Arvada Press 030223

18 | ISSUE 37

Hundreds flock to Olde Town Arvada for Fat Tuesday

Housing complex for youth opens in Arvada

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Amid a growing housing crisis in Je erson County and Arvada’s contentious relationship toward homelessness, a new a ordable housing apartment complex, AVi at Olde Town, opened its doors to residents in February.

e complex — the result of a collaboration between Foothills Regional Housing and CASA of Je erson and Gilpin — features 100 one and two-bedroom apartment units; 30 for youth emancipating from foster care, 10 for unhoused veterans in Je co and the remaining 60 for people making between 30% to 70% of the area median income — or under $65,660 a year for a two-person household.

Fourth Annual Arvada Mardi Gras kicko met with Fanfare — Guerilla and otherwise

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e streets of Olde Town Arvada were awash in gold, green and purple on Feb. 21 to celebrate the Fourth Annual Mardi Gras in the historic district — just in time for Fat Tuesday.

About 300 merrymakers joined in on the celebratory kicko march — sponsored by CenturyLink — which featured brass band performances from Guerilla Fanfare (who’ve become regulars at the event) as folks marched from Carly’s Boutique on Grandview to Denver Beer Co. on Olde Wadsworth.

With all 12 band members in attendance — a self-proclaimed rarity — Guerilla Fanfare broke into spirited renditions of Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” “ e Next Episode” by

AVi at Olde Town replaces the Allison Village, an existing Foothills Regional Housing-owned property that had 37 units. Construction began on Aug. 21, 2022 and wrapped in December following major delays caused by issues with an Excel natural gas line.

e completed complex features outdoor areas, patios, a playground, a dog and bike wash station, free covered parking and common spaces CASA says it will use to provide support and selfsu ciency resources to the youth residents of AVi.

Lori Rosendahl, the chief operating o cer at Foothills Regional Housing, said her team completed a pilot program over the last few years that included 22 youths exiting the foster program. eir team found that more than just needing a place to stay, youth need direction and support in order to become self-su cient.

“It was hard to provide any real group support and wrap around,” Rosendahl said of the pilot program. “We’re trying to develop this program; at the same time, we’re trying to house these 22 youth all over the place. We learned a lot in two years that we might not have

Brass band Guerilla Fanfare gets down with the crowd.

PHOTOS BY RYLEE DUNN

Guerilla Fanfare had all 12 members for an awesome performance.

had the opportunity to learn until much later.”

Rosendahl added that the focus is housing, but also the need to cater to the individual or family’s needs to help them be stably and successfully housed by offering resources outside of just a home.

“Our ‘Aha moment’ with the pilot program was, ‘We’re going to really change our intentionality to person-based, family-based, instead of the square box of ‘Here’s a place you can live in,’” she said.

To that end, common spaces and kitchens in AVi at Olde Town will feature classes on managing finances, cooking and job coaching. Youth residents — the development aims to serve people between the ages of 18 and 24; that is not a steadfast requirement, though — will each have a service plan and a coach they’ll work on the plan with to set goals in key areas and complete the program, which aims to result in self-sufficiency.

“Serving older youth who are in child welfare or are exiting child welfare has always been what we at CASA Gilpin have had as part of our permanent programming,” Kristen Gines, Foothills Regional Housing’s chief people officer said. “This collaboration and moving into the area of trying to get youth into stable housing so they can start attending to those other things they need to do to be self-

sufficient adults, through our pilot program we found out that it’s really a process.”

The project was funded through a number of sources, including state tax credits, private activity bonds from Jefferson County, funding from the cities of Golden, Arvada and Wheat Ridge; Division of Housing grants, HUD funds and

some of FRH’s own capital and a loan from First Bank.

Gines said her team conducted community outreach and found an overwhelmingly positive response from people who live in the surrounding communities.

“(The feedback) was very positive,” Gines said. “I think the population and generation that’s coming in that resides in Olde Town Arvada understands the need for affordable housing.

“They’re seeing it themselves; knowing that we’re serving potentially their brother, their sister, their aunt, them, even, with an affordable place to live which they can put their feet on the ground, be stable and focus on other things besides paying rent, maybe their food,” Rosendahl continued. “It was well embraced by the community members.”

Rosendahl said AVi at Olde Town will be a great asset to the surrounding community.

“It is proven that healthy communities are those that people can live and work in,” Gines said. “We also know that many young adults who have transitioned out of foster care lack the safety net of parents to fall back on if they are unable to make it on their own, we are happy to be their safety net by providing housing with robust services on site.

“Our Veterans deserve the best housing options and we know providing housing with services gives them a greater chance at successfully staying housed,” Gines continued.

Youth and veteran units are available by referral from CASA or the VA only, according to FRH’s Grants and Communications Director Ashley Noel. People who are eligible to apply for the other 60 units can do so at the complex’s website.

A sunny chair by a window is outfitted with a Little Free Library and a checkers board.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

The complex features communal kitchen in addition to the in-unit kitchens each apartment has. PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Exterior shot of AVi at Olde Town.

COURTESY PHOTO

Common space at AVi, located on the second floor.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

DriveSafe Scholarship applications available

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Applications for the DriveSafe Scholarship in Colorado are open to high school, undergrad and trade school students in Colorado through April 2, with winners announced on May 1.

e winner will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship. is year’s prompt is “How has learning to drive helped you in ways you didn’t expect?”

DriveSafe is accepting essay submissions of 250-500 words or video submissions uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo with the hashtag #DriveSafeScholarship.

DriveSafe is looking for submissions with originality, creativity, fresh points of view, emotional impact, “realness,” thoughtfulness and maturity.

DriveSafe is the largest driving school in Colorado according to its website, with locations all over the Denver metro.

To learn more about the scholarship and how to apply, check out the website at https://www.drivesafecolorado.com/scholarship.

National Home Builders Association Reports on What Buyers Want in a New Home

In a February 14 release, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that the experience of Covid-19 and mortgage interest rate fluctuations has resulted in homebuyers sacrificing features for affordability. Buyers have also changed the features which they prioritize.

The NAHB reported that the size of new homes increased in 2021 as a reflection of the pandemic’s increase in work-at-home and remote schooling space requirements, but that house sizes fell slightly in 2022, as did the demand for three or more full bathrooms and 3-car or larger garages.

The organization predicts that home sizes will increase this year because of a predominance of wealthy buyers less affected than other buyers by the increase in mortgage rates, but that will change in 2024, if mortgage rates moderate and more buyers reenter the market.

“Home buyers are looking more and more to their homes to provide a sense of well-being,” observed Donald Ruthroff, AIA, founding principal at Design Story Spaces LLC. “They want their

homes to support their day-to-day health — physically, emotionally, and mentally,” as quoted in the NAHB release.

At right is a chart showing the results of an October 2020 survey of 1,240 respondents by John Burns Real Estate Consulting, LLC. The answers were in response to the question, “Which of the following would you require of a home for you to consider it a healthy home.”

Given that the survey was done only six months into the pandemic, it’s not surprising how many responses related to a healthy environment and lifestyle. The survey was done long before the recent brouhaha over the health effects of natural gas cooking and heating, or I would expect “all-electric home” or “no natural gas” to have been among the choices offered to respondents.

The survey results were included in a research report from the New Home Trends Institute.

The release also described a trend toward “biophilic design,” a term that I had not seen previously. Basically, it

Film Festival Expanded My ‘Woke’ Credentials, But That’s

I’m writing this column in the immediate aftermath of attending the Colorado Environmental Film Festival. I was only able to watch 20 or so of the 90-plus films featured during the sixteen 2-hour sessions, but I plan to watch others this week. (You can access all the films at www.CEFF.net for $75, which gives you seven days to view any collection you log into by Sunday, March 5.)

