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November 18, 2021
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 22
Outside evaluation of Jeffco Schools’ CIP
SPECIAL REPORT
Independent firm says no fraud in program, but room for improvement BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton.
PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT
They came seeking confidence; they left traumatized Sexual abuses were kept quiet for decades at the world-renowned Colorado Center for the Blind, former students and employees allege BY DAVID GILBERT DAVID@COLORADOSUN.COM
More than a dozen previously unreported instances of sexual misconduct and abuse spanning at least two decades at the Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton have surfaced during an internal
investigation of the school’s parent organization. Among the offenses were the alleged sexual assault of a 13-yearold girl by a summer youth camp counselor in 2001, of which police have no record; a teacher accused SEE BLIND, P6
ABOUT THIS SPECIAL REPORT This project is a collaboration of Colorado Community Media, publisher of this newspaper, and The Colorado Sun. The Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
Colorado residents discuss what makes them thankful
P16
In the Nov. 10 Jeffco School Board study session, representatives of Moss Adams, a public accounting firm gave a presentation on an evaluation of the school district’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) midway through it’s proposed six-year timeframe. In June, 2021 Jeffco School District issued an RFP with 17 key questions to guide the evaluation process focused on how the CIP moved forward following the 2018 election bond and sale. Four vendors responded to the RFP. One finalist, Moss Adams, interviewed and was selected to perform the evaluation. Moss Adams was provided with comprehensive information, websites and documents regarding the CIP. They conducted interviews with 12 individuals representing disciplines inside the organization, as well as external stakeholders. Moss Adams had detailed discussions with facilities construction teams to clarify and provide additional information about SEE SCHOOLS, P2
VET SET
Home improvements for Arvada veteran P18
2 Arvada Press
November 18, 2021
SCHOOLS FROM PAGE 1
project financials. Jeffco’s Superintendent, Tracy Dorland said to this point, the District is in design, construction or has completed 231 CIP projects (including 69 % of the work the District committed to when the bond was passed, though the list has expanded). She emphasized that the District can and will complete all of the CIP projects promised to voters. “Most projects are at or near budget,” Dorland said. However, there are well documented examples of projects going significantly over budget. Alameda International Jr/Sr High and Patterson International Elementary are two examples, both of which ended up more than $1 million over budget. Dorland listed Kendrick Lakes Elementary School, Columbine High School’s new entrance and a new addition for Foster Dual Language (PK-8) as milestone projects. She said Arvada High School, Jefferson Jr/Sr, Lumberg Elementary and Bell Middle School are considered milestones as well. Dorlandsaid more than 1,000 stakeholders including principals, teachers, students, volunteer staff and community members have served on committees engaged in the CIP program including the CAAC (Capital Asset Advisory Committee) and DAG (Design Advisory Groups). Moss Adams’ Stephen Bacchetti started off the presentation. He
said his firm had been able to answer the 17 key questions from the RFP and that they used AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants) consulting standards in their efforts to do so. Some of the areas the firm looked at include master-planning and project estimating controls, adherence to design and construction budgets and bidding and procurement procedures. Bacchetti said overall they noted a lot of good practices by the district. Among areas for improvement, he said the key focus for Jeffco as it move forward are: complete and accurate master-planning process procedures and reporting, complete and accurate performance tracking against master-plan budgets, and construction audits to validate project costs. “This is not a financial statements audit, a performance audit or forensic investigation,” Bacchetti said. “During our very specific and limited procedure, we didn’t observe fraud, and if we had we would have notified the district at that time.” He said as a best practice, his firm recommends having a performance audit performed to track performance, validate the implementation plan and include best-practice objectives to meet the needs of the program based on where the program is currently at. Moss Adams’ Tammy Lohr picked up the presentation from there, saying she wanted to take a moment to celebrate the successes of the bond program, noting that every school was touched by the program.
However, Lohr said there were opportunities for improvement. Recommendations Lohr said her firm noted that there were several documents that helped inform the bond program. “What we’re hoping to see is really the ability to track how each of these reports helps inform the bond program so the District is able to show the community exactly what we were doing and why there were changes along the way, because changes are inevitable,” she said. She said Moss Adams would like the district to develop a comprehensive, prioritized list of projects, define within policies and procedures what are the criteria for making those priority decisions, and define the decision-making authority for the approval process of those projects. Lohr said Jeffco is in a unique position where it was able to take advantage of market conditions and get a lot of bond premium, so with the prioritized list, it can determine how it wants to use the bond premium to support capital assets across the district. “We know that the District is in the middle of its master planning process update this year and so we’d like to see some of the recommendations go into effect with the evolution of that new master plan. Accurate and complete reporting were next on Lohr’s list. She said they are essential to ensure buy-in and trust from stakeholders in the program. Furthermore, Lohr said her company found some gaps in policies and procedures.
“For a bond program this size, we often see fully separate, dedicated policies and procedures,” she said. There were three areas Moss Adams noted to be opportunities for improvement. Lohr said the first area was related to labor allocation. “The bond language itself states that senior management officials cannot be charged to the bond program. The District has a definition of what senior management is — that’s COO (Chief Operating Officer) and above, so let’s get that written and approved by the board in policy and procedure,” Lohr said. Moss Adams would also like to see the District define the term “local.” The bond program provides a local preference for contractors. Moss Adams found the District has an informal definition of the word, saying it applies to any contractor headquartered or with a local office between Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs. Lohr said that definition might be perfectly reasonable, but it should be written in policy and procedure and documented so it can be adhered to. Lohr said the District’s procurement policy to define how contractors are selected could be improved. The final area of policies and procedures that Lohr addressed concerned “change orders” including how they are approved and processed. Change orders are used when the scope of a project changes. Construction audits were also recommended, with Bacchetti saying they can help validate that the cost of work definition and expenditures, line up.
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Arvada Press 3
November 18, 2021
Arvada Resiliency Taskforce wins Jeffco EDC award Taskforce honored with ‘Community Partner of the Year’ award STAFF REPORT
The Arvada Resiliency Taskforce — a partnership between local organizations including the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, Arvada Economic Development Association and Olde Town Business Improvement District — was awarded the Gateway Award for Community Partner of the year at the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation’s Gateways dinner on Nov. 3. The taskforce, which was formed
in March 2020 to aid the community from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, was recognized for its role in helping businesses navigate a difficult year for many. The taskforce worked rapidly to create programs and provide resources for local businesses impacted by the pandemic. The taskforce played a key role in distributing grant funding and personal protective equipment to businesses when the pandemic was at its peak. Arvada Economic Development Director Daniel Ryley said that while the taskforce was initially formed to help Arvada-based businesses weather the pandemic, he did not foresee the growth that the city’s commerce sector has experienced over the last year.
“We originally created the taskforce because our local businesses are the heart of our community and we knew we needed to act immediately in order to make a difference,” said Ryley. “What we didn’t anticipate is that the impact of our fast actions would help turn our town into an area that people from all over Colorado are now flocking to.” President of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce Kami Welch said that winning the Jeffco EDC award was a testament to the taskforce’s teamwork. “By working together, pooling our resources and building on our strengths we can accomplish great things,” said Welch. The Gateway dinner was held at Social Capital in Arvada.
Aerial view of the ribbon cutting last month to commemorate the streetscape changes to Olde Town Arvada. The expansion of outdoor eating and pedestrian space was begun by the city during the early months of the COCOURTESY OF CITY OF ARVADA VID-19 pandemic.
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Interviewing a Listing Agent? Ask Him or Her to Bring Their MLS Production Print-out The MLS printout at right for Golden Real Estate shows the information that can be gleaned about individual agents and their brokerages. I’m showing our company report, but I could have shown you my personal report. It shows our production since Jan. 1st of this year. The Production Section at top summarizes the report, showing that we had 46 listings since Jan. 1st, three of which we sold ourselves. We had 21 buyer-side closings. The right-hand column shows the average of closed price (CP) to listing price (LP) — 102.47% for all MLS sold listings but much better for Golden Real Estate’s sold listings — 104.73%. In the Production Detail section, the right-hand column shows how many days each sold listing was on the MLS before going under contract. Notice there are no zero days in MLS (“DIM”) because every listing was exposed to the full market so it would attract the most buyers, and yet there are few listings that took over a week to sell. The “City” column lets you know where the agent (or company) does most of its
business. The “List Price” and “Close Price” columns are also instructive. I’ve circled the two most recent sales as examples of how much above the listing price we sold those listings, thanks to our “auction style” of handling multiple offers, as opposed to the “highest and best” approach of most listing agents. It takes more work, but yields better results for our sellers. This is not to suggest that an agent’s production is the sole criterion you should consider in choosing your listing agent. However, we learn from experience, which comes from actual transactions, not from years in the business. An agent with only five years’ of licensure but who does a dozen-plus transactions a year is more “experienced” than an agent who has done a couple transactions a year over a 20-year career. And let’s not forget about testimonials. Ask for them, and look for online reviews. We like www.RatedAgent.com, because they only print reviews solicited from actual clients following a closing, so the reviews can’t be phonied up or altered in any way.
I am Reconsidering My Advice to Sellers About What to Fix or Improve Before Putting Their Home on the Market Recent experience with my listings has caused me to rethink recommendations I’ve made in the past about fixing up a home before putting it on the market. Despite a moderating seller’s market, two recent listings went under contract for way above their listing prices, and I think it was because of the effort and money that was expended on dressing them up for sale. In the past I have said you don’t need to do much to sell a home. Only fix “eyesores,” I wrote. If the carpet is old but not damaged or rippled, just have it professionally cleaned, don’t replace it. My most recent seller, however, spent significant time and money dressing up their home before putting it on the market, and I think it paid off. The home was listed at about what the comparable sales suggested it should sell for, but it attracted 12 offers and ended up going under contract in five days for 20% over the asking price. The new carpeting was well chosen and beautifully installed. The seller followed our stager’s advice to the letter.
The deck was re-stained. The concrete flatwork which had settled was mudjacked. Windows were washed and screens labeled and put away. I asked the seller to describe all they had done over several months, and it’s superinstructive, so I posted a link for what they wrote at GoldenREblog.com. Another effort — by me — really paid off, too. The narrated video tour with drone video which we put on YouTube and linked to the MLS and our website was so effective in showing off the home that a buyer from the East Coast submitted the winning offer without seeing it in person. That’s because our videos simulate an actual showing, starting out front (just like a real showing) and going through the home and into the back yard, narrating all the time. As I wrote in a previous column, we are amazed that more agents don’t shoot live action narrated videos. They’re easy to do once you get the knack of it, and they cost nothing to create and edit if the listing agent does it himself. And who better than the listing agent to describe his or her listing?
Our Buyer-Side Closings Our Double-Ended Listings
Our Listings Sold by Others
Not shown: Listings Back to Jan. 1 and Buyer-Side Sales
Affordable 1-BR Condo Near DTC & Light Rail This extra-clean 1-bedroom condo is just 4 blocks from the Arapahoe Center/Fiddlers Green light rail station. Although convenient to I25, you won’t hear it from this unit which faces east. Many units are rented, but others are owner occupied. If you work in the Denver Tech Center, you’ll love being within walking or at most biking distance of your office. The low $215,000 HOA dues includes water, trash removal, swimming pool, fitness center, clubhouse, snow removal, and all exterior maintenance. The spacious private balcony, visible in the above picture, is in addition to the 658 square feet of indoor space. We won’t be holding it open, so be sure to view the narrated video walk-through online at www.DTCcondo.info, then call your agent or Jim Smith for a private showing.
Jim Smith
Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 17695 S. Golden Rd., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727
Every element of this ad is also posted at www.GoldenREblog.com
CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835 TY SCRABLE, 720-281-6783
4 Arvada Press
November 18, 2021
Former Arvada Mayor Pro-Tem Dot Miller says goodbye to city council Miller did not seek reelection after serving on council since 2017 BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Dot Miller’s term on the Arvada City Council was always eventful. As Miller’s time on council came to a close, the former Mayor Pro-Tem reflected on the scrutiny she faced from constituents. “I’ve learned that you’ve really got to have thick skin for the people that are just shocking in email and on social media. People can be pretty harsh.” During her tenure on council, Miller was no stranger to criticism. She was one of the four `yes’ votes that helped pass the city’s controversial trash hauling contract and was subsequently the subject of a recall effort — which ultimately failed. Nevertheless, Miller says she remained committed to having an open dialogue with her constituents regardless of the circumstances. “That negativity goes back to when I started on council. I wasn’t on council when they did the $30 Land Deal, but the controversy happened from the very beginning. My answer was always `I appreciate your passion on this subject, here’s my cell phone number, please call me,’” said Miller.
