Arvada Press December 14, 2023

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 24

WEEK OF DECEMBER 14, 2023

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Folks line up for eggnog at the Arvada Tavern at the 8th Annual Eggnog and Cider PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI Competition.

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December 14, 2023De

Bluegrass Lounge’s Blitzen’s Nog crowned ‘Best Eggnog’ at Olde Town’s 8th annual Eggnog and Cider Competition

Scrumptious won top ‘Non-Alcoholic Eggnog’ honors for their eggnog ice cream.

Hunter Bay Coffee Roasters served up non-alcoholic cider as their entry into the PHOTOS BY LILLIAN FUGLEI competition this year.

Smokin Fins wins top cider, Scrumptious and La Dolce Vita win nonalcoholic categories Presented by Colorado Education Association

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BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Olde Town Arvada was awash with holiday cheer on Dec. 4, as the 8th Annual Eggnog and Cider Competition and yearly Lagniappe celebration coincided in the historic district.

The Eggnog and Cider Competition sold out in advance of the event, with 500 participants coming down to Olde Town for the occasion.

Around 200 of the 500 participants voted for their favorites in the ‘Best Eggnog,’ ‘Best Cider,’ ‘Best Non-Alcoholic Eggnog’ and ‘Best Non-Alcoholic Cider’ categories.

The Bluegrass Coffee and Bourbon

Lounge was the fan favorite for alcoholic eggnog with its Blitzen’s Nog — an 80-proof mixture of Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Plantation Dark Rum, Cognac, fresh eggs and vanilla — garnering 86 first place votes.

“We are very thankful and appreciative to be in such a great community like Arvada,” Josh Schwartz, The Bluegrass’ owner and manager said.

“Big thanks to Jeff McDowell who creates our Blitzen’s Nog.” La Dolce Vita won ‘Best Non-Alcoholic Cider’ for the second year in a row with 69 votes, despite changing the recipe. Owner Debbie Hansen said the coffee shop’s new cider will be available year-round.

“We changed the recipe and we’re super excited about it,” Hansen said.

“Even though we cannot disclose the secret recipe, everyone is welcome to come in and try it year-round.”

Smokin’ Fins won the alcoholic cider category with 20 votes.

SEE EGGNOG, P11

December 14, 2023

Arvada Press 3

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December 14, 2023De

13th Annual Arvada Firehouse Chili Cook-off raises $1,200 for Arvada Fire Protection District Does Arvada Fire’s Station 9 make the best chili in town? Repeat wins suggest ‘yes’

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For the second straight year, Arvada Fire’s Station 9 has been crowned the “People’s Choice” winner at the Arvada Firehouse Chili Cook-off — an annual fundraising event put on by the Friends of Arvada Fire nonprofit.

Folks came down in droves to the Arvada Elks Lodge to try the best chili made by PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI members of the Arvada Fire Department.

The 13th annual cook-off — which was hosted at the Arvada Elks Lodge on Dec. 4 — raised about $1,200 for the Arvada Fire Protection District, which is around what the event has garnered in previous years.

This year’s cook-off brought stiff competition from the city’s fire stations, with Station 9 eking out the win with 39 votes, followed by Station 1 with 38 votes. AFPD’s maintenance team finished third with 34 votes.

Sue Steward, the president of Friends of Arvada Fire, thanked community members for coming out and supporting the fire departSEE COOK-OFF, P5

Arvada Press 5

December 14, 2023

The Elks also served their full dinner menu to supplement folks gorging on chili.

COOK-OFF FROM PAGE 4

ment’s nonprofit, which helps AFPD fund safety initiatives in the coming year.

“Thanks to each fire station for turning up the heat and making some great chili,” said Sue Steward, president of

Friends of Arvada Fire. “This is one of the Friend’s marquee events for the year, and the support we receive during this cook-off allows the Friends to support Arvada Fire and various safety initiatives in the following year.”

Teams could enter either green or red chili, and the crowd seemed split on both. Ultimately, Station 9’s red chili gave them a slight edge over Sta- Station 9 repeated as the winner of ‘Best Chili’ for the second year in a row. tion 1’s green chili.

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December 14, 2023De

Sonny Almanza found guilty of murdering Arvada Police Officer Dillon Vakoff Vakoff killed while responding to domestic violence incident; suspect guilty on all charges

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After just a day of deliberation, a jury has found Sonny Almanza — the man

suspected of killing Arvada Police Officer Dillon Vakoff in September 2022 — guilty of all charges, including three counts of Murder in the First Degree (of a peace officer, after deliberation, extreme indifference), according to the Colorado First Judicial District.

The jury reached the verdict on Dec. 7; Almanza will be sentenced on Dec. 14 and faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Almanza was found guilty of the aforementioned murder charges along with two counts of attempted

murder, Assault in the Second Degree, being in possession of an unlawfully large magazine and First Degree Trespassing.

Vakoff was killed Sept. 11, 2022 while responding to a domestic violence incident on 51st Avenue in Arvada. Almanza fatally shot Vakoff while he was attempting to intervene in the incident; a woman present at the scene was also shot by Almanza but survived her injuries.

The City of Arvada’s Communications Director Rachael Kuroiwa said

in a statement that the public should remember the life of Vakoff, who grew up in Arvada, attended Ralston Valley High School, joined the Air Force and returned to his hometown to become a police officer.

“Dillon Vakoff was one of our city’s finest,” Kuroiwa said. “He grew up in this community, went to high school here and, after honorably serving his country, returned to his Arvada to protect and serve his community.

SEE GUILTY, P8

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Arvada Press 7

December 14, 2023

Plans for sustainable restaurant in west Arvada fall through, land for sale

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Artist rendering of the proposed Birdhouse Restaurant that would have gone in West Arvada. The plans have now been abandoned.

COURTESY REARVIEW MIRROR CONCEPTS

Proposed Birdhouse Restaurant will not go in at 68th and Fig; city declines to buy lot

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The development of a three-acre parcel of land located at 14195 West 68th Ave. in Arvada — near the intersection of 68th Avenue. and Fig Street — is up in the air again after plans for a sustainable restaurant concept have fallen through.

The parcel is up for sale by the landowner, Rearview Mirror Concepts, according to the company’s operations partner, Scott Skiba.