My favorite films were: The Sacrifice Zone; Wings over Water; Heart of Maui; Somehow Hopeful; Earth Girl; The Witness Is a Whale; and A Rally for Rangers.

Many of these films raised my consciousness regarding different issues facing humanity and America, which got me thinking about the term “Woke,” which is applied negatively against those of us with similar awareness of certain issues. In the parlance of the MAGA folks, I’m part of the “Woke mob.”

Obviously, the term is adapted from “awake” or “awakened.” One thing for which we can thank the previous administration is that the division it spawned awakened people like me to portions of

Than ‘Unconscious’

our history (and our present) of which we may have been less aware. I’m thinking of books like The 1619 Project and Caste, which taught me things I did not know about our nation’s sad legacy of enslavement and racism, which are at the heart of our great experiment. For example, I didn’t realize that the 13th amendment abolished slavery, “except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted,” an exception that was exploited throughout the former confederate states by convicting Blacks of petty or false crimes and imprisoning them so that the prisons could lease them to plantation owners to continue their enslavement.

Yes, I’m awake to many aspects of our history to which the MAGA mob is and would like to remain unconscious. I’m awake to the environmental injustice suffered by BIPOC communities close to the Suncor plant in north Denver, which was the topic of a CEFF film. I’m awake to the broken promise of “40 Acres and a Mule” which underlies the calls for reparations to descendants of the enslaved.

I prefer “woke” to “unconscious.”

refers to a preference for natural materials and environment. Lots of natural light and real wood finishes would contribute to such a feeling. It has been demonstrated that exposure to nature and natural home design reduces stress.

In November, 2022, the University of Maine unveiled its 600-sq.-ft. “Bio3D” home made using forest-derived cellulose nano fiber (CNF) technology to 3D print the floor, walls and roof. These modules were then assembled at a site on the UMaine campus. It is a ‘biophilic” alternative to the concrete 3D-printed homes which I featured in my Nov. 5, 2022, and Dec. 15, 2022, columns, available at www.JimSmithColumns.com.

The website ConstructUtopia.com, in a January 2021 article clearly influenced by the pandemic, listed “4 healthy home features that home buyers care about”:

1) Good indoor air quality. This is especially needed in a well-insulated/air tight home, where a suitable appliance would be a Conditioned Energy Recovery Ventilator (CERV), which I wrote about in my Feb. 9, 2023, column.

2) Quiet, soothing bedrooms. The report suggested “thoughtful lighting, better soundproofing” and a nearby “snore room” for the offending or the suffering partner.

3) Easy-to-clean surfaces.

4) Outdoor recreation areas. Over three-quarters of survey respondents said they were focusing more on their physical health, and nearly as many (69%)

said they’re focusing on their mental health. Exercise addresses both needs.

A September 2022 article on the same website featured a Mississippi company called Modern Mill which uses discarded rice husks to create a wood-alternative building material called “Acre” because one pallet of the product reportedly saves one acre of rainforest. Rice is a major agricultural product in the South, and rice husks would otherwise go to a landfill. Here are a couple pictures of the Acre product used as decking and siding, which, like real wood, can be stained:

NAHB reports a big jump this year in the demand for exterior amenities such as patios, decks and porches. Outdoor kitchens weren’t mentioned but could have been, from my own observation. Home offices also appeared on the list of most wanted features for the first time this year, again a result of the pandemic.

Donald Ruthroff (mentioned above) noted that by making homes smaller, more money can be spent on details and finishes such as a luxurious bathroom, laundry rooms, walk-in pantries and hardwood flooring.

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

a Good Thing — Better

A car drives during the fall in Georgetown.

FILE PHOTO BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE

Dr. Dre and other contemporary pop songs.

As folks marched and danced, Olde Town businesses got in on the festivities as well, offering up Louisiana staples and Mardi Gras specialties throughout the evening.

Olde Town Business Improvement District Executive Director Joe Hengstler said he’s excited about how much the event has grown over the years.

“This event has continued to grow year after year, and it is always encouraging to see the community come out in mass to support Olde Town and our small businesses,” Henglster said. “There was great energy throughout Olde Town Tuesday night with so many businesses offering specials and people really getting into the spirit of Mardi Gras.”

Hengstler added that sometimes it can be a challenging event to have in the middle of the week and in the middle of winter, but luckily this time the weather cooperated.

“I think businesses had a good night, which I know they appreciated,” he said. “We definitely need to thank Guerrilla Fanfare for providing such stellar entertainment and CenturyLink for supporting this event, as well as the BID board of directors who are always trying to find new and creative ways to support the District.”

While many local businesses

offered up traditional Mardi Gras cocktails like hurricanes and Sazerac’s — School House’s hurricane was the talk of the town — some took it a step further.

School House had a special crawfish boil that drew rave reviews; the Arvada Tavern went all out with gumbo, jambalaya stuffed peppers and beignets; Elevated Seltzer debuted gator bites and muffuletta sandwiches; po’boys were served at So Radish (vegan, naturally), Stix and Smoking Fins; Rheinlander Bakery served up their ever-popular King Cakes.

Local kids kick o the Fat Tuesday festivities and lead the march through town. PHOTOS BY RYLEE DUNN

The scene on Olde Wadsworth during Fat Tuesday.

Arvada launches Olde Town Parking Finder to curb parking woes

Modii — formerly Spot Parking — partners with city to provide digital parking dashboard

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Anyone who’s frequented Olde Town Arvada in the last few years can tell you what a headache finding a parking spot can be. The city hopes a new Olde Town Parking Finder — which launched on Feb. 21, in partnership with tech developer Modii — will save people some time.

The digital parking dashboard shows which curbside, off-street and paid parking spots exist in Olde Town. This includes parking in the city’s free lots, paid parking lots, accessible parking spaces, “no parking” spaces and live availability in the RTD Olde Town Transit Hub Garage.

Parking data in the RTD Old Town Transit Hub Garage will be updated in real time, while other spots will not, according to a statement from the City of Arvada. This means that if you see a “green” shaded area on the platform outside of the Transit Hub Garage, it simply means that a parking spot exists in that location — not that it’s necessarily available at a given moment.

The digital platform will also provide parking rules, regulations, fees and other pertinent information.

The city nabbed Modii — formerly known as Spot Parking — to implement the digital infrastruc-

ture for the Parking Finder. Modii has previously engaged in similar projects with cities of Denver and Colorado Springs, as well as four municipalities in Australia.

Users can access the platform on any device — though smartphones and computers tend to be the most user-friendly — and can filter by location, cross street, and time needed.

“The City of Arvada chose Modii as a technology provider for our curbside inventory and garage occupancy dashboard due to their ability to interface with different data sources,” said Derek Fern, Arvada’s travel demand management and parking coordinator. “The ability of their system to integrate the current parking technologies of our parking operation, and future technologies we may implement as the operation expands was a key component to their selection.”

The city will be able to collect parking data from the platform, the goal of which will be to optimize parking in Olde Town in the future.

Modii’s President Mark Frumar echoed the likely sentiment of many Arvadans, stating that he hopes the platform will save people time when they visit the historic district.

“We are very excited to partner with such an innovative city such as Arvada to greatly improve the parking experience for drivers,” Frumar said. “By making the parking identification process easier for drivers, we’re making their lives easier by giving them time back in their day that they would otherwise spend in the frustrating search for parking.”

The Parking Finder is free to use and can be accessed at arvada. modii.co.

Screenshot of the Olde Town Parking Finder, by Modii.

Arvada West students break Wish Week fundraising record

A-West students raise $7,500 for Arvada child with leukemia

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Hunter, a six-year-old from Arvada who has leukemia, will get to ful l his dream of going to Disney World thanks to the e orts of a dedicated group of people — the Arvada West High School student body.