Mayor Marc Williams, left, confers a plaque to outgoing Mayor Pro-Tem Dot Miller. PHOTO BY RYAN DUNN
Despite the blowback, Miller — who did not seek reelection to a second term in order to focus on her growing association management company The Solution — said she is proud of the waste hauling contract and the impact it has had on the city. “I think organized waste hauling,” Miller replied when asked about her proudest accomplishment on council. “I loved the work that our team has done with neighborhood engagement, where we are encouraging people to get to know each other, throw block parties. “We have fewer trash trucks on
a lot of our streets. We saved residents up to 40% on trash bills, and we have recycling available,” Miller continued. Councilmember David Jones, who was elected to Miller’s vacated Mayor Pro-Tem position, said he will miss Miller’s conviction and ability to keep things from getting too weighty. “You’re like a dog with a bone and when that bone’s in your grasp, you’re not letting go. I’m going to miss you. You help to keep it lighthearted and not so serious and I hope you have a fabulous whatever-
next-is,” said Jones. District 2 Councilmember Lauren Simpson said she would miss Miller’s ‘sparkly’ demeanor on council, a nod to Miller’s bedazzled gavel she used as Mayor Pro-Tem. “You’re just a sparkly person, and I mean that in the best way. You bring rooms up; you bring people up,” said Simpson. “Thank you for all that you did to help my transition onto this council. I hope to be able to wild the sparkly gavel one day. You’re a truly sparkly amazing goddess diva and you’re amazing.” For her part, Miller said she would miss the seven unique personalities on city council and their ability to bring a multitude of perspectives to different issues. “I love our council. I 100% love our council. We have seven different people with seven different opinions. We disagree agreeably, we have thoughtful conversations. And we’re friends,” said Miller. Miller said she’s likely to have her hands full with The Solution, which recently opened a second office in Florida, but joked that she may need to take up a Monday evening activity. “With my Monday nights free, I’ll take up French lessons,” Miller quipped. “I’ll do more work with Blues & BBQ, do some more volunteer work.” Though she won’t be on council, Miller will remain an Arvada resident and emphasized her love for the city.
Embrace your inner elf at the Arvada Center! November 19 December 23 Tickets at arvadacenter.org or call 720.898.7200
Arvada Press 5
November 18, 2021
Nancy Ford rides off into the sunset
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As former District 1 Councilmember Nancy Ford moves on from the Arvada City Council, a new frontier awaits; Saratoga, Wyoming, a town of less than 2,000 residents nestled along the Platte River. Ford — whose term began in 2015 — did not seek reelection this year in anticipation of the move she and her husband Jim are gearing up to make. “In 2019 we found a house up in Saratoga on the Platte River, and we had been visiting that town for over 20 years and had often thought about living on the river. And this opportunity was very unexpected, and we just couldn’t pass it up. My husband will be retiring June 1, and that was basically the impetus,” said Ford. “It’s very difficult for me to leave city council because I really love the work and I really love to help my constituents navigate issues that are of concern to them,” Ford continued. While moving from Arvada to a small town in rural Wyoming might seem like an unorthodox move, Ford was hardly known for adhering to
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Nancy Ford receives a plaque for service to the city earlier this month.
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her constituents. “I think one of my proudest accomplishment was beginning the discussion of the importance of vision and the necessity of that for cities to understand who they are and where they’re trying to go for the future. I feel that I brought a different perspective to city council than was currently on council, and I felt that was very important,” said Ford. “I feel like I really took care of my constituents. I tried to educate them on city business; how it works, what SEE FORD, P15
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6 Arvada Press
Stacy Cervenka
November 18, 2021
COURTESY PHOTO
BLIND FROM PAGE 1
of sexually harassing students in 2019 who was hired despite school leadership allegedly knowing he had faced accusations of unwanted sexual contact at another school; and a teacher who admitted he engaged in a sexual relationship with a 19-year-old student in violation of school policy. The allegations were made public in a report released in June by a special committee investigating misconduct claims in the National Federation of the Blind, the school’s parent organization. The investigative findings bolstered the accounts of eight people associated with the center who told Colorado Community Media that leadership at the world-renowned school covered up sexual offenses for years or simply ignored them. “I thought if the leaders knew, they would do something,” said Stacy Cervenka, a former counselor at a youth summer camp operated by the Colorado Center for the Blind who told her supervisor in 2001 that she had walked in on a fellow counselor sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. The counselor was fired, but Cervenka said no one at the school reported the assault to police, raising questions about whether the school complied with a Colorado law requiring teachers and school officials to report the abuse of children. School officials say they called police in Glendale, where the alleged assault occurred, and that an officer came to the apartment complex where students were staying to investigate. Glendale police, however, say they have no record they were contacted. Cervenka said she and others who were aware of the assault were not interviewed by police. The National Federation of the Blind, or NFB, an advocacy group for blind and low-vision people, launched the probe at the end of 2020, after former students and their supporters published an open letter calling for reform. The letter said misconduct within the organization and its training centers in Colorado, Louisiana and Minnesota had been hushed up by leaders and allowed to fester for decades. Former students and others as-
In a 2017 file photo, Colorado Center for the Blind director Julie Deden demonstrates PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT how blind people study models of nearby transit stations.
sociated with the Colorado center say the school’s leadership, including longtime director Julie Deden, pressured them to keep quiet about incidents of misconduct. Deden has declined to respond to any specific allegations. None of the accusations are being criminally investigated, according to Littleton police and the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Littleton police spokesman Trent Cooper said investigators are unaware of any sexual misconduct complaints at the school. At least two instances of sexual misconduct discussed in this story involve accusers who decided not to report them to police as crimes, citing the emotional toll of pursuing charges against the men they say were responsible. ‘Don’t call it rape’ Complaints about sexual misconduct — and failures to confront it head on — are startlingly common at NFB training centers and conventions, said Cervenka, who held leadership roles in the national organization before leaving in 2018. “As long as I was in NFB, I heard stories from friends about sexual misconduct they experienced,” Cervenka said. “I’ve had a few incidents myself that were mishandled. I thought if the leaders knew, they would do something. That if people knew who was molesting and raping members (of NFB), they would be gone.” Maria Salazar, 25, told Colorado Community Media she was drugged and raped one year ago by a roommate in an off-campus apartment — then counseled to keep quiet about it by a Colorado Center for the Blind administrative assistant. “Don’t call it rape,” Salazar says
Maria Salazar
COURTESY PHOTO
she was told by a center employee who had personal ties to the roommate, who wasn’t charged. “He didn’t rape you. Don’t say that or you’ll ruin his life.” Salazar said she went to a hospital where evidence was collected during a sexual assault forensic exam. But after talking with a crisis counselor, she decided not to pursue charges. She feared she wouldn’t be believed and it didn’t help that the school administration didn’t back her, she said. The woman she accused of trying to cover up the assault remains employed by the school. She did not return a request for comment. School leadership declined to directly address Salazar’s rape allegation. She said the assault took place in a school-owned apartment in Littleton where Salazar and her
roommate were permitted to stay after both had completed their training programs. Located in a former YMCA on a bluff above downtown Littleton, the Colorado Center for the Blind, or CCB, draws people from around the world who are blind or losing their sight. Students learn vocational and life skills including cooking, martial arts, woodworking and how to navigate big cities. Outings take students rock climbing and whitewater rafting. The nonprofit center is funded by foundation grants and donations, and from tuition paid by students, largely covered by federal vocational rehabilitation dollars. CCB opened in 1988 and serves roughly 60 students a year in a one-year adult independence training program, its primary offering. Other programs include summer sessions for middle and high school students and a program for the elderly. Salazar and other former CCB students who spoke to Colorado Community Media say they left the center traumatized by the abuse they suffered and by what they call dismissive and retaliatory responses by the center’s leaders when they made reports. “They said they were all about community,” Salazar said of CCB. “They said they were here to lift us up and support us, but they were ready to let me be homeless if I was going to make CCB look bad.” ‘People may figure out who you are’ NFB is important in the lives of blind people, Cervenka said, and that has left many accusers reluctant to go public with allegations of mistreatment. “The blind community is very small,” she explained. “People depend on NFB for services, advocacy and community. When people involved fear retaliation for speaking out, they may fear losing access to housing, to adaptive technology and more. Even if you try to speak anonymously, people may figure out who you are.” Allegations of sexual misconduct in NFB began to surface publicly in 2017, in the wake of the #MeToo movement that saw survivors publicize allegations of sexual abuse in many industries and organizations. In late 2020, Cervenka helped spearhead a movement that came to be known as #MarchingTogether. She collected dozens of stories from those who say they were abused in connection to NFB, including several at the Colorado Center for the Blind. The result was a letter sent to NFB’s board of directors and the National Blindness Professional Certification Board in December 2020 that was signed by roughly 500 current and former NFB members and their supporters, who called out the organization for tolerating sexual abuse and other misconduct. “We won’t tolerate sexual, physical or psychological abuse, or those who ignore, deny or perpetuate it,” the letter reads. The letter also called for an overhaul of the organization, including the removal of known abusers, mandatory anti-harassment training for all NFB staff, review and SEE BLIND, P7
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revision of internal policies, investigation of allegations of misconduct by a third-party investigator, and the creation of a survivor task force to issue further recommendations. On Dec. 16, Mark Riccobono, the NFB president, responded to the open letter with an apology, published on the organization’s website. “I am profoundly sorry that anyone has been harmed by experiences in our movement,” Riccobono’s letter reads. “I hurt for the survivors, and I deeply regret that I have made mistakes along the way.” Riccobono announced a series of steps NFB would take in response: a partnership with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, or RAINN, to create anti-harassment training programs for NFB members and students; the creation of a survivor task force to issue recommendations on policies and oversight; a special committee of NFB leaders to oversee investigations; the hiring of Maryland law firm Kramon & Graham to conduct interviews with accusers; the hiring of attorney Tonya Baña as an external investigator to make recommendations regarding those accused of misconduct; and extending the reporting window for codeof-conduct complaints. On Christmas Eve, CCB published a letter endorsing Riccobono’s apology. “We will move heaven and Earth to see that the verifiable experiences we are reading and hearing about are used to build a safer and better program,” the letter reads. In an email to Colorado Community Media, Riccobono declined to address specific allegations, but wrote that he is committed to “transforming our movement in ways that allow all of us to heal from past trauma and move forward together.” “I have and always will continue to listen to and learn from the members of this movement, especially around these critical issues, and the courageous victims, survivors, and allies who have shared their stories publicly and with me personally in the past several months,” Riccobono wrote. Reports, arrests, reforms The interim report released in June details NFB’s initial findings, progress and recommendations as part of its ongoing review. NFB had nine complaints filed through its existing code of conduct complaint process before the scandal became public, the report found. Between December and June, though, an additional 60 complaints were filed, alleging 55 separate incidents across the country regarding the actions of 52 people, including eight accused of failing to respond adequately to sexual misconduct. Four of the complaints involve minors as victims. Many of the complaints involve the Louisiana Center for the Blind, which shares headquarters with NFB in Ruston, Louisiana. Michael Ausbun, a former employee of the Louisiana center, was charged in
The first page of a December 2020 open letter signed by about 500 current and former National Federation of the Blind members and their allies, accusing the organization of SCREENSHOT tolerating sexual abuse and other misconduct.
