Arvada Press 050522

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Week of May 5, 2022

JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

A publication of

INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 24

VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 46

Doug Roche Trio returns to Arvada after ‘Jazz at the Creek’ shuttered

Olde Town Station retail development bringing more dining options to Arvada Perry’s Pizza, Smashburger, Snooze and Cava announced as tenants, final space slated for additional ‘food service’ STAFF REPORT

Local musician and music fan Warren Rubin approached Roche about the prospect of playing at La Dolce Vita, seeking to fill what he felt was an absence of jazz in Olde Town.

“The minster about eight or nine years ago suggested we do a concert once a month. My drummer was in the church band, so we brough in our bass player and did Jazz at the Creek, since the church was near a creek. Apparently, Warren is one of our fans, he talked to us about doing a show at La Dolce Vita since there

Trammell Crow, the owner and developer of the Olde Town Station development — a multiuse development that includes residential housing, a hotel and retail space — has unveiled the four of the five retail tenants that will occupy the space.

Perry’s Pizza, Smashburger, Snooze and Cava will have locations at the development, located at 56th Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard and set to open in Q1 of 2023. Bill Mosher, Trammell Crow’s Denver Senior Managing Director, said that the company has signed a Letter of Intent with another food service company for the development’s 5th and final retail space.

Mosher said he was surprised that all of the retail spaces are going to be food service and added that he felt it will benefit residents and hotel guests alike.

“Somewhat surprisingly to us, putting this together during

SEE TRIO, P3

SEE OLDE TOWN, P4

The Doug Roche Trio playing at La Dolce Vita in Arvada. From left: Jill Fredericksen, Ron Bland, Doug Roche.

‘Music of Richard Rogers’ set at La Dolce Vita brings legendary pianist back to Arvada; potential series discussed

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The acclaimed Doug Roche Trio returned to Arvada for the first time

in two years on April 26, performing the music of Richard Rogers in an intimate set at La Dolce Vita in Olde Town. The event was attended by 30 people and marked the first time Roche has played in Arvada since the closure of Living Water Unity Church, which used to host Roche’s Jazz at the Creek series.

Jazz at the Creek was a popular monthly series that began almost a decade ago and featured intimate, living room style jam sessions with Roche and his trio. The church closed shortly before the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, and Jazz at the Creek went by the wayside with it.

COURTESY OF DEBBIE HANSEN

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May 5, 2022

Excel Academy students film informative sign language video about Olde Town Arvada ASL students at the Arvada charter school made videos on historic district’s events, commerce, history

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Seventh and 8th graders in Tracy Puckett’s American Sign Language class went on a special field trip to Olde Town Arvada April 27 to film informative videos about the historic district in sign language.

The students from Excel Academy in Arvada have been learning ASL throughout the school year and wanted to perform a public service for the city’s deaf community, according to Puckett.

“A lot of it is not just practice — they’re doing an investigation into the city and where they live, they’re not just learning different signs, they’re learning things that are relevant to them and to the community, but they’re also adding a public service,” Puckett said.

The students were broken up into three groups, covering three sectors of Olde Town; it’s commerce, events and history. From there, the students will edit their footage into a short film.

“We’re going to have three groups; they’re going to sign all of this as an introduction to Olde Town Arvada for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Ultimately, they’re going to turn that into a short film,” Puckett said.

Luke Mentry, a 7th grader at Excel, said that he enjoyed working on a project for the city’s deaf community and learning more about Olde Town.

“We’re doing this project on ASL because we did a first project on our school in ASL that helped us practice. We decided to do this because it’s fun to explore Olde Town and learn more

The seventh and eighth grade American Sign Language class at Excel Academy Charter School in Arvada.

about it,” Mentry said.

Katie Tibbles, also an Excel 7th grader, said she liked working on a project that could be beneficial for the deaf community.

“We did this project because we thought it’d be cool for the community if they could interact with the deaf community more and it was a great learning process for us. We’re trying to do projects that are more interactive for us and bring them into the deaf community,” Tibbles said.

Puckett said that while she was unsure where the students would share the finished video, she hoped to share it with the City of Arvada. Puckett also echoed her student’s enthusiasm about performing a public service for the deaf community.

“They’re really interested in the deaf community, it’s really important to them that they honor that community and that they’re able to create some public service for that purpose,” Puckett said.

PHOTOS BY RYLEE DUNN

Students film an ASL introduction to Olde Town along Olde Wadsworth.

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May 5, 2022

TRIO FROM PAGE 1

doesn’t seem to be much jazz down there,” Roche said.

Rubin said he was pleased with how the event went and added that he was hopeful about the prospect of making Olde Town into more of a music destination.

“It was glorious. The music was glorious, the turnout was excellent. I just want to see musicians come to Olde Town and I want to see them paid for their trouble. I think we were successful,” Rubin said.

Roche played with longtime bassist Ron Bland and drummer Jill Fredericksen, who he’s been playing with for over 20 years.

The trio played the music of

Richard Rogers and conversed with the audience between songs, much like the Jazz at the Creek shows.

Roche said the band wanted to play Rogers because of the timelessness of the songs.

“The reason some of these tunes have hung on for a hundred years now is the harmonies and the melodies are beautiful. It allows a jazz musician to have a nice template to improvise over. They stood the test of time,” Roche said.

Roche added that he enjoys playing relaxed shows where he can engage in the audience and let them in on how the music making goes down.

“When it was called Jazz at the Creek, we would kind of make it like a living room concert in the sense that we would talk about

our approach to each tune in front of the audience, let them in on our process. I’ll talk about song form, what it is that we’re doing when we play jazz. People love that because all of a sudden, it gives them an understanding of where we’re coming from,” Roche said.

Rubin said that he hoped this show would begat future performances from Roche and musicians of his caliber, a prospect that both Roche and La Dolce Vita Owner Debbie Hansen were open to.

“What I would like to see is for this to be more than just a continuing feature at LDV, I’d like it to be a seed in Olde Town that shows we can support a music scene that supports musicians and rewards audiences,” Rubin said.

“Warren and I talked — he’s really helping us out for this first night. If it’s well supported, once a month might be a nice thing to do like we did before,” Roche said.

Hansen added that she supports the idea of doing an ongoing series and was happy to provide live music to folks in the community.

“I think that it’s very important that people who are fighting their demons or with families have a place to go listen to some great music. We’ll still have the free shows on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but we’d like to have some more intimate concerts too.

We’re working on making it a recurring event. Maybe doing a couple different events a month,” Hansen said.

“I’m happy to start up the Jazz at the Creek tradition again,” Roche said.

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Are Investors Snapping Up Homes, Squeezing Out Other Buyers? Yes, But Not MLS Listings.

Media reports have created the impression that “Wall Street” interests are dominating the purchase of homes for sale, squeezing out individual buyers and causing the low inventory of homes for sale. That’s not exactly true.

What’s happening is that those purchases are happening through an off-MLS process, with very few on-MLS listings, based on my own observation and experience, being purchased by those large investors.

In fact, I can’t think of even one transaction that involved a large entity purchasing one of Golden Real Estate’s listings. And they certainly did not hire us to buy another brokerage’s listing. All our listings have been purchased either by owner-occupants or by small investors — homeowners themselves, who may have a portfolio of rentable homes or condos.

If you’re a homeowner, you’ve likely received, as Rita and I have, many solicitations to sell your home without putting it on the MLS — a bad idea if you want to get the highest price for your home.

Also, brokers like me regularly receive emails and texts asking whether I have a “pre-MLS” listing that they or their client could buy “as is” before it’s put on the MLS. My standard reply to such solicitations is that I would never encourage a seller to sell their home without putting it on the MLS, because that’s a sure way to get less than their home is worth. I consider it my responsibility as their agent to get the highest possible price by exposing their home to the maximum number of buyers. That is not achieved by selling a home to an investor without putting it on the MLS.

Media “experts” and others continue to treat the low active inventory on the MLS as the result of reduced number of homes being entered on the MLS, including by off-MLS sales. In fact, the number of new listings this April was higher than both prior Aprils, but the number of active listings keeps declining because those new listings sell quickly.

Yes, some of those off-MLS sales might have ended up on the MLS if they had not been solicited, but I think mostly they are homes which the owners had not intended to sell before they got “an offer they couldn’t refuse.”

In researching this topic I found a March 31, 2022, article from The Washington Post which highlighted this very problem of big investors buying up homes and converting them to rentals.

Using data from Redfin, it reported on major spikes in such purchases from 2020 to 2021. The Denver market had less such activity than most other major markets, but still the percentage rose from 8.4% in 2020 to 12.4% for 2021.

Above right is a chart from The Post’s article, based on the Redfin data. Each of those thin lines represents a different metro area. I inserted a carrot symbol as each end of the line for transactions in the Denver metro area. What’s remarkable is that all but two of the metro areas show a spike in investor purchases in 2021. Those metro areas that didsn’t show a spike are New York City and adjoining Nassau & Suffolk Counties.

It’s hard to ignore that the pandemic must have played a role in that abrupt rise in purchases by big investors, de-

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fined in The Post’s article as entities with 100 or more purchases.

The article confirmed that these transactions typically originated from letters or postcards sent to homeowners offering an off-MLS purchase of their homes “as is.” It also showed that majority nonWhite suburbs experienced most of this activity, giving the process a racial tinge which I didn’t expect to see.

Here’s an excerpt from that March article: “In Charlotte and elsewhere, according to The Post’s analysis, investors have purchased a disproportionate num-

ber of homes in neighborhoods where a majority of residents are Black. Last year, 30 percent of home sales in majority Black neighborhoods across the nation were to investors, compared with 12 percent in other ZIP codes.” The article didn’t claim that the letters and postcards targeted such communities, only that most sales occurred there.

That may explain why we haven’t seen this phenomenon in Jefferson County, where there are few, if any, ZIP codes in which non-Whites are in the majority.

