Arvada Press 120921

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December 9, 2021

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24

VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 25

Arvada man charged in Boulder King Soopers Shooting ruled incompetent to stand trial Ahmad Alissa, 22, will be sent to state mental hospital in Pueblo pending further evaluation STAFF REPORT

Visitors chat with St. Nick at Saturdays with Santa in Olde Town Arvada.

PHOTOS BY RYAN DUNN

Holiday happenings in Olde Town Holiday Market, Saturdays with Santa bring festive cheer STAFF REPORT

Saturdays with Santa are back in Olde Town Square, and a new Holiday Market has debuted this year to round out the yuletide festivities taking place in Olde Town this year.

Remaining Saturdays with

Santa are from noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 11 and 18 after returning on Dec. 4. Photos with Santa are free and every child who visits Santa can receive a free cookie from Rheinlander bakery.

The Holiday Market — which provides a space for local makers and artisans to display their goods — began on Nov. 26 and will run each weekend through Dec. 19 on Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Vendors peddle wares at Olde Town Holiday Market.

The Holiday Market in Olde Town Arvada will run each weekend through Dec. 19.

Ahmad Alissa, the 22-year-old Arvada resident charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder and 115 total criminal charges in the March 22 Boulder King Soopers shooting was ruled incompetent to stand trial by Boulder County Chief Judge Ingrid Bakke on Dec. 3.

Alissa will be transported to the Colorado Mental Health Institute in Pueblo for the next three months. Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said he believes Alissa can be restored to competency with treatment and medication, according to the Denver Post. Alissa cannot stand trial unless he is ruled competent.

Four psychiatrists who examined Alissa found him incompetent to stand trial. Kathryn Herold, Alissa’s defense attorney said that he has a “serious” mental illness but did not provide any additional details.

Mental competency rulings can hold up trials for years, as has been the case with Robert Lewis Dear Jr., charged with the 2015 Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood Shooting. Dear has been ruled incompetent numerous times and has yet to stand trial. It is possible that the defendant will be declared permanently incompetent by evaluators.

Alissa’s legal troubles began during his time as a student at Arvada West.

Wrestling team manager Kayli Porterfield, who graduated from Arvada West in 2017, recalls Alissa threatening the team and storming out of the room after losing a practice wrestling match.

“He lost his wrestle-off and he got very, very angry,” Porterfield said. “He stormed out of the wrestling room, but before he did, he shouted at all of us. And he shouted that he was going to kill us all, but no one took that part seriously. But we understood that he was angry, and we all knew that he would get angry like that.”

On March 23, Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold said the department was determined to have Alissa stand trial.

“I am so sorry this incident happened,” Herold said. “We are going to do everything in our power to make sure this suspect has a thorough trial and we do a thorough investigation.”

The victims of the March 22 shooting in Boulder are Denny Stong, 20; Nevin Stanisic, 23; Rikki Olds, 25; Tralona Bartkowiak, 49; Teri Leiker, 51; Officer Eric Talley, 51; Suzanne Fountain, 59; Kevin Mahoney, 61; Lynn Murray, 62; and Jody Waters, 65.

Alissa has been an Arvada resident since 2015. The Colorado Mental Health Institute will provide monthly updates on Alissa’s condition and Bakke will review his status again at a March 15 hearing.

2 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

C t n

i t a c t fi h i e i

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Artist’s rendering of the new configuration of the 44th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard intersection.

COURTESY OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE

Wadsworth improvements underway

Safer, more efficient stretch of main thoroughfare to be completed by 2023

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

A temporary sales and use tax increase passed by Wheat Ridge voters in 2016 should be paying notice-

able dividends by the end of 2023, when improvements to a stretch of Wadsworth Boulevard that runs between 35th Avenue and Interstate 70 are complete. The project will be funded in two phases, with initial work being done from 41st Avenue to I-70, according to Wheat Ridge public information officer Sara Spaulding.

The second phase, from 35th Avenue to 41st Avenue, will commence once funding for the second phase is

secured. The city is actively working with CDOT (Colorado Department of Transportation) to secure the additional funding.

The first phase of project, which just started, will include a new intersection at 44th Avenue, entrances and exits to businesses that will provide safer access to motorists and a continuous sidewalk on the west side of the street from 38th Avenue to the Clear Creek Trail.

It also will include a bike/pedestrian path on the east side of Wadsworth running from 38th Avenue to the Clear Creek Trail.

Wheat Ridge City Council member Rachel Hultin said the project will create delays and disrupt traffic patterns in the short term, but in two years, the city will have a safer multi-modal conection to I-70 and the SEE WADSWORTH, P3

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Arvada Press 3

December 9, 2021

WADSWORTH FROM PAGE 2

Clear Creek Trail. She’s asking people to be patient and not cut through the neighborhood.

“This project, to me, is really exciting because it came about from a need to expand the road, but the project is actually going to connect our entire community,” Hultin said. “The thing that’s really exciting is that it’s the first project in the state that actually has phased pedestrian crossings. So, it’s actually going to be a much safer environment and connect more people in the community.”

According to the City’s Connections publication, Concrete Works of Colorado was awarded the project. Groundbreaking took place in mid-October.

Wadsworth will be in various stages of construction for two years with new northbound lanes and improvements

along the east side of Wadsworth kicking things off. During this phase of the project, all traffic will shift to the west side of Wadsworth Boulevard.

Despite ongoing work, two lanes of traffic in each direction and business access will be maintained through the duration of the project.

The City’s website, whatsupwheatridge.com, states that starting on or after Monday, Nov. 29, 48th Avenue, east of Wadsworth Boulevard, will permanently close. It will be re-configured as a cul-de-sac. According to the city, signs and message boards will be placed at various locations, giving notice in advance of the closure.

Weekly updates and more information about the project can be found at whatsupwheatridge.com/improvewadsworth.

Residents also can ask questions or voice concerns about the project by calling the project line at 303-390-0878 or via email at WadsworthProject@ ci.wheatridge.co.us.

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Come Visit Us at Our New Downtown Golden Office, 1214 Washington Ave. The broker associates at Golden Real Estate and I are truly excited about our new office in the heart of downtown Golden. It has been over 14 years since we launched Golden Real Estate in the former restaurant building at 17695 S. Golden Road. We would have liked to be in downtown Golden, but we needed a place to park our free moving truck where it could be seen by passersby as our “billboard on wheels.”

When Rita and I bought that building, I was a broker associate at RE/MAX Alliance, and I wanted it to be a satellite office for that brokerage, but RE/MAX International wouldn’t allow us to display a RE/MAX sign because of the other franchises in the area. I liked the building more than the brand, however, so that’s when I

decided to create Golden Real Estate, securing the corporate name and the URL www.GoldenRealEstate.com for our website. And, as they say, “the rest is history.”

A downtown storefront has the advantage of more walk-by and walk-in traffic. Before signing the lease on our storefront, I checked the transaction volume of the other real estate brokerage on the street and discovered that their ratio of buyer sides to listing sides was 2:1, whereas our ratio on S. Golden Road was 1:2. We look forward to increasing our buyer representation in our new location.

The left half of the picture at right is a visualization of the TouchPoint Systems display that will be installed shortly. It is a through-the-glass touchscreen unit which allows passersby to search the

MLS real-time, featuring Golden and Jefferson County listings in a slide-show format when not being actively used.

The closest similar installation is in the window of an Olde Town Arvada brokerage.

Sharing our office is Wendy Renee, a loan officer with Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. Would-be buyers will appreciate being able to meet with a lender in conjunction with their home search without leaving our office.

Although we can’t park it downtown, we’ll still be offering our free moving truck to buyers and sellers and to local non-profits such as BGoldN, the Christian Action Guild, and the Golden Chamber of Commerce, of which we’re a long-time member. It will still be parked at our former office on South Golden Road, which Rita and I still own, and which we’re converting into a onestop shop for “all things sustainable” under the name The Net Zero Store.

Several readers, upon learning of our move downtown, called me last week to ask if we’re still accepting Styrofoam for recycling. I assured them that nothing has changed in that regard. As a matter of fact, we took a truckload of the material to the recycling center just this week

and expect to continue doing so twice a month from the “Styrofoam Corral” behind our former office, At left is a reminder of what makes Golden Real Estate different from other brokerages, in addition to the free moving truck.

Aside from this column, which I have been publishing on page 3 of this newspaper for over a decade, we are best known, perhaps, for the live-action narrated video tours and drone videos which we create for each of our listings. I enjoy creating the narrated videos so much, I offer to do them for our broker associates, although some of them choose to do their own. They are so effective that we have sold listings to out-of-town buyers who only saw the home in-person when they flew in for the inspection.

For out-of-town buyers interested in homes listed by other brokerages, we have shot video tours for their eyes only, often resulting in a signed contract without those buyers seeing the home in person prior to inspection.

For sellers, we provide a free staging consultation to help their home show its best. We also have an in-house handyman to work on those things that need to be handled before going on the market.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851 Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com 1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401 Broker Associates: JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

See All Our Listings, Active & Under Contract, at www.GREListings.com

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855 DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835 TY SCRABLE, 720-281-6783

4 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

Dave’s Locker continues to thrive under new leadership Fire Department’s free medical equipment service gets remodel, new managers after founder retires

BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Medical supplies don’t come cheap, as Don and Theresa Lindsey are well aware. The husband and wife operate Dave’s Locker — a free medical equipment service run by the Arvada Fire Protection District, which was founded in 2017 by now-retired AFPD Lieutenant Dave Matus.

