Arvada Press January 18, 2024

WEEK OF JANUARY 18, 2024

VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 29

FREE

BELOVED JAPANESE RESTAURANT NAMIKO’S CLOSES AFTER 35 YEARS IN ARVADA P2

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

ARVADA JUST GOT BIGGER P7

CHOCOLATE AFFAIR

The COVID-19 pandemic and related impact on small businesses put Namiko’s in a financial hole that was impossible to get PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN out of, owner Namiko Eshima said.

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Part 2 of 20 CALENDAR: 9 | VOICES: 10 | LIFE: 12 | SPORTS: 16

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REMEMBERING GERRARD FLORES P6

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2 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Jan

Saying goodbye to beloved Japanese restaurant Namiko’s after 35 years in Arvada Financial struggles and ongoing battle with cancer cause Arvada’s first Japanese restaurant to shutter

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Namiko Eshima will close the beloved Arvada sushi restaurant her mother named after her more than 30 years ago due to financial troubles and a battle with breast cancer.

Founded in 1988 by Yuri Chan-

donnet — who was born in Sapporo, Japan, in 1946 — Namiko’s Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar fulfilled a lifelong dream for Chandonnet.

After being abandoned by her father and sold to a restaurateur at the age of 8, Chandonnet learned the industry’s ins and outs in less-than-

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Namiko Eshima (left) with customers at her namesake restaurant in Arvada, which COURTESY NAMIKO ESHIMA closed its doors after 35 years.

ideal circumstances but retained a love of Japanese cuisine and bringing people together.

Namiko’s was the first Japanese restaurant to open in Arvada and became a cultural hub for the local Japanese community.

Eshima was 13 when her mother opened the restaurant which bears her name. The restaurant has occupied the same space in the Arvada Marketplace shopping center on Wadsworth Boulevard and 52nd Avenue since its inception.

“A lot of people in the community and customers have watched me grow up,” Eshima said. “They were around when I got married. And they were around when I got divorced, and they were around when I had my son. I just want to thank them all for 35 years of support.”

The decision to shutter Namiko’s was not one Eshima made lightly.

The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on Namiko’s bottom line as the restaurant struggled to adapt to the increasing cost of goods and the switch to a takeout setup.

The restaurant’s community atmosphere and tight-knit customer base built Namiko’s into the mainstay it was, and Eshima struggled with the decision to raise prices to

keep up her bottom line.

“We have been struggling since COVID — we’ve lost lots and lots and lots of money,” Eshima said.

“And I’ve got to be honest, we are doing better this year. But it’s not enough … to dig us out of the enormous hole that we’ve fallen into.

“The cost of goods has severely increased over the last couple of years, and I was trying not to pass on all of those to my customers because I didn’t want to drive them away,” Eshima continued.

Adding to Eshima’s financial and emotional strain was her diagnosis of breast cancer last October. Eshima had previously battled breast cancer a few years ago but found out that it had returned in an aggressive form — grade three, a fastspreading and growing form of breast cancer.

Luckily, Eshima’s doctors found the cancer early, while it was still in stage one. She had a double mastectomy in December and has been home recuperating ever since.

While being away from work, Eshima said she had to rethink her priorities, especially after her father received his own cancer diagnosis.

SEE NAMIKO’S, P4

Arvada Press 3

January 18, 2024 ADVERTISEMENT

Here’s a Statistical Review of the Denver Metro Real Estate Market in 2023

Now that 2023 is in the books, I have done some statistical analysis of the year and how it compared to the other three “Covid years.”

The result of that research is reflected in the various charts on this page. In addition to the “Covid years,” of course, we have the “interest rate surge” years, which had the opposite effect.

Covid unexpectedly super-charged the real estate market, while the interest rate surge put a wet blanket on it. The effects of each are clearly visible in the charts.

One way to do an apples-to-apples comparison of the years is to look at the price per finished square foot, which is independent of the price of the home. In this first chart, you can see how the value of homes using that criterion surged during 2020 and 2021 but dropped quickly in 2022 and has more or less leveled off since:

Looking at the both the median and average sold prices of homes, you see the same trend. I like to look at the median rather than the average when studying the market, because a few multimillion-dollar home sales can have a big effect on the average price of sold homes but has no effect on the median price.

market but because listings go under contract so quickly. However, when interest rates surge as much as they did in 2022-2023, homeowners will refrain from moving up (or downsizing) because of “rate lock.” They don’t want to sell their home with a sub-3% mortgage only to buy a replacement home at double that rate (or more). You can see that in this chart of active vs. sold listings:

In mid-2022 as interest rates began to rise, the sale of homes began to plummet and sellers took or kept their homes off the market at a rate higher than usual. The initial surge in active listings at that time was because fewer listings already on the market were going under contract as buyers waited in hopes that interest rates would decline again. By January 2023 it was evident that rates were staying high, and the pent-up demand of buyers to buy and sellers to sell kicked in.

So, how slow did the market become?

The following charts are good measures of that. As the pandemic took effect in March 2020, buyers flooded the market (as reflected above) buying homes further from their places of work and/or with more room for home offices now that work-at-home became a thing. This depleted the supply of homes for sale (again as reflected above), and caused the median days on market to plunge to 5 or 6 days. Because there are always overpriced homes which languish on the market, the average days in MLS (DIM)

However, the fact that the average sold price is consistently higher than the median price shows how active the market in million-dollar homes is.

In a seller’s market, the number of active listings drops, not because homeowners aren’t putting their homes on the

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remained over 20 until finally sellers saw the writing on the wall and lowered their prices enough to sell, hence the low average DIM by mid-2023.

By November 2022, new listings had dropped to a record low, but that was matched last month as shown in the next chart. Expired listings are another meas-

ure of the market’s health — and of how many sellers overprice their homes.

That, too, hit a peak in late 2022 and again at the end of 2023.

One of my favorite measurements of the seller’s market during Covid was the average ratio of sold price to listing price, indicating how much the average home benefited from a bidding war. In early 2021 and 2022, as shown in the following chart, it reached a record of

about 6% over asking price. Prior to 2020 it was typical for homes, on average, to sell slightly below asking price.

As this last chart shows, homes aren’t now selling for above their original

How I Define Metro Denver

Every real estate statistician I know defines the metro area using county boundaries. The statistics I have gathered for this week’s column are derived from REcolorado’s listings within an 18-mile radius of downtown Denver, as shown above.

price but are selling for about their current listing price once that price had been lowered enough.

As I’ve said so many times in the past (see the archive of my columns online at www.JimSmithColumns.com), pricing your home at or slightly below the market will typically net you more than if you list it for a wished-for price and then chase the market downhill.

Also, just like politics, all real estate is local. Even within my hometown of Golden, I have watched homes languish on the market in one neighborhood while they trigger bidding wars a mile or two away.

