Arvada Press 042723

Three Arvada-area middle school students move on to statewide Civics Bee

18 | ISSUE 45

City Council decides on ‘Little Raven’ name for new park

Arvada’s newest park name honors

area’s indigenous history

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arvada’s newest park will be the rst in town to honor the area’s indigenous heritage. Little Raven Park is located to the north of Van Bibber Creek Trail and southeast of the intersection of Ward Road and 58th Avenue.

e name was selected as the o cial name of the greenspace by city council on April 17 out of a pool of three nalists: Little Raven Park, Strawberry Park and Vista Verde Park.

e name honors Chief Little Raven, an indigenous leader who advocated for peace between local tribes and white settlers. e name was suggested by local resident Jennifer Hobbs, who recently moved to the area and wanted to honor those who lived on the land many centuries ago.

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Arvada Chamber of Commerce hosted the rst Arvada local competition of the National Civics Bee on April 18, where three middle schoolers quali ed to move on to the statewide nals in Denver on May 19. e National Civics Bee is organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

At the Arvada local competition, the rst-place winner was Tally Smith from Falcon Blu s Middle School. Ella Engebreston from Mandalay Middle School placed second, followed by Sriram Yalavarthy from

“If you look around that area, you have Van Bibber Park named after a recent landowner, Sabell is a recent landowner — and the history of that land goes back thousands of years,” Hobbs said. “I felt like we needed to be fairer to the centuries past and shed a little light on the centuries before those two men.”

Hobbs added that he loved that Chief Little Raven was dedicated to peace.

“And he was actually run o his lands a couple of times, so in the eyes of fairness and karma, even though this is only posthumous, in a way we’re giving him back the land we took from his people when the white settlers came,” Hobbs continued.

Arvada’s Director of Vibrant Communities and Neighborhood Enessa Janes said she was happy with how the naming process went.

“In general, the parks department

Arvada Chamber of Commerce

President Kami Welch presents the civics bee winner with their check.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARVADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Families support contestants in the civics bee.

Local youngsters have impressive showing in first Arvada regional for National Civics Bee

Students from local middle schools answer civics questions in a quiz-show style format.

Drake Middle School.

Contestants answered questions about civics in a live quiz show format run by a panel of judges. Smith won a $500 prize for winning the local competition, and all local nalists will have the opportunity to compete for further cash rewards at the state nals; $1,000 for rst place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place.

Arvada Chamber President and CEO Kami Welch said she was happy with the knowledge and enthusiasm displayed by the nine students who competed and added that she hoped the event would help develop a new generation of civic leaders.

“We are so proud; all nine students represented their schools and our community exceptionally well

today,” Welch said. “It’s been an honor to host the National Civics Bee and play a small role in developing an active pipeline of civic engagement in Arvada. We can’t wait to root on our students at the state level.”

Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman said she looks forward to the Arvada nalist competing in Denver next month.

“We’re thrilled to recognize young Coloradans interested in civic engagement and to inspire the next generation to be involved in shaping our communities,” said Colorado Chamber President and CEO Loren Furman. “We congratulate this year’s winners from the Arvada competition and look forward to seeing them next month in Denver.” is is the rst year Arvada has hosted a local Civics Bee competition. Buena Vista, Pueblo, Denver, and Craig’s respective Chambers of Commerce are also hosting local competitions this year.

PARK

is really excited about the name Little Raven,” Janes said. “It was pretty clear that the community wanted a culturally diverse name, especially one honoring the indigenous people of Colorado. Community engagement was a really important process; the team focused on involving people who live, work and recreate near the park.”

e park features a shaded

pavilion with tables, a play eld, a playground, a walking path and provides access to Van Bibber Trail. e park has been open since November 2022.

Hobbs said her name being chosen makes her feel more welcome in town.

“As one of your newest residents, I just feel really welcome now,” Hobbs said. “I didn’t expect that. Names are very important of places. It’s just a huge opportunity to show a little light on someone and I didn’t want that to be wasted.” e city is planning a ceremony to unveil the name.

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Some folks made signs to show thier support.

FROM PAGE 1

Panorama view of Little Raven Park. PHOTOS COURTESY CITY OF ARVADA

The playground at Little Raven Park.

Arvada Crime Briefs: Arvada woman killed by rock through windshield, attack at Pomona High

through the windshield of her car, the phone line went silent.

e friend Bartell was talking to tracked Bartell’s location to a eld where her car had crashed. Bartell was found fatally wounded inside her car.

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An Arvada woman was killed when a large rock was thrown through the windshield of her vehicle as she traveled northbound near the 10600 block of Indiana Street on April 19.

e Je erson County Sherri ’s O ce is looking for suspects who may have thrown the rock from a vehicle or the side of the road.

20-year-old Alexa Bartell was talking to a friend on the phone while driving northbound at around 10:45 p.m. on April 19. When a rock was hurled

Investigators believe the homicide is related to other rock throwing incidents that occurred around Je erson County on the night of April 19, possibly involving a light-colored pickup truck or SUV.

Five incidents occurred in total, two of which caused bodily harm to drivers. e rst incident occurred around 10 p.m., while the nal incident was reported around 12:24 a.m. on April 20.

On April 20, investigators located a truck believed to be involved in the homicide; later that day, con rmed that the truck and its owners did not have anything to do with these events.

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What Are Some Affordable Ways to Increase the Attractiveness of Your Home to Buyers?

This week’s column is inspired by an email received from Brock Pardo of PunchListUSA. His company is in the business of helping sellers fix problems identified by buyers in their inspection objections. Toward that end, he also offers free pre-listing consultations and quotes. (I offer free consultations too, but I’m not a contractor, so I can’t give quotes, just refer you to my preferred vendors for implementing my suggestions.)

Being in that business, Brock has no doubt come across some issues which could have easily been addressed prior to putting a home on the market, thereby perhaps selling it for more money.

Usually, when I get an unsolicited email with a “Top Ten” list, I find that it’s not the top ten items I would have selected, but this time I found that I agreed with all of them, so I’m going to adapt his list slightly for this column.

1) Fresh coat of paint. Brock cited a report that interior painting returns a 107% return-oninvestment, and exterior painting a 50% ROI, but I’d add that it depends on condition. If your home has a faded pastel exterior color popular in the 1990s with or without peeling paint, I’d say that a fresh paint job in a more up-to-date color would make a huge difference in first impression and the number of showings

Why Wouldn’t a Listing Agent Want to Maximize the Exposure of His or Her Real Estate Listings?

Although the average real estate agent barely makes a living and either has a second income source or a high-earning spouse, about 10% of agents earn a lot of money — and want to earn even more.

Myself, I make a very good living, as evidenced by the fact that I’m writing this week’s column while Rita and I are on vacation in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. (I’ll be home by the time you read this column.)

But my business model does not involve doing every single thing to maximize my personal income. I get more satisfaction from trying to maximize my service to others, including my clients and the unknown readers of this column. From long before I became a Realtor, I lived by a motto that has mistakenly been attributed to Confucius. “Concentrate on giving, and the getting will take care of itself.”

This column/ad — what newspapers call an “advertorial” — is evidence of that strategy. As a former newspaper journalist trained on the metro desk of The Washington Post in 1968, I decided at the very beginning of my real estate career in 2003 that I would spend my marketing dollars on buying newspaper ad space to publish a real estate column.

It has paid off quite well. Unlike every real estate agent I know, I have never made a cold call or prospected in any way to get buyers and sellers to hire me. (This month, I just realized, is the 20th anniversary of getting my real estate license and starting as a broker associate

at the West office of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, now called Coldwell Banker Realty for some reason I have yet to learn.)