A-West’s 10th Annual Wish Week

Meet Paws!

— a weeklong fundraising e ort the school’s student council organizes to bene t the Make-A-Wish Foundation — was held from Feb. 10 to 16 and raised $7,569 for the nonpro t. e funds will allow Hunter to go to Disney World, marking the tenth “Wish Kid” A-West’s been able to help in as many years. While Hunter was unable to attend the festivities in person, two former A-West Wish Kids, 7-year-old Taylor and 5-yearold Cli , were able to participate in the Disney-themed festivities.

“ e wish was a life-changing event for our family, and it was jampacked with rsts for Cli ,” Abbie, Cli ’s mom, said. “We found out that Cli can safely y on an airplane, ride rides, sleep in an unfamiliar place and ll his day with non-stop fun. He was so adaptive to these unfamiliar surroundings. It was so reassuring that we could do other things we’ve yet to do.”

Yaremi, Taylor’s mom, echoed Abbie’s sentiments.

“Our favorite memory on our Wish trip to Clearwater Beach, Florida was going to the aquarium to see Winter the dolphin,” Yaremi said. “As a mom, I treasure the gift of the family pictures we got to take on the beach. Our Wish trip was the rst family vacation we got to take together without any worry in the world but to have fun.”

Senior Sarah Lilienthal, the committee head of the Wish Week assembly, said she and the planning committee felt like they were making up for lost time this year.

some of the traditions implemented this year — like the talent show and appearances by past Wish Kids — will live on after her class leaves Arvada West.

FoothillsAnimalShelter.org info@fas4pets.org

Additionally, A-West students put on a “Best of A-West” talent show that drew substantial participation from the student body.

“Because of COVID, we didn’t get two Wish Week assemblies; in my four years I’ve only had two assemblies,” Lilienthal said. “ e idea was that for our nal one, we’d have a lot of control over what happened and being able to plan it. I’ve always tried to make change at my school… I feel like it’s just the reminder that just because I’m a senior and I’m leaving, it doesn’t mean that the changes that can happen are going to leave.”

Lilienthal also said she hopes

“I hope other student council members might take my ideas for the 15th and 20th anniversary,” Lilienthal said. “A-West has never gotten a Wish kid to come, but two other Wish families could come. It made it so much better knowing that still people did come, and it gave them reassurance.

“All of the kids we helped will get more time to have joy,” Lilienthal continued. “Sometimes joy is what keeps them pushing to keep ghting.”

Paws (272927) is a six-year-old female cat with the mustache of a Victorian gentleman. Sensitive and reserved, she warms up with a gentle approach, then purrs and flops into pets. Paws needs a quiet household with human friends who give her time and space to settle in. She lived with other cats and may like a home with welcoming felines. Paws is available for adoption to a household with kids aged

The 2023 Black Box Repertory Season is underwritten by Diana and Mike Kinsey

Taylor (center) — a former Wish Kid — and her family pose with Arvada West High School’s mascot.

COURTESY PHOTO

Denver Jewish Film Festival returns for 27th year

Festival includes screenings of more than 40 films from 14 countries

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e annual lm festival put on by Denver’s Jewish Community Center is for everyone.

is is something that Richard Cowden wants to stress. e Denver Jewish Film Festival is open to everybody, not just Jewish people.

“We want to attract more non-Jews,” said Cowden, general manager of the Mizel Arts and Culture Center at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center. “We’d love to have people from other cultures want to come in and see lms that are by Jewish people or about a topic from Jewish history or current a airs.”

e 27th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival takes place March 11-19 at the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver. A streaming on demand option for the festival will be available from March 20-29.

Independent lms are growing. is year, the festival received more than 300 submissions and is presenting about 40 lms from 14 countries, including full-features, nine shorts and one TV mini-series.

“It makes you realize that the lm world we see is just the tip of the iceberg relative to the amount of content

that’s being presented every year,” said Cowden, who’s in his third year of working on the festival. “Ours is but a sliver of the lms that are made.”

ing process, watched by a pre-screening committee, then a lm selection committee. And they watch a ton of lms before choosing the festival lineup, with submissions from all over the world.

“It’s surprising, the growth of lms

by people in Israel and internationally, Jewish lms and stories,” Cowden said.

festival at 8 p.m. on March 11. e lm is set in Paris in 1941 under German occupation. An employer, Mr. Ha mann, and his employee Francois “are forced to strike a deal which, over the follow-

ing months, will upend the fate of all concerned,” states the printed program.

“Ha mann has been winning rave views and awards from festivals all around the world,” Cowden said.

Another is a Polish lm called “ e Wedding Day.” It takes place in contemporary times and involves the daughters of a meatpacking magnate. e lm splits into two realities, Cowden said. Some of it is present-day, some visits the dark past of this Polish village.

“ ere’s a lot of going back and a lot of ash forward. Eventually, they become one,” Cowden said. “If people are looking for something day, it’s really fascinating.”

Cowden also points out “ e Swimmer,” which takes place in a parallel reality, where a young Israeli competes for an Olympic spot.

“It’s very fascinating, especially in the category of gay lms,” Cowden said. “It’s an interesting lm because it’s not like a documentary about an Orthodox kid who realizes he’s gay. It’s got an ending that’s unforgettable.”

IF YOU GO

The 27th annual Denver Jewish Film Festival at the JCC Mizel Arts and Culture Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver, takes place March 11-19 in-person, and streaming on demand from March 20-29. Tickets are on sale now, and are available for individual screenings and all-access passes. For more information, visit jccdenver.org/film.

Thu 3/09

Colorado Tap House 1st Anniversary - Thurs @ 8:30am / Free

Colorado Tap House, 14982 West 69th Avenue, Arvada. info@col oradotaphouse.com, 720-8268326

NAV: "Never Sleep Tour" @ 7pm / $20

Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St., Denver

Matthew Fowler: Morning ShowDenver, CO @ 8am

Realm Denver, 3851 Steele St suite 1393, Denver

Adrian+Meredith: Sofar Sounds - Five Points, Denver CO @ 7:30pm Sofar Sounds, Denver

Mon 3/13

Meet Me @ The Altar @ 6:30pm / $19

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Eluveitie @ 8pm Ogden Theatre, 935 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Morgan Wade @ 8pm

Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St, Den‐ver

Wed 3/15

Junior Mesa @ 8pm Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Denver

Sasha McVeigh @ 8pm Grizzly Rose, 5450 N Valley Hwy, Denver

EN7ROPY @ 8pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

4B @ 9pm Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St,, Den‐ver

Fri 3/10

N8NOFACE @ 7pm / $15

Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Teague Starbuck @ 7:30pm

Arvada Tavern, 5707 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada

George Porter Jr. w/ Jon Cleary @ 8pm Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom, 2637 Welton St, Denver

Sat 3/11

St Patricks Day with Brent Loveday and the Dirty Dollars @ 7pm Scruffy Murphy's, 2030 Larimer St, Denver

Altan @ 7:30pm

Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S Allison Pkwy, Lakewood

Sun 3/12

Anna May @ 4pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

The Cody Sisters @ 4pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Covenhoven - The Candlelight Concerts @ 6pm

Enigma Bazaar, 4923 W 38th Ave, Denver

Chorale Cabaret @ 7pm

Studio Loft at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 980 14th Street, Denver

Cinders @ 8pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Sasha McVeigh @ 8pm Grizzly Rose, 5450 N Valley Hwy, Denver

olen @ 8pm Lost Lake Lounge, 3602 E Colfax Ave, Denver

Meet Me At The Altar @ 7pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Tue 3/14

CW & Twenty Hands High @ 6pm Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Ave, Golden

Sidney Gish @ 7pm Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Smidley @ 7pm

Jane Goodall @ 7pm Bellco Theatre, 1100 Stout Street, Denver

Bktherula @ 7pm Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Welton St, Denver The Lagoons @ 8pm Bluebird Theatre, 3317 E. Colfax Av‐enue, Denver

Jelly Ellington @ 8pm Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Av, Den‐ver

powered by

Soaring utility bills provoke questions about our energy future

Co lorado has had a chilly winter compared to recent decades, but the larger question triggered by the rising utility bills is how the state’s 5.8 million residents will stay warm in coming decades. I see this story as being mostly about the future of natural gas.

