Arvada Press 051123

Arvada Man and Woman of the Year: Randy and Christi Michaelis

Kingham elected, Terranova keeps seat in AFPD Board election

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Ted Terranova was reelected to the Arvada Fire Protection District Board and Joel Kingham was elected to ll the seat vacated by the departure of longtime board member Mark McGo , who did not seek reelection to pursue a project with the Colorado Historical Society. Terranova and Kingham will both serve four-year terms.

Voter turnout was considerably lower compared to last year’s board election — only 2,500 votes were cast this year, while over 4,000 were cast last year. Kingham paced the ve candidates with 925 votes, while Terranova earned 718 votes.

Kingham was a volunteer reghter at AFPD in the 1990s and decided to run because he wanted his voice to be heard.

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

When Christi and Randy Michaelis moved to Arvada in 2010, they simply wanted to help people. e at-the-time recently retired couple had just moved from Michigan and stopped by the Apex Center for the volunteer fair.

Before long, the Michaelis’ next chapter began to take shape.

“We didn’t know a soul, not one single person (when we moved to town),” Christi said. “And so, we went to a volunteer fair to try to

gure out how we could plug in at Apex. And I’m like ‘Let’s sign up here, let’s sign up here.’”

“I look back and I’m seeing Christi putting her name down on every volunteer list all the way up and down,” Randy said. “And I was like, ‘I’m going to be painting ngernails.’”

irteen years and many thousands of volunteer hours later, Randy and Christi have been named the 2022 Arvada Man and Woman of the Year by the Arvada Chamber of Commerce for their invaluable service to the community.

e Michaelis’ philanthropic resume could likely ll the Press’ pages, but highlights include work with Community Table to serve the Elevado Estates Mobile Home Park, working with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), volunteering with Whiz Kids and helping out at multiple programs at their church;

Arvada Vineyard Church.

While the couple usually serves the community together, they also pursue their own special interests as well. Christi is a volunteer with the local Optimists Club, and Randy has given his time to Apex as a tennis pro and to residents of a local apartment complex who faced eviction.

“By recognizing the unsung heroes in our community through the Man and Woman of the Year award, we celebrate the often-overlooked individuals who make a signi cant di erence in the lives of others,” Kami Welch, President & CEO of the Arvada Chamber of Commerce said. “Christi and Randy Michaelis are the epitome of this award.

“It is through their sel essness and dedication that our community thrives and grows, and it is an honor to recognize them for their

“All of the nonsense that’s going on in the world today, politically, within our society, and the normal average person has their one vote every couple of years — I was dissatis ed with not being able to have a voice and be able to enact some change,” Kingham said.

Kingham said that his priorities are better communication between the board and Arvada residents, the merge with Fairmount Fire District, building the new Station 1 and addressing egress concerns of residents of Leyden Rock.

Lynn Emrick — who notably ran as the Republican candidate in last November’s House District 27 election, placed third, earning 581 votes. Madison Stelley and Roman Bodnar placed fourth and fth, respectively.

Terranova could not be reached for comment by press time.

McGo — a former city councilmember — said that he will serve on the advisory committee to the state commission for the Colorado Historical Society’s celebration of the Centennial State’s 150 years of

SEE ELECTED, P4

Randy and Christi Michaelis, Arvada’s 2022 Man and Woman of the Year.

COURTESY PHOTO

Philanthropic couple honored for service to Arvada’s underserved communities

invaluable contributions,” Welch continued.

The Michaelis didn’t quite believe it at first.

“It’s still really humbling,” Christi said of the award. “We really are quite surprised.

Community Table’s CEO Sandy Martin said that the Michaelis headed up the program with Elevado, which has grown to include a mobile food pantry, free bicycles and lessons, and an annual summer sports and activities camp.

“They’re an incredible couple that just have such a big heart and such a love for this community to help those folks that find themselves in a tough position,” Martin said. “With us, they’re very involved in a mobile food panty at the Elevado Trailer Home community. We order special foods that are culturally appropriate for those families; (the Michaelis) come in with other volunteer members and pack boxes and distribute them.

“They’re very involved with that community in terms of what they do,” Martin said. “Really, truly, wonderful folks.”

Christi said that when the couple started volunteering at

Elevado, many of the trailers had been condemned, and the community was in a state of disrepair. In addition, the locals were skeptical of volunteers.

“When we first started going there, the kids would come out, and you’d see the parents and grandparents like peeking through the windows, like who are these people?” Christi said.

“And now, we’re like the go-to people.

Christi added that about half of the families that lived at Elevado 13 years ago are still there, pointing to the stability of the community.

“Around 10 years ago I was blessed with the presence of Christi and Randy and their dedication to helping the community,” Veronica Dominguez, a resident of Elevado, said. “The help always came in various forms such as bringing the food bank to distribute food, the summer activities that they would plan out months ahead, or the constant reminder that they were always available to help.”

Randy said that one of his proudest moments working at Elevado has been to watch a young girl named Alejandra rise above her circumstances and become one of the first youngsters from the community to go to college.

Thank you for everything, Pomona High School Teachers!

Christi Michaelis volunteers with the preschool at Arvada Vineyard Church.

Residents of Elevado Mobile Home Community

The Michaelis with their grandson.

COURTESY PHOTOS

HONORED

FROM PAGE 2

“Alejandra was president of her class, we got to see her play volleyball — she applied for a Gates Foundation scholarship,” Randy said. “And she got it. She moved away, but her (family’s) trailer is still there and she comes back every once in a while, to see the kids and see us. She is our model for an activity called dream boards…

she didn’t let her circumstances confine her. “

Of the dream boards — an annual activity the couple engages local children in so that they can learn more about their dreams — Randy said that he reminds kids about Alejandra’s story, and added that she’s become something of an aspirational figure for the community.

Dominguez said that it might not be too surprising that the Michaelis are humbled by the award.

“I sit back and think that there is

often a need to flaunt the help that one has done for a community to feel better about oneself,” Dominguez said. “Never have I seen this with Christy and Randy. Their selflessness goes beyond anyone I have ever met. They do everything not only out of kindness but out of sincerity. It is in their nature to help and better the world around them.”

When asked how they know a cause is worth supporting, Randy said “Your heart just gets heavy.”

The Michaelis are gearing up

for this summer’s sports camp at Elevado, but said that once that’s wrapped up, they’d like to do some traveling — something they’ve had little time to do.

Christi added that when they’re back, she hopes to construct a community garden at Elevado in the near future.

The Michaelis will be honored at the Arvada Chamber of Commerce’s 72nd Annual Awards Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 17 at the Arvada Center Event Spaces.

Do Brokerages Inflate the Cost of Buying & Selling Your Home with ‘Junk Fees’?

This week’s topic is inspired by an article I read on BusinessInsider.com last week with the catchy headline, “Real estate agents are tacking ludicrous ‘junk fees’ on to every home purchase.”

The article acknowledges that there are many legitimate fees — including title insurance, which is absolutely necessary to protect both the buyer and seller of a home. In Colorado, unlike some states, it’s common for title insurance (the second largest expense after agent commissions) to be deducted from the seller’s proceeds rather than added to the buyer’s costs.

Other necessary expenses paid at closing and not levied by the buyer’s or seller’s brokerage, include, for the seller, the fee to record the release of lien for any paid-off mortgage, HOA transfer

fees, escrow for the final water bill, half the settlement fee to the title company (typically $300-400), and property taxes for the current year pro-rated to the date of closing.

For the buyer, fees are levied for the buyer’s half of the settlement fee mentioned above, and for recording the deed with the county clerk. If the buyer financed the purchase with a loan, there are fees levied by the lender, such as processing & document preparation fees, origination fee (“points”), pre-paid interest from the date of closing through the end of that month, and appraisal (if not paid earlier). In addition, the buyer will be debited at closing for their homeowner’s insurance policy plus 3 months’ escrow of same, and 3 months’ escrow of property taxes.

Emissions From EVs Depend on the Source of Electricity

Before I bought my first electric vehicle in 2012, I told myself, “I don’t want to switch from burning gas to burning coal,” since coal was at the time the biggest part of my electric utility’s fuel mix. Then I learned why EVs have lower emissions than gas-powered cars, even if the fossil fuels represent 100% of the utility’s fuel mix. The reasoning is reflected in the graphic which I have included in the blog posting of this article at www.GoldenREblog.com.

The essence of the graphic, which is from www.FuelEconomy.gov, is that only 16-25% of the energy in gasoline goes to propelling the vehicle. The rest is basically waste energy, 60-72% of it engine losses such as heat. By contrast, roughly 90% of the energy in electricity goes to move an EV.

That differential in fuel efficiency is at the heart of why EVs are more climate- and pollution-friendly than gaspowered vehicles can ever be.

Just Listed: Half-Duplex on Standley Lake

Just listed by David Dlugasch, this halfduplex at 8581 Jellison Street is a patio home, requiring no exterior or grounds maintenance by owner. Snowfall over 2 inches is cleared by the HOA up to the covered porch and garage.

All of the above are not junk fees, but necessary fees to close on the sale or purchase of a home. It should be noted that the contract to buy and sell could include provisions moving some of these fees to one side or the other of the transaction. For example, the buyer might offer, in order to win a bidding war, to pay the HOA transfer fees, the full settlement fee, and/or the cost of title insurance. Once I saw a buyer offer to pay the property taxes for the full first year of ownership instead of the seller crediting the buyer with his/her pro-rated share.

So, if all those are necessary fees, what are those “junk fees” complained about in the BusinessLeader.com article?

It’s a single fee which some agents began charging their clients years ago. It’s shown on the settlement statement as an “administrative fee” or “commission.”

Basically, it’s a transaction fee which

larger brokerages in particular began charging their agents to bolster their profits. It could be a flat fee like $300 or it could be a small percentage of the sale price. This fee is deducted from the agent’s share of the commission, but agents are allowed to pass that fee on to their clients, which many have chosen to do. That’s what the article was complaining about, not multiple “junk fees.”

Of course, buyers and sellers, upon signing a listing or buyer agency agreement with their agents, could negotiate not to pay this fee, just as they could negotiate a lower listing commission. But, as you can imagine, this fee slips through without most clients noticing or objecting to it. Myself, I never propose charging my clients. Call my broker associates or me if you don’t want to pay any junk fees for buying or selling a home. Our phone numbers are below.

Finalists Announced for Home Electrification Prize

The Department of Energy (DOE) has announced 6 finalists in its Equitable and Affordable Solutions to Electrification (EAS-E) Prize.

Although administered by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) here in Jefferson County, none of the finalists were from Colorado. Two were from California, and one each from New York, Oregon, Ohio and Nevada.