When Matus retired last year, the Lindseys were the natural choice to take the reins at the Locker — Don, an AFPD firefighter, and Theresa, an ICU nurse, had filled in for Matus periodically when he’d gone on vacation. They took over Dave’s Locker in Feb. 2020 - just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Don added that the Locker was shut down for three months because of the pandemic.

During that time, the Lindseys got to work cleaning the facility and organizing the medical equipment they had in stock.

Dave’s Locker is completely dependent on donations.

When someone has medical equipment that they no longer need such as hospital beds, knee scooters, walkers, wheelchairs and more, they can donate it to the Locker.

Then, folks can come to the Locker and request the equipment they need completely free of charge, usually for an initial threemonth period.

The locker sees about 200 customers per

PICK-UPS AND DONATIONS: Dave’s Locker is open for pick-ups and donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and the first and third Saturdays of the month.

Address: 7903 Allison Way Arvada, CO 80005 Phone: 720-624-6486 Website: daveslocker.org month, according to Don, and is staffed by 19 volunteers — not counting the Lindseys and Dave’s Locker mascot Radar the bloodhound.

Customers usually come from Arvada and the surrounding Denver metro area, but word has gotten out even farther, according to Don. “I know for a fact I have stuff in Wyoming, New Mexico — I actually have stuff in Mexico, and the reason for that being it’s a hospital bed that ended up going to Mexico with this customer of ours,” Don said. “They told me up front that he’s here for surgery but then going back to Mexico.

I said, ‘Absolutely he can take the bed, it’s what he needs.’”

Theresa said that when supply has struggled to keep up with demand, she’s turned to social media, where she’s been working to improve Dave’s Locker’s outreach and presence.

“The very first time we posted on Facebook, someone bought a knee scooter on Amazon and had it shipped here,” said Theresa. “We’re low on walkers and wheelchairs (now).”

The Lindseys said they enjoy the work and being able to give back to the community. Theresa said that Metus, the Locker’s founder comes in every once and while.

“We see a lot of things and a lot of people

who can’t do things for themselves or be able to have something that’s safe,” Theresa said.

“We feel like it’s a calling.”

Don recently gave the Locker (which used to be a dentist office) a facelift by painting the facility, building new storage racks and removing a doorway that hindered accessibility. Don also painted a thin red line that runs along the storage room shelves— a symbol of solidary with firefighters.

“It’s not 100% complete,” Don said of the renovations. “I’m getting ready to install a countertop this week. We moved all the stuff out on Sept. 11. A bunch of volunteers came in and helped me unload, and we worked out of pods for a month.”

Don added that it’s been rewarding.

“We see a lot of people that need this equipment and some of them just can’t afford to go buy it. We do get a lot of people that come borrow our stuff and they’re like, `You have no idea how much money you’ve saved me,’” he said. “And my wife and I laugh and say, `You know, we kind of do.’”

Some folks who experienced the challenges of affording medical equipment firsthand have since volunteered their time at the Locker to help others.

“We saw it in the Arvada Report that they were looking for volunteers. We have had experience with the expense of renting equipment and thought it was a great opportunity to help people save a lot of money and get what they need,” said Dave Floyd, who has volunteered at Dave’s Locker since Jan. 2020.

“There’s a lot of times where people come in with a little list and walk out with half the stuff on the list. It’s nice to see them smile because they’ve had a better day because they got the equipment they need,” Don said.

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Arvada Press 5

December 9, 2021

Jeffco teacher honored for blood drive work Dakota Ridge educator has spent decades doing what’s necessary to help save others

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Amy Ziegler, a physical education teacher at Dakota Ridge High School, was honored for more than two COURTESY OF BROOKE WAY decades organizing blood drives at the school.

Dakota Ridge High School physical education teacher Amy Ziegler was inducted into the Fresenius Kabi Blood Donation Hall of Fame on Nov. 15 for her dedication to organizing blood drives at the school for the past 22 years.

Ziegler was presented her award by Fresenius Kabi representative Joe Berry, Vitalant (formerly Bonfils) Mountain Division vice president Anne Burtchaell and Dakota Ridge principal Jim Jelinek.

Brooke Way, communications manager, Vitalant, said the pandemic continues to impact the number of people donating blood.

In Colorado, the pandemic has forced 539 blood drives to cancel this year alone, resulting in more than 13,000 uncollected units of blood, Way said. And blood drives hosted across Colorado account for about 60-percent of what Vitalant collects for patients every day.

“Amy did not hesitate to advocate for the importance of blood donations during this difficult time,” Way said.

“She worked with her administration to allow Vitalant to organize an in-school drive when many schools were learning remotely. She even gave ‘extra credit’ to students in her class to donate. If students could not donate themselves, they could get extra credit in class by having a friend or family donate blood on their behalf.”

Way said thanks to Ziegler’s efforts, a total of 1,350 units of blood have been collected from staff, students and families of Dakota Ridge High School and thousands of lives have been saved because of it.

Visit vitalant.org to learn more about blood donation or schedule a time to donate.

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6 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

White Swan Motel embarks on new path How it could become a model for helping homeless families

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Lauren Coleman is on a mission.

For years, that mission was to build a high-end, luxury boutique motel catering to young-ish, cool travelers who value unique, authentic experiences over run-of-the-mill or cliché. It would be the kind of place where locally sourced art and amenities adorned the rooms, and customers could buy those newly discovered treasures before checking out and jetting back home.

But somewhere along the way to achieving her goal, fate, opportunity and circumstance collided on West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood.

Armed with a business plan, pitch deck and enough enthusiasm for several average humans, Coleman set out to purchase a motel, kicking her dream into gear.

The problem, she soon learned, was that bankers weren’t exactly tripping over themselves to loan her the kind of money it takes to buy a dilapidated motel and turn it into a hipster paradise.

“I was really naive, which worked in my favor,” she says. “Because it’s a lot of work to get into commercial real estate and finance — it’s all just rich old white dudes, and I was a

27-year-old with no experience. Why would they even take a meeting with me?”

She said she probably pitched the idea 3,000 times to random people while trying to get meetings with banks that wouldn’t sit down with her. But perseverance finally (kind of) won out. Coleman said she almost had financing for the purchase and redevelopment of the White Swan in place — and then the pandemic hit.

So, she decided to make a pivot of epic proportions.

By this time, banks weren’t lending to inexperienced 30-year-olds for hospitality projects. They were, however, willing to discuss financing the motel if it could be part of community revitalization and used as a safe place to transition homeless families to more permanent housing.

She knew the county was already using several of the local motels for de-facto housing for the homeless through its voucher program. So, she negotiated a letter of intent with Jefferson County to show proof of potential income to lenders.

Coleman understood that taking the interim step of using the motel to provide a stable bridge for homeless families for the next three or four years would allow her to secure the financing she needed to become the owner of the White Swan.

It also made good business sense, because the motel’s location in a blighted Opportunity Zone comes with benefits like state income

Seeking Applicants for 2022 Boards and Commissions Vacancies Applications are being accepted for the following citizen boards and commissions in 2022 and you can now apply online: Arvada Arts and Culture Commission Arvada Festivals Commission Arvada Golf Advisory Committee Arvada Park Advisory Committee Arvada Planning Commission Arvada Retirement Plan Board Arvada Sustainability Advisory Committee Arvada Urban Renewal Authority Design Review Advisory Committee Transportation Committee Information about each board, as well as application details, can be found at Arvada.org/2022boards. Applications can be completed online using electronically submitted Google forms, or you may download, print and complete your application. You may also include a short resume, although it is not required.

Applications are due in the City Clerk’s Office by NOON on Monday, January 10, 2022. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 720-898-7550 with any questions.

Lauren Coleman is converting the White Swan Motel on West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood PHOTO BY BOB WOOLEY to house homeless families as they transition to more long-term homes.

tax credits for capital investments that could be a big help to a young developer.

But she says what really sold her on the idea was the opportunity to really help people.

“I realized that Jefferson County is placing people who are experiencing homelessness in these motels, but there’s no efficiency of operation,” she said. “There are no standards. They’re placing someone in these rooms — and I saw the rooms — I was in a full hazmat suit (there were) needles on the floors, feces on the wall, blood on the mattresses.”

Those conditions were what Coleman found in her own motel once she’d purchased it and started renovations. And although she said she can’t speak to the cleanliness of other Colfax motels, she’d venture to guess many, if not all of them, are in the same shape.

Coleman added that she finds it hard to believe people in those circumstances are expected to get their lives together because they have a “roof over their head.”

She’s not pointing the finger at any city, county or any entity.

“It’s a massive problem that everyone talks about, and I just saw this as one slice of a way to help,” she said.

So, she wants to commit to hot water, cold water, clean towels, clean mattresses, paying the utilities, paving the parking lot, hiring security and all of the other necessities to earn the county’s business and provide a necessary service.

The last few months have seen Coleman, who’s very pregnant and expecting her first child in a matter of weeks, overseeing the renovation of 18 of the motel’s 24 rooms. Six of the rooms will continue to be rented out to long-term residents who passed required screening to be able to stay.

In December, the necessary red tape should be cleared for homeless families to move in. The idea is not to create a long-term rental situation for them — but instead, to give those families an opportunity for some stability as they continue to access wrap-around services (medical care, counseling, employment assistance etc.) before transitioning into more permanent housing.

According to Kelli Barker, Regional Homeless Coordinator for Jeffco’s Human Services Depart-

ment, the county was interested in the idea of providing families with a more stable situation than they had prevously been able to offer by offering voucher rooms for shorter periods of time. But she said they will continue to work with other motels in the city.

“We’re kind of piloting this model of master leasing the 18 rooms at the White Swan for one year,” she said. “Lauren renovated the rooms to a safe and habitable standard, which is something we require.”