Utility bills from November and December that in many cases were double those of the previous year have outraged many Coloradans.

Much of the heat was vented at Xcel Energy, the state’s largest utility with 1.4 million gas customers and 1.5 million electric customers. Black Hills Energy has 192,000 customers and Atmos has 120,000 customers. Other residents are served by municipal utilities or, particularly in rural areas, burn propane.

Natural gas explained 80% of the increase on an average utility bill, according to research by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission sta . Gas prices surged, caused largely by supply disruptions caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Prices have now moderated, but were responsible for 34% of bill increases.

Uncommon cold explained another 30%, according to the PUC sta research. For example, tem-

PIVOTS

peratures at Denver’s Central Park averaged 8 degrees colder than the year prior — which, by the way, was the second warmest since record-keeping began in the 1930s. e station was then called Stapleton Airport.

family had commonly gone to the mountains on Saturdays, but could not now because her husband was working Saturdays to pay for the higher utility bills. Others talked of lowering thermostats but were still being shocked by their bills.

legislation that will require Xcel and other utilities to hedge in the natural gas markets. ink of this as being like insurance, with an up-front cost that prevents big, big bills.

Allen Best

Russ Schumacher, the Colorado climatologist, says heating degrees days, a measure of the energy needed to heat buildings, rose 30% at Central Park. Xcel said its customers in Colorado used 35.5% more gas in November and 31% more in December than in the same months in 2021. It was the coldest winter in Denver in more than 20 years.

Some customers also started paying for Winter Storm Uri in February 2021, the week-long deep freeze, whose utilities had insuciently hedged their contracts. ey paid through the nose, and those costs are now being passed along to consumers.

is nancial pain was evident this week at the statehouse when Gov. Jared Polis introduced several consumers. One woman said her

For Xcel, the high bills were being paid just as company o cials informed shareholders that Colorado had delivered pro ts of 8.23% in 2022. at’s not exorbitant. Utilities commonly do as well or better. In the compact with states, they get monopolies, score high on reliability — and never take a loss. But this had produced calls for Xcel and other utilities to get more “skin in the game.”

Adding outrage was news that the PUC had allowed Xcel to pass along $2 million it had paid to lawyers and expert witnesses in supporting its argument for raised consumer rates. is equals the entire annual budget for the O ce of Utility Consumer Advocate, a state agency of seven people charged with representing consumers in cases before the PUC. Passing along such costs has occurred for decades or longer. Despite precedent, it’s a valid question to ask whether an imbalance exists. Polis, in his remarks at the Capitol, seemed to agree.

In the short term, we can expect

e broad question is whether we should, as Polis suggested, shift energy use to renewables that in theory will not be vulnerable to global price swings. One bill got preliminary nod by a House committee this week would require home warranty service contracts to allow homeowners to replace gasfueled devices with those powered by electricity.

ere has also been pushback to this drive to electri cation that one legislator from southeastern Colorado dismissed as consisting of “rainbows and unicorns.” at remark came during a discussion of a bill that proposed to prevent local jurisdictions from banning combustion of fossil fuels. Colorado has a sole precedent for such bans. Crested Butte last summer passed a law preventing use of natural gas in the remaining 100-some lots in that town to be developed.

Allen Best writes about Colorado’s energy and water transitions at the reader-supported e-journal Big Pivots. See more at BigPivots.com.

Ambiguity: Facing the fear of uncertainty

We’re on a journey of understanding our relationship to time, and how we respond to it. Last month I talked about Permeability, the third in my ve-part series.  is month, let’s look at what happens when you move from Permeability into Ambiguity.

Ambiguity takes hold when you have a number of possibilities of equal interest or magnitude in your life. What starts to happen is, you tend to lose interest, become apathetic, and become indi erent to those options. Your own passions seem to move away and outside yourself, and the world around you goes a little dim. You nd it almost impossible to grasp onto anything meaningful.

Concepts like ambiguity are a

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UNLEARN

curiosity for people, because most of us prefer to live in the more secure world of black and white, this or that, causes and e ects. We feel stable when an outcome is predictable and we have a grip on our emotional response to a particular set of circumstances.

It’s when our choices are too numerous and all have a degree of potential success, that our forward momentum can become unclear — you review them all until they take on a veneer of sameness.

While we all value options and choices, when you have so many

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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possibilities with an equal number of potential outcomes available to us, we can lose our inner compass — the one that tells us which direction to take.

Here are a few tools I use with my clients to help them move out of what often looks and feels like apathy, or the “whatever” mood we can get lost in:

Explore putting the spark back into your life: Try something you’ve always heard was delicious to eat. Go to a new part of town, walk an unfamiliar trail (bring someone along with you).

Get curious about uncovering the unexpected: When was the last time you were truly surprised? How did it feel? What is a mystery in your life you’d like to know more about? Try it!

Seek friends who are drawn to

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novelty: Get a friend to try a new Meetup with you. Volunteer at a charity event, look for new cuisine to try.

Play, nd humor and have fun: Get the game Twister, turn the sound o on a movie you’re watching and do the dialogue out loud together. e next time you feel like getting offended, try laughing instead.

Christine Kahane, NBC-HWC, MCHWC – is a Nationally BoardCerti ed Health & Wellness Coach, and owner of KAHANE COACHING (www.kahanecoaching.com), located at 30792 Southview Drive/Suite 206 in Evergreen, CO. For more information about coaching, or to write-in a question for UNlearn it! send your inquiries to christine@kahanecoaching.com.

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Christine Kahane

Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival celebrates AAPI stories

Proving the power of storytelling has been part of the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival since its inception and this year it is taking the time to celebrate all the voices that share their stories.

“Our theme this year is ‘Celebrating Our Stories,’ which follows last year’s theme of `Celebrating Resilience,’” explained Sara Moore, Colorado Dragon Boat executive director. “ e stories we’re sharing may not usually be heard or seen, which means projecting them on the big screen provides awesome potential for connection.”

e 8th annual Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival, hosted by Colorado Dragon Boat and Denver Film, opens ursday, March 9 and runs through Sunday, the 12th at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave., and the FreyerNewman Center at Denver Botanic Gardens, 1085 York St. in Denver.

e festival includes 11 lms, all of which honor the experiences of Asian Americans and Paci c Islanders (AAPI) communities. Highlights include the opening night lm, “Arnold is a Model Student,” which is described in provided information as “a satirical comingof-age story examining contemporary ai culture through the lens of the country’s youth.”

Another important lm screening is “Reclaiming Denver’s Chinatown,” a documentary about the racism Chinese residents faced in the Mile High City. And, for the rst time, the festival will wrap up at the Denver Botanic Gardens, with a screening of “I Am What I Am,” an animated lm about a teenage boy who wants to learn the art of traditional Chinese lion dancing.

