audience members can vote for their favorite films and enter a sweepstakes to win passes to next year’s festival.

“Over the last 17 years, the festival has become an important part

SEE HOMESTEAD, P15

SEE READER, P15

“Urban homesteaders” make the most of small plots of city soil to grow food. Michele Hanley, the owner of Mile High Urban Farming, said her tomato plants are a good return on investment.

COURTESY OF MICHELE HANLEY

Urban homesteaders get back to the land

BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

S

undari Kraft grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder. But while she fantasized about a self-sufficient life in a little house on the prairie, she lived in a bungalow in Northglenn.

“As I got older, I realized moving to the country wasn’t in the cards, but I’m not one to say that’s that,” Kraft said. “The question became: What’s possible?”

When Kraft and her husband bought a place in northwest Denver, she had big ideas: gardens, a greenhouse, goats and chickens. The only catch? Bureaucracy.

With a can-do pioneer spirit, Kraft was the organizer and driving force behind code changes that eased up on urban livestock, greenhouses and front-yard gardens in Denver and beyond.

As time went by and her urban mini-farm flourished, Kraft found herself at the forefront of a movement to rethink how we live in cities.

“It used to be you either live in the city or the country,” said Kraft, the author of “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Urban Homesteading.”

“People aren’t buying into that any-

more.”

Outside of her busy life as a public affairs consultant and a mom of two young kids, Kraft milks goats, collects eggs from her chickens, preserves her garden harvests and makes her own soap and bread.

“You can be an urban homesteader, even if you don’t have a yard,” Kraft said. “It’s about a mindset and practices to live more sustainably and self-sufficiently. I didn’t grow up on a farm. There’s not some number of boxes you have to check. If I can do it, you can do it.”

Grow what you like For beginners looking to start growing their own food, the first question is: What do you like?

“Think about what you actually want to eat,” said Michele Hanley, who runs Mile High Urban Farming, which helps design, plan and even maintain gardens around the metro area. “I see a lot of people plant kale because it grows well and it’s good for you, but people don’t like to eat it.”

The cost to start a brand-new garden can add up, Hanley said, but it can pay off.

“Tomatoes are a good return on investment,” she said. “Good tomatoes

are, what, $5 to $6 a pound? Well, one good tomato plant can generate 40 pounds. You can even get away with that in a patio pot.”

The biggest misconception Hanley sees is people who think they have a “black thumb.”

“Find groups on social media, ask a friend, and don’t give up,” Hanley said. “It’s not the end of the world if it’s not a success. It’s like Jake said in ‘Adventure Time’: ‘Sucking at something is the first step in being sort of good at something.’”

Lakewood Sentinel 15

May 14, 2020

FROM PAGE 14

climate, and tough soil. But we’re here for the community.”

It’s tough to say how much of a family’s diet can be supplemented with garden produce, Mason said, depending on how much time and energy they want to put into it and how much space they have. Even people in apartments can grow herbs, lettuce, tomatoes and peppers on a balcony.

The extension office’s website is loaded with fact sheets on all sorts of gardening topics, all developed to maximize efficiency in the Denver area’s climate and soil.

“There’s an art to gardening, but there’s also a lot of science you can employ,” Mason said.

In the old days Colorado’s early homesteaders didn’t have the luxury of county extension agents, but they developed wisdom of their own, said Suellen Winstead, the curator of the Littleton Museum, which features an authentic, functioning 1860s-style homestead.

“Back then, your garden was your life,” Winstead said. “Pioneers

READER FROM PAGE 14

of the lives of many people, including people in the local community, film fans from across the country, and the many filmmakers that have showcased their work in Vail over the last two decades,” Cross said.

Organizers also want to keep the audience-filmmaker interaction through live question and answer sessions with the filmmakers and its ever-popular Women in Film panel will be in webinar form and feature “Lucifer’s” Lesley-Ann Brandt, actor, producer and director Alexandra Barreto and more.

“Especially now, we’re looking for ways to connect, and this is another way they can do so,” Hara said.

“We’re already planning for next year’s event, but this year’s will be a

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‘Success isn’t always easy’ Some urban homesteaders still rely on their skills and hard work to provide for their families.

Operating from the yard of a rental duplex in Adams County, Tess and Jeff Curry make a good chunk of their living from the fruits of their labor. Known as “The Honey People” at north Denver farmers markets, the Currys sell honey from their beehive, eggs from their chickens and more.

Tess said she started producing her own food during the Great Recession, when Jeff, a construction worker, was hurting for work and laid up with an injury.

“It’s hard work. Success isn’t always easy, but one benefit is the food just tastes so much better,” Tess said.

