Arvada Press August 8, 2024

Arvada celebrates the opening of its newest park: Serenity Ridge Park

Arvada Library set for $14.9 million redesign

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Arvada Library might look a bit di erent in the coming years, as the Je erson County Public Library team has started the process for the library’s $14.9 million redesign, which is set to break ground in 2025 and be completed in 2026.

Up on a hill near Red Rocks Community College, overlooking the City of Arvada below, sits the city’s newest park: Serenity Ridge Park. e serene greenspace o cially opened to the public on Aug. 1 after a lengthy planning process that dates back to 2018. e park was made possible by a partnership between the City of Arvada and Red Rocks Community College, the latter

Partnership with Red Rocks Community College promotes health and wellness SEE NEW PARK, P2

of which will use the park as an outdoor classroom in addition to other activations.

e park features a paved walking path around its premises, a labyrinth, two shade structures and a re exology path, along with other features. Originally dubbed the “Holistic Health and Wellness Park” be-

SOLD “AS IS” DEFINED

1.Yes, it needs maintenance, carpet, paint and maybe a new furnace etc. This is not a fix up. You should not take a discount. So many seniors and elders say: “I only paid $200,000 so If I could get $300,000, I’m happy. They lose hundreds of thousands of dollars every day.

2.“As is” minus safety issues. Natural gas leak, bad furnace are about the only things.

3.“As is” where it is often a fix and flip. Do not fix up your house if you are going to sell it. Call me to learn why you don’t need to do it.

Since the Arvada Library opened its doors in the heart of Olde Town in 2006, the city has experienced noticeable growth. at, in addition to other factors, has created the need to reimagine the community hub, JCPL Director of Communications and Engagement Elise Penington said. “ e number of patrons, program attendance and service requirements have all grown signi cantly,” Penington said. “ is redesign is a great opportunity to review and expand services to meet the growing needs of Arvada community.”

e redesign — which has a budget of $14,895,781 — is paid for by tax dollars from Je erson County Residents and is overseen by the Library Board of Trustees.

e community input stage of the

SEE LIBRARY, P5

The scene at the Serenity Ridge Park opening.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

NEW

fore two local residents suggested its new name be Serenity Ridge, the park is meant to be accessible to all members of the community.

Serenity Ridge Park is located directly across from the Red Rocks Community College campus that houses all of the school’s health education programs; a natural pairing, according to College President Landon Pirius.

“It couldn’t be more tting that our health program is across the street from a health-focused park,” Pirius

said. “I know it will enhance not only the community but also everything that happens across the street.”

Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson said the park lls a gap in the city’s goal to have greenspace within a 10 minute walk of every residence in town. e city is now 90% of the way to its goal, Simpson said.  “ is park is going to be a special place,” Simpson said. “Not only for the students of this institution but for the entire community as well. is provides healthy opportunities. It is a unique park design where we can promote health and wellness opportunities not just through classes, but also from just being here in this space.”

A shade structure and the titular “Serenity Ridge” at Arvada’s newest park.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Red Rocks Community College President Landon Pirius discusses the park’s future within the RRCC community.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

Arvada Mayor Lauren Simpson addresses the crowd.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

A garden of local flowers at Serenity Ridge Park.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

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Seniors Over 70 Should Consider Downsizing Into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home

Regular readers know that I’ve written about this topic before, but it bears repeating. Just last week an 80-year-old reader called about listing their home and helping them to buy a smaller and easier to maintain home.

Most agents would welcome this opportunity to have two paydays from a single client, but I’m different, because Rita and I were in a similar situation two years ago and chose another path, which we recommend.

Also, just as you prepare to enjoy your “golden years” and travel, there’s the added stress of securing your home and handling yard maintenance and snow removal in your absence, so your home doesn’t look like you are on vacation.

We sold our 4,000-squarefoot home and moved into a 2bedroom 1,200-square-foot rental apartment. A recent study showed that this is a trend among us Baby Boomers.

Homeownership has a lot of costs, responsibility and tasks. The costs include rising property taxes which you will want to appeal every two years, plus rising insurance costs which can’t be appealed. For many, HOA dues and special assessments are an added burden.

Condo ownership at least offers a lock-and-leave situation, but still entails those other expenses. Rental relieves you of all the above.