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May 5, 2022

OLDE TOWN FROM PAGE 1

COVID, we ended up with all food service, which we didn’t plan on.

It’ll be great for the residents across the street and hotel guests,” Mosher said.

Mosher also gave an update on construction, which began weeks ago.

“We started construction two-tothree weeks ago, pouring foundation. We’ll be done this year. We’re hopeful to be done by an October/ November timeframe. Tenant improvements will vary by tenant.

We’re looking at a first quarter next year opening,” Mosher said.

Maureen Phair, executive director of the Arvada Urban Renewal Authority, said that she felt the added dining options will be a good fit with existing Olde Town businesses.

“I think it’s a perfect complement to what’s happening in Olde Town.

It’s offering a new variety, new choices. It’s an opportunity to link the project with Olde Town, provide a destination, a reason for people to go back and forth. It further extends Olde Town,” Phair said.

Phair added that the popularity of chains like Snooze and Cava in Denver has the potential to bring more people to Arvada.

“I think it will bring new people to the area because they’re so popular.

It’s a great opportunity for people to enjoy these restaurants via the GLine. It provides really easy access to the restaurants,” Phair said.

Mosher said that the retail portion

The retail section of the Olde Town StaCOURTESY OF TRAMMELL CROW tion Development.

of the development – which will have 86 designated parking spots — shows the potential for commerce that the historic district has.

“I think it’s a total confirmation Large area map of Olde Town Arvada and Wadsworth corridor.

COURTESY PHOTO

SEE OLDE TOWN, P5

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Arvada Press 5

May 5, 2022

OLDE TOWN FROM PAGE 3

of how dynamic Olde Town and the Wadsworth corridor is. We’re

investing a lot of money — we were drawn there by Wadsworth as a state highway and Olde Town Arvada as a really cool historic district… everybody wants to be where everyone is.

It pushes the notion that Arvada’s a destination,” Mosher said.

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6 Arvada Press

May 5, 2022

Donations needed for orphans of Ukraine War Local women partner to deliver clothes, toys, hope to Poland border

BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY DGRIGSBY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Nataliya Zasadko and her friends are on a mission to help more than 600 children who the ongoing war in Ukraine has orphaned.

Except for her husband and child, Zasadko’s family remains in Ukraine.

Her mother, who is a university professor there, has become an unlikely but essential on-ground logistical coordinator for refugee orphans fleeing occupied cities.

Zasadko and her friend Tetiana Kolcheva have organized a campaign to collect items for children at an orphanage in western Ukraine and an adoption center in Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland.

She said donated items are being collected and placed into two large overseas shipping containers to make their way to those helping children.

The containers should arrive in Ukraine in early June.

There are two ways to donate for those who would like to help.

The easiest is to purchase needed items through Zasadkso’s Amazon Wish List.

Donors may also opt to purchase

Arvada resident Tetiana Kolcheva holds up items donated as part of an effort organized by her friend Nataliya Zasadko to help bring comfort and hope to children fleeing occupied cities in Ukraine.

the requested items locally and drop them off though Saturday, April 30, at Kolcheva’s business, Summit Cleaning, 7985 Vance Dr. Arvada, CO, 80003.

Zasadko said the simplest of items can often have the greatest impact.

Things like sunscreen, children’s baseball hats, eating utensils, unisex clothing, toothpaste toothbrushes, first aid kits, sealed packages of baby food, fruit snacks and over-thecounter medicine for allergies are needed most.

LED headlamps are especially helpful.

Nataliya Zasadko, pictured here with her 3-year-old son, is on a quest to help children in Ukraine fleeing occupied cities. With the help of her friend Tetiana Kolcheva, the two Jefferson County women are seeking donations of children’s items to ship to orphanages in western Ukraine and on the border of Poland. PHOTOS COURTESY LITTLE RAD ADVENTURE

“They are needed for the volunteers at night,” she said. “This way, they can have two hands to carry the children.”

To access the Amazon Wish List: https://www. amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/ EUTPJQ6KEXJH?ref_=wl_fv_le

Financial donations may be made through the website www.ukrainiansofcolorado.org. Please type “ORPHANS” in the comment section to help Zasadko’s specific cause.

To learn more about this local effort, contact Kolcheva at 303-8862251.

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Lawmakers pledge $100M for child care ment in ensuring we as a state rise to the occasion of helping families out, by allowing parents to work, by allowing single parents to return to the workforce,” said state Rep. Alex Valdez, a Denver Democrat who sponsored the bill.

“COVID-19 gutted our child care workforce and we need to rebuild it.”

The just-introduced bill comes at both a tenuous and momentous time for Colorado’s early childhood industry. Many child care provid-

ers are still reeling financially from the pandemic and struggling to find employees willing to work long hours for low wages.

At the same time, there’s a sense of excitement as Colorado plans a massive expansion of state-funded preschool with funding from proceeds of a nicotine tax approved by voters in 2020.

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ate more slots for young children.

During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, a group of lawmakers announced the legislation, which would be funded with federal COVID relief dollars.

The money would go toward several existing grant programs, including one to help child care providers with operational costs and another to help new providers open and existing providers expand. It would also create a new program to support and train people who care for young children but are not licensed by the state.

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May 5, 2022

Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival set to return to Olde Town Arvada after 2-year layoff Blue Guitar exhibit to make first trip to Colorado after Smithsonian stay; event set for Sept. 9-11

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The world’s only festival focusing on archtop guitars is returning to Arvada after a two-year COVID19-induced layoff, with the Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival set to come to Olde Town from Sept. 9-11.

Tickets range from $30-$150 and can be purchased online at archtopfestival.com.

The event is a showcase for archtop guitar-makers, also known as luthiers, and will include workshops, professional demos and live music.

An archtop is a hollow or semi-hollow steel string acoustic or acoustic/ electric guitar which rose to prominence in the jazz scene in the early 20th century and remains popular among jazz, blues and folk players.

This year’s event will feature the Blue Guitar exhibit, a collection of 22 blue archtops which was previously displayed at the Smithsonian and a screening of the film “The Chisels are Calling,” about guitar builder John Monteleone. Additionally, jazz guitarist Frank Vignola will bring his Big Jersey Guitar Camp to the festival for a four-day workshop open to all players.

The festival is organized by Arvada local Peter Henriksen, the president of Henriksen Amplifiers, which manufactures specialized guitar and bass amps. Henriksen said that the event started as a Facebook post asking if anyone wants to come to Colo. for an archtop-only guitar show.

“The response was so enthusiastic from people who build archtop

A band plays at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival.

guitars that I decided we needed to put on a real conference. Archtop builders themselves felt there was an outstanding need to have a show that focuses on the archtop guitar,” Henriksen said. “The first one was a huge success in 2019. Everyone had such a good time we decided we’d do it every year, then 2020 happened.

This is our second one, this will be an annual event.”

Henriksen explained that archtops differ from other guitars in how they’re built, and having a festival just for archtop luthiers provides an important forum to discuss the craft.

The Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival is the only archtop-only guitar show, according to Henriksen.

“Building an archtop is a lot different than building other types of guitars. There’s more carving, the guitars are under a higher tension, it’s a more complicated type of guitar to build and to build properly.

For archtop luthiers, it’s an important context because what they do is specifically more challenging and

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complicated than other types of guitars,” Henriksen said.

Benedetto Guitars, Maegen Wells Guitars and Mandolins, D’Ambrosio Guitars and Galloup Guitars are some of the luthiers that will be in attendance. Jimmy Bruno, Jim Nichols, Beth Marlis and Alicyn Yaffee are some of the professionals who will be playing shows and performing demos throughout the weekend.

Olde Town Pickin’ Parlor Owner Kit Simon said that the acoustic instrument shop will host shows and workshops throughout the weekend and will provide a green room for musicians and luthiers to decompress.

Simon said that since many of the luthiers attending the event make highly specialized, high priced instruments, it’s important for perspective buyers to hear the guitars before making a purchase.

“Part of this is about guitar makers coming and showing off their guitars and getting to know customers. When you’re selling guitars for

A professional demos an archtop at Silver Vines Winery at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival. PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

$10, $20, $30,000, it should be more about the sound. This is a way for (customers) to meet the luthier as well as see the build quality and hear the guitars,” Simon said.

Olde Town Business Improvement District Director Joe Hengstler praised the events uniqueness and offerings for guitar aficionados and music lovers alike.

“The Archtop Festival is by far one of the most unique events across the entire Front Range, and we are fortunate that they continue to choose Olde Town as their locale. This festival affords the community a chance to see some world-renowned musicians in their backyard for free,” Hengstler said.

Needless to say, we are thrilled to see the Archtop Fest return and hope to see this event continue to happen in Old Town for years to come,” Hengstler continued.

To find out more about the Rocky Mountain Archtop Festival, visit the festival’s website at archtopfestival. com.

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Skating around Denver with DUST Inline skating group offers group skates every Wednesday

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Luis Osorio has been inline skating for about 30 years.

He got interested in the sport when he was in his 20s living in New York, and through the years, he has built a community of skate friends who reside around the world.

When Osorio — now a resident of Commerce City — moved to Denver, he went into the Death and Glory Skate Shop to purchase a new pair of inline skates. While there, he inquired about local skate groups, and employees at the shop recommended he look into the Denver Urban Skate Troop.

And ever since then, “I’ve been skating with them every week,” Osorio said.

DUST forms The Denver Urban Skate Troop was founded by Sunnyside resident Rachel Norkin in June 2018. It started out as an informal gathering of about 12-15 people who got together to skate every Wednesday evening, Norkin said. Being one of its kind for inline skating in Denver — other major U.S. cities have robust skate groups — DUST quickly gained popularity through 2019, attracting people from across the Front Range who would come to Denver to skate.

Norkin, 42, a customer success manager for a Denver-based tech company, has been inline skating since she was a kid. She would mostly go to local skate parks — such as to execute tricks — but eventually noticed more and more people using inline skating as a form of fitness.