Rearview had planned to build a sustainable restaurant concept similar to the company’s other eateries; Community in Lafayette and Birdhouse in Erie.

The restaurant would have been the second location of Birdhouse and would have included Sparrow Provisions, which would have served coffee

and breakfast food.

Plans for the second Birdhouse location included using sustainable building practices — such as constructing the space out of refurbished shipping containers — to create a seamless transition between the park space and restaurant.

Skiba said the restaurant will not be moving forward because of increased construction costs in recent years.

“Unfortunately, the time that it has taken for the project to move through architecture, engineering, and entitlements/city approval — 3 plus years — has coincided with the greatest increase in construction costs of our lifetimes,” Skiba said. “So, it became financially impossible to proceed with the actual physical development of the property.

“It no longer could’ve sustained as a business long-term, even if I had somehow sourced the extra millions of dollars to build-out the project,” Skiba continued.

The parcel, which is located along Ralston Creek in an area adjacent to Maple Valley Park and near Shadow Mountain Park, has been vacant for 30 years and is often mistaken as part of the neighboring parkland, according

to Skiba.

Rearview has listed the parcel for sale but contacted the City of Arvada “several times” before it did so to see if the city would be interested in purchasing the site to zone it into the surrounding parks, according to Skiba.

However, the parcel is not a priority in Arvada’s Parks Master Plan, according to the city’s Director of Communications Rachael Kuroiwa.

“The landowner and neighbors approached the City Parks Department with the request that the City purchase the property and preserve it as park land,” Kuroiwa said. “The Parks Department investigated potential grant opportunities that would fund the purchase and was unable to identify the necessary funds.

“This parcel is not a priority in the Parks Master Plan and therefore the City is not pursuing the purchase of this land,” Kuroiwa continued.

Skiba said Rearview is no longer looking to build a restaurant in Arvada but is still surveying the nearby communities.

“I have no current plans to open any concepts in Arvada, but we will continue to look at all opportunities in our surrounding areas,” Skiba said.

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December 14, 2023De

GUILTY

careless actions with an assault rifle.”

Timeline of the events of Sept. 11, 2022

FROM PAGE 6

Photo by Rich Luck

in

2023

Winner’s photo will become the Golden Guide’s N 2024 cover VISITOR INFORMATIO

We mourn Dillon and want to keep his family, his loved ones and his Arvada Police Department family first in our thoughts and our hearts.

“Thank you to the members of the jury who faithfully discharged their civic duty,” Kuroiwa continued. “Your verdict delivered justice for Dillon. No legal action will bring Dillon back, but today’s guilty verdict provides some measure of peace that this senseless act will not go unpunished.”

First Judicial District Director of Public Affairs Brionna Boatright said that while the verdict brings “relief,” no legal action can bring Vakoff back.

“Officer Dillon Vakoff was needlessly killed for doing his job,” Boatright said. “Today, there is a real sense of relief, and we thank the jury for their service and thoughtful deliberation that brought Dillon the justice he deserved. Sadly, no verdict will bring him back; his death was a senseless tragedy.

“It’s also a reminder of the risks of illegal firearms,” Boatright continued.

“Mr. Almanza’s actions endangered the lives of many that night, including a young woman who fell victim to his

At around 1:45 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2022, Officers D. Garibay and Vakoff were dispatched to an apartment on 51st Avenue on a report of a disturbance over the custody disagreement, according to an affidavit filed

by APD Detective Julie Glynn.

Sonny Almanza’s sister — Destiny Medlock — contacted APD for assistance because the mother of the children, Lexie Lopez — Mercedes’ sister — was on her way to the location to take the children back and Medlock suspected that Lopez was intoxicated.

Officers Vakoff and Garibay arrived on scene and contacted Lopez, who was giving her statement when another vehicle arrived.

Shortly after, a fight broke out in the apartment’s parking lot.

Almanza retrieved a rifle and came out to the parking lot, fired a round from the rifle which struck Mercedes Lopez — Lexie Lopez’s sister — in the leg. During the gunfire, Vakoff was fatally shot, according to the arrest affidavit.

At the time of his arrest, Almanza was charged with two counts of child abuse, neither of which appear on the finalized complaint.

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Local veterinarians offer information, caution on infectious canine respiratory illness

BY JO DAVIS JDAVIS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

An infectious respiratory illness is impacting dogs across the country, including in Colorado, but national and local veterinarians say there are a lot of unknowns about the illness.

The illness may be caused by several factors, according to City Vet Highlands Ranch Veterinary Clinic Dr. Jessica Shepler.

“I know some of the specialists have tested animals and received some inconclusive results,” Shepler said. She described the illness as akin to a known bacterium but also showing traits of known viruses.

“When I’m speaking to clients, I’m definitely referencing it as a bacteria or virus. Because I just don’t know,” she said. “We’re not convinced that it’s not multiple things going on at once, either.”

Although there are so many unknowns, Shepler and other local vets have been following the illness for several months.

“This is something that has been going on for many months for us,” Shepler said. “We first started seeing it early summer, like May-June timeframe. And it progressively got

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Dog owners are urged to consult a vet at the first sign of a cough.

a little bit worse.”

She said that the news has peaked now because the story has gotten out on social media.

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Shepler and other Colorado veterinarians, including the veterinarian team at Colorado State University.

“CSU has been instrumental in helping increase diagnostic testing in hopes of finding a primary cause of the outbreak,” said Dr. Gillian Gwartz, program veterinarian in the State Veterinarian’s Office. “We still don’t have a single conclusive causative agent, but we’re working with select vet clinics to try to get more samples to see if we can find a pattern.”

This information helps vets guide pet owners in how to prevent the mystery illness and on what to do if their pet becomes ill.

The most important thing is to vaccinate the animals and yourselves, according to Dr. Shepler.

“We’re not seeing terribly high numbers when it comes to death rates or those severe infections,” Shepler said. “But it is a persistent cough. I think the basics are still the same. Make sure that you’re healthy and vaccinated before interacting with others. I think the same goes for our pets.

“Just make sure that your pets are fully vaccinated, that they have all their core vaccines like rabies, and Parvo, distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza,” Shepler continued.

“And that we’re also vaccinating them regularly for Bordetella as

well as the canine influenza or the canine flu.”