I still recommend home ownership for non-seniors, because it is a proven strategy for wealth accumulation. Indeed it is the appreciation from our owned real estate which set Rita and me up for retirement, far more than our earned income. Fortunately, most seniors over 70 probably own their home free and clear, which means that selling their home can produce a lot of cash to invest in annuities or CDs which could well provide enough monthly income to compensate for paying rent. A quick calculation can tell you whether your money will in fact

Kudos to Wendy Renee, Loan Officer Extraordinaire

Last week, I had a double closing that was only made possible by the diligent work of our in-house lender, Wendy Renee of Fairway Independent Mortgage. I can’t go to press this week without describing her work to you!

As happens now and then, I “doubleended” a listing, selling it to an out-ofstate buyer who was unrepresented. This was an investor who has purchased 18 homes and had her own lender, but that lender couldn’t perform and two subsequent lenders failed her, until the last one said we’d have to move the closing to August 15th instead of July 31st. The problem was that my seller was under contract to buy her replace-

ment home on July 31st, and the seller of that home couldn’t postpone the closing because of the contract they had on their replacement home.

So I introduced the out-of-state buyer by phone to Wendy, who said she could meet the deadline — and she did!

Making that possible was the fact that Fairway has every lending function inhouse. She issued disclosures on day 1, got underwriting approval on day 2, sent the Initial Closing Disclosure on day 3, and got the appraisal transferred and a Clear-to-Close on day 7. The loan proceeds were wired on day 7 so we had them for closing at 8 a.m. on day 8.

Thanks, Wendy. You’re amazing!

List With Me & Get Totally Free Local Moving

It has long been my practice — and that of some of my broker associates — that if you hire me to list your current home and to purchase your replacement home, I will not only reduce my commission for selling your current home but provide totally free local moving using our company moving truck (similar to a large U-Haul) and our own moving personnel. We also provide free moving boxes and packing paper/bubble wrap.

using traditional moving companies, you know that our totally free moving can save you thousands of dollars, even for a move within the metro area.

outlive you, when that invested income is added to your Social Security and other income. That was the calculation that Rita and I made.

The question then arises, where can I rent an apartment that suits my needs? Should I go into a 55+ “independent living” complex or a regular rental?

A 55+ community may suit you, especially if you’re a widow or widower or otherwise single, because it can provide much-wanted companionship with its many activities. Some such communities offer “continuous care,” meaning that if you suffer a health setback, you can switch to assisted living, nursing home care and or even memory care without having to move to another community. I recommend Jenn Gomer of CarePatrol, 720-675-8308, who will interview you about your needs and wants and help you find the right 55+

community for you. She found the complex that Rita and I selected, although we have since moved to a regular rental closer to my office. You pay nothing for her services. She is compensated by the community which you end up choosing.

Golden’s Fine Arts Festival Opens

This Saturday in Downtown Golden

Every August, the Golden Chamber of Commerce hosts it famous arts festival along 11th Street, next to the Golden History Park. As always, Golden Real Estate is providing logistical support in the form of our moving truck, which you’ll see at 11th & Arapahoe Streets. The 34th Annual Golden Fine Arts Festival runs Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10-11, from 10am to 5pm. It is a juried show limited to just over 100 artists, half of whom come from out of state to enjoy this prestigious event. It’s a couple blocks from our office, so come say “hello”!

Trusts Are Another Tool for Leaving Home to Heirs

On July 25th, I wrote about title issues, especially when it relates to leaving a home to your heirs. With input from attorney Dan McKenzie, I wrote about the use of beneficiary deeds and life estates.

A reader asked, “what about trusts?” So I asked Dan to address that topic, and he sent me the following:

Trusts offer several advantages over beneficiary deeds and life estates. Like those two options, a properly funded trust avoids probate. Unlike those two options, however, it also allows your chosen trustee to step in and manage the property during an incapacity event, which is a more significant risk than death at any point in your life. Also, trusts allow you to control things over a few steps and can include instructions on handling things during the various phases of occupancy.

For example, if I want to leave a house to my two kids at my death, I could do that with a beneficiary deed, and that would avoid probate. However, the two kids would become equal co-owners, with no obligation to

each other or any way to resolve disputes about the property. If the property is passed to them through a trust, you can specify as many details as you want in the trust agreement about who is in charge: how costs will be split, decisions will be made, disputes will be resolved, etc.

