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December 23, 2021
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 11 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 14 | SPORTS: PAGE 16
VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 27
Olde Town Square Christmas tree felled by wind Plans for replacement tree being discussed BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Holiday festivity shines through at the Christmas Shop.
PHOTOS BY RYAN DUNN
Hope House hosts 5th Annual Christmas Shop
Shop allows moms to turn in points earned through self-sufficiency efforts for children’s toys BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
SEE TREE, P7
Christmas came early for the moms of Hope House Colorado. The Arvada-based nonprofit for teen moms held its 5th Annual Christmas Shop at their Benton Street headquarters on Dec. 11, providing an opportunity for moms to exchange points earned throughout the year for Christmas presents. Hope House awards `Christmas Points’ to moms for completing selfsufficiency tasks and goals, such as obtaining a driver’s license, walking in Hope House’s GED graduation ceremony, enrolling a child in childcare or speaking at a Hope House event. SEE SHOP, P7
High winds have felled a beloved Arvada holiday landmark, as the Olde Town Square Christmas Tree came crashing down on Dec. 15. Olde Town Square has been closed to visitors while the wind event is ongoing, but businesses in the area remain open, according to Olde Town Business Improvement District Executive Director Joe Hengstler. Hengstler said that there hasn’t been much damage in Olde Town besides the tree and a few Holiday Market booths blowing over. Arvada Police and the City’s Parks Department both dispatched personnel to the scene to secure large items from blowing over and prevent debris and ornaments from wafting away from the tree. He added that the BID is working to figure out a plan to replace the tree, which is an annual holiday favorite in the historic district.
Volunteers wrap presents at the Hope House Christmas Shop.
Parks department workers remove ornaments and secure the tree. COURTESY OF DEBBIE HANSEN
2 Arvada Press
December 23, 2021
Jeffco School Board votes yes on new Arvada Aquatics Complex Final vote clears the way for partnership to replace Meyers Pool BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
During its Dec. 9 regular meeting, the Jefferson County Board of Education voted to approve operative documents to complete the partnership with Apex Parks and Recreation District and the City of Arvada to replace the aging Meyers Pool. Before the vote was taken, new Board President Stephanie Schooley, recapped work that had been done regarding the agreement, saying on Nov. 4, the previous Board (prior to newly elected members being seated) approved the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the City of Arvada, Apex and Jeffco Public Schools (JPS), regarding the Northwest Aquatics Complex project, and the loan terms to support the IGA and finance construction. She said on Oct. 20, the Board directed JPS staff to finalize the IGA with bids for the project’s financing and report on the loan for the project. “The partnership agreement provides for Jeffco Public Schools and the City of Arvada to jointly finance construction of the aquatics complex with Apex providing ongoing management and operations at the site,” Schooley said. “The George J. Meyers Swimming Center, the Mey-
The inside of the current Meyers Pool natatorium.
ers pool owned by the City of Arvada and operated by the Apex Park and Recreation District, is almost 50-years-old and in need of replacement. A plan has been developed to keep the pool in operation until a new pool opens. The estimated end of the pool’s useful life is 2023.” Steve Bell, Chief Operating Officer, Jeffco Schools, said the vote would be the culmination of what had been discussed in November,
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following the award of the loan package to Glacier Bank, as the single lender on the transaction, based on the terms and conditions of their bid. “We’ve been talking about this for quite some time,” Bell said. “We think we have a very value-added asset for our community on a very unique borrowing structure. We have two parties — with the school district and the City (of Arvada) that are partnering on the financing, with a third partner, Apex Parks and Rec. District, which will provide for the operation and maintenance of the facility.” Bell said an Arvada Council member, at the time the City passed their resolution, made a comment that he thought (the partnership) was decades ahead of the rest of the country with this type of (ownership) structure. New board member Paula Reed read the resolution as written to the Board: “Resolution of the Jefferson County School District No. R1, Jefferson and Broomfield Counties, Colorado, 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 the lease purchase agreement and other documentation in connection with the cooperative financing with the City of Arvada and providing other details, perimeters and authorization in connection with lease purchase financing,” the resolution said. Before the vote, while discussion of the matter was still taking place, board member Susan Miller asked Bell to clarify details of the deal including duration of the partnership and percentage of financing the District would be responsible for. He said the term of the deal would be 20 years and Jeffco Schools would be an equity owner, which among other things, meant Jeffco students would not pay fees to the facility for as long as the agreement continued. “Now, at the end of the 20-year term, when the financing is paid, it is possible that maybe we’d make a
COURTESY OF APEX PARKS AND RECREATION DISTRICT
decision to do something different, but that’s not in the document as it exists,” Bell said, stressing that after 20 years, the District would still own 50% of the Complex. After the three newest board members, Mary Parker, Danielle Varda and Paula Reed, each commented with enthusiasm about the project, Miller gave an impassioned plea to reconsider committing $22 million to the project, saying the District had greater needs that would be more impactful to students, referencing schools like Molholm and Vivian Elementary, Title 1 schools that have many longstanding needs. “We are setting a precedent,” Miller said. “I want it to be very clear that when we do this, we are setting a precedent that Foothills and Wheat Ridge and Golden and Evergreen and Carmody could come and say ‘hey! — we want to do this as well. And we want the same type of structure that you’re building for Arvada for those five high schools. We want that for our community.’” Miller acknowledged that the decision to fund the pool had already been set in motion, but said there was precedent for overturning decisions made by previous boards. Bell clarified that the District (via the previous Board) had already awarded the sale of the transaction to an institutional lender. “This money should be going for the purpose of our competency of teaching our children and should be providing opportunities for our kiddos,” she said. Bell said upending the transaction would likely cause issues with the City of Arvada, the lender and would jeopardize the project. He called the matter an issue of organizational integrity saying, in his opinion, the current Board should honor the commitment made by previous Board members. For her part, Jeffco Schools Superintendent Tracy Dorland said there were aquatics needs in the district’s northern corridor that would need to be dealt with regardless of the vote. The resolution passed with only Miller voting no.
Arvada Press 3
December 23, 2021
A COVID head-scratcher: Why lice lurk despite distancing Head lice are ‘definitely back,’ says a professional delouser BY RAE ELLEN BICHELL KAISER HEALTH NEWS
The Marker family of Parker opened their door on a recent evening to a woman dressed in purple, with a military attitude to cleanliness. Linda Holmes, who has worked as a technician with LiceDoctors for five years, came straight from her day job at a hospital after she got the call from a dispatcher that
the Marker family needed her ASAP. According to those in the world of professional nitpicking, Pediculus humanus capitis, the much-scorned head louse, has returned. “It’s definitely back,” said Kelli Boswell, owner of Lice & Easy, an Arvada boutique where people in the Denver area can get deloused, a process that can range from minutes to hours depending on the method and the infestation. “It’s a sign that things are coming back to normal.” Colds and more serious bugs like respiratory syncytial virus, better known by the shorthand RSV, are also back. That may leave some to
Professional delouser Linda Holmes’ tools of choice for nitpicking her customers’ heads are extra-virgin olive oil and a set of fine-toothed combs. Other methods involve tools that run the gamut from special gels to devices that heat the head at a temperature thought to kill louse eggs. PHOTO BY RAE ELLEN BICHELL/ KAISER HEALTH NEWS
SEE LICE, P4 ADVERTISEMENT
What Is the Effect of Today’s Surging Inflation Rates on Real Estate? With everything costing more these days, from groceries to gasoline to natural gas, what is the effect on the real estate market? No doubt, you’ve heard that the year-over-year consumer price index increased by 6.8% in November, the highest increase in 40 years. You also know that real estate prices and rents have increased too. So how do those statistics compare, and is buying still a better choice than renting? Home prices have actually increased more than consumer prices over the last year, making real estate ownership the best hedge against inflation. In the Denver metro area (excluding Boulder) as of Sept. 30, 2021, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average sold price of homes was $614,800, an increase of 21.5% over the prior year. The average apartment rental price was $1,689 per month, an increase of 12.5% over the prior year. If you used mortgage financing, the average monthly cost of ownership of that average home purchase was
an astounding $4,126 per month for a single family detached home, making the rental of an average apartment much more affordable. But, of course, the money you spend on rent is money down the drain, whereas the homeowner may find that the value of his/her home increases by more than the monthly mortgage payment. To me, there’s no comparison to owning vs. renting, but I understand that renting makes sense for many households. So, what’s the prognosis for home ownership in 2022? Because of the inflation rate, we can also expect mortgage rates to rise from around 3% to 3.7% in 2022 according to NAR, but if you already own your home, your low interest rate is locked in. Mortgage rates currently average 3.1%, according to Freddie Mac. A higher interest rate, however, could affect what you might sell your home for, if that’s in your plans. Compared, however, to the increase in value you’ve already experienced, I don’t think the
The effect of pandemic lockdowns has triggered more interest in working at home, a trend that will be long-lasting and possibly permanent. Early in the pandemic we saw a surge in real estate activity as buyers sought more space for working from home. Compounding that was a desire for more at-home entertainment and exercise. People want not only a home office, but a home theater and a home workout facility. These are features that will, in my opinion, dominate home design and buyer demands for at least the coming decade. People feel safer at home, but they don’t want to feel cloistered. They want elbow-room. Lockdowns also triggered more separations and divorces as couples who weren’t really in love found that being cloistered together at home didn’t work for their relationship. This also contributed to the real estate boom of 2020 and 2021. Real estate was considered an “essential service” in the early days of Covid-19 lockdowns, and we Realtors certainly relished the lack of traffic and
traffic jams on local highways. Those days of free-flowing traffic may be gone, but there is still a widespread appreciation of working from home and doing less commuting. This means continued buyer activity focused on finding additional home office space. Some homeowners are creating additional space at home instead of trading up to a bigger home. There’s increased interest, for example, in building ADUs over detached garages, not to create rental income (a great idea) but for the homeowner’s own use as a studio or refuge from family distractions. A garage can offer great potential for additional living space, not just as a workshop, but as a home office, art studio, workout room or even a bedroom if necessary. Heating and cooling, on top of improved insulation, will be job #1 before improving the flooring, walls and ceiling. Rather than extending your home forced-air ductwork, consider installing a heat pump mini-split system. I saw this on a garage in north Golden—a perfect application of this technology. Read more about transforming a garage at www.GoldenREblog.com.