June with 18 counts of child molestation by an educator, according to reporting in the Gambit newspaper in New Orleans, where reporter Kaylee Pochee has documented the scandal for months. Of the 60 complaints received since Riccobono pledged reforms, three are from the Colorado Center for the Blind, involving three incidents. The Colorado reports include statements from six people who say they witnessed sexual misconduct or were victims. Outside of the code-of-conduct complaints, the report says, investigators conducted interviews with eight witnesses regarding 16 additional incidents at the school in Littleton. Though a final report is not expected until later this year, the interim report includes recommendations, such as mandatory information sharing between NFB training centers about abusers, and also extending the time limit to make complaints about codeof-conduct offenses to three years from one. The report also calls for mandatory anti-harassment training, and barring NFB members from holding leadership positions if they are found to have engaged in sexual misconduct. In response to the report, the American Council of the Blind, another advocacy group, in September passed a resolution urging the federal Rehabilitation Services Administration to stop sending students to NFB training centers that face allegations of sexual misconduct until the claims have been fully addressed. The resolution also urges the federal agency to establish codes of conduct for training centers and to ensure any misconduct claims are reported to the state rehabilitation councils that administer the federal funds. Schools that receive federal funding, such as for vocational training, are subject to Title IX, a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education, said Brett Sokolow, the President of the Association of Title IX Administrators. Sokolow said the allegations of sexual misconduct and improper responses from school officials against CCB could be grounds for a federal investigation into whether the school exhibited a pattern of neglect, a violation of Title IX.
If an investigation found coverups of sexual misconduct were part of a pattern, federal funding used by students to attend the school could be withheld, though Sokolow called such an outcome extremely unlikely. Investigations more often result in an effort by government officials to bring schools into compliance with the law, he said. Such an investigation would most likely be conducted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights. The agency is not currently investigating CCB, according to its database of pending investigations. Though the school has consistently declined to respond to specific allegations, often citing privacy concerns, CCB spokesman Dan Burke said sexual misconduct has been prohibited since the school was founded in 1988. “We absolutely do not discourage anyone from contacting the police, and in fact, we encourage students to do so,” he wrote. “Like the rest of society, the Colorado Center for the Blind is learning more about how to enhance our policies to be more trauma-informed and survivor-centered, as well as to create the safest and healthiest environment that promotes the prevention of sexual misconduct.” The center is working with the NFB and other entities on policy revisions and new response protocols, expected to be finished by the end of the year, he said. ‘A chilling effect’ The only person accused of sexual misconduct named in the interim report is Fred Schroeder, a longtime NFB member who held a variety of leadership roles over the years, mostly in Louisiana. Schroeder is accused of engaging in a 40-year pattern of abuse, including grooming and groping students, that was well known among NFB members, the report alleges. It is not clear whether Schroeder’s conduct was ever reported to police, but NFB leaders were made aware of Schroeder’s misconduct “by 2002 at the latest,” the report found, with former NFB president Marc Maurer accused of ignoring or covering up the allegations. Maurer did not respond to requests for comment.
In a 2017 file photo, Colorado Center for the Blind spokesman Dan Burke stands behind a model of the Englewood light PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT rail station.
When Riccobono took the helm of NFB in 2014, he asked Schroeder to step down as vice president of the NFB board in response to internal misconduct allegations, according to the report, though Riccobono made no public statement regarding why the change was made. Schroeder remained president of the board of the National Blindness Professional Certification Board, an arm of NFB, and later, with NFB’s backing, became president of the World Blind Union. Schroeder’s reputation as an abuser permeated NFB, according to the report. When he was announced at the last minute as a replacement for another speaker at the organization’s national convention in 2019, “dozens of people stood and left the room,” the report said, characterizing the episode as a galvanizing moment in the awakening around sexual misconduct in NFB. Schroeder did not respond to requests for comment from The Sun. Baña, the independent investigator hired by NFB, recommended Schroeder be suspended from membership in the organization for five years, and only be allowed to reapply if he “has complied with several conditions,” though the report does not specify the conditions. To some in the blind community, the punishment seemed small relative to the decades of allegations against Schroeder. “It is inconceivable to me why permanent expulsion would not be a more appropriate consequence,” Ryan Osentowski, a former CCB counselor, wrote in a blog post. “I can’t help but think that this will only have a chilling effect on the complaint process going forward.” Expulsions and suspensions One Colorado Center for the Blind counselor, Rex Schuttler, was permanently expelled from NFB membership in March, according to a report. Schuttler previously worked as an instructor at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, according to the SEE BLIND, P8
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report, where students reported he groped and sexually harassed them. Staff there notified CCB about the allegations when Schuttler applied for an apprenticeship in Colorado in 2019, the report says, but CCB hired him anyway. In December 2019, a CCB student reported to CCB director Deden that Schuttler was sending her sexually harassing text messages. “When the leadership at the Colorado Center confronted Mr. Schuttler, he confirmed that he had sent the inappropriate text messages and acknowledged he had similar trouble in the past, that this behavior was a compulsion, and that he needed help to deal with this problem,” the report said. The report does not say what if any action Deden or CCB leadership took in response. Schuttler did not respond to requests for comment from Colorado Community Media. Deden has declined to respond to specific inquiries regarding Schuttler’s hiring or conduct at CCB, although CCB spokesman Burke wrote in an email: “We do not hire or give other opportunities like internships to those who we know have committed sexual misconduct elsewhere.” In January, Cervenka, the former counselor, filed a code-of-conduct complaint about the assault she said she witnessed in 2001. In her complaint, she wrote that CCB leadership had been informed a 33-yearold counselor was developing an inappropriate relationship with a 13-year-old. Leadership warned him not to be alone with the girl, Cervenka wrote. Cervenka, who shared an apartment with the girl in Glendale, says she came home one afternoon and found the man sexually assaulting the girl on the floor. Cervenka says she and another counselor reported the incident to CCB leadership, including Deden, who has been the executive director of CCB since 1999, and Melissa Riccobono, wife of NFB president Mark Riccobono, who Cervenka said was co-director of the CCB summer program at the time, and now sits on the board of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. Riccobono did not respond to requests for comment. The counselor was fired, Cervenka wrote in her complaint, alleging that neither Deden nor anyone else at CCB reported the incident to police. Cervenka said the girl later told her that Deden had discouraged her parents from reporting the incident to police, saying doing so would be disruptive to other students and would mean the girl would have to leave the program. In an email, Burke denied the allegation, saying CCB staff called police, who spoke to the counselor and cleared him to leave the state. “Our internal records reflect that the Glendale City Police department was called and that a female officer, Officer Yanke, visited the apartments where the summer students were housed and spoke with the alleged perpetrator,” Burke wrote. “Officer Yanke then told CCB
The Colorado Center for the Blind in Littleton.
PHOTO BY DAVID GILBERT
line of incidents where (Deden) has discouraged victims of sexual misconduct and parents of minors who have experienced sexual misconduct from going to the police,” Cervenka wrote in her complaint. NFB has not issued a response to Cervenka’s complaint.
Wayne Pearcy
staff that she had the information she needed and that the alleged perpetrator was free to leave the state of Colorado. His employment was terminated, he was sent to a hotel to stay overnight, and the next morning was escorted to the bus depot to go back to his home out of state. He was also told not to have any further contact with students or staff of CCB.” However, Glendale police do not have any record indicating police were called in the incident, according to Glendale police records clerk Grace Phelps. Further, Phelps said the department has no record of an officer named Yanke, though the department had an officer in 2001 whose name was spelled similarly. That officer, who is no longer at the department, said she does not remember such a call and had no further comment. Burke did not respond to a request for corroborating documentation that CCB called police in the incident. The alleged victim, who is now 34, declined to comment. The counselor, who went on to hold a leadership position at a California chapter of NFB, did not return multiple requests for comment. Deden said while she did not believe she is considered a mandatory reporter of sexual abuse of minors according to Colorado law, she has always considered herself one, as required by CCB’s bylaws. (Colorado’s mandatory reporter
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law, enacted in 1987, requires “any public or private school official or employee” to report neglect or abuse of children to law enforcement.) Many of the accusers’ claims could expose CCB and its leadership to civil liability, said Laura Wolf, the managing partner of Spark Justice Law, a Denver-based, civil rights law firm. She also is an adjunct professor at the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver. Some claims, including the accusation that CCB leadership failed to report the sexual assault of a 13-year-old, could constitute violations of Colorado’s mandatory reporter law, Wolf said, except that the statute of limitations to pursue charges has expired. Wolf said some more recent accusations may also constitute mandatory reporter law violations, which are misdemeanors under Colorado law. Cervenka said she also could have — and should have — reported the incident to police, but was unsure what was required of her. “In my 20-year-old mind, I thought I had done my part by reporting the incident to my superiors,” Cervenka said. “We got no training on mandatory reporting. I had no idea what my legal obligations were. It’s not an excuse, but I naively trusted the people I worked for would do the right thing. I’ve thought back on it a lot, and I regret it.” “I fear that this is part of a long
‘It’s not enough’ Some instances of sexual misconduct noted in the report fell short of being crimes, but were still based on what investigators described as an abuse of power. Wayne Pearcy, now 35, says he remains troubled by a sexual relationship with a popular staff member that began in a hotel room during a mandatory school trip. The son of two employees of the Louisiana Center for the Blind, Pearcy arrived at CCB in 2006 at age 19, and said he found himself an outcast in a cliquish atmosphere among students. But the young musician found a friend in Brent Batron, then a 35-year-old instructor who taught “cane travel” — how to navigate the world with a cane. When it came time to attend a NFB national conference — one of the requirements for students in the adult independence program — Pearcy was assigned to room with Batron at the Dallas convention. One evening, Batron instructed Pearcy to remove his clothes, Pearcy said. Pearcy said he was not sure what would happen if he declined, so he obliged. “I was just a kid,” Pearcy said. “I knew nothing about sex.” “I always knew you were gay,” Pearcy said Batron told him after they had a sexual encounter. “This is a secret. People like us are persecuted for feeling this way.” Pearcy said Batron was a role model at CCB, in part for his seemingly happy family life — he was married and a father, and his wife was pregnant at the time. “I was totally mixed-up and confused,” Pearcy said. “I told my mom I might be gay. I was so shell shocked I couldn’t tell her I was being manipulated by an older man.” In the months that followed, Pearcy said he and Batron had numerous sexual encounters that left him careening between the thrill SEE BLIND, P9
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of his first sexual relationship and feelings of guilt and shame. “I was so young and vulnerable. I thought if I don’t finish the program, I’ll be judged by people back home,” Pearcy said. “Because of that, I endured more manipulation.” Pearcy said Batron grew jealous of his friendships in Littleton’s music scene, at times telling him to stay away from fellow musicians. When Batron’s child was born, he cut off contact with Pearcy, leaving him hurt and confused. Later that year, Pearcy left for college in Boston and withdrew from NFB. At Cervenka’s urging, Pearcy filed a code-of-conduct complaint earlier this year. Records show that Batron, by then the center’s assistant director, admitted the relationship, which violated the center’s prohibition on intimate relationships between teachers and students. “Mr. Batron plainly abused his authority as an instructor by exploiting the unequal power dynamic of the student-teacher relationship for his own sexual gratification,” the investigator’s report reads. “It would have been easy for him to lie,” Pearcy said. “I respect him for admitting it. He realized he made a big mistake, and he owned up to it.” Batron no longer appears on CCB’s list of staff, though whether he was fired or retired is unclear. Batron is banned from membership in NFB for three years. After that, he is allowed to reapply for membership in NFB, so long as he proves he has undergone mental health counseling. He is not to be placed in supervision of minors. Pearcy is bothered that Batron’s punishment wasn’t more severe. “Why allow him back in at all?” Pearcy said. “It’s not enough. At this point, even if the directors of the centers resigned, why should anyone trust NFB to replace them with someone trustworthy?” Batron declined to comment for this article. ‘I didn’t know who was spreading rumors’ Another woman who shared her story with Cervenka, but has not filed an official code-of-conduct complaint, said her experience leaves her questioning the legitimacy of NFB’s survivor task force. Addie Hugen, 28, moved to Colorado from Iowa for college in 2015. She hoped to develop her navigational and technical skills at CCB. But before signing up for programs at the center, she looked for friends in a Bible study group hosted by CCB students at the center’s apartment complex in Littleton. After a few study sessions, another member of the group, a young man who had just started losing his sight, offered to help her navigate home in the dark. “It seemed nice of him to be concerned,” Hugen said. “I was naive.” The CCB student called an Uber for Hugen and himself, then told her he needed to stop at his apartment first to pick up a forgotten item. She went inside to use the