Barker said the county is in the final stages of executing the master lease and the goal is for their Homeless Navigation Program and the CYF (Children, Youth and Families) program, to begin placing families in the White Swan beginning Dec. 1. She said during their stay at the motel, the county’s case management teams will be working with the families to help them move onto a pathway to stable housing.

The county considers stays at the White Swan to be “Bridge Housing” that will be in the 30-60 day range.

Because of strong regulations for federal funds that don’t allow for master lease agreements, funding from the county side was secured through Jeffco Connections, the county’s collaborative management program.

The end game Is a dream deferred a dream denied?

Coleman says absolutely not.

While she runs the White Swan as a space to help people get back on their feet for the next few years, she hopes to invest in other amenities to help the community — which may very well include a dedicated shelter.

And in five years? Well, the mission remains.

“The plan and the end vision still exists. I will build a very high-end, luxury motel,” she says.

To build the dream, Coleman will raze the current property. In its place, the luxury motel (still with just 25 rooms — albeit a lot fancier) will rise.

Coleman says she has faith the Lakewood of tomorrow will be the right balance of holding on to the spirit of the town’s mid-century magic and the possibility of what’s yet to come.

Arvada Press 7

December 9, 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

Shawn Johnston – Kambo Practitioner

kambodenvercolorado.com 303-594-9339

Discovery Toys

Julie Olivett - Team Leader 303-437-7067 YourToyLady.com

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Suelyn’s Creations

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Creatively Affordable

pam@creativelyaffordable.com 303-550-4421 creativelyaffordable.com

Vendor applications being accepted now.

Contact Event Producer Thelma Grimes at tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com All applications must be approved to participate

8 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

I am a food bank volunteer.

I am a pediatrician.

I am Centura.

At Centura Health, we're creating a community of caring—where we live and where we work.

Learn about our legacy of healing at centura.org.

Dr. John Trefny chats with RRCC student, Ben McDill, who plans to transfer to Colorado School of Mines to study mechanical engineering.

PHOTOS BY BOB WOOLEY

Mines Academy signing event fuels excitement in STEM students

New program offers transfer pathway to elite university

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Qualified Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) students who want to transfer to the Colorado School of Mines in pursuit of a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) bachelor’s degree, will soon have a more direct route to achieving their goal.

On Tuesday, Nov. 30, Chancellor Joe Garcia of the Colorado Community College System, President Paul C. Johnson of Colorado School of SEE STEM, P10

Dr. Paul C. Johnson shakes hands with a young man who attended the Mines Academy signing event at Red Rocks Community College.

Dr. Akinrinola Pediatrician Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-643-1000 (TTY: 711).

Joe Garcia, Chancellor, Colorado Community College System, Dr. Paul C. Johnson, President, Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Michelle Haney, President, Red Rocks Community College and Dr. John Trefny, Former President, Colorado School of Mines, sign the official memorandum of understanding to create the Mines Academy program at Red Rocks Community College.

Arvada Press 9

December 9, 2021

Q&A: Cary Johnson, expert on shopping safe this holiday season JeffCo DA’s Office crime prevention director gives fraud prevention tips for seniors

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BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Cary Johnson doesn’t want to alarm anyone. He does, however, want to keep older adults safe from identity theft and credit card fraud this holiday season — a time of year when crooks are on high alert, he said.

Johnson has spent the last 20 years working as a crime prevention specialist — the last 15 of which have been with the First Judicial District Attorney’s office, where Johnson serves as the director of crime prevention.

Each month, Johnson gives a presentation on crime prevention to a group of around 70-75 seniors as part of the JeffCo TRIAD program, which aims to build community between senior community members and the DA’s office.

Johnson said he wants to make sure folks are safe from being victimized by fraudsters, especially this time of year.

“The holidays are supposed to be happy, and (when) someone finds out there’s $5,000 on their credit card, it kind of puts a damper on things,” Johnson said.

Johnson added that he doesn’t want older adults to panic, but does want them aware that they need to be extra cautious when shopping around the holidays.

“I don’t want people to be paranoid, I don’t want them to think there’s a crook under every rock, but I want to heighten vigilance, especially during the holiday season, because crooks really are out there and active at this time,” he said.

To learn more about how older adults can stay safe this holiday season, the Arvada Press sat down with Johnson to find out what threats folks should be on the lookout for and what to do if they find themselves on the receiving end of a scam.

Their conversation has been edited slightly for clarity.

What are the biggest threats that seniors should be aware of when shopping this holiday season?

I think there are a couple of things. First of all, seniors have a target on their backs, there’s no doubt about that. They’re the ones that the ID thieves are really focusing on.

One of the real concerns is older adults wandering around the parking lot with packages, with purses, without a sense of what’s going on around them. Because of-

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Cary Johnson, Director of Crime Prevention for the First Judicial Attorney’s COURTESY OF CARY JOHNSON Office.

tentimes, for crooks, (the parking lot is) the best place for them to hang out.

Probably the number one thing that happens to (older adults) is that they’re just used to giving out their credit card, and these crooks have a little palm skimmer that only takes them one slide to get all the information off a credit card. And so, if they can find some means, some method of handling their credit card for even a short time, they can use this palm skimmer, slide the card through and either make a duplicate card or start using it online.

The most popular places to do that are restaurants, and older adults don’t even think twice about handing their credit card off for 15-20 minutes to a stranger, but sometimes when it’s busiest at the holiday season it can be a clerk that brings their credit card to another check out station because it’s busy where they’re working.

If they get home, find out there are fraudulent charges, but they still have their credit card, that is a sure sign that their card has been skimmed.

What can older adults do to avoid being the victim of fraud or theft?

They’ve got to stop writing checks. All a crook needs is a routing number, their account number once. They buy blank check stock, they make their own checks, they make a fake license, and empty out the older person’s SEE SENIORS, P10

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SENIORS FROM PAGE 9

bank account and they think they’re perfectly fine. They need to know that checks are an obsolete financial tool in today’s world.

People should carry a minimum amount of personal financial information with them. I like to see that being a neck wallet hanging around their neck, for pocket wallets it’s critical that they put it in their front pocket, and at most driver’s license, one credit card, one check. I’d like to see them carrying nothing more than that in the financial arena.

How can older adults stay safe going to and from their cars at the mall?

If ladies are going to put their purse in the trunk, they need to do that before they leave home.

They cannot arrive in a shopping area, in the parking lot, pop the trunk, bend over, put something in it and shut the trunk because these ID thieves can be in their car in 30 seconds, pop the trunk and they’ve got their purse. It’s definitely critical that they don’t do that in the parking lot.

A few tips: Park as close to an entrance as they can.

If they’re going to be there after dark, they’ve got to park under lights. Take the time, drive around a little bit longer and find a parking place.

December 9, 2021 They have got to take note of where they park. They cannot leave the mall loaded down with packages and be wandering around like they’re lost, because that kind of behavior is going to make them easy prey for ID thieves.

When they get in their cars, they need to lock the doors, and I don’t care who comes up saying `Hey I need directions,’ they cannot roll their window down or they’ll reach through and grab the purse and be gone.

What effect do you think that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on holiday shopping?

This is just my opinion, but here’s what I expect; we’ve been shut off for the last two years.

Everyone I’ve talked to when I’m going out presenting can’t wait to get to the mall for the holidays. I mean, they want to be back in the groove of things, they want to go out and have a nice lunch and see decorations and hear music.

Consequently, I think (older adults) are going to be out in greater mass than we have seen certainly in two years and I think because they’ve been deprived, the ID thieves are going to be out in greater mass than we’ve seen in two years.

For older adults who shop online, what kinds of things can they do to avoid internet scams?

(Seniors should) make sure they’re going to the actual site of whoever they want to shop from.

So, they can’t click on a pop-up, they can’t click on something else that might come via an email.

I strongly encourage the use of a new search engine called DuckDuckGo because it hides your IP address, it encrypts all your activity and it blocks pop-ups, so there’s no chance of going to a site that a crook has set up that is just meant to capture credit card or bank account numbers.

And then they need to be really aware of these emails that come in unannounced, unexpected; ‘Hey, your Amazon account is overdue,’ or ‘Hey, we see an anomaly with your account, and we need you to contact us right away.’ Of course, the contact email or phone number will be from a crook, not Amazon.

They’ll never get a follow-up from an online order asking for additional information.

What regular habits should folks be in to watch out for fraud?

First of all, they need to be diligent about checking both their bank account - and I encourage doing it online - and their credit card account. They’ve just got to begin doing that at least once a week to check for anomalies.

What steps do you recommend taking if a theft or fraud occurs?

The thing they need to do is cut off all access. If your bank account’s compromised, get that thing closed. Banks don’t like people to close their accounts because it’s a hassle and a bother to

STEM FROM PAGE 8

Mines and President Michele Haney of Red Rocks Community College signed an official memorandum of understanding to create Mines Academy, a new transfer pathway that will support diverse nontraditional and traditional community college students with guaranteed admission into any four-year degree program at Mines.

For years, students have been transferring from RRCC to Mines, but according to Garcia, the new pathway will ensure more students will transfer successfully.

He said Mines Academy students will also have access to Mines student support services and campus events — before they transfer to the university — making the transition smoother for incoming students.

Ben McDill, 30, is one of those nontraditional RRCC students who plans to participate in the Mines Academy. McDill said he spent more than a decade working in the service industry before deciding a career change was in order.

“With poor performance in high school, I wasn’t really in the position to get admitted into a school

them. (Older adults) need to close the account, pure and simple.

And they need to remember that they’re the customer asking for a service from the bank.

