Arvada Press 110322

Grand jury to investigate Christian Glass case

5th Judicial DA presents o cer-involved shooting case to a grand jury

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum announced on Oct. 26 that she will be presenting the officer-involved shooting of Christian Glass to the Fifth Judicial Grand Jury.

The DA’s office has been investigating the death of Boulder man Christian Glass that took place on June 10, 2022 in Silver Plume.

The DA’s investigation has been in collaboration with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and other state, local and federal agencies.

“After a comprehensive investigation, I now intend to bring this matter to the grand jury which, at my request, is scheduled to convene multiple times during the month of

PHOTOS BY RYLEE DUNN

Kratom Café o ers locally sourced alternative remedies

Arvada’s Alternative Apothecary/Kratom

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Nick Moodley got into a motorcycle accident a few years ago, he opted to take a homeopathic approach to recovery. Wary of the addiction risk that opiate painkillers pose, Moodley tried kratom.

“Some of my friends introduced me to it,” Moodley said. “Because we had heard about it and just got curious and wanted to try. (After my accident) I didn’t want to risk any type of potential addiction or dependency. As soon as I could transition off what they prescribed me I did so to minimize any potential risk.”

Moodley’s approach worked wonders — despite losing all of the cartilage in his knee and developing arthritis from the accident, he’s been able to resume hobbies like hiking — and wanted to help others utilize the same treatment approach if they so choose.

In 2020, he founded the Alternative Apothecary/Kratom Café just outside of Olde Town Arvada, located at 7701 Ralston Road Unit A, Arvada, CO 80002. The shop is divided into two sides; the Alternative Apoth-

artisan soap, while the Kratom Café specializes in its namesake.

Jessi Issa, the shop’s sales and marketing manager, said the shop seeks to educate people on the benefit of herbal remedies and dispel misconceptions about their products, including kratom.

“A lot of people think (kratom’s) a drug — it’s a derivative of the coffee plant,” Issa said. “It gives you ener-

“Kratom seems to be the most stigmatized,” Moodley said. “Most people think that it’s just for exaddicts or people who are addicted to opiates. I don’t think that quite sums it up. I would say a lot of older people use kratom as a holistic alternative because they have the same mindset where they don’t want to risk any type of dependency from certain medications.”

Moodley and Issa said they always recommend that customers consult with their doctor before starting any herb regimen. None of the products sold at the shop have hallucinogenic properties, but kratom has not been through FDA trials yet, leading to some questions about its validity as a treatment method.

Recently, Colorado’s state legislature passed a law regulating the sale and distribution of kratom. The supplement is legal, though both

to marijuana or CBD, which is it not related to.

Issa said the FDA has recently begun seizing kratom shipments at the U.S. border, despite there not being a law against having it. She and Moodley are sending out a petition to get the Kratom Association a meeting with the FDA.

Despite the misconceptions, Issa said the shop’s main objective is to serve the community.

“Our purpose and mission is to help the community,” Issa said. “We strive to be educational. All our herbs are local besides mushrooms.”

Moodley said he wants to open up treatment options for others.

“It’s helped a lot of people,” Moodley said of kratom. “It’s important for people who haven’t heard of kratom to open their mind to something else and find things that may or may not work for them.”

A soap display with herbs in the background inside of the Alternative Apothecary.

PHOTOS COURTESY JESSI ISSA

Co-owners Nick (left) and Laura (right) Moodley at the Alternative Apothecary on Ralston Road in Arvada.

Café aims to help the community heal

November,” said McCollum in a press release from the DA’s office.

McCollum continued that events like these must be properly investigated in order to seek justice.

The shooting has spurred public outcry in Clear Creek County, as members of the public call for police accountability.

The purpose of the grand jury is to investigate matters brought before it and return charges in an indictment if evidence warrants. McCollum said once it is completed, she will share the findings with the community.

What’s the Cost of Converting a Home From Electric + Natural Gas to All-Electric?

In several recent columns, I have promoted the idea of eliminating natural gas and converting one’s home to allelectric, using heat pumps for heating & cooling and installing a heat pump water heater. I have also promoted induction cooktops as an alternative to standard electric cooktops.

One reader asked me to provide information on the cost of making the conversion to all-electric, so I have done some research and can also speak from personal experience.

First, I asked Bill Lucas-Brown of Helio Home Inc., who installed the heat pump mini-split system at Golden Real Estate’s former office on South Golden Road as well as in our storefront in downtown Golden.

I asked Bill for a rough estimate of the cost of making a typical 2,000 sq. ft. home all-electric, and he responded with the following numbers and comments.

Note that rebates and tax incentives are available from the state, feds, utilities, and local municipalities that typically range from 15 to 30 percent off total cost. The following are costs without those rebates. Helio Home has a rebate sheet which it can provide to you.

Heat pump water heater $4,000

Cold climate air source heat pump $22,000

EV Charger $1,500

Insulation and air sealing work to improve efficiency $5,000

Ventilation system for indoor air quality $4,000

10kW solar system PV $30,000

Electric panel upgrade, if needed $4,000

That said, Helio Home’s average job is around $50,000. With rebates, figure $35,000 to $43,000. You can get a proposal at www.heliohome.io

Sadly, there are few vendors who are experienced and competent in heat pumps for heating and cooling homes. Heat pump water heaters are less of a challenge, because they are sold by Lowe’s and Home Depot, and you just need a plumber to install them and an electrician to pull a 240-Volt circuit to it. I bought a 50gallon heat pump water heater in 2021 for $1,200 and was able to do the electrical work myself because of a nearby 240V circuit that was no longer in use. The self-employed plumber I used charged just $500, and I got a $400 rebate from Xcel Energy, so the cost was less than the figure quoted above. The federal rebate taking effect in January under the IRA makes such a purchase almost free.

You may find it more practical to leave your gas forced air furnace in place and install a ductless mini-split system. A compressor (similar to an A/C compressor) is installed outside your home, and two coolant lines are run to wallmounted units in different rooms of your house. This works best in a one-story home. These same wall units provide

Sustainability Is Now Affordable

The Inflation Reduction Act includes rebates or tax credits for almost everything you can do to make your home more energy efficient, including going all-electric. Even the initial energy audit that I have recommended many times earns a $150 rebate. Go solar, and go all-electric!

You'll enjoy an Xcel Energy bill of $45 per month, including gas, during the summer and still under $100 per month in the winter thanks to this home's roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system. The address is 14165 W. Bates Ave., in Hutchinson’s Green Mountain Village, which is south of Yale Avenue and north of Bear Creek Lake Park in Lakewood. It has 3 bedrooms, 3½ baths, plus a 14’x16’ loft that could be converted into a 4th bedroom with en suite bathroom. It has 2,957 finished square feet plus an unfinished basement. This home is beautifully landscaped and updated inside, with hardwood floors on both levels, a gourmet kitchen, and a fabulous backyard with its free-standing Sunsetter retractable awning — great for entertaining! The walk-in closet in the master suite is a gem, which you'll visit in the narrated video tour at www.JeffcoSolarHomes.com. Open Saturday, Nov. 5th, 11 to 1.

both heating and cooling, because that’s how heat pumps work — they are like an air conditioner that works in two directions, moving heat out of your home in the summer and into your home in the winter. As the name suggests, they don’t create heat, they move heat, and they do it more efficiently than baseboard electric heating or heating that is generated by burning natural gas (or propane).

Instead of the wall-mounted minisplits, you can install a ceiling mounted “cassette” which functions the same way. That’s what Helio Home installed in our downtown storefront, and it works just as well. (Come by our office and I’ll show it to you.) I have also seen a wallmounted cassette which has a picture frame on it. When the cassette is running, the picture move out a couple inches away from the wall to move air.

As for an EV charger, the biggest variable is the cost of bringing a 240V circuit to your garage, which depends on the distance between the garage and your breaker panel. I spent less that $300 for

that, again from a self-employed electrician. Tesla vehicles have the charger built into the car, so you only need a 240V outlet (similar to your clothes dryer) to plug the provided cord into. Don’t buy the Tesla Wall Connector — it’s totally unnecessary for home use. Just use the charging cord.

Other EVs may require you to purchase a Level 2 charging station, which I did when I had a Chevy Volt. Googling “Level 2 EV chargers,” I see prices as low as $200 (Home Depot, 16 amp model), and several under $500. So your real cost depends on what your electrician charges. Here’s an idea: If you have an electric dryer outlet available close to your garage, you could adapt that circuit for your EV at minimal cost.

Another use of natural gas that you’re probably using is for cooking and grilling. You’ll really love induction cooking if you try it, because it is so much faster. Buy a countertop unit for under $100 and play with it. For grilling, we love the George Foreman electric grill for $100.

I did a lot of research for last week’s column about property taxes in unincorporated vs. incorporated areas, but I should have done more research about sales taxes.

Instead of researching sales taxes in various counties, including Jefferson, I simply said that “I don’t know of” any county-wide sales taxes. Oops!

I am well aware of the 1/2 percent Jefferson County sales tax which has funded our wonderfully extensive open space parks.

Readers did some research for me, and I got the following list of sales taxes in other counties. I’m not including Denver and Broomfield counties because those are city sales taxes and there are no unincorporated areas (that I know of) in those two city/counties.