bathroom, where Hugen said he sexually assaulted her. Afterward, he asked for her address to send her home in an Uber. “I was in shock and wasn’t thinking straight,” Hugen said. “I gave him my address because I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. He told me if I stopped talking to him, now he knew where to come find me.” Hugen had a rape kit conducted at a hospital, but decided against pursuing charges after a conversation with a crisis counselor left her concerned the process could be retraumatizing without achieving justice. Initially, Hugen told no one about the assault, and continued attending Bible studies. “I thought he shouldn’t be able to take away my connection to friends,” she said. But she wasn’t the same. Other students in the group noticed she seemed off. Hugen opened up to Sarah Meyer, a CCB student. Meyer was initially sympathetic, Hugen said, but shifted her tone when Hugen told her who the assailant was. “She said she couldn’t believe he would do that, because she had slept with him, too, and couldn’t imagine him doing such a thing,” Hugen said. Meyer told Hugen she would tell Deden about the incident, but Hugen never heard from Deden. Instead, Hugen got a call from Batron and Kimberley McCutcheon, then the director of student services. McCutcheon retired in 2017. Hugen said Batron and McCutcheon berated her. “They didn’t let me speak at all,” Hugen said. “The story the perpetrator gave them was that I was dating him and consented to sex, even though I had only met him once. They said I was trying to ruin his reputation. They told me I wasn’t allowed to talk about what happened except to a counselor or they would sue me for slander.” Meyer now sits on NFB’s survivor task force. “Experiencing sexual misconduct within the blindness community, and being familiar with the harm caused by not having had sound procedures to address this trauma, have compelled Sarah to participate in efforts to make NFB a safer environment that allows blind people to live the lives they want,” a biography of Meyer on the task force’s website reads. Neither Meyer nor McCutcheon responded to requests for comment. “It seems like their purpose is to work for NFB, not for survivors,” Hugen said. A different conduct complaint alleges that Marci Carpenter, who leads the NFB survivor task force, failed to act after a woman alleged she had been sexually assaulted by a youth program director at NFB’s Minneapolis training center, BLIND, Inc. The man involved previously worked in the summer program at CCB. The woman alleges that when she reported the assault, Carpenter, who at the time was the head of NFB’s Washington state chapter, said she felt stuck in the middle and didn’t want to talk about it. Carpenter declined to comment. Dan Wenzel, the youth program
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director, was barred from holding or running for any elected positions in NFB for five years, the report says, and “strongly advised to refrain from conduct that may cause a similar complaint in the future along with notification that additional complaints of this nature may lead to his expulsion from the organization.” Wenzel remains the director of the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired. He did not respond to requests for comment. ‘A person of integrity’ Burke, the CCB spokesman who is married to Deden, said the Colorado center has made big strides toward addressing the concerns raised by accusers. All CCB staff have completed the RAINN anti-harassment training sessions, he said, and the center has partnered with All Health Network to provide ongoing training on stress management, personal space and boundaries. “We’ve always said in NFB that we’re a cross section of society, and now society is making these adjustments in how we view sexual misconduct,” Burke said. “People are speaking out, and we’re just part of that, I guess. We’re committed to a change in society. It’s going to get better, but the process to get there is difficult.” Deden reiterated to Colorado Community Media that she would not comment on any specific allegations pending the outcome of NFB’s investigations, but said she felt she has always done the best she can for students. “I have always wanted to ensure that our students come first, no matter what,” Deden said. Deden said the center has long held internal anti-sexual harassment and abuse training, and cited the center’s self-defense classes as a boon to students wary of sexual misconduct. Several former students said they would like to see Deden step down. “I’m sorry they feel that way,” Deden said. “I don’t have a lot more to say than that. I don’t have plans to step down.” “It’s really sad” that some students say they have left the center traumatized, Burke said. “It makes us feel sad when someone leaves less confident. We’re not setting out to do that by any stretch. So many people experienced these things,
but people keep coming. We need to acknowledge if we’ve made mistakes, and address those.” Generally, even people angered by CCB’s handling of the sexual abuse complaints do not want to see it shut down. Several told Colorado Community Media they remain grateful for the skills they learned at the center. But they say it’s time that NFB cleans house. Hugen called their promises of support “platitudes.” “Every organization deals with sexual misconduct,” she said. “If perpetrators and those who protected them were truly being held accountable, they would be gone for good.” ‘Keep the wolves away from the chicken coop’ One high-profile Florida attorney said NFB’s response so far seems to be falling short of the magnitude of the allegations. Mark O’Mara said he plans to sue NFB on behalf of a half-dozen plaintiffs, mostly former students of the organization’s training centers. “What does it take to refer some of these cases to prosecution?” O’Mara said. “Why suspensions? My fear is this process is tamping down the true nature and extent of these problems.” O’Mara said he’s concerned the true purpose of NFB’s investigations is to keep the offenses quiet. But NFB spokesman Chris Danielsen said the organization is dedicated to making sure people are heard. “We are working hard on a trauma-informed, survivor-centered approach,” Danielsen told The Sun. At this summer’s national convention, NFB announced the creation of a $250,000 fund to cover the cost of counseling and therapy for survivors. “We’re committed as an organization to not tolerating this behavior,” he said. “We don’t want to just technically do the right thing, but to help survivors heal from past traumas.” Salazar, the woman who reported being raped by her roommate, still is wrestling with what happened to her. She came to the Colorado Center for the Blind from California in 2019 after learning of the training program from a friend who said it was a place where blind people thrived and flourished. At times she felt like one of them, finding joy and confidence in the new skills she acquired in the year of training. But her experience last fall, she said, left her racked with despair and she recently attempted suicide. The Colorado Center for the Blind changed her life for better and worse, but pushing for accountability could mean prodding the center to finally meet its promise to students. “Colorado did something for me,” Salazar said. She gained independence as she honed her skills at navigating new places, using public transit and shopping by herself. She was particularly impressed by Batron, the former school director who is married and has five children. “I’d never seen a blind person who had a life,” she said. “Someone who had kids and a job.”
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Arvada Historical Society Christmas Yard Sale returns Fundraiser set for Nov. 1820 at McIlvoy House STAFF REPORT
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The Arvada Historical Society will host its annual Christmas Yard Sale from Nov. 18-20 at the Historic McIlvoy House to raise money for the preservation the city’s historic sites. The McIlvoy House, located at 7307 Grandview Avenue, will sell gently used holiday decorations
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from 4-7 p.m. on Nov. 18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 19 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 20. Donations for the yard sale were taken up until Nov. 17, with folks from the community dropping off assorted Christmas wares including trees, ornaments, stocking stuffers and other decorations. The event returns this year after a one-year layoff ushered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Proceeds from the event help the Historical Society fund the caretaking of Arvada’s history.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on Nov. 14 ordered that anyone who attends certain public, indoor events with 500 or more people in Arapahoe, Jefferson, Adams, Denver and two other metro-Denver counties be vaccinated against COVID-19. The requirement, which goes into effect Nov. 19, also applies to Boulder and Broomfield counties. It does not apply to Douglas, Clear Creek, Elbert or Weld counties. Houses of worship are excluded from the order, which is only for “unseated” events. “To be considered a seated event, 100% of the participants at the event must be seated,” CDPHE wrote. The order says that the events “shall require proof of being fully
vaccinated to be admitted.” “I am grateful for the counties that are coordinating with the state to slow the spread of the virus. Large venues and local governments are part of the solution to ending the pandemic,” CDPHE Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan said in a news release. “We also need all Coloradans to do their part by getting vaccinated if they haven’t already; getting a booster; and following basic public health precautions like masking, staying home when sick, and handwashing.” The order, which you can read in full at https://tinyurl.com/VaccinationOrder111421, lists “concerts, receptions, bars, dance halls, and auctions” as examples of places where the vaccination rule could apply. The venues will be able to accept negative COVID-19 tests in lieu of vaccinations until Nov. 30, according to CDPHE. The amended public health order comes just days after Gov. Jared Polis SEE STATE ORDER, P23
Arvada Press 13
November 18, 2021
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14 Arvada Press
LOCAL
November 18, 2021
VOICES
Do you see what we all see?
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he resume came through first, and then an email, and finally a phone call. The person trying to connect with me is someone whom I have known for a long time. When they let WINNING me know that they WORDS were searching for a new opportunity and asked me if I would be willing to help, I enthusiastically agreed. This is a friend and former colleague whom I hold in very high regard. Michael Norton As I reviewed the resume and cover letter, I was a bit taken aback as neither document spoke about the person that I have known for years. The information and accomplishments were understated to say the least. The poor resume wasn’t what was really bothering me, it was more than that. This was someone whom I respected, loved, and appreciated. My next step was to call them and schedule a time for an immediate
video call. I wanted to be able to see them, their eyes, face, and posture as I knew something wasn’t right. When we began our conversation and got past the pleasantries, they asked me what I thought about their resume. Instead of answering, I asked if I could ask a quick question first. I asked them this, “What happened to the person I have known for the past 10 years?” They were a bit confused and a little shaken. I said, “Look, as I read your resume and cover letter, I didn’t see anything exciting or noteworthy, there were no mentions of the three massive projects that reshaped the business trajectory of your company, nothing about the team’s achievements, and I was shocked that any reference to your thought leadership was also absent.” They had let me know that the past 20 months had finally gotten the better of them. Early on it was losing people because they had to make cuts. Then it was being burnt out and overworked, and then it was losing people because they had better options or just didn’t want to come to an office any longer. My
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Poor choice I had to write to object to the latest issue of the Arvada Press in which the young police officer who accidentally shot John Hurley was not only named but was shown in a photo. They cleared him of any wrongdoing in the incident and I’m sure he has been in his own personal agony over what happened but you guys chose to add to that by making him a public figure. I will not be at all surprised if he moves out of the area or perhaps leaves the police force altogether. There was no need to identify him, as no charges were filed against him. I feel it was poor judgment on the Press’s part to name names in this case. Please consider things from the innocent people’s point of view! Marisa Marinac, Arvada Religious rebuttal Thanks to the Nov. 11 letter writer, helping make my point about the need to preserve religious freedom in America, including in its religious schools. Neither Jeffco, nor the State of Colorado, has the kind of voucher system he imagines. I have long supported such a voucher program and hope SEE LETTERS, P15
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friend took all of this very personally. Finally, the executive team placed the blame squarely on their shoulders for the lack of people and lack of productivity. The pressure was just too much. As my good friend and coach Tom Ziglar says, this was a perfect, “Are you kidding me?” moment. That means after I ask, “Are you kidding me?” I follow that up with questions and comments about all their past accomplishment and successes. I reminded my friend that what they had achieved was nothing short of extraordinary. So, I asked one more question, “When you look in the mirror, what do you see?” The response included words such as tired, worried, afraid, mad, and a disappointment. I responded as if looking into the same mirror with others who knew them too. “Yes, we see someone who is like so many others out there in the world right now, we see tired, worried, and afraid. Do you know what else we see? We see someone who needs a different mirror. We see someone who needs to see what the rest of us see, eyes with reignited passion,
unparalleled wisdom and knowledge, someone who loves people, intentionality of purpose, courage, and we see the most hopeful person we know, the person who stood by each of us when we were down. We see the winner in you.” This week my friend was hired into a bigger role than they had ever had before. The moral of this story is that each one of us has someone in our life that may be struggling right now. And maybe what they need more than anything else is to be reminded to look at themselves the way that we see them, through the lens of accomplishment, and with the eyes of renewed hope. Do you know anyone like that? I would love to hear your story at mnorton@ tramazing.com, and when we can help people to see in themselves what we all see, it really will be a better than good year. Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.