Similarly, a trust can allow someone to live in the house for some time but ultimately direct where that house goes after a particular event. This is very common when one spouse brings a house into a second marriage. The spouse who does not have an ownership interest often wants assurance that they can stay in the house if they survive the house's owner. But the house's owner wants assurance that, ultimately, this significant asset will pass to their kids, not their step-kids.

A trust can include all the instructions about handling that, such as who is responsible for the maintenance, upkeep, insurance, and taxes during the surviving spouse's occupancy. A life estate doesn't give you a way to provide so much instruction.

Just pack and unpack. We will even pick up your flattened boxes and packing materials after you unpack!

If you have ever priced moving costs

I bought our first moving truck in 2004. We replaced it with a newer truck (above) in 2016. I calculate that we’ve saved clients hundreds of thousands of dollars in moving costs over the years.

Tiny Town: A little time capsule of Denver’s past

A miniature post o ce, library, movie theater — along with a very little newspaper, the Tiny Town Tribune — bring childlike wonder to all

BY RYLEE DUNN

Colorado may not look much like it did in 1915, but on one shady creekside grove in the Denver foothills, replicas of the Centennial State’s bygone landmarks pay tribute to what once was.

Tucked along an unassuming highway exit o US 285, Tiny Town has survived the test of time. Whether by luck, dedication or sheer willpower, the family-friendly outpost harkens back to a simpler time — one of the mountainside mines, universally beloved attractions, a miniature train that travels a circuit around the park, and $5 outings.

e park has had its share of rough patches. Floods, res and nancial turmoil have nearly spelled the end for the beloved roadside stop, but each time, those who love Tiny Town — of whom there are many — have found a way to keep the park alive.

“It will always be here for kids,” Park Manager Elvira Nedoma said. “Always.”

How Tiny Town began

e story of Tiny Town begins with George Turner. e founder of a moving company in Denver, Turner bought his family a vacation home just outside the plot of land that Tiny Town occupies today.

In 1915, Turner’s 10-year-old daughter became gravely ill. As she was unable to withstand the pollutants of the outside world, Turner sought to bring the world to his ailing daughter.

At the time, shipping companies relied on wooden crates to transport goods. When Turner and his workers were idle, they would pass the time painting the crates to look like miniature houses and structures. It is from this pastime that Tiny Town was born.

Originally a small collection of a

few miniature buildings — some of Turner’s original houses can still be found at Tiny Town, and are housed in an area of the park known as ‘Turnerville’ — the park has grown into a sprawling collection of more than 150 replicas.

e Arvada Flour Mill, Bent’s Old Fort, White Fence Farm, Meyer Hardware and Robbins Flour Shop are just a few of the many notable Colorado landmarks that dot the park’s landscape.

Turner sold the park in 1927, shortly after his daughter succumbed to her illness. It was purchased by a man named John Ross, who proclaimed in his will that “Tiny Town is never to be sold; it’s here for the children.” e park has stayed in the Ross family for four generations and isn’t likely to change hands anytime soon.

Seasonal workers and volunteers

Maintenance at the park is undertaken by a loosely organized bunch of seasonal workers — Tiny Town is only open from Memorial Day to Labor Day — and a handful of volunteers. Nedoma said all the miniatures are donated, and the folks who donate them are supposed to help with the upkeep, though many simply don’t.

“( e person who donates the miniature is) supposed to maintain them, but they get maintained for two years, and I never see (the person) again,” Nedoma said. “So, I’m stuck with all these houses, you know? I don’t know about people sometimes. If you built something, you think you’d want to maintain it.”

Nedoma — a welcoming presence draped in gold and black jewelry who spends most of her time manning Tiny Town’s concession stand, her sharp blue eyes beaming when little ones shyly request a serving of ice cream — personally oversees the maintenance of the park where she has worked for the past 25 years.

Initially drawn in after seeing houses with aging coats of paint, Nedoma said she lives nearby and couldn’t sit idle and allow the park to fall into disrepair. She started out as the park’s rst-ever female engineer and transitioned to running the concessions and overseeing the park’s general comings and goings three years ago.

“You know the guys; they want to

play train all the time,” Nedoma said. “ ey don’t want to x the houses. e houses were getting icky, and I started with painting the caboose. en I put the paintbrush down (to become park manager).”

Nedoma doesn’t seem interested in considering Tiny Town’s place among its fallen comrades in the Denver metro area. She thinks Lakeside and Elitch Gardens cost too much and don’t o er the entertainment value they once did.