Shepler said that vaccines may not prevent pets from falling ill, but it will ensure that several possible contributors to the mystery illness are covered.

“It’s not going to provide 100% immunity. No vaccine does,” Shepler said. “But it does give the dog’s body something to go off of and some information (for vets) to start tracking.”

At a recent panel by Trupanion pet insurance, Colorado State University’s Dr. Michael Lappin, a professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences reassured pet owners that going to the vet for those vaccines and checks was not a risk.

He said that the facilities have biosecurity protocols in place to keep pets, owners and staff safe.

“If you’re only there for your routine vaccines, or you’re there for your cancer appointment or your ear infection appointment, we still want people to come in,” he said.

“We’re doing our security measures. So, your animal won’t catch those things while you’re there.”

Outside of vaccinations, vets are not calling for precautions with healthy pets. According to Shepler, pet owners shouldn’t worry until there are serious symptoms. She urges owners to take a coughing dog to the vet to get evaluated and treated early.

“I think pet owners should start worrying when their pet is not acting like themselves,” she said. “If they’re not eating and drinking, if they seem extra tired, or lethargic if they have any sort of difficulty breathing, where it seems like their breath is really shallow, or that they can expand their chest completely or fill their lungs with air. Obviously, that is much more concerning and becomes an emergency situation.”

She went on to say that any dog, “with a cough should get checked out, just to make sure that everything is stable, and then to get started on appropriate treatment.”

SEE CANINES, P18

Arvada Press 11

December 14, 2023

Jeffco is spending $45 million at schools that have welcomed students from closed buildings

BY YESENIA ROBLES CHALKBEAT

The Jeffco district spent more than $45 million on upgrades to schools taking in students from the 16 elementary schools that closed at the end of last school year.

That cost includes projects that were specifically designed to accommodate the new students, but also projects that were in the works before.

Last December, district staff told the board they expected to spend up to $32 million to expand classrooms, buy new furniture, retrofit buildings that needed to accommodate students with disabilities, or create preschool classrooms.

Figures obtained by Chalkbeat through an open records request this month show the district ultimately ended up spending $45.3 million at 22 welcoming schools. But the district could not say how much of that difference is because of higher than anticipated costs, or covering the projects already in the works and not related to the school closures.

The figure includes $7.5 million specifically used to add preschool classrooms as the state rolled out universal preschool. Campbell Elementary, for instance, one of the 16 closed schools, was turned into a preschool center for the area and had more than $3 million in upgrades. Preschool classrooms are regulated to require certain building accommodations for preschool-age children.

Jeffco schools have had declining enrollment for years. After a few sudden school closures, the district start-

EGGNOG FROM PAGE 2

Scrumptious won ‘Best Non-Alcoholic Eggnog’ for its eggnog ice cream, which seemed to be a big hit among the younger attendees.

Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District Director Joe Hengstler said the proceeds from

ed a comprehensive plan to close several schools. The district said it would help its budget, but also was concerned about the limitations of what small schools offered students and the inequities growing from school to school. The school closures are estimated to save the district $12 million a year in ongoing operating expenses, but renovating other schools to receive those students has proved more expensive than the district expected.

Seanin Rosario, Jeffco’s executive director of finance, planning, and analysis, said the costs specifically related to accommodating more students are “most likely closer” to the $32 million estimated a year ago.

“Our system was not able to track only welcoming schools’ projects because there are instances where the projects overlapped,” she wrote in an email.

Some schools that received upgrades had not initially been designated as welcoming schools. Students weren’t forced to go to any one school and still could participate in open enrollment. So, after many students from closed schools chose a particular school, the district had to designate it as a welcoming school to provide support, including capital upgrades.

Rosario said funding for the projects came from the district’s capital reserve fund. The expenditures are one-time costs. The district is also beginning the process of deciding what to do with the closed buildings, including selling or leasing them.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering educational change in public schools. the Eggnog and Cider Competition’s ticket sales help fund the historic district’s other holiday events.

“We really, really appreciate all the support that the businesses give us by doing cider and eggnog,” Hengstler said. “It helps us support all of our other initiatives that we do during the holiday season such as the Tree Lighting and Saturdays with Santa and the Holiday Market. We couldn’t do it without them.”

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12 Arvada Press

LOCAL

December 14, 2023D

VOICES

Top five films from the 20th annual Vail Film Festival

I

t’s rare to find a modern film festival that goes out of its way to celebrate the world of independent cinema and the filmmakers who make that world so thrilling. Over the its first 20 years, the Vail Film Festival has made this celebration one of its guiding ethos, along with a focus on works made by female filmmakers.

And aside from two decades in existence, the festival had something else to celebrate during this year’s run from Dec. 7 through 10 — the return of an in-person event for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The festival has always been about building community and fostering relationships, so we’re really excited to have the event in person again this year and to bring the event to the Vail community again,” said co-founder and executive director Sean Cross, in an email interview. “The 20-year milestone is a big one, and I think it really is due to the community support we’ve received from the very beginning, and the continued excitement from filmmakers to come to Vail and experience the beauty of this area.”

This year’s festival featured more than 70 film screenings from around the world, as well as two special presentations: actress Alicia Silverstone received the Excellence in Acting Award and Ava Acres received the Rising Star Award.

Of all those entries, I was able to see 15 films and as usual, was wildly impressed with their quality. You can’t go wrong with any of the 2023

movies, but here teen when it was needed most. gomery Mayflower (Hardin), a fadCOMING are five you should Rodgers artfully blends the histori- ing actress who has no interest in ATTRACTIONS really keep an eye cal, personal and political, exploring quietly leaving the stage. On one out for in the coming months.

‘All Happy Families’

For more information: https:// www.imdb.com/ title/tt15388560/ “All Happy FamiClarke Reader lies,” Haroula Rose’s return to the Vail Film Festival, centers on the Landrys, all of whom gather at the family home in Chicago to do some repair work in preparation for renting a room out. Brothers Graham and Will (Josh Radnor and Rob Huebel) are struggling over where they are in their careers, while their parents Sue and Roy (the always stellar Becky Ann Baker and John Ashton) are settling into post-retirement life. Or trying to.