With their credit card, obviously need to stop the credit card as quickly as possible. The number to call and stop your credit card is on the back on your credit card. I usually encourage people to put the number on the back of their credit card into their smart phone if the credit card goes physically missing.

Every older adult should put a security freeze on with the credit reporting agencies. We’re talking about a population that are not going to put on a lot more credit, if any. So, they need to just lock that thing down and be done with it.

What can folks do after the holidays to check if they were scammed?

They need to be vigilant about checking their statements in January. With all this activity going on, they might not get to them, and of course nobody wants to look at their statement in January because you spent too much money. But they need to make sure they check both banking statement and credit card statements in January.

TRIAD meetings are open to the public and held on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 1:30 at the District Attorney’s office, located at 500 Jefferson County Parkway in Golden.

like Mines, that has such a good reputation,” he said. “Red Rocks is giving me the opportunity to build credibility as an adult and get back into the academic scene.”

McDill said he knew engineering was his calling, and he was trying to choose between CU Boulder and Mines, but after seeing the RRCC partnership with Mines and watching several acquaintances have success in transferring there, he realized Mines would be a great place to continue his education.

Mines President Paul C. Johnson, spoke enthusiastically about the program, saying it will provide more certainty in the transfer process. He said he was looking forward to the day when Mines Academy students would cross the stage at graduation, accomplishing a dream.

“All of the students I’ve gotten to know who’ve come to Mines from Red Rocks — they’ve just been wonderful and amazing,” he said. “I’ve had a great time getting to know them. They really do appreciate the opportunity and they do have dreams. And making that dream a reality is one of the best things that we can all do.”

An application for Mines Academy will be posted on the RRCC website this spring. Mines Academy will officially begin in Fall 2022.

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LOCAL

December 9, 2021

VOICES

Looking for book ideas this season?

f you are ever looking for a great conversation starter, try asking people what they may be reading. What people read can give us great insight to their hobbies, passions WINNING and interests, and that helps lead into WORDS a fun and engaging discussion. This also is one of those questions I find myself answering as well. Depending on when that question comes my way will determine my answer, as I have Michael Norton been following the same reading pattern for many years now.

In addition to my Bible, blogs, columns and industry information, I read somewhere between 40 and 50 books per year. And the reading cycle that I tend to follow is this: A faith-based book; business book; biography; history; and then a fiction book. For me, this provides a glimpse into the areas that help me personally and professionally, while also helping me to be prepared for conversations with family members, friends, people I meet socially, and my clients. I find the different

perspectives extremely helpful in understanding how others view the things that are happening in our world.

At this time of year the question about what I am reading comes up a lot. Many of you send me emails asking for recommendations throughout the year, and during the holiday season, as people are looking for gift ideas, the question comes up with greater frequency. So here is what I recommend this year as I follow the cadence mentioned above: Faith-based: “2 Chairs” by Bob Beaudine; “Grace: More Than We Deserve, Greater Than We Imagine”

by Max Lucado; “Lead Like Jesus”

by Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges; “Because of Bethlehem: Love is Born, Hope is Here” by Max Lucado; “Hope for Each Day: Words of Wisdom and Faith” by Billy Graham.

Business: “The Expansion Sale: Four Must-Win Conversations to Keep and Grow Your Customers” by Erik Peterson and Tim Riesterer; “Business Secrets of the Bible: Spiritual Sucess Strategies” by Rabbi Daniel Lapin; “10 Leadership Virtues for Disruptive Times” by Tom Ziglar; “The New Psychology of Winning: Top Qualities of a 21st Century Winner” by Denis Waitley; “Traction: Get A Grip On Your Busi-

ness” by Gino Wickman.

Biographies: “Joy: The story of a dolphin trainer, filmmaker, and cancer survivor” by Joy Clausen Soto; “Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War” by Robert Coram; “Where Men Win Glory” by Jon Krakauer; “Washington: A Life”

by Ron Chernow; “My American Journey” by Colin Powell.

History: “True Raiders: The Untold Story of the 1909 Expedition to Find the Legendary Ark of the Covenant” by Brad Ricca; “The Journey of Crazy Horse” by Joseph M. Marshall III; “In the Hurricane’s Eye” by Nathaniel Philbrick; “No Easy Day: The Firsthand Account of the Mission that Killed Osama Bin Laden” by Mark Owen; “The Johnstown Flood” by David McCullough.

Fiction: “The Evening and the Morning” by Ken Follett; “Fast Ice”

by Clive Cussler; “Win” by Harlan Coben; “Plum Island” by Nelson DeMille; “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho.

Maybe you have a different cycle of reading that you follow. Perhaps someone you know may be interested in one of the books I have mentioned here, so I hope this list is helpful in some way.

Each of us has our favorite books and authors. Some of us enjoy our

books that we can physically touch and hold, myself included. Others prefer their e-reader. And there are many who enjoy consuming their stories through audio books.

Whatever our preferences are, whoever our favorite authors are, and however we choose to take a mental, emotional and spiritual journey by engaging with our favorite books, the important thing is that we make time to broaden our horizons by reading as much as we possibly can and from as many sources as we possibly can.

How about you? Are you a fellow voracious reader? What are you reading these days? Is it time to mix it up a bit and start reading something new? Have you shared your reading list with others? I would love to hear all about what you are reading now, or even your favorite books from the past, at mnorton@ tramazing.com. And when we can expand our thinking through what others are writing and sharing, 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.

Starting with plants and branching out

L

ast year, on my wife’s instructions, I built a little flower garden. I’m not really good with growing things, so this was an adventure. Moved rocks, turned over soil, HITTING laid better soil, framed it with HOME brick, and then I planted 12 pretty little flower bushes, in the hope that they would take root, and this year I could place a little ground cover around them, and have just a little….

Michael Alcorn I can hear the actual growers of things out there rolling their eyes at me. Please try to do that more quietly. …a little patch of my yard with color and fragrance this year.

Did I mention I was bad at growing things?

A publication of

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Of the 12, 11 died over the winter.

And, yes, smart-alecks, I planted perennials. I don’t know why the twelfth plant survived. I honestly didn’t do anything different with it than the others. It just did. Like it was sent by the others back in the spring to mock me. Or maybe it was just unusually tough and resilient, like some herbaceous Katniss Evergreen, representing District 12. I don’t know.

So, I planted again this spring.

Eleven new ones to keep the survivor company. So far, so good. But, then, we haven’t had winter yet.

But, still, I’m optimistic. Maybe it’s because I learned a little bit in the interim — last Christmas, my wife bought me a nifty little indoor herb garden thing (honestly, probably as a joke between her and our daughters). At any rate, following the instructions, paying attention to the monitors, I was able to keep that little herb garden alive for eight months, until I had so much

basil in my kitchen that the mice out back were like “Hey, you gonna make a pesto with that, or what?”

I think the lesson I learned was that the plants needed more than just enough to be kept alive — I needed to be giving them enough that they could grow. Apparently, nature has this “grow or die” sort of ethos.

Like people.

Just saw the staggering statistic that over 100,000 Americans died in 2020 from drug overdoses. I don’t want to diminish the role of addiction or the complexities of drug use in America in this conversation, but that is an astonishing number. And I don’t think it is just coincidence that it happened in the COVID times. How much of society, from restaurants to factories to athletics, were shut down, leaving people with an abundance of time and a dearth of purpose?

“Idle hands are the Devil’s playthings.”

Grow or Die. I was amused by all the people posting all their new hobbies during lockdown, but, I see now, that was probably the most sane and healthy thing any of us did.

It reminded me of a book from a few years back called “Grit,”

by Angela Duckworth. In it, she emphasizes the role of trying new things as a way of developing resiliency in children. To wit, with her family, she requires them to do one thing every year that requires extra effort — a sport, or a musical instrument, or a foreign language, or something like that, and she requires them to stick with whatever it is for an entire year. They’re welcome to drop it and pick up something new, but only after they’ve really given it a go for a full year.

So, this year, in light of that (and also because I don’t want my already-diminished mental capac-

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Arvada press A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Arvada Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 14143 Denver West Pkwy., Suite 100, Golden 80401.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Arvada Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

December 9, 2021

GUEST COLUMNIST

Greg Romberg

-

x

T

It simply isn’t just about you!

wo years into the COVID-19 pandemic and with an over 70% statewide vaccination rate, we’re back to record highs of Coloradans who are dying from the disease. We are at risk of having no available intensive care beds.

We’re headed into the holiday season where it is likely that gatherings of people and colder weather forcing us inside means that cases will probably continue to spike.

And yet, while the Jefferson County Board of Public Health was in a marathon meeting about mask mandates last week, a protest against the policy raged outside with people continuing to make the shortsighted and simply incorrect argument that whether or not to use a mask is a personal decision that does not affect the health of anyone but themselves.

We had a breakthrough COVID case in our family last month. The person who got sick had tested negative one week before getting sick. She was fully vaccinated. Everyone at the only large gathering she had attended prior to contracting COVID had

ALCORN

FROM PAGE 12

ity to atrophy in retirement), I am taking on two new hobbies. I may

be bad at them (odds are pretty good), but I’m going to give them a shot. And, hey, what with New Years right around the corner, maybe this makes that “resolution thing” more manageable.

And, maybe, if we all made

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and mild for others?

I wish it wasn’t the responsible thing for local boards of health to reinstate mask mandates, but it is. Rather than villainize health officials or claim that making relatively minor sacrifices to protect both ourselves and everyone else treads on our most basic human rights, we should be pulling together to get this virus behind us.

While last week’s public health meetings and controversy were about masks, we really need a renewed focus on getting unvaccinated people to be vaccinated. Arguments against the safety and efficacy of the vaccine have been completely disproven. If we were completely vaccinated, it is likely that the masking controversy would resolve itself. But in the meantime, requiring masks again is eminently reasonable and the order should be observed.