“Once you get comfortable with SEE SKATING, P11

Billy Arlew of LoDo practices some tricks before the Wednesday night Denver Urban Skate Troop skate on April 13 at City Park.

Edmond Harvey of the Ballpark neighborhood does some solo skating prior to joining the rest of the Denver Urban Skate Troop for the Wednesday night skate at City Park.

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Alanna Carnevale of Denver’s RiNo neighborhood grew up figure skating. It was about two years ago when she started inline skating, and today, enjoys skating with the Denver Urban Skate Troop.

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Rob Even of Arvada has been inline skating for more than 20 years and enjoys the friendships he has made from skating with others at the Denver Urban Skate Troop’s Wednesday night skates.

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Arvada Press 11

May 5, 2022

SKATIING

by the 1930s, they “found a permanent place in society,” states rollerblade. com. Roller skates, which are still popular today, dominated skate culture through the 1970s.

“In 1980, two hockey-playing Minnesota brothers discovered an inline skate while rummaging through a sporting goods store and decided that this design would make an ideal offseason hockey-training tool,” states rollerblade.com.

These brothers developed the first trademarked Rollerblade skates.

Through the 1980s, the Rollerblade gained popularity, and by 1995, sports on Rollerblades were added to the X Games. However, inline skating sports were removed from the X Games one

FROM PAGE 10

wheels on your feet,” Norkin said, “you can do just about anything and go just about anywhere.”

Like other group activities, DUST went on hiatus during the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020. But skating in general did not experience a descent during that time, Norkin said. She added that is probably because skating is a relatively low-cost and low-impact form of exercise that can be done outdoors.

DUST restarted again in May 2021, and today, between 40-60 people attend each week — with the biggest turnout being last summer at Sloan’s Lake when about 100 people attended the skate.

DUST’s Wednesday skates are family-friendly and no pre-registration or membership is required to join a skate. All ages are welcome and there are opportunities for all skill levels and all wheel types — meaning, if they prefer, people can ride a skateboard, scooter or four-wheel, also known as quad, roller skates.

The weekly skates, or routes as DUST refers to them, take place across the metro-area with most of them taking place in Denver proper — Washington Park, City Park, RiNo, to name a few. However, DUST also will also offer routes outside of the metro area on some weekends, such as at Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs, for example.

Because no registration is required, DUST announces its routes through social media. Each announcement will inform people of the route destination

The Denver Urban Skate Troop gather for a group photo‚ a tradition for every WednesPHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN day night skate. This photo was taken at City Park in Denver.

— which will be different each week — and what skill level the route is. Skill levels of the routes are defined like ski slope runs: green is beginner/easy, blue is medium and black is advanced.

DUST offers skates year-round. During the Colorado seasons that come with inclement weather, routes are announced on a weekly basis. During the summer months, routes are announced monthly. Attendees meet at the route destination at 6:30 p.m., and the group departs for the skate at 7 p.m.

Friends on blades Rob Even of Arvada has been inline skating for more than 20 years, adding that he grew up during what he calls “the Golden Age of Rollerblading.”

Even, an engineer by trade, has been skating with DUST since its formation in 2018. While the sport is what drew him to skating with DUST, what

he particularly enjoys is meeting new people.

DUST attendees run the gamut, Even said. There are some fellow engineers in the group, but there’s also teachers, musicians, chefs and many others, Even said.

“When you share an experience with other people, you inherently have something in common,” Even said.

“Anybody who wants to have wheels on their feet are welcome. (DUST) very much establishes itself as a friend community.”

History of inline skating According to rollerblade.com, “legend has it that the first inline skates date back to the 1700s when a Dutchman attempted to simulate ice skating by nailing wooden spools to strips of wood attached to his shoes.”

Roller skates came about in 1860s and

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12 Arvada Press

May 5, 2022

SKATIING

thing they hadn’t seen for 20-some years.”

Arlew, 35, participated in roller hockey and rollerblading all through high school. In college, he got into mountain biking and BMX biking. He moved to Colorado in 2016 and discovered all the skate parks around and started skateboarding. Eventually, he wanted to get into something new and rediscovered the fun he used to have on inline skates.

“There is an element of nostalgia, but what really comes out is you’re reminded of the freedom you get when skating,” Arlew said.

He added that on skates, you’re not strapped in like on a snowboard or propped up like on a bike. “We had that feeling when we were kids, whether we knew it or not.”

FROM PAGE 11

decade later in 2005.

“When it fell out of the limelight, people started not doing it anymore, at least in the U.S.,” said Billy Arlew, a LoDo resident who rollerblades about four times a week, including skating with DUST. “The numbers of casual (inline) skaters diminished, and the only style that survived was trick (skating) at the skate parks.” improvementing fun from the past While the desire to get exercise outdoors during the pandemic can be attributed to some of the comeback of inline skating, Arlew believes the sport started to get people’s attention again about five years prior.

Between roughly 2015 to 2018, tech developments to inline skates began to progress more rapidly than they had ever before. This new tech includes everything from better boots, such as the liner and shell to make them more comfortable; to wheel sizes and even the number of wheels on an inline skate.

“For the longest time,” Arlew said, “all you could get was the fitness skate or the trick skate.”

Calling it the “big wheel movement,” this is about the time that the tri-skate — three-wheel inline skate — came about, Arlew said. A bigger wheel, he added, can roll over more types of surfaces better, and can provide more speed.

“Skates are just better now.

Rachel Norkin of Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood formed the Denver Urban Skate Troop in June 2018, welcoming anyone who wants to have wheels on their feet.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

They’re more fun (and) they’re easier to skate on,” said Jesse Heilmann, owner of Death and Glory Skate Shop, 935 W. 11th Ave., in Denver’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

“People say, `(rollerblading) was super fun back in the day. Why did I quit that?’ So (the skates of today)

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are an improvement of the fun that people used to have in the past.”

When the pandemic hit, people started seeing this new tech on social media — and some of the videos went viral.

“Millions of people saw a rollerblading video,” Arlew said, “some-

Everyone’s welcome DUST remains true to its beginnings — it is still an informal gathering and everyone is welcome, Norkin said.

She is looking forward to “being amazed at how many people will show up” and possibly adding more skates to the calendar.

“We love meeting new people,” Norkin said. “I (especially) enjoy watching people come together to skate, and then they establish friendships.”

Denver Urban Skate Troop is active on Facebook: Denver Urban Skate Troop – DUST and Instagram: denverurbanskate. Questions can also be emailed to DenverUrbanSkateTroop@gmail.com.

Home Sellers Are Losing Thousands of Dollars. How? 1. When they receive offers over asking price 2. Sellers are choosing part time agents 3. When sellers choose a team who have horrendous staff overhead 4. Sellers accept cash offers with huge discounts 5. Continued next week Ed Tomlinson “Mr Real Estate” Contact today! 303-596-5555 ed@edtomlinson.com Real Estate Services Metro Broker Professionals

Arvada Press 13

May 5, 2022

Colorado taxpayers will receive $400 this summer Here’s how some plan to spend it

BY ALISON BERG ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

Menah Elsarrag can pay off a small portion of her student loans.

Diane Hopkins can drive to Southern Colorado to visit her family and explore the outdoors. Anne Tincaid can put more money toward a vacation in Mexico, where she hopes to go snorkeling.

These are just a few of the ways Coloradans plan to use the $400 coming their way this summer.

Gov. Jared Polis announced April 25 that Colorado taxpayers will be receiving a cashback rebate later this year. Individuals will receive $400 while joint filers will get $800.

The money will be sent out between late August and early September, Polis said.

“We know that this last year has been difficult with rising prices,” Polis said in a news conference announcing the action.

The money comes from a clause in the Colorado Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which gives the state legislature power to determine how to refund excess tax revenue to those who pay it.

“This is Coloradans’ money, and we’re making sure that we make

Speaker of the House Alec Garnett, DDenver

government efficient in getting those dollars back to them as soon as possible,” House Speaker Alec Garnett, a Democrat, said in the news conference. “These checks will help people immediately.”

The money would have come to Colorado taxpayers in April 2023, but Garnett, Polis and Senate Majority Leader Dominick Moreno emphasized that the money is coming now because Coloradans are being hit by skyrocketing rent costs, difficulty buying homes, inflating childcare costs and higher gas and

food prices.

“Instead of the government sitting on the money, we want to make sure we get it back to people now,” Polis said. “Rather than sit on this money, we know the $400 will help people now.”

While $400 would certainly help, many Coloradans interviewed Monday by Rocky Mountain PBS said the $400 may not go as far as it used to, as inflation has hit the entire country hard the last several months.

“It’s better than not having an extra $400, but it doesn’t go far enough,” said Thomas Law, a Denver resident and a service worker at Union Station. “It’s not a lot in the grand scheme of things, as an adult in Denver.”

Law said his rent is about $1,600, which is a price he would have expected to pay in New York City, but did not feel it was warranted in Denver.

As a full-time restaurant server, Law said tips are his most reliable source of income, and with increasing costs of food, his restaurant has seen fewer visitors than it used to.

Those who do patronize the restaurant often tip less than they once did, Law added.

“We heavily rely on people coming in and buying things and tipping, and with everything getting more expensive, people are coming less often and they’re tipping less often,”

Law said. “It’s definitely an issue and I think something needs to change.”

Others said they would take the $400 as a small victory, even if it wouldn’t cover much.

“Being a teacher, we get summers off and I like to do some little trips, but I’m thinking it’s not going to happen this year because gas is so expensive,” said Diane Hopkins, a Thornton resident who works with adults with disabilities. “I could probably go get myself some nice flowers, though.”

Though the money may not be much, Logan Gunnum, a Denver resident who is unsheltered and saddled with medical debt, said it would be a lifeline for him.

“The first thing I would do is make sure I had a steady place to live, and that way I could get the rest of my life sorted out,” Gunnum said.