Two of the finalists focused on solutions which eliminated the need to upgrade a home’s electrical panel. The New York finalist’s plan focused on allowing the occupant to remain in the home during the conversion process. The Ohio finalist focused on cold-weather conversions. I have posted a link the full article from www.probuilder.com in the posting of this article at www.GoldenREblog.com

On MLS, a Half-Duplex Is No Longer a ‘Single-Family Home’

The listing featured at left will not be found by buyers searching the MLS for single-family homes, thanks to a big change made in January 2020, when our MLS began conforming to a standardized set of property descriptors which all MLSs were expected to adopt.

“Single-Family Detached” as options. You can search by address and find the listing, but most people searching for homes don’t include “multi-family” in their search criteria, even though they would love this home if they saw it.

$745,000

On the top floor it has both a primary suite and guest suite, both with ensuite bathrooms and walk-in closets. In the basement is a third bedroom with egress window and ensuite bathroom. The interior was entirely repainted prior to listing, and all new carpeting was installed. This home is move-in ready, for sure! The exterior will be repainted this summer by the HOA. In addition to its awesome views of Standley Lake and the foothills (including Longs Peak), this home is adjacent to a pedestrian/bike path adjacent the Highline Canal. It also has the largest backyard (maintained by HOA) in the subdivision. You can view a narrated video tour at www.ArvadaHome.info, then come to David’s open house Saturday, May 13, from 11am to 1pm. Or call David at 303-908-4835 for a showing.

Under the new system, such a home would be listed under the “Residential” property type, the “Multi-Family” subtype, and “Duplex” property structure. This replaced the earlier system, which had “Single–Family Attached” and

Garage Sale in Golden Saturday

Homeowners on the Magpie Court culde-sac in Golden’s Village at Mountain Ridge are holding a community garage sale this Saturday, May 13th, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

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

GREG KRAFT, 720-353-1922

AUSTIN POTTORFF, 970-281-9071

statehood, and America’s 250 years of nationhood, and added that the commitment would make it impractical to continue serving on the re protection board.

“ e legislature passed a bill last year creating the commission to plan activities and events to commemorate both of those anniversaries in the year 2026,” McGo said. “I will be spending a great deal of time with those things and that will take up my attention and time over the next couple of years.”

Three suspects in rock-throwing homicide face 13 charges

Trio of 18-year-olds suspected of killing Alexa Bartell are being held without bail

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Alexa Bartell

were o cially charged by the O ce of the First Judicial District Attorney on May 3. e trio face 13 charges including rst-degree murder and assault and are being held without bond.

Twenty-year-old Arvada resident Bartell was driving northbound along Indiana Street when a rock crashed through her windshield and sent her vehicle hurtling from the roadway. Bartell was talking to a friend on the phone at the time and was found dead when the friend traced her location.

Nicholas Karol-Chik, Joseph Koenig and Zachary Kwak all face

the same 13 charges: one count of murder in the first degree, six counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, three counts of assault in the second degree and three counts of criminal attempt to commit assault in the first degree.

The three suspects appeared in court at 1 p.m. on May 3 for the return filing of charges.

Arvada Fire Station 9.

Dip your pan into Clear Creek history at Phoenix Gold Mine

BY OLIVIA JEWELL LOVE OLOVE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If you fancy yourself a modernday prospector or just want to get in touch with the rich history in Clear Creek County, you could strike gold at the Phoenix Gold Mine in Idaho Springs.

Phoenix Gold Mine Tours and Panning o ers year-round tours of the underground mine and lessons on how to pan for gold. In the spring, participants can pan for gold in the Rocky Mountain Creek on site and keep what they nd; it’s naturally stocked with gold and minerals, according to owner David Mosch.  “People actually have over the years found substantial pieces,” Mosch said.

By substantial, he estimated pieces of gold that could fetch around $500.  e mine, which has been familyowned since 1968, still has the permits and abilities to mine. ough Mosch explained his long lineage of prospectors fell more in love with the educational aspect of the mine.

“One thing led to another, and we started making more money showing people the mine than actually mining,” he said.

Phoenix Gold Mine estimates that it has produced over 100,000 troy

ounces — the system of weights for precious metals and gems — of gold.

Mosch estimated that Idaho Springs has produced a million troy ounces of gold, but not much since the 1950s.

According to Mosch, the old folk story of how panning for gold came to be comes from a man camping along a creekside. e story goes that he was scouring his pan with gravel from the creek, and as the rocks fell away, he was left with pieces of gold.

e method has long been one of the cheapest and most accessible ways to nd gold, and at the Phoenix Mine, you can still do it today.

While much of the “strike it rich” gold is long gone with the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of the late 1800s, Mosch explained that many private streams, including the one on the property of the mine, will continue to have gold for thousands if not hundreds of thousands of years.

“As long as the mountain slowly runs away, a little bit of gold dust comes o the hillside,” he said.  So while you may only nd some akes, you can join the long-standing history of mining and panning in the county still today.

Tours of the Phoenix Gold Mine are open year-round, seven days a week. e mine o ers online reservations but also accepts walk-ups when available. e mine is family and dog friendly and does school trips. Learn more and book online at https://www.phoenixgoldmine. com/.

People of all ages can take part in panning at Phoenix Gold Mine.

PHOTO FROM PHOENIX GOLD MINE FACEBOOK PAGE

The season has opened for gold panning, and you can keep what you find

Taking an Alzheimer’s diagnosis ‘a mile at a time’

Evergreen’s Mark Macy battles the disease by connecting with others

BY DEB HURLEY BROBST DBROBST@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Mark Macy is a ghter.

e Evergreen resident always has been driven to succeed as an attorney, an endurance athlete and a devoted family man. Now at age 69, he continues his drive to succeed in his battle against Alzheimer’s disease.

He believes that his green diet, exercise and positive attitude will help him do what many others haven’t: beat the disease.

“Some people think I’m nuts,” said Macy, 69, who everyone calls Mace. “I believe I can beat it. If I don’t, I’m still a happy guy.”

Mace has lived in Evergreen since 1980 with Pam, his high school sweetheart and wife of 46 years. Mace still runs regularly, sometimes on the family’s six-acre property and sometimes with friends who help keep him steady and on track.

When Mace got his diagnosis in 2018 — considered early-onset Alzheimer’s disease because he was 64 — the family decided it was

not going to hide from the disease, friends or the community. at’s why son Travis Macy, a 2001

Evergreen High School graduate and former EHS English teacher, decided to write a book with Mace about their journey called “A Mile at a Time: A father and son’s inspiring Alzheimer’s journey of love, adventure and hope.”

Travis and Mace travel around the country speaking about Alzheimer’s disease, and they will be at the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference on May 17. e family also will be at the Evergreen Taphouse for a book signing that evening.

“To his credit, (Mace) decided he was not going to be ashamed of Alzheimer’s and not going to hide it,” Travis said. “He’s continued to do that, and honestly it’s turned out that his treatment has been communicating with other Alzheimer’s families.”

Dr. Allison Reiss with the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America’s Medical, Scienti c and Memory Screening Advisory Board said Alzheimer’s disease is not always obvious, especially at rst.

“We all get more forgetful, and sometimes we get so much clutter in our brains that we may do something wrong or di erent like misplace our keys or forget something on the chore list,” she explained. e line between forgetfulness and an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis would be when someone suddenly doesn’t know where they are, Reiss said. ey wander o or try to go someplace from the past.

Another big one, she added, is not getting words right.

“Not just mispronouncing,” said

Reiss, who is an associate professor of medicine at the NYU Long Island School of Medicine, “but when you can’t nd the words or when you forget something basic like your own phone number. After a point, it becomes clear that it cannot be attributed to a normal situation.”

Before the diagnosis

Mace spent his life as a hard-working trial attorney, forsaking sleep to do it all – spending time with his family while working long hours at his practice. He began competing in adventure racing in the 1980s when the grueling sport was forming and competed in all eight Eco-Challenge races from 1995 to 2002.

Travis, following in his dad’s footsteps, became an accomplished ultra-athlete, traveling around the world to race professionally. Prior to Mace’s diagnosis, the father and son did hundreds of the same races, mostly solo events in which both

“We did lots of the same adventure races in which Dad competed on a team with friends and I raced for the win with a competitive team,” Travis explained.

In 2019, a year after Mace’s diagnosis, the duo traveled to Fiji to race in the revived Eco-Challenge, a 10-day, 417-mile race with 280 competitors who traversed mountains, rivers, swamps and oceans, the rst time the two had competed on the same team. While the team did not nish, Travis considered it a win because endurance racing doesn’t have a category for competitors with Alzheimer’s disease.

The beginning

Mace said leading up to his diagnosis, he noticed he wasn’t talking properly, making his trial-attorney career more di cult.

“Word nding had become more di cult for him,” wife Pam said, “but not to where anyone would notice.” Mace saw a neurologist, and a brain MRI came back normal, so they thought he was in the clear. But the symptoms kept persisting: things like Mace couldn’t read a map, and he suddenly had di culty pulling a car into a parking space.

But concern about Mace’s health had to wait while Pam received a kidney transplant. Mace wasn’t a match, but he donated one anyway to someone else who needed one. Donors must be in excellent health to donate.

When Mace was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, the doctor told him to start getting his a airs in order immediately and to take a family trip soon.

“We weren’t surprised by the diagnosis,” Pam said, “but we were still shocked. He is the healthiest person I know. I have had the health issues,

Mark “Mace” Macy and his wife Pam stand on the deck of their Evergreen home. Mace was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. PHOTO BY DEB HURLEY BROBST

so we thought I’d be the rst to go. ( e diagnosis) was reorienting as we think about the future.”

Travis added: “When the diagnosis came, it was not a surprise, but it hit me like a ton of bricks. It was really tough. For me, initially, it was a mad scramble to try to nd a cure and treatments. Immediately, we have to gure out nances, putting things into a trust, maybe we need to build a house on my parents’ property so we can take care of them. In hindsight, I was trying to control something uncontrollable.”

Since his diagnosis nearly ve years ago, Mace is losing more cognitive abilities: he no longer drives a car, he sometimes has di culty reading and writing and his balance isn’t what it once was.

In addition to his wife and son, he has strong support from his two daughters, Katelyn Macy Sandoval of Denver and Donavahn Macy of Tampa, Florida, plus ve grandchildren to play with.

Reiss said the degree of stress and sadness for both the person with the Alzheimer’s diagnosis and that person’s loved ones can be overwhelming.

“ e outcome is inevitable,” she said. “ is disease only goes in one

direction, and the nal pathway is grim. Living with this person you love and watching the loss of that is just horrendous.”

Plus caregivers, who want to take care of their loved one themselves, face stress and depression because they become xated on caring for the other person, not themselves. She said caregivers must take care of themselves and lean on family members and friends for support.

Coping with Alzheimer’s Travis said Mace has had sayings during races and life. In fact, Mace has a tattoo that says “It’s all good

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DIAGNOSIS

training” on his forearm because he believes there’s value in going through something di cult. at’s Mace’s attitude toward Alzheimer’s disease.

e disease’s toll can be seen in the races that father and son have undertaken as time goes by.   ey ran the Leadville 50-mile race in 2021, the Leadville Marathon in 2022, and they are planning to do the Leadville 10K this year.