Reader Gary Justus wrote that all met-

ro counties except one have a countywide sales tax, according to the website https://colorado.ttr.services: Jefferson County 0.50%

Adams County 0.75%.

Douglas County 1.00%

Arapahoe County 0.25%

Boulder County 0.985%

Clear Creek County 2.65%

Elbert County 1.00%

Gilpin County (none)

Most counties beyond the metro area do, in fact, have sales taxes, some of them substantial, such at Pitkin County (3.6%), San Juan County (6.5%), and Jackson & Lake Counties (4% each).

Colorado Department of Revenue Publication 1002 spells out the sales taxes which it collects for local jurisdictions. Some, like Golden, aren’t listed, because they collect their own sales taxes.

Jim Smith

Broker/Owner, 303-525-1851

Jim@GoldenRealEstate.com

1214 Washington Ave., Golden 80401

Broker Associates:

JIM SWANSON, 303-929-2727

CHUCK BROWN, 303-885-7855

DAVID DLUGASCH, 303-908-4835

TY SCRABLE, 720-281-6783

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

Sally Glass,center, mother of 22-year-old Christian Glass who was shot by police after calling 911 for help, is flanked by his sisters Katie, left, and Anna, right as they attend a candlelight vigil in Idaho Springs on Sept. 20.

PHOTO BY DEBORAH GRIGSBY

Grandview festivities on Trick-or-Treat Street.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Je co and Gilpin County to host warrant resolving event

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Active warrants for non-violent and low-level misdemeanors and traffic charges will have the opportunity to be resolved without arrest on Nov. 5 in the third Fresh Start event hosted by Colorado’s First Judicial District.

From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Jefferson County Administration and Courts Facility in Golden, people will be able to resolve minor cases that “traditionally involve arrests and court appearances that can negatively impact defendants who want to accept accountability,” according to a statement by the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office. This includes people from both Jeffco and Gilpin county.

According to Brionna Boatright, director of public affairs at the Attorney’s Office, 89 people have had their warrants cleared, with the 50 from the first event saving taxpayers about $37,000 by saving over 37 hours that sheriff deputies would have spent arresting those people.

The event began as a solution from the Criminal Justice Coordi-

nating Committee to the backlog of over 27,000 warrant cases in the jurisdiction, said Boatright. “Often people fail to appear because of the fear of being arrested or barriers such as housing, employment or childcare during traditional court hours,” said Jennifer Kilpatrick, director of conviction integrity and equity for the Attorney’s Office. “This event serves our mission of promoting safer and healthier communities by allowing us to settle these cases and provide defendants with the opportunity for a fresh start.”

Public defenders will be available to provide consultation to those that are eligible to have their warrant resolved, along with representatives from Jefferson Center for Mental Health, Hazelbrook Sober Living and Stout Street Clinic, among others, to provide information and resources.

The event also allows people with “non-violent, low-level felonies that have recently been reclassified as misdemeanors” to resolve their cases as well. Those who have been charged or convicted with an offense such as assault, child abuse, unlawful sexual contact or domestic violence are excluded from the program, as are people with weapons offenses and more than one case involving driving under the influence.

hange

Womanfor Change

Je co Sheri Deputy Vasquez

questions a driver at Tall Pines Condominiums.

PHOTO BY ANDREW FRAIELI

Nov. 5 will see the third “Fresh Start” event in Golden

Local actress tells her COVID story at Benchmark Theatre

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Finishing Benchmark Theatre’s “aftermath” season of plays representing troubles in our society, from the Jan. 6 riots to abortion access, is Suzanne Nepi’s “The Covid Wife.” Opening Nov. 11, the play tells Nepi’s own true story of helping her husband, Mark Nepi, through his hospitalization due to COVID-19.

“I think, as artists, one of our jobs is to respond to the immediate situations,” said Art Director Neil Truglio.

With that, the theatre wanted to show the issues people have faced during the pandemic, even with it so fresh in mind.

“In some ways, it’s exactly the reason we’re doing it, we don’t want to wait three years to talk about the pandemic,” he said.

Nepi’s story takes place two years ago, with her husband being put on a ventilator the day after

their 30th wedding anniversary. She explains that, at the time, people didn’t know many others with COVID-19, so she saw an opportunity to tell their story to inspire hope in others.

The process of creating the play started about six months after. According to Truglio, Nepi submitted the idea for the play to the theatre as part of its program where community members can submit ideas to contribute to the theatre — be it design work or a play.

“It’s all been such uncharted waters. Even some of these playwrights in Denver that I’ve tapped some information and knowledge from, even they’ve never written a play that was their autobiography that they had to perform,” Nepi explained. “I’m defi nitely being baptized by fi re.”

Truglio said he and Nepi started working on the play immediately, with most of it coming together in the last fi ve months and the bulk of the writing in the last six weeks.

“It’s a real process of, every day, ‘how do we make these words better, activate it, visualize that content,’”

Truglio said, adding that he’s been more of a partner with Nepi working on it.

The story being so close to home is a large motivator to Truglio for the theatre. Nepi is a local actress who has performed at the Cherry Creek Theatre, Aurora Fox Arts Center and Vintage Theatre among others and experienced what she’s writing about here in Denver.

“I feel all the time we see L.A. and New York having people telling their stories, and it’s so compelling and great, and we in Denver get to read about it. I think there’s something exciting to say we have great stories here too,” Truglio said.

As to performing these intimate memories and moments, Nepi said, “I’m sure I’m going to be a bit triggered, and to be quite frank, in the couple weeks we’ve been rehearsing, I had lines delivered to me that the doctors said during Mark’s time in the hospital.”

“Truth doesn’t always make for the best drama, so there is a push and pull on how do we make this sing on the stage while also staying true to how

it happening, and that’s hard,” Truglio elaborated. He said the trick is fi nding a balance. “We could make it really, really great, but if it’s not truthful, it doesn’t work.”

“People just need some inspiration, and this is an inspiring tale,” Nepi fi nished. “And it has some tough moments, but I re-

ally hope people leave with hope.”

The show premieres Nov. 11 starring Tanis Joaquin Gonzales alongside Nepi, playing her husband and all the other characters of the play. Shows will run through Dec. 10 and are at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees.

HEALTHINSURANCE HEADACHES

“The COVID Wife,” written by Suzanne Nepi and directed by Neil Truglio, premieres on Nov. 11 at the Benchmark Theatre in Lakewood. COURTESY OF BENCHMARK THEATRE

Coloradan organizing national Christmas ornament drive for Marshall Fire victims

Operation Christmas Ornaments

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Two years ago, Carolyn Nicolaysen rallied friends and family members to collect and donate homemade Christmas ornaments to families impacted by wildfires in Oregon, where her daughter lives. Since then, Nicolaysen founded the Facebook group Operation Christmas Ornaments From Near and Far, and this year is collecting ornaments from folks across the

and

hopes

country to donate to victims of the Marshall Fire.

ornaments from across the country and beyond — they received one donation from Japan this year — and organizes them into dozen-each sets before working with local organizations to distribute the ornaments to affected families.

is heading up the local charge to get ornaments to Marshall Fire victims this year, and said that she and Nicolaysen found that the sentimental value of Christmas ornaments makes losing them in a natural disaster especially painful.

of the things people really missed after a disaster were their Christmas ornaments and all of the memories tied up in those,” Burton said.

over 700 members — had a goal to collect 6,000 ornaments for 500 families impacted by the Marshall Fires.

On Oct. 27, Nicolaysen posted to say that reached their goal for the year, but are still accepting donations of ornaments for Marshall Fire victims and victims of other tragedies, including the tornadoes that damaged parts of Kentucky last year.

receiving Christmas ornaments can join the group by searching ‘Operation Christmas Ornaments from Near and Far’ on Facebook.

Operation Christmas Ornaments Near and Far met their goal of ornaments to give out to Marshall Fire victims. COURTESY OPERATION CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS NEAR AND FAR

96.9 the Cloud & The Golden Transcript present

Dignity Tuesday

Free Take-Home Thanksgiving Meal & Holiday Tree at BGOLDN’s Fresh Food Pantry - Tuesday, November 22, 2022

WHAT: Limited supply of Thanksgiving meals & holiday trees. Take-home meals include: turkey, fresh produce, fresh bread & pumpkin pie. Complimentary taco truck & flower bouquets also available.

WHERE: BGOLDN’s Fresh Food Pantry at New Hope Community Church: 16800 W 9th Ave, Golden, Colorado 80401

WHEN: Tuesday, November 22 at 12pm. Supplies are limited.

MADE POSSIBLE THANKS TO OUR NEIGHBORS AT:

Cloud, The Golden Rotary,

Golden Civic Foundation, Wheat Ridge Poultry & Meats, Village PieMaker,

Tree Services,

Styled Events & Floral, Colo-Pac Produce, Grateful Bread, Ramos Law, Sunflower Bank,

Real Estate, Hot Water Now, Torso Rags, Ambary, Ruffs BBQ

Less-obvious signs point to possible COVID-19 upsurge

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The omicron variant is causing milder illnesses than earlier variants of COVID-19, but Elizabeth Carlton implores Coloradans not to underestimate it.

“It still killed a lot of people,” said Carlton, an associate professor at the Colorado School of Public Health. “So it’s no joke.”