“I know what’s in my food. I know where it comes from. My grandkids know a potato comes out of the ground.”

Tess said her work has introduced her to the larger community of local growers, and she enjoys trading plants and produce. And if things take a turn for the worse, she knows she can rely on herself and her friends to stay fed.

“We might have to eat a lot of eggs and beans for a while, but hey, at least we’d be eating.”

good ride.”

For more information and to purchase passes, visit www.VailFilmFestival.com.

Outdoor activity - visit Addenbrooke Park A true oasis in the middle of Lakewood, Addenbrooke Park offers all kinds of space for your spring enjoyment. For the more active-minded there’s walking and biking paths, baseball and soccer fields, horse arena and trails, and perhaps most alluringly, a stunning lake with mountain views. For art lovers, there’s Lakewood’s 50th Anniversary public artwork, located at the historic Addenbrooke homestead chimney near the Garrison Street park entrance.

The park is located at 600 South Kipling Parkway, and for more information visit www.lakewood.org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week Five Points Jazz Festival

Denver Arts & Venues partnered with Rocky Mountain Public Media (Rocky Mountain PBS, KUVO JAZZ and THE DROP) to bring the Five Points Jazz Festival to audiences in a variety of mediums since they can’t attend in person.

The two-hour event will be broadcast from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 16 on Rocky Mountain PBS, 8 to 10 p.m. on KUVO JAZZ 89.3 FM, streamed on kuvo.org, and ondemand at www.ArtsandVenues. com/5PJF. The concert will also be shown on the social media channels of the presenting organizations.

The event will feature more than jazz bands - there will also be comedians, poets and other leaders. Visit www.artsandvenuesdenver.com/ events-programs/five-points-jazzfestival for details.

Streaming style - ‘Travel Man: 48 Hours In...’

Most of us are hungry to change

up our window’s view after several months quarantined at home. But since traveling isn’t going to be an enticing or safe option for a while yet, why not let one of Britain’s funniest people take you on a hilarious world tour?

Richard Ayoade hosts “Travel Man: 48 Hours In…,” which takes audiences to some of the world’s most interesting cities for 48 hours’ worth of culture, dining and droll hilarity. In every city Ayoade is joined by a fellow entertainer people like Jon Hamm, Aisling Bea, Lena Dunham and Paul Rudd - and the pair explores worthy highlights of the city. It is sometimes informative, but always a laugh-riot.

Find the series for free at Hulu or on your favorite on-demand service.

To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

‘If my wheat crop failed or my tomatoes died, people pitched in. I think we could learn from that.

Gardening and homesteading can bring people together. If you grow more than you can use, find someone in need.’

Suellen Winstead, Curator of the Littleton Museum

Joy Brandt

HOMESTEAD

had to grow enough during a short growing season to preserve food for winter. This was not a hobby.”

Pioneer families had access to a wide variety of heirloom seeds that were well-suited to local climates, and had keen senses for the intricacies of gardening, developed over lifetimes and generations.

But among their most important resources was community.

“There’s a perception that the Old West was families alone in a cabin miles from the nearest person,” Winstead said. “But what we had here was people settling in communities and relying on each other for support.”

When times got tough, neighbors could rely on each other, Winstead said.

“If my wheat crop failed or my tomatoes died, people pitched in.

I think we could learn from that.

Gardening and homesteading can bring people together. If you grow more than you can use, find someone in need.”

The frugal mindset of homesteaders carried on into the Great Depression and World War II, Winstead said.

“It was a habitual thing,” she said.

“They went through a time of great scarcity. You don’t waste. You eat everything on your plate. You find a use for things.”

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.

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16 Lakewood Sentinel

May 14, 2020M

Mental health providers see demand grow amid pandemic ‘It is a global crisis that we are all dealing with’

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES If you or someone you know needs additional support for their mental health during the COVID-19 crisis, here are some resources in the Denver metro area.

AllHealth Network A mental health nonprofit with crisis services, a walk-in center, acute treatment, counseling and substance use services. Locations in Castle Rock, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Parker, the Centennial area and more.

For information or to schedule an appointment, call 303-730-8858 or go to allhealthnetwork.org.

BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The coronavirus crisis has impacted mental health services across metro Denver in different ways.

One provider, AllHealth Network, with locations in Arapahoe and Douglas counties, has taken on hundreds of new clients amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also seen an increase in pharmaceutical needs and expects that demand for treatment will continue rising.

Another, Community Reach Center in Westminster, reports a dip in the number of new clients it typically takes on, while also watching demand among its acute care services rise.

That’s left the center’s chief clinical officer afraid that community members are pushing off mental health treatment during the pandemic until they reach a crisis point.