Bottom line, always hire an experienced Realtor like those of us at Golden Real Estate if you want to price your home right and get the highest price.

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As you read this, I’m in the second week of my 122day world cruise on the Viking Sky with my wife, Rita.

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Because of the excellent internet connectivity on the ship, I’ll continue to do “business as usual,” except that my broker associates will be my “boots on the ground.” If you are on WhatsApp, you can call me, even at sea, using the same number as my cell phone. And you certainly can still email me. If you want to list or buy a home, I’ll refer you to the broker associate I feel best fits your needs.

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4 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Jan

NAMIKO’S FROM PAGE 2

“Being away from work and having to kind of reevaluate my life and all the decisions I’ve made over the years — to put my health second and put my family second and not really taking care of myself like I should — and wanting just to be around for my son, has left a lot of contemplating and a lot of really hard decision making,” Eshima said.

“It’s trying to do what’s best for my house and what’s best for my family,” she continued.

“But my dad also has cancer. So that doesn’t help either. It’s too much for me on my plate.”

Eshima said the Japanese community has been supportive during both of her bouts with cancer.

“Support from the JapaneseAmerican community has been overwhelming since the day we opened,” Eshima said. “Over the last 35 years, we’ve definitely lost a lot of people in our community, just to old age, but their children and their grandchildren and their great grandchildren are all still eating here at Namiko’s. It’s kind of like a family tradition for many of them.

“Especially the last time I had cancer,” Eshima said, “and then now that I have a — not a reoccurrence, but a new form — of breast cancer, they come in, send me flowers; you know, they just let us know that they’re there for us.”

Eshima carried her mother’s spirit to Namiko’s end. The restaurant remained adorned with fish tanks and colorful art installations and subsisted entirely on recommendations from customers.

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“Word of mouth was the only way my mom would do it,” Eshima said. “She was really proud of the fact that all of our business came from word of mouth. If somebody fell in love with that, it’s because and then they would tell their friends and that’s how, you know, we develop so many long-lasting familial relationships (with customers).

“And, you know, tons of people in Arvada and throughout the state — Denver, Fort Collins, Evergreen, Highlands Ranch — are all weekly regulars here, and we’re going to be really sad to not be able to still serve them.”

Eshima said Namiko’s would remain open until it ran out of stock. She estimated that the restaurant’s last day of business will be Jan. 13.

A friend of Eshima’s started a fundraiser to help with her medical bills, which can be found here.

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Arvada Press 5

January 18, 2024

A Chocolate Affair returns to Olde Town Arvada on Feb. 3 Ralston House fundraiser set to include bake off, Lamp Post Hearts

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Olde Town Arvada is in for a chocolaty kick-off to February, as A Chocolate Affair — which benefits the Ralston House, an organization that helps victims of child abuse — will return in just a few weeks.

The annual event — which has been held in the historic district for over 20 years and

organized by Ralston House for 10 years — will be held between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 3. Included in this year’s edition will be a chocolate bake-off — with categories for chocolate chip cookies and brownies — chocolate samples from over 15 participating businesses and Lamp Post Hearts.

About 5,000 tickets will be available to the event this year and are available for preorder — last year’s Chocolate Affair sold out. The tickets include sample tastings from participating businesses including Balefire, Hunter Bay Coffee, Outside the Box, Enstrom’s, Rheinlander’s, Breadwinners, School House and others.

“It’s one of our low point of entry fundraisers, which we really appreciate that and that we could host it in Olde Town since Ralston House has been around for over 30,” Kemps said. “And this really gets us a fun way to connect with our community and get them involved in supporting and helping us stop child abuse.”

Lamp Post Hearts are available for purchase on the Ralston House website, and will be posted in Olde Town the Friday before the event.

They can be customized with a short message to a loved one and will be put together by volunteers.

Proceeds from the event support Ralston House’s general fund.

A family underneath their lamp post heart in Olde Town Arvada, part of Ralston House’s Chocolate Affair fundraiser.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

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6 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Jan

Family and friends remember beloved Brush legend and Colorado sports official Gerrard Flores Flores died after falling ill while refereeing a wrestling match — one of five sports he officiated

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Everyone who got to know Gerrard Flores loved him — and Flores knew everyone.

The Brush, Colorado native died doing what he loved — officiating youth wrestling — on Jan. 7. Flores was a father of two boys, grandfather of one, Brush High School homecoming king, three-sport athlete, five-sport official, coach, ordained minister and karaoke aficionado.

He was 55 years old.

Flores was born into a big family — he was one of 13 children. His experiences with sports began at a young age and continued throughout his life, as did his love of his hometown, Brush.

A Beetdigger through and through, even when Flores moved to Colorado Springs, he kept Brush close to his heart, forming a youth baseball organization named after his high school’s mascot.

Flores met his fiancé Rene McElhany in an unlikely place — on the wrestling mat. She joined Flores in his officiating pursuits and encour-

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From left: Kelsi Galyk, Gerrard Flores, Caleb Cox, Rene McElhany, Levi Cox at Brush COURTESY OF RENE MCELHANY High School.

aged him to try new sports like softball and volleyball. On off nights, the couple would go to youth matches and support other officials “From the beginning, we met on the wrestling mat, and that is where he loved to be,” McElhany said. “But as we got to know each other and started building our relationship, he encouraged me to step on the mat in a different way, and to officiate with him.

“I traveled with him everywhere,” McElhany continued. “(Officiating) was our fun. It was our opportunity to go on a new adventure and do things together. It was how we lived and loved and spent our free time.”

Flores officiated football for 32 years, wrestling for 25 years, baseball for 18 years, softball for 5 years and started officiating volleyball last year.

One of Flores’ six sisters, Malessa Hernandez, said he worked to make the young people he was officiating feel special and was always a positive presence in life.

“When he would officiate wrestling, he would hold the winners’ arm up and ask them, ‘Where are your parents?’ and he would turn them to their parents to represent the winner — but in his eyes every kid was a win-

ner to him,” Hernandez said. “He was not ever in a bad mood, he was just one happy, happy guy.

“This is such a huge hit not only to our family but numerous communities,” Hernandez continued. “He was just huge to everyone in the world.”

Flores shared his love of sports with his two sons, Trea and Tristin, supporting their athletic endeavors and sharing his love of the Denver Broncos with them. He was able to meet his grandson, Hendrix — Tristin’s son — before he passed.

Trea said the last time he saw his dad was for a trip to a Broncos game.

“I will never watch a Bronco game the same without my dad,” Trea Flores said. “We enjoyed watching football together and the Broncos were our thing. Our last trip together was going to the Bronco game, and that’s the last time I saw him. It was a great trip. And he’s a good man.

“You just felt loved by him,” Trea Flores continued. “He loved everyone, literally. So, I’ll just miss him greatly. He just had a big impact in life.”

Stephen Dabelko met Flores on the wrestling mat and said that the relationship Colorado wrestlers had with

Flores differed from other officials.