Coronavirus data watchers see signs of a possible upswing in COVID-19 cases in the coming months and are working to minimize the impact of upswing on Colorado’s health care system by imploring

Meet Constance

Cat (#263568): Constance is a 9-year-old, female cat. Boasting a lovely pewter coat, this sweet tabby came to the Shelter as a stray and eagerly awaits the opportunity to find a loving family that she can call her own, one that will afford her the time and patience needed to make a seamless transition to a new household.

residents to stay up to date on vaccinations and to take prudent measures to protect others if they become ill.

Reported COVID-19 cases plateaued in the past several weeks.

There are less than 900 cases across the state, down from surges in excess of 3,000 cases in June and more than 20,000 in January.

Colorado is also far from the bed crises hospitals weathered during some of the worst months of the pandemic. In late October, roughly 3% of hospital beds were in use by coronavirus patients, according to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment data.

But the numbers don’t tell the whole story, Carlton said.

“Reported cases are the tip of the iceberg,” Carlton said.

The percent of tests coming back positive has jumped up from around 5% in early October to about 9%. And wastewater data from the Denver area also indicates the virus is more prevalent.

Carlton doesn’t know for sure what’s causing it, but after two years, pandemic restrictions have loosened everywhere. The way people “mix” with each other is different.

“Not just school, but all the ways people gather is probably closer to pre-pandemic levels than it has been before,” Carlton added.

Spikes have been tracked in the fall and it is unclear exactly why, she said. It could be that the colder weather leads people to gather

more indoors. Or it could be due to changes in humans’ immune system at this time of year.

With flu cases typically rising around the same time of year, health officials are doubling down on their messaging about vaccines and haven’t ruled out that a more severe version of coronavirus can appear, as strains have in the past.

New shots can protect self, vulnerable Coloradans

Coronavirus vaccines don’t always stop the illness, but they may prevent a serious case that requires hospitalization. Vaccines also help protect people who cannot take the vaccine, like those who have imparied immune systems. Health officials recommend a mindset that minimizes risks for exposure to oneself and others.

“People who are at higher risk

of severe outcomes from COVID-19 or who interact with people at higher risk should consider their individual risk, which may include taking additional precautions such as masking and avoiding crowded public spaces,” said a statement from the Colorado State Joint Information Center.

People at high risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID include those older than 65, people who are medically obese or overweight, people with other medical issues.

For those who are infected, Paxlovid, an oral antiviral pill that targets COVID-19, is available.

Another form of treatment is “monoclonal antibodies,” which are given as infusions, either through an IV or through injections, like with a vaccine. They help a person’s immune system recognize and respond to the virus.

Coronavirus data watchers see signs of a possible upswing in COVID-19 cases in the coming months.

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

VOICES

Behind every victim is an advocate

Behind every patient is a doctor, behind every student is a teacher, and behind every victim is an advocate. Despite the chaotic and devastating circumstances of COVID-19, advocates of the Victim Services around Colorado have adapted to social guidelines, solved unfamiliar problems and flourished in efficiency to provide for victims across the state.

Interestingly enough, the Victim Services unit in Greeley, Thornton, Northglenn, Longmont and Littleton limited their on-site service to major crime-related cases (homicide, domestic violence, sexual assult, felony), sending a limited

number of trained staff to report in-person. On the other hand, units in Lakewood and Fort Collins responded strictly through phone calls for most of the pandemic, making the interaction between staff and volunteer advocates scarce.

Flipping the system upsidedown had both its pros and cons. It opened up the idea that services can be provided virtually, and made victims reaching out to advocates more approachable. According to the Victim Services of Thornton/Northglenn and Lakewood, victims who felt overwhelmed with crowds of people (including advocates) present during the scene were able to find time on their own, after processing the situation, and reach out personally. Surprisingly, as time passed, more victims began to prefer a phone call over an on-site reply.

However, as reported by victim

advocates in Longmont and Greeley, this abrupt change in organization led to a drastic advocate shortage. Masks and physical distance (as well as the subsequent removal of facial expressions and body language) made it difficult for advocates to discern the immediate needs of the victim. The Arvada Victim Services added that grants— initially given to the Victim Services — were shifted to fund other, COVID-related issues, the lack of monetary assistance forcing a change in various departments and volunteer programs. Most fatal of all, the boundaries between “work” and “home” began to blur. Phone calls about traumatic experiences would leak past working hours, and follow-ups about excruciating cases would flood into the private lives of advocates.

But while caring for a single individual is, indeed, demanding, the

Legends, traditions and stories provide framework and context to society

Iwas watching an old episode of “The West Wing” the other day, and a line rolled past me. One of the characters was talking about an overseas event that would, charitably, be described as an atrocity committed by an ally, and this character segues to a broader discussion with the line “But Brutus is an honorable man.”

People who were in school in the last millennium probably recognize that line. It’s from Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar,” and is used in a speech in which Mark Antony uses irony and rhetorical reversal to convince the crowd that Brutus was wrong to participate in the assassination of Julius Caesar. Eventually, the crowd turns on Brutus.

People who have been in school in this millennium probably have no idea where that line comes from, or what it signifies. That’s because “Julius Caesar,” and, indeed, most of Shakespeare, is no longer on the reading lists of even the most advanced literature classes in the public schools.

To wit, my daughter, who is studying to be an English teacher, shared with me a reading list for one of her literature classes this semester. There was, literally, not a single book on the list that I recognized, much less have read. Now, granted, this is a modern literature class; but I try to be fairly well-read, and that I did not even know any of these books in passing is striking.

Obviously, there is a value in the modern world of sourcing literature — indeed, all art — from broader origins than merely western European and American traditions. But, I would argue that there is some damage to be done when you abandon those traditions altogether.

There was an episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation” that demonstrates this rath…

Oh, like, what? You didn’t know I was nerd? The West Wing reference didn’t give it away? You needed the Star Trek thing to notice?

Anyway, that demonstrates my point rather clearer than I can. Captain Picard is stranded on a planet with an alien whose race only speaks in metaphor and allusion, referencing stories and legends so well known to that people that everybody under-

NELON

Victims Services in Broomfield, Thornton, Northglenn, Arvada (Jefferson County), Longmont, Fort Collins, Lakewood, Littleton and Greeley serve an astounding average of 287 victims monthly. That is hundreds of devastating stories and cries for help that are heard monthly by these people. Sacrifices of time, energy, and mentality are made to save the ones of those who need to hold onto it.

What this service needs the most is education. Education on who they are, what they do and how they do it. People should know what they can offer and why they’re here in the first place. Education on what they need, and what you — the public — can do for it.

Gina Jung is a senior at Stargate High School in Thornton who hopes to pursue studies in sociology and psychology.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Trees Across Arvada

stands immediately. It is only when Picard begins to understand some of the references that the two are able to communicate and create a plan to work together for self-defense.

If a 53-year old American were to have to communicate with a 25-year old American through similar means today, both of them would die.

I think it’s always been true that youth and grown-ups communicate in different ways, with different languages and different backgrounds. Once upon a time, I could reference the lyrics to a song by Journey or Billy Joel, and my parents would have no idea; however, my parents could reference Shakespeare, the Bible or John Steinbeck and there was a decent chance I would know what they were talking about. Common legends, traditions and stories provide a framework and a context to a society that lend it a richness that literal speech loses.

And which texting speech abandons altogether. Lol hashbrown, and then send it to the internet.

And we worry about our society splintering. We don’t even seem to make any attempt any more to share intergenerational stories. And, by

For over 30 years, Arvada has been a “tree city” and I love living in a neighborhood with large mature trees that paint a beautiful landscape in the fall. One challenge our neighborhood is facing is the age of these beautiful trees. Many of them need to be cut down from rotting, age or disease. Luckily, the City of Arvada has the “Trees Across Arvada” program that sells trees to our residents at a ridiculously cheap price! I just bought two more this year for our property, and I hope others join in! Not only will we be keeping Arvada beautiful, but we will help fight against those rising temperatures! Learn more here or scan the QR code: https:// arvada.org/explore/ open-space-nature/ trees-across-arvadaprogram

Lisa Smith, Arvada City Council

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HITTING HOME

Michael Alcorn

When no home is a ordable, where do you live?

It’s a common story: Candace McNatt of Durango, in southern Colorado, kept losing bidding wars to buy a house. She finally settled on a tiny home of just 350 square feet.

Henson to figure out how to create workforce housing.

WRITERS ON THE RANGE

McNatt works as an operating room nurse and is a single mother of two teenagers, one about to go to college. Though she landed on the home ownership ladder at one of its lower rungs, she’s relieved. “But this is not how I saw myself approaching the age of 40,” she muses.

The rent on her home lot is $650; her mortgage just $604. Combined, that’s about half of what she had been paying to rent an apartment in Durango.

These days, real estate prices in Durango, as in so many Western towns, have outrun most workers’ ability to buy or even rent modest digs. McNatt, for example, makes $85,000 annually, which places her at over 90% of the area median income in Durango.

A two-year-old study by Root Policy, a Denver consulting firm, showed that single- and two-parent households have begun leaving Durango and southwestern Colorado in droves. Replacing them are retirees and wealthy non-working people. That means businesses struggle to find workers as 80% of people moving into La Plata County don’t work in the region.