Housing Trends Reflect Pandemic’s Influence
effect of higher interest rates will be too much of a downer for you, should you choose to sell. Unless you’ve switched to heat pump heating and cooling and have installed solar panels to generate the electricity, your home heating cost will increase in 2022. The cost of natural gas has already increased by 25%. The nice thing about electricity is that its cost can only increase by a vote of the Public Utilities
Commission, and those increases are more gradual. Gasoline costs have skyrocketed, but, again, the electricity to power EVs has not, and if you own an electric car and installed enough solar panels, you probably pay nothing for your car’s fuel. I suspect that solar installers are doing a good business nowadays. The cost of solar has plummeted, so call an intaller for a quote.
Climate Change Vulnerability Now an Issue for Homebuyers It’s not surprising, given the extreme weather we’re witnessing, including here in Colorado, that 63% of people who moved during the pandemic say that climate is or will be an issue where they now live, according to a Redfin survey of 1,000 Americans who moved since March 2020. Many of the respondents said they researched climate issues before making their move. In another survey by ValuePenguin, more than half of Americans fear they would not be able to recover financially from a climate-induced catastrophe. An earlier Redfin survey showed that Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 were most likely to say that “natural disasters, extreme temperatures and rising sea levels” all influenced or will influence their decisions on where to move.
Here in Colorado, we’ve been blessed to experience fewer and less dramatic impacts from climate change. But those impacts are knocking on our door. Consider last summer’s fire smoke, or last week’s hurricane-forced winds, or our current drought. Our water supply depends on snowpack, and rising winter termperatures could mean more rain and less snow. Even though we’re east of the continental divide, we, like the areas west of us, are dependent on the dwindling Colorado River water, which is transported through several tunnels from the Western Slope. Because we are late to the climate change party, I foresee increased migration from other parts of the country, including “tornado alley,” to Colorado because of the increased awareness of climate change’s increasing impact.
Realtor Magazine Features All-Electric Home Trend This week’s email from Realtor Magazine featured “13 Home Trends Stealing the Spotlight in 2022,” and I was pleased to see that trend number twelve was “All-Electric Homes.” I could have written it myself! I can’t improve upon the wording, so here it is, verbatim: More homeowners understand the importance of “decarbonizing” everything from products to transportation, and especially their homes, says Chicago- and Boulder-based architect Nate
Kipnis of Kipnis Architecture + Planning. “The way we can best do this is by eliminating all fossil fuels use from houses and including induction cooktops rather than gas for cooking, which offers safer, faster, and more even cooking,” he says. Kipnis recommends using either an air-source heat pump (mini-split) for the HVAC system or a ground source system (geotherm-al). The big payoff, he says, is that renewable energy has become the cheapest form of electricity generation.
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 23, 2021
LICE FROM PAGE 3
wonder: With all the covid prevention measures in place, how are kids sharing these things? Like the coronavirus, all these bugs depend on human sociability. Unfortunately, the measures that many reopened schools have taken to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 — masks, hand-washing, vaccination — do little to deter the spread of the head louse. However, physical distancing, such as spacing desks 3 feet apart, should be helping, if it’s actually happening. Lice are, in theory, harder to spread than the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 because proximity alone isn’t enough: They usually need head-to-head contact. If a kid gets lice, odds are it means that kid spent some quality time close enough to another kid for the parasite to make its move. (Researchers tend to agree that transmission via inanimate objects like combs and hats is minimal.) The head louse is not known for its fortitude or athletic prowess. It’s basically the couch potato of pests. Adults can’t survive more than a day or two without snacking on blood. Their eggs can’t hatch without the warmth of a human head, and will die within about a week if not in those cozy conditions. The bugs can’t jump or fly — only crawl. The one thing going for the head louse is its highly specialized claws, evolved to grasp human hair. Unlike the body louse, the head
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Professional delouser Linda Holmes combs through the hair of 8-year-old Huntley Marker on a weeknight in late October in the girl’s home in Parker. Business is back up for Holmes and other nitpickers after a lull during the height of the pandemic. PHOTO BY RAE ELLEN BICHELL/KAISER HEALTH NEWS
louse isn’t known to spread disease. An infestation doesn’t indicate anything about a person’s hygiene. (In fact, the lore of delousers says that the bugs prefer clean hair because it’s more grabbable.) And despite common misconceptions, they can colonize people of all ages, races and ethnicities. COVID lockdowns were not great
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from a louse-world-domination standpoint. But the critters have been bonding with us for tens of thousands of years. A little lockdown wasn’t going to end the romance. Federico Galassi, a researcher with Argentina’s Pest and Insecticide Research Center, found that strict early covid lockdowns did, indeed, lead to a decline in head lice among kids in Buenos Aires, but the bugs came nowhere close to being eliminated. His study found prevalence dropped from about 70% to about 44%. And one thing is clear: When people shut their doors and hunkered down in early lockdowns, the lice were right there hunkered down with us. When SaLeah Snelling reopened the doors of her Lice Clinics of America salon in Boise, Idaho, in May, she said, “the cases of head lice were heavier than we’ve ever seen.” And it wasn’t just one or two people in the household with lice, but the entire household. Now, Galassi and American louse workers say, infestation rates are back to pre-lockdown norms, despite school covid protections. Nix, a brand of anti-louse products, publishes a map that claims lice are bad right now in Houston, most of Alabama and New Mexico, plus Tulsa, Oklahoma. The map directs people to locations that carry its products since many parents use a DIY approach once they spy the critter on a child’s head. Richard Pollack, chief scientific officer with pro-bono pest-identification service IdentifyUS, said most claims about louse prevalence are “marketing nonsense” from a largely unregulated industry focused on apparent infestations that often turn out to be just dandruff, glitter, hair spray, grass-dwelling springtail insects, innocuous fungus or even cookie crumbs. It’s possible that the recent increase in business for professional nitpickery suggests that people are now comfortable seeking help out-
side the home rather than its being a sign of a surge in the bugs. While little research exists to confirm whether there is a rise in lice, Boswell, Pollack and even the National Association of School Nurses agree: The bugs aren’t likely spreading in the classroom because in-school louse transmission is considered rare. Instead, Boswell said, it’s more likely that as other activities resumed — sleepovers, play dates, summer camp, family gatherings — the bugs prospered once more. Pollack once wrote in a presentation slide, “Head lice indicate that the child has friends.” Preschoolers tend to get the infestations the most “because they’re more cuddly,” said Julia Wilson, co-owner of Rocky Mountain Lice Removal in Lafayette. But she has also noticed a rise among teenagers, which she ascribes to taking selfies with pals. “You say to them, ‘Have you touched heads?’ and the teenager’s like, ‘No, never,’” said Wilson. “And then all of a sudden, they’re literally taking a selfie photo with their friends.” The Marker family isn’t sure where third grader Huntley’s lice originated. Perhaps a close friend or her dance team? The Markers spent more than $200 to get the four-person household checked — eyebrows and Dad’s beard included. Her dad and her preschool-aged brother were free of nits. But Holmes did find a couple of nits on Huntley’s mom, Paris. “You can just burn my whole head right now,” said Paris. After combing each head carefully, Holmes ended the session by hugging her customers goodbye, proof that she trusts her work. This story is from Kaiser Health News, a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. Used by permission. For more, visit khn.org.