“You couldn’t help but love him,” Dabelko said. “The news of his passing completely broke my son and I. Normally, wrestlers don’t have a relationship with refs but Gerrard was different. He made everyone feel special. The wrestling community lost one of its favorite people. He made every kid feel important. He found joy in making everyone feel special.”

Flores’ longtime friend JJ Pursely said that Flores enjoyed being involved in every level of the sport and watching those in the community grow up and move through the ranks.

“You could tell that he really enjoyed refereeing; he enjoyed watching your wrestling,” Pursley said. “He especially enjoyed watching Brush wrestling. And then the coaches that he got to ref when they were in their careers, he loved watching them coach.”

Another of Flores’ sisters, Shaire Chavez, attributed divine intervention to Flores’ ability to impact so many people around the state and country.

“We were all just wondering, ‘How did Gerard impact so many people throughout the United States?’”

Chavez said. “And I came to the conclusion at 3 a.m. this morning that he was literally an angel on earth because how else could someone be loved all over?

“And if this world would live like Gerard did, it’d be a much better place because he was never ever mad,” Chavez said. “He was always so happy.”

Outside of the athletic community, Flores was known as a “jokester, a prankster” who “made everyone laugh and made everyone feel loved,” according to McElhany.

He loved to dance and sing karaoke; his favorite karaoke songs were “Summer Nights,” “Neon Moon,” and “Friends in Low Places.”

McElhany said Flores’ joy in life was to support those around him and keep up long-lasting relationships. An ordained minister, Flores would marry anyone who asked him to, including former players he had coached or refereed.

SEE FLORES, P8

Arvada Press 7

January 18, 2024

Arvada annexes two parcels of land, including pump station, for Canyon Pines development City stretches west of Highway 93 for first time, lots priced between $400,000 to $3.6 million

750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: ArvadaPress.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100

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MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arvada got a little bit larger at the most recent city council meeting, as the city annexed two parcels of land for the Canyon Pines development on the far west side of town.

The two parcels — previously part of unincorporated Jefferson County — were annexed into the city and rezoned at the Jan. 8 Arvada City Council meeting by a unanimous vote. One parcel is 1.2 acres while the other is 2.8 acres and includes the Debrouillarde Pump Station, which will deliver potable water to the area.

Canyon Pines is located near the intersection of Highway 72 and Highway 93; the annexed parcels are located at approximately 52 Canyon Pines Drive.

Both parcels were zoned Planned Unit Development as they will be part of the 93-lot Canyon Pines development that has already begun construction. The parcels were previously zoned Jefferson County Agricultural (1 and 2, respectively).

Developer Chad Ellington, with Peak Development, called the annexations and rezoning a “clean-up effort” that brings the pump station into the city and allows for three additional lots to be constructed. It is the final administrative step needed for the development to move forward.

“The recent City Council meeting was really a smaller effort to clean up some parcels around the primary Canyon Pines property and bring them into the City of Arvada in order to add three new lots and a parcel for the City’s new water pump station,” Ellington said.

Councilmember John Marriott praised the development and said it would add to Arvada’s diversity of housing stock in a multitude of ways, as well as stretch the city west of Highway 93 for the first time.

“I think it’s particularly good news that we have this new very high-end

A publication of

michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

RYLEE DUNN Community Editor rdunn@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Canyon Pines will become a 93 lot development with homes ranging from $400,000 to PHOTOS COURTESY OF CITY OF ARVADA $3.6 million.

AUDREY BROOKS Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Press.

We welcome letters to the editor.

Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

Email letters to lkfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com Deadline Tues. for the following week’s paper.

The annexation area number two that includes the pump station.

development here in Arvada,” Marriott said. “We talk a lot about development, and all the attention seems to be on how cheaply you can do development.

Well, it’s really good when cities have a variety of things developed, including multi-million-dollar homes. …This will bring about 90 households to Arvada of different types.”

He added that it’s a unique mountain

property to be in Arvada’s city limits since it’s at the entrance of Coal Creek Canyon and west of Highway 93.

Lots at Canyon Pines have been available for sale since mid-2023, according to Ellington, and range from a half-acre to over two acres. Two foundations are currently underway, while other homes are still in the design phase.

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8 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Jan

FLORES FROM PAGE 6

“His priorities in life were his family, his friends and sports,” McElhany said. “Those are the things he loved the most. He loved getting together with all of his brothers and sisters, all of his nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews. He delighted in things like going to their sporting events, supporting them and in all the things they were involved in.

“It was his great pleasure to encourage and to lift up those that he loved,” McElhany continued. “He had a wealth of friends from all different areas of life, all the way back to his school days that he still kept in contact, to probably just the person he met on the street yesterday. And he valued all of them very deeply.”

Flores’ friend Chad Cox echoed McElhany’s sentiments, saying that he brightened the lives of those

Flores (right) at friend Chad Cox’s wedding.

around him.

“He was always a guy that just loved to have fun, no matter what he was doing,” Cox said. “It was rare to find him without a smile on his face,

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHAD COX

without him putting smiles on people’s faces.”

A funeral for Flores is scheduled for Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. at Brush High School. It is open to the public.

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

Gerrard Flores passed away during a wrestling match he was officiating in Arvada on Jan. 7. He was 55.

Arvada Press 9

January 18, 2024

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LOCAL

10 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024J

VOICES There’s no ‘Misery’ at new Miners Alley

F

an culture has never been as prevalent as it is in the age of social media, but toxic fandom has been around as long as there have been celebrities. One of the most famous examples of this is Annie Wilkes, from Stephen King’s classic story, “Misery.”

Most people might be familiar with the famous 1990 film starring Kathy Bates, but there’s also a stage version, which Golden’s Miners Alley Playhouse is doing as their first production of 2024.

“It’s a show about survival, celebrity, and how far we can be driven when we’re not fulfilling our true dreams,” said director Warren Sherrill. “It asks the question, how far can someone push the human spirit?”

“Misery” runs at Miners’ new location, 1100 Miners Alley, from Friday, Jan. 19 through Sunday, Feb. 11. Performances are at 7:30 p.m.

Thursday through Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

The production is a reunion for Sherrill and lead actress Emma Messenger, who played Annie under Sherrill’s direction at the Edge Theatre seven years ago.

“I think we are both thrilled to get the chance to build on what we had discovered the first go round,” Messenger wrote in an email interview.

“Annie is such a delight to embody.

Here you have a mentally teetering woman who lives by her own rules.

She’s a character of emotional extremes, flying from child-like yearn-

ings to brutal rages

mor hidden in all that shattering

The story follows the trials of romance novelist Paul Sheldon (Torsten Hillhouse), who is rescued from a car crash by Wilkes. She turns out to be his biggest fan, but when Clarke Reader she discovers the author is killing off her favorite character, Misery Chastain, she demands he write a different novel.