Adding to the housing crisis is the boom in short-term rentals, compounded by second-home owners snatching up houses once rented to students at the local Fort Lewis College. Fort Lewis has been scrambling for housing. Starting in 2019, demand for on-campus living skyrocketed, and this August, the college of 3,856 students placed 93 kids in hotel rooms. Thirty more were quadruple-bunked in off-off-campus apartments.

The town thrums with stories of scores of students living in cars and scouting for “safe parking,” meaning places where police won’t roust them out. Others camp out on public lands.

The city of Durango, population 19,400, has tried to help by limiting short-term rentals within city limits, and hiring housing expert Eva

ALCORN

the way, the next generation won’t have anything in common with my daughter’s generation, either, because that vast majority of that particular reading list isn’t going to survive 20 years, though some of it may be worthy.

So, can we maybe, … and here comes another radical suggestion … maybe, find a happy medium? Include the new stuff side-by-side with the stuff that has withstood, literally, centuries of scrutiny?

At a Durango council meeting last month, Henson said that only 169 housing units are under construction, while a thousand more are planned. Finished units for the first nine months of 2022 totaled 59. Meanwhile, a ballyhooed Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulation, which would allow homeowners to add “granny flats,” fizzled. Just two were completed this year, and potential builders complain that restrictions remain tight.

According to the Root Policy study, Southwestern Colorado’s overall housing deficit is 2,500 housing units. “Every town is short on housing,” agrees Nicole Killian, a community development director for the Durango bedroom community of Bayfield. Killian says developers plan to build 800 homes over the next decade, a 75% increase in housing units.

What everyone can agree on is that the area’s housing shortage began in Durango, the biggest and most attractive town, then radiated out to every other town within 50 miles.

“Durango has had a sales tax that funded parks and recreation,” says Mayor Barbara Noseworthy. “Now we need to redirect some of that money toward housing.” But the council is divided, with some members favoring a free market approach.

So far, the free market wants only million-dollar homes. McNatt tells the story of two clinical experts at the hospital, each making $160,000, who “have looked for a house forever. And he’s like, I refuse to pay $1 million for a house.” In the end, “they paid over $1 million and are now house poor.”

One result of the housing crunch, says Mayor Noseworthy, is finding people for essential jobs: “We have difficulty getting math teachers. If you can’t get a high school math teacher, who’s going to live here?”

Meanwhile, one housing solution in Durango has been Chris Hall’s Hermosa Orchards Village of 22 tiny owner-occupied homes, a gem of collegiality. Many of its residents commute to Purgatory Ski Area or Silverton seasonally, and given their small inside spaces, tend to congregate outside on their stoops.

On Nov. 8, there is hope for affordable housing, thanks to

Provide for the common understanding, while expanding the awareness in new directions?

I know. Call me crazy.

By the way, my daughter? The English major? Will get her degree without ever studying “Julius Caesar” or “Henry the Fifth.”

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.

Proposition 123 on the ballot. The measure would give grants and loans to local nonprofits to build workforce housing, and provide mortgage assistance to people like McNatt.

At the end of my interview with McNatt, she took me to meet a friend who lives in a storage unit. The box-like space was narrow, his

sleeping bag on a foam pad just fitting between a snow blower and a leaf blower. He said he was glad he’d found it.

Dave Marston is the publisher of Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West.

OBITUARIES

Beverly Shepherd of Arvada passed away on October 20, 2022. She was born on February 6, 1932 in Bostwick, Nebraska, the youngest of four siblings. She relocated to Colorado in the 1950s, when her family moved to Englewood, Colorado. Twice widowed at a young age, she raised her two children as a single mother from 1974 on. She was an accomplished seamstress, known for the beautiful draperies, clothes and the costumes she created. She later worked as a Trade Show Manager for 20 years, producing shows such as the Sports, Boat and Travel Show and the Garden and Home Show.

After her retirement in 1999, she found great joy in Saturday night sleepovers with her two grandsons, Andrew and Mason. Her church

was important to her and she served as a volunteer receptionist for the o ce, supported seniors in assisted living facilities as a part of the Sewing Club, and volunteered for the Arvada Food Bank backpack program. She enjoyed other church activities including Primetimers and she was a long-time member of the Priscilla Circle in Presbyterian Women. Beverly was positive, kind, caring and generous. She is survived by her two children, Myla (Dan Cheezum) and Greg (Wanda) and her two grandsons, Andrew and Mason. Services will be held at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arvada on November 5, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. She will be interred at Ft. Logan in a family ceremony the following week.

Faith Peters passed away on her 79th birthday. A longtime Arvada resident, she relocated to Denver for the last 10 years of her life, and was well-cared for during a long illness. Faith was born and raised in upstate NY, earned a master’s in art history, and devoted her career to teaching art in the Denver area. She was enthusiastically involved in her United Methodist community

for decades, and was a beloved friend to many. Faith is survived by her daughters Anne and Amy Tegtmeier, and granddaughter Lily DeMatteis, who love and miss her deeply. Memorial service will be held at 10 am on Saturday 11/5/22 at Arvada United Methodist Church, all friends welcome.

SHEPHERD

Beverly Shepherd

February 6, 1932 - October 20, 2022

PETERS

Faith Anne “Fay” Peters

October 10, 1943 - October 10, 2022

Dave Marston

Candace McNatt with her dog at Oasis Park in Durango. The tiny home part of the park is called tiny town.

COURTESY PHOTO

BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

On Sept. 4, Chileans across the world anxiously checked their social media feeds and Whatsapp group chats, wondering about the future of their country. Would Chile adopt a new constitution?

The answer fl ashed across their phone screens that evening. In an overwhelming referendum result, about 62% of the population of Chile voted to reject what would have been one of the most progressive constitutions in the world.

In Santiago, supporters of the new constitution comforted each other in sadness while those who opposed it waved celebratory fl ags in the streets.

Meanwhile, Chileans in Colorado mourned and celebrated from over 5,000 miles away.

Pame Bradford, who works in Fort Collins Public Schools, was happy voters rejected the draft. An Aurora-based artist named Adolfo Romero, on the other hand, said the result felt like a deep blow to his heart.

Considering their opposing views on one of the most pivotal referendums in Chile’s democratic history, it may come as a surprise that Romero and Bradford are siblings.

Although they grew up under the same roof, the two Colorado-based Chileans have different opinions on what will cure their country’s ailments going forward.

From Chile to Colorado

When Romero was in high school and Bradford had recently fi nished, their family moved from Arica, a city in northern Chile, to the capital of Santiago.

Attending high school in Santiago among politically active peers was

a formative experience for Romero.

Although he does not identify with a particular party, he said his political beliefs are left-leaning.

beliefs are left-leaning.

Bradford, on the other hand, was she focused on “things with disci-

less interested in politics. She said she focused on “things with discipline” growing up, such as sports and martial arts.

When she was 25 years old, Bradford moved to the U.S.

“It might be kind of cheesy, but I moved because I felt that I was going to fi nd love here,” she said. “I actually did fi nd it.”

After traveling for a few years, she met her husband and settled down in his home state of Colorado. In 2008, her parents moved to the U.S. Romero followed suit in 2014 to be

her parents moved to the U.S. Romero followed suit in 2014 to be near his family.

The social explosion

On Oct. 18, 2019, an increase in the metro fare sparked massive demonstrations in Santiago.

On Oct. 18, 2019, an increase massive demonstra-

Both Bradford and Romero watched from afar.

This was the beginning of a nationwide sociopolitical movement referred to as the “ estallido social ” or the “social explosion.”

For months, protesters demanded changes in economic and social policies that had been in place since the country’s military dictatorship, which ended in 1990.

The estallido was a frightening time for some Chileans. Bradford said she was concerned as protesters burned metro stations and destroyed private property.

“I was really distraught… I mean, we are really connected to the country and when you see bad things happening, it affects you here,” she said. “I know we could have come up with better ways to do it… the reasons might be good, but not the way it was

Protesters climb a statue in Santiago’s central plaza under the watchful eye of a military helicopter.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

CUT OUT: Adolfo Romero with his sisters Pame Bradford, right, and Leslie Romero, left.

presented.”

Romero, unlike his sister, said he was hopeful when the demonstrations began. After being involved in community movements for most of his life, it felt like his country was fi nally awakening to its problems.

“One of the conversations that I used to have with my friends was, ‘Damn, when are the people gonna be awake? When are the people gonna react to these conditions in this country?’” he said. “Finally, it happened in 2019.”

Although he wishes political change were achievable through “just talking,” Romero said it’s sometimes necessary for people to take to the streets.

But Chileans who went to the streets were met with excessive force from police, according to the Human Rights Watch. From Oct. 18 to Nov. 20, in 2019 almost 9,000 protesters and bystanders were injured and 26 people died, according to the organization.

For Romero, the police response to the protests was the most tragic part of the situation.

“It was very sad… to see how many people got injured… by the police,” he said. “I felt very powerless.”

The road to referendum

The demonstrations during the social movement of 2019-2020 covered a wide range of issues, including wages, social security, water rights, education, healthcare, environmental concerns, gender inequality, indigenous rights and more.

As the movement continued, protesters started turning their attention toward a document that could address all of these problems at once: the constitution.