Arvada Press 5
December 23, 2021
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6 Arvada Press
December 23, 2021
In rare move, 2 statewide GOP candidates to cap spending That means Ganahl, Anderson can sidestep donation limits BY SANDRA FISH THE COLORADO SUN
Two Republican candidates running for statewide office in Colorado next year have agreed to limit their campaign spending, a rare move that allows them to accept up to twice as much money from their donors. Heidi Ganahl, a University of Colorado regent running for governor, and Pam Anderson, a former Jefferson County clerk running for secretary of state, both agreed to the voluntary spending constraints. The candidates can now accept up to $2,500 from individual donors, up to $27,000 from small-donor committees and up to $271,550 from the state Republican Party. “We can spend less time fundraising, more time talking to voters and talking about the hyper-partisan nature of that office right now,” said Anderson, who is a former executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association. Asked about the decision, Ganahl’s campaign did not address their strategy. But a spokeswoman said that “governorships cannot be bought at an auction.” Voters approved Amendment 27, a constitutional campaign finance overhaul, in 2002. It included limits
on how much money candidates could accept from donors. But the amendment also included a loophole to those limits for candidates who agreed to keep their spending below a certain threshold. A candidate for statewide office, legislature and a few other offices may agree to the voluntary spending limits when they first declare their candidacy. For candidates running in 2022, the limits range from $88,225 for state House candidates to $3,395,275 for candidates running for governor. Candidates can’t raise more than the traditional limit right away, however. They must wait until an opponent raises 10% of the spending limit. So, in the governor’s race, Ganahl could not start accepting larger donations until Gov. Jared Polis raised about $340,000. (Polis has raised $626,000 for his reelection campaign so far.) Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, has already raised about $1.3 million, far more than 10% of the voluntary spending limit. Ganahl raised about $135,000 in the three weeks after announcing her candidacy. About 10% of her 300-plus donations during that time exceeded the $1,250 individual donation limit for other statewide candidates. Anderson didn’t announce her candidacy until after the last quarterly fundraising reporting deadline, so her donor information isn’t yet public.
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Heidi Ganahl announces her run for governor on Sept. 14, 2021, at Rosie’s Diner in PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN / THE COLORADO SUN Monument.
Candidates who accept the voluntary spending limits have an out. Every time a new candidate enters their contest and doesn’t accept the voluntary spending limits, candidates who have accepted the constraints receive a letter from the secretary of state letting them know they have 10 days to back out of their pledge. If they do abandon the spending limits, they don’t have to return any excess contributions they’ve already received. Colorado’s donation limits were second-lowest in the nation in 2018. Anderson said she has no intention of revoking the spending limits if other candidates get in the race, but sees the spending pledge as central to her campaign for secretary of state. Ganahl’s campaign didn’t respond about whether it would reconsider the spending limits at some point. The Colorado Sun reviewed campaign accounts for primary candidates for governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer in 2014 and 2018 and found none accepted the voluntary spending limits. Brad Levin, a Democrat who competed for attorney general but failed to make the primary ballot, originally accepted the limits. But David Fine, his attorney, wrote to the Secretary of State’s Office that the acceptance was an error by Fine in filling out forms. Legislative candidates more often accept the limits, but, like in Levin’s case, some have done so in error. State Rep. Tom Sullivan, a Centennial Democrat, initially accepted the limits for his 2018 campaign in error. He was able to withdraw from the limits when another candidate filed to run for the House seat. Sullivan is running for a state Senate seat in 2022, but isn’t accepting the voluntary limits. “I’ll never do that again,” he said. “It doesn’t do you any good if you’re the only one trying to fight the righteous fight.” Suzanne Taheri, a Republican and former deputy secretary of state, accepted the limits when she ran unsuccessfully for state Senate in 2020. But she never raised money over the contribution limits. “I never asked people for (more money) or advertised that I did it,” she said. “Part of it is, just a lot of people don’t understand what voluntary limits are. Most consultants will tell you not to take them. They’re focused on how much money you’re going to raise, so they’re trying to
get you to not limit yourself.” Successful candidates, who did not accept the spending limits, often outspent them, a Colorado Sun analysis found. In 2010, former Gov. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, spent $3.9 million on his campaign, when the voluntary cap was about $2.7 million. Two candidates who didn’t make the general election ballot that year, former Gov. Bill Ritter, a Democrat who opted not to run, and former U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis, a Republican who lost the primary, each spent $2 million. In 2014, Hickenlooper spent nearly $5.5 million on his gubernatorial reelection campaign, while his Republican opponent Bob Beauprez spent $2.9 million, about the same amount as that year’s voluntary limit. In 2018, GOP gubernatorial candidate Walker Stapleton spent about $4 million on his campaign, well over the $3.1 million voluntary limit. Victor Mitchell, one of Stapleton’s three unsuccessful primary opponents, spent $5 million, most of it his own money. The Polis campaign spent $23.8 million, almost all of it the candidate’s own money, to win in 2018. He’s already given $438,000 from his personal fortune into his 2022 campaign. Polis limits his individual campaign contributions to $200, but his personal wealth means he’s got millions to spend on next year’s campaign. Taheri said she thinks it makes sense for Ganahl and Anderson to accept the voluntary spending limits. “I think it makes sense in the governor’s race and the secretary of state’s race,” Taheri said. “You can’t raise that much money. It’s hard to raise $3.4 million. Then you don’t have to spend as much time fundraising if your donor base has the capacity to give you bigger donations.” And outside groups often spend more than candidates in statewide contests. In the 2018 gubernatorial contest, for instance, Republican outside groups spent $14.5 million while Democratic groups spent $10.5 million. This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. The Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.
Arvada Press 7
December 23, 2021
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! We will be open Christmas Eve from 9am-4pm for your last minute shopping. We will be closed Christmas Day so that our employees can spend time with their families.
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SHOP FROM PAGE 1
At the Christmas Shop, points accumulated over the course of the year can be exchanged for gifts donated by supporters of the nonprofit, allowing under-privileged moms to provide a full assortment of presents under the tree on Christmas morning. “Most of our moms come from poverty. They can’t afford to do Christmas shopping themselves. This takes the stress off for them to give the Christmas they would want for their kids,” said Hope House Director of Partnerships Jenny Macias. Macias said that in the past, the Christmas Shop used a wish listand-adoption model, where donors would `adopt’ a mom and buy items from the mom’s wish list. Macias said that the previous model created some inequity due to differences in donor contributions and attendance
TREE FROM PAGE 1
“We’d like to figure out something long term becauses it’s always great to have a giant tree in Olde Town… We’re sad about the tree going down. The Christmas tree is kind of a landmark here this time of year. Ultimately, this isn’t going to squash our holiday spirit,” Hengstler said. Hengstler added that the tree won’t be able to be re-erected, so a replacement tree would need to be brought in.
by moms at events throughout the year. “What we saw happen was, one; it’s less empowering because it’s a handout, but two; we may have had a mom who worked her butt off all year and may have got a donor who only got them like, one or two things. And then we have a mom who only came to one class the entire year and someone spent $1,000 on her,” Macias said. Toys of all varieties, books, stocking stuffers and other holiday goodies were available for the 107 moms to choose from. Over 100 volunteers came to help run the shop and help with wrapping presents. Macias said the Christmas Shop takes the stress off of holiday shopping and promotes working towards self-sufficiency. “(In the past) our moms would dread Christmas. Now they can feel proud of buying things for their kid with their hard-earned work. We use it as an incentive to help them work towards self-sufficiency,” Macias said. “At this point, we would need to figure out a different tree,” Hengstler said. The Holiday Maker’s Market will take place as scheduled on Friday, according to Hengstler. Arvada Police Department Public Information Officer Dave Snelling said there hadn’t been any injuries due to the wind or falling tree, but “a lot of broken hearts.” The tree has been a staple of the Olde Town landscape since the Olde Town Square opened in 2006, according to the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority. The tree was transplanted to the square, according to local historian Nancy Young.