Both Sherrill and Messenger spoke glowingly about the team at the new Miners Alley location and how crucial they are in making the production everything it can be.

“It’s a very technical show, with special effects on stage and everything. Right now, we have the right cast, the right technical crew and the right space,” Sherrill said. “It’s a horror novel, a horror movie and now a horror play and I want people to be sitting on the edge of their seat.

I want screams, jumps, all of that.”

While the show does explore some larger truths about society, it’s the type of production audiences are going to love just for the experience.

“I hope audiences come away feeling like they’ve just survived the best theatrical roller coaster of their lives,” Messenger wrote. “I hope it’s scary and fun in all the best ways.

There’s a surprising amount of hu-

Information and tickets can be found at https://minersalley.com/ mapac_shows/misery/.

COMING and back again, all horror, so I can’t wait for audiences ATTRACTIONS within seconds.” to buckle up and enjoy the ride.”

Head south of the border with Northglenn Arts

The City of Northglenn is kicking off 2024 with an artistic celebration of the culture of Mexico. Hosted in partnership with the Chicano Humanities and Arts Council (CHAC), ¡Viva México! opens on Friday, Jan. 19 with a reception from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Parsons Theatre Lobby, 1 E. Memorial Parkway in Northglenn.

The free exhibit is open whenever the theater is and, according to provided information, aims to capture the essence of “Mexico’s beautiful people, mesmerizing music captivating dance, delectable food, breathtaking landscapes and the deep spirituality that permeates the country.”

Find all you need to know at www. chacgallery.org/events/viva-mexico-exhibit-opening.

Subscribe to the final weekend of ‘Newsies’

I’m sure I’m not biased in assuming that everybody is interested in anything related to the newspaper industry. With that being the case, you can’t miss the final weekend of Performance Now Theatre Company’s production of Disney’s “Newsies.” The show is held at the

Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Directed by Bernie Cardell, the show is based on the 1992 musical movie that tells the story of the Newsboys Strike of 1899 in New York City. The show features some classic musical numbers, so don’t miss your chance to see it live.

Tickets and information can be found at www.performancenow. org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — The Lone Bellow and Colorado Symphony at Boettcher Hall

Brooklyn’s The Lone Bellow make the kind of folk rock that fits perfectly during this time of year — it’s warm and layered with harmonies and a sense of humor that hits all the right notes. Over the course of their five albums, the band has explored a sonic and lyrical landscape that is at times wry, but always deeply thought out and felt.

The Lone Bellow will be joined by the Colorado Symphony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19 at Boettcher Hall, 1000 14th St. in Denver. This is certain to be an evening of truly beautiful music, so get your tickets at https://coloradosymphony.org/.

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

ARVADA CRIME BRIEFS

Lowes robbed by armed suspect; unhoused people cleared from building

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Arvada Police are looking for a man who robbed the Lowes on Wadsworth Boulevard after the man was seen shoplifting with a gun by witnesses.

On the evening of Jan. 5, police were called to the Lowes at 5405 Wadsworth Blvd. on a report that a man with a gun was shoplifting from the store. During the initial call to police, loud noises were heard in the background; those sounds were later determined to be caused by the man using a fire extinguisher to break out of two doors he had become trapped between.

Officers from Arvada and Wheat Ridge, along with Jefferson County Sheriff ’s deputies, responded and learned from witnesses that the

man had shoplifted and attempted to exit from an emergency egress.

A store employee noticed the man holding a handgun, notified employees and customers and evacuated the store.

The police set up a perimeter around the store but were unable to locate the suspect. The investigation is ongoing.

Unhoused people cleared from abandoned Olde Town building

Also on Jan. 5, 11 unhoused people were cleared from an unoccu-

pied building on the 5700 block of Yukon Street in Olde Town Arvada.

Four of the individuals were arrested on active warrants and all 11 were given trespassing citations.

Arvada police also found narcotics and drug paraphernalia at the site.

Traffic stop gets wonky

APD officers had one more frisky incident on the night of Jan. 5, when a man who was stopped SEE CRIME BRIEFS, P11

Arvada Press 11

January 18, 2024

OBITUARIES HICKS

Barry Luther Hicks

October 25, 1950 - January 5, 2024

Barry Luther Hicks was born in Colorado and died in Wheat Ridge, Colorado on January 5, 2024. He was a beloved member of his family and community and will be dearly missed. For more information on services, or to read a full-length obituary, please visit: thenaturalfuneral.com/obituaries

Graphic displaying crime info in Arvada from the week of Jan. 1 to Jan. 7.

CRIME BRIEFS FROM PAGE 7

for an equipment violation fled police and was eventually found in a nearby shed.

During the initial stop, the responding officer was notified that the suspect might be highly armed with an active warrant. Upon being told he was being arrested for the warrant, the man drove to a dead end and fled on foot.

He was then located under a car at a nearby residence. The suspect then fled a third time and was located in a backyard shed. A K9 unit was dispatched and helped ap-

COURTESY ARVADA POLICE

prehend the suspect, who refused commands to surrender.

Crime stats

For the week of Jan. 1 to Jan. 7, Arvada police responded to 1,783 calls for service, filed 116 crime reports, made 22 arrests, conducted 208 traffic stops and cataloged 18 accidents, according to APD’s Weekly Activity Report.

Of the 116 crime reports, there were six motor vehicle thefts, 10 thefts from motor vehicles, nine thefts of vehicle parts, 11 shoplifting incidents, two burglary incidents, eight fraud incidents, 12 vandalisms, four DUI offenses, two drug offenses and one weapon violation.

Place an Obituary for Your Loved One. 303-566-4100 obituaries@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please note the following rules: • Email your letter to kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line.

• Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following

Memory In Loving

week’s newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

• Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and should not be submitted to other outlets or previously posted on websites or social media. Submitted letters become the property of CCM and should not be republished elsewhere.

Self placement available online at ArvadaPress.com

12 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024J

LOCAL

LIFE

STARTING 2024 WITH A SPLASH

More than 400 locals inaugurate the new year at Evergreen Lake Plunge

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

W

hether they wanted to support a local cause or wash off any remnants of 2023, more than 400 people from across the Denver metro area celebrated New Year’s Day by jumping into Evergreen Lake.

The annual Evergreen Lake Plunge had record participation in 2024. Nonprofit Active4All, which fundraises for local parks and recreation programs, sold out its 400 pre-registered spots and limited day-of registrations.

The weather was likely a factor, as several plunge veterans said the sunny conditions and 40-degree temperatures made a difference. In other years, participants have faced cloudy, windy weather and literal 0-degree conditions, which made getting out of the water that much worse, they described.

This year’s participants were also a mix of returners and newcomers, with many convincing their friends and relatives to jump too.

Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer said doing a Polar Plunge-type event has been on his “bucket list” for years. So, when he decided 2024 would finally be the year he’d take the literal plunge, he convinced three of his loved ones to do it with him.