“I have realized that winning doesn’t matter; I just want to run with my dad,” Travis explained.

e family knows that Mace’s health continues to deteriorate, so they are planning for the future while still trying to be present in the here and now.

Mace wants people to know that people with Alzheimer’s disease are like everyone else, and they go on with life, though a little di erently.

“Just love the person (with Alzheimer’s),” Pam said. “ ey are the same person.

As things change, we will have to change. It’s not going to get easier.”

Pam, already patient with an optimistic outlook, said she’s learned that it’s OK to ask for help.

Helping others

Pam said it was important for them to reach out to others on the Alzheimer’s disease journey to share information and to connect for support.

“Why stay home and hide?” she asked.

Travis said connecting with others on the same path has become a new mission, and a big goal of the book is to make a di erence and help people. Secondarily, it gave father and son something to do together.

“We are not Alzheimer’s experts,” Travis said, “but we are sharing our story.”

Mace continues to nd happiness in his life, and Travis attributes that “to my mom being incredibly supportive and energetic.”

“What is important to know,” Mace said, “is you will still be OK even after the diagnosis. I’m still an athlete and as good as I ever was. I’m perfectly happy. I have a great family.”

Mark “Mace” Macy and his son Travis Macy with the book they co-wrote with Patrick Regan called “A Mile at a Time: A father and son’s inspiring Alzheimer’s journey of love, adventure and hope,” which chronicle’s the family’s journey with the disease.

WANT TO GO TO THE CONFERENCE?

• The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is hosting a free Alzheimer’s & Caregiving Educational Conference as part of its 2023 national Educating America Tour. It will be from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at the University of Denver’s Fritz Knoebel Events Center, 2044 E. Evans Ave., Denver. Travis and Mark Macy are speaking at the conference about Navigating Alzheimer’s a Mile at a Time. To register, visit www. alzfdn.org/tour.

• Mark and Travis Macy will be at the Evergreen Taphouse at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, for a book signing.

Travis Macy, his wife Amy, children Lila, 10, and Wyatt, 12, and his parents Pam and Mark Macy at an Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation event.

COURTESY PHOTOS

BY NINA JOSS AND MCKENNA HARFORD COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Several hours before the restaurant opened one Wednesday in April, Maggiano’s Little Italy was already bustling with people sipping co ee and lling their plates with wa es and eggs.

It was the monthly gathering of the Arapahoe County Republican Breakfast Club. At the Denver Tech Center restaurant, leaders and neighbors build community and discuss issues important to the GOP in the metro area and across Colorado.

At this meeting, talk turned to the Republican Party’s identity crisis.

“It’s very clear that, even in this room of good friends, we are still very deeply divided,” Arapahoe County GOP Chair Anne Rowland said to the group. “In spite of that, if we want to win, we need to keep having conversations in a positive way and not to tear one another down.”

Rowland’s statement highlighted an idea that, despite not being on any ofcial agenda for the meeting, was on everyone’s minds: What do Republicans need to do to win elections?

In 2022, Democrats edged out Republicans in most key elections. Along with wins in all four statewide elected o ces, including governor, and a U.S. Senate seat, Democrats gained a supermajority in the state House and a majority in the state Senate.

ere seems to be consensus within the Republican Party that unity is needed to start winning. Republicans appear to agree they need an identity, a clear message. e disagreement, however, is exactly what messages to push.

Some want the party to shift focus away from abortion, gun control, the results of the 2020 presidential election and Donald Trump in hopes of appealing to more una liated voters. Others say these topics are exactly what Republicans need to double down on to win.

At the April breakfast, some of those themes played out. Republi-

cans in the room disagreed on how much the party should focus on abortion. While many Republicans share a desire for more restrictions on abortion in Colorado, the question is how much these beliefs should be a part of mainstream messaging.

“It reminds me of an old saying: ‘If you can’t beat them, join them,’” said Bob Andrews, who lost the Arapahoe County assessor race in 2022.

As a “devout Catholic” with “strong opinions about abortion,” Andrews said Republicans need to stop focusing on it.

“We have this abortion albatross around our neck,” he said. “As an assessor candidate, I had to answer questions about abortion. at’s not in my purview. But until we give that up, we’re going to keep losing.”

Others argued the exact opposite is needed, saying the key to winning is to push harder on the controversial social issues that became a focal point of the 2022 elections.

“As a Republican, we’ll never walk away from protecting the unborn, period,” said Randy Corporon, Republican national committeeman and political radio talk show host. “We don’t need to moderate our position. We need to point out how radical the Democrat position is … It’s a wonderful opportunity to stand up for what we believe and convince people why we’re right.”

e passion of these comments — and the divisions they brought to the surface — extend far beyond Maggiano’s.

From Arapahoe County, which has a Democratic majority, to rightleaning Douglas County — Republicans nd themselves debating and questioning whether they can come to a consensus on how to present a one-party front to voters.

A numbers game

Last year in Douglas County, a Democrat won a legislative race in

the Republican stronghold for the rst time since 1966.

Still, Douglas County elected mostly Republicans to the statehouse, re ecting its voter spectrum. Republicans account for 34% of active registered voters in the county, while 19% are Democrats and 46% are una liated. (Voters not included in these numbers are registered with minor parties.)

e numbers di erentiate Douglas County from neighboring Arapahoe County, where 21% of active registered voters are Republicans, 31% are Democrats and 46% are una liated.

Kevin Edling, who ran for Arapahoe County sheri against incumbent Democrat Tyler Brown in 2022, said these numbers played a role in his loss.

“I knew before I ran for o ce for the Arapahoe County sheri that we’re behind the eight ball because there’s … more registered Democrats in Arapahoe County than there are Republicans,” he said.

If Edling could have run without choosing a party, he said he would have. Some races feel like they’re already decided down party lines before the candidates even start campaigning, he said.

“ at’s not what it’s supposed to be about,” he said. “It’s supposed to be about ideas and candidates and service.”

In the eyes of many Republicans, party registration numbers played a large role in the GOP’s cache of losses in 2022.

“I campaigned for several of the (November 2022) candidates,” said Arapahoe County Commissioner Je Baker, the lone Republican on the ve-member board. “None of my picks won. But you know … I don’t think they could have done anything better. It’s a mathematics game.”

Party registration numbers in Arapahoe County are similar to those

Dave Williams speaks during a Republican state central meeting on March 11, 2023, in Loveland where elections for a chairman, vice chairman and secretary of the Colorado GOP were conducted.

PHOTO BY OLIVIA SUN / THE COLORADO SUN VIA REPORT FOR AMERICA

statewide. Just under a quarter of active voters in Colorado are registered Republican and 27% are Democrat.

It is signi cantly more popular, however, to not be registered with any party at all – 46% of voters in the state are una liated, and that percentage has increased over time.

On Nov. 4, 2008, the day Barack Obama was rst elected, Democratic, Republican and una liated voters in Colorado were evenly split, with about 33% of voters registered in each category. Since then, both major party registration percentages have decreased while una liated voters have increased.

ere are multiple theories as to why registering as una liated is becoming more common among voters.

For some, the shift away from party a liation highlights the declining loyalty to both major political parties and frustration with the two-party political system.

Suzanne Taheri, who was known for much of her political career as Suzanne Staiert, thinks the shift to una liated could also have a systemic cause.

In the past, o cials at the Department of Motor Vehicles would ask residents if they wanted to register to vote and would allow them to select a party.

“Now, they don’t ask you the question anymore,” Taheri said. “You’re just automatically registered as unafliated.”

A new process, implemented in 2020, automatically registers new voters as una liated when they get a driver’s license.

To register with a speci c party, voters have to change their a liation online or by responding to a mailed notice from the state.

“Your motivation to then go into the system and change your a liation to something else is much lower,” said Taheri, the former chair of the Arapahoe County GOP. “Like why? What is the bene t? Now we have open primaries, and if you don’t register as a Republican, then you can vote in either. If you register as a Republican or a Democrat, you only get to pick one. So I don’t know that we will ever see (party registration) really increasing in Colorado.”

In March, during a Republican town hall event in Castle Rock, one Douglas County resident said if voters were forced to pick a party, more would choose the right and Republicans would fare better in elections

and registration numbers.

With the growing number of unafliated voters in the state, many Republicans say the key to winning elections is getting these voters on their side.

“We need to make sure they know that not all Republicans look like me, are old white guys,” Baker said. “ at we have folks that are BIPOC, that they are LGBTQ+. We need to make sure that we’re addressing the issues that they nd important.”

But in Taheri’s eyes, not all una liated voters are “up for grabs.”

“We’re not necessarily appealing to una liated (voters) — they’re unafliated by default, not necessarily by choice,” she said. “I think there’s a big di erence between someone who comes here who’s a Democrat, gets registered as una liated and doesn’t switch, versus somebody who made the switch from a party to una liated … If they were truly up for grabs, I would say, you know, you have to sell your issues to them.”

According to the secretary of state’s o ce, una liated voters can choose a party preference, meaning they can choose to receive a ballot for only the Democratic or Republican primary leading up to an election. Of the una liated voters who have chosen a party preference since the June 2022 primary, 59% chose Democratic and

33% chose Republican.

Voter preference numbers for other recent primaries also show more Democratic preferences than Republican.

Despite these blue-leaning tendencies, many una liated voters, with the ability to vote for either party in the primaries, choose to vote on the Republican ballot.

In the 2022 primaries, 1.2 million total votes were cast, according to numbers from the secretary of state’s o ce. According to the o ce’s data, 248,192 una liated voters returned Republican ballots and 170,631 cast their ballots in Democratic primaries.

With una liated voters impacting primary races, some Republicans support closing primary elections to only registered GOP voters. ey say this would compel people who want to participate to register with the party.

“As members of our community who have knocked countless doors and engaged untold numbers of residents, we know una liated voters are more aligned with conservative values than not,” Douglas County GOP Chair Steve Peck said in a statement. “We hope to prove the value of Republicanism to them over time and have them join our family to take

SEE RED, P16

VOICES

Protecting consumers, tackling high utility bills

Early this year, we heard from constituents that their monthly utility bills went up astronomically.   e amounts were shocking and created real di culties for people struggling to keep up with food, rent and other necessities. And this didn’t just impact our homes and apartments. Our places of worship, our local shops, our schools and hospitals – all of the important community institutions and businesses across Je erson County –were also faced with these dramatic increases in their bills.

In response, we launched a special committee at the Capitol to hear from experts on what was driving these costs, and what we could do at the legislature to protect consumers in the future. Based on the testimony we heard from experts over the course of three committee hearings, we introduced legislation that will address some of the waste, ine ciencies and high costs that made heating and powering our homes and businesses so expensive this winter.