Our national produce is looking a bit bruised
“F
or every tree is known by its fruit.” James, 6:44 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithful- HITTING ness, gentleness HOME and self-control.” Galatians, 5:22-23 I have been working on a short story for the last several nights, and it draws on those two Bible verses for inspiration. And, honestly, not in a very good way. Michael Alcorn If you look around America right now, in what quantities would you be able to measure any of those fruits? And, if that is true, how do you assess the excellence of the tree that is modern American life? Self-control? I think — maybe it’s just me — you just have to look at our last president for the answer to that. Or the sidelines at any youth sporting event. Gentleness? This one, I actually do have a little bit of hope about.
One of the weird side effects of the pandemic has been the glut of animals available for adoption. And, judging from Colorado Puppy Rescue (a wonderful organization), it would seem that people still love puppies. And, no matter how rambunctious the puppy, once it gets sleepy, even the roughest person settles comfortably into a gentle place. Faithfulness? Please. Faithful to our spouses? Our families? Our commitments? Our country (“fundamentally transform”)? Certainly, to our tribes, but… I’m not sure that counts for much. Goodness? Exactly how do you define that, that you would be able to arrive at it? I mean, when our definition of “good” has become purely subjective and individual, a matter of “my truth,” I suppose you could make the case that it still exists. And, perhaps it still does, in isolated pockets. But, as a people? Kindness? I would refer back to “gentleness,” but, rather, I think the cultural corruption of this ideal is best typified by a car I see occasionally in my neighborhood. There, side-by-side on the trunk,
are two bumper stickers: “Kindness is Everything,” and “Eat the Rich.” Forbearance? Hardly. As a cultural value, the ability to delay gratification, to show restraint and tolerance, is rather passe. Instead, we value rashness, clown culture, reality-TV celebrity, and sensationalism. Peace? Some of the very wise, who have deleted their social media accounts, don’t watch television news, and who focus on making each day great have peace. But that is a shrinking demographic. And when riots become our default (Minneapolis, Portland, the U.S. Capitol….) I think we’ve crossed a Rubicon. Joy? I see joy. I see it when families play at the park, I hear it on playgrounds when kids are allowed to play with their friends, I feel it when my children are having fun together (usually making w fun of me). But, it seems to be w isolated to small instances. Our re- r sponse to the pandemic has tinted i even large celebrations with fear, s such that Joy is always mingled t
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Arvada Press 15
November 18, 2021
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nother odd-number year Election Day, another school board election with slates of candidates in Jefferson County. We deserve better. While school GUEST board members in Jefferson County COLUMNIST represent specific districts, they are elected at-large with all voters allowed to vote in every district. As slates win or lose, it is less likely that differences among members lead to Greg Romberg meaningful debate or discussion on even the most controversial issues. With that dynamic, we tend to elect school board members who are likely to
ALCORN FROM PAGE 14
with sadness. And Love? Many versions of Love are thriving right now — I refer you again to Colorado Puppy Rescue. But the sort of sacrificial love, the one that puts the needs of others above the needs of self, that asks the strong to step in front of the vulnerable and bear the costs of society, that kind of love — the kind
LETTERS FROM PAGE 14
the governor will advance such a program. Rather, parents who pay -for their children to attend private schools...also continue to pay their taxes that support the public school system. They are double-paying to get the education they desire for their children. Parents in Jeffco get no voucher from the state to use at the school of their tchoice.
FORD FROM PAGE 5
was going on. And I feel like I just was concerned and timely in my response to them and really listening to what they’re thinking and saying and feeling about some of the things that are going on in the city,” Ford continued. Councilmember Bob Fifer said that although he and Ford don’t always agree, he always appreciated her perspective and her commitment to making her constituent’s voices heard. “You brought the voice of your constituents to the city council and that passion should never be contained,” said Fifer. “Even though we may not always agree, the fact that we can have those thoughtful conversations — I’ll
The great slate debate see most issues the same way as their colleagues and constituents who disagree are left without a voice. Lest you think this discussion is sour grapes because the candidates I supported lost, that is not the case. The slate (yes, despite my opposition to candidates running in slates, I, like most people in Jeffco, voted that way) that I voted for won. However, we would be better served if we make a couple fundamental changes to how we select school board members in this county. First, board members should be chosen by voters who live in their districts, not from the county at-large. In a county as big as this one, people who live in different parts of the county often see the world differently from people who
live in other parts of the county. At-large selection does not allow the voices of people from disparate parts of the county to be heard in a way that voting by district would. Second, it makes sense for us to increase the number of board members from five to seven. More districts with fewer people in each district would make it more likely that each school board member will reflect the beliefs and values of his or her constituents. A more diverse board will inevitably result in school board discussions and debates that ensure that a wider range of thoughts and belilefs are considered. Similar arguments can (and should) be made about how we elect county commissioners. Given the budget difficulties Jefferson
County currently faces, now may not be the time to make this change, but we should re-open the debate about going from three to five county commissioners and electing them by district instead of at-large. But the time is ripe for us to change how we elect school board before the next school board elections in 2023. To ensure a board that more accurately reflects voters from throughout our county and to encourage more independence by each board member, we should increase the number of school board members from five to seven and elect them by district instead of at-large.
that holds a nation together — that has been replaced by tribal loyalty and envy as a civic virtue. The fruits on the tree of American life are sour. But, we have a chance. We have an opportunity. The month of November is dedicated to Gratitude (ironically, not on Paul’s list), and Gratitude is a varietal that fills many cups. Then December comes, and we have a chance, in the long, quiet nights, to rediscover Peace and a deep, profound Joy, in celebrations of what is Holy.
Seize this opportunity. Turn off the TV (except to watch Charlie Brown), sign out of social media, get out in the world. Rehabilitate the little branch of the tree that is within your reach.
and current writer who lives in Arvada with his wife and three children. His new novel, “Valkyrie’s Kiss,” a finalist in the ScreenCraft Book Competition, is available now at mjalcorn@comcast.net. His opinions are not necessarily those of Colorado Community Media.
Of course the letterwriter was being derogatory when he suggested my “ilk” should stay inside our churches/embassies “until the charter is revoked.” But Americans’ freedom of worship is established in the First Amendment to the Constitution. And people in God’s church are called to be salt and light in their communities, not to scrape and bow to big government mandates that restrict personal, religious or medical freedom. Mark W. Salley, Arvada
miss them.” District 2 Councilmember Lauren Simpson said she would miss Ford’s friendly demeanor on council. “You were never overly formal; you were instantly a friend. Thank you for being my friend, I’ll miss you,” said Simpson. Ford said that serving on city council was difficult, but she would nonetheless miss working towards the betterment of Arvada — as well as the city as a whole. “Though governance can be a rough job, the six years I spent on city council were some of the best years of my life so far. The opportunity to collaborate with seven individuals from different backgrounds with a desire to maintain Arvada as a great place to live. I will always reserve a special place in my heart for my colleagues,” Ford said.
Michael Alcorn is a former teacher
Greg Romberg is president of Romberg and Associates. He lives in Evergreen with his wife, Laurie.
Memory In Loving
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16 Arvada Press
LOCAL
Giving thanks
November 18, 2021
LIFE
Area residents talk about their gratitude for their families, friends, school — and simply being alive
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Clockwise from top left: seniors at STEM School Highlands Ranch, third graders at King-Murphy Elementary School in Clear Creek County, Scott Shields and Katherine Lawson at Family Tree nonprofit based in Wheat Ridge, students and principal Wendy Noel at Two Roads charter school in Arvada, workers and guests at the Golden Visitors Center and residents at Elk Run Assisted PHOTOS BY DEB HURLEY BROBST Living in Evergreen. BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
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hether it’s simply giving thanks or the Thanksgiving holiday, gratitude has special meaning this time of year. No matter what their age, area residents are thankful for everything from family and friends to having a roof over their heads to enjoying life. “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” Eckhart Tolle Gratitude is important for everyone, according to Heather Aberg of Evergreen, the founder of Resilience1220, an organization that provides counseling to teens.
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“I would encourage people in our world today to make that a real cornerstone of their focus,” Aberg said. “Gratitude allows us to grow, adapt and change.” She noted that people, especially during the pandemic, focused on the negative, when there are things to be thankful for. It’s important to count blessings in life, she said. “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more.” Melody Beattie No one knows more about gratitude than those living at Elk Run Assisted Living in Evergreen, where residents happily talk about the good things in their lives. They sat in the lobby to discuss what they were thankful for, and it had nothing to do with possession and every-
thing to do with family and friends — and still being alive. “I thank God every day that I’m on this side of dirt,” said Bettie Lynn Walden, who believes in making others laugh every day, “and I have a place to live on this side of dirt.” Her friends laughed and agreed with her sentiment. Resident Steve Kurland added that he was thankful for having a place like Elk Run to live and having family close by who visit. Several residents added that they were thankful for their families, especially their grandchildren. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” Oprah Winfrey At the West Metro Chamber of
Commerce based in Lakewood, Erin l Acheson was optimistic that small “ businesses and nonprofits were o recovering after closures during the pandemic, and personally, she d S was thankful for her new job as the chamber’s director of member d engagement. She called the position e a new opportunity both personally t and professionally after months dur-n ing the pandemic when she didn’t d J work. t Volunteers and patrons at the g Golden Visitors Center said they were grateful for their health, the h beautiful fall weather and the opportunity to live in a wonderful place like Golden. “I love working here,” said Ron Bettinger, who is a Golden native. “I get to meet all kinds of people from all over the county and the world.” SEE THANKFUL, P17
Film Festival tells the story of a world in flux COMING ATTRACTIONS
Clarke Reader
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here’s nothing like sitting in a movie theater. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic shut everything down, the future of in-person viewing has suddenly became a more pressing concern. There’s no arguing with the convenience of streaming from home, but there’s a shutting out of the rest of the world (and oneself) that only appears to happen in a theater. It makes movies more magical. More real. More powerful. Which made the 44th annual Denver Film Festival’s return to places like the SIE FilmCenter and Ellie Caulkins Opera House that much better. And with more
than 200 films to select from, I spent more time in theaters than I had in nearly two years. It is so good and so important that we’re here together, face-to-face to celebrate film” said James Mejía, CEO of Denver Film, during the opening night screening. “We’ve bene through so much and it’s more than appropriate that art brings us together. Through art we can morn and hope and with film, we can connect.” During this year’s festival, I saw 29 films over 12 days — and as usual the festival’s selections all have things to recommend them. They all connect with the viewer,
and all reflect the passions of their makers. Of those movies, here are my favorites. The best hope for the future ‘C’mon C’mon’ Release date: In theaters on Nov. 19 Mike Mills’ “C’mon C’mon” is the kind of movie that sticks with you. Joaquin Phoenix might be at his considerable finest in the role of Johnny, who decides to help out his sister Viv (a never better Gabby Hoffman) and watch his nephew, Jesse (Woody Norman). The film follows SEE READER, P17
Arvada Press 17
November 18, 2021
THANKFUL
“This is a wonderful day. I have never seen this one before.” Maya Angelou
Charlene Pazar, a 55-year Golden resident, is thankful for dance, even when dance groups have met while wearing masks and practicing social distancing. At the Wheat Ridge headquarters of Family Tree, a nonprofit that helps combat homelessness, child abuse and domestic violence, both the executive director and chief development officer were thankful to serve the community and grateful for the support they have received to achieve Family Tree’s mission. “I’ve had the privilege to serve in this role and in the community,” Executive Director Scott Shields said, with Chief Development Officer Katherine Lawson adding that the volunteers, donors and the community have been phenomenal in helping the nonprofit’s clients.
Third graders at King-Murphy Elementary School in Clear Creek County agreed they were thankful for typical things such as family, friends and pets. Third grader Edith said she was thankful for her home, food and all the things her family has, while Alice added that she is grateful for everything her family does for her, plus her house and Halloween. Some of the students were thankful for something not-so-typical: being back in school with their friends. Drew and Paityn were happy they were no longer learning remotely. Likewise, middle schoolers at Two Roads Charter School in Arvada were especially thankful for their school, where they said the teachers took a special interest in them and where extracurricular
READER
fascinated by the ways stories are told and changed over time, this is a can’t miss.