SEE SPLASH, P13

Wearing a shark hat, Wheat Ridge’s Steve Moyer leaps into the water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge.

Moyer, a newcomer to the plunge, convinced some of his family members to do it with him, saying it was one PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN of his “bucket list” items.

Arvada Press 13

January 18, 2024

SPLASH FROM PAGE 12

Moyer even sported a shark hat for the occasion, which was one of many fun costumes people wore to the event.

Evergreen’s Jon Balliet dressed as a hummingbird — complete with sound effects.

Balliet, who’s done the plunge seven or eight times, said he wears a new costume each year. He’s won the costume contest before as a shark eating a person and decided to dress as an elk for 2023’s event.

This year, he chose a hummingbird, saying, “They’re all over Evergreen.”

Brothers Stephen and Greg Leathers — from Highlands Ranch and Englewood, respectively — donned Christmas sweaters and pajama pants for the plunge. Stephen said he talked Greg into doing it, as they both thought it’d be fun.

Greg had plunged before at Lake Michigan, but both were newcomers to the Evergreen event. They appreciated the community aspect of it, noting how many people decided to start 2024 this way — plunging into icy waters together.

Several groups like Evergreen Country Day School seventh-graders and the Evergreen High School girls basketball team plunged together.

Golden High School swimmers Mica Gillaspie and Hanna Heard decided to as well.

Gillaspie, a member of the Evergreen Hurricanes swim team, said she heard about it from her coach and roped Heard into doing it too.

The two said their goals for 2024 included helping the Golden Demons “make it to state.”

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is also a fun New Year’s Day outing for the spectators, like bagpiper Dan Kingsley.

The Lakewood resident said event emcee Alan Gionet recruited him to provide music while participants are waiting in line. Kingsley’s now performed at the event five or six times, describing it as an overall positive experience.

“So many people are out here having a great time,” he said. “ … It’s a good way to start the year off fresh.”

So long, 2023!

Some participants signed up for the 2024 Evergreen Lake Plunge because they had a less-than-ideal 2023 and wanted a powerful way to transition

Dressed as walruses, the Bebarta siblings of Greenwood Village approach the platform for the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Emma Bebarta, who was doing her third plunge, said she signed her siblings up to do it with her this year.

Centennial’s Tricia Holloway reacts to the cold water during the Jan. 1 Evergreen Lake Plunge. Holloway and her friends dressed as phoenixes to symbolize starting PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN 2024 by “rising from the ashes,” they described.

into the new year.

Greenwood Village siblings Emma, Grace and Owen Bebarta described their 2023 as “eventful” and “weird.”

So, they wanted to start the new year “with a bang.”

Emma, who was completing her third plunge, said she signed up the first time because she “wanted a refresh” after the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, she made her siblings do it with her.

Emma and Grace — who are both in college — and Owen — a junior and a swimmer at Cherry Creek High School — described the plunge as a fun activity they could do together while they were all on winter break.

In that spirit, they donned matching walrus costumes for their family

plunge.

Likewise, Tricia Holloway and Michelle Kemberling — both from Centennial — and Annie Zdrojewski of Evergreen dressed as phoenixes to symbolize starting 2024 by “rising from the ashes.”

The three friends plunged last year, saying it was a strong way to start 2023. Their intention when they plunged, they described, was to have a year of transformation.

2023 was ultimately a transformative year with a lot of growth, they said, but perhaps not in the way they wanted. They described it as “a burning year.”

So, the three were being more specific with their 2024 intentions, asking for transformation mixed with calm, stability and gratitude. And, rather than donning the tutus they wore in 2023, they dressed as phoenixes — creatures burn but rise to soar again.

Holloway, Kemberling and Zdrojewski recommended others try it, as it’s a “beautiful way to start the year” that people won’t regret.

All4 a good cause

The Evergreen Lake Plunge is Active4All’s biggest fundraiser, raising at least $25,000 annually for Evergreen Park & Recreation District’s special education program — called INSPIRE — and other programs.

Balliet said the fundraising aspect is a big reason he plunges every year.

“It’s a great cause,” he said. “Everyone should have access to parks and recreation.”

That’s something Clint Frost and his family know all too well.

Frost’s 9-year-old son is an INSPIRE participant, attending the annual summer camp, and going on regular outings like swimming and horse riding. Frost said his son really enjoys skiing and being in the mountains, adding, “That’s his happy place.”

So, Frost plunged this year to support his son and other INSPIRE participants who benefit from Active4All’s fundraising. Frost said he’s plunged before in 2016 or 2017, but travel and COVID-19 prevented him from doing it again sooner. Now, though, he wants to be a regular.

He described how hard everyone works to make the annual event a success, from the sponsors and organizers to the firefighters and volunteers. The participants’ financial contributions and word-of-mouth advertising are also big factors.

Frost said of everyone who helps make it possible: “I can’t thank them enough.”

14 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Jan

Arvada’s Feret announces candidacy for HD24 seat Arvada Councilor seeking Lindsay Daugherty’s seat

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Just over two years after being elected to Arvada’s city council, At Large Councilmember Lisa Feret is seeking to represent House District 24 in the Colorado House of Representatives.

Feret announced her candidacy for the office — which encompasses Arvada and parts of Westminster and is currently represented by Democrat Lindsay Daugherty — on Jan. 4 in a video posted to her social media platforms.

Feret filed her candidate affidavit on Sept. 26, 2023, and her committee registration on Oct. 4, 2023. She is running as a Democrat.

Daugherty is not seeking reelection to her HD24 seat and is instead seeking election to Colorado State Senate as the District 19 representative in the 2024 election. District 19 is currently represented by Democrat Rachel Zenzinger, who is termlimited.

Prior to being elected to city council in 2021, Feret — who was elected to city council under her maiden name; Smith — served in the Unit-

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ed States Air Force and worked as a military police officer before becoming a social worker and working with Team Rubicon; an organization that deploys people to crisis situations around the world for aid.

In 2022, Feret traveled to Poland to provide medical supplies to Ukrainians amidst the country’s ongoing war with Russia. Her election to city council was her first attempt at serving as an elected official.

Feret said she is seeking higher office because her background makes her more adept at policymaking at the state level rather than the local level.

“Over the past few years, I realized that the areas around our policymaking for city council — water, sewer, roads, transportation — while I have experience in it, I’m not an expert,” Feret said. “And my background seems to align better with state policy. So, working with refugees, migrants; working in climate, natural disasters; serving the fires and floods and responding to those, it all seems to align a little bit better for state policy.

“It just seems like my experience can be more impactful for the community if I run for the state office and not stay on city council,” Feret continued.

If Feret were to win election to the State House on Nov. 5, Arvada’s city

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LIsa Feret is seeking election to represent HD24.

charter prohibits her from finishing out her term on council, where she would have another year remaining on her term. If she were to win, Feret would be required to resign from her seat, creating a vacancy.