SB23-291 will ensure that ratepay-

ers  won’t have to pay for utility expenses that have nothing to do with providing us safe, reliable heat and electricity. Currently, things like lobbying expenses, political donations, tax penalties and promotional marketing are paid for you by you. Utilities are natural monopolies, so ratepayers shouldn’t be paying for purely brand building ads.

e bill also raises the bar for the level of detail that investor-owned utilities, like Xcel Energy, need to provide to regulators when they’re arguing to raise your rates. We rely on the Public Utilities Commission

(PUC) to review proposals from utilities that will impact our bills, and ensure all proposed increases are reasonable and legitimate. But that can be di cult when utilities don’t always provide all of the data and assumptions they are using to justify the requested rate increase. Our bill will create a more thorough and transparent process, allowing regulators to more quickly and efciently understand the impacts to ratepayers and better evaluate the legitimacy of the proposed increases.

Our bill will also better align the interests of for-pro t utilities with the interests of energy consumers. Utilities like Xcel do not make any money o the cost of the fuel they purchase to heat our homes. So if the cost of gas (the fuel most commonly used) goes up by 40% like it did this winter, they pass that cost on to us dollar for dollar. As a result, they have no nancial incentive to seek ways to reduce these price spikes or, even better, to reduce our reliance on volatile fuels so we’re not exposed to big hikes to begin

with. Our bill sets up strategies to ensure the risk is shared, giving utilities a nancial incentive to better manage these spikes in cost by hedging and building out energy storage capacity. It also better aligns our major utility to reduce waste and increase e ciencies in the system, some of the simplest and cheapest ways to save consumers money.

Finally, our bill helps ensure that our regulators are identifying and stopping wasteful new gas investments that may take 50 years to pay o but will be turned o in the next 20 years to meet our climate goals. Ratepayers should not be on the hook to pay for something until 2075 that is no longer providing their power.

ese unacceptably high utility bills this winter a ected all of us. But SB23-291 will protect consumers and reduce bills in the future. We already have the tools to reduce waste, increase e ciency and save people money. Our bill ensures we use more of those tools in the interests of our families and our community.

A summer of musical adventure at the Arvada Center

Over the years, the Arvada Center’s Summer Concert series has consistently proven itself to be a true gem of the summer. It’s like your favorite neighborhood spot has thrown open its doors for a few hundred friends to get together and hear some great music.

As it gears up for its 2023 season, that feeling is even stronger and more appreciated by audiences, as Philip C. Sneed, president and CEO of the Center, can attest.

“Concerts are back in full force after the pandemic,” he said. “We’re so pleased with the acts we have this year, which includes some returning favorites and some that have never been here before.”

e initial wave of concerts at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., is:

COMING ATTRACTIONS

June 3 — Denver Gay Men’s Chorus: Divas – Icons and Justice Warriors

June 24 —  e Denver Brass: In Pursuit of Leisure

June 30 — A Night at the Movies with the Colorado Sym-

July 3 — Toad the Wet Sprocket with special guest, Cracker

July 7 — Indigo Girls with full band and Garrison Starr

July 15 — Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra

July 21 — George orogood and the Destroyers: Bad All Over the World – 50 Years of Rock Tour

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA

Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

July 28 — Mozart Under the Moonlight with the Colorado Symphony

July 29 — Face Vocal Band

Aug. 12 — Boz Scaggs

Aug. 13 — Ben Folds

Sept. 8 — Keb’ Mo’

ere will also be some special performances that haven’t been announced yet.

Longtime attendees may notice the Center is pulling more well-known national acts in the last years and Sneed attributes this to steady growth in the venue’s reputation.

“Even a few years ago, I don’t think we’ve have been able to get some of these acts,” he said. “A big part of it is the venue, which feels intimate but still has a lot of seats. Word is getting around about how great a place the Center is.”

e variety of performers allows

music fans to indulge in any style they like and local favorites like the Colorado Symphony and Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra are always exploring new ways to draw listeners in, like performing selections from popular lm scores.

e Center itself is also a key factor in what makes seeing a performance so special — there are art shows at the indoor galleries and students all over the place taking a variety of arts classes.

“I love the energy here and the concerts allow people to experience that energy,” Sneed said. “I love sitting outside and listening to the music and seeing people lighting up for their favorite artists. It’s just a great place to be.”

ERIN ADDENBROOKE

Marketing Consultant

eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

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Lisa Cutter

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READER

FROM PAGE 12

For information and tickets, visit https://arvadacenter.org/musicand-dance/summer-concerts.

Find the best food of the year at City Park Farmers Market

ere are many signs that summer is o cially back, but one of the most exciting for those looking for delicious foods is the return of City Park Farmers Market, 2551 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, which opens for the season on Saturday, May 13.

Now in its third season, the event features more than 100 local produc-

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Prioritize Coloradans impacted by Alzheimer’s and related Dementias

Today, 76,000 Coloradans live with Alzheimer’s disease, a number expected to rise by 21% in the next few years. Congress is considering ways to help and I urge them to take immediate action on some important policies.

I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s. I know the e ects of this unrelenting disease and how hopeless it feels to watch the steady decline of a loved one. More must be done before we will see the growing numbers begin to slow and families nd hope and relief.

Congress is considering reauthorizing two laws that have helped our nation make progress in research, care and awareness about Alzheimer’s disease – the National Alzheimer’s Plan Act and the Alzheimer’s Accountability Act. ese important laws have helped researchers and care providers understand the disease and the needs of the families struggling with it. Extending them

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules:

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ers, demos from Colorado chefs and much more. Check out the market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Saturday, Oct. 13. According to provide information, the owners prioritize “vendors who source from and collaborate with other local businesses.”

Find all the necessary information at www.cityparkfarmersmarket.com/.

Go on a magical adventure with El Espiritu Natural

e plot of Su Teatro’s “El Espiritu Natural; the Spirit of Nature,” sounds straight out of classic Disney — sisters NitaLuna and NeldaRio face o against “ e Absence,” which, according to provided information, is “an overpowering memory-reducing force that threatens their history, traditions,

and very existence.” e story also features appearances by La Llorona, Ehecatl and Barack Obama.  is transporting show will appear at Northglenn’s Parsons eatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway, at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 12 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 13. Information and tickets can be found at https://northglennarts. org/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Caroline Polachek at Mission Ballroom

It is always fun to trace a performer’s arc, especially when you get to see them really grow into themselves.

at’s the case with Caroline Polachek, who formed her rst band, Charlift, while a student at the University of Colorado Boulder. When I

rst wrote about her all the way back (kidding) in 2021, she was playing the Bluebird and then she opened for Dua Lipa at Ball Arena last year. And now in support of her fantastic sophomore album, “Desire, I Want to Turn Into You,” she’s headlining Mission Ballroom, 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver.  Polachek will be performing at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, and she has a killer lineup joining her — openers are indie rock legend Alex G and upand-coming talent Indigo De Souza. is has the potential to be one of the season’s best shows, so get tickets at www.axs.com.

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

will enable this progress to continue at a time when even more people could bene t from it.

Additionally, the Comprehensive Care for Alzheimer’s Act would streamline the fractured, everchanging healthcare maze that Alzheimer’s families must navigate to get care they need.

Coordinating delivery of care can reduce costs while providing improved quality of care.

I fear I will face my dad’s grim diagnosis one day. As a volunteer advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association, I feel more empowered than ever to continue to ght for a cure and to help all those whose lives have been turned upside down to care for su ering loved ones. We need Congress to keep the train of progress moving to end this devastating disease.

ank you to Congresswoman Brittney Pettersen for her support in advocating for access to treatments by signing the Congressional Letter to CMS. We are excited to continue

• Publication of any given letter is at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available.

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working with Congresswoman Pettersen and her sta to support these important policy

She was born in Maryville , Missouri on August 5, 1936 to Herb and Twila Dieterich. She joined her 2 brothers, Herb Jr. and Jack.

She is survived by her daughters, Lisa Leicht (Gerhard), Kristin Rowley, and Sonja Maher (Rich), her stepdaughter, Kim Peterson and

stepson, Mark Peterson and her much loved grandchildren, Jessica Leicht, Nicole Leicht, Michael Maher and Brandan Maher.

A memorial service will be held on May 25th at 4 p.m. at the Arvada United Methodist Church at 6750 Carr St. Arvada. In lieu of owers, please consider a donation to the food pantry, Broom eld FISH, an organization Shirley loved and supported for many years as a volunteer.

Shirley Ann Dieterich Peterson of Arvada, Colorado, passed away on May 3rd.

PETERSON Shirley Ann (Rowley) Peterson August 5, 1936 - 0May 3, 2023

e orts.  Sheri Foote, Arvada

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Pools around the metro area are gearing up to open for the summer. at is, if there are enough lifeguards.

e years-long trend where pools have cut hours or closed altogether appears to be waning, though it’s still a possibility in some places, according to aquatics managers across the Denver area, who are more optimistic than in past years, but still concerned as summer nears.

For instance, South Suburban Parks and Recreation needs 250 lifeguards for its peak summer season but has only 183 ready to go.

Karl Brehm, the recreation dis-

trict’s aquatics manager, hopes to get closer to the goal as summer approaches but wonders why applications are so slow to roll in.

“I have seen, more and more, less interest in the position,” Brehm said.

He’s been in the business for a long time. Brehm worked at Elitch Gardens for ve seasons and the Highlands Ranch Community Association for 16 years. He said he’s seen a general lack of interest, generationally, from young people who want to do the job. Fewer people are becoming CPR certi ed as well, he added.

“I’ve often wondered why we were having those issues,” Brehm said. “Back in the day, I remember if you didn’t have

your job by spring break, you weren’t getting a summer job.”  e problem could a ect South Suburban pools across the district, which serves more than 150,000 residents in Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Littleton, Sheridan, Lone Tree and parts of Centennial and Douglas, Je erson and Arapahoe counties.

If he can’t hire enough lifeguards, hours at pools could be cut, Brehm said. It’s not for a lack of trying, though. e district has introduced incentives, bonuses, pay bumps and more in hopes of luring in more lifeguards.

South Suburban isn’t alone.  ere’s a national lifeguard shortage, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. Lifeguard shortages a ected roughly a third of public pools throughout

the country.

In response last year, Gov. Jared Polis announced a “Pools Special Initiative 2022,” in which Colorado introduced incentives. Chief among them was a $1,000 payment to those who completed lifeguard training to ght pool postponements and decreasing operating hours.

Now, out of necessity, hiring lifeguards is ongoing throughout the entire summer season, Brehm said. Lifeguards for South Suburban make between $15 and $19.14 per hour, per South Suburban’s website. A head lifeguard makes $15.75 - $19.93 per hour.

But there are additional costs to South Suburban. ough life-

LIFEGUARDS

guards are generally seen as rst-time, fun summer jobs, they must possess crucial knowledge regarding saving human lives. A full-course lifeguard training at South Suburban through Red Cross costs $175. Community First Aid, CPR and AED training/ blended learning costs $80. After 75 hours of work, South Suburban reimburses course fees, excluding the $40 certi cation fee.