“They talk about how there are all of these different services and things for people in my position, but there really isn’t.”

Coloradans can expect the money to be sent to the address they used to fill out their taxes.

This story is from Rocky Mountain PBS, a nonprofit public broadcaster providing community stories across Colorado over the air and online.

Used by permission. For more, and to support Rocky Mountain PBS, visit rmpbs.org.

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14 Arvada Press

LOCAL

May 5, 2022

VOICES Poop Patrol Criterion

W

e’re here this fine spring day at a neighborhood park for another round of the Poop Patrol Criterion. The exact location will not be disclosed in deference to those whose deficient scooping habits will be judged without due process.

We’ve set up additional cameras on surrounding blocks to expand our coverage.

Let’s start with an initial tally from inside the park itself. With trash barrels restricted to each entrance, dog owners are challenged if their pooches leave deposits any distance from the proper containers. A quick look and inadvertent whiff suggests that a good number of waste bags have found their way to the barrels.

Well done, you gallant do-bees! The well-being of society is proportional to the number of its citizens doing the right thing. Before grousing about a community’s state of affairs, best to assess one’s own culpability.

Now for a closer look within the park’s confines. Oh, there’s an unfortunate sight. One of the regular joggers has brought his dog Trotter today. They appeared to be running well together — until now. True to

his name, the poor mutt had to let go while on the move because his owner yanked on his leash to make him keep pace. So Trotter has left behind a trail of droppings on the sidewalk. Is his owner aware of these soft and smelly land mines?

You be the judge.

Judy Allison We come upon a small group of young parents who have assembled at the play area to stand around and sip from tall lattes. Just beyond a collection of strollers, an assortment of children scramble over and under the slide. Corresponding to each small human is a furry kid.

Off leash, they amiably sniff one another. Wait! Snidely, a collie mix, breaks from the pack. His adult person notices but suddenly checks his phone as the dog doo-dahs by a bench. Once Snidely finishes and returns to his buddies, his owner stops being engrossed in his phone.

Will the owner remember to scoop

A RUMMAGE AROUND THE ATTIC

that poop before leaving? You be the judge.

Oh! We’ve got a report from one of the streets leading to the park. Let’s train that camera on the scene.

Yes, there they are: a woman in yoga pants and a ball cap walking her stylish goldendoodle, Garbo.

We’ve tuned in just in time to see Garbo finishing her business on a patch of dandelions just off the sidewalk. The woman produces a plastic bag and proceeds to police the area. She’s using a right proper bag.

One of those made for the purpose, it is sanitized, deodorized, hand-sized and comes in a bright shade of pink.

The woman deftly bags the debris, then ties a knot in the bag so nothing solid nor odorous can escape. But wait! She discretely leaves the bag on the spot she just cleaned! As if she has vowed to never take the task any further. She and Garbo saunter down the block. Does she get any points for a job half done? You be the judge.

Coming from the opposite direction ambles an older woman being dragged along by Torrey the Wonder Bouvier. Revved up by the proliferation of rabbits racing through the area, Torrey nonetheless must make

a pit stop. The woman tends to it, but before she can finish, one dumb bunny darts from under a bush.

Which causes Torrey to lunge in pursuit. While recovering her balance, the owner steps in the steaming pile.

Exclaiming expletives for excrement, the crone wipes her shoe off in the grass, causing a stain that only a good watering will abate. Is there a foul here? You be the judge.

With that, our competition closes.

Can we get the results from our judges? How about that! It’s a virtual tie. All our finalists will receive a small tag to put on their dogs’ collars which reads: “Pardon our owners; they’re only human.”

PREVENTION TIP: To discourage pit stops, spray a light coating of household cleaning fluid on the targeted area. It won’t kill the grass but the smell will no longer entice passing pooches.

Judy Allison has enjoyed a long and varied career in media and has written for newspapers, magazines, cable TV, government entities and elected officials. She and her dog Torrey the Wonder-Bouvier wander through many neighborhoods in the region.

Things that don’t work

M

y Myers-Briggs personality type is, if memory serves, the INTJ, I think. Or maybe it’s INOR (in need of repair). Something. Anyway, the thing I remember about the profile of this personality type is “…will ruthlessly apply to every situation the question ‘does it work?’”

And I love finding things that work. Also, it explains, I suppose, why I tend to get on peoples’ nerves — thirty years in the public schools, you tend to discover a few things that don’t work.

For instance, last week was chaos around my house. We had a guy come in and re-do our kitchen cabinets (not doing it myself is one way of finding things that work). So, as soon as Easter dinner was over and cleaned up, we were emptying cabinets and moving appliances and desperately trying to find places for all the stuff that has accumulated over 20 years. And, let me tell you, the anticipation of a week being banished from our kitchen was… excellent.

But, you know what? It really was excellent. In the first place, the

A publication of

Call first: 27972 Meadow Dr., #320 Evergreen, CO 80439, 303-566-4100 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: ArvadaPress.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100

cabinetry actually came in two months earlier than we were told to expect by the big box store we purchased through, so that’s really nice.

And then Jim, the contractor, showed up on time, he was neat, he talked us through the process and was open to Michael Alcorn our thoughts about things, and he actually got the job done a day early. And, apparently, cabinetry isn’t his only skill; he said he’s built a number of homes from the ground up. So… if you need a guy, I got a guy.

On the other hand, the “allen wrench” system isn’t excellent.

We ordered a cabinet for our living room back in February, and were told at the time that it was likely to arrive in early April. Fine—I get it.

And then the updates started coming in: April 15th; April 23rd; April 29th. May 3rd. And again—fine. It’s irritating, but whatever.

Do you want to guess when it

HITTING HOME

arrived? Last Wednesday…yes, on the same day Jim was finishing up our kitchen. Because there wasn’t enough to do for us that day, and we would have never planned for that conjunction. And even that wouldn’t have been a problem, if we had just been informed that it was scheduled to arrive. Instead, I just got an update via email this morning: its arrival has been pushed out until May 11th.

What do I mean by “allen wrench” system? That’s my own shorthand for the world of “some assembly required” home projects that are bizarrely dependent on those annoying little hexagonal, L-shaped pieces of metal which pass (poorly) for tools. Allen wrenches don’t work.

You know what else doesn’t work?

Glass and tile drill bits. I’ll save that story for a much later time.

Sitting here, writing, while watching the NFL draft. Speaking of things that work… the National Football League works! Think about this night, which is just the first of what has morphed over the years into a three-day spectacle. On this night, 32 young men were “hired” by

NFL teams; statistically speaking, only 8 of them are going to be great (“All Pro”); only 13 of them are likely to have very good years ever (“Pro Bowl”); and somewhere around 10 of them are going to be fired soon.

In other words, there is likely nowhere in sports an event given more importance and more hype, with as little correlation to success. And yet, tomorrow we’re going to read that the television ratings for this event far exceed any of the N.B.A. playoff games, the World Series, or any soccer or hockey event you want to mention.

And, while I’m on sports, Nikola Jokic works. Like… wow, works. Will Barton, not so much.

Have a great week. Make things work.

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 Community Media.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

MINDY NELON Marketing Consultant

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

mnelon@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LISA SCHLICHTMAN Editor-in-Chief

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager

lschlichtman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press. We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor

ERIN FRANKS Production Manager

Email letters to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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RYLEE DUNN Community Editor

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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, 27972 Meadow Dr. Suite 320, Evergreen CO, 80439.

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Arvada Press 15

May 5, 2022

See it first at SeriesFest season 8

W

hat can’t television do?

The answer to that question used to be obvious. These days? Not so much. Modern shows can have just as high production value as blockbusters, entice the same A-list talent as Oscar-bait dramas and be just as sophisticated as any auteur-driven production.

All this makes it easy to see why there’s a lot to celebrate in the eighth season of SeriesFest, which returns to in-person events from May 5 through May 11 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver.

“It’s really, really exciting to be back and have the industry converging in Denver,” said Randi Kleiner, co-founder and CEO of SeriesFest. “This will be our sixth in-person festival and we’ve grown exponentially every year to a more global audience.”

SeriesFest is a non-profit organization dedicated to championing artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling.

SeriesFest’s Season 8 features special events, screenings and panels that bring the best of current television shows as well as the opportunity to get an advanced look at the vanguard of the new generation.

“We have a nice mix of things to watch on screen and other events that provide audiences the chance to see how these works get made,” said Claire Taylor, director of programming. “We’ve seen the industry do a lot of shifting and we’re seeing a demand for social change and a level playing field.”

Some of the highlights from this year’s event include: Changing the Narrative: Focus on Indigenous Representation in Television on May 6 Jennifer Loren (director of the Cherokee Nation Film Office & Original Content.), Stacey Rice (casting director), and Sierra Teller Ornelas (co-creator/showrunner of “Rutherford Falls”) discuss modern Native American representation.

Centerpiece Benefit Red Rocks Event on May 8 One of the highlights of the festival every year, this Red Rocks

concert will feature comedian and late-night host Amber Ruffin and a performance by Lake Street Dive.

Live read of “Mount Wilson” on May 9 Directed by Amanda Berg Clarke Reader Wilson and written by Misty Brawner, Betsy Leighton, W.A.W. Parker and Rosanne Welch, this live reading features cast members Denzel Whitaker, Tara Westwood and more.

And while these marquee events are exciting, it’s important to remember SeriesFest is a great opportunity to experience up-and-coming talent in events like the Independent Pilot Competition and Collegiate Spotlight.

“The success of shows like `Squid Game’ are opening up people’s mindset and we’re seeing an interesting in content from all over the world,” Kleiner said.

“Many of the pilots we’re receiving are much more international and we’ve created a program that reflects that depth of talent.”

No matter what audiences check out, the aim is they come away thrilled and moved by what they saw and what the future holds for the medium.

“I hope people live inspired and excited and have learned something about themselves and the industry, whether they work in it or not,” Taylor said. “We’re all excited for the way this storytelling medium is continuing to grow.”