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8 Arvada Press
December 23, 2021
LivaNova holds ribbon-cutting for $10.5 million sterilization facility Global medical device manufacturer unveils addition to Arvada plant BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Arvada manufacturing facility of LivaNova — a global medical device producer -unveiled a stateof-the-art $10.5 million sterilization facility on Dec. 15 that will allow the company to sterilize heart surgery components in-house. A formal ribbon-cutting was held with Arvada
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Mayor Marc Williams and LivaNova staff in attendance. At the Arvada plant, LivaNova produces tubing packs that take over the oxygenation of blood during open heart surgery, according to Arvada Site Leader and Senior Director of Operations Terry Mills. Mills added that the manufacturer used to send its products to be sterilized at Terumo BCT in Lakewood, but now can ensure their products readiness for surgery in-house. “By being vertically integrated, we can reduce travel time back and for the between an external sterilizer. There are many benefits; we can scale up to build more products,
we’ll be really responsible for the ability to grow the products we sterilize, we’ll also be able to sterilize for other LivaNova companies,” Mills said. “Our PTS custom packs go with that so that a perfusionist can basically keep the body alive while the surgeon is doing the needed cardiovascular procedure,” Mills continued. Mills praised the company’s continued commitment to Arvada — which has seen the manufacturer operate in some fashion under different owners for a half-century. “An investment like this in Arvada — this company has been around
here for 50 years — to me this helps reassure that the company is committed to the community. We employ over 200 associates. We have one of the largest manufactures in the area of Arvada,” Mills said. Williams stressed the importance of Arvada’s manufacturing industry, which he said is sometimes overlooked. “People really view Arvada as a bedroom community, yet we’ve got these hidden jewels of the business community. LivaNova employs 200 individuals and they’re doing lifesaving work with the medical materials that they’re making and shipping out,” Williams said.
City of Arvada holds Cold Weather Collection Drive New and gently used clothing can be dropped off at collection bins at APD Community Stations BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
As the winter cold sets in, the City of Arvada Housing Team is holding a Cold Weather Collection Drive to provide new and gently used items to people experiencing homelessness. Collection bins for coats, gloves, hoodies, warm socks, boots, backpacks and sleeping bags can be dropped off at collection bins located at all four Arvada Police Community Stations through Dec.
30. Arvada Housing and Homelessness Programs Manager Carrie Espinosa said the drive was put together to benefit those who will struggle with shelter and clothing during the chilly season. “Winter is an especially difficult time for those who do not have shelter or even winter clothing,” Espinosa said. “We are reaching out to our community members and asking them to consider those in need and help make their world a
DROP OFF LOCATIONS: Donations can be dropped off at the four Arvada Police Community Stations: - City Hall/APD Headquarters at 59th and Ammons Street - Lake Arbor Community Station at 8110 Vance Drive - West Woods Community Station at 6644 Kendrick Drive - Whisper Creek Community Station at 14360 West 89th Drive little warmer this holiday season.” Additional information on acceptable donation items can be found at arvada.org/collection.
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Arvada Press 9
10 Arvada Press
December 23, 2021
Remembering Dave Palm ‘Polarizing’ Arvada political candidate dies at 70 BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
For Dave Palm, few things were more important than community. The former Arvada city council and mayoral candidate often favorably likened his hometown to Mayberry, the idyllic setting of `The Andy Griffith Show,’ and dedicated much of his life to preserving his vision of Arvada’s history, tradition and small-town feel. Palm died from COVID-19 complications on Sunday, Dec. 5 at the age of 70. While many disagreed with Palm’s outspoken views, few could deny that his passion for Arvada drove him to consistently try to make a difference in the community. A graduate of Arvada High School, Palm was a lifelong Jefferson County resident who lived in Arvada since 1960. Palm’s many civic endeavors include a city council bid in 2017 and mayoral run in 2019, a term as director of the Arvada Historical Society, serving on the Harvest Festival Committee and organizing grassroots efforts including the 2020 trash hauling recall effort and this year’s `Don’t Vote’ campaign. Palm often claimed that his efforts were motivated by a desire to keep Arvada’s “Mayberry-like charm” intact — a facet of the city he felt was
At the Dec. 13 Arvada City Council meeting, Mayor Marc Williams recognized Palm’s service to the community: “I want to note the passing of David Palm, who has been very active in our community for a number of years. You either agreed with Mr. Palm or you disagreed with Mr. Palm, but he certainly cared about our community and was very vocal in terms of his positions, I think it always came from a position of caring deeply about the community. We are sorry for his passing. He was obviously someone who was engaged and cared deeply and we’re sorry for his passing,” Williams said.
A recent photo of Dave Palm.
threatened by expansion and development in recent years. “We’ve got a mayor and (city) council that don’t understand the concept of community,” Palm said in a Sept. 13 interview with the Arvada Press. “Arvada has been a community in the past. What they’ve brought us is a city; a northwest LoDo.” Rick Nelson served with Palm on the Arvada Harvest Festival Committee and said that Palm’s passion for Arvada showed through in his engagement in the community. “He loved the community of Arvada, the folks, and always wanted
COURTESY PHOTO
to make sure he was doing what he could to look out for them… The community was his life, as it is for most of us,” Nelson said. Nevertheless, Palm’s problemsolving style and way of espousing his views could come across as confrontational at times. “Dave’s like a bulldog; he would attack things straight on,” Palm’s friend Carl Campanella said. Despite the backlash he sometimes faced, Palm’s son Matt said that his father was undeterred and stuck to his convictions. “He said it a lot; `If you’re taking fire, you’re probably over the target.’ It didn’t seem to ever affect him all
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that much, because he knew where he stood. He had an old school philosophy of what was right and what was wrong,” Matt said. Matt and Dave worked together at Hackberry Hill Communications, an IT firm the two started which drew upon Dave’s vast knowledge of tech and computers. “Dave was a polarizing influence. He was a very intelligent guy, he knew tech inside and out and sometimes he used it for positive purposes, but sometimes he used his intelligence and skills for ways that weren’t so positive,” said Nancy Young, who knew Dave and worked with him through various organizations. Matt said that his father could be a warm presence once he took to someone. “He was a very passionate man, at home and in his public life. He took a while to warm up to people, but when he did, he would bend over backwards for pretty much anybody to help them out,” Matt said. Matt added that his father’s political action came from a place of wanting to give the citizens of Arvada more of a voice in city issues. “It seemed like city council and the mayor and those, they were acting more like they were elected to lead Arvada into their vision, and he felt like it should be more of a representative of `What do the citizens want? Let’s do that,’” Matt said. Services for Palm were held on Dec. 18 at Ridgeview Baptist Church.