Despite such incentives, lifeguards still make less than sports o cials at South Suburban. A youth sports o cial starts at $20.00 per hour.

North of Denver, in Federal Heights, the Hyland Hills Parks and Recreation, a youth baseball/softball umpire makes $65 per 90 minutes. A Pilates instructor for Brighton makes $1 more than a lifeguard per hour. e discrepancy is notable, especially considering most lifeguards work on a part-time basis.

Yet, the lifeguard numbers are booming for Hyland Hills. Generally, the district employs roughly 300 lifeguards per season. is season, it’s closer to 375, according to Director of Communications Joann Cortez.

e main focus in hiring and retaining their lifeguards at Hyland Hills pools and the massive Water World water park is legacy, Cortez said. Water World is in its 43rd operating season.

“We’ve been in the water park business for over 40 years, and we’re very aware of the nationwide shortage of lifeguards,” she said. “I think what has helped us is we have a legacy pool of candidates. Kids often know Water World just from coming for the experience, and if one of their older siblings takes a job with us, eventually the ones that are following can’t wait for their turn. We’re just very, very fortunate in that way.”

Cortez said Hyland Hills is committed to creating a memorable rst-job experience. It should be fun, but also taken seriously. It’s a constant balance of managing a “fun job” and literally monitoring people’s lives daily. Recruiting is big, and so are the incentives. e employees get free soft drinks, free membership, and even fun events like “prom night” during the season.

Hyland Hills has an end-of-season bonus as well, with the ability to earn an additional dollar per hour’s pay. e lifeguards’ pay ranges depending on the position, such as a guard lifeguard, a shallow-water lifeguard and a deep-water lifeguard.

On the Water World website, lifeguards are hired at $16.15 per hour. A “lifeguard attendant” makes $16.00 per hour. Returning lifeguards make slightly more depending on experience. Cortez said the main factor in keeping employees is how they treat them.

“We’re in a very favorable position, but we’re sad there aren’t enough lifeguards to go around,” Cortez said.

Meanwhile, local pools and recreation centers around the Denver area have conducted pointed campaigns to ensure their numbers are sustainable and their pools are ready for the masses.

While it remains to be seen if that strategy will work for South Suruban, it seems to be working elsewhere. Recreation centers in the City of Brighton, for example, are fully sta ed ahead of the summer. ey were last year, too.

“It’s been tough at di erent agencies, municipalities, and neighborhood pools. ere was de nitely a lifeguard shortage the last several years, especially

last year,” said Je rey Hulett, assistant director of recreation services for Brighton. “But we were fully sta ed last year.”

ere have been a number of initiatives and incentives they’ve introduced to get ahead of the lifeguard shortage crisis, he said. It was a top-tobottom e ort in Brighton to make sure the crisis was minimized. Pay was a main focus. It wasn’t too long ago they were paying lifeguards just $13 per hour, he said. Now, it’s up to $17. And it goes up each season for returnees. Head lifeguards make roughly $1.50 more per hour.

Recreation bene ts were expanded to the sta and their families, even part-time employees. at includes complimentary membership to the recreation center and discounts on youth programs.

ere’s also an end-of-season bonus for those that work the entire summer.

e grants from the governor’s o ce gave Brighton exibility to expand e orts in hiring and retaining employees. According to Aquatics Supervisor Nicole Chapman, it can be di cult to retain lifeguards for pools and centers too big or too small. Brighton, fortunately, was right in a “sweet spot.”

“Some of the much larger municipalities are running into an issue where, physically, the sta we hire are local kids who want to work at their local pool,” Chapman explained. “And if they get hired on by a larger municipality, the expectation is to expect your sta to be willing to work at any of your city rec facilities, and that’s just not feasible for a lot of

Brighton only has two locations — the Brighton Recreation Center and Brighton Oasis Family Aquatic Park — and Chapman said, and there are options for those living on either side of the city. But it’s still a small enough area that employees can work at both locations.

Perhaps back in the day, they could wait for the applications, and they’d have more than they knew what to do with come pool season. Now, that’s simply not the case. Recruiting is essential, both in the high schools and at job fairs, as well as providing a ordable training opportunities and classes in-house — something Hulett said they’d never do before.

Brighton had 88 lifeguards in 2022, which is considered fully sta ed. ey currently have 70 lifeguards for the upcoming summer, but Chapman said she expects those numbers to ll out to 88 again considering guards in training are set to graduate from classes by the end of the month.

Meanwhile, back in South Suburban, Brehm is looking for dozens more lifeguards to fully sta pools this summer.

High school students and student athletes are encouraged to apply. ey can learn valuable skills and essential life-saving procedures they’ll carry with them forever, Brehm said. Plus, it’s an ideal time for student athletes to make money, considering many sports are inactive over the summer.

As the pandemic continues to dwindle, the lifeguard participation numbers are expected to make a leap. But the job itself, and those working it, must be valued consistently to hire and retain those numbers season after season.

younger kids that don’t have their own transportation. ey’re really there looking for a summer job around the corner.”

“We really look for not just kids, but really anyone who is going to take the job seriously and understand just how much of a vital role they play every summer in keeping the community safe,” Chapman said. “We really try to emphasize that with our sta , and there are always sta members that really take that to heart, and those are the ones we want to see come back.”

Finding a balance between making sure lifeguards understand the seriousness of the role and not taking all the fun out of the job is a ne line to walk, she said. But they have to walk it every season.

The lifeguard shortage has become a crisis nationwide. Local pools and recreation centers have worked overtime to ensure its e ects on them are minimal this season. COURTESY CITY OF BRIGHTON

part in our primary elections as registered Republicans themselves.”

Arapahoe County GOP chair Anne Rowland thinks the party can bring more voters in by selling their issues and, more importantly, by building relationships.

“If we’re going to win, we must work together,” she said. “And not only do we have to work together, but we have to persuade una liated and moderate Democrats. Otherwise we’re gonna lose every time.”

The drivers of division

In Rowland’s experience, there are two main causes of division within the party. Some Republicans, she said, are divided in their grassroots versus establishment attitudes.

e other division in the party, Rowland said, is about how much weight to put on speci c issues.

“Some of us are divided because there’s an issue or another that we’re personally attached to, and that overrules everything,” she said.

During the Arapahoe County Republicans Breakfast in April, the issue dividing the crowd was abortion.

Gun control, contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election and Trump also cause divisions among Republicans.

During a debate leading up to the 2023 GOP state chair election, in which Dave Williams was elected, several candidates said they believe Trump won the 2020 election and the party needs to focus on transparency and election security.

“We need to be bold, we need to stand up,” said then candidate Aaron Wood. “We need to not be afraid of people calling us ‘the Big Lie’ or ‘election deniers’ — Trump won. Plain and simple … I want to see without a doubt that elections are won legitimately and we need to be proponents of that.”

In 2020, President Joe Biden was declared the winner with 306 Electoral College votes and just over 81.2 million popular votes. According to the o cial results, Trump nished with 232 Electoral College votes and just over 74.2 million citizen votes.

Williams also believes Trump won the 2020 election.

When running for the state legislature in 2022, he led a lawsuit to try to force Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold to allow his name to be listed on the primary ballot as “Dave ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Williams,” using a coded phrase that means “F--- Joe Biden.”

A judge ruled that Griswold had the authority to disallow the use of the phrase.

Erik Aadland, another candidate for the state’s GOP chair position and former congressional candidate, said election integrity is important, but focusing so much on the 2020 results is hurting the party.

“ is rehashing 2020 is not serving Republicans,” he said. “Whether fraud dictated a role in the outcome of 2020, well sadly, we’ll never know, folks … Our republic hangs in the balance, and if we keep trying to ght 2020 over

and over again, we’re going to lose this war.”

Tina Peters, a 2023 state chair candidate and former Mesa County clerk who was indicted last year on charges related to a security breach of the county’s election system, said focusing on the results is important for the party going forward.

“We need to learn from the past,” she said.

Peters was also recently convicted of obstructing government operations after an encounter in which police said she resisted investigators when they tried to seize an iPad that she had used to record a court proceeding.

Williams said he has o ered the six other candidates who ran for Colorado GOP chair, including Peters, titles and roles within the state party, as reported by e Colorado Sun.

Taheri said di ering perspectives on the 2020 election results are causing Republicans to turn against each other.

“I think what is driving the wedge in the party is that there is a group who doesn’t want to really talk about (other issues), they just want to talk about stolen elections and they want to sling

mud at, not just the Democrats, but other people in the party that don’t want to talk about their issue,” she said.

For the party to be successful, Taheri said she thinks it needs to move away from Trump. Because of his prominent role in people’s perception of the party, she said his in uence trickles down to how people vote in local elections.

“ e saying used to be ‘All politics is local,’” she said. “Now I feel like all politics is national … I think if we are better at the federal level of articulating our issues, then people start to identify our candidates with our issues instead of just identifying our candidates with Trump.”

For other Republican voices and voters, Trump is the only way forward for the GOP.

During a March town hall hosted by several state House Republicans, several Douglas County citizens said Trump is the best choice to x not only the party, but also the country.  When asked if they would only support Trump, the Castle Pines and Castle Rock residents said they would support whoever wins the Republican primary.

Unifying issues

To move forward as a party, some Republicans think the key to winning is to focus on the issues that a ect voters’ day-to-day lives.

“I don’t like to lead with (abortion and gun rights) because those are hotbutton issues,” Rowland said. “If it’s a topic that’s very partisan, I don’t think that’s where you start the conversation. I think you hold your values, but start with the things that you can agree on.”

In Rowland’s eyes, some of those things are crime, in ation, homelessness, school violence and fentanyl. “ ese are all issues that should not be Republican or Democrat issues,” she said. “ ese are not partisan is-

SEE RED, P18

Arapahoe County GOP Chair Anne Rowland addressed the group at Maggiano’s Little Italy. PHOTO BY NINA JOSS

Thu 5/18

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sues. ese are issues of life and community.”

Rep. Anthony Hartsook, R-Parker, said ideas that already have broad consensus in the Republican party, like addressing crime, keeping government small with low taxes and fewer regulations, educational choice and promoting individualism, have the best chance of recruiting una liated voters.

While campaigning in 2020, Hartsook said he found that una liated voters and Republicans shared the same concerns with growing in ation, crime and cost of living.

For Edling, the core values of the Republican party are scal.

“What truly is not divisive in politics is people’s money — their wallet,” he said. “People often vote with their wallet. Money is money. So if we could somehow turn our politics back into something we all agree on, and we want to protect — our nancial freedom, our nancial resources.”

For Baker, core conservative values are limited government, property rights, the rule of law and supporting law enforcement and public safety o cers.

Instead of mainly focusing on the importance of these Republican ideals, state GOP chair Williams said party leaders need to show voters why Democrats are corrupt.