FROM PAGE 16
FROM PAGE 16
this family searching for some kind of grace while looking to the next generation for necessary hope for the future. And hope it finds: in the wisdom of children, the love of family and the stories we tell. Best catnip for movie nerds ‘Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched’ Release date: Available on VOD Folk horror is one of my absolute favorite sub-genres of film - for my money, Robert Eggers’ “The Witch” is the best horror film of this century thus far, and who doesn’t love “The Wicker Man”? Sweeping and comprehensive, director Kier-La Janisse traces the earliest literary roots of the genre to its modern iterations. An international storytelling style, Janisse delves into the way countries like Japan, Australia and Russia have taken this largely British-based genre and made it their own. For horror lovers, or those who are
Protecting what’s important ‘The Snow Leopard’ and `Storm Lake’ Release date: Dec. 22 and available on PBS A pair of films with different subjects but the same underlying philosophy. Marie Amiguet’s gorgeous documentary, “The Velvet Queen,” follows photographer Vincent Munier and writer Sylvain Tesson as they explore the Tibetan highlands in search of the reclusive snow leopard. What Amiguet captures on screen is quite simply some of the most beautiful visuals I’ve ever seen, and they’re all real and exist in our world. The film is at times a tone poem, others a philosophical exploration, and always a reminder of how much beauty there is on Earth that still needs protecting. Beth Levison and Jerry Risius’ documentary, “Storm Lake,” tells the story of the Storm Lake Times newspaper, the twice-weekly, Pulitzer-winning newspaper of
programs including sports were available. “This school really inspires me,” said seventh grader Devon Fallis. “There are a lot of nice people here.” Seventh grader Leila Evanetich said she felt she has help in both her education and mental health, making her feel like she’s not alone. In addition, high school students at STEM School Highlands Ranch were thankful for the community at the school, helping them navigate their education and prepare for college. Senior Isabelle McCall said she was grateful for the teachers who put so much effort into classes and extracurricular activities, working to make students feel safe so they can learn. Senior Sarah Braunschweig added that her amazing friends have supported her through school, college selection and her life.
“When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.” Tecumseh
Storm Lake, Iowa. How hard the family works to keep the crucial institution alive is a reminder of the power of the free press and the dangers this crucial right is currently facing.
counts. It’ll make you laugh, choke you up and most importantly, inspire you to take action.
The best example of what people working together can do ‘Running With My Girls’ Release date: Screenings to be announced Any Denver resident who has been here for longer than a few years can attest to how rapidly the city is changing and growing. But that growth hasn’t necessarily been reflected in its elected leaders. In the 2019 election a group of progressive women attempted to change that. And Rebekah Henderson was along for the ride. Her documentary, “Runnimg With My Girls” provides a fly-on-the-wall view of the campaigns of Dr. Lisa Calderón, Candi CdeBaca, Shayla Richard and Veronica Barela as they run to make a change in the city. The film is funny, laced with hope, and ultimately a reminder that progress can often be a glacial progress, but every forward step
Twins Mischa and Zoe Dvoretsky, both STEM School juniors, said in unison that they were grateful for each other. They also are thankful for their family and friends who have been strong support groups. “If it wasn’t for my friends and family, I wouldn’t be the person I am today,” Zoe said. Mischa was more philosophical, noting that people should appreciate that they get up every day, and they have the ability to do what may seem like mundane activities. “Not everyone gets that opportunity,” she said. “People should realize what they have. They get to breathe fresh air and enjoy every day with the people they love.”
Best call to action ‘Who We Are’ Release date: Jan. 14 In Emily and Sarah Kunstler’s documentary, “Who We Are,” civil rights attorney Jeffery Robinson compellingly points out that the institutional racism that played a role in the creation of the country is still deciding its future. The film blends a 2018 Juneteenth lecture, on the ground storytelling and historical documentation to lay out exactly how the country arrived at the fractured place we are now. This is vital, passionate filmmaking of the highest order. It embraces the possibilities of a better future, but not if we keep refusing to look certain things in the eye. This film asks audiences to do just that. Look. And then do something about it. Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.
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November 18, 2021
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The Wilsons and their new playground.
PHOTO BY RYAN DUNN
Arvada Army veteran gets home remodel from 75 volunteers in time for Veterans Day Home Depot Foundation partners with Semper Fi and America’s Fund to improve home BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Tyler Wilson and his family moved to northwest Arvada earlier this year, the Army veteran — who was paralyzed in Afghanistan in 2005 — he thought it would take years to save up enough money to modify his home to be accessible for him. Fortunately for the Wilsons, the Home Depot Foundation and partners Semper Fi & America’s Fund. From Nov. 8 to Nov. 10, over 100 volunteers worked to replace the Wilson’s dilapidated fence and make the family’s backyard more accessible by installing concrete ramps and durable window well covers. As an added bonus, the Foundation also donated a playground for the Wilson’s kids, aged two and four. “It was pretty amazing to get that news that it wasn’t going to take years to play with my kids out here,” said Wilson. Mandy Fritchell, a local Home Depot Store Manager who works on the Foundation’s initiatives said that the Semper Fi Fund reached out and shared Wilson’s story. When Fritchell received the letter from Semper Fi, she shared it with the Home Depot community and was met with an outpouring of support. “We got a heartfelt letter from Semper Fi so then we got our stores involved. We put it out to all our stores and all our third parties, anyone we have in our community can come volunteer,” said Fritchell. “We had a huge turnout. Word got out to people beyond our (Home
Volunteers surprise the Wilson boys with their play structure.
Depot) community.” Fritchell said the project was initially slated to just improve the fence, but after doing a walkthrough with Wilson, the Foundation decided to broaden the range of the renovations. “After we got a whole scope of it, we decided to go bigger, Fritchell said. “We had money left over from the grant we got, so we added the playground.” Wilson said the additional improvements will drastically improve his quality of life. “Big thing was wanting to get the fencing done. It was falling down in a lot places. With my service dog and all that stuff, I wanted to have a place for him to be off duty and be able to run without wandering outside the property,” said Wilson, “and same with the kids — I have a two and a four-year-old. They keep you on your toes enough as it is. “It’s a place where I can feel confident that they’re safe and I don’t have to worry about them running into the street or something like that,” Wilson continued.
COURTESY OF MANDY FRITCHELL
June Cartmill, a case manager at the Semper Fi Fund, said she has been working with Wilson for years and saw the need for improvements in his new home. “When we saw that he had these needs, we were able to try and connect (the Wilsons) and partner with Home Depot to make the yard more accessible and enjoyable,” said Cartmill. “Tyler and (wife) Chrystal are part of the Semper Fi family. When we see situations like this, we step in and try to do something. Our goal is to be here and let them know that we’re here.” As the project wrapped up the day before Veterans Day Wilson said the work volunteers had done exceeded his wildest expectations. “It’s pretty amazing overall, just the generosity of everyone involved taking time out of their day,” said Wilson. “I’m not one who likes asking for help, and it’s just a very humbling and surreal experience to see everyone come out and do all this work so we can infinite amount of memories with these boys back here in our forever home.”
Arvada Press 19
November 18, 2021
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20 Arvada Press
November 18, 2021
Parents grapple with vaccination question Children ages 5 to 11 join ranks of eligibility for COVID shots BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
While some parents have moved forward with getting their children ages 5 to 11 vaccinated against COVID-19, others are still hesitant. Dr. Brandi Freeman, a pediatrician for Children’s Hospital Colorado, said she has been addressing a lot of parent concerns, hesitation and anxiety as they struggle to make a decision on whether or not to get younger children vaccinated. “The hesitancy given the environment and the world we live in today is a normal thing,” Freeman said. “As a pediatrician, I try to talk to parents and work to understand what their hesitancies are and answer the questions they have.” The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved the Pfizer vaccination for children ages 5 to 11 in early November. After the approval, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) followed suit, advising parents to get the vaccination for school-age children. In the Nov. 5 press release, the CDPHE said, “Vaccines are the safest, most effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help
Calvin Grimes, 8, and Cooper Grimes, 5, receive their COVID vaccinations.
avoid the worst outcomes — severe illness, hospitalization, and death — among those who do become infected. Getting vaccinated means kids can look forward to holiday
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activities, participate in extracurricular activities, have fewer interruptions to in-person learning, and see family and friends without worrying as much about getting COVID-19 or having to quarantine and miss out.” Until the recent FDA approval, only those 12 and over were eligible for the vaccination. According to CDPHE data, 10% of the 3.9 million people vaccinated in Colorado range in age from 5 to 19. Once her children were eligible, Centennial mom Katherine Giuffre said she was “elated” to get her two sons, ages 5 and 7, vaccinated quickly. Giuffre said she did not have the same level of hesitation as other parents, noting it is all about safety. “I was so excited and started looking for clinics to schedule the vaccination right away,” she said. “I had been preparing and researching for months. With them vaccinated, I feel safe in having them going to school. We are going to be
PHOTO BY JON GRIMES
able to really get out in the world again. We love to travel, and this is important to be able to do that.” After the vaccinations, Guiffre said her 5-year-old complained of a sore arm, but it did not prevent him from playing tennis and going about his day. Her 7-year-old had zero side effects from the shot, Guiffre said. Freeman said soreness in the injected arm has been the most common side effect patients are reporting. Children may also feel ill for about 24 hours, Freeman said, noting that the side effect is normal and no cause for concern. With a vaccination that has become politicized over the last two years, Freeman said not all parents are as excited as Guiffre. Some of the common concerns about getting the vaccinations are what the longterm effects will be, Freeman said. Freeman said some concerns and hesitancy stem from myths SEE VACCINATION, P21
Arvada Press 21
November 18, 2021
VACCINATION FROM PAGE 20
being spread on social media and throughout the internet. Freeman said a common misconception is that the COVID vaccination is brand new with little research or data. In actuality, Freeman said, the mRNA that makes up the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines was developed more than 20 years ago and shelved. Like a pair of shoes that someone loves but does not have a special occasion or an outfit to match, Freeman said a person may buy them and shelve them until the right time. “The vaccination is similar,” Freeman said. “The technology was developed and held until we needed it. The vaccine is safe and can help get us back to what we consider normal life.” Another common myth that has had no actual scientific data to back it up is that the vaccine will cause fertility issues, Freeman said. The side effects that are common, Freeman said, are no different from other shots. “Millions of people have received these vaccines without a problem,” she said. “With that, it is important to prepare your child. It is a needle and there is some pain associated with that. Coach them before the shot to settle the anxiety they may have.” Guiffre said she started preparing both her boys several weeks before the vaccination date. With commu-
VACCINATION QUESTIONS ANSWERED With plenty of questions and concerns around the newly expanded age limit for COVID-19 vaccinations, the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment answered some common questions. Do children get the same type of vaccine as adults? Children age 12 to 17 years can get the same kind of Pfizer vaccine as adults. Children age 5 to 11 years will get a smaller dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. This vaccine is one third of the dose of the Pfizer vaccine used for teens and adults. How well does the vaccine work for children? Pfizer’s clinical trials showed that the vaccine for children ages 12 to 15 was 100% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. The vaccine for children age 5 to 11 years was about 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. Both vaccines were 100% effective in preventing severe disease and death.
What are the side effects of the vaccine for children? The side effects in children are similar to the side effects experienced by adults. They can include tiredness, headache, soreness, chills and fever. In clinical trials, children ages 5 to 11 tended to have milder side effects than teens and adults. Most side effects are mild and go away on their own after a day or two. Will my child need two doses of the vaccine? Yes. Be sure to schedule your child’s second dose 21 days or three weeks after the first dose. Can my child get routine vaccines at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine? Yes. It is safe for your child to receive other routine vaccines on the same day as a COVID-19 vaccine. You may be able to include other routine vaccinations at the appointment, which are vital for keeping kids protected from other illnesses.
nication and talking about what to expect, Guiffre said, there were no tears. Freeman said in advising parents about the vaccination, she is honest that the long-term effects of getting COVID are a lot more worrisome than the short-term impacts of a vaccination. While each childhood COVID case is different, Freeman said with every diagnosis in children there is a concern it will turn into MIS-C. MIS-C, or multisystem inflammatory syndrome, is a serious condition associated with COVID-19 where different body parts can be-
come inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. Over the summer, Dr. Anne Jobman, of UCHealth Primary Care, said the problem with MIS-C is that it can present with a variety of symptoms and show up weeks after a child is exposed to COVID. Symptoms of MIS-C can include abnormal gut pain, bloodshot eyes, chest tightness/pain, diarrhea, feeling extra tired, headache, low blood pressure and neck pain. Freeman said she has advised families that the risks associated with the vaccine are less risky than
getting COVID. Besides protecting the child against COVID, Freeman said, a vaccination will also protect other people. “A vaccinated child will not infect other people,” Freeman said. “It will protect their grandparents, people who are immune compromised and the community as a whole.” As the number of vaccinations among the state’s children increases, clinics have been set up in various counties and select pharmacies, such as Walgreens, have made the shot available to young patients. To find a vaccine clinic for children, visit the state’s website at covid19.colorado.gov/kids-vaccines.