Greg Romberg is president of Romberg and Associates. He lives in Evergreen with his wife, Laurie.

ourselves busy with growing and stuff, we won’t have the energy left to fight about all the stupid.

Michael Alcorn is a former teacher and current writer who lives in Arvada with his wife and

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

h o

r -

been vaccinated. And yet she got it and was very sick.

While she recovered relatively quickly and did not require hospitalization, the simple fact is that even though she had acted responsibly and done the things that were recommended to avoid COVID, she got it. Thankfully, the dozens of people with whom she had come into contact with got tested were all negative.

As I’ve said in this space before, I hate wearing a mask. Now that it’s colder, it’s worse as it causes my glasses to fog up. And yet the argument that it is intrusive for the government to require me to use a mask misses the point. It isn’t that intrusive.

It’s not like I’m being asked to have a chip placed into my body so the government can track my movements!

Despite all the work and study that we’ve done over the last two years, we still don’t know what we don’t know about COVID. Why are vaccinated people getting the disease? Who can transmit it?

Why is it so devastating to some people

Arvada Press 13

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.

OBITUARIES LAMBERT

Earl Boydston Lambert III

July 26, 1942 - November 18, 2021

Earl Boydston Lambert III was born in Des Moines, Iowa on July 26th, 1942 to June and Earl Lambert Jr; their first son. Boydston was raised as ‘Bud’ and was the second eldest of six siblings. He was an Eagle Scout and earned a Bachelor’s Degree.

After his service in the USMC, Bud moved to Denver, Colorado where learned to be a Land Surveyor. In 1982, he established Alpha & Omega Consultants and provided prudent, long-term planning for his and communities across Colorado.

SHOUP

He enjoyed many outdoor activities and fishing in particular. Bud had many church affiliations throughout his years in Denver; his last being with New Song Church and Ministries.

Bud passed on November 18th, 2021 in the loving care of his children.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn, as well as many more loving family members, friends and neighbors.

His memorial will be held on Friday December 3rd at 10 am at New Song Church; 8242 N Pecos st Denver Colorado.

Thomas Williams Shoup

July 13, 1938 - November 9, 2021

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Thomas Williams Shoup was born on July 13, 1938 in San Francisco. Tom grew up in California with his two older brothers, Fred and Guy. Much of Tom’s childhood was spent living on the campus of Stanford University. He graduated high school from Midland Prep in Los Olivos, California, and graduated from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona (1965). Tom proudly served his country in the United States Army (1960-1962). As a young man, Tom married his sweetheart, Suzi. Tom worked in a variety of job fields before finding a rewarding career in real estate. Re/Max was Tom’s professional home for many years.

Tom was a devoted Christian, who supported

with his time, talents and finances, many Christian ministries. Ministries that were dear to Tom’s heart included Royal Family Kids Camp; Alaska Christian College; Arvada Covenant Church; and Gideons International.

Tom was predeceased by his mother (Peg), father (Jack) and his brother (Guy). Tom is survived by his brother (Fred) and by many friends.

Gifts can be made in Tom Shoup’s name to: Royal Family Kids’ Camp: https://arvada.royalfamilykids.org Alaska Christian College: https://alaskacc.edu

Place an Obituary forYour Loved One. ColoradoCommunityMedia.com 303-566-4100

303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com Self placement available online at ArvadaPress.com

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LOCAL

LIFE

December 9, 2021

Evergreen is home to a well-known Santa artist

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

F

or Tom Newsom, one of about six Santa painters across the United States, inspiration comes from the foothills of the Rockies.

“Living in the mountains in Colorado is pretty inspiring,” Newsom said.

For those who have ever completed a Santa puzzle, or seen ASPCA Christmas cards, Newsom’s art might seem familiar.

Chances are, it’s his name on those illustrations.

As well, he completed the artwork for the books Indian in the Cupboard, the Wizard of Oz, The Night Before Christmas, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and more. Some were for the original copies and some were reprints.

A Texas native, he moved to Colorado in 1981 and resides in Evergreen with his wife, Carol.

Since he was a boy, Newsom has always been drawn to creating artwork. In college, he started off as an engineering major with hopes to work in the space program, which heightened his interest during the 1960s. However, he quickly switched to his passion. In 1971, he graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California as an illustration major.

He gravitated away from astronomy to pursue painting, but the two spheres came together. Newsom was hired to watch a space shuttle launch at Cape Kennedy and create several pieces of art for the Manned Space Flight Art Collection.

His career started off while he was in college, creating illustrations for cash. During the summers in between semesters, he drew portraits at an amusement park to afford tuition.

Then, he graduated from art school and his salary ever since comes from his artwork.

“There aren’t very many people who actually make a living at art. I mean, a lot of people go to art school and they wind up doing something else. But I’ve managed to make a career for a long, long time doing artwork,” he said.

Although painting remains as his passion, he does not encourage others to join in.

“I wouldn’t recommend it to anybody,” he said. “It’s a pretty tricky profession. I’ve worked exclusively on commissions, piece by piece. My total income is just dependent on artwork.

And so it’s, you know, it’s a chancy thing to work on your own life.”

That discouragement did not come off to his family, as artistry must run in Newsom blood. His wife, Carol, also creates illustrations. His two sons, Andy and Phillip, graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design. Andy, 46, is a graphic designer and Phillip, 42, paints landscapes and animals.

Now, Newsom focuses on painting Santa through the Gouache medium. Gouache is water-based, opaque watercolor style of painting and allows for very fine details. Bright colors come out very bright and dark colors come out very dark, and he uses very small brushes to extract the utmost detail. Over the years, Newsom has created over 150 total Santa paintings.

His process of painting starts out with a commission. A buyer will give him verbal directions, “Santa with puppies,” for example, and then he creates sketches. The sketches are sent back and after receiving confirmation, he will begin his SEE SANTA, P15

A piece of Tom Newsom’s artwork.

Tom Newsom is one of six Santa painters in the U.S..

COURTESY OF TOM NEWSOM

Arvada Press 15

December 9, 2021

I

Miners Alley says farewell to ‘A Christmas Carol’

f you speak to most actors, they’ll tell you that every production creates a family feeling between the cast and crew. And while that feelCOMING ing is important, ATTRACTIONS it’s fleeting, since people tend to go their own way after the production is done. But for the cast of “A Christmas Carol” at the Miners Alley Playhouse, that’s not the case.

For the last five Clarke Reader productions, Jim Hunt, Lisa DeCaro, Meredith Young, Koi Matheo, Jason Maxwell and Josh Hartwell have all taken on the characters from Charles Dickens’ immortal story with a Miners Alley-specific framing service. But this will be the last the theater stages the show for some time.

“It’s become a family reunion every year for all of us,” Hunt, who plays Scrooge, said warmly.

“It’s very emotional for us this year and we’re all just playing the life out of it.”

“A Christmas Carol” runs at Miners Alley, 1224 Washington Ave. in Golden, through Thursday, Dec. 23. Performances are at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday, with additional performances at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 21 through 23. The theater requires masks for all at every performance and attendees (except children younger than

12-years-old) must show proof of vaccination.

Directed by Len Matheo and given a local touch by Hartwell’s adaptation, the hilarious and quick-witted production features the six actors playing all the characters fans know. Hunt said the show provides him a great opportunity to do a full investigation of the Scrooge character - something that other productions don’t always offer.

“I love Miners Alley so much and it has been the best treat and honor to do this work there,” he said. “If you’re not doing something you like at Christmas, it can be hard for your soul. But ours is really an intimate and cozy production.”

Over the years the show has become a Christmas tradition for audiences all over Golden and beyond, so much so that Matheo said the virtual option the theater hosted last year during the depths of the COVID-19 lockdown was the biggest seller of all its holiday options. But changes along the way, including his child, Koi, getting older, have affirmed that it’s time to put the show to bed.

“We’ve done just enough tweaks over the years that it feels different each time,” Matheo said. “And this year it really feels different - it’s like there’s something new going on. There’s a vibrancy on the stage.”

That vibrancy means audiences are in for a special treat as the company says goodbye to the show - though not to holiday produc-

SANTA FROM PAGE 14

paintings.

All paintings start out with research.

Some pieces consist of merely a photograph of a model, but others need more digging. He explained how a commission hired him to paint St. Nick on a motorcycle, and he needed to visit a motorcycle museum. There, he took many photographs of a model next to a 1940s Harley because he knew the motorcycle community needed to see the exact details of their beloved steeds.

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tions. They’re already planning for “A Christmas Story” next year.

“There are great elements of theater magic that highlight the ghost story and redemption story that is `A Christmas Carol,’” Matheo said. “It makes you want to leave the theater and help your fellow man. It makes audiences rethink how they think about the holidays.”

For information and tickets, visit https://minersalley.com/ shows/christmascarol2021/.

Ballet Ariel invites audiences on a magical journey Ballet Ariel is returning to the stage with a holiday favorite “The Nutcracker.” Directed and choreographed by Ballet Ariel’s Artistic Director, Ilena Norton, with pas de deux choreography and direction by Oleg Dedogryuk.

Performances are at the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22, Thursday, Dec. 23, Saturday, Dec. 11 and Sunday, Dec. 12 and 19; 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 17; and 2 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 18. Call 303-987-7845 or visit www.lakewood.org/tickets for information and tickets.

Delight in the season at Four Mile Historic Park One of the keys to a wonderful holiday season is indulging in just the right amount of nostalgia, and few activities this year will tap into that better than Four Mile Historic Park’s December Delights. Running through Sunday,

For Newsom, hiring models in Evergreen, Colorado is no big deal.