“Here’s the truth: swing voters are not driven by ideology, otherwise they would a liate,” he said during a February debate. “If we’re going to win, let’s provide that bold contrast because our issues do, in fact, win. Swing voters, speci cally, just want to be able to vote for someone they can trust. And I assure you, if we call out the Democrats for being morally bankrupt and corrupted, we’re going to earn their trust.”

In an email to Colorado Community Media, Williams said the GOP needs to “show that Colorado Republicans care about resolving their very real kitchen table, pocketbook issues while exposing radical Democrats for making hard working citizens’ lives harder and more expensive.”

In addition to pointing out Democratic failures, Rowland said Republicans need to o er a better way.

“We have to say, ‘ is, this and this are going wrong — here’s a better way to x them,’” she said.

State Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, said the lack of improvement on many issues will be a motivator for people to start voting Republican.

“We’re not seeing an improvement in crime. We’re not seeing an improvement in homelessness. We’re not seeing an improvement in a ordability,” she said. “Democrats have had years to x these problems and they have been unable to.”

Get the brand out like Tony the Tiger

To get the party’s message out, Edling said the party needs to do a better

job marketing through social media, schools and extracurriculars. He said the GOP could even consider hiring a consultant to help.

“We have to do a better job of marketing to all our young people for both parties to get the future talent of politicians (and) leaders,” he said. “I want young, new, bright faces, new ideas to come out.”

Andrews, who ran for Arapahoe County assessor, said this messaging needs to start in schools.

“We keep talking about reaching out to the young people,” he said. “ at’s just lip service — unless we start creating some young Republican clubs in every high school, it’s not gonna matter because all of the teachers and the media are speaking the language of the young people, and we’re not even in the game.”

In Taheri’s eyes, the party will be di cult to brand as long as Trump is still the national focus. Trump, facing criminal charges in New York, has already announced he will run for president in 2024.

“I just think it’s going to be really hard (to sell the issues) in Arapahoe County if Trump’s still in the picture.” Taheri said. “I just think his tone, I mean, I just don’t see many suburban women supporting something like that. Arapahoe is a very educated county. I just don’t think any of us wanted that in our living room.”

From her perspective in the Capitol, Frizell said divisions in the party can distract from policy e orts to tackle

constituents’ problems.

“We have to come together and unify if we’re ever going to succeed,” she said.

In Rowland’s eyes, the one true key to uniting the party and xing its image is to put real e ort into building relationships such as doing more community service, an idea she got from Boulder GOP Chair George Tristan.

“I think if the person you know — the person that came and helped build a tiny house for you, the person that came and did whatever service project your church was working on, and you meet that person, and you get to know them — that’s the person you vote for and you don’t pay attention to whether there’s an R or a D by their name,” she said. “Here in Colorado, it almost seems as though the R is like a scarlet letter.”

Both in the greater community and within the party itself, Rowland thinks the only way toward unity is giving each other a chance — sitting down for a cup of co ee over disagreement, and nding common ground.

“We have a Tony the Tiger problem,” she said. “For years, Tony the Tiger has taught us that Frosted Flakes are great. We grew up knowing that. But kids today grow up thinking Republicans are mean on social issues, that they’re too narrow-minded and too traditional and they don’t like any new ideas.”

“We have to be able to have discussions, respectful discussions, to come to a place where we can message,” she said. “And if we can’t agree on something, where can we work towards?”

Editor’s note: “Paperboy” is a selection from Jerry Fabyanic’s forthcoming memoir, “Uphill into the Wind: Seizing the Day and Finding Meaning in the Ordinary.” e work will be in essay and short story format, the topics of which drawn from Jerry’s life experiences.

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” So goes the uno cial motto of the United States Postal Service. e line is taken from the Greek historian, Herodotus, who wrote those words in  e Persian Wars in reference to the Persians’ system of mail delivery. Regardless, kudos to mail deliverers from the ancient Persians and our Pony Express to today’s workers. But postal workers take a backseat to paperboys and papergirls, the gone-withthe-ages McJob that was the entryway into the workforce for a few boys and fewer girls long before the golden arches were conceived. It’s a relic of Americana’s days of yore.

Delivering newspapers seven days a week in rain, snow or sunshine was more than a way to earn a few coins for a boy to buy candy, pop and popsicles. It was an interactive, on-the-job primer for learning and developing practical life skills. Being a paperboy was not much di erent from apprenticeships boys like the young Benjamin Franklin underwent.

I was a paperboy twice, the rst time at the age of nine. By the fourth grade, I was learning aspects of quality service and adopting values I hold to this day. Responsibility and punctuality were among them. When in the classroom, I tried to instill those values into my students. I would tell them, “Your job is to be on time and do your work as best you can.” To this day, I stress whenever I might be late for an engagement. I’d rather show up thirty minutes early than be ve minutes late.

At rst, I was an assistant — apprentice — of sorts to my older brother, Rich. He delivered papers to about two-thirds, the more spread out portion, of the route. My responsibility was to deliver the papers to neighbors closer to home. Still, it was quite a chore for a skinny boy. e o -white canvas paper sack with a ame-orange shoulder strap nearly scraped the ground when I hoisted it onto my shoulder. And it caused other problems. During the summer months, I wore shorts, and the sack would rub irritatingly against my shin. And in the winter, it presented a di erent challenge if it snowed. To problem solve, I’d pull the strap over my head to my left shoulder so it would hang on my right. But on days when the edition was bulkier, even the left-shoulder solution didn’t resolve the issue. en, I simply hoisted and toted the

JERRY FABYANIC Columnist

CONGRATULATIONS!

sack until the load lightened.

One of the rst things I intuitively learned was the importance of getting to know your clientele. As a nine-year-old, I did not have an understanding of such a lofty business practice. But I quickly discovered which were more lighthearted and friendly types and which were grumpy or fussy. at was critical because my total income, given that I earned only a penny and a half for each daily paper and ve cents for the Sunday paper, was heavily dependent on tips.

With coaching from Rich, I developed good business practices. Like being punctual, keeping the newspaper dry, and putting it in a safe location like inside a storm door or a milk box. (Remember those?) e former one — opening the storm door and tossing the newspaper inside — got me into scrapes with several furry, four-pawed creatures.

e worst one was with Doh-Doh.

Doh-Doh was my friend Pete’s family pet. He, not Pete, was a rat terrier. And he was mean. He’s the only dog I was bitten by. It happened right after I pulled the storm door open as I had many times before.

e little demon was lying in wait. He sprang. Four years later when I had the paper route to myself, the scenario repeated itself. Except that time, I got mild revenge. We both had aged, but he in dog years and I boy years. I had gotten bigger and stronger and he was declining. One afternoon, he was lying listlessly by the door when I pulled it open. He raised his head in half-hearted recognition, and the anger I had felt resurfaced. I stared at him for a second then tossed the paper nearly on top of him. I suppose I should feel guilty for or regret doing it. But I don’t.

I experienced a few tense situations with bigger dogs including a German shepherd, collie and Doberman pinscher. But while they got raucous, I never felt threatened by them. After a while, the German shepherd and collie got used to me.

ey’d grouse, but mainly to remind me who was in charge. Not so much with the Doberman pinscher. I would tread lightly when I entered his yard. He never was loose, so that wasn’t a problem. But he would sometimes be lying languidly inside the porch gate. When he saw me, he would rise up on all fours and, with his head overhanging the gate and slobber running from his jowls, let me know in no uncertain terms he wasn’t happy I intruded into his yard. When that happened, the newspaper didn’t get onto the porch.

To the winners of the 18th Annual Ethics in Business Awards, presented by the Rotary Club of Golden, the Golden Civic Foundation, the Greater Golden Chamber of Commerce, and the Jefferson Economic Development Corporation

In the For-profit category Hike Doggie In the Not-for-profit category Community First Foundation

And Congratulations also to the other nominees

For-profit

96.9 the Cloud • Ball Corporation • Buffalo Rose • Colorado Sun

Evolution Veterinary Specialists • Lakeside Insurance

Laurel Property Services • OnTap Credit Union • Sirona Physical Therapy

Unite Fitness • Virtuosity Dance

Not-for-profit

BgoldN • B.I.O.N.I.C. • Colorado Mountain Club • Faithfully K9

Friendship Bridge • Golden Non-profit Leadership Roundtable

Golden Visitors & Information Center • Habitat for Humanity of Colorado

Miners Alley Playhouse • ARC Thrift Stores

AND ALSO A SINCERE “THANK YOU!” TO THE MANY SPONSORS OF THE 2023 ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARDS PROGRAM.

Platinum Sponsors

Colorado School of Mines • Confluence Companies

Gold Sponsor Colorado Community Media

Silver Sponsors

Applewood Plumbing, Heating and Electric • Bob and Dru Short City of Golden • First Bank • Jeffco Public Schools

Jefferson Center • W E O’Neil

Bronze Sponsors

Bandimere Speedway//Independent Financial

Christa Smith-My Home Team//Golden Chamber

Community First Foundation • DD Rockwell, Realtor

Developmental Disabilities Resource Center • Golden Civic Foundation

Hebert Investments • Lutheran Medical Center-Intermountain Health

Red Rocks Community College Foundation

Sheraton Denver West • TaxOps

Donors

Essence Laser & Wellness • Golden Group Real Estate

Golden Real Estate • Laurel Property Services

Skyline Property Management

FINALLY, THANKS ALSO TO THE MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT ACTIVELY SUPPORTED THIS YEAR’S ETHICS IN BUSINESS AWARDS PROGRAM!

Being a paperboy opened a new world for me in terms of not only getting to know people but also about people. For the most part, my customers were wonderful and kind. But that commonality ended when it came to their quirks and personalities. Some like Mrs. Frye, whose yard was fenced to keep her dogs contained, were engaging. She had a paperbox at the gate into which I would slide her newspaper. On collection day, I would stand at the gate and call, “Mrs. Frye!” She would soon tootle out, often in her slippers, and hand me the week’s payment along with a tip. I can still picture her in her bright owery-print house dresses and red hair pulled back in a bun. She was a chatterer. I loved it, and it taught me another skill: how to talk con dently with an adult.  Mr. Mori was one of my favorites. Each summer he grew enormous tomato plants in his backyard garden. When the tomatoes were ripening, I would stu a salt shaker in my pocket because he was routinely working in the garden when I showed up. And when he saw me coming, he’d pick a big juicy one just for me. After delivering to a dozen houses after Mr. Mori’s, I would stop at the neighborhood grocery store run by Mr. “Happy” Yeager and snag

a bottle of Pepsi to wash down the salt. After dropping a nickel into the pop machine’s money slot, I would sh one out and pop the top o with the opener attached to the cooler. To this day, there’s still nothing like a salted juicy tomato chased by an icecold Pepsi, albeit zero sugar now.