For a full schedule and ticketing options, visit www.seriesfest. com.

COMING ATTRACTIONS

See Rita Moreno in-person In partnership with the Newman Center, Denver Film and Women+Film, Rita Moreno will be in the Denver area for two events.

She’ll be participating in a conversation and Q&A with Aisha Ahmad-Post, the executive director of the Newman Center, 2344 E. Iliff Ave, at 7:30

p.m. on May 12. And she’ll be at the Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, at 11:45 a.m. on May 13 to receive the Barbara Bridges Inspiration Award.

Carlotta Walls LaNier, the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine, will also be on hand to receive the Impact Award.

Visit https://newmancenter. evenue.net and https://womenplusfilmfestival.eventive.org/ for tickets.

Derby Day comes to Union station Derby Day at is back at Denver Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., on May 7.

The free event will be held on the Terminal Bar’s patio and feature live music by the Royal Street Ramblers and drink specials including Mint Juleps and Frosé, according to provided information. Naturally, there will be a live screening of the race inside the Great Hall on big-screen projects. Other restaurants at the station will be doing food specials.

Get the details at https://

RANA

May 2, 1951 - April 16, 2022

Michelle Eileen DeArvil Rana, a beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, God mother and friend, departed this earthly plain on the morning of April 16th, 2022 at the age of 70, after a continuous & courageous battle with cancer. She was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Marjorie and Murray DeArvil on May 2nd, 1951. After she graduated college at the University of Northern Colorado, she took a job in Germany where she met her husband, Shyam K. Rana. They married in March AMATO

Proclaiming Christ from the Mountains to the Plains www.StJoanArvada.org 12735 W 58th Ave · 80002 · 303-420-1232 Daily Masses: 8:30am, Mon-Sat Confessions: 8am Tue-Fri; 7:30am & 4:00pm Sat Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30am, 5:30pm

of 1975 and had 3 children, Shaundra, Matthew and Andrew. Michelle loved being a mother and often volunteered at her children’s elementary schools as well as participating in church groups, events and activities. She also loved going on fun family vacations, especially to Disneyland. In lieu of flowers, please contribute by donating to our GoFundMe (https://gofund.me/9a45d681) or Venmo Matthew Rana (@Matthew-Rana-1) to help cover end of life services.

Anna (Qualteri) Amato

October 30, 1923 - April 18, 2022

Anna passed peacefully on April 18th surrounded by her family. A private family graveside service and celebration of her life will be held at a later date. See cfcscolorado.org for complete obituary and video.

STUDENKA

Barbara K. (Engelter) Studenka September 8, 1938 - April 26, 2022

1938-2022 – Lakewood Colorado

C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

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

Michelle Eileen (DeArvil) Rana

Barbara K. Engelter Studenka

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

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Orville Peck at Mission Ballroom If you knew nothing about South African masked musician Orville Peck, you might think the music he makes is Bjorkesque experimental or even some kind of metal. But the man has one of the best pure country voices the genre has heard in ages. He’s just recently released his long-awaited sophomore album, “Bronco,” and it’s a humdinger.

In support of the album, Peck has wrassled up Teddy & The Rough Riders and will be visiting Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on May 8. This will be a great show to get you in the spirit for summer weather ahead. Get tickets at www.missionballroom.com.

OBITUARIES

Mom obituary:

ST. JOAN OF ARC

unionstationindenver.com/ event/derby-at-union-station/.

Since 2000, Barbara was an artist in fiber and watercolor painting creating works of art to be displayed.

From 1961-2000 she was an English teacher in Jefferson County Colorado and several other counties in the state.

Barbara was born in Memphis, Tennessee and was raised in Nebraska, and North Dakota.

She is survived by her daughter, Breanna Erin, her granddaughter Josephine Barbara Dorsch, and her grandson Bridger Edward Dorsch.

Barbara did not want a service. She will be cremated. Her family will have a celebration of life in June in her favorite place in the world, her backyard!

Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. 303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com

16 Arvada Press

A timeline of Colorado Parks & Wildlife history

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

While Colorado is now iconic for its natural beauty and wild-

LOCAL

May 5, 2022

LIFE life, about 150 years ago, the state’s ecological resources had a rather bleak outlook.

Overhunting was devastating local deer, elk, pronghorn, bison, bear and bird populations; and water pollution was hurting the state’s fish and other species.

Wanting to preserve Colora-

do’s natural resources, the state government passed wildlife protection laws and later founded a department of game and fish.

The agency now named Colorado Parks & Wildlife celebrated its 125th anniversary on April 16.

Since their founding, the state’s parks and wildlife divi-

sions have opened 42 state parks and hundreds of other wildlife areas, and helped save several iconic species native to Colorado. While CPW has plenty of ongoing projects and long-term goals, its 125 years of environmental conservation and wildlife protection is a history worth celebrating:

1897

Colorado Governor Alva Adams signs House Bill 129, thereby creating the Department of Forestry, Game and Fish. The agency is charged with propagating and distributing game fish, promoting timber culture and passing and enforcing game and fish laws. The total annual budget is $10,500. The forestry portion is eventually dropped to become the Department of Game and Fish.

1903

Colorado issued its first hunting and outfitting licenses: $25 nonresident general license; $1/day bird license ($2 first day); and $1 resident license.

1913

With the deer population dropping quickly, the state passes legislation to protect buck deer until 1918.

1916

Colorado imports 50 elk from Wyoming, which were released in Idaho Springs and Pueblo County’s Greenhorn Mountains, to reestablish the state’s dwindling herds. In the early 1900s, only 40,000 elk remained in North American, mostly because of unregulated market hunting. After decades of conservation efforts, Colorado is now home to approximately 280,000, which is the largest population in the world.

A black-phase Abert’s squirrel sits in a tree in Evergreen in March 2022.

COURTESY OF ALLAN CASEY

1940

During this decade, the wildlife agency conducts the first bighorn sheep transplants between Georgetown and Silver Plume. As of 2022, the Georgetown herd is the third-largest in the state. The agency later completes more than 100 bighorn sheep transplants, mostly in the 1970s and 1980s. After decades of conservation efforts, Colorado has an estimated population of 7,000 bighorn sheep.

1949

The first Colorado State Parks feasibility study suggests establishing Roxborough as one of the first state parks. However, Roxborough wasn’t established as a state park until 1975.

1959

The governor signs a 25-year lease with the Army Corps of Engineers for the Cherry Creek Recreation Area. The new state park welcomes its first official visitor on June 17, and 168,700 people visited it in its first year.

Two rams nuzzle while trekking through Waterton Canyon in April 2018.

COURTESY OF KARI DOUGLASS

1960

The state purchases 200 acres in Gilpin County, which later becomes the nucleus for Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

SEE TIMELINE, P17

Arvada Press 17

May 5, 2022

TIMELINE FROM PAGE 16

1960

The state purchases 200 acres in Gilpin County, which later becomes the nucleus for Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

1961

The Colorado General Assembly passes legislation designating the bighorn sheep as the state animal.

1963

The Colorado State Parks and Recreation Department merges with the Game and Fish Department to form the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department.

1965

Bears are declared a game animal in Colorado.

1970

Legislature passes mandatory hunter education and blaze orange requirements for big-game hunters.

1972

Senate Bill 42 separates the Game, Fish and Parks Department into the Division of Wildlife and the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation within the Department of Natural Resources.

1972

Colorado legally defines wildlife as “wild vertebrates, mollusks and crustaceans.” Nearly 800 species came under the classification of wildlife.

1975

Chatfield State Park is established.

1977

After the state acquired a recreational lease for Barr Lake two years earlier, the new state park opens to the public.

1978

Biologists and wildlife officers transplant 24 moose from Utah and Wyoming to Colorado’s North Park region near Walden. Over the next three decades, the state releases more than 200 additional moose from Wyoming and Utah across the state. Today, Colorado is home to more than 2,400 moose and boasts one of the fastest-growing moose populations in the lower 48 states.

1978

After Eldorado Canyon’s owner threatened to sell the area for a rock quarry, public outcry prompts the state to buy the canyon and create Eldorado Canyon State Park.

1980

The Colorado Division of Wildlife director encourages hunters to clean up their own sport and, in the 1980-81 budget request, asks for funding to start a new program called Operation Game Thief to help crack down on poaching.

1982 The Colorado General Assembly approves a new lottery program with certain proceeds to benefit state and local park systems.

1990

Barr Lake State Park keeps with a national tradition of sponsoring a New Year’s morning First Hike around the park. Hearty hikers took part in the guided walk along the lakeside despite the cold temperatures and falling snow.

FILE PHOTO BY JOHN CARR

A $5 Colorado waterfowl stamp is required to hunt.

1992

Colorado voters approve the passage of Amendment 8, the Great Outdoors Colorado Amendment. This directs all state lottery proceeds to parks, open space and wildlife.

1994

The greenback cutthroat trout is named Colorado’s state fish.

2011

Colorado State Parks merges with the Colorado Division of Wildlife to form Colorado Parks & Wildlife. The Parks and Wildlife Commission is also established.

A researcher releases a bald eagle with GPS tracking as part of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s new study on eagle COURTESY PHOTO populations in Colorado’s Front Range.

2013

Staunton State Park opens to the public.

The park, which is in Park and Jefferson counties, was built from a parcel first donated in 1986 by Frances Hornbrook Staunton. Subsequent parcels were acquired in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

CPW purchased the final parcel in 2006 to reach the current park’s 3,828-acre land base.

2021

Colorado Parks & Wildlife begins a fouryear study of the Front Range’s bald eagle population. The agency has record of more than 90 breeding pairs between Denver and Wyoming. This is an immense population growth since the late 1970s, when there were only three nests in Colorado.

2021

Colorado Parks & Wildlife acquires and establishes the Pals Family State Wildlife area between Empire and Georgetown. After the property owners proposed turning the area into a quarry, local partners partnered with CPW to preserve the land and protect the local bighorn sheep.