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Arvada Press 11
December 23, 2021
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12 Arvada Press
LOCAL
December 23, 2021
VOICES Mayor Williams’ 2021 End of Year Letter
F
ellow Arvadans. About this time last year, we were taking stock of 2020, acknowledging the effects of COVID-19, appreciating the ways in which our community pulled together, and looking forward to a new, less challenging year. Unfortunately, 2021 was not the fresh start we had hoped for, as we continued to be tested by the pandemic and were confronted by unthinkable tragedy. However, true to form, we have rallied and strengthened. As this year comes to a close, I reflect on 2021 both with pride for our many accomplishments and in awe at the resilience of the Arvada community. Early in the year, COVID vaccines and decreasing transmission rates boosted our spirits. Then in June, a life-changing tragedy tested us in the form of the devastating loss of our beloved Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley and the courageous Good Samaritan Johnny Hurley, the result of unspeakable violence of an active shooter in Olde Town. Just one month later, we mourned the
loss of Parks Maintenance team member Joey Herrin, who was killed in a tragic accident. As a community and team, our hearts are heavy, and we are weary. And yet, 2021 has also been a time of extraordinary Marc Williams accomplishments. First, through community partnerships, including the Arvada Resiliency Taskforce, we continue our pandemic recovery efforts, which along with the City’s 10-year financial model and our thriving local business environment, have helped the City maintain a strong financial position. We have continued to be nimble as seen in the semipermanent street closures in Olde Town Arvada installed early during COVID, which have now resulted in the creation of an open-air pedestrian mall with outdoor seating, street murals and new landscaping.
GUEST COLUMN
Olde Town Arvada is more vibrant than ever! This past summer, after several years of community engagement and planning, we implemented an organized waste and recycling system in Arvada. While not without challenges, the system is working and on its way to meeting the objectives set forth by the community and City Council. Additionally, we moved important infrastructure projects forward, completing Phase 1 and beginning voter-approved Phase 2 of Ralston Road and beginning the first stages of W. 72nd Avenue. These projects pave the way for solutions to traffic congestion along Arvada’s major east-west corridors. Under extremely challenging conditions and with increased calls for service in 2021, our Police Department continued to provide residents with the highest level of public safety. The team continues to invest in public engagement and transparency, and has persevered through staffing challenges to maintain a highly-trained and dedicated team.
We also made strides in our customer service delivery goals, launching a greatly improved Ask Arvada that makes it easier to request a City service or ask a question online, from a computer or mobile device. Lastly, we are pleased to partner with Jeffco Public Schools and Apex Park and Recreation on the Meyers Pool project, a community amenity for four decades, to be rebuilt in its current location. We are proud of all of these accomplishments and many others from 2021, and celebrate them enthusiastically, even as we know that Arvada continues to heal and recover. We look ahead to 2022 with unwavering commitment and renewed strength as we continue to make Arvada a better and more resilient community. On behalf of the Arvada City Council and the entire City team, happy holidays to you and your family, and best wishes for the new year. Sincerely, Marc Williams Mayor, City of Arvada
What is it about Christmas season?
I
s it the lights, and the decorations? Or maybe the music? How about family traditions and get-togethers? Oh, and don’t forget about the food, especially the baked goods—is that what it is? What is it about the Christmas season that brings about that little change in everybody’s perspective that makes us all, as Bill Murray says, “the people we always hoped we would be”? I know part of what it is, certainly, for people of my Faith tradition: we commemorate the miracle birth of a child sent to Earth expressly to die to pay the price for our screw-ups. That probably should be the main part of it, but, let’s be real, Christmas is no longer strictly, or even primarily, a religious holiday. I have friends of every faith tradition who celebrate the season, and exchange gifts on Dec. 25. Like many parts of modern life, Christmas straddles the religious and the secular worlds. And, as such, it really is a thing that has a unique power to weave itself into the fabric of all our lives and stitch us together. I promise you,
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even a lot of charity work at this time of year is initiated by people from every faith, even the ones who claim not to have a faith. So, what is it? What gives Christmas this power? For children, it Michael Alcorn is no doubt the anticipation of what might be coming next—the unknown. I am, sadly, a little past that stage of life where the children can’t fall asleep and wake up way too early and can’t hold still for the excitement, but I remember it. Christmas through the eyes of a child is a time of simple joy, and the fact that they don’t *know* what’s coming is immaterial; in fact, once they get to the age where they send you the Amazon page for what they want, there is no such joy. There is no wonder. For viewers of the Hallmark Channel, Christmas time represent a special opportunity, where that mood that infects all of us supposedly makes it easier to find
HITTING HOME
that greatest gift of all: love. Not to mention, I suppose, all the parties and the…um….liquid socialinteraction-grease that seems to flow a little easier this time of year. It’s been many years since I was searching for that, but I seem to remember there was a different feel to the holiday season—it was hope, always wondering what comes next. In fact, I think that’s what best represents the season: Wonder. Whether in Faith, or kids’ presents, or in romance, this season runs thick with something that the modern age and our intelligentsia tells us to ignore. But maybe that’s what’s missing the rest of the year. For me, hearing Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, Karen Carpenter and Josh Groban on the radio remind me of the wonder of people who make music as naturally as they breathe. The lights fill the darkness with beauty, instead of just cold white light. Family reminds me of the wonder of all these odd collections of cells and DNA result in unique individuals who are inextricably tied together. But wonder doesn’t need to
end on Saturday, in the debris of wrapping paper and food comas. Greater Denver has a thriving community of live music to show off the wonders of great talent and dedication. There’s an interactive Van Gogh exhibit that, I’m told, is mind-boggling; and if that’s not your bag, Colorado’s own Hubble Telescope sends back unbelievable photos of the wonders of deep space on a regular basis. Believing in Redemption is available for anybody for the asking. And it’s never been easier than in this modern world to stay connected to the people who matter most. Maybe that’s the greatest gift of all: once a year, we all get a gentle reminder that Wonder is always in easy reach. “We just,” says B.M., “have to want it.” Michael Alcorn is a former teacher and current writer who lives in Arvada with his wife and three children. His new novel, “Valkyrie’s Kiss,” a finalist in the ScreenCraft Book Competition, is available now at mjalcorn@ comcast.net. His opinions are not necessarily those of Colorado Com-
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Arvada Press 13
December 23, 2021
Christmas and community W
as it the Christmas Spirit and the power of nature converging for a higher purpose? When I drove to church this morning the clouds over the mountains above Boulder looked strange — gray, yellow and foreboding. It was just days after the deadly tornado in Kentucky.Were we getting a tornado here in Colorado? At church, I parked and went inside for Mass. Within moments high winds blasted the church, rattling the windows. It began to pour. I brought up the daily readings on my cell phone. A text interrupted my reading from a neighbor.“Your recycling can got knocked over and there’s paper all over the neighborhood.” Yikes. My heart beat faster. I worried that the mess plus possible personal information could be found by neighbors. I couldn’t leave Mass because I was serving in a role, and was being counted on. I called my husband but he didn’t
WIT AND GRIT
Mary McFerren
answer either our house phone or his cell. What to do? Let go and let God? Did Jesus, whose birthday we were about to celebrate, care about private papers being blown around? Supposedly He cares about everything, but probably thought this particular thing
could wait. The rain pelted my windshield as I drove home. Our good neighbors to the north had picked up a lot of our recycling. God bless them. I felt so grateful. Then I spotted more papers strewn on the south side of our house and what for miles. A neighbor from the south side of our house came out seeing that her garbage can had blown over too.We both started grabbing handfuls of wet papers which
were scattered for acres, until they were all picked up. With both of us picking up our papers which were all spilled from the wind and soaked from the rain, it did feel like we had something in common, more than we ever had before. We joked about the mess as the wind walloped us, knocking us around. You might wonder why I wasn’t worried about my husband not answering his phone? After his stroke in May, he often doesn’t hear his new phone ring. The volume gets turned down without him knowing it. And since he meditates in the morning, he doesn’t want to answer the phone. Even though he has done a terrific job recovering from the stroke, the phone problem can be irksome like it was that day. But on the bright side, before I left Mass that day a friend told me amidst the rain and wind she’d seen a double rainbow. She also said she had been praying for a relative
W
ration from friends or family, illness or death of a loved one and lack of access to transportation. Luckily, there are steps we can take to help combat the loneliness epidemic. All humans need social connection and interaction as part of their survival. But often as adults age, they begin to spend more time alone making them more vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. Engaging in activities that are meaningful can boost mood and give people a sense of purpose. In addition to living longer, research demonstrates that productive people seem to improve cognitive function and are better able to maintain their well-being. Some tips for staying connected include: • Learn something new – sign up for a class in your community •Reignite your passions with something you love — begin an old hobby • Explore volunteer opportunities with your local community that allow you to help others • Make sure you stay connected with your friends and family inperson or through phone calls, email, video chats or social media • Stay physically active and consider group exercise, such a walking club or working out with a friend • Find a faith-based or spiritual organization where you can engage with others in a meaningful way • If you are able, adopt a pet. Animals can be a source of comfort and may also lower blood pressure and reduce stress. By employing some of these tips, we can do our part to help combat loneliness and support the social and emotional needs of the older adults we care about this holiday season. Dr. Todd Wisser is an Internal Medicine Physician with New West Physicians, part of Optum.