As is so often the case with lm festivals, some of the most exciting events are the extracurricular activities that

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

In response to Feb. 16 letter on homelessness in Olde Town

I have too have encountered uncomfortable experience at the Olde Town Light Rail Station. However, the majority of my use has been mostly pleasant and certainly very utile. I never drive to the airport for my own travel anymore. I go to downtown Denver for the restaurants the Performing Arts Center the Denver Civic Center and other services that are available via the light rail and the free 16th Street Mall Shuttle. e covered lighted parking garage in Olde Town has proven safe

ST. JOANOF ARC CATHOLICCHURCH

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

Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30am, 5:30pm

COMING ATTRACTIONS

enhance the movies. Of note are two community conversations the festival is hosting: at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 11, “Celebrating the Stories of Our LGBTQ+ Asian American Paci c Islander Community,” will be held and at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 12, audiences can participate in “Celebrating the Stories of our Multiracial AAPI Community.”

“ ese topics come from listening to the community, which provides us with so many options,” Moore said. “Over the last three years we’ve seen huge increases in hate, racism and intolerance and we’re trying to ght this in many ways. Community conversations are great ways to help, because they give people the opportunity to hear stories and make these issues less unknown.”

In addition to live Q&As with lmmakers following some screenings, there will also be an Asian marketplace and culinary experience available to those who attend with an appetite. No matter how audiences want to engage with the festival, Moore hopes they’ll come with questions and a willingness to learn.

“ e beauty of the event is bringing people together every year to show that the stories we all share have so many similarities,” she said. “People can come together and feel a real sense of warmth and acceptance, and that’s really my goal for the festival.”

For information, individual tickets and passes, visit www.cd lm.org.

Find space for Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson at

and secure.

If Mr. Albertsen was expecting Nirvana from any public transportation, then his sights were set too high. Our society is made up of a broad spectrum of humans and we will not avoid them all regardless of our attempts to do so. If he is so o ended by some of our community so unlike him, he should go to the two other stations in Arvada at Kipling and at Ward. Doing away with the system as it stands would be throwing out the baby with the bath water. Hooray for Olde Town and the Light Rail.

Bill Starks, Arvada

the Paramount

Even those who don’t really nd space all that interesting (I’m told that’s a thing) can nd something fascinating about exploration of the unknown when Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson speaks about it.

Tyson will be stopping by the Paramount eatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 8. e topic for the evening’s discussion will be Cosmic Collisions, which has all kinds of potential to be properly mind blowing.

Purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster. com.

Watch the Oscars with fellow film lovers at Sie FilmCenter

e Oscars are back to honor some of the year’s best lms (though I am personally outraged that “Babylon” didn’t receive a best picture nomination). As has become tradition, Denver Film is celebrating the year in movies with a big party (just like the one in “Babylon”).

e Brightest Night in Hollywood begins at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 12 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. Attendees are encouraged to either get fully decked out or come in their com est pajamas and

enjoy a live screening on all three of the center’s screens, with drink specials at the bar and food specials also available. e event is free, so visit https:// denver lm.eventive.org/ lms to RSVP for a spot.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Nathaniel Rateli plays Nilsson with the Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Concert Hall Singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson is one of those musicians who doesn’t receive the recognition they so rightly deserve. His music has been the inspiration for so many legendary artists, including Denver’s Nathaniel Rateli . To mark the 50th anniversary of “A Little Touch of Schmilsson,” Nilsson’s tribute to the Great American Songbook, Rateli is teaming up with the Colorado Symphony to tackle the seminal album. Nathaniel Rateli plays Nilsson with the Colorado Symphony will be held at the Boettcher Concert Hall, 1000 14th St., No. 15, in Denver, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4. Visit https://coloradosymphony.org/ for tickets and information.

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

COLLIER

Roberta “Bobbie” Collier October 31, 1929 - November 26, 2022

Roberta “Bobbie” Collier passed from this earth on Saturday, November 26, 2022.

She was born on October 31, 1929. Bobbie is preceded in death by her parents; her brother Bob and sister Jeanette; her husbands, Walter, and Charles; and her

son-in-law, Dee. She is survived by her children: Amy and Todd; her grandchildren: Tonya, Samuel, Tara, Cory, Alex, Jodee, Andrea, Kendra, and Karysa; and 14 great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held for Bobbie on March 4, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Horan & McConaty 7577 W. 80th Ave. Arvada, CO.

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

Clarke Reader

Scientists are studying the health of the South Platte’s aquatic life

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

There might be plenty of sh in the sea, but in the section of the South Platte River from the Denver Metro Water facility down to Fort Lupton, they’ve all but disappeared.

rough testing, Metro Water Recovery scientists discovered that aquatic life was not present in this part of the South Platte River due to low dissolved oxygen levels.

Metro Water Recovery, in an agreement with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Colorado Health Department will address the issue.

Dissolved oxygen levels mean the river is too low for aquatic life. When they did the study, the scientists found that the South Platte River from the Denver Metro Water facility down to Fort Lupton had no sh habitat.

ey started a six-phase project on the South Platte River from 88th & Colorado Boulevard to Fort Lupton in 2018 to improve aquatic life that was disappearing from low dissolved oxygen.

“Many factors cause dissolved oxygen in a river, such as runo , nutrients and how highly managed the river is and owing slowly in some locations. In addition, algae grow when the river slows down and eats up oxygen at night,” said Senior Quality Manager for Metro Water Jim Dorsch.

“A number of factors were involved and since Metro Water created the river, it made sense for us to take the lead on trying to correct it,” Dorsch said.

Scientists are working daily on the South

Platte River collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates, which are bugs. Many of these types of organisms and microhabitats live in the river, under rocks or in woody debris in the river, Dorsch said, adding that they can also live inside rocks or live in boulders.

“ e objective is to sample the macroinvertebrate that lives at the bottom of the river to assess the invertebrate which is species without a backbone to test their diversity and abundance within the river channel and determine overall aquatic life health,” said Jordan Harman, a senior water quality scientist with Metro Water.

Harman said the macroinvertebrate data is used in Colorado as the primary indicator of aquatic life health in streams and rivers. ey collect samples in the fall, and the macroinvertebrates are picked out with tweezers and placed into collection jars

lled with isopropyl alcohol for preservation.

“We then send these preserved specimen samples to a taxonomic expert and they identify and count the macroinvertebrates and send the identi cation enumeration data back to us. is is simply identi cation of preserved specimens, they are not looking at live specimens,” Harman said.

e scientists could get a general sense of overall water quality based on the type of invertebrates. Certain macroinvertebrates are sensitive to pollution, such as may ies, caddis ies and more. Bugs that are relatively tolerant of pollution include aquatic worms, midge larvae and more, according to Harman and Dorsch.

“When we observe a diverse group of

These are the macroinvertebrates, the tiniest species that tell scientists about the water quality and how many are present in the river. PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

The damselfly Jordan Harman captured to be seen under the microscope. PHOTO BY METRO WATER RECOVERY

Jordan Harman gathers the macroinvertebrates from the South Platte River for testing the water quality

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

macroinvertebrates, including sensitive species, this indicates good water quality. Dissolved oxygen is just one important aspect of overall water quality,” Harman said.

Harman said these macroinvertebrates tell them what they do and a lot about water quality. If certain kinds of bugs are present, the water quality can sustain these macroinvertebrates, and they’re also an essential part of the food chain for the sh that consume these bugs.

“We amended that agreement and since then we built four di erent drop structure locations along the river to improve habitat and will select a fth spot to construct by fall. en when complete, we will go into phase six and continue ongoing monitoring of aquatic life forever at all these locations,” Dorsch said.

Dorsch said to improve the water quality, stirring it and building miniature waterfalls to put the oxygen back in the river over time, so it starts to get better. In addition, they will place large rocks that will provide protective cover for sh, create pools close to the bank of the fast-moving water—trees will be plants and shrubs for aquatic shade and creates a riparian zone, which is a vegetation area between land and river.

e Metro Water Recovery scientists will stock the river with Colorado native species, primarily minnows, they said.