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22 Arvada Press
November 18, 2021
Woolly wonder 2021 Bighorn Sheep Festival full of fun PHOTOS BY SARA HERTWIG SPECIAL TO THE CLEAR CREEK COURANT
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Ben Brown, 6, inspects his s’more as he pushes the graham crackers together, smashing the marshmallow.
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Arvada Press 23
November 18, 2021
STATE ORDER
strain on hospitals, Polis signed an executive order making it so that any fully vaccinated adult can receive a COVID-19 booster shot. He is also making a push for more monoclonal antibody treatments in the state. However, the governor stopped short of re-implementing a statewide mask-wearing mandate, saying, “It’s a little bit harder to figure out what a mask order does in different areas and what impact that might have. One hypothesis is that those who are unvaccinated are the least likely to follow a mask order. And obviously, if we’re trying to get them to do one thing, it would be to get vaccinated.” And Polis’ message to the unvaccinated? “Whatever that reason is, just suck it up and get protected. This thing isn’t going to go away.”
FROM PAGE 12
spoke to a group of medical advisors about possible steps the state would take to stop the spread of COVID-19. One of those steps, according to The Colorado Sun, was urging cities to require attendees of indoor events to be vaccinated. “We need to make indoor events safer,” Polis said in the meeting. “We can’t afford superspreader events.” Some county leaders commended CDPHE and Polis for taking this step. “Making large indoor gatherings safer and preventing potential superspreader events will help keep Jeffco kids in the classroom and slow the spread of COVID and the delta variant,” Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper said in a release. “We applaud this action today from the state and Governor.” Some venues have already taken similar steps. Denver’s Ball Arena, for example, announced that COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative test would be required to attend events there starting Nov. 10. It was an announcement the governor celebrated. Colorado is currently in a perilous situation where COVID-19 is concerned. Recently, the state’s hospital capacity reached an all-time pandemic low, and hospitalizations are nearing the December 2020 peak. (Over 80% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients are not vaccinated, accord-
Ball Arena in Denver, which previously announced that COVID-19 vaccination or proof of a negative test would be required to attend events there starting Nov. 10. PHOTO BY SHUTTERSTOCK
ing to state data.) As of Nov. 12, according to state officials, there have been 781,960 Coloradans diagnosed with COVID-19, 44,542 who have been hospitalized and 8,886 Coloradans who have died from COVID-19. As of that date, the state said, 1,476 people were currently hospitalized in Colorado due to COVID-19, and only 810 hospital beds remained unoccupied across the state. Data compiled by The New York Times show Colorado currently has the third-worse per-capita spread of
COVID-19 in the country. To combat the rising cases and
This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online. Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.
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LOCAL
November 18, 2021
SPORTS
Columbine rolls into 5A state quarterfinals
Arvada West freshman quarterback Vince Vigil gets off a pass while under pressure from Arvada West senior Logan Corray (82) and junior Payton Wainwright (38) during the second-round playoff game Nov. 11 at the North Area Athletic Complex. Columbine senior Seth Cromwell (34) finds some running room during the Rebels’ 3821 victory over Arvada West on Nov. 11 at the North Area Athletic Complex. The win advanced Columbine into the Class 5A state quarterfinals where it will face No. 1-seeded PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS Valor Christian at 6 pm Friday in Highlands Ranch.
Rebels beat A-West 38-21 BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARVADA — Columbine senior Seth Cromwell didn’t want his high school football season or career to end Thursday, Nov. 11, at the North Area Athletic Complex. “You just have to play with a chip on your shoulder,” Cromwell said after his 3-touchdown performance powered the No. 9-seeded Rebels to a 38-21 victory over No. 8 Arvada West. “I don’t want to go home to be honest. It’s too early to go home. I want that championship trophy over my head. That’s what I play for.” Columbine (9-3 record) led 21-14 at halftime on the same field that A-West (8-3) mounted a second-half rally during Class 5A Jeffco League play earlier in the season. The Wildcats trailed by 10 points at halftime, but rallied to win 24-21 after shutting out the Rebels in the second
half back on Oct. 1. There would be no repeat of that during the second-round playoff game. The Rebels ran 33 offensive plays to the Wildcats’ 3 plays and a punt from the start of the third quarter until midway through the fourth quarter. “I like that. We play a lot better defense when we have the ball,” Columbine coach Andy Lowry said of the Rebels’ massive time of possession advantage in the second half. Columbine managed just a 25-yard field goal by senior Wes Jones, but it was enough to extend the Rebels’ lead to 24-14. “We took a lot of time off the clock and made them tired,” Cromwell said of the second half. “That is what we do at Columbine. Run it down their throats and keep running it and running it.” Cromwell scored on a 14-yard touchdown with 3:52 left in the fourth quarter after A-West turned the ball over on downs. Columbine quarterback Brock Zanetell scored
on a 2-yard touchdown after the Rebels’ third interception on the night. A-West senior Cade Russell scored the final touchdown of the night to make the score 38-21. Columbine had to wait to see who its gets in the quarterfinals. No. 16 Fort Collins faced No. 1 Valor Christian on Friday, Nov. 12, in Highlands Ranch. That winner got the Rebels in the next round. “We’ll definitely be there,” Jones said of the Fort Collins/Valor game Friday night. “We’ll be scouting it out seeing what we need to do.” Valor crushed the Lambkins 52-2 in the round of 16 game. The Eagles host Columbine at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at Valor Christian High School. A-West got off to a quick start with a nice 80-yard scoring drive highlighted by a couple of huge pass completions by freshman quarterback Vince Vigil. The freshman who started for the injured junior Ethan Cook, had a 31-yard hook-up with senior Ean Lee. Vigil finished the drive with a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior Drew Martinez with 6:59 left in the first quarter. “When we came in on that first drive and did everything we needed to do I was pretty happy with that,”
A-West coach Brad Pyatt said. “Credit to (Columbine). They had a great game plan.” Columbine answered in a hurry with a big kickoff return by sophomore Josh Snyder that got the Rebels down to A-West’s 4-yard line. Cromwell punched in his first of two short touchdown runs of the first half to get the game tied at 7-7. An interception by senior Wes Jones set up the Rebels’ second score. Zanetell hit sophomore James Cillessen for a 26-yard touchdown pass on a 4th-down play to push Columbine up 14-7 late in the second quarter. A-West tied things up with a 26yard touchdown run by Russell in the opening minutes of the second quarter to tie things up 14-14. However, Cromwell scored his second touchdown with 4:41 left in the first half to give the Rebels a 21-14 lead. “This is a special group with what we’ve done in a year’s time,” Pyatt said of his team that had regularseason wins over Columbine and Ralston Valley. “This group of seniors has put us back on the map.” Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.
Dakota Ridge lights up the scoreboard in playoff win BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
LAKEWOOD — Dakota Ridge’s offense was an unstoppable force Friday, Nov. 12, at Jeffco Stadium. The No. 2-seeded Eagles scored touchdowns on six straight offensive possession in an eventual 56-35 track meet style playoff victory against No. 15 Longmont. “We knew we would be pretty good offensively,” Dakota Ridge coach Ron Woitalewicz said after the Eagles had their fifth game of the season of scoring 50-plus points. “The one thing (Longmont) has struggled a little bit this year has
been defense. We knew we would put some points up.” Longmont (7-5 record) actually jumped out to an early 8-0 lead with a 90-plus yard kickoff return for a touchdown by senior Caleb Johnson, followed up by a successful two-point conversion. However, the undefeated Eagles (11-0) didn’t panic being down 16 seconds into the game. “We knew there was plenty of time left in the game. We knew from the start we were the better team. One mistake wasn’t going to affect us,” Dakota Ridge senior Dante Capolungo said. “We stayed cool and handled it like we always handle it.”
Dakota Ridge’s offense kicked it into high gear in the second quarter. Following a 31-yard touchdown run by junior Noah Triplett in the first quarter, the Eagles put up four rushing touchdowns in the second quarter to open up a 35-22 halftime lead. Quarterback Adam Graves weaved his way into the end zone on an 18yard touchdown on the second play of the second quarter to give the Eagles a 14-8 lead. Capolungo had a pair of touchdown runs less than a minute and a half apart to put Dakota Ridge up 28-15. “Anyway I can get the ball into my hands I’m grateful,” Capolungo said
after his two rushing touchdowns along with an interception late in the fourth quarter. “As long as we are scoring I’m happy.” Senior Isac Pingarron had a 1-yard touchdown run with 2.4 seconds left before halftime during the run of six straight possessions with touchdowns for the Eagles. “We’ve got so many weapons offensively,” Woitalewicz said. “What are you going to take away?” Graves threw touchdown passes to seniors receivers Xander Kanter and Connor Fitzhugh in the third quarter to push the lead to 49-28. SEE DAKOTA, P25
Arvada Press 25
November 18, 2021
C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E
Dakota Ridge senior Jacob Lafave brakes through a number of Longmont defenders during the Eagles’ playoff victory Nov. 12 at Jeffco Stadium. Dakota Ridge faces rival Chatfield in the Class 4A state quarterfinals on Friday at Jeffco Stadium. PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
FROM PAGE 24
The Eagles final score was a 91-yard touchdown run by Triplett. “I felt like it was an early wake-up call,” Triplett said of the Trojans’ opening kickoff return. “It was over and we needed to answer. We knew we were the better team. We just needed to prove it. We stepped up to the plate after that.” Dakota Ridge moves into the Class 4A state quarterfinals next week where it will host rival and No. 7 Chatfield likely at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 19, at Jeffco Stadium. The Chargers handled Ponderosa 31-9 just down the street at Trailblazer Stadium. Chants of “We want Chatfield” rang out from Dakota Ridge’s student section midway through the fourth quarter with the Eagles holding a 3-touchdown advantage over the Trojans. “It’s going to be a battle next week,” Woitalewicz said. “We are going to have to get a lot better.” Dakota Ridge edged Chatfield 29-28 back on Oct. 29 to claim the 4A Metro 1 League title. The Chargers led by two scoring going into the fourth quarter. “Whatever team executes better and makes the least mistakes is go-
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DAKOTA
ing to come out on top,” Capolungo said. Longmont’s high-powered air attack came into Jeffco Stadium with some impressive numbers. Senior quarterback Keegan Patterson had more that 3,200 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. The senior duo of Johnson and Jack Moll both had more than 1,000 yards receiving while combining for 19 touchdowns. Patterson had a trio of rushing touchdowns as he tried to keep pace with Dakota Ridge. It was an emotional week for the Eagles. Mary Beth Price, the mother of two Dakota Ridge football players suddenly passed away Monday. “It was totally emotional,” Woitalewicz said of the passing of Price. “How our kids dealt with it all week was pretty cool. The whole community rallied around them.” Woitalewicz put sophomore Stephen Price in the backfield on the final snap of the football game with the Eagles taking a knee to run out the clock. The son of Mary Beth was greeted by teammates after Longmont players after the final buzzer sounded. “We got the win for her,” Capolungo said. Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.