In that regard, Tiny Town stands alone — where else can you spend a day with the family for $5 a person?

e concession stand’s prices harken back to a time before in ation made the cost of dining out untenable for most. In many ways, Tiny Town is a portal to a simpler time, while also being an ethereal oasis

unto itself.

“It is magical for the kids,” Nedoma said. “Half of them cry when they have to leave. All (kids) need is a train ride and ice cream and they’re happy. It’s magical for me to come here every day. Not one day has been the same.”

The Tiny Town train

Tiny Town’s train is perhaps its best-known attraction. Running seven days a week — with a real coal engine on weekends — the miniature Royal Gorge locomotive is manned by volunteer engineer Brent “Bigfoot” Ohlson, who calls the gig “the best job I ever had.”

“And it’s volunteer work, so there’s no money to screw it up,” Ohlson

O ce of the world’s teeniest, tiniest newspaper: The Tiny Town Tribune.

Tiny Town Park Manager Elvira Nedoma at the park’s concession stand, which she runs. PHOTOS BY RYLEE DUNN

The workshop where little locomotives sleep, and small houses get renovated.

redesign is wrapping up shortly, and will be followed by the Program of Services stage, the Design stage — a stage where sta will Identify Alternative Services the library can o er — and nally the Construction stage.

While the redesign is still in the early goings, the goals of the project are beginning to take shape; Penington said that the goals for the library redesign are to reach more people, focus on building literacies and be a third place in the community. e following are the measurable goals of the project, according to Penington:

• Redesign the library to align with future service and community

needs, foster increased circulation, computer use and availability.

ence by boosting Library Card signups and enhancing market engagement.’

• Establish the Arvada Library as the community’s primary third space, providing collaborative areas for conversation and discovery, in-

The Arvada Library in Olde Town will be getting a facelift in the coming years.

signs, JCPL will be seeking to improve space e ciency and ow, align with future service and community needs, foster increased circulation, provide collaborative areas for conversation and discovery, including a heightened occupancy of study and meeting rooms, and implement modern security systems and design to enhance overall safety,” Penington said.

cluding a heightened occupancy of study and meeting rooms.

• Implement modern security systems and design to enhance overall safety.

• Audit the library’s redesign for compatibility with the vision outlined in the Olde Town Reinvestment Plan.

“Similar to other location rede-

Within the last few years, JCPL has made multiple e orts to serve library patrons in the Arvada area, from launching the 24/7 holds locker in Candelas, the Express Library in west Arvada, and the recent plans to build a full-service library in Candelas.

When the library begins construction, the Arvada Library will close and an alternative services location will serve the community for the duration of the closure, Penington said.

PHOTO BY TAMARA HANSEN

Olde Town Arvada eateries prepare for first-ever BrunchFest

14 restaurants to participate in brunch sampling event on Aug. 24

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Nothing quite beats the smell of pancakes in the morning, and that’s sure to permeate throughout Olde Town Arvada when the historic district hosts its rst ever BrunchFest; an event that will feature 14 eateries o ering samples of their best morning bites and sips.

e event — slated for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 24. — will operate like other local favorites such as the Eggnog and Cider Contest and Trick or Treat Street. Attendees will purchase tick-

Arvada BrunchFest is set for Aug. 24.

COURTESY OLDE TOWN ARVADA BID

ets and walk between participating businesses, sampling the food and drink o erings as they please.  ere will be three ticket o erings for the event; a drink passport, a food passport and a VIP Passport that includes both. e former two will be priced at $30, while the latter costs $50. Tickets can be purchased at Oldetownarvada.org.

Olde Town Business Improvement District Executive Director Joe Hengstler said that the idea for BrunchFest came out of last year’s Olde Town Shindig, which had a

Bloody Mary contest.

“Some of the feedback we got was that not everybody was into Bloody Marys,” Hengstler said. “Some people liked mimosas, and there was the opportunity to get more businesses involved if we actually did a little bit of food as well. We thought we would take it and make it a standalone event this year.”

Some of the participating businesses — which include Bread Winner’s Cafe, Mangiami’s, School House, Rhienlander’s and more — are o ering both food and drink samples, while others are sticking to one of the two categories.

O erings include Bluegrass’ Kentucky co ee drink (which includes Bourbon) and La Dolce Vita’s co ee cake — which comes in two avors, according to Owner Debbie Hansen.

“ e cinnamon co ee cake is my

great grandma’s recipe,” Hansen said. “And the cinnamon almond co ee cake is a recipe that I created based o of her recipe.