Mary McFerren grew up in Golden on the north side of South Table Mountain. She is the author of the memoir You Fall Off, You Get Back On. Contact her at www.marystobie. com or mry_jeanne@yahoo.com.
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Isolation and loneliness carry health risks for older Americans e’re heading into the holiday season, which is often embraced as a time to get together with friends and family to celebrate GUEST traditional holidays. However, what can COLUMN be a joyous time for some, may be difficult for older adults who are more vulnerable to social isolation and loneliness. Particularly during the holiday season. In fact, Dr. Todd Wisser a recent report showed that nearly one-fourth of adults aged 65 and older are socially isolated. Loneliness and social isolation are serious health risks, particularly to at-risk individuals, such as older adults. A substantial body of evidence demonstrates that social isolation presents a major risk for premature mortality, comparable to other risk factors such as high blood pressure, smoking or obesity. In addition, poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) were associated with a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease and a 32 percent increased risk of stroke. Perhaps most concerning is the fact that a person’s risk of premature death from all causes is significantly increased by social isolation, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity and physical inactivity. As a general demographic, seniors can be more at risk for social isolation and loneliness. There are many tell-tale signs that you or someone you know is at risk for experiencing loneliness or social isolation. Risk factors can include but are not limited to disability or lack of mobility, worsening vision or hearing problems, sepa-
of mine. I had noticed a positive change in that relative! The little miracles of Christmas. Later at Whole Foods where I went to buy flowers for the neighbor who called and picked up my garbage, I told part of this story, to the man working in produce as we talked about the wind. I told him I was buying flowers for my neighbor and why. “That’s what community is all about, how you build community,” he said. “Oh you’re right. Have a Merry Christmas” I said to him. “Thanks for sharing. You have Merry Christmas, too.” And to all my readers, Have a Merry Christmas.
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LOCAL
December 23, 2021
LIFE
Why some people take ‘digital detoxes’ and what mental health experts have to say BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
F
or weeks, Jordan Novinger debated breaking up with Twitter. In the span of a couple months, the Castle Rock resident had gained a following of several thousand. She spent hours talking with people online. Although she made new friends in the process, the 21-year-old also felt pressured to stay engaged. At work, Novinger tried to resist a persistent temptation to check her accounts. Physically, Novinger was present, she said. Mentally, she was not. Her iPhone’s screen time report showed on some days Novinger spent up to four hours on Twitter. In early December, Novinger cut the cord. She deleted Twitter. She took a break from Instagram too, which she steps away from periodically. Since then, Novinger works more. She feels more productive. She is more inclined to pick up the phone and have a conversation with someone. She can’t leave Instagram permanently because she uses the site for work, but she hopes she’s made “a clean break” from Twitter. “It was such an addiction,” she said.
Taking the plunge Several people in the Denver metro area who have taken short-term “digital detoxes” or left a platform forever all described social media with the same word: Toxic. They offered up a laundry list of reasons why. Screen addiction. Never feeling present. Rampant misinformation. Political fights. Hateful comment sections. The comparison game. Misleading highlight reels. The pressure to curate one’s life instead of simply live it. Eventually, they all hit a breaking point. The concept of undergoing a “digital detox” is increasing in popularity, according to a 2020 study published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science that looked at the practice’s impact on well-being. And while a whopping share of the population still uses social media — about 72% of all Americans do, according to the Pew Research Center — growth on numerous sites is slowing or stagnant. The number of people on social media has remained relatively stable over the past five years, Pew’s Social Media Use in 2021 report says. Growth on platforms including Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat has remained statistically unchanged since 2019. “This represents a broader trend that extends
beyond the past two years in which the rapid adoption of most of these sites and apps seen in the last decade has slowed,” Pew’s report states. Reddit and YouTube are exceptions. Pew surveys found YouTube is the nation’s most-used social media platform and has shown a marked increase in growth since 2019. Facebook and Instagram are the next most popular sites. Pew’s study acknowledges “a string of controversies” facing social media sites — like their management of misinformation or privacy concerns — and “the public’s relatively negative sentiments” about some parts of social media. Pew surveying found 64% of American believe social media has “a mostly negative effect on the way things are going in the country today.” At least one mental health expert said while much other public scrutiny rightfully focuses on social media’s effects for young people, she’d like to see more research and attention on its ramifications across age demographics. “It’s not just about kids,” Diane Thompson said, a psychiatrist with Centura Health. The individuals who spoke to Colorado Community Media about departing social media ranged in age from 21 to 37. All said they were glad they left. Each emphatically encouraged others to give it a try. “I would love for people to get off of social media. I think it’s just draining, and it can be so negative and toxic,” Novinger said. “While it can be good, I think most of the it’s not used for good.” Taking the plunge Evergreen couple Jace and Taylor Jackson, both 30, recently completed a six-week detox from Instagram and have significantly scaled back their use of other platforms. “I am shocked by how I have really broken the addictive, gotta click the button and check it,” Taylor said. Social media became a routine part of their lives after their introduction to Myspace as high school and college students. In time, they joined several platforms. Jace said he’s known for a while that social media had become “a toxic presence in my life.” “I want to rule social media. I don’t want it to rule me, and I think as soon as it crosses that line, I need to take matters into my own hands,” Jace said. A book called The Comfort Crisis about inspired him to reconnect with the real world. Jace and Taylor, avid outdoors explorers, also noticed they felt better after backpacking trips during which they rarely checked their phones. So the duo made a plan to stay off Instagram for a month. Then they enjoyed leaving so much they extended the break another two weeks. During that time, the couple crushed books, Jace said. They bought “an old-fashioned alarm clock” and charged their phones in the kitchen instead of their bedroom, avoiding the urge to scroll at night. The Jacksons slept better, they found. By day, Taylor stopped filling every free moment with a screen. Another habit they broke by detoxing — incessantly taking photos. The couple recently got dressed up and attended a holiday party without taking a single picture, they said. Taylor’s main goal during her detox was to be more present. She also doesn’t like the comparison game
people can get trapped in on social media, particularly when feeds are often carefully curated highlight reels of someone’s life, she said. “I think creating your own reel can steal the joy of what you’re trying to capture,” Taylor said. “You’re constantly trying to frame your life in a certain way.” She’s not alone in that thinking. Comparing her life to virtual realities drove Alex Williams, 23, to leave Instagram as well, although she hopes it’s a permanent move for her. Williams deleted the app after graduating high school. She went from checking it daily, then weekly, to about once a month before ditching the site altogether. Williams needed to protect her wellbeing, she said. “The hardest thing for my mental health was all of the diet culture that’s pushed, especially on Instagram,” she said. “It just painted such a fake version of reality that I figured out, first of all, I could never achieve, and second of all, never wanted to.” After leaving the platform, the negative feelings she experienced when using Instagram completely evaporated, she said. She checks Reddit every so often and finds dog videos on TikTok amusing. Most of her social media consumption has shifted to YouTube. She listens to podcasts or watches cooking videos. Williams prefers that content because recipes are something she can recreate in her other free time, and cooking makes her happy. She considers returning to Instagram every few months. Williams could try setting up healthy boundaries for herself, she said, but she hasn’t caved yet. “I don’t see myself doing it,” she said. Jeremy Myles said he too is done with one site forever. Myles set up his Facebook profile in 2009. Ten years later, he was done. The 37-year-old got rid of Facebook partly out of concerns with data privacy, but also because of “the toxicity” and “how much hate was being spewed online.” Time after time, he said, he SEE BREAK UP, P15
Jordan Novinger left Twitter after noticing the platform contributed to screen addiction, she said. Novinger said she could spend up to four hours a day on COURTESY PHOTO the site.