This column is my sole outreach to potential clients, and every week I get one or more calls from someone who says, in effect, “I’ve been reading your column for many years, knowing the day would come when I’d call you to sell my home. Today’s that day!”

The above is a long-winded way of saying that I’m happy to abide by the Realtor Code of Ethics (and state law) which says I should put clients’ interest ahead of my own. This brings me back to the question posed in this article’s headline.

Last week, members of REcolorado, Denver’s MLS, received an email detailing how easy our MLS has made it to withhold a listing from all syndication, including Zillow, Redfin, and even REcolorado’s own consumer-facing website, which is www.REcolorado.com

The email cast its guidance in the context of a seller requesting such limited exposure, but I can’t picture any seller giving his/her listing agent informed consent to limit the exposure of their home’s listing to just their listing agent’s own website or circle of prospects. I suspect that the only reason a listing agent would convince his/her client to approve that strategy would be to maximize the chance that the agent wouldn’t have to compensate a buyer’s agent, thereby doubling his earnings

that are set and offers that you receive.

2) Landscaping improvements. These can be quite affordable and, again, make a huge difference in the first impression that your home makes. A couple months’ service by Lawn Doctor can make a big difference in your lawn’s appeal, as can a load of fresh cedar chips for your nongrassy areas.

3) Upgrading lighting fixtures. Those “brass and glass” chandeliers and sconces are so 1990s, and are inexpensive enough to replace with, for example, brushed nickel fixtures. And even if you don’t replace any fixtures, replace all your incandescent or CFL light bulbs with affordable LED bulbs. The best deal on those, I’ve found, are 10-packs available from Batteries + Bulbs (Don’t put the CFLs in the trash. Take them to Home Depot for recycling, because they contain mercury.)

4) Minor kitchen updates. You don’t have to replace your Formica countertop if it’s not damaged or a really bad color, but replacing the faucet on your kitchen sink is an affordable upgrade. I like to see knobs and pulls on kitchen cabinets, and you can get affordable ones, as we did, at Hobby Lobby, of all places. Maybe paint or repaint your kitchen cabinets — white is a good choice. Beyond this, I’m happy to bring my stager and consult with you on further upgrades, because kitchens can make a huge difference, and certain improvements are worth considering.

5) Bathroom upgrades. Replacing those 1990s plastic Delta faucets is a nobrainer! And you can find some affordable replacement vanities at home improvement stores.

6) Replace or clean wall-to-wall carpeting. If your carpet isn’t shag and isn’t damaged here and there, cleaning is a must and can be quite affordable. My preferred carpet cleaner is Bruce Ruser of New Look Dry Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning, (303) 697-1584, who uses an environmentally friendly system

that utilizes plant-based ingredients. The website www.hostdry.com explains it.

7) Replace older appliances. These can be affordable. Look for Energy Star ratings, too. I had a 1990s home with its original white kitchen appliances. It sat on the market — until the seller replaced them with new stainless steel appliances.

8) Install new door and window hardware. Brock quotes a 2021 Zillow report that updated hardware has up to 80% return on investment. I’d like to see your current hardware before suggesting this update.

9) Declutter and organize. This is more about staging than repair of an inspection issue. We provide a free staging consultation for all listings, and that inevitably includes decluttering, thinning and organizing.

10) Deep clean your home. Again, this is a staging matter. And it’s a nobrainer!

That concludes my version of Brock Pardo’s top ten list. To that list I would add the following:

11) Wash your windows. You’ll need to remove screens when you wash your windows. Don’t reinstall them. Label and store them in your basement or garage. Removing window screens is almost like washing the windows, greatly improving visibility. If any of the screens are damaged (including sun damage), most Ace Hardware stores can rescreen them affordably.

12) Update your floor moldings. At a recent open house, a would-be buyer objected to the older unpainted wood moldings at the bottom of each wall. She said they should be white, and I realized that she’s right. You could just paint them white (maybe requiring priming with Kilz), or replace them all with flat ones that come in white.

Do you have your own suggestions of additional items? Let me know and maybe I’ll feature them in a follow-up column or on the blog posting of this article at www.GoldenREblog.com

Photo of homicide victim Alexa Bartell, 20, from Arvada. Je co Sheri s are looking for information on her killer.

COURTESY OF JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE

Police are looking for suspects in homicide; no major injuries reported at Pomona

SEE CRIME, P6

Bandimere Speedway to close in October

Owners looking for a new drag-racing location

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e roar of drag-race engines will go silent in Morrison in October when Bandimere Speedway closes for good, in part because drag racing and residential development aren’t always a good mix.

With the burgeoning residential development in the area, the Bandimeres are planning to sell their property along C-470 and nd a new location in the metro Denver area, according to John Bandimere Jr., the speedway’s chief spiritual o cer, who released a video message on April 21 on the closure plan.

“We are prepared to surrender the location we have called home for six decades,” Bandimere Jr. said.

Morrison Mayor Chris Wolfe said he was excited for the next chapter for the Bandimere family.

“Of course, they will be greatly missed, and they have been a wonderful neighbor to the town.,” Wolfe said. “We wish them the best on their 65th anniversary of racing.”

According to Bandimere Jr., John Bandimere Sr. and his wife Frances opened the racetrack originally in Arvada in 1956 as an expansion of their automotive machining and auto parts business and to provide “a place for people, especially for

young people, to enjoy the speed and performance of the automobile and to get o the streets.”

In 1958, because of neighbors’ concerns in Arvada, the Bandimeres moved to what at that time was a remote area west of Denver against the hogback. Fast forward to 2023, and again, the venue is looking for a new home to allow drag-race enthusiasts to continue to enjoy the sport.

“As we close this chapter, our family is taking the time to re ect on the hundreds, maybe thousands, of memories on under Mountain, and they are great memories,” Ban-

dimere Jr. said. “Our relationships with employees, racers, sponsors, sanctioning bodies, guests and service providers will remind us daily of what a privilege it’s been for my family to continue the legacy started by my parents.”

He said knowing how the Rooney Valley has grown, the family has been proactively looking for another location for about a year.

“Much the same as in 1956, the opportunity for a multi-use facility for drag racing is providing an exciting opportunity for our family, though a stressful one,” he said.

In 2021, the Bandimeres hosted a community meeting through Je co Planning & Zoning to rezone the 136-acre Speedway property to signi cantly increase what the property could be used for including commercial and mixed-use residential developments. e proposed ODP would limit residential development on the site to a maximum of 400 units and contain triggers requiring retail development before commercial development could take place.

Je co Planning & Zoning has not responded yet about whether the rezoning request was formally led.

Bandimere Speedway will close this fall at the end of its season, and the owners are looking for a new location for the drag-racing venue. COURTESY PHOTO

A switch to cleaner heavy trucks faces roadblocks

Tesla missed 2020 deadline

BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN

When it comes to assessing Colorado’s chances for replacing dieselbelching heavy trucks with cleaner electric versions anytime soon, the state’s trucking industry o ers an anecdote about Tesla.

Given the erratic celebrity of CEO Elon Musk, who was made the richest person in the world by Tesla’s rise, the true story is suitably apocalyptic.

Colorado’s top trucking companies have known for years that state leaders planned to copy California law and require a growing portion of new heavy trucks to be electric beginning in 2027. ey’ve fought the proposed policy. But they also hedged and began putting deposits on one of the few clean trucks on the horizon, Tesla’s much-hyped, sleek electric semi-tractors. at was 2019.

At the time, delivery was expected in 2020.

None of the Colorado companies have received a Tesla truck yet. Tesla nally started delivering a few elsewhere in February 2022.