Sky Miller, 3, of Broomfield, checks her line, during Northglenn’s 29th annual Fishing Derby at E.B. Rains Jr. Park in FILE PHOTO June 2017.

18 Arvada Press

May 5, 2022

Colorado lawmakers plan to overhaul unemployment system Plans include extending benefits to immigrants

BY TAMARA CHUANG AND JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado lawmakers are planning to introduce a bill as soon as this week that would overhaul the state’s unemployment system and also send roughly $600 million to the depleted unemployment insurance trust fund to lower a $1 billion federal debt hanging over employers.

The $600 million replenishment was expected — Gov. Jared Polis made the recommendation in November — but the changes to the unemployment system are a surprise that comes after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between lawmakers, Polis’ office, the business community and progressive fiscal groups.

Many of the systemic changes proposed in the forthcoming bill are extensions of temporary changes made during the pandemic. Some details are still being negotiated, but the alterations

Lawmakers and lobbyists are seen at the Capitol on Jan. 12 in Denver at the start of Colorado’s General Assembly’s 2022 session.

SEE LAWMAKER, P20

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LAWMAKERS FROM PAGE 18

are slated to include continuing a COVID-era fund offering unemployment benefits to people living in the U.S. illegally who aren’t eligible for aid under federal law, as well as making permanent a change allowing people to collect more benefits even if they secure part-time work.

“We have a number of provisions that were put in on a temporary basis during the pandemic that have worked really well for the state and have helped families get back on their feet,” said state Sen. Chris Hansen, a Denver Democrat who will be a prime sponsor of the bill. “We think it’s a good idea to make many of them ongoing.”

Hansen said the legislation is expected to have bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, though Republican sponsors in both chambers haven’t been finalized.

While Republicans have called for eliminating the full $1 billion debt owed to the federal government by the trust fund, the business community appears happy with where the legislation is headed.

“The $600 million is a huge win for employers across the state,” said Loren Furman, president of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce.

Employers, who are solely responsible for filling the trust fund, are paying more this year in unemployment insurance premiums. But they face even higher payments in 2023 because of the deficit, caused by the federal government keeping Colorado afloat during the pandemic. Insolvency surcharges won’t stop until the trust fund fills its $1 billion hole.

To get the fund fully solvent, it needs $2 billion to $2.5 billion, according to Colorado Department of Labor and Employment officials.

Furman said that without the $600 million replenishment, businesses will face higher costs because of solvency surcharges and

May 5, 2022 that’s not fair because they kept their businesses going through the pandemic. Companies that shut down no longer contribute, even as their workers benefited from the trust fund.

Progressive organizations also say they and labor groups are pleased with the upcoming legislation.

“What we’re doing with this bill is just making sure that we are as prepared for the next recession as we can be,” said Kathy White, executive director of the liberalleaning Colorado Fiscal Institute.

“That includes forward funding (the trust fund) to accelerate solvency and preserving some of the policy changes that were made during the pandemic that are really targeted at making sure the program works for workers and it works for the lowest wage workers. That’s where we saw the greatest gaps.”

What made it into the bill The bill’s proposed changes to the unemployment system are meant to continue what state and federal lawmakers started during the pandemic. They are designed to help low-wage unemployed workers survive in a future recession.

“One of the things that we really learned through the pandemic is that the unemployment insurance system is literally the only and first line of defense that the United States has to manage recessions, to keep the economy basically from tanking and going into a vicious spiral as jobs are lost,” White said. “During the pandemic, there was a recognition by the Trump administration first and the Biden administration second … that there are just certain gaps in how well the UI system works for workers, even though it’s the most critical system we have. It’s an automatic stabilizer.”

There are three key changes set to be included in the forthcoming legislation: • Colorado lawmakers created the Left Behind Worker Fund during the pandemic to provide financial help to workers living in the U.S. unlawfully who lost their job because of COVID-19. The

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bill would make the fund permanent and change the name to the Benefit Recovery Fund. The goal is to help immigrants whose employers already pay their unemployment insurance but who are ineligible to receive unemployment benefits because of federal laws. The fund would not raise unemployment premiums and it would be capped.

• Currently, Coloradans receive 55% of their regular pay as unemployment. But if they work part time and earn 25% or more of the weekly benefit, that benefit starts to diminish. That provision hurt employers who had to reduce their operating hours in the pandemic because it meant their employees could make more by not working. The legislation would raise the partial UI limit to 50% before the worker sees any reduction in their benefits.

• Employers would be required under the bill to inform their workers that they are eligible for unemployment benefits.

Three other proposed changes to the unemployment system under the legislation are still being negotiated. They would: • Eliminate the one-week waiting period between when a worker loses their job and their unemployment benefits start.

White said the thinking behind this change is that low-wage earners need the money as soon as possible. The one-week delay was waived during the pandemic.

• Waive a requirement that unemployed workers repay unemployment overpayments. During the pandemic, an executive order required the state labor department to pay benefits first and then check on eligibility. Because of that mandate, thousands of unemployed workers later deemed ineligible were overpaid benefits and then required to pay them back. Many had already spent the money so it became a frustrating mess.

• Create dependent allowances by offering unemployed primary caretakers $25 per week per dependent. This stands to benefit single parents or a parent who is the family’s sole income provider.

This won’t be part of the proposed bill. Instead, a committee will be created to study the proposal.

The idea behind the $25 per dependent comes from the fed-

eral $600 per-week pandemic unemployment supplement from Congress, which helped many workers stay afloat even as it was criticized for helping the lowest earners make more by staying jobless, White said.

Colorado currently pays a maximum of $700 a week for up to 26 weeks, while some states, such as Alabama, max out at $275.

Furman said the chamber and Colorado businesses have been working on the bill with state legislators and organizations like the Colorado Fiscal Institute since January.

“We want to make sure that these proposals don’t take money out of the fund at the most vulnerable time,” Furman said. “So some of the provisions we’re going to do through a study, some of them might get pushed up until the fund is at a billion-dollar threshold. It’s just about putting some guardrails around them.”

In a statement, Polis’ office thanked business leaders and bill sponsors who are following up on his original proposal to use $600 million to pare down the trust fund deficit. The office didn’t comment on proposed changes to the unemployment system.

“We appreciate the work of the sponsors, business and workers’ advocates to move forward with a proposal that fully funds the governor’s budget request,” the statement said.

How $600 million will help insolvency issues Colorado’s unemployment insurance trust fund ran out of money in August 2020, five months into the pandemic. But unemployed workers still got paid, thanks to the state getting a loan from the federal government.

That loan swelled to $1 billion

by April 2021.

Even as workers returned to their jobs and employers paid premiums to the trust fund, the federal loan was still more than $1 billion as of April 15, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

Colorado employers are on the hook for repaying the loan through additional fees. Annual unemployment insurance premiums increased in January because the trust fund was empty SEE LAWMAKER, P21

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May 5, 2022

LAWMAKERS FROM PAGE 20

on June 30, the date of the annual health checkup. By state statute, that alone means Colorado employers shift to a higher rate.

Colorado employers are now paying the highest rate possible (see the far right-column in this rate schedule).

Next year, employers will see their costs rise because of the new trust fund solvency surcharge and the loss of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act credit.

The proposed bill would address both. By shoring up the trust fund with $600 million, employers could see the solvency surcharge stop in 2026 in the best-case scenario of a strong economy. With no government help and a weak economy, the surcharge could continue to 2028.

The proposed $600 million would come from Colorado’s share of federal pandemic relief through Congress’ American Rescue Plan Act. At least 16 other states have used American Rescue Plan Act money to replenish some or all of their depleted trust funds, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

Texas repaid its entire unemployment debt using federal money. Some Republicans in the Colorado legislature have unsuccessfully advocated for doing the same.

The Colorado labor department said using the money to pay the

federal loan to avoid the additional interest is the “best use of $600 million of ARPA,” said Daniel Chase, the state labor department’s chief of staff.

“Our current plan would be to use about $580 million to pay down the loan balance upon receipt of the money, then hold the remaining amount to pay off the interest owed in September, which we estimate to be between $15 million and $20 million,” Chase said.

Federal law doesn’t allow states to use employer premiums to cover interest payments, so if Colorado didn’t set aside the $20 million balance for interest, the state would have to find other alternatives, he said.

But Chase doesn’t think Colorado will try to pay off the rest of its federal debt the same way it did after the Great Recession.

Back then, Colorado’s federal unemployment loan ballooned to $578.2 million by March 2011, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report.

Surcharges kicked in and some Colorado employers said their premiums tripled. The business community backed an effort for the state to issue a bond to finance the debt and reduce their fees. The bond was paid off in May 2017.

Colorado’s economy has recovered much more quickly than it did after the Great Recession.

As of February, the state had recovered all of the 375,400 jobs lost in the first two months of the pandemic. That’s why a bond

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may not be necessary, as employers are back to paying insurance premiums.

Nevertheless, the state labor department has bonding authority if needed. But it’s through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, which was used during the Great Recession. CHFA no longer bonds for state agencies.

So state lawmakers must transfer the labor department’s bonding authority to the treasurer’s office, which is also in the proposed bill.

“While we don’t anticipate the need to bond to the degree of the Great Recession, we do want to enhance our tools available should we be close to paying off the debt at key points in the next year,” Chase said.

If the trust fund balance is positive on June 30 and the loan is paid off, employers can move to a lower premium rate in 2023. Even if the state misses the date but pays off the loan by Nov. 10, the state avoids a FUTA credit reduction. But there are some models that show the state’s loan balance could still be $100 million.

“In that case,” Chase said, “bonding could be a financially viable option to hit that timeline.”

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May 5, 2022

Colorado has models for universal preschool

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

Wisconsin, Oklahoma, Florida and Vermont may serve as examples

BY ANN SCHIMKE CHALKBEAT COLORADO

When Colorado launches free preschool for 4-year-olds in 2023, it will join four other states that already offer universal preschool.