The resulting story is funny and utterly human, full of recognizable and relatable characters. It’s the best kind of film — one full of people you want to spend time with.

‘Chasing Chasing Amy’

how and why the film was made, the ways it helped and further marginalized the LGBTQIA+ movement and how it inspired him on his own path to finding personal love and acceptance.

Anyone who has found hope and salvation in art will love the film, because it’s the best kind of cinematic love letter — one right from the heart.

‘Glue Trap’

For more information: www.instagram.com/gluetrapmovie/ In Justin Geldzahler’s slow burn horror film, “Glue Trap,” one couple learns all about the dangers of being stuck together.

Struggling pair KJ and Dan head off to a cabin in Virginia for a little badly needed reconnection time, but get more than they bargain for when a surprising guest arrives out of the blue.

As with all great horror experiences, the less said, the better. The film is deeply insightful and knows exactly which tools to use at the right time. It gets under your skin and stays there.

‘Golden Vanity’

For more information: www.chasingamydoc.com It’s difficult to imagine a more personal filmmaking project than Sav Rodgers’ funny and insightful documentary, “Chasing Chasing Amy.” The film tells the story of Rodgers’ obsession with Kevin Smith’s ’90s queer rom-com and how it provided a crucial lifeline to a young Kansas

For more information: www.facebook.com/goldenvanitymovie/ You don’t often get to see true feats of acting anymore, but that’s just what audiences are treated to by Melora Hardin in the hysterical and heartbreaking “Golden Vanity.”

A true one-woman feature film, the story is centered on Mabel Mont-

reassessment of home values, was already obligated to issue TABOR refunds. Post-reassessment, these refunds are expected to grow substantially. However, there is a silver lining. By temporarily lowering the mill rate and then reverting it later, the county can provide significant relief to property owners without any financial detriment to the county’s budget.

Given this context, it’s perplexing why our commissioners would hesitate to implement such a measure.

Is there a concern that lowering the mill rate could diminish the likelihood of passing a measure to “deBruce,” thus allowing the county to retain excess revenue without voter approval? Are our elected officials prioritizing political strategy over the immediate financial concerns of their constituents?

Using the homes and financial security of Jefferson County residents as leverage in political maneuvering is not only ethically questionable but also counterproductive. It’s high time

night in 1967 she records her memoirs as she grapples with what the Hollywood system has done to her and her life. There are moments of true hilarity, but Hardin is equally capable of breaking your heart as you see what life in the spotlight truly costs.

‘Heightened’

For more information: www. heightenedfilm.com In Sara Friedman’s “Heightened” — which she wrote, directed and starred in — two characters struggling with anxiety form an unlikely bond in a surprising place.

The film focuses on Nora, a young woman on the cusp of becoming a lawyer when she has a nervous breakdown. She returns home to Maine to attempt to get better and is assigned to work park maintenance with ranger-in-training Dusty. As the two get to know each other better they find common ground in struggling with mental health and finding a way forward to the lives they actually want.

Friedman does great work in her triple role, realistically capturing the struggles of relating to a world where everything feels uncomfortable. I saw a lot of myself in it and I know I won’t be the only one.

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

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Property owners need help

I am writing to address a crucial issue affecting property owners in Jefferson County – the burden of rising property taxes. With Gov. Jared Polis’s recent call for counties, school districts and special districts to leverage a new law allowing temporary adjustments in mill rates, I urge our county commissioners, Leslie Dahlkemper, Andy Kerr and Tracy Kraft-Tharp, to consider this opportunity for immediate relief.

Jefferson County, prior to the latest

our commissioners prioritize the immediate needs of their constituents over long-term political calculations.

I strongly urge Commissioners Dahlkemper, Kerr, and Kraft-Tharp to consider the broader implications of their decisions and take immediate action to lower the mill rate. Such a move would provide tangible relief to property owners across the county and demonstrate a commitment to serving the best interests of their constituents.

Virge (T.O.) Owens, Arvada

Arvada Press 13

December 14, 2023

A warning from the snowbirds

N

o, this isn’t about those folks who spend their winters in Arizona or Florida. The snowbird behind this warning is an actual bird, the dark-eyed junco, a small creature you probably know if you have a bird feeder and maybe even if you don’t.

Trim, gray sparrows that flash white tail feathers as they take flight, juncos are called snowbirds because they arrive in our towns with the coming of snow. Come spring, they head back up into the mountains or north to Canada and Alaska for nesting.

Juncos are among the West’s most familiar birds, reliable companions on summer hikes and winter days. The total population of the species is estimated to be around 200 million. Juncos are in no danger of extinction, so, what warning could they be giving us?

Juncos may be abundant but they are also in sharp decline. According to the Breeding Bird Survey, a decades-long monitoring study of the nation’s birds, junco populations are down by 42% since the surveys began in the late 1960s.

But here is the peculiar part: There is no obvious reason for this loss of millions of birds. Juncos are adaptable, not requiring some disappearing habitat. They don’t make long-distance migrations to the tropics. Poisons or toxins don’t seem to pose a special threat to them.

What seems to be killing juncos is simply ... everything.

Based on numerous studies, the leading human-related cause of death among birds is predation by cats: over 2 billion (yes, billion) birds killed per year in North America.

This is followed by collisions: windows, 600 million birds; vehicles, 200 million; powerlines and communication towers, 43 million.

Then there are pesticides and toxics, 72 million, lead poisoning, 12 million, and oil and wastewater pits, 1 million. That adds up to well over 3 billion dead birds per year.

Nothing on this list is a deliberate effort to get rid of juncos or other birds. They’re just byproducts of the way we conduct ourselves in

WRITERS ON the world.

These dangers, THE RANGE of course, are not

faced just by juncos. A review of North American bird populations documents that we have lost almost one-third of our birds since 1970. The rePepper Trail searchers summarized their findings in no uncertain terms: “This loss of bird abundance signals an urgent need to address threats to avert future avifaunal collapse and associated loss of ecosystem integrity, function and services.”

It’s not just bird populations that are collapsing. Insect populations are crashing as well. Studies from the United States, Europe and Asia over the past 10 years document shocking declines in insect populations, as much as 50 to 75%.