Arvada Press 15
December 23, 2021
BREAK UP FROM PAGE 14
became frustrated seeing Facebook friends share misinformation, or watching loved ones get into online political squabbles. If he joined the spats, Myles never felt better. “Every one of those arguments was with somebody who I loved or respected,” he said. “I didn’t want to contribute to it anymore.” Myles said he also noticed some of his friends and family, many in the Boomer generation, routinely got sucked into comment sections. Over time they seemed to grow generally angrier and more frustrated people. “It’s sad to watch,” he said. He encourages his parents to avoid the comments, where “people can be so hateful and angry,” he said. If he wants to hold a serious conversation with someone in his life, he tries to do that in-person, rather than from behind a keyboard. He keeps ups with news on Twitter and is more inclined to engage on that platform but aims to do so sparingly, he said. In the future, Myles might consider using Facebook for business purposes. “I am absolutely from a personal perspective not going to return to Facebook,” he said. Expert insight Mental health and media professionals said there is limited research available about psychological benefits of leaving social media. The study that examined digital detoxes’ effect on wellness said while commentators have advocated for social media breaks, “little work has examined the effectiveness of taking time off of social media.” The study did not find a measurable positive effect on wellbeing from digital detoxing, it said, but acknowledged limitations around its data. The experiment comprised three field groups — 248 people in the U.K., 199 in the U.S. and 203 in the Hong Kong. Some spent one day abstaining from social media while a subgroup participated for two days, comparing a social-media free day to a day of normal use. They then rated their satisfaction with their day, the feeling of social connectedness, and its positive and negative effects on them. People reported feeling less connection or relatedness while staying off social
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media, the study said, and no difference in their well-being by abstaining from their socials. The study recruited a smaller number of participants than it wanted and could not say confidently people were truthful about whether they stayed off platforms. About half of people said it was difficult to give up social media for the day. That was in fact one reason for the shortness of the study. “The time scope of these experiments was necessarily narrow as we were concerned about participant compliance and retention. The shortterm effects observed in our studies might not generalize to longer periods of social media abstinence,” the study states. Despite the slowdown, social media use did climb some during the pandemic, Lynn Schofield Clark said. Clark chairs the University of Denver’s department of media, film and journalism studies. That was likely for pragmatic reasons, she said, like work-related tasks and the need to stay connected. “I think that the urge to take time away from social media has to be understood in relation to the generalized feeling of exhaustion we all have due to heightened stress,” Clark said. People use social media to keep up with those who matter to them, “and connection is protective against mental stress and mental illness,” Clark said. In addition to pointing to the study published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science, Clark added that some people are leaving social media — namely Facebook and Instagram — for reasons other than wellness. That might be their desire for heightened regulations or concerns with privacy violations. “It’s too early to see whether or not this is a trend that will have an effect on these and other companies, but Jack Dorsey’s departure from Twitter is interesting in this regard,” Clark said. Thompson, the Centura Health psychiatrist, said social media isn’t all bad if people can master limiting their exposure to toxic content or people and maximize how it makes them feel connected. “There are times where social media can be a great way to connect,” Thompson said. She’s still an advocate for breaking away from social media when needed. Thompson has said her clients sometimes come in overwhelmed by comments they receive or see on
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Jace an Taylor Jackson live in Evergreen and recently completed a six-week digital COURTESY PHOTO detox from Instagram.
social media. Occasionally, she has written a prescription for her client to stay off whatever platform is bothering them. She says it works. “There is a discernable difference between the last time I saw them and how they were feeling,” she said. Social media addictions or too much screen time can be taxing on mental health — the content people absorb might be depressing, or spur anxiety and irritability — but it also impacts physical health, Thompson said. Hours spent on a person’s phone could be spent talking a walk, exercising or being physically active. She suspects people are turning to social media to destress while weathering the tumultuous climate of 2020 and 2021. She urged people to have compassion for themselves while they cope, but to also take a hard look at whether the content they consume on social media is actually helping them unwind or further fostering anxiety. Kendra Miguez founded a therapy center for women focused on helping them build self-esteem and improve their mental health. Their five locations include Denver and Broomfield. “We deal with issues all the time with social media, and a lot of some of the unhealthier aspects of it and how it affects mental health and selfesteem,” she said. “Particularly with the millennial generation and the generation in the teens coming up.” The average person spends two
hours a day on social media, she said, and that’s not counting other time spent on the internet. Taking a detox or slowing down social media use makes room for “healthier, more productive activities.” The platforms can perpetuate unattainable body images or glamorous lifestyles “that can make people feel as if their lives are less worthy.” “Another con is that it’s very addictive. It definitely can light up the same parts of the brain that get lighted with an addictive substance,” she said. “There’s an intense stimulation for the reward system.” It doesn’t always matter whether a person’s engagement on social media is positive or negative, she said. Addiction can creep in either way. “We start to chase the dopamine and you’ll get the dopamine rush when you get a like, and there’s even more when you get a comment,” she said. Miguez echoed Thompson — social media does have its benefits. The platforms can be integral to people’s professional lives and help them stay connected with distant friends, like old high school classmates. Miguez’s advice is to develop selfawareness. She encourages people to be mindful of how social media makes them feel. That includes taking note of how whether relationships or interactions with people online are genuine or superficial. “We’re not really getting our needs met, even though it might feel that way. It’s an illusion. We’re running from our loneliness,” she said.
16 Arvada Press
LOCAL
December 23, 2021
SPORTS
Ralston Valley locks down Mountain Range BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Ralston Valley freshman Tanner Braketa, 10, is fouled by Mountain Range junior Joel Sotelo while driving the lane in the first half Dec. 16 at Ralston Valley High School. Braketa scored 17 points in the Mustangs’ 78-41 victory to advance to the championPHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS ship game of the Ralston Roundup.
ARVADA — Ralston Valley’s boys basketball team got the chance to attempt to win the Ralston Roundup Tournament for the sixth time Dec. 17, after press deadline. “The two years before COVID we won it,” Ralston Valley senior Zach Akin said of the Ralston Roundup that is in its 14th year. “We are trying to hit the three-peat. We are looking forward to tomorrow.” The Mustangs scored a runaway victory Dec. 16 against the Mountain Range Mustangs in the first championship semifinal at Ralston Valley High School. Ralston Valley defeated Mountain Range 78-41 to advance to the tournament title game scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at Ralston Valley High School. Ralston Valley (5-3 record) faces Doherty (6-1) in the championship game in the annual tournament, which wasn’t played last year because of COVID. “It’s nice to have three Jeffco teams (Columbine, Pomona and Ralston Valley) in it and a team from Colorado Springs,” Ralston Valley coach Chris Braketa said. “It’s a fun tournament and good for the community. We had some business sponsors who reached out to support the tournament.” Ralston Valley extended its winning streak to four games with the win over Mountain Range on
Thursday night. The Mustangs actually trailed Mountain Range 21-20 after the first quarter. Mountain Range hit five 3-pointers in the opening eight minutes. “We definitely thought we were a better defense team then what we showed in the first quarter,” Akin said about the Mustangs giving up 21 points in the first quarter. “The second half was definitely better.” Mountain Range was held to just 20 points through the final three quarters, including scoring just four points in the fourth quarter. “That is our emphasis — defense,” Coach Braketa said. “Get up and pressure. We are small so we can’t bang with teams. We need to pressure teams.” Ralston Valley will also put pressure on teams with its outside shooting ability. The Mustangs drained nine 3-pointers against Mountain Range. Akin and freshman Tanner Braketa led the way with a trio of 3-pointers each. “Probably our strongest suit is we can shoot the ball,” Akin said. “Coming out of halftime hitting a few shots is big for us. It gets us going for sure.” Ralston Valley went on a handful of 7-0 and 8-0 runs to extend the lead in the second and third quarters. Tanner Braketa — Coach Braketa’s son — continued to fill up the scoresheet with a gamehigh 17 points. SEE BASKETBALL, P17
Columbine defeats Pomona at Ralston Roundup Tournament BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
ARVADA — Columbine nearly trailed by doubledigits early against Pomona on Thursday, Dec. 16, during a consolation semifinal at the Ralston Roundup at Ralston Valley High School. However, the Rebels rallied behind a strong defensive effort in the second and third quarters to pull out a 64-44 non-league victory in boys basketball action. “This is on the job training,” Columbine coach Randy Perkins said of his fairly young squad. “Any game we get gives us the varsity experience regardless of who it is against.” Columbine (3-3 record) got a preview against a Class 5A Jeffco League team in Pomona (2-4). The Rebels and Panthers will see each other again during conference play Feb. 2. Perkins wasn’t concerned playing a league foe at the tournament. He is mainly focused on getting that experience while dealing
with some injuries too. “My guys are young. Regardless of who we play we are just going to take them as they come,” Perkins said. “I’ve got three guys out with injuries right now. It doesn’t matter if it is in conference or out of conference.” Pomona got off to a good start behind senior Owen Wright, who poured in 10 points in the first quarter. The Panthers led 13-5 late in the first quarter. Wright finished with a gamehigh 20 points, but Pomona scored just 12 points through the second and third quarters. Columbine had a comfortable 46-27 lead heading into the final quarter. Junior Tyler Casey led the way for the Rebels scoring 19 points, including 9 points in the third quarter as the Rebels began to pull away. “I had a tough first half,” Casey admitted. “I had to pick it up in the second half. That is what it came down to.” Junior Ty Afraimi (13 points) and senior Davian Bryant (11 points) also
reached double-digits to get Columbine back to a .500 record on the season. “We are 2-3 (record). We knew we had to pick it up this game and make sure we win the next game,” Casey said of the Rebels plan before heading into winter break. Columbine finishes out the Ralston Roundup in the 5th-place game playing Palmer on Dec. 17 back at Ralston Valley High School, after press deadline. “This team has showed glimpses of how good it can be,” Perkins said. “What I am trying to get them to do is put together four quarters. Game aren’t won in just one quarter.” After getting out to a 2-0 start, Pomona has lost four straight. The Panthers will try to end the losing streak when it faces Hinkley on Dec. 17, after press deadline, at Ralston Valley High School. Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.