Both organizations report seeing higher levels of loneliness, anxiety and depression within their communities. The COVID-19 pandemic is also unique, they said, in that it has affected people across the globe and across demographics.

“Historians and probably social scientists around the world are grappling with that right now,” said Abigail Tucker, chief clinical officer for Community Reach Center. “Something that is so unique to COVID is that it really is, other than I suppose perhaps climate change, it is a global crisis that we are all dealing with.”

The pandemic hasn’t caused fear about physical health, job security, and economic stability alone, Tucker said. It also created barriers to common coping mechanisms. Ways someone might usually relieve stress — eating at a favorite restaurant, visiting a friend — are harder or impossible amid the pandemic.

Cynthia Grant, chief clinical officer for AllHealth Network, based in the Centennial area, said the organization has seen nearly 500 new clients since the state’s stay-at-home order began.

Cynthia Grant is chief clinical officer for AllHeallth Network.

COURTESY PHOTO

Community Reach Center A mental health community center also offering substance use disorder assistance. The center is based in Westminster and has locations in

Residents discuss what they view as pitfalls and barriers that keep people from seeking mental health treatment during a Nov. 22, 2019, forum sponsored by the Community Reach Center.

SCOTT TAYLOR The pharmacy department’s volume is up more than 30%.

“Demand for services is high and it’s continuing to go up,” she said.

“Everything at the beginning was focused on medical and now we’re seeing a shift toward behavioral health.

I really think this is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Staff delivered more than 6,400 therapy services in the past month, and the no-show rate among clients is sitting around 8%, a couple percentage points lower than usual, she said.

“Everyone shows up,” she said. “It’s a very captive audience.”

Roughly 71% of services are being delivered by telephone and 23% by video conference. Certain services are still available to in-person care, including AllHealth’s acute treatment unit, crisis stabilization unit, walk-in crisis center and medication services.

Similar programs are also available to in-person treatment at Community Reach Center.

Grant said she has heard anecdotally AllHealth is seeing “a lot of people who are” essential workers like restaurant staff, grocery store employees and people providing delivery services.

AllHealth typically serves 18,000 people a year and employs 200 clinical staff across 11 locations. It also has providers at south-metro schools and jails.

Community Reach Center serves numerous communities in the north metro, including Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Brighton, Broomfield

Thornton, Northglenn, Broomfield, Brighton and Commerce City.

For more information go to communityreachcenter.org.

Colorado Crisis Services Colorado Crisis Services provides free, confidential and immediate support for people experiencing a mental health, substance use or emotional crisis 24/7, year-round. Call 1-844-493-TALK (8255) or text TALK to 38255 to speak with a professional.

Visit coloradocrisisservices.org for more information.

Abigail Tucker is chief clinical officer for the Community Reach Center.

COURTESY PHOTO

and more.

The mental health center has largely transitioned to using Telehealth, a remote platform, during COVID. Early into the transition, the center saw clients spending roughly 20 minutes on sessions, Tucker said. Three to four weeks ago, that shifted, and clients began spending 30, 45 and up to 60 minutes in a session. That is more typical of sessions before the pandemic struck, Tucker said.

“We know that people are sort of settling back to their treatment goals,” she said, explain that’s brought relief amid other troubles. “One of the things that we do see emerging though that does concern us is the level of acuity.”

Acuity means people who are acutely psychotic, struggling with suicidal thoughts or experiencing symptoms in multiple areas of their life.

Along with higher acuity, the center has seen fewer new clients seek services amid the pandemic. On average, Tucker said, they sign up between 800 and 1,000 people in a month. That’s dropped to between 600 and 800 in April and March.

SEE HEALTH, P17

Lakewood Sentinel 17

May 14, 2020

HEALTH FROM PAGE 16

She worries those 200 people they would usually bring in as clients are not getting help until they are acutely ill.

Tuckers understands the hesitation to seek help. People are scared to leave their homes, afraid of taking a spot at the center from someone in more distress or combatting stigma and isolation, she said.

Tucker also fears some people are not aware they can continue receiving behavioral healthcare during community shutdowns, despite the center’s best outreach efforts.

“Access to treatment sort of changed overnight,” Tucker said. “We don’t want people to think that they cannot get mental health services.”

One of the center’s school based managers March Ryan said there are positive outcomes from the behavioral healthcare world’s experience with COVID. Community Reach Center operates the largest school-based services program in Colorado, according to its website. The program provides students with counseling and case management in school.

Using Telehealth has allowed the center to continue fostering relationships with clients while they cannot meet in person, Ryan said. Her team is also seeing higher engagement among parents of younger children while administering care remotely.