“They’re pretty easy to find up here in the mountains, old guys with white beards,” he said.

After taking photos of the models, he then starts the process of painting. A typical painting usually takes between a week and ten days, if he works about six hours a day. Once the piece is finished, he sends a digital copy over to the buyer.

For current projects, Newsom remains busy working with two self-publishing children’s books authors to create illustrations, a portrait of a political commentator and a cover of Texas Magazine.

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

Jan. 2, at the park, 715 S. Forest St. in Denver, the event takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 5 to 10 p.m.

Friday and Saturday.

Attendees will find a bevy of winter-related activities, including ice skating, reindeer games, children’s crafts, art installations, light displays, food and drink, vendors and more. Get tickets and information at www.fourmilepark. org/december-delights/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Caroline Polachek at the Bluebird Theater You ever seen a song name and know you’re going to like it before you even hear it? That was the case for me back in 2019 when pop chameleon Caroline Polachek released her single, “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings.” (On my birthday, no less! How did she know?) “Pang,” the album that housed that song was not only one of the best pop records of the year but of the decade.

You absolutely should catch Polachek when she stops by the Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, at 9 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 10, with Oklou opening. This should be a bit of a homecoming show - Polacheck formed her first band, Chairlift, while a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. Get tickets at www.bluebirdtheater.net.

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

Tom Newsom, one of the few Santa painters in the U.S., poses in a St. Nick suit for illustration research.

COURTESY OF TOM NEWSOM

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16 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

Laptops on loan to assist in employment searches Library partnership brings modern tech and new opportunities to Jeffco job-seekers.

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

It’s definitely not your grandpa’s library anymore.

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DVDs appear on library shelves in the past, has taken another significant leap forward — in Jeffco, anyway.

Chromebook laptops can now be checked out by library patrons to assist with job searches.

According to its website, Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL) has partnered with the Jefferson County Business and Workforce Center (JCBW) to make it possible.

“These laptops will be available to Jefferson County residents starting in November. You can reserve them by speaking with Library staff or using the JCPL online catalog,” the County’s announcement said.

Chromebooks can be checked out for a period of 60 days. The due date

will not be renewable.

According to JCPL, Chromebooks have built-in WiFi/data for an internet connection wherever you are. The laptops allow you to create resumes and cover letters, explore other job aid tools and conduct online interviews. Along with the laptop, users also will receive a power cord, mouse, quick-start sheet and a bag.

The county’s announcement of the new resource said the Chromebook program is part of JCPL’s commitment to meeting the needs of all community members.

“Remote work has changed the way people think about when and how they want to work, leading to more and more employees across

the United States either being displaced from their jobs or voluntarily resigning from their positions in order to look for better employment,” the announcement said, citing an April 2021 report from the U.S. Labor Department that said a record 4 million Americans quit their job that month.

If you’re ready to reserve a Chromebook to assist in finding your next career opportunity, visit jeffcolibrary.bibliocommons.com or your local branch to start the process.

Jeffco residents also can get help learning how to use the devices through JCPL’s Jobs and Careers Featured Guide by visiting jeffcolibrary.org/job-help/.

Warder Elementary hosts second annual Holiday Craft Fair Event showcasing community and alumni goods returns after COVID-induced hiatus

BY RYAN DUNN AND ERIN MCGOVERN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Crafts of all kinds filled the gymnasium at Warder Elementary School on Dec. 4, signaling the beginning of the holiday season and the return of Warder’s Holiday

Craft Fair. After going on hiatus last year after starting up in 2019, 38 vendors returned to the school to showcase their handmade holiday goods.

While many of the vendors are students, alumni, teachers and families at Warder, others are community members looking to connect with other makers and patrons in town.

Knitted hats, Christmas ornaments, woodworking projects and homemade dog treats were just a few of the items available at the fair.

Kim Fulcomer, Warder’s librarian, said she planned the event with the help of the school’s parent-teacher

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So just somewhere for vendors and crafters to come in,” Fulcomer said.

While the school does not take in profits from the event, a donation box to Community Table was open during the fair.

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CRAFT FAIR FROM PAGE 16

Warder Principal Matt Hibbert praised the event as an extension of the school’s core value of community.

“Our school is so much about community. This event is something out PTA and Kim masterminded to bring families together with the community,” Hibbert said. “It feels good — this school year as a whole, it’s felt good to bring the community back.”

Karen O’Leary was a teacher at Warder for 20 years and now works as a substitute and said she appreciates the event because it allows her to connect with past and current students and co-workers. O’Leary had a table featuring her acrylic paintings, a hobby she said she got into during COVID. “I love it. I know all the kids and all the teachers, and I’ve seen so many of the kids and teachers,” O’Leary said.

One community member and local student who attended the fair was Peyton, a freshman at Ralston Valley High School who sells homemade dog treats with her mother, Tiffany.

“Peyton’s Pup Treats” started began in 2019 after Peyton was nominated as one of 80 students in Jefferson County to take part in an EF Educational Tour to Italy. The dog treats started off as a way to fundraise money to send Peyton to Italy, and has continued apace for the past two years, as the trip has been continually pushed back due to

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The scene at the gymnasium at Warder Elementary School during the school’s second annual Holiday Craft Fair.

the COVID-19 pandemic.

Peyton said she got the idea for Peyton’s Pup Treats when she tried to make some treats for her dog, Gus. “When Gus was a pup, I made him some treats… I think it’s a really unique way to fundraise. I mean, obviously people love their dogs, and it’s kind of a neat way to give back to them,” Peyton said.

Tiffany said that the endeavor helps Peyton practice business and interpersonal skills and added that Warder has supported Peyton’s Pup

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Fulcomer said she was glad to have the event back after the layoff.

“It’s super exciting and all the vendors are excited. It’s just exciting to have some normalcy. Everybody’s going to be masked, and everybody’s willing to do that. People are super excited to get back in here, to do it again,” Fulcomer said.

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Treats since the mother-daughter pair held a table at the inaugural Holiday Fair two years ago.

“It’s pushing (Peyton) a bit out of her comfort zone, and we’re trying to make a lot of life lessons out of it,” Tiffany said. “(Warder) was very helpful to us, very welcoming. They actually gave her a discount on the entrance fee because it’s a student

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December 9, 2021

Panel pushes solutions to youth mental health crisis Children’s Hospital Colorado, partners unveil playbook

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Not letting up on federal and state lawmakers, Children’s Hospital Colorado held another roundtable discussion to push the message that action needs to be taken immediately to address growing mental health crisis for young patients.

In June, Children’s held similar discussions, officially declaring a state of emergency due to a rise in youth suicide attempts and emergency rooms filling up with young psychiatric patients awaiting proper treatment.

The most recent roundtable, held virtually Nov. 16, continued discussions about the growing crisis, and this time, the Aurora-based hospital system — with campuses in Highlands Ranch and Broomfield and facilities across metro Denver — came equipped with solutions, as it unveiled its “Children and Youth Mental Health Playbook.”

In creating the playbook, Children’s collaborated with Healthier Colorado, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Colorado Education Association, Partners for Children’s Mental Health and Colorado Association for School-Based Health Care.

Jake Williams, executive director of Healthier Colorado, said suicide should not be the leading cause of death for children.

Healthier Colorado is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that says it is dedicated to raising the voices of Coloradans in the public policy process to improve the health of the state’s residents.

Williams, along with a panel of speakers at the Nov. 16 forum, said local, state and federal lawmakers have to step up to address the growing mental health crisis that has only been exacerbated by the

Children’s Hospital Colorado has multiple hospitals and clinics across the Front Range.

pandemic.

According to the playbook, like many states, Colorado has a severe shortage of child and adolescent psychiatrists and psychologist, leading to access-to-care gaps for children and youth. The playbook estimates that only 22% of youth who have mental illness with severe impairments are receiving care.

Jim Weigand, a Jefferson County father of seven, participated in the discussions, sharing a story about his adopted daughter who has struggled with mental health. Wiegand said that to get the right care for his daughter, his family had to look outside of Colorado, placing her at a facility in Georgia.

Wiegand said the Georgia facility helped his daughter over 15 months, putting a strain on the family to travel to see her with the added obstacles created by the pandemic.

Wiegand said his daughter is home now and doing well but stressed how frustrating it has been to get help in Colorado.

Weigand said he is lucky that his family has the means to take the steps they did, noting that he has friends in similar situations

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

where their children are not getting proper assistance.

Dr. Sophie Meharena, of Every Child Pediatrics, a chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said the system is getting overwhelmed. Meharena described one Friday afternoon where four of her 16 patients told her they were having suicidal thoughts.

Meharena said parents are overwhelmed in not knowing what to do and the industry is overwhelmed because it does not have the facilities, resources or workforce to address the continu-

ally growing number of patients in need of mental health intervention.

“Without coordinated and consistent resources and access for all, we cannot have a sustainable system,” Meharena said. “Getting the mechanics right is key to a sustainable system to address the needs in Colorado. Investing in children’s mental health is investing in this country’s future.”

In presenting solutions to the problem, the playbook points to SEE HEALTH, P20

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20 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

Colorado Book Awards open for submissions STAFF REPORT

Colorado authors have a deadline of Jan. 7, 2022, to enter a submission to the Colorado Book Awards.

The Colorado Book Awards celebrate the accomplishments of Colorado’s authors, editors, illustrators and photographers. “To be eligible for submission, a primary contribu-

HEALTH FROM PAGE 19

local policy changes that should include more federal funding with a local impact and more local infrastructure for sustainable funding.

The panel pointed to the funds coming from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 where millions have been earmarked for states to use for mental health.