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November 18, 2021
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Find out more about these positions at: mtevans.org/careers
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November 18, 2021
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Split & Delivered $350 a cord Delivery $50. Stacking $50 Call 303-647-2475 or 720-323-2173
Furniture DINING ROOM TABLE One dining room table, mahogany color with walnut inlays, one leaf, 6 chairs all have claw foot design. Upholstered chair seats, light colored. I chair seat slightly damaged. $800 for set. Please call 720-217-5045
Health & Beauty Stroke & Cardiovascular disease are leading causes of death according to the AHA. Screenings can provide peace of mind or early detection! Call Life Line Screening to schedule a screening. Special offer 5 screenings for $149. 1-833-549-4540
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Attention oxygen therapy users! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds. Free info kit. Call 877-929-9587
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Looking for assisted living, memory care, or independent living? A Place for Mom simplifies the process of finding senior living at no cost to your family. Call 1-833-386-1995 today! DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote. Some Restrictions apply. Promo Expires 1/21/22. 1-833-872-2545. Long distance moving: Call for a free quote from America’s Most Trusted Interstate Movers. Let us take the stress out of moving! Speak to a relocation specialist 888-721-2194 GENERAC Standby Generators provide backup power during power outages, so your home & family stay safe & comfortable. Prepare now. Free 7-yr extended warranty $695 value! Request a free quote today! Call for terms & conditions. 1-844334-8353 BATH & SHOWER UPDATES in as little as ONE DAY! Affordable prices - No payments for 18 months! Lifetime warranty & professional installs. Senior & Military Discounts available. Call: 855-761-1725 Necchi Sewing Machine Cabinet and seat (removable) No heavy use. Recently serviced. $125. 720-344-4705
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Scrap Metal, Batteries, Appliances, Wiring, Scrap Plumbing/Heating, Cars/Parts, Clean out Garages/Yards, Rake, Yard work done w/chainsaw, Certified Auto Mechanical / Body Work & paint available Also can do inside or outside cleaning 303-647-2475 / 720-323-2173
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Update your home with beautiful new blinds & shades. Free in-home estimates make it convenient to shop from home. Professional installation. Top quality - Made in the USA. Free consultation: 877-212-7578. Ask about our specials!
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Wanted to Buy I BUY OLD/VINTAGE CHRISTMAS DECOR! If you are purging I am buying. Happy to dig in closets, sheds, basements Call or text Lisa B. 720-838-4549 Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201
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Time To the Check Furnaces & Boilers Serving Front Range since 1955 Serving the Front Range since 1955 Furnaces • Boilers • Water Heaters Rooftop • Mobile Water HeatersHVAC • Rooftop HVAC •Furnaces Commercial Commercial Residential • Install •• Residential Repair • Replace Install Inspections • Repair • Replace Free Furnace & A/C Startups
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Arvada Press 29
November 18, 2021
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Free Instant Phone Quote Repair or Replace: Faucets, Sprinklers, Toilets, Sinks, Disposals, Water Heaters, Gas Lines, Broken Pipes, Spigots/ Hosebibs, Water Pressure Regulator, Ice Maker, Drain Cleaning, Dishwasher Instl., for coupons go to vertecservices.com CALL Vertec 303-371-3828
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schultzroofingcompany.com schultzroofing@icloud.com Roofing/Gutters
Have a Hail Damaged Roof? - Call Golden Spike Roofing - We are 100% Local & Have Great References - Roofing • Siding • Paint • Windows • Gutters
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Mountain Skyline Painting is a family owned Residential and Commercial Painting company which specializes in exterior and interior painting as well as kitchen cabinet refinishing. Our core values are honesty, integrity, service, quality and beauty and our focus is on delivering an outstanding customer experience. We currently include a full color consult, test quarts and a detailed walkthrough with all of our paint jobs. • Family Owned • Free Upgrades Included Give us a call to set up a free estimate!
DEPENDABLE ROOF AND GUTTER REPAIR Repairs are all I do! Wind Damage & Fix Leaks Gutter repair/cleaning 40 years experience FREE Estimates
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30 Arvada Press
November 18, 2021
Golden’s season ends in sudden fashion Second round playoff opponent delivers 41-0 loss
t g
t BY GLENN WALLACE GWALLACE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
s 2 fi t h p 1
On paper, it should have been a close game. Golden, sporting a high-powered offense and high spirits after winning a playoff game after a 19-year post-season winless drought, would be going up against the leaguechampion Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans looking to extend a dominant 7-game win streak. But games aren’t played on paper. And the CHSAA 4A second round playoff game on Nov. 12 on Fountain’s Ermel Field was not close. The Trojans (10-1) have scored more than 40 points against opponents six times this season, and kept the opposing team off the scoreboard three times as well. But to do so in a playoff game was a special feat. The dominance started early and did not relent. Within the first minute of game play, Tai Faavae broke through the Golden defensive line for a rushing touchdown. The two teams would trade possessions, Golden losing out on one drive thanks to an interception. But before the end of the first quarter the Trojans’ Tavian Tuli would SEE GOLDEN, P31
r t h b t t c r o c s e
Eddie O’Sullivan and Josh Torrey make the defensive stop against a Trojan.
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Arvada Press 31
November 18, 2021
GOLDEN FROM PAGE 30
throw a touchdown pass to give his team a strong lead. Things never got better for the Demons. The Trojans started the second quarter on their own 20-yard-line. A few quick first-downs had them back to midfield. That’s when a holding call and an incomplete pass set up a 3rd and 15. The Golden faithful got rowdy, sensing a possible turning of the tide. But Tuli had other plans. He dropped back into the pocket and threw deep, straight down the field. Junior wide receiver Darian Martin was right there, just a step ahead of two Golden defenders. He caught it without breaking stride on his way into the end zone. The score now 21-0, Golden received the kickoff. Star Golden quarterback Jazel Riley IV had been so good for the Demons all season (accounting for 42 touchdowns), but the Trojan secondary was merciless. A pass over the middle was met with a hard hit, forcing a fumble. The Trojan secondary scooped it up and ran that in for yet another touchdown. 28-0. “Tonight we played a really good football team, and we didn’t play our best football. So, sometimes when that happens, the score gets out of hand,” Golden Head Coach Jared Yannacito said after the loss. Golden’s next drive stalled out. In contrast, the Trojans seemed to be picking up momentum. The home team soon enjoyed a first-and goal situation fueled by a 43-yard scamper by Dezmen Oliver. He then did the honors, carrying the ball
Toby Trujillo (3), Johnny Meyers (10) and Dalton Summers (24) all help make a stop against a Trojan runner.
Quarterback and star offensive player Jazel Riley IV prepares to take a snap during the Demons second round CHSAA 4A state playoff PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIE JONES game.
from the remaining eight yards out for another rushing score. Twice Golden managed to move the ball into the Trojans’ red zone. Twice the Trojan defense held firm. The first opportunity to break the Golden goose egg came at the end of the second quarter. A long pass from Riley to Josh Torrey, followed by a strong run, busted out by sophomore Luc Chevalier moved the Demons to the Trojans 16-yard-line. But the Trojan defense stymied any further progress for four straight downs.
At the end of the third quarter (the score now 35-0) the Demons would find themselves with a 1st-andgoal on the Trojan 9. A run up the middle netted two yards. That was followed by an incomplete pass on second down and another run play by Torrey. Inside linebacker Michael Madrid was there to make the stop, holding Torrey to only a three-yard-gain to force a 4th-and-4. This time it was junior defensive back Myles Mcclarity who came through for the defense. He found a gap and broke up the Demons play before it
The Golden Demons team captains take to the field during the Nov. 13 playoff game versus the Fountain-Fort Carson Trojans.
could even develop. Two minutes into the fourth quarter the Trojans would score the last touchdown of the night. Even without the extra point, the 41-0 score triggered the mercy rule, allowing the clock to run between plays and ending the game quicker. The feeling of community surrounding the Demons was palatable at the end of the game. Friends and family hung near the fenceline in the chilly night air, long after the home-side stands had cleared out. “Proud of you, Demons!” shouted someone. “Keep
your heads up!” called out another. Golden’s remarkable season ends with a 9-3 record and more playoff experience than any GHS team in nearly two decades. “It was an amazing season. I’m so proud of this group,” Yannacito said, giving special nod to his team’s seniors: Toby Trujillo, Eddie O’Sullivan, De Jour Dubois, Noel Abare, Torrey, Dalton Summers, Daniel Brock, Taiysaun Doris, Omar Sanchez-Munoz, Johnny Gomez, and Logan Brewer. “They accomplished a lot, and I’m proud of them.”
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PUBLIC NOTICES
Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals City and County Public Notice
them for final passage and adoption. Members of the public may join virtually by emailing kluy@ arvada.org; the email must mention this meeting date. For the full text version in electronic form go to www.arvada.org/legalnotices, click on Current Legal Notices, then click on the title of the ordinance you wish to view. The full text version is also available in printed form in the City Clerk’s office. Contact 720.898.7550 if you have questions.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
CB21-040 An Ordinance Authorizing an Additional Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT at the meeting of the Arvada City Council to be held on MONDAY, December 6, 2021, at 6:15 p.m. at the Municipal Building, 8101 Ralston Road, Arvada CO, City Council will hold a public hearing on the following proposed ordinances and thereafter will consider
CB21-041 An Ordinance Amending and Restating Plan Documents and Adoption Agreements for the Executive Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, City Manager Retirement Plan, City Attorney Retirement Plan, and Municipal Judge Retirement Plan.
legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com
CB21-042 An Ordinance Amending Section 38-34, Definitions and Standards, Section 38-63 Emergencies, and Section 38-65, Exceptions, of Article II, Noise Control, of Chapter 38, Environment, of the Arvada City Code. CB21-043 An Ordinance Approving a Lease Purchase Financing to Provide Funds for the Construction of a Replacement Aquatics Center on the Site of the Meyers Pool; Authorizing and Approving a Site Lease, a Lease Purchase Agreement, and Other Documentation in Connection with a Cooperative Financing with Jefferson County School District No. R-1; and Providing Other Details, Parameters and Authorization In Connection with the Lease Purchase Financing. Legal Notice No. 411780
First Publication: November 18, 2021 Last Publication: November 18, 2021 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript
Rates and Bimonthly Service Charges.
PUBLIC NOTICE The following ordinances were adopted by the City Council of the City of Arvada on second reading following the public hearing held on November 15, 2021: Ordinance #4784 An Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Chapter 102, Utilities, of the Arvada City Code Pertaining to Water Users Rates and Bimonthly Service Charges. Ordinance #4785 An Ordinance Amending Section 102-206 of Chapter 102, Utilities, of the Arvada City Code Pertaining to Wastewater Users
Ordinance #4786 An Ordinance Rezoning Certain Land Within the City of Arvada, from City of Arvada RA (Residential/Agricultural) to City of Arvada PUD (Planned Unit Development) and Amending the Official Zoning Maps of the City of Arvada, Colorado, located at 7275 Kipling Street, Unit A and Unit B, Arvada, Colorado 80005. Legal Notice No. 411781 First Publication: November 18, 2021 Last Publication: November 18, 2021 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript
###
Arvada Legals 11.18.21 * 1
32 Arvada Press
November 18, 2021
FREE ADMISSION!! Holiday Craft Show & Mini-Market Third Annual
Hourly will be raffles held! Sign u
Saturday Dec. 11 8am - 4pm
Sunday Dec. 12
p chance for your cash to to win sp the sho end at w!
8am - 2pm
Douglas County Fairgrounds 500 Fairgrounds Dv. Castle Rock, CO.
Come shop for unique gifts and special items during the annual Colorado Community Media Holiday Craft Show and Mini-Market; With more than 100 exhibitors filling the Douglas County Fairgrounds, this is the best place to find that special, personal gift for friends and family. The show will feature handmade crafts in all areas from metal and leather, to flowers, baskets, ceramics, and so much more.
Bright Little Brains Rozanne Steyn Brightlittlebrains.com
Carol’s Creative Cards Carol Smith Cjaysmith.com 303-886-6730
Discovery Toys
Julie Olivett - Team Leader 303-437-7067 YourToyLady.com
Nerdy Sheep Fiber Arts Nerdysheepfiberarts.com info@nerdysheepfiberarts.com
Suelyn’s Creations
Suelyn Gnormley 720-201-3930 facebook.com/SuelynsCreations
Blue Butterfly
https://linktr.ee/BlueButterflyGallery
Vendor applications being accepted now. Contact Event Producer Thelma Grimes at tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com All applications must be approved to participate