Last week, all the electric trucks Tesla had delivered were recalled, because of brake problems.

“We’re supportive of moving to the zero-emission vehicle environment.

It’s just when you start to move up in size of vehicles, the technology chunk is substantial,” said Greg Fulton, president of the key trade group Colorado Motor Carriers Association.

Emissions from the transportation sector make up a large portion of both greenhouse gases that cause climate change, and the local chemical stew that bakes into lung-damaging ozone under Colorado’s summer sun. While medium- and heavy-duty trucks are just 10% of the vehicles on U.S. roads, they put out 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, according to the Union for Concerned Scientists.

Colorado’s Air Quality Control Commission previously adopted California’s standards for selling an

increasing number of electric vehicles for the state’s light passenger vehicle eet. More than 10% of new cars bought by Coloradans are now EVs.

Now the AQCC is turning its attention to the stubborn diesel emissions of the heavy truck sector, with testimony, a debate and a vote scheduled next week that would make Colorado among the half-dozen states to adopt California’s heavy truck requirements. e EPA earlier this year gave California the waiver it needed to make its heavy truck rules more stringent than federal standards.

State air quality o cials and environmental groups say the socalled Advanced Clean Trucks vote is another crucial step in Colorado’s

e orts to meet both climate emissions goals and EPA ozone caps, which the northern Front Range has violated for years. ey also see it as a big down payment for the environmental justice movement, bringing cleaner vehicles to the lower-income neighborhoods that have long choked on diesel emissions from surrounding interstates and the trucking businesses based there.

Community events on the clean trucks policy have been overwhelmed by Spanish-speaking residents enthusiastic about both a less-polluting trucking industry around them, and the chance to buy new or used electric passenger cars, said Juan Madrid, executive director of Colorado GreenLatinos. An Aurora event ran out of translation headsets, he said.

“Black, brown, and Indigenous communities are all interested in this technology not just for the health bene ts, but on how this will help improve their lives. And then some of those folks were asking about electric heat pumps and asking about building electri cation and solar,” Madrid said. “ e technology is there, and often the administration and legislators don’t think that this population is interested or can a ord this technology. But they are interested.”

Under the clean trucks law passed by California and now being matched by other states, zero-

SEE ROADBLOCKS, P9

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Regis program o ers students with intellectual disabilities college support

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT

Jen Anderman loves college. She lives on campus at Regis University, is learning about world religions like Buddhism, and took on the persona of Benjamin Franklin once to present in a class.

Anderman, 25, always wanted to follow in her sister’s footsteps, but most colleges don’t o er programs geared toward students with intellectual disabilities who might need more support. Anderman also wanted a program that pushed her academically and allowed her to get the college experience she desired.

In Colorado and nationwide, most colleges don’t o er programs for students with intellectual disabilities, which includes limitations in reasoning, learning, problem solving, or social or practical skills. ose colleges that do have limited spots.

Anderman, who is a person with autism, now is living her dream. Regis University’s Global Inclusive College Certi cate program has o ered Anderman and four other students at the Denver Jesuit school a full college experience for about two years, plus extra support to earn their certi cate. Regis’ program launched in the fall and joined several others across the state that o er support for students with intellectual disabilities.

Anderman’s mom says Jen thrives when she gets to learn with students who learn in a variety of ways. Living on campus, she’s made plenty of friends. Home is just 20 minutes away, which means she didn’t have to go far to continue her education.

e program allows Anderman to take any Regis class, which she likes. She said that so far, she has enjoyed them all.

Regis o ers a certi cate requiring students to complete from 12 to 30 hours of school work over the course of one or two years. e program focuses on academics, but also teaches social skills, emotional regulation, career development, and independence, according to Jeanine Coleman, the certi cate programs

director. e program also o ers tutoring, class preparation and other help.

Coleman hopes to add several more students to the program next year, and the school has received support from the GLOBAL Down Syndrome Foundation and the Anna and John J. Sie Foundation.

Recently the school announced it received $365,000 to help provide

scholarships. e scholarships are crucial for many families who never thought that their children would nd a college that works for their learning style.

“ ey just didn’t plan for that because they didn’t really think it was an option,” Coleman said. “ ere are just not very many opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities beyond high school.”

Statewide, the University of Northern Colorado, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and Arapahoe Community College o er programs tailored toward students with intellectual disabilities, said Tracy Murphy, Colorado Initiative for Inclusive Higher Education executive director.

Until 2016, Colorado was one of four states nationwide that didn’t o er speci c programs for students with intellectual disabilities, Murphy said. Lawmakers that year passed a law establishing speci c programs for students at colleges, and last year approved grants to support new or existing programs at higher education institutions.

Creating a more inclusive environment is good for students with and without intellectual disabilities, Murphy said.

Students at established programs have rushed fraternities and participated in student government, she said. ey’re helping create acceptance and enabled others to see the value students with disabilities can bring to a school campus and jobs, she said.

“College students bene t from seeing that capability,” she said.

For Jordan Stewart, 18, the Regis program has boosted his con dence, his mother Cassy Stewart said. While Colorado o ers high school for students with intellectual disabilities until they are 21, Jordan wanted most to graduate with his class and get a diploma with them, she said. Regis helped Jordan thrive in a college setting. Previously, his mother had worried about his future because so few college programs work with his learning style.

Jordan Stewart has loved being a part of the school community. He enjoys the classes more than those in high school, and making friends is his favorite part of the experience.

“College makes me feel great,” he said, “and included.”

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

one student with minor injuries and two attackers facing misdemeanor assault charges. There were no weapons used in the fight.

The Jeffco Sherriff’s office is still looking for tips and suspects, which can be made at 303-2715612.

As of April 22, the reward for information about this case had increased to $17,000, according to a Jeffco Sheriff’s Office tweet.

Pomona High School attack

On April 19, an attack occurred at Pomona High School which left

An 18-year-old and 16-year-old — one of whom is a former Pomona student, the other of whom is not — went to Pomona around 12:43 p.m. on April 16 and allegedly assaulted a current Pomona student who was previously known to them.

A School Resource Officer stepped in and diffused the situation before the fight escalated. Additional patrols were present at Pomona following the incident.

Jen Anderman, right, poses for a selfie with a Regis University student housing adviser.

Regis University o ers students with intellectual disabilities a specialized program to realize their college dreams.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF REGIS UNIVERSITY

Climate change drives need for firefighters

Colorado has acute shortage

BY OLIVIA PRENTZEL THE COLORADO SUN

Standing atop a parched, grassy knoll in the shadow of Pikes Peak and in front of miles of earth scorched by the Waldo Canyon re more than a decade ago, federal, state and local re experts called for more training and new approaches to ght the “public safety crisis” of wild re in a growing state.

For many, the mile-wide wall of re approaching the ridgeline bordering the Cedar Heights neighborhood in 2012 remains a vivid memory. Embers “the size of boxes” rained from the sky, Colorado Springs Fire Chief Randy Royal remembers. e ames destroyed 347 homes and killed two people, but stopped within feet of homes in Cedar Heights thanks, in part, to the mitigation work by the community.

But the risk of wild re has increased in the past decade, with more homes being built in the area next to undeveloped forest and climate change bringing more intense res to areas that were once not thought to be at risk.

“For years, we’ve viewed this re problem that we have as being more of a natural resource event. And as we’ve watched the forest health deteriorate, as we’ve seen the changes in the weather, and as we watch the growth in to the more rural areas of Colorado and across our country, we have created a public safety crisis,” Mike Morgan, director of Colorado’s Division of Fire Prevention and Control said April 19.