Panel members are asking Colorado lawmakers to designate one third, or $150 million, of all the funds to youth mental health. The state got $450 million from the American Rescue Plan.

Williams said this is a fair amount to ask for given that Colorado youth and young adults under the age of 24 make up 31% of the state’s population.

Zach Zaslow, director of government affairs at Children’s, said funding cannot stop with the American Rescue Plan. For actual

tor to the book must be a current Colorado resident engaged in ongoing literary work in the state, or with a personal history, identity and literary work that reflect a strong Colorado influence,” the Colorado Book Awards webpage says.

There are about 10 categories for authors to submit their book for the awards. changes in Colorado, Zaslow said lawmakers at the state and federal levels must commit to fixing the crisis by creating sustainable programs and funding beyond 2021.

By creating the sustainable programs, Zaslow said children and youth will be able to get the care they need before a crisis.

Meharena said part of the problem is the system is designed to be reactive rather than proactive.

As part of the solution, the multiagency playbook calls for state policies to prioritize children and youth mental health through continued federal funding investments and to make sure the new Behavioral Health Administration is child focused.

Other solutions addressed by the panel include pushing lawmakers to change how the health care system separates physical and mental health. Currently, CHC Chief Medical Officer Dr. David Brumbaugh said the way insurance companies manage mental health makes it hard for families to afford proper

All submissions must have been published for the first time no earlier than October 2020.

Volunteers are also needed to serve as a Colorado Book Awards selector or judge. Scholars, librarians, booksellers, teachers, writers, reviewers and avid readers from across the state are urged to apply.

Additional information on the

Colorado Book Awards — including guidelines and entry forms, and the application for volunteer selectors and judges — can be found on the Colorado Book Awards webpage: coloradohumanities.org/programs/ colorado-book-awards/.

To learn more about Colorado Humanities, visit coloradohumanities. org, or call 303-894-7951.

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Creating more virtual options for rural communities is also a solution, Zaslow said.

Rebecca Doughty -- program director of Four Corners Youth Clinics, a member of the Colorado Association of School-Based Health Clinics — said a shortage of trained psychologists and staff is a major problem in rural communities.

Zaslow said having the ability to speak to qualified professionals without having to drive to Aurora

from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun.com. would help get help to the young people struggling beyond the Front Range.

Dr. Jenna Glover, a Children’s clinical psychologist, said the playbook the panel is introducing offers tangible information that will show lawmakers how they can begin to repair a broken system.

Glover and members of the panel are urging the public to push lawmakers at all levels to start making mental health care for youth a priority.

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22 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

Helping us understand what we went through Local author was frontline cashier during pandemic

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In 2019, Denver blogger Adam Kaat left his corporate job to focus on his writing.

At the time, he had the first draft of a novel completed. Kaat sought a job that was active, but not mentally draining so he could continue work on his debut novel.

Kaat, 36, secured a job in January 2020 as a cashier at a busy, high-end grocery store in Cherry Creek. He enjoyed being a point person for customer service, and especially, the social aspect of the job.

But shortly after settling in, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

By March 15, there were mask orders in place, workers had to sanitize their registers between every customer and shoppers began to hoard groceries and toiletries, Kaat said. He added there was a lot of general panic at that time.

“Everyone’s working overtime (and) being called a hero,” Kaat said. “We had no other choice than to go with the flow.”

Kaat then decided to set the novel he had been working on aside, and began to blog about being a frontline worker during an unprecedented time. The blog gained a following, and prompted to Kaat to write what would become his first

published novel: “Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic.”

The book was published in April.

It is a work of fiction, but mirrors a lot of Kaat’s experiences as a grocery store employee.

“Life on the Grocery Line” tells the story through the eyes of the character, David, a cashier at the fictional Dream Grocers store during the pandemic.

“The book shows the human side of everyday interactions that people might not think about,” Kaat said. “Hopefully, it makes you laugh, (and) think about the future and to be good to each other.”

Did anything in particular inspire you to become a writer?

I think I have always been a writer. I just needed to find the focus to sit down and write. It’s the best way for me to work through the things — both happy and sad — that happen in my life.

I did not discover my love of writing until my last year in college when I began reading more for fun and finding a wider variety of writers. I started dabbling with blogs then and I fell in love.

I enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories. My book has brought me closer to people I wouldn’t have otherwise met. It’s a fun journey.

What did you enjoy most about writing Life on the Grocery Line?

It was therapeutic to sit down

and sort through the craziness of the early pandemic. There was a heavy burden put on grocery workers and other essential employees. With all of the uncertainty of the times, I was grateful to have a project to work on.

What can your fans expect from you next?

I am working on the sequel to “Life on the Grocery Line,” where we meet back up with Daniel a year later as he is going through his year review at work. I hope to have it out in spring of 2022.

Adam Kaat

COURTESY PHOTO

In what ways do you think people will be able to relate to “Life on the Grocery Line”?

Daniel is a normal guy thrust into unforeseen circumstances and he has to grapple with many of the problems we all went through during the first few months of the pandemic.

Hopefully, it helps us all understand what we went through.

As the pandemic wears on and we move back toward “normalcy,” I think it can help remind us how fragile everything is. I think doing that can help ground us and give a better perspective on the future.

To learn more about “Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic,” by local author Adam Kaat, visit www. lifeonthegroceryline.com. The blog can also be found on that website.

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Arvada Press 23

December 9, 2021

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24 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

LOCAL

SPORTS

Mines advances to NCAA semis for first time

BY TIM FLYNN MINES ATHLETICS

Mines receiver Josh Johnston is hoisted into the air by his teammates after making a touchdown catch during his team’s regional finals game PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL WAY on Dec. 4.

GOLDEN, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines advanced to the NCAA semifinals for the first time in program history, going up big and then holding off Angelo State 34-26 in the Super Region IV final.

Mines will travel to Valdosta State for the Dec. 11 national semifinals, with a noon Eastern kickoff. Shepherd, Valdosta State, and Ferris State all advanced along with the Orediggers (12-1). The national semifinals will air live on ESPN+.

Michael Zeman ran for 138 yards and a touchdown and also caught another, and John Matocha threw for four scores in a 254-yard day to pace an offense that touched the nation’s #5 scoring defense for 34 points. Logan Rayburn made a critical late interception for the defense as they held ASU to 3-of-13 on third downs in a bend-not-break performance.

Zach Bronkhorst paced ASU with 331 yards passing and two touchdowns, nearly getting the Rams (11-3) back into the game in the fourth quarter with both of his scores in the quarter.

“We’ve been talking about it ever since we came here seven years ago, and now we have a chance to make it happen,” said head coach Gregg Brandon after the win. “I’m really excited for this football team.

Great senior leadership has carried it for us all fall, I’m excited for the kids. Playing deep into December is exciting.”

Mines had a first quarter to forget as the Ram defense held the Orediggers without a first down on their first two drives, and Asa Fuller’s 26-yard field goal provided the lone points of the period to give Angelo State a 3-0 lead.

The Orediggers’ quickstrike ability became a factor on the second quarter’s opening drive as Matocha found Max McLeod over the middle for a 60-yard catch and run to lead 7-3, and after a crucial 4th-and-1 stop at midfield got the ball back, Mines embarked on another scoring drive capped

by Matocha finding Josh Johnston from 21 yards out. Angelo State blocked a do-over PAT, however, which would prove crucial later in the game.

Mines forced a threeand-out on the next series

and got a 28-yard Mason Pierce punt return to start at midfield, finishing in the end zone again five plays later when Zeman ran it in from a yard out of the wildcat for a 20-3 lead at halftime.

Angelo State’s big play came early in the third quarter on the first play of their second series when Alfred Grear broke containment and went 90 yards to the house, cutting the score to 20-10; Mines answered two possessions later when Matocha completed a short pass to Mason Karp, who streaked 42 yards in to make it 27-10.

ASU started to make things interesting in the fourth, sacking Matocha on a 4th-down try at the ASU 32 and then driving to score on a five-yard pass to Noah Massey to cut it to 27-17, but Evan Alexander recovered the onside kick and that led to Matocha dumping off a scrambling pass to Zeman, who caught the edge and scored from 39 yards out to make it a three-score game. Rayburn’s interception came on the next possession with 3:23 remaining, and after a high snap on a punt was smartly kicked out of the end SEE FOOTBALL, P30

Arvada West lock down defensively against Golden Wildcats limit Demons to six field goals in season opener

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

GOLDEN — A 3-pointer outburst and strong defensive effort was enough for Arvada West’s girls basketball team on opening night of the 2021-22 season.

Junior Brooke Meeks sunk a trio of 3-pointers over the span of 75 seconds in the first quarter to open up a 9-2 A-West lead. The Wildcats (4-0 record) went on to take a 44-14 road victory against the Demons (2-2) on Monday, Nov. 29 at Golden High School.

“I think any given game we’ve got a handful of kids who can be that kid,” A-West coach Brady Meeks said of the outside shooting ability of the Wildcats, including his daughter Brooke. “It just happened to be Brooke tonight. Honestly, tonight

we needed it. It looked like a first game. It was ugly.”

Golden had grabbed an early 2-0 lead with a bucket from freshman Brooklyn Carbone in the opening seconds. However, the junior shooting guard heated up early to give A-West a commanding lead.

“Coming out first game back and the start of my junior season I definitely was super nervous,” Brooke Meeks admitted. “I thought those first shots would be a little long. I’m just glad my shot was falling. I’m glad I could help my team to get the win.”

Freshman Avery Harrison had a nice first quarter pouring in five early points in her first game as a Wildcat.