Mrs. Hartsfeld was one of  my sweetest customers. One snowy Friday when I was collecting, she was surprised to see me with no boots and wearing ratty cotton gloves. I explained to her the boots I inherited from my older brothers had holes in the heels so were not very e ective for keeping snow out and it was pointless to buy another pair because I would outgrow them within a year. But the primary truth, which I didn’t tell her, was that we couldn’t a ord them. So I just tripled-layered my socks, which helped keep my feet fairly warm and dry until I got through my route. As for the gloves, they did okay. My hands had toughened from making and heaving snowballs with bare hands. But the next week when I showed up to collect, she had a pair of new gloves for me.

en there was Mr. Stankiewicz. I met him only once because his wife had always paid me. When he answered the door, he had a serious look on his face.

“What do you want?” he asked gru y as he towered over me.  His voice and demeanor were intimidating. “I’m collecting for the

newspaper,” I shyly answered.

“Newspaper, huh. Which one?”

“ e Pittsburgh Press, sir.”

“Press, huh. How much is it?”

I felt my voice quivering. “Sixtyseven cents, sir.”

“ at seems like a lot. Why is it so much?”

“Well sir, it’s seven cents for the daily paper and twenty- ve cents for the Sunday.”

“Okay,” he said as he nodded his head. He stuck his hand inside his trouser pocket and shook it. I could hear change jingling in it. It drew my attention. My eyes focused on it. He smiled mischievously. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll pay you sixty-seven cents, or you can have all the coins in my pocket. If it is less than sixty-seven cents, you lose. If more, you win. Wadda ya say?”

I pursed my mouth as I stared at his pocket with the jingling coins. My eyes lit up in anticipation, and I drooled as I imagined hitting the jackpot. I regained my resolve, looked him squarely in his eye, and sti ened my jaw.

“Okay. I’ll take what you have in your pocket.”

He grinned widely and pulled out the change. It was a handful.

“Smart kid, Hold out your hand.”

I cupped both eagerly as he dropped a cache of nickels, dimes, and quarters, into them. “You’ll go far,” he laughed as he did. Later, I gured it was well over three dollars since I kept a running total in my head about the amount of tips I collected.

Tips were, like they are for many service workers today, the lifeblood of my income. at was compounded at Christmas. Almost everyone gave me a card with a buck or two in it. A few times I’d hit the jackpot with a ve-dollar bill. Most of it went into my rst savings account my mother helped me open at the Pittsburgh National Bank branch in the Miracle Mile Shopping Center. I still remember handing my earnings to Mrs. Williams, the teller with white hair and big glasses. She always would tell me how proud she was of me as she entered the amount into my savings account booklet.

Not all of my customers were engaging. In fact, there were a few I never met. I just knew they got the newspaper and would faithfully leave what they owed me, most often with a tip, in an envelope inside their storm door or paperbox. At rst I thought it was creepy, but I came to

understand that some people were very private or mysteriously reclusive, and that was okay.

I had one customer, though, who taught me what a deadbeat was. Mrs. “Bond” got the Sunday paper only. When I took over the route, she would leave me a dollar—no tip—for a month’s payment inside the door. One month the money wasn’t there. I gave it a couple of weeks, but still no money. e next Sunday, early in the morning, I knocked on her door. No answer. I left the paper but decided to give her one more chance. e following Sunday, I knocked again. Still no answer. at time I had written a note, which I left with the paper, saying she was two months behind and that I needed two dollars the following Sunday. at next Sunday, no money, so I left no paper. Nor did I deliver one for the next couple of weeks.

Finally, my route manager, John, asked me why I wasn’t delivering her a paper. Apparently, she called and complained. I explained why. He said I had to deliver her a paper. I said I wouldn’t until she paid up. I told him it wasn’t right or fair and that I had given her several chances. We were at a standstill, but I stood my ground. It was an early lesson in having the courage to stand up for my principles. Finally, he agreed to give me credit for the money she owed. I started delivering to her again on the condition that she paid me on time. For the rest of the time I had the route, the money was inside the door.

When I muse about those days, many images come to mind that at the time seemed eeting or incidental. A rich one is heading out shortly after dawn on a summer Sunday morning with fog slightly layered over the neighborhood, sloshing through dewy grass, and bushwacking between trees and shrubs as webs strung through the night brushed across my face. I can still smell the sweetness and hear the stillness. As a nascent teenager, I wasn’t conscious about morning energies, but I now realize that I was already intuiting something profound.

I picture that big-eared kid with stringy brown hair wearing cuto jeans for shorts, a T-shirt, and dirty white canvas sneakers with tapedtogether eyeglasses sitting crookedly atop his nose trooping along with an

SEE FABYANIC, P31

Voters select Grosh, Hald to lead Hyland Hills

Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District voters selected candidates Danielle Grosh and Mike Hald for the Board of Directors in a Districtwide election May 2, according to the unofficial results.

The final count is expected after May 8, when the final mail-in and military ballots were due, possibly changing the results.

Those elected will be sworn in on May 16 at the next public Board Meeting and will be seated in the two open seats being vacated by Board members Jennifer Flaum and Christopher Dittman.

Grosh and Hald will serve fouryear terms on the five-person Board of Directors, which includes Board Members Warren Blair, Margaret Gutierrez, and Donald

Ciancio, II.

trict resident who has operated a local business since 2005. She has a son who enjoyed Hyland Hills facilities growing up and now has a granddaughter who is also doing the same. Having experienced the benefits of being a resident herself, she says she ran for the board to

Grosh also serves as Board Secretary for the Ranch Filing #1 Neighborhood Homeowners Association.

Mike Hald has lived in Westminster for 18 years and has been part of corporate finance teams leading

financial reporting, accounting, business insurance and internal controls departments for several large public companies. He says his goal as a board member will be to work with the district’s staff leadership team to ensure that families can enjoy the facilities offered by Hyland Hills, and that they are well maintained. Hald currently serves as the president of his neighborhood’s special tax district, where he led the refinancing of the district’s debt to save over $1 million in interest costs.

The election was a mail-ballot election with 72,000 ballots mailed to eligible electors. The District’s 24-square mile boundary includes the City of Federal Heights and parts of Westminster, Thornton, Northglenn, Arvada and unincorporated Adams County.

Spring avalanche danger looms as record-high deaths in Colorado approach

BY PAOLO ZIALCITA COLORADO PUBLIC RADIO

Conditions across the state are warming, and in the mountains, that means more avalanche hazards.  e chance of “wet avalanches” increases when snowpack melts in the springtime. ose types of avalanches occur when layers of snow beneath the surface become unstable due to increased moisture. Colorado’s snowpack is 38 percentage points higher than the median for this time of year, according to the National Water and Climate Center. at means there’s even more potential runo than normal.

Brian Lazar, deputy director of the Colorado Avalanche Informa-

tion Center, said the high amount of snow that’s fallen this winter has contributed to the high risk of wet avalanches. e state’s high-elevation areas have received snowfall as recently as the nal week of April.

“As that cold snow warms up and sees sun after the storm leaves, it will tend to sheet o the underlying crust and produce kind of long-running wet avalanche activity, which is also what we saw over the last couple days,” Lazar said.

Lazar said wet avalanche activity will likely drop o once higher temperatures become more consistent and snowpack melts, but there will still be plenty of risk for backcountry skiers and other outdoor recreators

in the coming weeks. He said anyone going out into the snow should be extra careful.

“Outside of checking your forecast, you want to make sure you’re still carrying your minimum required rescue gear, which includes an avalanche transceiver, a shovel, and a probe,” Lazar said.

A man died near Breckinridge over the weekend after he was caught in a slide, becoming Colorado’s 11th avalanche fatality this snow season. One more recreational fatality will tie the state’s all-time record, set in 1993. is story via Colorado Public Radio, a Colorado Community Media content partner.

Avalanche blast warning sign on the west side of the Eisenhower Tunnel under the Continental Divide on March 12.

PHOTO BY HART VAN DENBURG, CPR NEWS

Local Republicans say trust in media has declined

BY STAFF REPORT COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

As Colorado Community Media reporters Nina Joss and McKenna Harford embarked on their investigation of issues facing the Republican party in Colorado, they were met with notable hesitancy and resistance from many potential sources.

One 2022 county race candidate, two county GOP leaders, four voters and Rep. Brandi Bradley of Douglas County all declined to interview for the story or did not respond to requests for comment.

Of these, three explicitly pointed to distrust in the media as their reason for declining.

A 2021 survey by the Pew Research Center shows that only 35% of Republicans and Republicanleaning independents say they have “a lot” or “some” trust in the information that comes from national news organizations.

According to the Knight Foundation, trust in local news also declined in the party from 2019-2021. is distrust, in addition to causing potential sources to decline interviews, created hesitancy in others who did end up participating in the reporting process.

Suzanne Taheri, formerly Suzanne Staiert, served as the Arapahoe County GOP Chair from 2021 until 2023. When Joss reached out to Taheri to request an interview, she initially declined, pointing to a

disagreement with Colorado Community Media in the past.

After a meeting with CCM South Metro Editor elma Grimes, Taheri agreed to interview for the story because she started to believe

the planned article was not a “hit piece” as she had originally suspected.

“(Grimes) said, ‘I mean, we’re actually … trying to do a legitimate story,’” Taheri said. “I think that, had it been a hit piece, you probably would have just moved on to nd your next target.”

In Taheri’s eyes, trust in the media among Republicans is weak. When Donald Trump entered the national scene, Taheri said the media became even more polarized and separation between “journalists and pundits,” which was already blurry, disappeared.

“Some (journalists) tried or successfully put aside any biases they had and just reported the facts,” she said. “Now, that just doesn’t sell. And so when you say ‘trust in the media,’ you’re saying ‘trust in a pundit,’ which is completely di erent than trusting journalism.”

Although local media tends to be seen as more trustworthy than national news outlets, local journalists can still help improve trust by “sticking together and kicking everyone else out of the pool,” she said.

Anne Rowland, Taheri’s successor,

SHUTTERSTOCK IMAGE

Pomona’s Emma Stutzman ready to make her final run

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

LAKEWOOD — Pomona senior Emma Stutzman won her nal regular-season race May 6 at Je co Stadium.

One of the most decorated distant runners in Je co claimed the Class 5A girls 1,600-meter title during the Je co League track & eld championships in record-setting fashion. Stutzman broke her own league record by nearly eight seconds.

“I felt really good,” Stutzman said after nishing nearly a full 20 seconds ahead of second place. “I was really focusing on my key points at 300 and 500 meters, along with making sure that last 100 wasn’t anything ditzy.”

Stutzman’s time of 4 minutes, 50.29 seconds shattered her old mark of 4:57.84 that she set two

years ago as a sophomore during the league championships at Je co Stadium.

“I really wanted to just break 5 (minutes),” Stutzman said of her mindset in her nal individual league championship race of her career. “I wanted to build up some con dence and build up that o cial time of breaking 5 minutes.”

e Northern Arizona Universitycommit passed on running the 3,200 during the rst day of the league championships on May 3. Stutzman also holds the 5A girls Je co League Meet record in the 3,200 with a time of 10:51.46 that she set in 2021.