If you’re plagued by swarms of mosquitoes in the summer, you might think that’s not such a bad thing. But insects are crucial to the functioning of just about every ecosystem on Earth, serving as pollinators, decomposers and as food for countless species of critters higher up the food chain.

Is there an exception to this relentless litany of population declines? Why, yes. It’s us. Since 1970, the human population of the United States has grown by more than 60%, while bird populations have fallen by a third. That doesn’t seem like a coincidence.

Everyone has heard of the canary in the coal mine: the bird that miners brought underground to alert them to dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide. With its small size and fast metabolism, the canary would collapse before the gas reached levels fatal to humans, giving the miners just enough time to escape.

We need to see the humble snowbird for what it is: Our “canary in the world.” When even the commonest wild species are suffering drastic declines, do we really SEE SNOWBIRDS, P18

Memory In Loving

Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. 303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com Self placement available online at ArvadaPress.com

14 Arvada Press

December 14, 2023D

LOCAL

LIFE

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

S

taring into a kiln glowing orange at 2,350 degrees, an artist armed with thick leather gloves holds a fragile piece of molten glass at the end of a steel rod.

This is the point where creativity, talent and inspiration combine to create a one-of-a-kind piece of glass never to be duplicated.

Sand and silica are the main components; soda ash and lime are combined to the mixture as raw ingredients, Corey Siverman of The Furnace: A Glassworks in Lakewood said. Industrial glass that’s made in a factory by machines works in a different way versus what we do by hand.

The Furnace is a glass workshop that dedicates 90% of its production to retail sales, according to Siverman. Thousands of ornaments will be handmade and shipped from this location.

“I have galleries all around the country. I’ve got over 100 galleries that buy my work,” Siverman said during a recent interview at his small production facility. “I sell to magazines. I sell to corporate gift companies. I sell to a lot of retail buyers through our store here. As well as Etsy, so we have a wide variety of customers.”

The months leading up to the holidays are the busiest time of year for Siverman and his coowner and wife, Leanne.

Siverman started blowing glass objects/art more than 30 years ago, he said he’s still learning.

“You start with a clear glass that’s molten out of the furnace at 2,100 degrees, gather it up on your blowpipe, and apply a color called Frit,” Siverman said. “You then reheat the glass, shape it and put a bubble into it after you put a pattern into it with your color. Once you’ve got your shape the way you want it you let it stabilize, you finish it off and put it in the oven (about 500 degrees) for as many as 12 hours.”

The Furnace is not only a commercial facility, employing less than a dozen production and distribution assistants, it’s a learning environment, offering introductory instruction to anyone with a desire to learn the craft.

“You learn something every time you walk through the door,” Siverman said about the classes.

However, patience, practice and commitment are prerequisites.

“People ask me, ‘How long will it take me to get good?’” Silverman said. “I like to tell people it’s a 10year commitment before you’re really good at this. You have to be very committed to it.”

Yet, each piece is completely original to the artist.

“The goal is to make products that will not be like anything you’ve ever seen before,” Siverman said.

Cremation Glass Art offers ashes in eternal suspension In an unassuming garage in Greeley, an artist incorporates the cremated ashes of loved ones

and even pets into molded and forged glass pieces that are incomparable.

“For the cremation art I do believe that working with human ashes is what hits my heart and soul the most,” said Tiffany Koehn with Red Manx Studio.

During a recent visit with the artist, Koehn worked to fold, curl and mold a small piece of molten glass in a 2,150 degree gas-fired kiln.

The idea of incorporating precious ashes within the glass was conceived in 2009, Koehn said. The epiphany was achieved with a very personal story.

In 2008, Koehn’s mother was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Mom’s cancer journey and watching her and everybody in that chemo room teetering on death hit me,” Koehn said. “Mom came out of it, but there’s a lot of people in that chemo room that didn’t live through their experiences.”

SEE GLASS, P15

Arvada Press 15

December 14, 2023

GLASS FROM PAGE 14

“If I can help families get through it with something more special than a box on a mantel, then that’s what I want to do, especially with the children’s pieces,” Koehn said.

Here the customer, their story and vision are incorporated in each unique color selection and swirl of soft molten glass.

Koehn welcomes each buyer to be part of the process and witness the creation of the unique glass piece as it’s conceived and shaped in her small garage.

Nearly a dozen times over, Koehn heated and shaped the glass at the end of a metal pipe.

Koehn uses a unique tool made of wet wood which is created by several species of bacteria that enter a tree through wounds, keeping the wood malleable, which is perfect against the blazing hot temperatures of the molten glass.

The soft cylindrical shape of the wood creates the rounded edges with continuous turning of the delicate glass.

Koehn spends at least 18 hours repeating the process of heating, shaping, molding and cooling each glass piece.

In the end, each customer is presented with a keepsake unlike any in existence, just like their loved one.

Tiffany Koehn of Red Manx Studio in Greeley displays a recent piece of glass art she created.

The Furnace in Lakewood owner Corey Silverman displays a recent glass piece he created.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

Tiffany Koehn of Red Manx Studio in Greeley uses a kiln at 2,100 degrees to make glass malleable enough to shape.

The Furnace in Lakewood owner Corey Silverman delicately cuts soft glass ornament with scissors.

Jamie Kent works with red-hot molten glass at The Furnace in Lakewood.

16 Arvada Press

December 14, 2023De

Women accused of stealing $4.5 million from investors in Idaho Springs resort project indicted

BY JASON BLEVINS THE COLORADO SUN

A federal grand jury has indicted two women accused of running a title company that absconded with a $4.5 million deposit made in 2020 by an investment group planning a gondola-anchored resort and village at the Argo Mill in Idaho Springs.

“One of our big hurdles in getting new money is having to explain the theft and the lawsuit,” said Mary Jane Loevlie, whose Mighty Argo Cable Car Group sued the owners of Virginia-based First Title Inc. in April 2021 after the owners of that company allegedly took the group’s escrow deposit and used it to buy real estate and cars. “People are like, who are you that you got $4.5 million stolen?”

The Argo investors were not alone. A federal grand jury on Nov. 9 indicted Chrisheena Shante McGee and Sandra Pierce Bacon — the owners and operators of First Title Inc. — on charges that they stole $14.8 million in escrow deposits in 2019 and 2020 from 10 different individuals and businesses.