Pomona senior Dominick Nichols, 2, is fouled by Columbine junior Tyler Casey during the first quarter Dec. 16 at the Ralston Roundup Tournament. The Panthers took an early first-quarter lead, but eventually lost 64-44 against their Class 5A Jeffco League rival. PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Arvada Press 17
December 23, 2021
C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E
Mountain Range senior Fnan Yonas, 23, goes up for a shot between Ralston Valley senior Zach Friedman, 0, and sophomore Mason Trebilcock, 14, during the semifinal of the Ralston Roundup Tournament on Dec. 16 at Ralston Valley High School. The home PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS team Mustangs won 78-41.
FROM PAGE 16
The freshman guard is averaging 17 points per game while already making 21 3-pointers through eight games. “He is working hard,” Coach Braketa said of his son. “He is trusting his teammates and working his butt off. This is a good group. A pretty close knit group.” Akin is right behind Braketa in scoring. Senior Zach Friedman — three-sport athlete — is nearly averaging a double-double in
Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.
Answers
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BASKETBALL
points and rebounds despite being 6-foot-1. Ralston Valley had good balance with senior Beau Wilken (9 points), junior Jason Thome (10 points) and sophomore Logan Madden (8 points) doing their share to keep the winning streak alive. “Everyone is more excited to go to practice. There is more energy in practice coming off the wins,” Akin said. “Feeling good going into the league season after break.”
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Arvada Press 23
December 23, 2021
The Power of Horses lives at History Colorado
O
ne of the first things a visitor to Denver sees as they leave the airport is the infamous Blue Mustang sculpture. Football fans cheer for the Denver Broncos and plenty of students go to schools where they root for the mustangs. Even if we don’t have the same relationship with horses that we did back when Colorado was a young state, the animals still capture our hearts and imagination. And History Colorado’s latest exhibit explores the roles - both past and present horses play all over the state. “We were really looking at how horses have shaped Colorado history across time and how people still engage with them today,” said Julie Peterson, public historian and exhibit designer. “The exhibit spans a broad history, starting way back in ancient times to the horses of today. We get to explore things like the modern therapeutic workhorses do with people.” The Power of Horses runs at the History Colorado Center, 1200 Broadway in Denver, through May 9. The new exhibit, which fills the Ballantine Gallery, Anschutz Hamilton Hall and the Makerspace, is included in general admission at no extra charge. According to Peterson, the stories showcased in The Power of Horses are drawn from stories shared by community organizations and individuals from across the state, covering everything from horses as working animals, transporta-
tion, symbols and sources of entertainment. Among the historic items visitors can check out are a traditional charro suit, a Ute saddlebag and memorabilia from a National Western Stock Show from 1919. “We also wanted Clarke Reader to showcase the stories of Black and Hispanic cowboys as well,” Peterson said. “We have some photos and more from the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo that are really fantastic.” Delving into the cultural and contemporary, the exhibit delves into the Colorado connections to the aforementioned Blue Mustang and the Broncos’ Bucky. And then there are national characters like the Budweiser Clydesdales, My Little Pony, “Parks and Recreation’s” Li’l Sebastian and more. “One of the things we thought about was the question of what would we lose in a world without horses? They are so powerful and shaped our culture so much, especially in the west. We would have a different culture without horses,” Peterson said. “The hope is people, even if they don’t already love horses, can find something they connect with and connect us all as Coloradoans.” For information and tickets, visit historycolorado.org/horses.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Get an up-close view of `Y/OUR Denver’ architecture The winners of the 4th annual Doors Open Denver Photography Competition, “Y/OUR Denver,” highlight the skill it requires to capture the unique design of the city’s architecture — and the public can see the works online through Monday, Feb. 28. According to provided information, from Sept. 23 through Oct. 28, participating photographers were invited to find and photograph their favorite areas of Denver, focusing on Denver’s vast and unique architecture. The winners — Alan Ford, Joshua Palmeri, Nancy Bratton and Risa Friedman — were selected out of 216 entries and their work will be highlighted among 26 other finalist images for the online exhibition. Check out the photographs at https://denverarchitecture.org/your-denver-online-photographyexhibit-2021/. Spend an afternoon at the ARTcade Arcade games aren’t really made the way they used to be anymore, but you’d be hard-pressed to ever find games like the ones on display at the ARTcade exhibit. On display at Under Study, 890 C 14th St. in Denver, the exhibit highlights games that were designed or customized by artists, including pinball tables, claw machines, gashapon-style vending machines, a coin pusher and more, according to provided information. Even the prizes were created by artists and
included enamel pins, coloring books, miniature paintings, jewelry, tea towels, art prints, small sculptures and more. The gallery is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Get all the details at https://understudydenver.com/portfolio/artcade/.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — My Morning Jacket at the Mission Ballroom Going to a concert for Near Year’s Eve is a great way to celebrate the beginning of a new year without all the pressures of going to a New Year’s party. And Kentucky’s My Morning Jacket have you covered whether you want to rock out on the actual evening or in the nights leading up to it. The group is performing at the Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver, on Wednesday, Dec. 29 through Friday, Dec. 31. The group will be joined by a different opener each night — first Neal Francis, then Flock of Dimes and finally Shannon and The Clams — which means each performance will be a special treat. And when you add My Morning Jacket’s epic catalog of country-tinged psychedelic rock, you really can’t go wrong. It doesn’t hurt that lead singer Jim James has, to my ear at least, one of the best voices in modern music. Get tickets to one or all of these shows at www.missionballroom. com/upcoming-events/. Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
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24 Arvada Press
December 23, 2021
Make a gift to local news this season The importance of local journalism cannot be overstated — it’s what keeps our community informed and connected, day after day, and is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. That’s why we’re excited to be one of 26 Colorado newsrooms joining forces to amplify the impact of local journalism — not just in our newsroom, but in communities across our state — thanks to the generosity of the Colorado Media Project and their matching gift campaign. From Nov. 30 until Dec. 31, readers’ contributions will be matched up to $1,000, for a total of $5,000 in funds for Colorado Community Media. It’s a unique way to make your gift go twice as far. Linda Shapley Publisher
Thank you for your continued support for our journalists and for supporting the businesses that advertise with us. A local newspaper keeps a local community strong, and we’re proud to perform this service. With gratitude, Linda Shapley, publisher To contribute online:
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