“This resignation would create a vacancy on the Council, which would be filled as required by Arvada City Charter,” Arvada City Attorney Rachel Morris said. “Specifically, the remaining Councilmembers would choose a qualified individual to fill the vacancy by a majority vote within 45 days after the vacancy occurs.”

The last time this process occurred in Arvada was in 2014 after Zenzinger became a state senator. Gerald Marks was appointed to the seat and did not seek reelection. The seat was won by Nancy Ford the following year.

Arvada mayor Lauren Simpson said a call for applicants would likely be made if Feret were to be elected to the State House. Simpson said she felt that Feret would be a good candidate for the HD24 seat.

“I’ve gotten to know Lisa pretty

well over the last few years, and I admire her passion for issues in our community,” Simpson said. “She cares about Arvada and loves policy, and that’s where her real passion is.

And I think she’d be a great fit for the state legislature.”

Feret said that her priorities, if elected, would be affordable housing, increasing access to healthcare and making climate-informed policy decisions to protect the environment.

She added said her work in local government informed some of the policy decisions she would lobby for at the State House, particularly regarding unfunded mandates.

“Unfunded Mandates don’t work for municipalities,” Feret said. “We had to implement body-worn cameras, and while I believe in bodyworn cameras, having it be a mandate with no funding or support is a huge burden on local governments.

Feret will continue serving on Arvada’s city council through the election cycle and will retain her seat if she does not win the election.

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LOCAL

SPORTS

January 18, 2024J

Pomona wrestling dominates Arvada West Invite

BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

ARVADA — Pomona had a perfect 10 at the 2024 Arvada West Wrestling Invite on Saturday.

The Panthers sent 10 wrestlers to the individual championship matches. All 10 won their title bouts as the 5-time defending Class 5A state champions racked up 310 team points to cruise to the team title.

“Good. They wrestled hard,” Pomona coach Sam Federico said accessing the tournament after he and his coaching staff jumped from championship to championship match during the finals.

Grandview finished a distance second with 155.5 points.

Freshmen Logan Dellow (106) and Ignacio Villasenor (113), along with sophomores Zaidyn Quinonez (120), Angel Serrano (138), Derek Barrow (144), Emmitt Munson (157), Kalob Ybarra (175) and Maddux Najera (190) joined seniors Geno Cardenas (126) and Dante Hutchings (165) atop the podium for the victorious Panthers.

Villasenor was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler by the coaches of the A-West Invite. The freshman had a pair of tech falls and a pair of pins in winning the 113-pound title.

Villasenor has already made a name for himself despite not wrestling in the Colorado state tournament yet. He was on the world stage this summer winning the bronze medal at 45 kg in the men’s freestyle at the 2023 U17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey wrestling for Team USA. “I’ve been training with Ignacio since I got here,” said Dellow, who moved from New York a handful of years ago. “It has got me nothing but better and allows me to defend my spot.”

Dellow had a pair of first-period pins and a major decision in picking up the 106-pound title.

“That kid (Dellow) practices his butt off. He works with Ignacio every day which isn’t fun,” Federico said. “He takes it the right way. He

Pomona senior Dante Hutchings, right, has his arm raised after his second-round pin of Grandview junior Charlie Herting in the 165-pound championship bout Saturday, Jan. 13, at the 2024 Arvada West Invite. Hutchings was one of 10 Panthers to grab individual titles. Pomona will have its Senior Night in a dual against Chatfield on Thursday, Jan. 18, at Pomona High School.

PHOTO BY DENNIS PLEUSS / JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOL

takes his licks from Ignacio, but keeps working and working. He doesn’t just surrender to him.”

The freshmen duo, along with Quinonez — 5A 106 state champion last year — gives Pomona a remarkably strong first three wrestlers in the lighter weights.

It was just the second tournament of the season for Quinonez, who is coming off an injury. Really the only negative for Pomona on Saturday was junior heavyweight Adrian Arellano suffering an injury in his semifinal match.

Pomona has three returning state champions — Quinonez, Barrow and Ybarra — from last year’s squad.

The Panthers currently have eight wrestlers ranked in the top-3 of their weight class by Tim Yount’s On the Mat rankings.

“It’s a whole new group and a whole new team,” Hutchings said talking

about this year’s team to last year’s squad that racked up a record-braking 278.5 team points at state. “The vibe is completely different and that isn’t a bad thing. It’s actually a good thing.”

Hutchings was a state runner-up last season at 165.

“We push each other every single day to be the best we can be,” Hutchings said. “It’s awesome to have a group of guys that are so young, but push you so hard. I’m so appreciative of these guys.”

Hutchings and Cardenas are the lone seniors currently in Pomona’s varsity line-up.

“I think these little guys look up to us a lot,” Hutchings said of Pomona’s senior leadership. “I try to take the role of being the captain in the room, but all these guys are busting their butts off in the room. Anyone could take that role. At the end of the day we

are a great team and it’s an awesome environment to be in.”

Pomona will attempt to win a 6th straight team title at Ball Arena in Denver in about a month.

“We talk more about individuals,” Federico said about Pomona zeroing in on another state title. “You take care of yourself and the team score will take care of itself. You have to worry about you when it comes to wrestling. They care about their team for sure and hold each other accountable.”

Pomona will hold its Senior Night Jan. 18 at Pomona High School. The Panthers will wrestle Chatfield in a dual before heading to the Top of the Rockies tournament Jan. 19 and 20 at Centaurus High School.

Dennis Pleuss is the Sports Information Director for Jeffco Public Schools.

For more Jeffco coverage, go to ColoradoPreps.com and CHSAANow.com.

Arvada Press 17

January 18, 2024

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

TRIVIA 1. MOVIES: What state is the setting for the 1990s movie “Twister”?

2. GEOGRAPHY: Lake Okeechobee is in which U.S. state?

3. U.S. PRESIDENTS: Which president adopted the expression, “Speak softly and carry a big stick”?

4. MUSIC: Actor/singer Jared Leto also is the front man for which rock music band?

5. HISTORY: The U.S. Civil War ended in 1865 when Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union forces in which Virginia town?

6. SCIENCE: Which element has the symbol Pb? 7. GAMES: What is the destination in the board game Candy Land?

8. TELEVISON: Who was the longrunning host of “American Bandstand”?

9. U.S. STATES: What is the capital of Alaska?

10. LITERATURE: Who is the author of the autobiographical work “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”?

Answers 1. Oklahoma.

2. Florida.

3. Theodore Roosevelt.

4. Thirty Seconds to Mars.

5. Appomattox.

6. Lead.

7. Candy Castle.

8. Dick Clark.

9. Juneau.

10. Maya Angelou. (c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.

Crossword Solution

18 Arvada Press

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Free info kit. Call 877-9299587

Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 7-Year warranty with qualifying purchase* Call 1-855-9486176 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move.