“Whenever I asked the FBI what

was going on, they told me they had a lot of trails to follow,” Loevlie said. “The longer it took, the more I was surmising this was a much bigger deal than just us.”

A U.S. District Court judge in September 2022 awarded the Argo investment group $8.7 million in a civil case against McGee, 47, and Bacon, 71, ruling the two “purposely defrauded the plaintiff out of millions of dollars” and “took numerous steps to cover up their fraud.”

Those steps include, for example, sending forged documents, including a doctored First Title bank statement where a “$7,1” was added to a bank account that held $20,803.89, so it showed that the company had $7,120,803.89. The criminal indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Colorado said the two women transferred escrow deposits from customers of First Title into their personal accounts or to other victims who were demanding their money back. The indictment says McGhee spent nearly $199,000 on real estate, a $91,000 BMW and a Cadillac Escalade.

An Aspen investor cited in the indictment lost $1.25 million to the

First Title scheme in 2019 and that investor sued the two women in July 2020 in a Texas District Court.

When the Argo group sued and demanded paperwork from the owners of First Title, McGee and Bacon responded by pleading for protection against self-incrimination provided by the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment. U.S. District Judge Regina M. Rodriguez in January 2022 ordered the two women and First Title to respond, because corporations do not have rights under the Fifth Amendment.

The two women never responded and Rodriguez awarded the Argo investors $4.36 million in actual damages and $4.36 million in punitive damages. So far the Argo group has received $37,000 from the two women, Loevlie said. The 12 charges outlined in the indictment — which involve wire fraud — each carry a possible sentence of 20 years in prison.

“If they are faced with jail, maybe they can find the money,” Loevlie said.

The Argo plan is still underway as the group secures new lenders. The plan calls for a 1.2-mile scenic gondola climbing from the Argo Mill

site on the banks of Clear Creek in Idaho Springs up to the 450-acre Virginia Canyon Mountain Park.

The group plans to develop a hotel, homes and commercial village around the Argo Mill, which processed $2.6 trillion worth of gold between1893 and 1943. (It’s that massive red structure you can see from Interstate 70 as you drive through Idaho Springs.)

The Argo investors hope to have news on their delayed project soon. The indictment of McGee and Bacon doesn’t really matter much anymore, Loevlie said, but it helps to show outsiders how the group was swindled.

“I spoke with Chrisheena more than once. She would explain delays, saying ‘Oh it’s the polar vortex in Texas’ or ‘the money is coming in from Europe but everything is delayed because of COVID.’ They spoke with our CFO and our attorney all the time,” Loevlie said. “I want them in jail so badly, I can’t even tell you.”

This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver that covers the state.

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December 14, 2023De

CANINES

Shepler urges pet owners to see a vet when the cough starts. In addition, she reassures owners that most pets are coming out of the illness just fine.

“In the 20-25 cases that we’ve seen here at the City Vet clinic, we only have two or three that have needed more significant intervention because they have developed a secondary pneumonia,” Shepler said. “So for the most part, this is an annoying disease. But for many of our patients, it has not become life-threatening.”

If your pet shows signs of a cough, fever or a change in behavior, contact your local vet. Make sure your pets are fully vaccinated before boarding, visiting other homes with pets or going to dog parks.

For more information on the illness, visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website, watch the Trupanion panel on the illness on the webpage for Canine Respiratory Illness Q & A with Trupanion or contact Shepler at City Vet Highlands Ranch at 720-924-3033.

As one species after another dwindles away, the structure of the ecosystems that sustain life on Earth is weakening.

The familiar flash of a junco’s white tail feathers as I hike along a mountain trail always brings a smile to my face. It’s a reminder that keeping common species common is essential to keep-

ing this beautiful planet livable, and for that, I say thank you, little snowbird.

Pepper Trail is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, a nonprofit dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. He is a biologist and writer based in Ashland, Oregon.

FROM PAGE 10

There is a risk of pneumonia and other more severe illnesses connected to this mysterious condition. However, Shepler said that local vets are seeing a vast majority of dogs who get the illness recover.

“I think the most important thing to know is that while a few pets are getting some secondary complications that can be more life-threatening, the vast majority of the pets that we’ve seen at least, are very stable,” said Shepler. “They come in with good energy. They come in with normal vital signs, but owners just report this persistent nagging cough.”

SNOWBIRDS FROM PAGE 13

believe that a world inhospitable to our fellow creatures will continue to be hospitable to us?

City Vet Clinic in Highlands Ranch has seen between 20 and 25 dogs with the mysterious canine illness. Only a few have experienced severe symptoms. COURTESYOF CITY VET

Sign up to receive our weekly newsletter Go to ColoradoCommunityMedia.com and click “Sign up for newsletters” at the top of the page!

Arvada Press 19

December 14, 2023

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20 Arvada Press

December 14, 2023De

Emily Griffith auto collision repair students try their hands at statue repair

Evan Balogh paints a Ronald McDonald House statue as a project for Emily Griffith Technical College’s automotive collision repair program.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF EMILY GRIFFITH TECHNICAL COLLEGE

drive by them during his childhood.

“Seeing them made me happy,” he said. And working on the project, he added, “felt good to be able to help other little kids feel joy.”

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For four months, a handful of automotive collision repair students at Denver’s Emily Griffith Technical College worked on a rather unique project. It wasn’t a beat up jalopy that they took on. Instead, they plied their

ues aligned closely with the students’ studies in that it gave them experience using techniques and equipment they will use in the industry.

Evan Balogh, one of the students who worked on the project, is planning to enter a career as an auto repair technician following graduation in February.

Repairing the damage to the statues was similar to repairing body damage on a vehicle, Balogh said.

“I enjoyed it so much because of the detailed painting,” Balogh said.

He added that he has always enjoyed painting and plans to do lowrider art on cars and motorcycles.

Painting the statues included working with an airbrush, so the project provided him with hands-on experience using an airbrush, which he’ll use in his profession.

Moreover, the students enjoyed the Ronald McDonald statues project because they were helping to spruce up the community for years to come.

Ronald McDonald Houses serve families who have a sick child by providing temporary lodging at no cost while the child is treated at a nearby hospital.

Balogh remembers noticing the statues when he and his family would

R

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

skills on four life-sized statues of Ronald McDonald.