All of them have encountered the same tricky task Colorado leaders now face as they try to knit together a disparate patchwork of public and private preschools into an equitable and high-quality statewide system.

We’ll take a look at some of the lessons learned in four states: Florida, Oklahoma, Vermont and Wisconsin.

Some, like Oklahoma, have offered the program for decades, while others, like Vermont — one of the few places to offer free preschool to

all 3- and 4-year-olds — have joined the club more recently. Wisconsin officials said they don’t consider their preschool program universal because school districts don’t have to offer the state-funded classes, though 99% do.

Colorado’s universal preschool program will offer 10 hours a week to all 4-year-olds, with children who have higher needs eligible for more.

Funding will come from Colorado’s existing state-funded preschool program, which is for children from low-income families, or who have language delays, or other risk factors, and proceeds from a voterapproved nicotine tax.

Advocates in the four states cited ongoing challenges in everything from ensuring high-quality offerings to making part-day preschool work for families, but they also said the programs are generally popular.

In all four states, at least 70% of 4-year-olds participated prior to the pandemic.

Sherry Carlson, chief program officer at the Vermont advocacy group, Let’s Grow Kids, said the state’s system is not perfect, but “usage is an indication that we’re on the right track.”

The half-day problem Colorado’s plan to offer 10 hours of preschool a week to most children is similar to preschool programs in states like Florida, Vermont, and Wisconsin. The problem is that half-day programs don’t work for a lot of families.

Professor Beth Graue, director of the Center for Research on Early Childhood Education at the University of Wisconsin Madison, studied Wisconsin parents’ preschool choices and found that many declined to enroll in the program because of the schedule.

“The half-day format is a nightmare for at least a third of all the parents we surveyed,” she said. “It’s curious to me in today’s day and age

that people imagine that a half day would work.“ When universal preschool originally launched in Florida, the vision was to offer both a 3-hour and a 6-hour preschool day, but there was never enough funding for the longer day, said Madeleine Thakur, president of the advocacy group, The Children’s Movement of Florida. Some schools — those that receive federal funds for lowincome students — cover the extra cost of full-day preschool for some students, but the coveted spots are in short supply.

In Vermont, momentum had been growing to increase the number of state-funded preschool hours beyond the current 10 a week, but the pandemic derailed that discussion, said Carlson.

“There is a lot of agreement, particularly among working families and schools, that more time would SEE MODELS, P23

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Arvada Press 23

May 5, 2022

MODELS FROM PAGE 22

be better,” she said.

Teacher qualification conundrum The four states profiled have various requirements for universal preschool teachers — Oklahoma and Wisconsin require them to have bachelor’s degrees, while Florida does not. Vermont is something of a hybrid — requiring bachelor’s degrees for universal preschool teachers in public school settings, but not for all teachers in private settings.

These differences reflect both ongoing national debate about whether teachers with four-year college degrees provide better preschool experiences than those without, and the reality that such requirements pose a major financial barrier in light of the field’s low pay.

The National Institute for Early Education Research, which ranks states annually on preschool access and funding, includes bachelor’s degree requirements among 10 benchmarks showing whether states have key quality standards in place.

Experts say preschool can produce short- and long-term benefits for kids, but only if it’s high quality.

Colorado’s existing preschool program doesn’t require bachelor’s degrees and meets only four of the institute’s 10 benchmarks.

Carlson, who estimated that 60% of Vermont’s universal preschoolers are served in private settings, said the more lenient degree requirements for those classrooms

was one of the concessions made when the program began. The state has put money toward helping preschool teachers further their education, but more needs to be done, she said.

Carlson’s advice to Colorado: “Be willing to compromise with a plan [that says] this is where we’re starting and we’re going to keep working to get to … where the vision was.”

Thakur, of Florida, said many wonderful preschool teachers don’t have bachelor’s degrees currently so it shouldn’t be a requirement at the inception of a universal program.

Plus, with teachers in private preschool settings often paid much less than public school counterparts, it’s not fair to require the degrees, she said.

Joe Dorman, CEO at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy, said reaching rural children has been a struggle in his state. In some cases, it’s because of preschool staff shortages or a dearth of seats, but there are also some families who don’t see the value of preschool, he said.

“This has been one of our crown jewels,” he said. “It amazes me that people won’t take the time to look at the benefits and see the good that can come from it.”

Dorman said Colorado should educate parents about the free preschool program before children turn 4.

“Begin the promotional process early,” he said. “Ensure that families recognize this.”

Who’s got access?

The idea behind universal preschool is to serve every child whose parents want a spot, but that can be hard to deliver on a consistent statewide basis.

Carlson said offering preschool in both public and private settings helps ensure access in Vermont, partly because private centers can often provide wraparound care that meshes with parents’ work schedules and locations. At the same time, some preschoolers with disabilities lose out on special education services if they attend preschool with private providers outside of their school districts, she said.

The goal should be to “put children and families at the center,” she said. “Then don’t let paperwork or artificial boundaries” get in the way.

Preschool and K-12: separate or together?

In some universal preschool states, school districts are in charge of overseeing the program locally and offer many preschool seats in public school classrooms. These factors make school districts a key player in the universal preschool discussion, but also raise questions about how close the association should be.

Experts from other states said it’s important that universal preschool be designed around the developmental needs of young children.

Thakur said Colorado leaders should be careful “not to bring the rigor of the K-12 system down into preschool.”

“You’ve really got to focus on relationships, making sure children learn how to communicate, cooper-

ate, listen, and follow routines,” she said. “Those are the kinds of things that are a real down payment for the kindergarten teacher.”

Colorado’s existing preschool program is administered by school districts and 77% of students attend the program in public school classrooms, but planned changes could shake up public schools’ role in universal preschool.

Graue agreed that preschool should be developmentally appropriate, not narrowly focused on math and literacy, but also noted the downsides of divorcing preschool and K-12 policy.

During a statewide class size reduction effort in Wisconsin, for example, Graue said kindergarten classes went down to 15 children, but preschool classes in the same buildings were often much larger because they weren’t included in the state initiative.

In addition, although Wisconsin’s state-funded preschool classrooms in private settings must adhere to class size caps mandated by state child care regulations, public schools aren’t subject to those limits. Instead, each district establishes its own preschool class size rules.

“That’s the problem of the 4K (Wisconsin preschool) program working in this liminal space between K-12 and the child care system,” Graue said.

This story is from Chalkbeat Colorado, a nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Used by permission. For more, and to support Chalkbeat, visit co.chalkbeat.org.

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24 Arvada Press

LOCAL

May 5, 2022

SPORTS

Arvada West and Ralston Valley end in OT tie on the pitch

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — One of the largest crowds for a girls soccer game this spring at the North Area Athletic Complex got its money’s worth April 25.

Area rivals — Arvada West and Ralston Valley — couldn’t settle anything after 80 minutes of regular-time and a pair of two 10-minute overtime periods. A-West and Ralston Valley ended in a 1-1 draw in the Class 5A Jeffco League game.

“It was two good teams,” A-West coach Troy Gette said after the tie.

“We’ve had common scores against common opponents. It was about we expected.”

After a scoreless first half, the Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the 45th minute. Junior Payton Reed rocketed a shot from outside the goalie box just underneath the crossbar. It was redemption for Reed who had a great scoring chance in the first half, but her shot went right to the chest of Ralston Valley sophomore goalie Margot Mulhern.

Ralston Valley applied most of the pressure for the remainder of the second half. The Sabus sisters — Saya and Sophia — both had free kicks that were saved. Freshman Raleigh Greason and senior Reece Mercer both had shots that either went wide or were saved.

“She (Vessa) did great,” Gette said.

“She made the saves she is supposed to and probably made a few saves she wasn’t supposed to. Our defense held strong and kept Ralston Valley at some low-percentage shots. My backline and goalkeeper played fantastic.”

It looked like the Mustangs (6-4-1,

2-3-1 in 5A Jeffco) had tied the game on a shot by sophomore Sophia Sabus in the 71st minute, but the play was ruled offside.

Finally, Ralston Valley tied it up 1-1 in the 73rd minute on a head by freshman Holly Engelking off a corner kick

by Sophia Sabus.

Both teams had scoring chances at the end of regulation-time, but Vessa and Mulhern held up to end the game into overtime. Nobody could get the ball past Vessa or Mulhern in the two overtime periods.

“I’m happy to not lose, but I would have liked to win because I feel like in the first half we were the better team,” Ralston Valley coach Kamee Morwood said. “They (A-West) came out with a little more spark in the second half.

Once we got it going it was just a little too late. We had some chances that we just couldn’t finish.”

A-West (7-4-2, 3-2-1) finishes out conference play against Chatfield before a non-league game against Rock Canyon on Thursday, May 5. The Wildcats were sitting No. 20 in the RPI standings heading into the final week of the regular season.

“That would be ideal,” Gette said of grabbing a top-16 seed and first-round home game. “The biggest thing for us is we are pretty confident in whoever we play. Getting into the dance (state tournament) and getting better and better week-to-week is our goal.”

The Mustangs hit a bit of a lull after a 5-0-1 start where the Mustangs didn’t give up a goal. Ralston Valley are 1-4-1 in its last six games, but were No. 16 in the RPI heading into the final week of the regular season.

“I just want them to get to the

Arvada West freshman Alina Noga, left, and Ralston Valley freshman Raleigh Greason, right, battle for the ball April 25 at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Arvada PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS rivalry game ended in a 1-1 tie.

point where they 100 percent believes in themselves going into the playoffs,” Morwood said. “We’ve got really good players and vision.

We just have to believe it and finish out these last really hard games

strongly.”

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.

Dakota Ridge baseball grabs walk-off win in extra innings against Arvada West

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LITTLETON — Dakota Ridge senior Gavin Kaiser did a little lateafternoon shopping in at the gap on April 26.