More than 36,000 homes lie in wild re-prone areas where development intermingles with wildland vegetation in Colorado Springs, which ranks as the largest wildlandurban interface in the state. Nationwide, that number has grown to 99 million people, or one-third of the U.S. population living in areas at risk of wild re, yet most have no idea what dangers they face, federal experts say.

“We’re going to have to learn to live with re in our country,” Morgan said. “We just have to learn

ways to mitigate or lessen the likelihood or the severity of these events when they occur.”

Morgan joined U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell and other re experts to discuss the challenges in addressing climate change, drought-driven wild res that are growing in intensity, size and destructiveness.

In the rst three months of 2023, there have been more than 9,000 wild res across the country, MooreMerrell said. About 800 people have died in residential structure res this year, and last year, there were more than 1.2 million structure res, and 69,000 wild res that burned more than 7.5 million acres, she said.

“ e threat of catastrophic wildre in America’s interface communities demands national attention. at’s why we’re here,” she said. “It demands a uni ed approach. Because our current approaches to wild re mitigation and management do not match the scale of the problem.”

ere’s a need for more training, experts said, explaining that methods used to extinguish structure res are di erent from those used to ght ames along the wildland

urban interface.

Most municipal re ghters lack the adequate training and equipment needed to ght res e ciently and safely in the wildland urban interface, said Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Fire ghters, which represents 335,000 re ghters across the U.S. and Canada.

While most re departments are responsible for ghting res along the wildland urban interface, about 78% of them have unmet training needs, according to the latest U.S. Fire Administration report published earlier this year. Two-thirds of those departments lack su cient wildland personal protective clothing.

e IAFF, in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Academy, will host a course to teach re ghters how to attack res that spark near the border of urban and wooded areas.

Colorado’s Department of Public Safety requested $6.5 million to “meet increasing training and certi cation demands statewide and maintain a robust re ghter training and certi cation program,” according to a November 2022 budget document, but the Joint Budget Committee rejected the request in March.

e JBC rejected the request because the department was already receiving money to support training, some still unspent, and some local jurisdictions were already underway with similar training, said Rep. Shannon Bird, a Westminster Democrat who sits on the powerful panel.

“We were unable to increase, at this point in time, our ability to expand training for re ghters,” Morgan said. “We will be back asking for that. We understand there’s only so much to go around. But this is a problem. We have to invest in our local communities.”

Colorado’s re ghting corps has failed to keep up with the growing demand to ght wild res. According to the U.S. Fire Administrator’s report, the wildland urban interface

women and people of color. Only 11.6% of career re ghters were Hispanic or Latino, 8.5% were Black and 1.3% were Asian, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Women make up about 4% of career re ghters and 11% of volunteer re ghters, the National Fire Protection Agency reported in 2021.

Leaders also called for the need to implement building regulations that would protect growing communities on the edge of wildland.

Michele Steinberg, director of wild re for the National Fire Protection Association, called for a universal code that would require all homes and businesses in the wild re-prone areas to adhere to re-resistant building standards.

“Unfortunately, time and time again, what we see is that communities rebuild in the same way in the same areas as those that burned to the ground,” Steinberg said. “Without a new approach, we’re destined to repeat history at our own peril against a erce and unrelenting opponent. We won’t stop wild res from occurring, but codes and standards are the means to better withstand and lessen impact in the wildland urban interface.”

e failure by local, state and federal governments to impose preventative building codes is increasing the re problem, added Shane Ray, president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association.

“Codes and standards established through a consensus process are a minimum and they should not be picked apart in a political environment,” Ray said. “ e more buildings built to an outdated or weakened code in the interface between the forest and the city, and where re departments are understa ed, undertrained or lack resources, is increasing the re problem in America.”

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.

Most municipal firefighters lack the adequate training and equipment needed to fight fires e ciently and safely in the wildland urban interface, according to Edward Kelly, president of the International Association of Firefighters.

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emissions vehicles must make up between 40% to 75% of new sales by 2035, with the amounts varying by weight category. If Colorado’s rules are passed this month, the sales minimums would kick in here for the 2027 model year and ramp up from there.

e rules the AQCC will debate and vote on also include a program to limit nitrogen oxide emissions from existing heavy trucks driven by fossil fuel engines. Nitrogen oxide is a key component of Front Range ozone, and the nine northern Front Range counties are in “severe” violation of EPA caps.

e “Low NOx” program would impact more than 28,000 heavy trucks beginning in the 2027 model year, growing to 44,000 engines by 2050. Over that time, the rules would a ect a total of 722,000 vehicles on the road.

e AQCC plans to double down on cuts to emissions from lighter passenger cars as well, with work on a followup to existing electric vehicle requirements they are calling “Clean Cars 2.” Both the clean cars sequel and the advanced clean trucks measures may also be overtaken by recent big federal moves: e EPA on Wednesday proposed strict new vehicle emissions standards aiming for 67% of new passenger car sales to be electric by 2032.

e motor carriers want the AQCC to be more realistic about what’s happening on the roads in Colorado.

Few electric-powered models of heavy trucks are for sale right now, and those available are both back ordered and extremely pricey, the motor carriers’ Fulton said. It’s not at all clear how many more truck builders will have models widely available for the 2027 model year, he said.

Moreover, a blanket clean trucks standard nationwide doesn’t account for acute regional di erences, Fulton said. California’s large, regularly spaced cities and warmer weather allow for faster adoption of electric trucks that will at rst have more limited operating range than diesel models. Cold weather a ects battery storage capacity, as does hauling loads up Colorado’s steep mountain terrain.

Long-haul truckers will have to make major adaptations as well. Federal trucking safety rules limit how many hours in a row a driver can be on the road before taking extended rest. Hauling companies will have to build in electric charging time into schedules, and that’s assuming federal and state authorities help build enough heavy-duty fast charging stations to serve the industry, Fulton said. A trip to Colorado’s Western Slope that can now be done in one shift may have to be split over two shifts, upending the volatile economics of the trucking industry, he said.

“We’d be on the edge of the range to just get to Grand Junction today,” he said.

Fulton says the carriers would like the AQCC to consider expanding de nitions of low-emission heavy trucks that would t under a new standard. Current zero-emission

technology is usually de ned as electric motors powered by cleanly generated electricity, or emerging hydrogen technology. Truckers have had success, for example, with so-called renewable natural gas, which is methane captured from the decomposing trash in land lls.

Carriers would also like to see a greater emphasis on a trade-in program that would get older, dirtier diesel rigs o the road. Modern fossil fuel engines burn much more cleanly, and removing the highestemitting engines could go a long way to clean Colorado skies, Fulton said.

“ e di culty I’m going to have on that one is nobody wants to replace a diesel with a diesel,” he said.

e EPA also adopted new heavy truck standards nationwide in December, but environmental advocates said the California model goes farther in reducing nitrogen oxide that contributes to Colorado’s ozone.

ey want the state to keep moving forward on adopting the California model.

e Colorado Energy O ce and other state o cials have thoroughly studied the heavy truck market’s capacity in the next few years, and they conclude that clean models will be widely enough available to the industry, said Cindy Copeland, air and climate policy advisor for Boulder County. Copeland is one of a group of Front Range elected o cials and agencies in Colorado Communities for Climate Action, which has been pushing the AQCC to go farther, faster on controlling ozone and greenhouse gases.

e AQCC should reject the “mar-

ket is not ready” claims about clean trucks, Copeland said.

“We heard this argument, the exact same one, when Colorado adopted zero-emissions passenger vehicle standards back in 2019,” said Copeland, noting that state consumers are adopting electric vehicles even faster than planned in that e ort four years ago. “ at’s the way the market is moving.”