“I actually expect her to be a huge piece this year,” Coach Meeks said of Harrison, who finished with seven points. “First game freshman jitters, I expect. I think she will be one of the better freshman in the state with what she brings for us.”

Senior Amanda Neff

finished with eight points as Coach Meeks gave plenty of playing time to his bench. AWest had nine players score with Brooke Meeks leading the way with a dozen points, all on 3-pointers. Her final 3-pointer came in the opening minute of the second half and was taken several feet behind the 3-point line.

“That’s kind of my shot,” Meeks said of her deep 3-pointer made from well beyond NBA range in front of the Wildcats’ bench that put A-West up 30-6 just 30 seconds into the second half.

“A lot of people can’t hit the shot. I do have that range so when I make one then teams have to come out on me.

Then I can attack the basket and create for my teammates.”

Golden struggled offensively making just six field goal the entire game. The offensive highlight for the Demons was a 4-point play by senior Anna Kennedy in the fourth quarter. Kennedy hit the Demons’ lone SEE BASKETBALL, P30

Arvada West junior Brooke Meeks squares up for a 3-pointer during the Wildcats’ season opener Monday, Nov. 29, at Golden High School. The Wildcats ended up with four victories during the opening week of the basketball season, along with winning the Prairie PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS View Tournament.

Arvada Press 25

December 9, 2021

Jeffco 4A volleyball all-conference awards Player of the Year - Marina Cadilli, Conifer

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

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Coach of the Year - Amber Cook, D’Evelyn Sportsmanship - Standley Lake First Team Marina Cadilli, Conifer Else Clark, Conifer Anna Day, D’Evelyn Macy Sheer, D’Evelyn Danielle Daugherty, D’Evelyn Cami Haluza, Evergreen Ellis Barwell, Evergreen Cassie Speyer, Evergreen Emma Seliskar, Evergreen Chloe Axelrod, Golden Marae Reilly, Green Mountain McKay Kasper, Green Mountain

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26 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

COLORADO COMMUNIT Y MEDIA

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Arvada Press 27

December 9, 2021

COLORADO COMMUNIT Y MEDIA

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December 9, 2021

COLORADO COMMUNIT Y MEDIA

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Arvada Press 29

December 9, 2021

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30 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

FOOTBALL FROM PAGE 24

zone by Jacob Click for a safety to make it 34-19, Angelo State quickly scored on a Rasheen Green 16-yard catch to make it 3426 Mines with 2:17 to go.

With no Ram timeouts remaining, all Mines needed was a first down and Zeman found it on a 12yard gain at midfield, letting the Orediggers kneel it out for their

spot in the semis.

“Our goal board says win the RMAC, and that’s not a goal anymore, that’s an expectation,” Brandon said. “Now we’ve finally achieved that second goal, to win the region. It’s hard. To win college football games is hard. To get to this point and win a game like that — Angelo was a good football team, a darn good football team, make no mistake about that — everyone here is good. The next goal on that board is to win a national championship.”

Arvada West junior Payton Reed, 15, attempts to steal the ball from Golden junior Natalie Phillips on Monday, Nov. 29, at Golden High School. The Wildcats took a 44-14 PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS road victory against Golden.

BASKETBALL FROM PAGE 24

3-pointer of the game with 7:34 left in the final quarter and was fouled.

She made the free throw to complete the 4-point play.

“Plenty of things to clean up,” Coach Meeks said after the 30-point win. “We are just trying to get better every game, but we need to get a lot better if we want to do what we think we can do this year.”

The 5A Jeffco League should be strong again with Valor Christian leading the way being the preseason No. 1 in the 5A CHSAANow.com coaches’ rankings.

“I think we can compete with anyone (in 5A Jeffco), even with a Valor team,” Meeks said. “Going out and giving our all is all you can do. I think a lot of people don’t realize the talent we have. I think we’ll shock a lot of people this year.”

A-West went 3-0 later in the week to win the Prairie View Tournament. The Wildcats actually defeated Golden for the second time in six days in the tournament championship game. A-Wests defeated the Demons 54-17 Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.

Mines junior receiver Tristan Smith dives for a catch, even as an Angelo State defender does likewise. Smith would make five catches in the game, to add 35 yards PHOTO COURTESY OF BILL WAY of offense in the 34-26 CMS win.

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Arvada Press 31

December 9, 2021

Saving young lives in Jeffco and beyond Nonprofit tackles state’s leading cause of death for youth, providing mental health services to those in need

BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

During the 2001-02 school year, four students at Green Mountain High School took their own lives within a nine-month timespan.

A sense of loss reverberated through the community, leaving an indelible mark and inspiring three members of a nearby church to find a way to help.

Marjorie Laird, Jeff Lamontagne, Scott Fletcher and the rest of Green Mountain Presbyterian Church organized a community walk/run, raising a small amount of money to aid Green Mountain students in need of counseling.

But the modest fundraising event, attended by 66 people in 2002, wasn’t the end of the story. It led to the creation of the Second Wind Fund Program, a nonprofit that’s been raising money to pay for counseling sessions for youth at risk for suicide.

Shortly after its inception, other Jeffco schools became aware of the program, and by 2009, it received a grant to expand services across the state.

Chris Weiss, executive director of the Second Wind Fund, said that although the group operates across the state, Jeffco is near and dear to the heart of the organization.

“It’s where we started and where we continue to provide a high number of services,” he said. “Our program and mission are very simple. We provide expedited access to potentially life-saving therapy to youth 19-and-under who are at risk for suicide.”

Weiss said the majority of the time, the youth or family in need

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY Second Wind Fund is not a crisis center. If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

You also can call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-844-943-TALK (8255) or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Para Español, Nacional de Preveción del Suicidio 1-800-628-9454. are facing some type of barrier, either financial or social, and all it takes is an online form to be filled out by a qualified referral source — a school counselor or mental health professional — and within the hour, a referral specialist will get back to them with an approval for a referral for the youth to see a therapist in their community, for up to 12 sessions, at no cost.

Sometimes the therapist will even travel to the school for the session to reduce travel burdens on families with limited resources.

“The reason we’re able to do what we do is because of the (more than) 200 therapists on our roster who are willing to see the youth in a relatively quick period of time,” Weiss said. “When they (the therapists) know the referral is from Second Wind Fund, they make the time to put them on their calendar because they know their services are needed, and doing it quickly is crucial.”

Weiss said Second Wind Fund also provides navigational assistance to families who can afford their own treatment plan, providing a roadmap of how to better understand their insurance or other resources they can tap into in their community. Those resources, he said, can include a community mental health center or an authorized list of referrals on their insurance website, to name just a few.

As a nonprofit with very little reliance on state, federal or local funding, and a diversified revenue

stream with a heavy emphasis on private fundraising, Weiss says Second Wind Fund hopes to be around a very long time.

Even the pandemic didn’t create a noticeable decline in donations.

Weiss says he’s grateful funding has stayed strong. He thinks it’s because people understand how important mental health is.

“I’m sure a couple of years from now we’ll look back on this and say how important this time was, particularly when it comes to starting and having conversations around mental health,” he said. “Our budget has actually grown quite a bit which allows us to offer more potentially life-saving services — better services — to a lot of youth who are in desperate need.”

Weiss said Second Wind Fund currently operates in 30 counties across the state and is now in the process of moving forward with a plan that will utilize regional employees on the western slope, providing services to Grand Junction, Mesa and LaPlata Counties.

He said being on the ground and becoming part of the community will allow Second Wind Fund to help everywhere there’s need.

Unfortunately, right now, demand for services is growing and qualified therapists are harder to come by. To add context to the numbers, in 2003,

the Second Wind Fund received its first referral (to pay for therapy sessions). In 2018-19, the group had a record-setting year, receiving 762 referrals, providing access to more than 3,000 therapy sessions for atrisk youth in Colorado.

To that end, Weiss says his organization is always willing to talk with qualified therapists with expertise working with youth or those at risk for suicide, it they’d like to get involved with the program.

Diversity and inclusion are areas Second Wind Fund cares deeply about, Weiss said.

Over 30% of Second Wind Fund’s clients are from Hispanic backgrounds, so there are some therapists on the roster who are bilingual, Weiss said. He added that there also is money in the budget that pays for translation services when needed, as well as having MOU’s (Memorandum of Understanding) with community mental health centers in order to tap into adjacent staff to make sure that if a youth needs to work with a therapist who speaks Spanish, it can be set up.

“We know that therapy works.

If you can get a youth or a child into therapy, we know that suicidal ideations generally reduce over the course of treatment,” Weiss said.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals City and County Public Notice NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT at the meeting of the Arvada City Council to be held on MONDAY, January 3, 2022, 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 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.

CB 21-044 An Ordinance Authorizing Acceptance of the Amended and Restated Intergovernmental Agreement between Jefferson County and the Cities of Arvada, Lakewood, Wheat Ridge, Golden, Westminster and Edgewater for Animal Shelter/Dog Licensing/Funding.

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Legal Notice No. 411874 First Publication: December 9, 2021 Last Publication: December 9, 2021 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript 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 December 6, 2021: Ordinance #4787 An Ordinance Authorizing an Additional Appropriation for Fiscal Year 2021.

Ordinance #4788 An Ordinance Amending and Restating Plan Documents and Adoption Agree-

ments for the Executive Defined Contribution Retirement Plan, City Manager Retirement Plan, City Attorney Retirement Plan, and Municipal Judge Retirement Plan.

Ordinance #4789 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.

Ordinance #4790 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. 411875 First Publication: December 9, 2021 Last Publication: December 9, 2021 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

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Arvada Legals 12.9.21 * 1

32 Arvada Press

December 9, 2021

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