DIRECTV Stream - Carries the most local MLB Games!

Choice Package $89.99/ mo for 12 mos Stream on 20 devices at once. HBO Max included for 3 mos (w/ Choice Package or higher.)

No contract or hidden fees!

Some restrictions apply. Call IVS 1-866-859-0405

VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 50 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

Classifieds

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Arvada Press 19

January 18, 2024

MARKETPLACE

Antiques & Collectibles ABSOLUTE PUBLIC ONLINE

AUCTION

MORRISON, COLORADO

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2024 • 9:00 a.m.

BANDIMERE SPEEDWAY - 3051 S. Rooney Rd. (Gate A) *2 Locations, 1 Auction! Offsite Equipment Located in Caldwell, Idaho*

Old Crows Antiques featuring The Root Beer Bar An Antique destination in Littleton Colorado Join us on Memory Lane. Something for everyone.

Visit us for store info Instagram: @oldcrowsantiques www.facebook.com/ oldcrowsantiques www.oldcrows antiques.com 303-973-8648 10081 W. Bowles Ave. Littleton, CO 80127

Miscellaneous Water damage cleanup & restoration: A small amount of water can lead to major damage and mold growth in your home. Our trusted professionals do complete repairs to protect your family and your home’s value!

Call 24/7: 1-888-872-2809

190+

Se Habla Español CJ - 402-689-3222 Armando - 402-620-5326

Conventional Tractors, Aluminum Reefers, Vans & More

5% Buyer’s Premium no transaction or internet fees

402-719-9692 www.taylorandmartin.com

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

!!OLD GUITARS WANTED!!

GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866433-8277

Become a published author.

We want to read your book!

Dorrance Publishing trusted since 1920. Consultation, production, promotion & distribution. Call for free author`s guide 1-877-7294998 or visit dorranceinfo. com/ads

HughesNet – Finally, super-fast internet no matter where you live. 25 Mbps just $59.99/mo! Unlimited Data is Here. Stream Video. Bundle TV & Internet. Free Installation.

Call 866-499-0141 DISH TV $64.99 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet.

Free Installation, Smart HD DVR included, Free Voice remote.

Some Restrictions apply.

Promo Expires 1/31/24.

1-866-479-1516.

Colorado Statewide

Miscellaneous

Auctions

Aging Roof? New Homeowner?

Got Storm Damage?

You need a local expert provider that proudly stands behind their work. Fast, free estimate. Financing available. Call 1-888-8789091

Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule free LeafFilter estimate today.

20% off Entire Purchase. 10% Senior & Military Discounts.

Call 1-833-610-1936 Jacuzzi Bath Remodel can install a new, custom bath or shower in as little as one day.

Limited time, we’re waiving all installation costs! (Additional terms apply. Subject to change and vary by dealer.

Offer ends 12/31/23 Call 1-844-501-3208 MobileHelp, America’s premier mobile medical alert system.

Whether you’re home or away. For safety & peace of mind. No long term contracts! Free brochure!

1-888-489-3936

Network To place a 25-word COSCAN Network ad in 91 Colorado newspapers for only $300, contact your local newspaper or email Colorado Press Association Network at rtoledo@colopress.net DIRECTV

PORTABLE OXYGEN Portable Oxygen Concentrator.

May be Covered by Medicare!

Reclaim independece and mobility with the compact design and long-lasting battery of Inogen One. Free Information Kit! Call: 844-823-0293

DIRECTV, Sports Pack 3 Months on Us! Watch pro and college sports LIVE, Plus over 40 regional and specialty networks included. NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, Golf and more.

Some restrictions apply.

Call DIRECTV 1-888-725-0897

FREE HIGH SPEED INTERNET

AMERIGLIDE

Free High Speed Internet for those that qualify. Goverment program for recipients of select programs incl. Medicaid, SNAP, Housing Assistance, WIC, Veterans Pension, Survivor Benefit, Lifeline, Tribal.

15GB Internet service. Bonus offer: Android tablet FREE with onetime $20 copay. Free Shipping & Handling.

Call MaxsipTelecom Today: 1-866-654-9429

Don't let the stairs limit your mobility!

Discover the ideal solution for anyone who struggles on the stairs, is concerned about a fall or wants to regain access to their entire home. Call AmeriGlide today!

1-877-418-1883

Pets

Wanted

Dogs

Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398

Diagnosed with lung cancer & 65+?

You may qualify for a substantial cash award. No obligation! We’ve recovered millions. Let us help!

Call 24/7 1-877-707-5707

Cash for all Vehicles!

Cars, Trucks, Vans, SUV’s

Doodle Puppies

Golden Doodles and Bernedoodles Home-Raised Heath Tested and Guaranteed Standard and Mini Size available Schedule a visit today!

(970)215-6860 www.puppylovedoodles.com

Any condition • Running or not No title OK • Free towing • Under $850

(303)741-0762

Cell: (303)918-2185 for texting Bestcashforcarsco.com

SERVICE DIRECTORY Air Conditioning

Blinds

METALBUILDING

Serving the Front Range since 1955 Furnaces • Boilers • Water Heaters Rooftop HVAC • Mobile Furnaces Commercial • Residential Install • Repair • Replace

AC, Furnace and Boiler Specials

OUTLET CORP.

LOCAL BUILDINGS FOR 30+ YEARS!

Free Estimates • 720-327-9214

Serving the Front Range since 1955 Residential • Install • Repair • Replace

WINTER FURNACE SPECIALS 720-327-9214

Buildings, Metal

RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED

CALL TODAY! 303-467-7969 6040 W. 59TH AVE, UNIT F • ARVADA, CO 80003 QUESTIONS@BLINDSMITH.COM WWW.BLINDSMITHCOLORADO.COM

· SHOPS & GARAGES · EQUIPMENT STORAGE · SELF STORAGE · BARNS & AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS · EQUESTRIAN FACILITIES · COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS · AND MORE...

303.948.2038

METALBUILDINGOUTLET.COM

Service Directory

Continues Next Page

20 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Ja

SERVICE DIRECTORY

WOOD

..

Great Floors.

Great Impressions.

. ,

FOOTPRINTS HARDWOOD, TILE,

rs.

Impressions.

floors BACKSPLASHES & LAMINATES

day for a free estimate!

Sheetrock & Drywall Framing Specialist EPA Certified Painter, Interior/Exterior Demolition • Insured 7+ Years Experience!

Call today for a free estimate!

Weekly • Bi-Weekly • Monthly Move-In • Move-Out

FREE ESTIMATES Call Today: 720-225-7176 ProMaidsInc@yahoo.com

REPAIRS & REMODELING HOMEHOME REPAIRS & REMODELING

• Drywall • Painting • Tile • Trim • Drywall • Painting••Doors Tile •• Trim • Doors • Painting • Decks • Bath Remodel Painting • Decks • Bath Remodel • Kitchen Remodels MuchMore!