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.

Some people just like to get things done

Although I’ve lived in a small Western town for 30 years now, I have never known much about one of its fundamental institutions, the service club. Many small-town residents still center their lives on Lions, Elks, Rotary or similar organizations.

Not me: I’m not a joiner. Yet as our national culture moves farther away from such settings for broad discussions, I worry that I’m part of the problem.

A while ago when I was asked to speak at our local Rotary Club, I hesitated, picturing white guys networking with each other and complaining about newcomers. But I had published a book, and publishers instruct authors to market wherever you can.

Upon arrival, I cataloged the changes since my last Rotary visit decades ago: e president was a 20-something woman, we ordered o a menu, and people seemed less guarded.

Our local Rotary, I learned, was known as relatively liberal, and some of the older men seemed pretty vigorous. e faces re ected the town’s lilywhite complexion, but I noticed that the room contained Republicans and Democrats, evangelicals and atheists, entrepreneurs and socialist-leaning

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Nuclear energy advances

ere are over 50 commercial nuclear reactors being built in other countries around the world right now. ey are in China, India, Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Japan, France, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Bangladesh, Iran, South Korea and Russia. But only two are being built in the United States.

In a small sample of world news from just the past few months:

South Korea and the UK signed an agreement that may lead to South Korea building new nuclear plants in the UK. India has given nancial approval for starting ten new reactors over the next three years, while they currently have eight reactors already under construction. Finland’s 1.6 gigawatt Olkiluoto 3 reactor just went online and combined with the older Olkiluoto 1 and 2 reactors this single site is now producing 30% of Finland’s electricity. Orlen Synthos Green Energy signed nancial agreements to build about 20 small modular reactors in Poland with a combined capacity of about 6% of the total current US commercial nuclear capacity.

France produces 70% of its electricity from nuclear. While swept up in antinuke fervor in 2015 they passed legislation that would reduce that to 50% by 2035. But last month reason regained

WRITERS ON THE RANGE

nonpro t workers, feminists and fans of traditional gender

Of course we didn’t talk about any of that. As one man said, the point of the club was to avoid ideology in order to focus on projects that help people. Perhaps that’s why they’d invited an author — to be sup-

So we talked about something close to my heart, and as it turned out, to theirs. My book, “Natural Rivals,” chronicles a 1890s collaboration between Sierra Club founder John Muir and U.S. Forest Service founder Gi ord Pinchot. e two men are often seen as enemies: Muir’s preservation philosophy dictated a hands-o policy to nature, while Pinchot advocated aggressive management of natural resources to provide for human needs.

So when Muir and Pinchot camped together in 1896, alongside Montana’s Lake McDonald in what would later become Glacier National Park, did they argue about whether to cut trees or dam valleys? No. ey set aside their

a foothold, and their National Assembly voted 97 to 26 to rescind the 2015 legislation. Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister for energy transition, now says she no longer wants any ceiling on the France’s nuclear fraction.

e U.S. has about 90 operating commercial reactors with a capacity of about 100 gigawatts. Of these reactors, only one has started operating in this century. China has about 50 commercial nuclear reactors in operation, nearly all of then started this century.

ey have started building 17 new reactors since 2020 alone, plan to build a whopping 155 more by 2035 and to increase their installed capacity by 250 gigawatts in the next 27 years!

What happened to the US energy mojo? It has been smothered by the tie-dyed anti-nuke Luddites of the 1970s and 1980s who have became the lawyers and bureaucrats litigating their way through the 21st century. It is time to support clean nuclear energy and an abundant energy future for all people. It is time to regain our optimism and embrace this fundamental ingredient for world prosperity: nuclear energy.

Tom Moriarty, Arvada

It is not the guns that are the problem, it is the criminals

As I drove by the Arvada West stu-

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ideological di erences to focus on a bigger threat.

e then-new idea of public lands — national parks, national forests, and other lands held collectively and managed with public involvement by our democratic government — was controversial. While disagreeing about the priorities for those lands, Muir and Pinchot were united in believing that public lands mattered.

e Rotarians I met immediately connected with this message. at’s what lively small town folk do: Set aside di erences to get things done.

By contrast, in metropolitan areas, I’ve found that people resist the message about collaborating on common goals, especially when I suggest it could work today. Surely the 1890s were di erent, they say. Ideologies were different, or personalities were di erent, or the stakes were not as high.

To me, the di erence is that today we cluster in like-minded neighborhoods. Our stores, restaurants and media are all ideologically segregated. We wrap our identity in ideology. And we forget how to nd common ground.

I say “we” because I do it, too. My attempted justi cation is the one I mentioned: I’m not a joiner.

But John Muir wasn’t a joiner either.

dents who were protesting, I could not help but think that this is just a small part of what is happening. We had plenty of guns out there before the 1980s, but we didn’t have the type of violence we are seeing now. ere are many reasons we have a second amendment, which gives us our right to bear arms. ese reasons are not part of the problem. We have had a change in the mindset of our society.

e days of leaving your .22 ri e in the car or truck and going shooting after school are pretty much gone except in a few remaining rural communities. Gun restriction laws will not help the current problem.  However, better, and more e ective background checks might be a good place to start.

e current leniency toward criminals has not helped the situation. If we do not have consequences for crime, we are promoting crime. is is a lesson that some of our large cities seem to have missed. e “Broken Windows” theory of crime prevention did work. It is not the guns that are the problem, it is the criminals. e lack of consequences is creating an entirely new group of villains. It is not just gun violence, it is violence itself that is the problem. is would be a better place for our students and our city governments to put their e orts. How are we going to show our stu-

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

e individualistic mountaineer wasn’t even an o cial member of the blueribbon commission visiting Montana’s Lake McDonald. He just decided to tag along so that he could converse with — and listen to — people who disagreed with him.

In the dramatic results of those conversations, Muir’s essays and interviews of 1896 and 1897 merged his ideas with Pinchot’s to help persuade citizens of the value of public lands.

If we still think of today’s Rotarians as old-fashioned, maybe it’s because they attract members of all stripes who embrace idealistic values about helping people help themselves. I learned, for example, that they work to end the scourge of polio internationally while providing scholarships to high school kids. And they don’t have a political test for pitching in.  ey just pick their causes, and then they ght for them.

John Clayton is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t that promotes lively dialog about the West. He lives in Montana and is the author ofseveral books including “Natural Rivals: John Muir,” “Gi ord Pinchot” and “ e Creation of America’s Public Lands.”

dents that we are serious about xing the problem?

So, what can and should be done at the student level to address the reasons for the demonstrations/protests? Our schools should be teaching about kindness toward others as a general principle and absolutely not be involved in things that are the province of parents.   e use of school Resource O cers had been under scrutiny, this was a huge mistake. ese are some of the most valuable assets a school can have. One should be present at every school, full time. Educating students about government, the constitution and reasons for it is essential. Education about guns and gun safety would remove some of the mystery and mystic around guns. is is just the tip of the iceberg. e best thing we can do for our students, is for government to do its’ job. Treat law abiding citizens with respect and treat the criminals as criminals and stop putting them back out on the street prematurely. Set up the schools so that the students can be protected as some private schools have done quite well. is is a multifaceted problem and needs to be addressed as such. How will we show our students that we are taking this seriously? How will we bring back our value system?

William F Hineser, Arvada

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SeriesFest returns for a blockbuster Season 9

After a bit of a pandemic slowdown, SeriesFest, which celebrates emerging and underserved voices in episodic storytelling, is back bigger and better than ever, over owing with top-notch television viewing for all audiences.