“Every time that I serve it and I get positive feedback from it, it makes my heart smile knowing that my grandma’s watching down and thinking that other people are enjoying the co ee cakes,” Hansen continued.

Hengstler said the event will be a great opportunity for folks to check out all the local businesses and their brunch options.

“We are so excited to do this event for the community,” Hengstler said. “It means so much to our businesses. We want you to go into the businesses, see them, experience what they’re o ering — eat and drink in there — and then head on to your next destination.”

REVERSE MORTGAGES MADE EASY

TINY TOWN

said through a thick white beard that encircles the majority of his face.

Trains run on their own time — they depart when there are enough folks in line.

“We’re not very punctual in this small town,” Ohlson said. “It’s kinda got that countryside laidbackness.”

e park is now old enough that when three-generation families visit, they all bring their own unique Tiny Town memories.

Nedoma said people who visited the Tiny Town as children now bring their own children or grandchildren.

“I mean, it’s so memorable,” Nedoma said. “ ere isn’t any place like this.”

e park isn’t winding down anytime soon, either. In 2011, a man came forward and said he had a collection of original George Turner miniature houses and wanted to donate them to the park.

Nedoma and her team determined that the miniatures were authentic; they belonged to the original set

George Turner built for his daughter. After being refurbished, the houses were added to the Turnerville row.

Family-friendly prices

As for the price of entry, Nedoma said the park remains nancially solvent thanks to the sheer volume of visitors it gets, and has no plans to raise the admission cost anytime soon.

“ at’s what (Tiny Town) was meant to do,” Nedoma said. “So that everyone can enjoy the park. It’s hard to believe (that we can keep the prices so low). But we are busy.”

Even on a day when the Quarry Fire decimated the nearby landscape and lled the air with smoke and particulates, youngsters and their families admired all corners of the park, from the train loop to the playground at the end of the rows of miniatures.

ere were no children crying, no adults scolding. Just pure joy and happiness all around, secured by a train ride, an ice cream cone and a miniature world full of wonder and imagination.

While Lakeside and Elitch Gardens struggle to stay sta ed and close handfuls of

every

Square is a fading memory, and Meow Wolf charges 10 times Tiny Town’s entry fee for an out-of-this-world sensory overload, the small park outside Morrison might just be the most quintessentially “Colorado” attraction the area has left.

Nedoma, Ohlson, and the rest of the Tiny Town team will continue spending their summers ensuring that it stays that way.

MEET SIMBA!

Simba (297692) is a 10-year-old male cat. Simba leans into petting and asks for attention from Shelter staff and volunteers. This calm, sweet boy loves

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rides

summer, Heritage

White Fence Farm no longer exists, but its replica at Tiny Town is one of the park’s best-known attractions.

PHOTO BY RYLEE DUNN

Mighty Argo Cable Car Company breaks ground on construction of gondola in Idaho Springs

Years of setbacks, disappointments and delays were put in the past as the first cable car was unveiled at the Mighty Argo

BY CHRIS KOEBERL CKOEBERL@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Mighty Argo Cable Car Company recently broke ground on a gondola in Idaho Springs expected to draw hundreds of thousands to the area every year when complete.

Developers and investors envision 22 glass cabins/cars hanging from gondola wires with as many as 10 people per cabin traveling 1.2 miles up the mountains to the east of the

Mighty Argo gaining 1,300 feet of elevation on the ride, according to plans.

$58 million in funding for the project is comprised of several sources, mainly international, but all speci cally involved with gondolas and building this unique type of system in the mountains, according to project designs and plans.

Swiss aerial company Doppelmayr will be a major player in the design and funding, according to local developers.

e passengers’ destination at the peak of the mountain is currently called “Miners Point” with respect to the deep mining history of Idaho Springs.

“We’re surrounded by all these historic mines so we’re embracing that heritage and history, that’s a big part of our story,” Developer and General Partner Bryan McFarland said.

A ceremonial groundbreaking and unveiling of the rst cable car attracted developers, investors, city leaders and Colorado Gov. Jared Polis to an invitation-only event at the Argo in Idaho Springs July 25.

Polis nodded his head to the persistence and determination of key players in the nearly decade-long

development of this project and told the crowd he was impressed.

“When there’s an idea like this, there are always 50 reasons why it can’t happen and it takes vision and drive to see it through,” Polis said.