More!

• Kitchen Remodels••Basements Basements &&Much Mark Up Materialsyou 25%-35% We Never MarkWe UpNever Materials • Saving Saving you•25%-35% All Work Guaranteed A+ BBB Rated All Work Guaranteed • A+ BBB Rated

Call Today for a FREE ESTIMATE: 303-427-2955 Call Today for a FREE ESTIMATE

®

FOOTPRINTSFLOORS COM

PROMAID CLEANING

TM

Home Improvement Room Builders LLC.

720-344-0939 | FOOTPRINTSFLOORS.COM 0-344-0939 Cleaning

Handyman

Drywall

Carpet/Flooring

©

303-427-2955

Toll Free 866-552-6987 Cell: 646-825-1716

BOB’S HOME REPAIRS All types of repairs.

Reasonable rates. 30yrs Exp.

A Patch To Match

303-450-1172

Drywall Repair Specialist • Home Renovation and Remodel • 30 Years Experience • Insured • Satisfaction Guaranteed

HANDYMAN

Repairs • Install Fixtures, Appliance • Plumbing Electrical • Expert Tile • Kitchen/ Bath Remodel • Decks 35 yrs. experience • Licensed, Insured • References

Highly rated & screened contractor by Home Advisor & Angies list

Ed 720-328-5039

Wes 720-697-3290

Licensed with excellent references Estate Planning Concrete/Paving

Hauling Service

HAULING

• All Concrete • Tear Out • Patios

• Driveways • Anything • Curb & Gutter Concrete • Walls

303-888-7595

$$ Reasonable Rates On: $$

WILLS AND TRUSTS Kurt E. Walberg, P.C. Esq.

Call now to schedule a no cost appointment 720.772.7565 • dawn@kewpclaw.com

Trash Cleanup • Old Furniture • Mattresses • Appliances • Dirt Old fencing • Branches • Concrete • Asphalt • Old Sod • Brick Mortar • House/Garage/Yard clean outs • Storm Damage Cleanup Electronics recycling avail.

Mark: 303.432.3503

Handyman

Cut Rate Hauling

Cut Rate Hauling

Trash / Rubbish / Debris Michael’s Handyman Services Trash / Rubbish / Debris and Junk Removal Michael’s Handyman Services Michael’s Handyman Services and Junk Removal

Home Beautification Professional and Reliable Year Round Service • Home Beautifi cation •• Home Beautification Professional and Reliable Home Repair & Interior Interior Painting Home Repair & Interior Painting YearPainting Round ServiceRubin (720)434-8042 | Kerwin (720) 519-5559 •••Home Repair &

Please support these amazing local businesses

303-301-4420 Kerwin (720) 519-5559 303-301-4420 Rubin (720)434-8042

MINOR HOME REPAIRS MinorHOME Home Repairs MINOR REPAIRS

No job is too small small • Free Estimates No job job is too too small Free Estimates No is •• Free Estimates

Service Directory

Continues Next Page

Arvada Press 21

January 18, 2024

SERVICE DIRECTORY Painting

• Benjamin Moore Paints • Labor and Materials Warranty • Free Estimates • Color Consultation Included • Kind/Highly Communicative Staff Helpful Ace Hardware Pro Painters is a residential painting company which specializes in exterior and interior painting. Our core values are honesty, integrity, service, quality and beauty and our focus is on delivering an outstanding customer experience. We currently include a full color consult, test pints and a detailed walkthrough with all of our paint jobs.

Give us a call to set up a free estimate! (720) 432-6125 helpfulacehardwarepropainters.com

DANIEL’S PAINTING

exterior • interior • residential repaints Re-caulk all home complete prime all caulked areas / replace any damaged boards / popcorn removal drywall and texture repair / fences and decks / insured and bonded

720-301-0442

BOB’S PAINTING, REPAIRS & HOME IMPROVEMENTS 30 yrs experience • Free estimates

303-450-1172 Plumbing

Siding & Windows

Plumbing

I am a Master Plumber that has 15 years of experience, licensed and insured, and trying to get my own business up and going. I would be grateful for the opportunity to earn your business, to help a Colorado Native business grow. Mountain Men Plumbing has been around for almost two years now!

www.MountainMenPlumbing.com

Siding & Windows Siding Repairs • Hail Damage Repairs Insulated Vinyl and Steel Siding

Free Estimates • Call Sam 720.731.8789

Or give a call to (720) 328-8440!

Solar Roofing

Local Company Veteran Owned Integrity Focused VOTED BEST ROOFING COMPANY Complimentary Roof Inspections

Residential andand Commercial Residential Comme

SOLAR SYSTEMS SOLAR SYSTEM 303-770-7663 303-647-3173

www.ValorRoofandSolar.com www.ValorRoofandSolar.com

303-770-7663

www.ValorRoofandSolar.com

Roofing/Gutters

Tile

HARDWOOD

Have a Hail Damaged Roof?

.. . ,

FOOTPRINTS HARDWOOD, TILE,

Great F1oors.

Great Impressions.

Front Range Plumbing 303.451.1971 Commercial/Residential • For all your plumbing needs Commercial/Residential • Water Heaters • Plumbing Parts • Senior & Active Military Discounts

frontrangeplumbing.com For all your plumbing needs info@frontrangeplumbing.com

• Water Heaters • Plumbing Parts

SENIOR DISCOUNTS www.frontrangeplumbing.com

Great Floors.

Great Impressions.

floors BACKSPLASHES & LAMINATES

Call today for a free estimate!

Call today for a free estimate!

- Gutter cleaning /gutter covers available now 720-344-0939 | FOOTPRINTSFLOORS.COM - We are 100% Local & Have Great References 720-344-0939 WWW FOOTPRINTSFLOORS COM - Roofing • Siding • Paint • Windows • Gutters - Call Dave Vaughn 720-427-7422 Tree Service

- davegoldenspikeroofing@gmail.com

Majestic Tree Service 720-231-5954 Tree & Shrub Trimming, Tree Removal • Stump Grinding Free Estimates/Consultations Licensed and Insured

22 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Ja

PRECISE REPAIR, GENUINE CARE

BEFORE

AFTER

Keep your home safe with concrete repair Worrying about your uneven or cracked concrete can make owning a home very stressful. By investing in concrete repair, you can fix your driveway, walkways, patio, and more in one easy lift.

GET A FREE ESTIMATE

877-734-1105

Arvada Press 23

January 18, 2024

Anywhere.

Anytime.

Visit us online for news on the go.

24 Arvada Press

January 18, 2024Jan

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.

We’re committed to bringing the news to Coloradans. That’s because you deserve access to local, independent journalism that keeps you connected and informed — especially during challenging times.

This is #newsCOneeds.

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