“We’re excited to engage with everybody in the community about all the great stories being told,” said Randi Kleiner, co-founder and CEO of the Denver-based non-pro t. “We’re looking forward to people getting together to be part of great conversations about all the exciting things happening in the industry.”

Running from May 5 through May 10, SeriesFest Season 9 features a wide range of in-competition pilot screenings, panels, workshops and premieres from big studios, including Net ix, Amazon Freevee and Universal Television.

In addition to an array of episode showings, the lineup includes fascinating panels like, “Actors with Disabilities Making eir Mark in Hollywood: What More Needs to be Done,” “ e Art of Adaptation: Beyond the Book”

and “Turning Podcasts into Television’s Next Big Hit with Orbit Media.”

As usual, the event wraps up at Red Rocks with a night of special performances — this year the evening features headliner Chelsea Handler and guests Jay Pharoah and Adam Ray. ere will also be a screening of Fox’s “Animal Control,” with star Joel McHale on hand to discuss the show and perform a stand-up set.

Whether audiences attend one of the special events or just catch a screening, they’re in for a television viewing experience that most don’t have — one that features the episodes shown on the big screen and the chance to connect with others.

“So much is happening in the industry right now and that’s what is so exciting,” Kleiner said. “You really have the opportunity to see the shows you love, meet the creators and learn

COMING ATTRACTIONS

something you didn’t know.”

With so many great options, here are two SeriesFest events audiences shouldn’t miss.

‘Grown’ screening —

Many viewers know Jocko Sims from his roles on shows like “ e Last Ship” and “New Amsterdam.” But for “Grown,” Sims explored the power of storytelling in a di erent way — as executive producer, writer and director.

“I’ve been a creator for pretty much all of my life… and this was something I’ve always wanted to do but didn’t have the time,” he said. “But I took the time and made it a priority and it has been such a ride ever since.”

“Grown” will be screened as part of the Independent Pilot Competition: Comedy Block 1 at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, at 6:15 p.m. May 17, and will also be shown to local high school students as part of High School Day.

e pilot, which won SXSW’s TV pilot competition, is about 14-year-old Rogelio (Josiah Gabriel), who recently lost his father and is struggling with what it means to be an adult. He and his friends Larry (Tristan-Lee Edwards) and Chaz (Giovanni Cristo ) decide to sneak into a strip club, leading to a reckoning about who Rogelio thinks he is and who he wants to be.

“Grown’s” participation in the festival is a sort of homecoming for Sims — “New Amsterdam” made its premiere at SeriesFest back in 2018. He’s eager to be back to share a story that means a great deal to him and hopes it connects with viewers, particularly students.

“I’d love for the youth to be inspired in whatever way they can,” Sims said.

Got a Casa Bonita story?

“When they see these kids making decisions, both good and bad, perhaps they can learn from that and apply it to their lives.”

‘Primo’ world premiere screening — May 8

For Shea Serrano, a New York Times best-selling author and culture critic, working as creator, executive producer and a writer on “Primo” was a daily reminder of how much creative potential is unlocked when people work together.

“All of these incredibly talented people spent a lot of time working on it and I’m thankful and proud every time I sit down to watch it,” he said. “I watch the show and I see everybody’s ngerprints all over it.”

Amazon will unveil the rst season of “Primo” on May 19, but its worldpremiere screening will be at 8:15 p.m. on Monday, May 8, at the Sie FilmCenter. Serrano and actors Ignacio Diaz-Silverio and Christina Vidal will all be on hand for a discussion afterwards hosted by Diaspora’s Dino Ray-Ramos.

e show, which is executive produced by Michael Schur (“Parks and Recreation”and “ e Good Place”), is based on some of Serrano’s own ex-

periences growing up in San Antonio. It follows 16-year-old Rafa Gonzales (Diaz-Silverio) as he comes of age with the help of his mother, Drea (Vidal), and ve uncles.

Since “Primo” has its roots in such personal experiences, Serrano was able to ll the show with speci c references and jokes his family and friends will recognize — everything from costume choices to a shout out to a favorite A Tribe Called Quest song.  Some shows become like a warm blanket — something viewers can turn on when they need to feel better about being alive, and that was the goal for “Primo.”

“ at’s my ultimate dream for the show — that ‘Primo’ becomes a part of somebody’s lineup in that situation,” Serrano said. “You are unwinding at the end of the day and you watch an episode or two and see what the Gonzales family is getting up to in San Antonio.”

For the full SeriesFest lineup and to secure tickets, visit https://seriesfest. com/.

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

Casa Bonita’s famed fountain turned on in mid-March and the internet went nuts. It was another reminder that the grand reopening of the eclectic pink building isn’t too far away. e anticipation has naturally led to a little nostalgia about the Casa Bonita that residents remember. We would love to share these stories.

What kind of memories does the establishment hold for you and your family?

Send your stories, photos or even videos of the old Casa Bonita to Jo Davis at jdavis@coloradocommunitymedia.com. ey could become part of a nostalgia piece on Casa Bonita.

CROUCH

Michael A. Crouch

August 5, 1947 - April 12, 2023

Age 75, of Arvada, Mike died unexpectedly but peacefully at home in his sleep. He is survived by his wife, Linda S. Crouch; son, Bryan (Julie Kirwan) Crouch; sister, Shanne Crouch Hilleman; sister-in-law, Kathy Chiero;

brother-in-law, Larry Houns; nieces, Anne Marie Salem, Kellen Crouch Kurtz (Kimbal), and Mallory Crouch. Visit www.HoranCares.com for full obituary.

Clarke Reader

Local foragers teach students to cook with wild foods

ere some see weeds, Erica Davis sees ingredients for delicious soups and salads.

“In urban areas, there are a lot of plants that we call weeds that spring up everywhere, that are widely available to people, that are edible and good,” she said.

Foraging is the act of gathering wild plants from nature, generally to be used for food, and sometimes to make other products. For Davis and other foragers, spring means plants are starting to grow –which means kitchens will soon be full of wild foods ready to be prepared in creative

Across the Front Range and in the mountains, several foragers share their knowledge through cooking classes based on

Why cook with wild food?

Davis, who runs a blog called Wild Food Girl, has upcoming classes in Ramah and Fairplay. Her Arvada class this spring has

“I think one of the biggest challenges with edible wild plants is that people don’t always know how to prepare them,” she said. “We all know how to cook spinach, we all know how to make broccoli — but we don’t all know how to cook tumble mustard so that it tastes good. So in my classes, I like to give students that experience of preparing an edible wild plant — or three — in a way that I think they are going to Davis’ classes begin with an hourlong plant walk where students learn the names of plants and safety and sustainability guidelines for foraging. Afterward, she teaches them how to prepare several of the plants they have for-

In the spring, dandelions and wild mustard greens are common staples in her

“People sometimes picture foraging as going out into the forest and picking plants

— and that’s part of it — but I would really encourage people to learn the weeds and make use of them,” she said. “A lot of them are non-native species, so there really aren’t as many ecological considerations with picking them.”

Davis teaches her students to make dandelion green soup from a recipe passed down by an Italian relative. Musk mustard is great in salads, and tumble mustard and field pennycress are fun to ferment, she said.

Beyond the creative and flavorful uses of foraged foods, research from 2019 suggests that wild edible greens harvested in urban areas can be abundant and highly nutritious. The study dubbed wild edible plants “open-source food.”

“This idea that open-source food is out there for anybody to eat and make use of — and then furthermore, it’s organic, it’s free, it’s fresh — I just think that’s a great concept,” Davis said.