“That was the core of everything. That is the core that supports the model, that holds the entire system,” Romero said. “So when (the protestors) chose that point, it to me was fi nally the right pathway to get a change.”

Chile’s current constitution was written in 1980 under military dictator Augusto Pinochet, who held power from 1973 until 1990. After ousting socialist President Salvador Allende in a U.S.-supported coup d’etat, Pinochet implemented vast neoliberal economic reforms.

Under Pinochet, the availability and affordability of health care, social security, education and even water were largely driven by the free market. The 1980 constitution, despite modern amendments, maintains a role for private sectors for these services.

These neoliberal decisions bolstered Chile’s economy but did so at the expense of extensive human rights abuses during the dictatorship. More than 3,000 people were killed or “disappeared” under Pinochet’s regime and over 27,000 more were victims of torture, according to Chilean commission reports.

Still, some applaud the dictator for the economic growth during his reign. Others condemn his human rights abuses and point to his

A woman protests with a sign reading “No more abuse.”

On Oct. 18, 2019, an increase in the metro fare sparked a nationwide socio-political movement in Chile. Here, protesters in Santiago hit pots and pans in a common form of protest called “cacerolazo.”

PHOTOS BY NINA JOSS

Protestors in Santiago filled the central plaza to call for change. Formerly known as Plaza Italia, the space was renamed “Plaza de la dignidad” or “Dignity Plaza” during the social movement of 2019.

A protester on a lamp post waves the Chilean flag (top) and the Mapuche flag (bottom). The Mapuche are a group of Indigenous people in present-day Chile and Argentina.

economic policies as the root of Chile’s devastating inequality.

About a month after the protests began, then-President Sebastián Piñera agreed to hold a nationwide referendum to vote on the possibility of rewriting the dictatorship-era constitu tion. On Oct. 25, 2020, 78% of vot ing Chileans approved the deci sion to rewrite a new charter.

Voters also determined that a convention of elected citizens would draft the new document.

In a global first, the constitu tional body was required to have gender parity. In addition, 17 seats were reserved for indig enous populations, according to the National Library of Con gress of Chile.

In May 2021, voters elected a constitutional convention made up of 67% independent candi dates, many of them part of leftleaning movements, according to Universidad de Chile professor Claudia Heiss.

The nontraditional makeup of the body gave some Chileans hope when the process began, but polls showed a decrease in voter confidence in the conven tion as time went on.

After one year of the conven tion’s work, the draft faced its fate in a referendum in which all Chileans were required to vote. The earlier votes in the constitutional process had been voluntary.

According to the Chilean Elec toral Service, Chileans abroad voted to approve the draft but the overall population over whelmingly rejected it.

Both Bradford and Romero would have had to travel to another state to vote, so neither was able to cast a ballot due to logistics.

The draft

“Chile is a social and demo cratic state of law,” started the new constitutional draft. “It is ‘ plurinacional ,’ intercultural,

regional and ecological.”

The 388-article charter in cluded universal health care and rights to education, housing, pensions and water. Along with vast environmental protections, it implemented gender parity rules for governing bodies. It also restructured the country’s legislative model and estab lished parallel justice systems for indigenous groups.

Supporters of the document praised its progressive charac ter while opponents stressed the far-reaching and unachiev able nature of the constitution’s goals. Some opponents wanted to keep the 1980 version. Others said they desired a new constitu tion, just not this one.

In Bradford’s opinion, the members of the convention tried to take on too many topics.

“I do agree with some changes for the environment and things like that. But I think this propos al was covering way too many things and it became unreli able — people realized that,” she said.

But Bradford’s biggest con cern about the new constitution was that it did not address what she sees as Chile’s main issues. Specifically, Bradford said she was concerned about danger and crime in Chile, which she at tributed to a lack of control over

immigration.

“I still have all my extended family members (in Chile) and I hear every day what they’re suf fering. And those real issues are not getting addressed,” she said.

She also opposed the idea of making the state “ plurinacio nal ,” which means recognizing the coexistence of multiple na tional groups within a country.

“We are a united country there. I don’t believe that we should start calling each other something different,” she said.

For Romero, identifying the country as such was one of the biggest strengths of the draft. He said it was important to rec ognize indigenous nations.

“When we talk about ‘ plurina cionalidad ,’ we are talking about the recognition of their territo ry and their cultural autonomy, and that they are asking for the right to organize themselves in some way,” he said. “For me, that’s good. It’s the minimum that can be offered after years of colonization — the minimum.”

Romero also applauded the draft’s inclusion of rights to healthcare and education.

“The right to health care ex ists in various countries, and it works well,” Romero said. “It’s the same with the right to education… The people ignore it because they simply haven’t

lived (that) reality.”

Romero added that he thinks many people who voted against the new draft were influenced by misinformation campaigns about its contents. Bradford said she knew people who read the draft itself and still rejected it.

Delightful differences

For Bradford, the new consti tution was not the right move for Chile. But in Romero’s eyes, there is still hope for a new con stitution in the future.

“The process isn’t over in Chile,” he said. “It’s a battle that was lost, but the people are go ing to continue fighting.”

Despite their differences, Romero and Bradford say they are close. Adding their parents, younger sister and extended family into the mix, they are surrounded by a wide range of political opinions.

“We tease each other, we laugh, but we know we’re not gonna change our views — and we don’t want to change our views,” Bradford said. “We accept each other how we are and we love each other regardless.”

She compared their political differences to other differences she and her siblings have, such as the ways they like to relax and their tastes in music.

“You put priorities in life and family’s the first priority. Love — love for your family,” she said.

According to Romero, his fam ily’s differences represent the diversity that should exist in a healthy society.

“If I expect that all my friends think exactly the same as me, it will be me (who is) the problem,” he said.

Even when an entire new con stitution is on the line, he says differences are valuable.

“This is the base of a society, what society should be,” he said. “It’s a plus when you have a dif ference.”

Editor’s note: Some sections of this story have been translated from Spanish. Parts that remain in Spanish are designated with italics.

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‘We tease each other, we laugh, but we know we’re not gonna change our views — and we don’t want to change our views. We accept each other how we are and we love each other regardless.’

Pame Bradford

Thu 11/10

Scott Fowler Music: Scott Fowler @ The Oxford @ 5pm

The Oxford Hotel, 1600 17th St, Denver

Teague Starbuck @ 5pm

Mountain Toad Brewing, 900 Washington Ave, Golden

Evening to Elevate Educators @ 6pm / Free Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Boulevard, Denver

Justin Garber: Live Music on the Dairy Block @ 6pm Dairy Block, 1800 Wazee St, Denver

Fri 11/11

Silver Cup @ 7pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Sat 11/12

Denver Makers Market @ 10am / Free Denver Makers Market @ The Shed, 1625 West 67th Avenue, Denver. dmmvendors@ gmail.com, 720-525-5645

River Spell, Magno‐lia Grove, Clemen‐tine Was Right @ 8pm / $15

The Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues, 1624 Market St, Den‐ver

Featured

Vio the Violinist: FUTURESCAPE -

1pm

Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 1101 13th St, Denver

Lewis Texidor

live at Private Event @ 9pm

Event, Denver

Sun 11/13

Dave Abear and Friends Live at the Grateful Gnome @ 3am

The Grateful Gnome Sandwich Shoppe & Brewery, 4369 Stuart St, Denver SOM @ 6:30pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Mon 11/14

DJ Rockstar Aaron:

Colorado 2022 @ 7pm

Western Complex, 4655 Humboldt St, Den‐

Peach Tree Ras‐cals: Does A Fish Know It's Wet Tour @ 7pm

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

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Beth Orton @ 7pm The Oriental Theater, 4335 W 44th Ave, Denver Corsicana @ 7pm Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Den‐ver

Dave Hadley: Enigma Bazaar w/ June Star @ 7pm Enigma Bazaar, 4923 W 38th Ave, Denver Seb @ 7pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Hulder: Denver, CO @ 8pm HQ, 60 S Broadway, Denver

Darkoroth: Momma's Electric Monday @ 8pm Your Mom's House, 608 E 13th Ave., Den‐

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Carrie Underwood - The Denim & Rhinestones Tour @ 7:30pm / $39.50-$150 Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver

Joelton May�eld @ 8pm

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Wed 11/16

Jordyn Zubyk: Greyson Chance Palladium Tour @ 8pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

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Dave Abear's Live Dead Wednes‐day's at So Many Roads Brewery @ 9pm

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Colorado won’t speed up air pollution fixes

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

The Air Quality Control Commission has declined to push for speeding up state plans to attack ozone and greenhouse gas pollution, despite another report from the Environmental Protection Agency that Colorado is falling behind on its own mandates.

Environmental groups and local officials demanded that the governor-appointed commission add new ozone and greenhouse gas regulations to get Colorado back on track. But the commission listened to updates from state agencies last week and avoided reconvening a strategy subcommittee that could recommend faster-acting policies.

“We have a process to get to a plan,” said Commissioner Elise Jones, usually the fiercest critic of the pace of state air pollution policy. “I feel much better,” Jones said, after hearing state regulators list policy votes planned for 2022 and 2023 and a promise of new models showing the pollution cuts that various rules would deliver.