In addition, Polis said he recognized the contribution of a historic landmark/destination like the cable cars would “make sure Idaho Springs is an even better outdoor recreation and tourism destination.”

An aggressive plan calls for an eventual amphitheater, shopping and restaurants at the top of the gondola as well as hotel space, founding member of the project and Argo owner Mary Jane Loevlie said.

e $58 million in secured funding, Loevlie said, should take the entire project to completion.

“ e idea of the cable car and people aged from 0-to-100 being able to access the outdoors… I think it’s a true Colorado experience and the City of Idaho Springs is a true partner and we’re getting ahead of the future, basically. It’s just going to be stunning,” Loevlie said.

e current plan calls for cable car rides to be priced at approximately

(Left to Right) Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, developer Mary Jane Loevlie and Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon. PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

This summer, take simple steps for be er air

It’s another hot, sunny, bluesky day in Denver. The air is still and looks clear! Despite the beautiful day, you may feel irritation in your throat or a tightness in your chest while out walking the dog, at the park, riding your bike, or on an afternoon run. Your asthma may also be acting up.

This is likely the impact of ground-level ozone: the Front Range’s most pressing air quality problem each summer. We can’t see or smell it, but this pollutant accumulates the most on hot and sunny blue-sky days, reaching its highest levels in the afternoons and evenings.

While ozone serves an important purpose high up in the atmosphere — protecting us from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation — at ground level, high concentrations of ozone are unhealthy. Ozone makes it difficult to breathe, increases our susceptibility to respiratory infections, and exacerbates respiratory ailments such as asthma.

High ozone levels affect all of us. Even if you are healthy, ozone can impact the cells in your lungs during and after exposure, like

sunburn, and repeated exposure over time can lead to reduced lung function. The people at higher risk of exposure or more sensitive to this air pollution include the elderly, those with respiratory conditions, outdoor workers, outdoor athletes, and especially children, whose lungs are still developing.

Where does this air pollution come from? Ground-level ozone is not directly emitted from any source. It forms in the air when two chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), react in the sunshine and heat of summer days. These chemicals are called ozone precursors, and they are released into the air from emissions made by our gaspowered vehicles, gas-powered lawn equipment, and oil and gas production across the Front Range.

Both colorless and odorless, ozone is different than wildfire smoke, tiny particulate matter called PM2.5 or PM10, and the visible Denver “brown cloud” of years past. However, ozone can combine with other air quality issues, and is sometimes referred to as “smog.”

errands, or taking the bus or the light rail to get where you need to go. Don’t forget: youth ride for free on RTD! For shorter distances, leave the car at home and walk, ride a scooter, or your bike or e-bike.

Fuel up your car after 5 p.m. to avoid releasing emissions during the heat of the day. Skip idling your car: instead, roll down the windows and turn off the engine while waiting in parking lots or lines. Consider a low- or zeroemissions vehicle, like an electric vehicle (EV), when it’s time to purchase a new vehicle.

While air quality in the region has greatly improved in the past half century, ozone remains a pressing issue to our health and environment. But as our gas-powered vehicles and gas-powered lawn equipment contribute to its formation, we all have the power to reduce ground-level ozone in the Front Range each summer!

First, sign up for ozone alerts. Visit SimpleStepsBetterAir.org to sign up for emails or text “BetterAirCO” to 21000 to receive air quality alerts on your phone. When the Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) forecasts a high ozone day, the Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC) will send you a timely text or email to let you know.

On high ozone days, protect your health by avoiding outdoor exercise or heavy exertion between noon and 8 p.m. Still want to get outside? Plan ahead and spend time outside in the morning, or later in the evening, when ozone levels will be lower.

Second, reduce your emissions! Take some Simple Steps for Better Air: Skip two car trips per week by carpooling, combining

Mow the lawn after 5 p.m. if you still use gas-powered equipment. Even better, upgrade your old gas lawn mower, trimmer, or leaf blower to a new electric one with a 30% state discount at participating retailers this year!

And if your job can be done remotely, work from home at least one day a week and eliminate your commute altogether.

Taking these timely, simple steps in the summer improves our Front Range air quality, our health, and our ability to enjoy the outdoors! Visit SimpleStepsBetterAir.org for more information about how to reduce your ozone impact this summer and help your community breathe easier.

A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross and volunteer firefighters

Let’s come together to celebrate the beauty that our local communities have to o er.