Safety precautions

Despite their affordability and freshness, wild plants are not all safe to eat. Crystal Baldwin, who teaches wild plant-based classes at her Golden business, Earth Sweet Boutique, said it’s always important to triple-check plants before you eat them.

“I don’t like to frighten people away from… foraged foods because there’s a lot of very safe ones,” Baldwin said. “But I like them to be aware that there are dangerous, poisonous ones that will kill you, and so it’s important to kind of have an idea of what those might be and what to look out for.”

Baldwin encourages those interested in foraging to start by taking classes, working with local experts and reading about which plants are safe to eat.

She also said it’s important to check if plants are near old buildings that could be contributing lead to soil or if plants have been sprayed with pesticides.

WEEDS

‘Part of human history’

In addition to cooking, Baldwin said wild foods can be used to make skincare products, tinctures, infused honey, medicines and more.

“There’s many different things you can do with foraged foods, and the great thing about it is that we have tons of free, wonderful, wild foods here in Colorado,” she said.

Some of Baldwin’s favorite plants to forage are pine and conifer needles, which are high in vitamin C. She uses the needles to make a simple syrup that she drinks with seltzer water and fresh lemon.

“It’s extremely refreshing and has a lot of minerals, so it’s very hydrating in the summertime when it’s hot,” she said. When foraging, it’s important to do so in a way that does not damage plants or plant populations, Baldwin said. When gathering pine needles, for example, she takes about an inch or two from each branch and moves around to different branches so as to not damage the plant.

Davis agreed that sustainability is an important part of foraging process, and it’s something foragers need to be mindful of in order to do correctly.

“Sometimes people think ‘Foraging must be bad for the environment because you’re picking the plants!’ But I think the actual truth is much more nuanced than that,” she said. “Foraging is part of human history, I mean, we have been foraging since time immemorial, and we can do it in ways that don’t harm the plant populations if we’re mindful.”

Beyond freshness and accessibility, Davis said foraging offers health benefits and a range of flavors that are not available in grocery stores.

And perhaps best of all, wild food offers a way to get close to nature.

“For me, also, they o er a connection to nature,” Davis said. “ ey invite time spent outdoors, getting to know plants, working with my hands.”

Davis has available spots in her classes in Ramah and Fairplay this spring and summer. Her classes can be found at https://wildfoodgirl.com/ wfg-events/.

On her webpage, people who want to learn more about foraging can also sign up for the Colorado foragers email list.

In May, Baldwin is hosting a wild food cooking class at her shop, taught by veteran forager Wendy Petty. Students can sign up at https:// earthsweetboutique. com/products/wild-foragedfood-cooking-class and see future classes at https:// earthsweetboutique.com/ pages/classes-events.

Dandelion greens can be used to make a delicious Italian soup.

Erica Davis foraging pu ball mushrooms in the fall.

Erica Davis hunting feral parsnips in the Midwest. These root vegetables can also be found in Colorado. PHOTOS BY GREGG DAVIS

‘Rate payer revolt’ demands end to dependence on gas-fired energy

BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE

Consumer advocates held a “Rate Payer Revolt” at the Colorado State Capitol to urge lawmakers to address what they see as the root cause of the recent extreme spikes in utility bills: the state’s reliance on natural gas.

Danny Katz, executive director of the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, said at the April protest lawmakers and utilities should take steps to protect ratepayers by tapping new federal funds to speed up the transition to sources such as wind and solar, which are produced locally and are not commodities traded on a global market.

“And if we want to make sure that we are not getting ripped o as consumers into the future,” said Katz, “we need to do more to reduce our reliance on gas to heat and power our homes and businesses.”

Xcel Energy has blamed spikes in heating bills on rising wholesale gas prices and market forces beyond its control. It has launched a cost-adjustment plan to give consumers some relief.

CoPIRG and other groups are urging the Legislature to take steps to lower the state’s dependence on

gas - including maximizing eciency and ending ratepayer subsidies for new gas infrastructure, lobbying and legal expenses.

Xcel and other utilities have

added clean-energy capacity, but continue to see natural gas as an important source for meeting peak energy demand and keeping the grid working at night and when the

wind isn’t blowing.

Katz said we now have roadmaps and technologies - including increased storage capacity, and regulating peak demand via smart appliances - to wean ourselves o of natural gas.

“Twenty years ago, maybe we didn’t have the technology, and maybe we needed to have a much more diverse portfolio,” said Katz.

“But I think we’ve seen the price of renewables have come down, the capacity that we have to put more energy from renewables has gone

Methane, the primary component of natural gas, is more than 85 times more potent at trapping heat in the atmosphere than CO2 and is a major source of climate pollution.

Katz said he believes now is the time for utilities across the state to move away from a fuel source subject to global supply chains and disruptive geo-political events.

“ ere’s a lot of federal infrastructure money coming in as well,” said Katz. “So there’s never been a better time for utilities to step up and say, ‘OK, we can start to reduce this reliance and move away from gas.’”

is Public News Service via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Colorado now collecting 2-cent-per-gallon gas fee

Colorado began collecting a 2-cent-per-gallon fee on gasoline purchases on April 1.

Revenue from the fee, which increases to 3 cents per gallon on July 1, will go toward addressing the state’s multibillion-dollar transportation project backlog. e charge was imposed through a bill passed by the legislature in 2021 that also added fees on deliveries, rideshare rides and electric vehicles.

e gas fee was originally supposed to begin in July 2022, but the legislature delayed the start until April 1, at a cost of $45 million, because of high gas prices. A year ago, the average cost of a gallon of regular gas in Colorado was $3.97. In recent weeks, gas prices have hovered around $3.50.

e gas fee is set to increase gradually by 1 cent per year until it reaches 8 cents per gallon in July 2028. In July 2032, the fee will be adjusted annually based on in ation.

Other fees imposed by the bill include:

- A 27-cent fee on deliveries

- A 30-cent fee on rideshares

- A 4-cent-per-gallon fee on diesel fuel. Like the gas fee, the diesel fee increases annually — but by 2 cents — until it reaches 16 cents in 2028.

e fuel and road-usage fees are the subject of a lawsuit led in Den-

As planned, the State of Colorado will be collecting an added 2 cents per gallon of gas. The collections started April 1. SHUTTERSTOCK

ver District Court by conservatives who argue the charges were illegally imposed. Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights requires that voters approve all tax increases, but fees can be imposed by the legislature as long as the revenue goes to a set purpose. Colorado also collects a 22-cent tax on each gallon of gas sold. e state’s gas tax is among the lowest in the country.

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.

Environmental and other groups are urging the Legislature to intervene to lower the Colorado’s dependence on gas.

Thu 5/04

John Tyler @ 7pm Marquis Theater, 2009 Larimer St, Denver

Tenia Nelson @ 5:30pm

Sonny Lawson Park - Dog Park, 2301 Wel‐ton St, Denver

Opera on Tap Colorado: Atlas of Remote Islands @ 7:30pm

Holiday Theatre, 2644 W 32nd Ave, Denver

Abrams @ 9pm Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Sat 5/06

Featured

Mighty Poplar @ 8pm Fox Theatre, 1135 13th Street, Boulder

Bryson Tiller (16+ Event) @ 8pm Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver

Mighty Poplar @ 8pm Fox Theatre & Cafe, 1135 13th St., Boulder

Tue 5/09

Van-Anh Nguyen: Up close & personal with VanAnh - Denver @ 7:30pm RiNo District, 2700 Block of Larimer St., Denver Anville @ 8pm Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Xenolinguist @ 8:30pm

Cervantes' Master‐piece Ballroom & Other Side, 2637 Wel‐ton St, Denver

Fri 5/05

State 38 DistillingCinco de Mayo @ 4pm State 38 Distilling, 400 Corporate Circle, Suite B, Golden. don@ state38.com, 720-242-7219

Denver Makers Market @ Lakewood Casa

Bonita Parking Lot @ 10am / Free

Denver Makers Market @ Casa Bonita, 6677 West Colfax Avenue, Denver. dmmvendors@gmail.com, 720-525-5645

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Chatfield vaults atop 5A Je co girls soccer standings

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEWOOD — A little overtime work April 18 at Lakewood Memorial Field paid o big time for Chat eld’s girls soccer team.