The Eagles’ clean-up hitter drove an RBI double into the right-center gap in the bottom of the eighth inning to score junior Josh Ezell from second base. Kaiser’s clutch 2-out, 2-strike double gave Dakota Ridge a walk-off 4-3 victory in extra innings against Arvada West.

“That is what we want. Good 2-striking hitting,” Dakota Ridge coach Jeff Legault said after the big Class 5A Jeffco League home win for the Eagles. “He did the same thing when he hit the 2-run home run. He has been our guy.”

Kaiser belted a 2-run home run over the fence in right center in the bottom of the third inning that gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead.

“In both of those at-bats I got a fastball over the plate,” Kaiser said.

SEE BASEBALL, P25

Dakota Ridge junior Jack Libby, left, is able to avoid the tag attempt from Arvada West senior Mason Hagel-Pitt during the second PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS inning April 26 at Dakota Ridge High School.

Arvada Press 25

May 5, 2022

FROM PAGE 24

“I was able to put a perfect swing on them.”

Sophomore Cade Collins started the scoring in the 3-run third inning for Dakota Ridge (9-8, 4-1 in 5A Jeffco).

Collins laced an RBI triple down the first base line to score junior Brady Hoos. Kaiser drove in Collins two batters later with his second home run of the season.

“That was a poorly played game on our part,” Legault admitted. “We didn’t have our bats and we didn’t have complete focus today, but good teams find a way to win and we are a confident team right now.”

Dakota Ridge batters struck out 13 times, but the pitching tandem of starter Connor Doolittle and reliever Jack Libby were able to limit A-West to just three runs on seven hits.

Doolittle went five innings, giving up all three runs in the top of the fourth inning.

A-West freshman Jordan Hamblin and senior Zach Quimby drove in runs for the Wildcats (12-7, 3-3) in the fourth where A-West tied thing up 3-3.

Libby took the mound in the sixth inning and gave up just one hit.

A-West threatened in the top of the

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

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools.

For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.

Answers

Solution © 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

BASEBALL

eighth inning, but senior Jaxon Gray was tagged out at the plate trying to score after a wide throw to third base from the outfield.

Libby struck out Hamblin to end the threat and give Dakota Ridge the opportunity for the walk-off win in the bottom half of the inning.

“Jack (Libby) has had to step up and he has. He did against Columbine and then threw well again today,” Legault said. “I’m pleased with him.”

A-West got a quality start from junior Tobey Cassino and junior Tucker Deal had six strikeouts in his three innings in relief before giving up the game-winning double by Kaiser.

“It’s Jeffco League and we know it’s going to be crazy every single game,” Legault said. “Every single team is in the mix and it’s a battle every single game.”

Dakota Ridge grabbed another 1-run victory April 30 with a big 5-4 win over Valor Christian. The league title could come down to the final day of conference play when rival Chatfield (8-9-1, 4-1) host Dakota Ridge at noon Saturday, May 7.

THANKS for

PLAYING!

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26 Arvada Press

May 5, 2022

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•Take in orders for legal notices to publish in our weekly publications. Format and schedule orders properly for production and record-keeping purposes using ad management software.

•Flow ad files onto pages for insertion into weekly publications using design software (will train in InDesign) •Proof pages to ensure accuracy •Act as customer service representative for both AR and legal notice publishing process Preferred skills: •Experience in accounts receivable preferable •Superior attention to detail •Ability to build and maintain solid customer relationships with professionalism and speed •Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs Once the candidate is fully trained this job can be performed part in-office (in Englewood) and part remote. Starting pay $14.50-$16.50/hour.

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Arvada Press 27

May 5, 2022

COLORADO COMMUNIT Y MEDIA

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Arvada Press 29

May 5, 2022

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30 Arvada Press

May 5, 2022

Attempt to stop water speculation is circling the drain Colorado lawmakers don’t have appetite for hurting farmers’ ability to sell

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

A move to dry up water speculation once and for all in Colorado ended at the legislature despite intense supply pressures from drought and water developers, as lawmakers said they’re loath to hurt farmers’ ability to sell their most valuable asset.

The Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee tabled the anti-speculation bill after first accepting an amendment to turn it into a betweensessions study of the problem.

Technically, the measure could be revived, but the bill’s sponsors say the issue is over for this year.

As the headwaters of the most important rivers in the West, serving tens of millions of people Colorado “is the prime target” for water speculators, said sponsor Sen. Don Coram, R-Montrose.

“There is a real danger of those billion-dollar funds SEE WATER, P31

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Arvada Press 31

May 5, 2022

WATER

ing more water into rivers for recreation.

Water courts require those filing for a new use of a water right to show they have a customer for the new beneficial use. But there’s not a clear agreement on when legal brokering looks more like a speculative transaction.

State water experts say unanswered questions include how long a water buyer has to use the right before selling it to another party without the deal being considered an illegal flip.

There is also no clear consequence if a buyer later changes the use of the water that they expressed when acquiring the water right.

The bill backed by Coram and Sen. Kerry Donovan, a Vail Democrat, aimed to target situations where a water right is purchased specifically with the intent to make a profit in a later sale or transaction.

Coram claimed in backing the bill last week that it’s already happening. He pointed to Water Asset Management, an out-ofstate investor that has bought up shares in the Grand Valley Water Users Association. The

FROM PAGE 30

coming in and taking possession of that water,” Coram told the committee last week.

Lawmakers and water conservation district representatives who work with farmers countered that water courts already prevent outright speculation, and that making sale of water rights harder would be a blow to the biggest property right that state farmers and ranchers possess. The biggest issue for farmers right now, they said, is competing with wealthy cities for a limited water supply.

“We don’t see speculation,” said Joe Frank, director of the Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District in northeastern Colorado. “Instead we see pressure from municipal providers buying up agricultural supply for future dryups.”

Colorado already has antispeculation laws that require people to put their water rights to “beneficial use,” such as irrigating a farm, delivering tap water for a city, or releas-

New York investor currently leases the water rights back to local farmers, has said it is involved in agriculture for the long term, and has worked on water conservation improvements. But Coram said there’s little to stop the investor from getting paid by downstream states to let the water flow down the Colorado River instead of watering in-state crops.

Those wanting to curb speculation also bring up the San Luis Valley, where private investors from the Front Range want to use well water rights they’ve bought up to pipe over to Douglas County or other fastgrowing suburban buyers.

“Somehow, somewhere, we need to put the guardrails on to protect the water for the people of Colorado,” Coram said. He noted he has worked on antispeculation legislation unsuccessfully since 2019, and that at the current pace, the legislature won’t do anything until “after the water has already left the state.”

Donovan said increasing drought and growth pressures threaten Colorado with a compact call in coming years, mean-

ing state or federal authorities will cut off local uses of Colorado River water to satisfy agreements with Lower Basin states like California, Nevada and Arizona. When Colorado needs to find water in a compact call, Donovan said, the state should not “find ourselves negotiating in a time of crisis with someone who just wants the highest price.”

Coloradans are understandably nervous, she added, about curtailing the assets of farmers, and she understands that “water always takes a long time to figure out.” But she was disappointed, she said, that even the amendment for further legislative study couldn’t move forward.

“I was hopeful that by having a bill we’d force conversation,” she said.

to the outdoor industry and education.

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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.

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.

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and non-partisan journalism. It covers everything from politics and culture

The Colorado Sun is a journalistowned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself.

In this way, The Sun contributes to

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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, June 6, 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

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

proposed ordinance and thereafter will consider it for final passage and adoption. 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.

First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 5, 2022 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

CB 22-054 An Ordinance Rezoning Certain Land Within the City of Arvada for Howard Ranch, a 13.11-acre Parcel of Land from City of Arvada RA- Residential Agricultural District to City of Arvada R6- Residential 6 District and Amending the Official Zoning Maps of the City of Arvada, Colorado, generally located at 14760 W 64th Ave

The following resolution can be viewed in its entirety in electronic form by going to www.arvada. org/legalnotices and clicking on Current Legal Notices. The full text version is also available in printed form in the City Clerk’s office. Contact 720.898.7550 if you have questions.

Legal Notice No. 413901

Public Notice NOTICE OF ANNEXATION PETITION ACCEPTANCE

R22-026 A Resolution Accepting an Annexation Petition Concerning 7850 Alkire Street, Finding

Said Petition Substantially Compliant with C.R.S. 31-12-107(1), and Setting a Public Hearing for June 6, 2022, 6:15 P.M. for City Council to Determine Whether the Area Meets the Requirements of C.R.S. 31-12-104 and 105, and Is Considered Eligible for Annexation.

Ordinance #4799 An Ordinance Authorizing an Intergovernmental Agreement By And Between the State of Colorado Acting by and through the Department of Transportation and the City of Arvada Pertaining to the Secrest Elementary Safe Routes to School (CDOT Project No. 24677).

Legal Notice No. 413792 First Publication: April 21, 2022 Last Publication: May 12, 2022 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

Ordinance #4800 An Ordinance Amending and Restating in its Entirety the Police Money Purchase Retirement Plan now Known as the City of Arvada Police Retirement Plan.

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 May 2, 2022:

Legal Notice No. 413902 First Publication: May 5, 2022 Last Publication: May 5, 2022 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

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Arvada Legals 5.5.22 * 1

32 Arvada Press

May 5, 2022

For teens, nothing serves up an addiction like flavored tobacco.

Tobacco companies sell kid-friendly flavors, from Cherry Dynamite to Donut to Menthol. Over 2 million kids use e-cigarettes, and 85% use flavors. More than 1 in 4 Colorado high school students are hooked.

We’re asking legislators to end the sale of flavored tobacco that the industry has used to addict our kids.

Let’s put our kids’ health over Big Tobacco’s profits.

PROTECT OUR KIDS. END THE SALE OF ALL FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

PAID FOR BY TOBACCO-FREE KIDS ACTION FUND