The AQCC had passed a resolution in 2020 saying that if emissions results showed Colorado getting off track of the goals, it would consider new actions to close the gap. Jones said Monday that new modeling of additional policy proposals’ impacts

A coalition that had pressed for faster action blasted what they see as the AQCC’s passive approach.

“No one from the Air Pollution Control Division, the Colorado Energy Office or elsewhere has answered the question of how they might meet 2025 emission reductions required by Colorado law,” said Chandler Green, a spokesperson for the Environmental Defense Fund and the broad coalition.

The coalition wants the AQCC to consider new limits on oil and gas drilling and production, strategies for reducing miles driven by fossil

The environmental coalition was hoping a new critical report from the EPA might give their arguments momentum at the AQCC’s monthly meeting.

The EPA’s state-by-state assessment of greenhouse emissions last year shows Colorado losing ground, similar to what state regulators reported to the AQCC earlier this year.

Major industrial emitters like power plants, refineries and cement producers in Colorado produced 42 million tons of greenhouse gases in 2021, up 5% from 40 million tons in 2020, the EPA’s tracker reported.

All it took for Colorado to see that setback to its greenhouse gas reduction was for the heavily polluting Comanche Generating Station to come back online.

“The grand champion worst polluter was the Comanche Power Plant near Pueblo at nearly 8 million tons of CO2, way up from its 2020 total of about 4.5 million tons,” said Ted Zukoski, a senior attorney with the Center for Biological Diversity in Denver. “The Craig Power Plant in Moffat County was the second worst CO2 polluter at 7.8 million tons, up slightly from 2020.”

Coal-fired Comanche was offline much of the time in 2020 because of major operating problems, and ran more steadily in 2021.

A resurgence in fossil fuel electricity in 2021 and a boost in vehicle miles traveled also contributed to

the state’s own accounting of falling

mandatory cuts put in place by state lawmakers. State law requires a drop in overall greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 benchmark levels of 26% by 2025 and 50% by 2030.

Yet the state’s latest inventory update showed Colorado will exceed those limits by 11.4 million tons of pollution in 2025, “even under optimistic estimates of what current policies and regulations will deliver,” the environmental coalition told the AQCC. The coalition includes 13 groups, among them Western Resource Advocates, Sierra Club of Colorado, Protegete, 350 Colorado and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

By the state’s count, the electricity generation and transportation sectors of the economy each put out 8 million tons of carbon dioxide above what the state had projected for 2021, the coalition noted. They also note that carbon dioxide emissions are cumulative, with all the excess between now and 2025 adding to atmospheric totals that have already pushed up average temperatures in Colorado and the West.

A slate of local officials and activists implored the AQCC to act faster on both ozone and greenhouse gases during the public comments preceding the monthly meeting. The commission also heard the annual ozone update from state air

One of the most prevalent causes of poor air quality in Colorado is ground-level ozone.

Blankslate looks ahead with ‘Summer on a Salt Flat’

For many people, college leads to all kinds of new starts. For Tess Condron, Rylee Dunn and Emma Troughton, their time at the University of Denver led to the formation of the indie rock trio Blankslate, which just released its debut album, “Summer on a Salt Flat.”

The group, which features Condron on drums and keys, Dunn on guitar and bass and Troughton on vocals, fine-tuned the songs at gigs around Colorado and beyond, according to provided information.

In anticipation of the album’s release, Blansklate answered some questions about their backstory, making a record and more.

Interview edited for brevity and clarity.

-Tell me a little about the genesis of Blankslate?

ET: Tess moved her electric drum kit into Rylee’s room in this chaotic frat house setting that had been turned into a live space for transfer students. Rylee obliged and suddenly they were met with the realization that they needed a vocalist. They texted our transfer living community group chat and I presented them with my vocals. Then we found a storage closet in the basement and did covers, and over time started honing in on a certain sound, and with much repetition;

COMING ATTRACTIONS

the genesis.

-What was it like writing your debut album? I found that in order to write these songs, I had to ignore the album concept a bit. I wrote them all completely differently, and for the most part completely irrespective of each other. There are some exceptions; “Little Love” and “a fragile thing” are intended to be twins of sorts, “Creative-Nonfiction,” “if this is Monterey…,” and “2301 S. High Street,” are essentially three parts of the same story, and “Seacliff,” is a sister song to “Westcliff,” which we released in 2019. But they all had really unique writing processes, and the ones that are “related” grew closer as they developed.

-Where was the album recorded and what was the process like?

TC: The writing process is so stripped-down that it’s hard to expect what the studio will do to a song, so it ends up kind of doing something different to every song. The album was recorded with Tyler Imbrogno of Eldren at Daymoon Studios over the course of 14 months. I can’t imagine a

project that has ever been more exhausting and rewarding at the same time.

RD: Performing in a studio brings a certain level of perfectionism and it can be hard to stay loose and play with feel in there, which I think was an area where we all grew a lot throughout the process. I’ve loved honing our live sound as we wrote these songs; all the iterations feel like they bring a lot of different dimensions to each song.

-Does the album have a particular theme or idea that you wanted explore over its tracks?

ET: It very much feels like the expanse of the album runs parallel to a lifespan.

TC: This album is designed to be relatable and an aspect of something being relatable is about its ability to go into detail. This album feels like it is about a specific time in someone’s life, but the details are different for every listener.

RD: I think there’s an idea of changing the ground you’re on and feeling mostly the same. All of the songs are set in really specific places, but the sentiment contained in them has common threads.

-All three members of Blankslate identify as queer - does releasing this album have any special meaning at a time

when LGBTQ+ rights are under constant attack?

ET: A lot of the representation for queer people in most scenes, including music, is very onebrand, linear, archetypal, so it always feels really exciting to plant new seeds of iterations of queerness and how that can exist.

TC: The fact that queer bands these days don’t need to exist only at queer spaces. We show up at a lot of heteronormative shows and don’t really feel out of place. It’s more of a broad reach compared to how it maybe used to be, and that feels like a really cool way to provide representation.

-What do you hope album listeners come away with?

TC: I hope the album offers a comfort for people. The best thing ever that could come out of this album is if people create their own stories out of it that they can come back to and feel themselves in.

Listen to the album, find upcoming performances and more at https://www.blankslateband. com/.

Author’s note: Dunn is a journalist at Colorado Community Media newspapers.

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

POLLUTION

pollution regulators concluding that Colorado continued to violate EPA limits on the respiratory toxin and cannot meet stricter regulations by a 2024 deadline.

“While we may not know all the acronyms, we know how our lungs feel; and we know about making the decision between going to work or getting lung damage,” said state Rep. Jennifer Bacon, a Denver Democrat who said she was speaking for the House Black and Latino caucuses.

High levels of lung-attacking ozone have “become a defining feature of Colorado’s Front Range,” said Tonya Briggs of the Lafayette City Council. The state is “putting residents in harm’s way” while waiting for the EPA to force Colorado into compliance, Briggs said. “My residents can’t wait another day.”

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.

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Clarke Reader

‘The nation’s report card’ shows big declines in math in Colorado

fell behind.

Colorado students posted the lowest scores in more than a decade on the test known as “the nation’s report card,” with the steepest declines in middle school math and with Hispanic students losing the most ground. And while Colorado students posted better reading scores than did students in 27 other states, that was largely because other states lost even more

The learning loss from 2019 to 2022 on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as NAEP, points to the devastating impact the pandemic has had on the education of children in almost every pocket of Colorado

While research has already shown that academic progress reversed, NAEP results released Monday provide the most detailed and authoritative accounting yet, with data coming from a representative set of students nationwide and allowing for comparisons across states and some cities.

“The results are appalling and unacceptable,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said. “This is a moment of truth. How we respond will determine our standing in the world.”

This year’s results reaffirm what Colorado education leaders and teachers already knew thanks to statewide assessments: Students

But parents, teachers, and students are working hard to rebound, said Joyce Zurkowski, Colorado Department of Education chief assessment officer.

“There are some indications that things are on the way back up,” she said. “But there’s work to do.”

What is NAEP?

Mandated by Congress, the national assessment tests math and reading skills in fourth and eighth grades roughly every two years among a random sampling of students — about 450,000 students in 10,000 schools in 2022. The administrators break down scores by state and for select cities that vary with each test.

Denver was one of 26 urban districts that NAEP sampled last winter. Outside of those cities, NAEP does not issue district scores.

Unlike state exams, the NAEP tests are low stakes for students, teachers, and schools. But the NAEP test offers a valuable look at the progress of the nation.

“We knew results would reflect historic disruptions to schools,” said Peggy Carr, commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which organizes the test. “NAEP results should give us all pause. They also remind us how essential schools are for our children and families.”

The state’s standardized tests are being used as a measure to see how students are recovering from the pandemic.

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BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

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BY OLIVIA

Ralston Valley gets the playo monkey o its back

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — A seven-year drought ended Oct. 26 for Ralston Valley’s boys soccer program.

The Mustangs — No. 8-seed for the Class 5A state tournament — grabbed a dominating 6-0 victory over No. 25 Northglenn at the North Area Athletic Complex. It was the first postseason victory for Ralston Valley on the boys soccer pitch since 2015.

“I didn’t really talk about it,” Ralston Valley junior Ryan Mann said of the postseason losing streak. “Today is a new day. We are a new team. We wanted to take care of business and that is what we did today.”