“ ey are not very big, but we love our native species and want to protect them every chance we can,” Dorsch said. “We also target Johnny Darters and Iowa Darter which are the most sensitive species of minnows in the South Platte River.”

While Metro is working on the Platte River project, Dorsch said shing will still be allowed even when constructing ri es which are fast-moving sections of stream and other habitat improvements farther down the river. e scientist will continue to monitor the water quality daily and how much sediment is released during construction e orts.

“We don’t want that sediment going downstream and impacting aquatic life. My sta and I are out here every day checking on what’s going on and what’s gone wrong. If there are problems, we will correct it,” Dorsch.

e Metro Water Recovery scientists’ work didn’t go unnoticed in saving the aquatic life on the river — they received the National Environmental Achievement Award from the National Associations of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for the South Platte River Aquatic Life Habitat Improvements Projects, according to a news release.

is fall, the honorees will be recognized at the NACWA’s winter conference in Sonoma, CA.

“We love getting awards, (but) like most biologists — we come in do our job,” Dorsch said.

“It’s nice to get the award,” Harman added. “People aren’t aware of the work we do, so it’s kind of nice to get some recognition and people realize we’re out here in the river.”

Jordan Harman measures a white sucker fish.

PHOTO BY METRO WATER RECOVERY

Jordan Harman returns to shore to detach a container where the macroinvertebrates are captured.

PHOTO BY BELEN WARD

Report on long COVID sees big numbers

The report also notes there’s a significant overlap between long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. One resident named Jane described suffering from that condi-

BY JOHN DALEY COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

State officials have released their first estimate of how many people in Colorado have been hit by long COVID-19. The figure is staggering: Data suggest that between 230,000 and 650,000 Coloradans may have been affected.

With a state population of nearly 6 million, the data suggest as many as one in 10 Coloradans have experienced long COVID, according to the report from The Office of Saving People Money on Healthcare in the lieutenant governor’s office. And many of them have struggled to find treatments and answers about what can be a life-altering illness.

People with post-COVID conditions can have a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, brain fog and headaches, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Those may be prolonged, lasting weeks, months, or even years after infection.

Some patients described their challenges in a January segment on CPR’s Colorado Matters.

“I think that’s what’s so unclear about long COVID and potentially concerning about those numbers is that we certainly know some people recover,” but most haven’t, said Dr. Sarah Jolley, a researcher with CU Anshutz. Jolley is also the medical director of the UCHealth Post-COVID Clinic, one site of a national study looking at recovery after COVID.

Jolley said only 30 to 40 percent of long COVID patients have returned to their individual health baseline so far, based on what she’s observed and seen in research.

“There are a number of folks where symptoms persist much longer and so it’s hard to estimate what proportion of that 600,000 will have longer-term symptoms versus shorter-term long COVID symptoms,” she said. “I would say the minority of individuals that we’ve seen have had complete recovery.”

The implications of that are enormous, Jolley said, both in terms of so-called long-haulers’ quality of life as well as Colorado’s workforce, education, health care and other systems.

Jolley said the best protec-

tion and prevention against long COVID is getting fully vaccinated, including the latest booster. “We know that vaccination lessens the risk of long COVID, lessens the severity of initial disease,” she said, noting the lagging number of people getting the omicron booster in Colorado. Currently, only about a quarter of eligible people in the state have received the omicron booster, according to the state’s vaccine dashboard, far below the uptake for the initial series of vaccines.

The report includes testimonials from Coloradans that provide a window into what its authors described as the “immense human costs” of the illness:

Chelsey B., 49

“I went from being a fit, active, successful and financially secure professional in the prime of life to a broken — and broke — person,” Chelsey reported. “COVID kills some people outright; many of us with long COVID are dying, too — just very slowly and painfully.”

Melissa, 54

“Four months after my initial

symptoms in March 2020, my heart still raced even though I was resting,” Melissa reported. “I could not stay in the sun for long periods; it zapped all of my energy. I had gastrointestinal problems, brain fog, extreme fatigue, ringing in my ears and chest pain.”

Melissa said her condition improved but reported that she was still feeling symptoms nearly three years after her initial COVID infection.

Amanda, 35

Amanda reported testing positive for the coronavirus in November 2020. “COVID has wrecked the person I thought I was before. I now have been forced to go back to full time work against my cardiologist recommendations,” she said.

“This was in fear of losing my job I’ve had for 7 years! I am 35 years old and have heart problems I’ve never had before,” including a racing heart rate that becomes elevated from a laying down position to standing. “I am newly engaged and scared to think about having children due to what COVID has done to my body. I am 100 percent a different person after COVID.”

“The illness severely limits my participation in my grandchildren’s lives, and my own daily life. I can only be vertical for one to one and a half hours at a time, and then I have to rest for an extended period,” she said. “I miss out on so much, and activities of daily living such as housekeeping, exercising, and socializing are severely lim-

The long COVID report is the first such annual summary authored by The Office of Saving People Money on Healthcare for the governor and

The state aims to develop baseline data and monitor the effects of COVID-19 on Colorado’s economy, workforce, medical and long-term care needs, health care affordability and educational attainment.

The report notes the illness is uncharted territory, both for medicine and government policy. It recommends better data collection and disease surveillance, collaboration between various institutions and improved care access for patients facing challenges at home, work or school.

Another data point about the impact of long COVID comes from insurance claims. The Center for Improving Value in Health Care provided the state with a dataset of claims from a database of state insurance carriers, including Medicaid and Medicare.

It found around 16,000 Coloradans had gotten a long COVID diagnosis between Oct. 1, 2021, and Aug. 31, 2022. The report’s authors said that was likely an undercount based on several factors.

The office has also hired a senior policy advisor on long COVID, Dr. Mirwais Baheej, who was unavailable for an interview.

“As far as we know, there are no other states undertaking similar work at this time although the White House has published two reports on long COVID,” said Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera in an introductory letter to lawmakers and the governor. “We do hope to partner with the federal government as we move forward.”

This story is from CPR News, a nonprofit news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr. org.

Health o cials recommend Colorado residents stay up to date on COVID-19 boosters.

As many as 1 in 10 Coloradans could have been a ected

Cities could allow ‘overdose prevention centers’ under bill

Democrats push measure

BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado cities could let “overdose prevention centers,” where people would be allowed to openly use illicit drugs under the supervision of health care workers or other trained sta , operate within their boundaries under a bill introduced in the state legislature by four Democrats.

House Bill 1202 is part of a yearslong debate around the centers, also sometimes called safe-use or supervised-injection sites. e centers would be designed to o er sterile drug-consumption paraphernalia and fentanyl test strips, as well as referrals to counseling.

e driving idea behind the measure is to provide a place where people could ingest drugs purchased illegally and be quickly revived if necessary with naloxone, a drug used to reverse opioid overdose.

e measure does not mandate that cities open the centers; it simply gives them the option to open them.

ere is no funding attached to the bill. Denver’s City Council in 2018 voted to allow a pilot safe-use site near the state Capitol, but without backing from the legislature the proposal zzled.

e lead sponsors of the bill are Reps. Elisabeth Epps of Denver and Jenny Willford of Northglenn, as well as Sens. Kevin Priola of Henderson

and Julie Gonzales of Denver.

“Preventable drug overdoses are a public health crisis that impact every Colorado community and are a matter of both local and state concern,” says the bill’s preamble, which is much longer than the policy itself.

“For far too long, Colorado has disproportionately favored a criminal justice approach to substance use disorders instead of prioritizing public health. … It is in the public interest and would serve Colorado’s goal of saving lives and preventing overdose deaths to a rm that overdose prevention centers are permissible under Colorado law.”

Epps, the top House sponsor of the measure, refuses to speak with e Colorado Sun. Priola is the No. 1 sponsor of the bill in the Senate.