The statues from the Ronald McDonald Houses in Denver and Aurora, each about two decades old, had become damaged and faded due to exposure to the sun and other natural elements.

It took the students about 300 hours to completely refurbish and refinish the statues. They sanded the statues, applied sealer and primer, painted a base coat and detailing, and put on decals. The tasks required for the stat-

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Students take on Ronald McDonald House project

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22 Arvada Press

LOCAL

December 14, 2023D

SPORTS A-West and D’Evelyn girls basketball open with wins at Jungle Jam Tournament

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

DENVER — It’s going to be a nice all-Jeffco semifinal at the Jungle Jam Tournament.

D’Evelyn (Class 5A/4A Jeffco) and Arvada West (Class 6A Jeffco) will square off in a semifinal of the girls basketball annual tournament at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 8, at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School.

“It will be a good match-up,” D’Evelyn coach Chris Olson said of facing A-West on Friday. “We played in the tournament championship game last year. It was a really good game. We want to be tested and keep that iron in the fire. Keep getting better.”

The co-host Jaguars (3-1 record) took care of business with a 58-30 win over Summit (0-2) in the first quarterfinal Wednesday night at D’Evelyn. A-West (3-0) dominated Heritage 59-23 in the nightcap.

“We are going to have our hands full on Friday,” A-West coach Brady Meeks said. “That will be our first real test. We better bring it for all 32 minutes.”

The Jaguars had a fourth-quarter rally to take a 54-49 victory over the Wildcats last year in the tournament title game. D’Evelyn had a 27-1 record last year with its lone loss in the 4A state title game against Holy Family.

“I’m excited for the challenge,” AWest junior guard Saylor Swanson said.

The annual Jungle Jam Tournament co-hosted by D’Evelyn and Littleton features A-West, Summit, Heritage, Longmont, Northfield, Sand Creek, along with the host Jaguars and Lions this year.

Littleton and Northfield will face off in the other semifinal at Littleton High School on Friday with the winner advancing to the title game against the winner of A-West/D’Evelyn on Saturday at D’Evelyn.

D’Evelyn junior Ellie McMann, far left, and senior Megan Schonberger, far right, trap Summit sophomore Teagan Barth during the first half Wednesday, Dec. 6, during the opening round of the Jungle Jam Tournament co-hosted by D’Evelyn and Littleton.

The Jaguars took a 58-30 victory to advance to the semifinals Friday, Dec. 8, against Arvada West. PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

“It is really good to face A-West early in the year,” D’Evelyn senior Peyton Marvel said. “We know they can shoot and they are fast. It is a great game before we get into league play and deeper in our season.”

D’Evelyn 58, Summit 30

D’Evelyn seniors Peyton Marvel (21 points) and Macy Scheer (16 points) paced the Jaguars in the

victory over the Tigers (0-2).

The Jaguars had an 8-0 run to end the first half to extend their lead to 36-19 at halftime. Marvel and Scheer combined for 24 points in the first half.

Olson admitted he is still working on getting his rotation set with some of his multiple-sport athletes just getting back on the hardwood.

“It is just kind of that balance. We are replacing two really good play-

ers and trying to figure out who will get those minutes,” Olson said. “It is just part of how it goes. We have some familiar faces, but we’ve got some new people too.”

Junior Ellie McMann is the third returning starter for the last year’s 4A state runner-up, but she is coming off a knee injury suffered this summer.

SEE JUNGLE JAM, P23

Arvada Press 23

December 14, 2023

“I felt like I could have shot it a little bit more in the second half, but I really wanted to get my teammates involved,” Swanson said of having 15 of her 17 points in the first half.

A-West went inside in the second half with senior Malorie Byrne and junior Avery Harrison taking over.

Byrne and Harrison both had three field goals each in the third quarter as the Wildcats outscored the Eagles 20-4 in the quarter.

“They are really tall and they have a lot of good skills,” Swanson said of Byrne and Harrison who finished with dozen points each.

“I think they can get to the basket whenever they want. They are that talented.”

The Wildcats have a trio of double-digit victories over Fairview, Legacy and Heritage to start the season.

“We have honestly been expecting a slow start this year,” Meeks said. “We really didn’t have much time before the start of the season with so many Fall sport athletes.

You can kind of see each game things are getting a little better, but there is still a lot to work on.”

A-West started the season with an 11-0 record last year, but finished with a 5-5 record in 6A Jeffco League play.

“Everyone is still feeling out their roles and responsibilities,” Meeks said of the latest version of this Wildcats. “We see signs. It is just wondering if we can do it on a constant basics.”

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

Meet Max! Arvada West senior Malorie Byrne (20) drives to the basket during the Wildcats’ 59-23 victory over Heritage on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at D’Evelyn Junior/Senior High School. The Wildcats improved to 3-0 on the season with the win.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

JUNGLE JAM FROM PAGE 22

Seniors Megan Schonberger and Ingrid Dalla will be key in keeping the Jaguars’ fast-paced play going.

Freshman Colleen Monahan fits the bill to become a major piece to Olson’s game-plan this season.

“She (Monahan) can hit shots.

She can play defense,” Marvel said of the freshman. “Once we get her out of her shell I think she is going to be a very big asset.”

One thing D’Evelyn won’t have this season is an undefeated regular season. The Jaguars lost to Rock Canyon last week.

“I think having that loss showed us the reality of things,” Marvel said of the loss to Rock Canyon.

“We will lose, but it isn’t bad that

we lose. I think it will be a very valuable lesson for us to have.”

Arvada West 59, Heritage 23

The Wildcats held Heritage to 13 points in the final three quarters.

Swanson poured in 13 points in the first quarter to allow the Wildcats to jump out to a 22-10 victory before A-West’s defense really kicked in. Swanson finished with a game-high 17 points.

Max (280711) is a 4½-yearold male Alaskan Malamute.

Chubby, cute Max lived happily with his son Chunky (280710), and a doggie pal would likely aid him as he transitions to his new home. He shows a bit of wanderlust when bored or unattended, so a secure run or well-fenced outdoor space is best for solo time outside. Active Max seeks a home where he can stretch his legs and explore.