Ryan thinks people will continue

QUALITY & VA

Members of the AllHealth Network staff pose during the open house for the new Highlands Ranch location Oct. 10, 2019. using remote services after the pandemic, and that Telehealth might eliminate some barriers to treatment, allowing the center to reach families whose parents work long hours or struggle with childcare.

That’s a good thing as she braces for future demand and continued effects on the community’s mental health, she said.

“I’m anticipating that we’re going to have an increase when we do come back to school,” she said. “It’s tough, it’s hard for kids to be out of that structure and routine (of school) and coming back there may be anxiety.”

COURTESY PHOTOS

Community Reach Center Program Manager Lindy Lewis teaches the Military and Veterans module of Mental Health First Aid Nov. 1, 2019, at Bison Ridge Recreation Center in Commerce City. The course teaches how to respond to signs of mental health and addiction challenges with a specific focus on cultural factors related to military life and locate mental health resources in Colorado that support veterans, military members and their families.

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May 14, 2020

Local family’s fundraiser fighting two effects of COVID-19

BY CASEY VAN DIVIER CVANDIVIER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An Arvada couple and their fifth-, eighth- and eleventh-grade daughters have already raised thousands after starting a fundraiser for local families April 22.

The Fitzgerald family has created a GoFundMe to raise $20,000 to provide families with restaurant-quality meals from Arvada restaurant Lot One, 13730 W. 85th Dr., every Monday night.

The plan is to include a different main dish and vegetable side or salad each week, with some of the greens to come from the greenhouse on Lot One’s rooftop, said Josh Timon, one of the restaurant’s owners.

As of May 11, the fundraiser had received about $11,478, enough to provide more than 200 meals weekly for four weeks, Mark Fitzgerald said.

The effort aims to distribute about 200 meals each Monday for 10 weeks.

The first donation of 235 meals were sent out May 4.

“My wife and I really saw there was such an impact with unemployment and food insecurity, and there was also a component just as a family of that hopeless feeling,” Mark said. “In times of need, you can sit and feel the pain or you can figure out how you can make a difference.”

Each family member has taken on their own role, said Mark’s daughter Reagan, an eighth-grader at Excel Academy. Her younger sister and mom have been making flyers, her older sister has figured out how to

HOW TO HELP Learn more or donate to the effort at www.gofundme.com/f/dinner-for-allarvada get the food to the families that need them, and she and her dad have focused on the fundraising effort.

“It’s a bonding experience,” Reagan said.

By partnering with local schools in the Jefferson County school district as well as local churches, the Fitzgeralds have organized for families in need to receive the meals. Families can also reach out for help by contacting dinnerforallarvada@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, individuals can donate to the campaign by visiting the Dinner for All Arvada page on GoFundMe. “When you see the names of people you don’t know (donating), that’s really impactful,” Mark said.

In addition to assisting families, the Fitzgeralds hope their efforts will help Lot One by creating an extra shift for employees to work to prepare the meals.

Prior to the fundraiser, because the effects of COVID-19 have temporarily reduced the store’s hours, employees were not working Mondays, Timon said.

“This partnership is very important for a number of different reasons,” he said. “I’m able to bring back more staff members and give them more hours. I’m able to give them another day of work. And second, this is helping to feed local Jeffco families.”

The hard work has brought about an important life experience for Reagan and her sisters that not everyone experiences as a child or teenager, she said.

“I feel like if I continue to go down this path, I can continue to do more,” she said. “It required some work, but I feel like it’s definitely worth it.”

Answers

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r o f u o y Thank

s r a e Y 5 2 LE !

A S r o o D & w o d n Wi Biggest

count,

mer dis new custo

EVER!

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1

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Offer not available in all areas. 25% discount applied by retailer representative at time of contract execution and applies to purchase of 3 or more windows and/or entry or patio doors. Valid during first appointment only. Cannot be combined with other offers. Initial contact for a free Window and Door Diagnosis must be made and documented on or before 5/31/20, with the appointment then occurring no more than 10 days after the initial contact. No payments and deferred interest for 25 months available to well qualified buyers on approved credit only. Not all customers may qualify. No Finance Charges will be assessed if promo balance is paid in full in 25 months. Renewal by Andersen retailers are independently owned and operated retailers, and are neither brokers nor lenders. Any finance terms advertised are estimates only, and all financing is provided by third-party lenders unaffiliated with Renewal by Andersen retailers, under terms and conditions arranged directly between the customer and such lender. Window Warmth, LLC d/b/a Renewal by Andersen of Colorado. “Renewal by Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are marks of Andersen Corporation. ©2020 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. ©2020 Lead Surge LLC. All rights reserved. All sales, marketing and installation of windows is conducted by Renewal by Andersen of Colorado, an independently owned and operated affiliate operating in CO and NM.

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