“It will save lives,” Priola said of House Bill 1202. He said the measure will give municipalities a localcontrol option to decide for themselves whether they want to allow the centers.

In 2019, Priola worked on similar draft legislation with then-Sen. Brittany Pettersen, a Lakewood Democrat, but there was erce pushback from Republicans at the Capitol and the bill was never introduced.

Priola was a Republican in 2019. He switched his party a liation to Democrat last year. Pettersen is now a U.S. representative.

Gov. Jared Polis has expressed skepticism about safe-use sites and may veto the measure should it arrive on his desk. It’s unclear if there

is even enough political support at the Capitol to pass House Bill 1202.

e measure already has 26 cosponsors in the House and ve cosponsors in the Senate, all of them Democrats. However the list of cosponsors doesn’t include House Speaker Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, nor Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder.

ere are 65 representatives in the House and 35 members of the Senate. Republicans, whose numbers are limited at the Capitol, are certain to ght the measure.

Priola said the large number of cosponsors and a better understanding about drug use means the measure is “highly likely” to pass.

e bill was assigned to the House Public and Behavioral Health and

Human Services Committee, but hasn’t been scheduled for its rst hearing.

ere are safe-use sites in New York City and e orts are underway to open similar centers in other parts of the U.S. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, vetoed a measure that would have allowed a trial run of safe-use sites in some of that state’s biggest cities.

is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun. com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

SHUTTERSTOCK

Ralston Valley girls hoops get defensive in playo opener

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — Ralston Valley’s girls basketball team seemed to put a lid on whichever basket Horizon was shooting at Feb. 21.

e No. 13-seeded Mustangs (17-8 record) held No. 20 Horizon (15-8) to 5 points in the rst, second and fourth quarters, including not giving up a eld goal in the nal quarter.

Ralston Valley grabbed a 44-28 victory to punch its ticket to the round of 16 in the Class 6A state tournament.

“Our game plan going in was take away (Natalie ornton and Morgan Ives),” Ralston Valley coach Amy Bahl said. “We wanted to put more attention on them because they are the heartbeat of their o ense. If we could stop that a little bit they struggle.”

Horizon’s junior guards came on combining for more than 25 points per game. ornton was held to 5 points and Ives to 7 points.

Ralston Valley on the other hand came out hot with a 10-0 run in the rst quarter that opened up an early 13-2 lead. Seniors Finley Timon, Elysaa Cardella, along with freshman Sammi Madden each had a 3-pointer in the rst four minutes.

“Coach (Bahl) always says we have to start out strong. at last few games haven’t been super strong in the shooting,” Cardella said. “ is

Ashley

game we came out shooting well. It was awesome.”

e Mustangs were held under 30 points in their regular-season nale Feb. 18, a 35-29 loss to Doherty.

“I’ve been telling our girls that they are capable of knocking down those shots,” Bahl said of the Mustangs making their rst three 3-pointers.

“ ey were con dent, came up and made them.”

Cardella poured in a game-high 18

points, including going 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. Junior Sophia Sabus had 9 points all after halftime to help the Mustangs to the rst-round win.

“ ere is a direct correlation there,” Bahl said of Cardella’s big night o ensively. “She goes we go. We feed o that. She can been a force. We need her to be a force and when she is good things happen.”

e rst-round playo game was a rematch from an early-season game. Ralston Valley defeated Horizon 64-52 during the Best in the Nest Tournament hosted by Horizon. e Mustangs outscored the Hawks 2010 in the nal quarter to pull away.

Ralston Valley had the task of going on the road and facing No. 4 Monarch on Friday, Feb. 24, in the round of 16. e Coyotes (24-1) were on a 17-game winning streak after defeating Mullen 60-42 in the opening round.

“We played them before so we know each other well,” Cardella said of Monarch. “We didn’t have a super good game against them. Hopefully it goes better.”

Monarch defeated Ralston Valley 48-35 on Jan. 6.

It went a little better for the Mustangs, but not good enough. Monarch took a 54-48 victory over Ralston Valley to advance to the Great 8 this week and the Denver Coliseum.

No. 1 Valor was the only 6A Je co League team to advance to the state quarter nals. e Eagles defeated Mountain Vista and Legend to make the Great 8. No. 16 Arvada West, No. 24 Columbine and No. 31 Chat eld saw their seasons come to an end with rst-round playo losses.

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

Sister, Sister: Arvada’s Van Sickles reunite at Mines for final year of basketball

the sisters said, they’re “ nally in a rhythm” with each other.

ey’re hoping for a deep postseason run to make up for lost time, with Sammy saying, “We’re just enjoying the moment and trying to extend it as much as possible.”

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After ve years apart, sisters Ashley and Sammy Van Sickle have reunited on the basketball court.

e Ralston Valley High School alumni are closing out their collegiate basketball careers together at Colorado School of Mines. ey celebrated Senior Night Feb. 18, where Sammy recorded a doubledouble and Ashley had seven assists and three blocks.

Sammy is a fth-year Mines player, and Ashley transferred this year after ve years at Montana State University, using her nal year of eligibility to play with her sister again.

“It was always kind of a joke that I had an extra year, and Sammy and I could go play somewhere,” Ashley said. “ … We thought maybe we could go to another D1 school together. But this is Sammy’s home,

and this is where she belongs.”

Ashley has made it her home too, saying Mines is a special place for their family. eir grandpa Gordon Van Sickle played basketball there, and their uncle Scott Van Sickle is a

former Mines track star and current assistant coach.

e reunion didn’t go quite as planned, as Ashley was injured the rst half of the season and only started playing in January. But now,

Mustangs and Orediggers

e sisters played lots of sports growing up, both together and individually. Dad Brent Van Sickle said they rst played soccer at the YMCA when they were 4 and 3, respectively, and later branched out to basketball, track and swimming.

e sisters said they even went to Coach Pryor Orser’s basketball camps at Mines, and Sammy attended the Orediggers’ soccer camp as well.

Growing up, the two were always competitive with each other because of how similar they were in age and athletic interest, they described. But, as sisters and teammates, they developed a sense of each other’s mannerisms, thought processes, strengths and weaknesses.

Once they reached Ralston Valley,

Ralston Valley senior Ciana Wilder (10) drives the lane on Horizon during the Class 6A first-round playo game Feb. 21 at Ralston Valley High School. The Mustangs won 4428, but lost in the round of 16 on Feb. 24 against Monarch. Ralston Valley finished the first-season under new head coach Amy Bahl with a 17-8 record.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Sisters Ashley and Sammy Van Sickle play basketball together at Colorado School of Mines. The two played at Ralston Valley High School before Ashley graduated in 2017 and went on to play at Montana State University. Sammy, who graduated from RVHS in 2018, is now a fifth-year senior at Mines. Ashley used her final year of eligibility to transfer to Mines, so she and Sammy could finish out their collegiate basketball careers together. COURTESY PHOTOS

and Sammy hoping for a deep postseason run with Orediggers

the two played basketball together and proved valuable assets for the Mustangs.

In 2017 — Ashley’s senior year — Ralston Valley went 24-2 overall, won the Je co 5A League championship, and advanced to the 5A Great 8 at the state tournament.

As a McDonalds All-American nominee, Ashley was heavily recruited by Montana State and other schools, saying it was always her dream to play D1 basketball.

So, she headed to Bozeman, Montana, where she found an amazing community of coaches, teammates and friends.

At Montana State, Ashley played in 111 games over four seasons. She had a medical redshirt her junior year, and ended up with an extra year of eligibility because of COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Sammy graduated from Ralston Valley in 2018. Brent said she had “a one-track mind about going to Mines,” and Sammy said it’s because she always loved engineering, math and science.