303.278.7575

FoothillsAnimalShelter.org info@fas4pets.org

24 Arvada Press

December 14, 2023De

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

TRIVIA 1. GEOGRAPHY: Which famous highway that stretches across the United States is sometimes known as the Will Rogers Highway?

2. MUSIC: Which country did the pop group ABBA come from?

3. TELEVISION: What article made Frosty the Snowman come to life in the popular TV special?

4. FOOD & DRINK: What is colcannon?

5. U.S. STATES: Which state is home to the Volcanoes National Park?

6. MOVIES: What is the name of the acapella group that Anna Kendrick joins on “Pitch Perfect”?

7. INVENTIONS: Who invented the Barbie doll in 1959?

8. MATH: How many tablespoons are in 1 cup?

9. LITERATURE: What is the title of the sequel to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl?

10. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which elected president is the only one to fail to gain his party’s nomination for a second term?

Answers 1. Route 66.

2. Sweden.

3. A magic hat.

4. Mashed potatoes and cabbage.

5. Hawaii.

6. The Barden Bellas.

7. Ruth Handler.

8. 16.

9. “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.”

10. Franklin Pierce. (c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

Arvada Press 25

December 14, 2023

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Arvada Press 27

December 14, 2023

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Arvada Press 29

December 14, 2023

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Arvada Press 31

December 14, 2023

Church blesses ski equipment in Aspen for the season ahead

BY KAYA WILLIAMS ASPEN PUBLIC RADIO

In some Catholic communities, where agriculture or fishing drive the economy, a priest might bless farm equipment or a fleet of boats.

But in Aspen, where the main industry is recreation and hospitality, parishioners bring their skis and other winter sports equipment to church for a good dousing of holy water.

The “Blessing of the Skis and Snowboards” is an annual tradition at St. Mary Catholic Church. Father Joe Grady invoked St. Bernard, the patron saint of the Alps (and of

skiers, snowboarders, hikers and climbers) during the blessing on a recent Sunday.

“Bless, O Lord, we pray, these skis — that all who use them in traversing mountains, heights and precipices, in powder and in snow, in blizzard and in tempest, may be preserved from all danger and catastrophe, traveling without harm on their journey and returning safely to their homes,” Grady prayed.

Deacon Phil Harrington also led a series of prayers for “peace, prosperity and safety,” for “abundant snowfall,” and for the hospitality and resort workers who welcome visitors to Aspen and support the

community’s economy.

“And we pray for all those who have died on these mountains, especially those who worked in the silver mines, or skied on these hills, for their quick entry into paradise, and for the peace and consolation of their families,” Harrington prayed.

The ceremony is unusual, even for a ski town, but it’s fitting for the community at St. Mary: parishioners sometimes attend mass in their ski clothes, and a former pastor, Father Darrick Leier, hit the slopes with a custom snowboard that had “Ave Maria” printed on the base. This winter, Grady said he

hopes to organize some community ski days as a “less intimidating” way for new people to connect with the church.

“What we do during the week is not disconnected from what we do here on Sunday,” Grady told those who came for the blessing.

Editor’s note: This story was produced with assistance from the Public Media Journalists Association Editor Corps supported by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

This story via The Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals City and County Public Notice NOTICE OF ANNEXATION PETITION ACCEPTANCE The following resolution can be viewed in its entirety in electronic form by going to www.arvada. org/legal-notices and clicking on Current Legal Notices. The full text version is also available in printed form in the City Clerk’s office. Contact 720.898.7550 if you have questions.

R23-101, A Resolution Accepting an Annexa-

tion Petition Concerning Canyon Pines, Triangle Property (Annexation No. 1), a Parcel of Land Generally Located at 52 Canyon Pines Drive, Finding Said Petition Substantially Compliant with C.R.S. 31-12-107(1), and Setting a Public Hearing for January 8, 2024, 6:15 P.M. for City Council to Determine Whether the Area Meets the Requirements of C.R.S. 31-12-104 and 105, and is Considered Eligible for Annexation.

Legal Notice No. 417326 First Publication: November 30, 2023 Last Publication: December 21, 2023 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript Public Notice NOTICE OF ANNEXATION PETITION ACCEPTANCE The following resolution can be viewed in its entirety in electronic form by going to www.arvada.

org/legal-notices and clicking on Current Legal Notices. The full text version is also available in printed form in the City Clerk’s office. Contact 720.898.7550 if you have questions.

R23-102, A Resolution Accepting an Annexation Petition Concerning Canyon Pines, Debrouillarde Pump Station (Annexation No. 2), a Parcel of Land Generally Located at 52 Canyon Pines Drive, Finding Said Petition Substantially Compliant with C.R.S. 31-12-107(1), and Setting a Public Hearing for January 8, 2024, 6:15 P.M. for City Council to Determine Whether the Area Meets the Requirements of C.R.S. 31-12-104 and 105, and is Considered Eligible for Annexation Legal Notice No. 417327 First Publication: November 30, 2023 Last Publication: December 21, 2023 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com Bids and Settlements Public Notice NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that disbursements in final settlement will be issued by the Finance Director at 10:00 a.m., December 26, 2023 to Triple M Construction, LLC for work related to Project No. 2023 ADA Curb Ramp and Concrete Replacement Program - 23-ST-10A and performed under that contract dated May 17, 2022; First Renewal - Change Order No. 2 - March 6, 2023 for the City of Arvada.

Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that furnished labor, material, drayage, sustenance, provisions

or other supplies used or consumed by said contractor or his sub-contractors in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done by said Triple M Construction, LLC and its claim has not been paid, may at any time on or prior to the hour of the date above stated, file with the Finance Director of the City of Arvada at City Hall, a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim.

Dated this November 28, 2023 CITY OF ARVADA /s/ Kristen Rush, City Clerk Legal Notice No. 417416 First Publication: December 14, 2023 Last Publication: December 14, 2023 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript ###

Arvada Legals December 14, 2023 * 1

32 Arvada Press

December 14, 2023De

SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM DON’T LET YOUR HOMETOWN NEWSPAPERS GO SILENT. A recent report said local newspapers are closing at a rate of 2.5 per week. Newsroom layoffs are up 20% from last year. Some outlets laid off more than 10% of their staff in the last few months — even as we head into a critical election year. These are devastating numbers. But all is not lost.

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