“I de nitely want to make sure I’m ready for it, but I’m not doing too much where I’m not ready because

I’m tired,” Stutzman said of gearing up for the state meeting coming up May 18-20 at Je co Stadium.

“I’m just making sure I can keep my

stamina going into state.”

Stutzman has placed in the top-4 of the 1,600 and 3,200 at the state meet the past two years. As a sophomore she took third in the 1,600 and runner-up in the 3,200. Last year, she took fourth in both the 1,600 and 3,200.

During Stutzman’s four-year run at Pomona, the 5A girls distant competition has been tough with Cherry Creek’s Riley Stewart — who is a freshman at Stanford University — leading the pack with multiple individual state titles.

“It has been my main goal all season,” Stutzman said of winning her rst state title. “Even through cross country that was my goal. It would de nitely mean a lot.”

Stutzman nearly reached the top of the podium in the Fall cross county season nishing second to Valor senior Brooke Wilson.

“I feel like we all have our equal chances,” Stutzman said of the deep distance eld in 5A. “It is really about who wants it more.”  ere were two other Je co League Meet records that fell last week.

Golden junior Montrey Strickland’s throw of 53-feet, 8.5 inches in the 4A boys shot put broke the pervious record of 53-4.5 set by D’Evelyn’s T.J. Hogle in 2004.

Valor’s boys 4x800 relay team — Enzo Swan, Drew Costelow, Kaeden Dendorfer, and Dane Eike — set a new 5A record with a time of 7:48.80. e old record was more than 20 years old. Chat eld held the record since 2001.

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

Pomona senior Emma Stutzman takes a glance toward the stands as she holds a slim lead on Dakota Ridge junior Hanan Aldelemy (2) during the Class 5A girls 1,600 race during the Je co League track & field championships May 6 at Je co Stadium. Stutzman’s time of 4:50.29 shattered her own meet record by nearly 8 seconds that she set two years ago. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Pomona senior Emma Stutzman crosses the finish line all by herself during the Class 5A girls 1,600 final May 6 at Je co Stadium. Stutzman finished nearly 20 seconds ahead of second place during her record-setting run at the Je co League championships.

Track champs

Arvada West junior Jocelyn Withman, far right, pulled o the upset in the Class 5A girls 100-hurdles edging out Chatfield junior Audrey Hubbell for the league title May 6 at Je co Stadium. PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS/JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Ralston Valley’s boys track & field team racked up 169 team points to win the Class 5A Je co League boys title. Valor Christian finished second with 150 points.

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DIRTY

TRUST

was also uncertain about participating in the story until a colleague told her that Joss had quoted a source correctly in the past.

“I didn’t answer (your call) at rst on purpose because I wanted to nd out who you were and should I trust you and give you the time to speak to you,” she said to Joss. “My job’s already hard enough without

FABYANIC

FROM PAGE 20

o -white canvas sack hanging from his shoulder and a wire connecting his ear to a transistor radio tuned into KQV and grooving to the Four Seasons and Beach Boys. And when I do, I o er gratitude to the Universe for having been blessed by having that opportunity.

My life has been spent in peopleoriented jobs that began with delivering newspapers. Today, as an essayist and an author of literary ction, I focus on the human

somebody else making it hard.”

“I think there is a very big distrust of the media, particularly from Republicans,” she said. “And it’s not just the stories that get put out, but there are stories that are not put out.”

To move forward, Rowland thinks journalists need to build relationships.

“I think you need to sit down, have a cup of co ee, and build a relationship,” she said. “And then be fair in how you report it.”

Kevin Edling, who ran for Arapa -

psyche: Why people do what they do. It was as a paperboy I began learning those dynamics. And the lessons I learned are a rmed today. Yes, there are deadbeats, losers, and mean, unpleasant people and dogs, but for each of them, there are countless others of friendly, well-intentioned, caring, and compassionate people and playful pooches.

In a wondrous way, my customers were more than neighbors. ey became my personal community, a virtual extended family. Growing up without one, I used to wonder about how cool it would be if I had a dad like Mr. Mori. And in

hoe County sheri against Democrat Tyler Brown in 2022, said all media, including local media, should get back to the “baseline of reporting facts and not reaching conclusions for the reader or for the viewer.”

“I know that the American public is smart enough to come up with their own conclusions,” he said.

As the Republican Party works on getting its message out to voters, Edling said being able to work with members of the media is important.

hindsight, Mr. Stankiewicz, a crazy uncle, and Mrs. Hartsfeld, a caring aunt.

In that era, paperboys, as they had from the early days of mass circulation of newspapers, lled an essential role. People depended on and trusted them to get them the news. I’m proud to have been one and to be in the lineage of that rich tradition. It’s sad seeing that era having come to a close. It was an opportunity for a kiddo to begin learning about the world beyond his ken and transitioning from childhood dependency to an independent adult. But there was more, a necessary component for a boy: It was fun.

“It doesn’t matter if I disagree with (a reporter) or I agree with (a reporter),” he said. “I should always have a relationship with the media. It’s important. is is what people read, this is what people view and this is what people listen to.”

Documentary lmmaker Don Colacino documented Joss and Harford’s reporting process for this story as part of his upcoming lm about trust in news. e trailer and more information on the lm, Trusted Sources, are available at https://www.trustdoc lm.com/.

It was fun largely because I knew I was growing up and had responsibilities beyond my home. And it set the tenor for my approach to every job I would have thereon: take it seriously but have fun while doing it.

Of all the wondrous aspects of being a paperboy, it was getting to know people and dogs up close and personal that made it the most fun. Which makes me wonder: How many postal workers today can still make that claim?

Jerry Fabyanic is the author of “Sisyphus Wins” and “Food for ought: Essays on Mind and Spirit.” He lives in Georgetown.

Legals

Public Notice

NOTICE OF HEARING

UPON APPLICATION FOR A NEW HOTEL AND RESTAURANT LIQUOR LICENSE OF RENEGADE BRANDS, LLC

D/B/A: RENEGADE BURRITO 8770 WADSWORTH BLVD. UNIT B ARVADA, CO 80003

Notice is hereby given that an application has been presented to the City of Arvada Local Liquor Licensing authority for a Hotel and Restaurant liquor license from Renegade Brands, LLC, d/b/a Renegade Burrito, located at 8770 Wadsworth Blvd. Unit B, Arvada, CO, whose controlling officers are Pamela Ward and Bradley Harris, Owners, 8770 Wadsworth Blvd. Unit B, Arvada, CO, United States

The license would allow sales of malt, vinous and spirituous liquor by the drink for consumption on the premises at 8770 Wadsworth Blvd. Unit B, Arvada, CO 80003.

Said application will be heard and considered by the City of Arvada Liquor Licensing Authority at a meeting to be held in the Arvada Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 8101 Ralston Road at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023. The application was submitted on April 10, 2023.

For further information call Sarah Walters, Deputy City Clerk, at 720-898-7544.

Dated this 11th day of May, 2023

/s/ Sarah Walters

Deputy

City Clerk CITY OF ARVADA, COLORADO

Legal Notice No. JT1101

First Publication: May 11, 2023

Last Publication: May 11, 2023

Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

Public Notice

NOTICE OF HEARING

UPON APPLICATION FOR A NEW HOTEL AND RESTAURANT LIQUOR LICENSE OF SNOOZETOWN, LLC

D/B/A: SNOOZE AN A.M. EATERY 7240 WEST 56TH AVE. SUITE 100 ARVADA, CO 80002

Notice is hereby given that an application has been presented to the City of Arvada Local Liquor Licensing authority for a Hotel and Restaurant liquor license from Snoozetown, LLC, d/b/a Snooze an A.M. Eatery, located at 7240 West 56th Ave. Suite 100, Arvada, CO, whose controlling officers are David Birzom, President and William Long, Secretary/Treasurer, 7240 West 56th Ave. Suite 100, Arvada, CO, United States

The license would allow sales of malt, vinous and spirituous liquor by the drink for consumption on the premises at 7240 West 56th Ave. Suite 100, Arvada, CO 80002.

Said application will be heard and considered by the City of Arvada Liquor Licensing Authority at a meeting to be held in the Arvada Municipal Complex Council Chambers, 8101 Ralston Road at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2023. The application was submitted on April 7, 2023.

For further information call Sarah Walters, Deputy City Clerk, at 720-898-7544.

Dated this 11th day of May, 2023

Sarah Walters Deputy City Clerk CITY OF ARVADA, COLORADO

Legal Notice No. JT1102

First Publication: May 11, 2023

Last Publication: May 11, 2023

Publisher: Jeffco Transcript Public Notice May 11, 2023

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT

IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO RE-

QUEST THE RELEASE OF FUNDS City of Arvada, Colorado PO Box 8101, Arvada, Colorado 80001-8101 720-898-7494

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Arvada, Colorado.

REQUEST FOR THE RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about May 26, 2023 the City of Arvada, Colorado will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on behalf of City of Arvada, Colorado for the release of eight project-based vouchers, under the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016, to undertake the following project:

Project Title:

Cornerstone Legacy Senior Residences

Purpose: The proposed project, Legacy Senior Residences, is a new 72-unit affordable senior development. The apartments will comprise 72 units in one, elevator served, three-story residential building on 4.14 acres. According to the Site Design and Site Narrative,the units of Legacy Senior Residences are targeted to incomes at 30%, 50%, and 60% of the area median income (AMI). The 72 units will be offered in one and

two-bedroom apartments. Site amenities will include 24 garages and surface parking, outdoor recreation areas, grilling stations, a fitness center, and secured access entry points.

Location: 5430 West 64th Avenue, Arvada, Jefferson County, Colorado 80003.

Estimated Cost: $31,068,009 + 8 PBVs

SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

FINDING OF NO

The City of Arvada, Colorado has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. An Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), therefore, is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the Housing Preservation and Resources Division of the City of Arvada, 8001 Ralston Road, Arvada, Colorado and may be examined or copied weekdays 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the projects may submit written comments to the Housing Preservation and Resources Division of the City of Arvada, 8001 Ralston Road, Arvada, Colorado. All comments received by May 25, 2023 will be considered by the City of Arvada, Colorado prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The City of Arvada, Colorado certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that Ms. Lorie Gillis in her capacity as City Manager consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied. The U.S. Department of Housing and

Urban Development’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the City of Arvada, Colorado to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO THE RELEASE OF FUNDS

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Arvada’s certification for a period of fifteen days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are made on one of the following bases: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Arvada, Colorado; (b) the City of Arvada, Colorado has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before the approval of a release of funds by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; or (d) another Federal agency, acting pursuant to 40 CFR part 1504, has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures of 24 CFR Part 58 and shall be addressed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Region VIII Office, 8ADE, 1670 Broadway Street, Colorado 80202-4801. Potential objectors should contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Ms. Lorie Gillis, City Manager

Legal Notice No. 416273

First Publication: May 11, 2023

Last Publication: May 11, 2023

Publisher: Jeffco Transcript ###

/s/

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