A goal in the 96th minute of the second-overtime period by junior Ava Erickson gave Chat eld a 2-1 victory over Ralston Valley and sole possession of rst place in the Class 5A Je co League girls soccer standings.

“I had a couple of volleys right there at the end,” Erickson said of her back-to-back scoring changes in close late in the second-overtime period. “I just kicked and it went in.”

e victory moved Chat eld (7-4, 4-0 in league) ahead Ralston Valley (7-4-1, 2-1-1) and Valor Christian (5-1-3, 2-0-2) in the conference standings.

Valor had its rst conference blemish with a 2-2 tie against Arvada West (6-2-1, 1-1-1) on April 18 at the North Area Athletic Complex.

“For however long it lasts we’ll enjoy it,” Chat eld coach Brock Blume said of moving into rst place alone in the conference standings. “I feel like we are nding our identity. ere is nothing better than testing that identity when you are playing a quality opponent like Ralston Valley. ey are always a tough game for us. It was really cool to see us rise to the occasion.”

After a scoreless rst half, it looked like Chat eld would score rst when the Chargers were awarded a penalty kick in the 54th minute. Junior Hannah Anderson took the PK, but Ralston Valley junior goalie Margot Mulhern made a diving save to her left to keep the game scoreless.

“When a goalie keep rises to the occasion you have to bounce back,” Blume said of saved by Mulhern on the penalty kick. “Tonight was all about bouncing back.”

Seconds later, Chat eld did score on a brilliant corner kick by junior Jayden Heil. e left-footed strike bent into the goal for a 1-0 lead in the 55th minute.

“At the beginning of the season we had a rough time responding. We often would get down,” Erickson said. “I feel these last couple games we’ve really gured out how to respond. When things happen you just have to keep going.”

Ralston Valley — No. 9 in the CHSAANow.com 5A rankings — tied things up 1-1 in the 59th minute. Sophomore Raleigh Greason scored her team-leading 14 goal of the season with a laser shot that got past Chat eld junior goalie Alyssa Green.

Greason nearly gave the Mustangs their rst lead, but her shot in the 74th minute hit the crossbar and was cleared by the Chargers.

Ralston Valley has caught re as of late. e Mustangs dropped 3 of 4 games before starting their con-

ference schedule, but had reeled o four straight victory in outscoring their opponents 20-1 heading into Tuesday’s game against Chat eld.

Ralston Valley had another huge league game when it hosted No.

4 Valor Christian on April 21 at the North Area Athletic Complex.

e Mustangs and Eagles ended in a 1-1 draw that went doubleovertime.

Chat eld is attempting to win its rst girls soccer league title since 2019.

“Right now the focus is the next game against Pomona,” Blume said. “We can’t be looking ahead.”

Chat eld nished out the week April 20, out at the NAAC. e Chargers defeated Pomona 6-0 with all goals being scored in the rst half.

“We still have to keep climbing,” Erickson said of the Chargers controlling its own destiny in the league title race. “We can’t get complacent for sure.”

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

Ralston Valley sophomore Raleigh Greason (9) battles with Chatfield freshman Tyler Sternberg (20) for possession of the ball during the Class 5A Je co League game April 18 at Lakewood Memorial Field. The Chargers took a 2-1 victory in double-overtime.

Chatfield junior Maddy Hindes (5) tries to get in front of Ralston Valley sophomore Raleigh Greason (9) on April 18 at Lakewood Memorial Field. Chatfield edged Ralston Valley 2-1 in double-overtime to give the Chargers the solo lead in the Class 5A Je co League standings.

Ralston Valley sophomore Collin McLaughlin, left, tries to ward o the check by Monarch senior Fox Reichert during the first quarter April 19 at the North Area Athletic Complex. The Mustangs trailed 9-1 early in the second half, but six unanswered goals got Ralston Valley back into the game. McLaughlin had four goals in the conference game. However, Monarch finished the game with three straight tallies to take a 12-7 victory in boys lacrosse action.

PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Ralston Valley senior Gunner Schoepflin (26) gets around Monarch senior Charlie Burke during the Class 5A League #2 game April 19 at the North Area Athletic Complex. Monarch took a 12-7 win.

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Class 6A basketball playo s to remain at Denver Coliseum

BY STEVE SMITH SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

The Denver Coliseum will continue to host the Great 8 round of the state boys and girls basketball playoffs in Class 6A.

The Colorado High School Activities Association’s legislative council overwhelmingly voted down an attempt to move those games to school sites or, in some cases, neutral locations.“I think it’s great that the Great 8 will still be at the Coliseum,” said Prairie View coach Damien Romero, whose team moved up to Class 6A.

”The addition of a sixth classification of basketball prompted CHSAA to begin play as early as 8:45 a.m. for quarterfinal rounds for the top three classifications of basketball. Given the early start, the Continental League proposed to shift Class 6A games to school sites. It said such a move would allow games to be played on Friday nights and/or Saturdays. Plus, proponents said, it would have meant less outlay for CHSAA to hire game workers and for rental fees for the Coliseum.

“With more teams and players in one location, the opportunity for more exposure and coverage is a great opportunity for those that are blessed to reach the Great 8,” Romero said.

The 64-4 CHSAA council vote came on April 18.

Brighton High School’s girls basketball program also moved up to Class 6A this season. Coach Jim French like the idea of keeping games at the Coliseum.

“Some coaches expressed the challenges from starting games early in the morning in order to get the full day in and the disadvantages to those teams in doing so,” French said. “Between the available game sites in the metro and surrounding area, each classification could host or combine two but not three (4A - 6A) classifications.”

He used the state football championship model as an example (those contests are moving to Fort Collins this fall.

French noted other states consider historic performance among factors when the time comes to place schools in classifications.

“Our goal is to provide the most enjoyable high school experience we can,” French said. “But when none of the sports is competitive, it discourages those athletes in the process. The same top tier schools comprised the playoffs, and reduc-

ing the field from 48 to 32 left a lot of deserving teams to compete in the first round– especially when the entire playoff time block is three weeks.”

As for the future of Class 6A basketball, Romero was indifferent.

“With our enrollment numbers, we’d always be in the highest classification,” he said.

French said CHSAA could continue with a sixth classification “if they made it for schools with the higher enrollment numbers.”

“Automatically moving schools up from 5A in 2022 did not allow those with the lowest enrollment an opportunity to compete,” he said. “I do believe if those schools were left in 5A, they could compete.”

Other business out of CHSAA: Basketball players can play up to five quarters (115 quarters total in a season) per day of competition. The size of some teams forces coaches to bring up players from the junior-varsity squads to fill out rosters. The move brings all of the state’s basketball players into the same umbrella when it comes to playing time, even those schools that play 19 games before their district tournaments. Tournament officials for the Class 3A district playoffs will not reseed the bracket when the quarterfinal round begins. The council voted 69-2 to allow softball teams to take up to 23 players to regional tournaments.

Mountain Vista’s boys basketball team gathers around the Final Four plaque after beating Valor Christian March 4 at the Denver Coliseum. FILE PHOTO