As a three-year letterwinner in soccer, Sammy initially wanted to represent the Orediggers on the pitch. But, through the recruiting process, she connected with basketball coach Brittany Simpson and joined the women’s basketball team.

“Sammy is someone that we’ve built our program around,” assistant coach Leslie Seymour said. “She’s poured so much into us, and to watch her grow as a player and as a person has been indescribable. And then, I feel like adding Ashley this year is kind of the icing on the cake.”

Double teamed

After Ashley decided to join Sammy at Mines, she said the Orediggers welcomed her with open arms. She’s enjoyed her time with the program, playing with her sister and being closer to her family.

When Ashley rst moved back, Sammy recalled going to the gym and shooting hoops together, saying, “It was so much fun… We didn’t have that for so long.” ey scrimmaged over the summer, starting to rebuild the on-the-court chemistry they had in high school. ey said they’ve developed a good sense for the other’s movements, shot selections and pace.

Since recovering from her injury, Ashley’s had a good amount of playing time with her sister. During the Feb. 18 Senior Night game, Sammy scored a trey with Ashley assisting. e sisters said those moments make their hearts “feel so full” and remind them of why they play.

“We were super-competitive growing up, and we’re still competitive now,” Ashley continued. “But, we de nitely gured it out and learned to celebrate each other, and be there for each other as well.”

Seymour described how the Van Sickles have a special bond that goes beyond the basketball court. ere’s a di erent level of accountability, friendship and support between them, she said, adding, “Seeing them play together, there’s nothing like it. It’s just special.”

Brent has noticed an evolution in their dynamic, saying that Sammy used to be the Robin to Ashley’s Batman. Now, the roles have reversed, he described.

Seymour wished Ashley would’ve joined the program sooner, saying, “(Ashley) plays the game with so much joy. … She was given the opportunity of an extra year, and she really plays that way.”

Beyond the court, the sisters are preparing to graduate with master’s degrees in engineering and technology management. Sammy has a transportation engineering job lined up, and Ashley hopes to teach at a local elementary school.

But, the Van Sickles hope the Orediggers have a long basketball season left. Mines ended the regular season 22-5 overall and 18-4 in conference play, falling just short of the 2023 regularseason title.

e Orediggers received the No. 2 seed in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament, and were scheduled to host a rst-round game against the Colorado Mesa Mavericks. If Mines wins, it’ll advance to a seminal game March 3.

Depending on their performance in the conference tournament, the Orediggers could be a top-ranked team in the NCAA Division II tournament later this month. e Van Sickles and their teammates are hoping to end their season at the NCAA championship in Dallas.

e Van Sickle family thanked Simpson and Mines for giving the sisters a chance to play together, and Ashley and Sammy thanked their parents for attending all their games this season.

e sisters said they’re “enjoying the moment,” for however long it lasts.

Sisters Sammy and Ashley Van Sickle celebrate Senior Night with their parents Feb. 18 at Colorado School of Mines. Sammy has played basketball at Mines for five seasons, while Ashley joined this year after transferring from Montana State University. Both plan to graduate this spring with master’s degrees in engineering and technology management. COURTESY PHOTO

Ashley and Sammy Van Sickle played a variety of sports growing up, both together and individually. The sisters ran cross country and played basketball together at Ralston Valley High School in Arvada. COURTESY PHOTO

Front Range oil and gas emissions are the targets of legislation Democrats push issue

BY SAM BRASCH COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

Colorado lawmakers are set to propose new legislation to better understand and regulate the oil and gas industry’s contribution to ozone pollution along the Front Range.

e announcement came during a Feb. 21 event at the state Capitol arranged by the Colorado Public Interest Research Group and Colorado Mountain Mamas to call for new policies to address the persistent pollution problem. e groups timed the event to take place 100 days before the start of the next ozone season.

At the press conference, state Rep. Jennifer Bacon, a Democrat from Denver, said one potential solution is to give air regulators more oversight over new oil and gas drilling.

Together with fellow Democratic state Rep. Jenny Willford of Northglenn, she plans to introduce a bill in the coming weeks that would require the state to estimate the impact of every proposed drilling plan — and only approve projects that won’t exacerbate local air pollution problems.

“We have to be sure that before they operate, we understand what kind of impact they’re going to have on our air quality,” Bacon said.

e upcoming proposal would be the latest attempt to tackle one of the region’s toughest air quality issues.

Ground-level ozone is a wellstudied lung irritant associated with heart attacks, childhood asthma and premature death. It blankets the Front Range each summer when two categories of pollutants — nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons — react in the atmosphere amid heat and sunlight.

While a majority of the pollution blows in from outside Colorado’s borders, state data suggests local emissions sources push concentrations above permissible levels set by the federal government. e World Health Organization has recommended even lower health standards for ground-level ozone.

New data suggests oil and gas operations play the largest role of any local emissions source along the Front Range. Last year, Colorado air regulators revealed an error had led them to vastly underestimate the impact of drilling and hydraulic fracturing. eir revised modeling showed those two activities alone will likely add more critical ozonecausing pollutants than every car and truck along the Front Range.

Oil and gas groups dispute the new estimates, saying they’re based on a awed analysis of industry data.

What isn’t up for debate are ozone readings at local monitors. e results have drawn increased scrutiny from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which reclassi ed the Front Range as a “severe” ozone violator last year. e American

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Lung Association also ranks Metro Denver as the seventh worst U.S. city for ground-level ozone pollution. e upcoming legislation will likely meet erce resistance from the oil and gas industry.

A version of a similar bill never managed to reach the oor of the state House or Senate last year. e Denver Business Journal reported former Democratic state Rep. Tracey Bernett dropped her e orts after oil and gas representatives claimed the plan could devastate an industry already facing strict regulations.

Oil and gas representatives appear ready to sound the alarm again this year. Lynn Granger, the midwest and mountain west director of the American Petroleum Institute, said the bill sponsors had yet to share a draft of the legislation, but they oated key concepts at a meeting on Monday.

“As described, the bill would functionally end new permitting for natural gas and oil development in Colorado’s highest-producing basin by 2024,” Granger said. “ e proposal should be a non-starter for Coloradans who have spent the last year su ering from high energy prices at home and at the pump.”

ose warnings echo a bitter ght over oil and gas regulations in 2019. During the legislative session that year, Colorado Democrats proposed SB-181, which gave local governments far larger role in the permit-

and gas regulators to protect health and safety.

Gov. Polis signed the bill despite the opposition campaign.

Under the current system, a company planning to drill new wells must obtain a construction permit from the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. e panel approved 4,663 new well permits between 2019 and 2022, which means the state has continued to greenlight drilling under the process reformed by SB-181.

A company works on a parallel track to obtain an air quality permit from the Colorado Air Pollu-

requires those regulators to run computer models to determine the potential impact on local air quality.

Colorado has landed in hot water for failing to complete those modeling e orts in the past. In a report last year, the EPA con rmed claims from whistleblowers who said the division had issued permits without a proper evaluation.

Rep. Bacon said her legislation would clarify that the state must complete those estimates. In addition, it would consolidate the process to attain a drilling permit and an air quality permit. By forcing more coordination between regulators, she

added, many companies could nd new “e ciencies.”

Bacon nevertheless said the state must also nd a way to account for smaller sources of air pollution, which combine to create “cumulative impacts” that put the health of Colorado residents at risk.

“We will have to put our foot down and say what is contributing to our poor air quality,” Bacon said. “It is our lack of accounting from what’s happening from these minor sources.”

is story is from CPR News, a nonpro t news source. Used by permission. For more, and to support Colorado Public Radio, visit cpr.org.

Cars drive down Littleton’s Main Street.

PHOTO BY NINA JOSS