The last playoff victory for Ralston Valley was against Fossil Ridge seven years ago. The Mustangs came into Wednesday’s game with a 0-5 record in first-round playoff games since 2016.

“A little bit,” Ralston Valley coach Jamie Scarcliff said when asked if she felt like a monkey had been lifted off the Mustangs’ back with the playoff win. “I was anxious going into today. We’ve struggled in the first round in the past. It’s always tough to be the higher seed because there are always upsets. You don’t want to be the one who gets upset.”

Sophomore Cooper Hineline had a first-half performance to remember to get the Mustangs on an early stampede of goals. The forward had a hat-trick before halftime with goals in the 7th, 24th and 26th minutes to give the Mustangs a commanding 3-0 lead.

my career, but never one that quick,” Hineline said. “I’m happy. I’ve never done that in my career.”

off a direct free kick that he rocketed past Northglenn senior goalie Carlos Castaneda Rodelo. The next two goals were in the run of play two minutes apart.

“He (Hineline) is an amazing player. He is good in big games,” Mann said of Hineline. “He showed out for us today which was really big for our team.”

Rodelo made a couple of diving saves to keep it a 3-0 lead for the Mustangs (11-5 record) going into halftime. Ralston Valley junior goalie Evan Bierman keep it a

firing and get one to change momentum,” Mann said. “That PK was huge to keep the momentum.”

Ralston Valley sealed the victory with senior Pablo Molla Tejero’s goal in the 70th minute and then a direct free kick in the 78th minute from an unlikely source. Back-up goalie Donovan Meador took the free kick and sailed it into the top right corner of the net to put a perfect ending on the 6-0

No. 24 Liberty upset No. 9 Monarch 5-3 in a first-round game. The Lancers (9-6-1) traveled to the NAAC to face Ralston Valley in the second round on Tuesday, Nov. 1, after press deadline. The Mustangs took a 2-0 victory over Liberty in Colorado Springs during a non-league game back on Sept. 15.

“I think we can go compete with all of them,” said Scarcliff, who purposely scheduled a tough schedule

that included five teams that

5A state tournament. “I’m excited to see how we do. I’m excited to be taking on Liberty. We’ve got a tough battle

tangs are primed for a long playoff run.

“I think we owed it to our school. We owed it to our coaching staff and more importantly to ourselves,” Hineline said of the Mustangs moving into the second round of the playoffs.

Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.

Stutzman finishes 2nd at state to cap of prep XC career

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

COLORADO SPRINGS

— For the first time in four years there was a different face atop individual state podium for the Class 5A girls state cross country championships.

With the graduation of Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart — 3-time 5A individual cross country champion and current freshman at Stanford University — the race for the state title was much more open than it has been since Stewart dominated with state titles in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Valor Christian senior Brooke Wilson, who finished

second to Stewart last year, was that new face by setting the 5A girls course record at Norris Penrose Event Center with a winning time of 16 minutes, 59.2 seconds.

“This was my year. Riley is gone,” Wilson said of being motivated to win it after finishing runner-up to Stewart a year. “I just needed to dial in and go.”

Wilson knew the field would be tough led by Pomona senior Emma Stutzman. The pair were even at the 2-mile mark before Wilson pulled away late.

“I honestly wanted to drop her (Stutzman) at mile 2,”

Wilson said of her race plan.

“We just kept going. I knew when I had to go and better

go hard. Luckily I was able to do that.”

Stutzman finished ninth last year after coming into the arena running on fumes and suffering from dehydration. The senior came up short on winning her first state title finishing second in a time of 17:23.6.

“That 800 (meters) she just had a little bit over me,” Stutzman said. “Once she made the move I had a quick flashback to last year. I did everything to move it out and keep moving forward.”

Wilson entered the arena and the final stretch all alone to win her first individual state title.

Ralston Valley senior Pablo Molla Tejero (7) watches the ball during the first half of the Class 5A playo game Oct. 26 at the North Area Athletic Complex. Ralston Valley defeated Northglenn 6-0 to give the Mustangs their first playo win since 2015.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pomona senior Emma Stutzman, far left, stands on the podium after finishing second to Valor Christian senior Brooke Wilson, middle, in the Class 5A girls state championship cross country race Oct. 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

RACE

FROM PAGE 24

“I’m pretty happy,” Stutzman said. “I didn’t give up. I gave it everything I had. It just wasn’t enough. I’m OK with how it ended with giving everything I had.”

Stutzman and Wilson will likely go head-to-head a lot during the track season in the distant events coming up this spring.

“It’s incredible. We have been racing against each other since freshman year,” Wilson said of battling Stutzman. “She is such a talented runner. I’m just honored to race against these amazing girls.”

Dennis Pleuss is the sports information director for Jeffco Public Schools. For more Jeffco coverage, go to CHSAANow.com.

CROWSS UP DRO ELZZ

Pomona senior Emma Stutzman (253) sprints o the starting line during the Class 5A girls state championship cross country race Oct. 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pomona senior Emma Stutzman enters the arena and nears the finishing line during the Class 5A girls state championships cross country race Oct. 29 at Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs. Stutzman finished second with a time of 17:23.6.

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Colorado dip in math skills

The Colorado Measure of Academic Success, or CMAS, standardized tests show students recovering ground from 2021 but still below pre-pan demic levels in most cases. Similar to NAEP, the state’s test scores show particularly concerning drops in middle school math scores and draw attention to the impacts on students who transitioned to more complex material in a highly disrupted envi ronment.

NAEP shows fourth grade Colo rado math scores declined steeply. Proficiency dropped by one-quarter, from about 44% of students in 2019 to 36% of students this year. Eighth grade math proficiency fell by about the same proportion, from 37% of students in 2019 to 28% this year.

Colorado reading skills did not decline as much. On the fourthgrade test, 38% of students tested proficient, down from 40% in 2019. In eighth grade, 34% of students tested

proficient, compared with 38% in 2019.

In Denver, reading scores declined similarly. Fourth-grade proficiency scores fell from 32% to 29%, and eighth-grade scores fell from 29% to 28% — which may not be statistically significant — from 2019.

Denver fourth-grade math profi ciency dipped from 35% of students in 2019 to 28% this year. Eighth grade proficiency also fell, from 29% in 2019 to 22% of students this year.

In both Colorado and Denver, His panic students experienced greater declines in most grades and subjects than did other student groups. The pandemic pummeled Colorado’s Hispanic families, who have suffered higher death rates and more job losses. An estimated two-thirds of Colorado children without internet access are Hispanic, and many of them had parents working essential jobs and who could not stay home with them.

Zurkowski said learning gaps among Hispanics remain an area of “significant concern.” The state has some of the largest gaps in the nation between Hispanic and white students.

Students faced many challenges during COVID

The pandemic imposed hardships and barriers to student learning: switches between remote and hy brid classes, quarantines and other disruptions, spotty internet access, and general instability. Students also experienced major stressors, like parents losing jobs and caregivers falling ill and dying.

Melissa Snyder, a Cherry Creek School District fourth grade teacher, said student absenteeism has soared since the start of the pandemic.

“There’s a lot of pieces to the puz zle,” said Snyder, who teaches at Pine Ridge Elementary. “Everything with COVID is so much more complex.”

Lorelei Jackson, a Denver Lan guage School eighth grade math teacher, said teachers had to choose which lessons to teach and students are missing skills they would nor mally have learned.

“We wanted to make sure that we were focusing on what was going to be the most impactful for students,” she said. And now, “we’re seeing those gaps.”

A Chalkbeat analysis found mixed

evidence on the link between remote learning and changes in state test scores, with some correlation in math and fourth-grade reading but none in eighth-grade reading. More granular research has shown that students who experienced more vir tual learning tended to fall further behind.

The Colorado education depart ment didn’t require districts to report changes in learning mode, which sometimes varied weekly, but its staff did try to track who was in-person, remote, or hybrid us ing district websites and Facebook pages. Using state data, the COVID-19 School Data Hub estimates that Colorado students on average spent 28% of their time learning in person during the 2020-21 school year.

Melanie Asmar, Matt Barnum, and Erica Meltzer contributed to this report.

Jason Gonzales is a reporter cover ing higher education and the Colo rado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at jgonzales@chalkbeat.org.

it will stop releasing new e-bike purchase vouchers for the rest of 2022. The planned $9 million bike program, paid for with the 2020 climate sales tax, has “put 4,401 e-bikes on the streets and trails of Denver,” according to city officials, and cut the price of the average bike in half.

After overwhelming demand for the rebates when the pro gram first launched earlier this year, Denver had hoped to stretch out spending and pro vide more frequent opportuni ties by putting out monthly batches of vouchers. More re leases were scheduled for early November and December.

Instead, the rebates are com ing to a halt while city officials decide how much additional money to bring into the e-bike program for a 2023 relaunch. E-bike rebates were meant to

be only one part of an initial $9 million in spending that also included rebates on home electrification, including solar panels and heat pumps. All the programs are paid for by the 0.25% sales tax for climate pro grams passed by voters in 2020 and meant to raise about $40 million a year.

Income-qualified buyers can receive up to $1,200 vouchers to buy e-bikes from an approved list of Denver bike shops. The rebates start at $400 for those who do not qualify by income, though some local bike shops add in other discounts. An extra $500 rebate is available for more expensive cargo bikes used to haul kids, groceries or tools.

“We’re honored to be a part of transforming the way Denver wants to move around,” said climate office director Grace Rink, in a release. “We’re eager to bring back an expanded program that will serve more Denverites.”

Those running climate pro

PUBLIC

Legal Notice No. 415051

grams hope e-bike trips — fu eled more and more by clean electricity as the grid trans forms with renewable generat ing sources — will replace fossil fuel-driven car trips for work, school or errands. Denver, though, has still not announced a plan to formally measure ac tual car trip reductions. E-bikes can be pedaled like a traditional bike, but the rechargeable bat tery pack provides pedal assist to ease the work, or in some models, a hand-twisted throttle to accelerate much like a motor cycle.

“Denver’s success with their e-bike rebate program offers a great national model for how to help shift trips in cities to address air quality and climate issues, and solve for people’s transportation needs,” said Piep Van Heuven, director of government relations for Bi cycle Colorado. “The majority of trips in cities are a distance of 6 miles or less, the perfect distance for an e-bike trip.”

Denver has tweaked the pro gram to try to ensure lower-in come residents in need of new transportation will benefit from e-bikes, which can run into the thousands of dollars. Just un der half the rebates have been used by income-qualified resi dents, the climate office said.

Colorado officials are prepar ing details on their own $12 million e-bike rebate program, which will allow vouchers for those outside Denver city lim its. State officials have said they will consider allowing purchas es through online retailers or big box stores to increase access for rural buyers. That program won’t begin until early 2023.

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and cov ering 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.

hearing will be held before the Arvada Planning Commission

for November 22, 2022 at 6:15 p.m., Arvada City Hall, 8101 Ralston Rd., Arvada, when and where

may speak on the matter to consider the Annexation, Rezoning and PUD Development Plan for Sabell’s Filling No. 3, a 2.5 acre parcel of land generally located West of Urban St and South of 58th Ave.

of the public may attend. To submit written public comment to be considered by the Commission,

comments to cedboardsandcommission@arvada.org by 5 p.m. on 11/21/2022.

https://www.arvadapermits.org/etrakit3/search/ project.aspx?activityno=DA2022-0055.

Metro

Budget

AS TO PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET AND AMENDMENT OF 2022 BUDGET

WESTOWN METROPOLITAN DISTRICT JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Sec tions 29-1-108 and 109, C.R.S., that a proposed budget has been submitted to the Board of Directors of the Westown Metropolitan District (the “District”) for the ensuing year of 2023. The necessity may also arise for the amendment of the 2022 budget of the District. Copies of the proposed 2023 budget and 2022 amended bud get (if appropriate) are on file in the office of the District’s Accountant, Simmons & Wheeler, P.C., 304 Inverness Way South, Suite 490, Englewood, CO 80112, where same are available for public inspection. Such proposed 2023 budget and 2022

budget will be considered at a regular

to be held November 17, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. Any interested elector within the District

adoption of the

at any time prior to the

and 2022

budget, inspect the 2023 budget and 2022 amended budget and file or register any objections thereto.

OF PUBLIC HEARING ON

BUDGET

OF PUBLIC HEARING ON

HEREBY GIVEN

NOTICE

the Board of Directors

“Board”) of the LEYDEN ROCK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”),

on November

the Board including a public hearing on the 2023 proposed budget (the “Proposed Budget”). The necessity may also arise for an amendment to the 2022 budget (the “Amended Budget”). This meeting can be joined using the following teleconference information:

Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89815878839?pwd =ckhmamsveThXMUZBU1gwdm5pbmxCQT09 Meeting ID: 898 1587 8839

189576 Call-In Number: 720-707-2699

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Proposed Budget and Amended Budget (if applicable) have been submitted to the District. A copy of the Proposed Budget and Amended Budget are on file in the office of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 E Crescent Pkwy #300, Englewood, CO 80111, where the same are open for public inspection.

Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the Proposed Budget and Amended Budget at any time prior to final adoption of the Proposed Budget or the Amended Budget by the Board. This meeting is open to the public and the agenda for any meeting may be obtained by calling (303) 858-1800.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: LEYDEN ROCK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivi sion of the State of Colorado

/s/ WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law

First Publication: November 3, 2022 Last Publication: November 3, 2022 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press Public Notice

NOTICE OF HEARING ON PROPOSED 2023 BUDGET AND 2022 BUDGET AMENDMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2023 has been submitted to the Spring Mesa Metropolitan Dis trict ("District"). Such proposed budget will be considered at a meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at 5:00 p.m. on November 10, 2022 at West Woods Community Station at 6644 Kendrick Drive, Arvada, CO and/or via telephone and videoconference. To attend and participate by tele phone, dial 1-720-547-5281 and enter Conference ID# 356 252 237#. Information regarding public participation by videoconference will be available at least 24 hours prior to the meeting and public hearing by contacting Rachel Alles, by email at Rachel.Alles@claconnect.com or by telephone at 303-779-5710.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amend ment to the 2022 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District. A copy of the proposed 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 8390 East Crescent Park way, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2023 budget and the amended 2022 budget, if required, file or register any objections thereto.

SPRING MESA METROPOLITAN DISTRICT

By: /s/ Mark Entman, President

Legal Notice No. 415052

First Publication: November 3, 2022

Last Publication: November 3, 2022

Publisher: Golden Transcript Jeffco Transcript and the Arvada Press

Bids and Settlements

Public Notice

NOTICE OF CONTRACTOR'S SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that on the 21st day of July, 2023, at Arvada, Colorado final settlement will be made by the Arvada with T&M Construc tion, LLC, 5605 N Peterson Road, Sedalla, CO 80135, herein after called the "Contractor" for and on account of contract CSB-15-ST-30R, Project No. 15-ST-30 – Ralston Road Reconstruction – Upham St to Yukon St.

Any person(s), co partnership, association or corporation having an unpaid claim against said project, for or on account of the furnishing of

labor, material, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender or other supplies consumed by such contractor or any of his subcontractors in or about the performance of said work, may, at any time up to and including said time of final settlement, file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

All such claims shall be filed with the Arvada Public Works Engineering Department either by email, or physical mail (USPS mail or courier) as identified below, and must be received on or before 4:30 p.m. on the final settlement date referenced above.

By E-Mail (preferred) engineeringpermits@arvada.org

Physical Mail (USPS mail or courier)

Chris Lisberg 8101 Ralston Road Arvada, Colorado, 80002

Failure on the part of the creditor to file such statement subsequent to such final settlement will relieve the City of Arvada from any and all liability for such claim.

Dated at Arvada, Colorado this 17th day of October, 2022.

Dawn Krank, Purchasing Director

Legal Notice No. 414996

First Publication: October 27, 2022

Last Publication: November 3, 2022 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that disbursements in final settlement will be issued by the Finance Director at 10:00 a.m., November 15, 2022 to Fasick Concrete,Inc for work related to Project No. 2022 On-Call Concrete Replacement - 22-ST-12 and performed under that contract dated May 27, 2021 for the City of Arvada.

Any person, co-partnership, association of per sons, company or corporation that furnished labor, material, drayage, sustenance, provisions or other supplies used or consumed by said contractor or his sub-contractors in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done by said Fasick Concrete, Inc and its claim has not been paid, may at any time on or prior to the hour of the date above stated, file with the Finance Director of the City of Arvada at City Hall, a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

Dated this October 25, 2022

CITY OF ARVADA /s/ Kristen Rush, City Clerk

Legal Notice No. 415054

First Publication: November 3, 2022

Last Publication: November 3, 2022

Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that disbursements in final settlement will be issued by the Finance Director at 10:00 a.m., November 15, 2022 to A-1 Chipseal for work related to Project No. 2021 Street Chip and Slurry Seal Program - 21-ST-02 and performed under that contract dated May 18, 2021 for the City of Arvada.

Any person, co-partnership, association of per sons, company or corporation that furnished labor, material, drayage, sustenance, provisions or other supplies used or consumed by said contractor or his sub-contractors in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done by said A-1 Chipseal and its claim has not been paid, may at any time on or prior to the hour of the date above stated, file with the Finance Director of the City of Arvada at City Hall, a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

Dated this October 25, 2022

CITY OF ARVADA /s/ Kristen Rush, City Clerk

Legal Notice No. 415053

First Publication: November 3, 2022 Last Publication: November 3, 2022 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

Public Notice

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that disbursements in final settlement will be issued by the Finance Director at 10:00 a.m., November 15, 2022 to Triple M Construction, LLC for work related to Project No. 2022 Rainbow Ridge Concrete Replace ment - 22-ST-12 and performed under that contract dated May 21, 2022 for the City of Arvada.

Any person, co-partnership, association of per sons, company or corporation that furnished labor, material, drayage, sustenance, provisions or other supplies used or consumed by said contractor or his sub-contractors in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done by said Triple M Construction, LLC and its claim has not been paid, may at any time on or prior to the hour of the date above stated, file with the Finance Director of the City of Arvada at City Hall, a verified state ment of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

Dated this October 25, 2022

CITY OF ARVADA /s/ Kristen Rush, City Clerk

Legal Notice No. 415055

First Publication: November 3, 2022

Last Publication: November 3, 2022

Publisher: Jeffco Transcript