SHARE YOUR TRAIL TALES 5K

is a new event that celebrates Colorado’s walking/running trails within our local communities.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24 Clement Park–Littleton

Our 5K Run/Walk will mark the culmination of members sharing their stories about the great places they go for a run or a walk.

RTD extends free fare for youth program

Zero Fare for Youth initiative earned praise from schools and youth groups in the metro area

BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Kids ages 19 and under can continue to ride Regional Transportation District buses and trains for free after a one-year trial program that was supposed to end Aug. 31 is now a regular feature in the district.

Positive reviews of the Zero Fare for Youth e ort – especially from schools and youth groups – prompted the RTD Board of Directors Tuesday to let the program continue beyond the one-year pilot, with no disruptions to youth customers. e zero-fare initiative allows youth ages 19 and under to use all RTD services at no cost.

“Since Zero Fare for Youth began last year, my team and I have heard directly from the public that the program has proven to be a gamechanger, enabling youth to have access to schools, work and extracurricular activities without the concern of how they will pay their fares,” General Manager and CEO Debra A. Johnson said in a news release.

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Lace up your shoes, and after you hit the path, share your story with Colorado Community Media. We will be publishing your fan letters in our local papers.

“Zero Fare for Youth is helping RTD’s youngest customers understand how their new habits are aiding air quality in their communities and supporting their freedom to explore and gain independence. RTD is also developing transit customers for life,” Johnson said.

Extending the pilot

e one-year pilot program initially launched on Sept. 1, 2023, to provide a ordable, equitable and simple transit options for youth, the news release states.

e pilot was based on a key recommendation from the agency’s fare study and equity analysis, the news release states. Youth ages 19 and under can now continue to present a valid student or government-issued ID and use all of RTD’s services at no

cost. A full list of acceptable ID options can be found on the Zero Fare for Youth webpage.

RTD received positive feedback from many schools about the program’s impact in reducing truancy, and it garnered support from school districts, youth organizations and customers across the entire Denver metro area, according to the news release.

e Colorado legislature passed a bill in May 2024 to appropriate up to $5 million to RTD to continue a zero-fare program for youth. SB24032 Methods to Increase the Use of Transit outlines RTD’s eligibility to apply for and receive grant money to provide year-round, zero-fare transit services for youth.

RTD o cials say the Zero Fare for Youth program provides many bene ts for youth and their families, including cost and time savings. Using RTD’s buses and trains increases independence by reducing dependence on others for transportation, and it provides young people with the freedom and exibility to travel where they need to go, the news release states.

Silverdale Trailhead

Three Sisters Trail

People age 19 and younger can now ride RTD buses and trains for free. MONTE WHALEY

Experts o er tips to reduce danger of air pollution in Colorado

BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado’s breathtaking scenery and high elevation o er both allure and challenges, particularly when it comes to air quality. As the state’s diverse landscapes — from urban areas to remote mountain retreats — face varying levels of pollution, understanding how to keep air quality high, or improve it, becomes crucial.

“Protecting air quality is one of Colorado’s top priorities,” said Leah Schleifer, spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “Some of the air pollution issues impacting Colorado are ground-level ozone pollution and particulate matter pollution.”  e department’s Air Pollution Control Division works to inform people about the health dangers of particulate irritant and ozone pollution.

“Particulate matter is a respiratory irritant,” she said. “It can also cause cardiovascular issues due to its extremely small size. When inhaled, ne particulate matter can get deep into the lungs, and in some cases, the bloodstream.”

Schleifer said the smaller the size of the matter the more impactful it can be to someone’s health. Additionally, she explained there are symptoms of short-term exposures to unhealthy levels of ozone pollution, such as coughing and chest pain.

“Long-term exposure has been linked to a variety of poor health outcomes, including lung and cardiovascular disease,” Schleifer said. “Whether a person will experience health impacts from air pollution depends on how much is in the air and how long they breathe it in.”

Schleifer said the division has various programs to address air pollution and help protect the health and safety of Coloradans.  ese actions include the following:

• O ering nancial support for schools, businesses, and local governments to purchase clean vehicles such as electric school buses.

• Adopting a new rule that will expand access to zero-emissions cars.

• Adopting new measures to increase the availability of zero-emission trucks.

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from buildings.

is year, the division is looking at options to propose more measures to reduce ozone pollution in the state.

“ e division created the Nitrogen Oxide Reduction Steering Committee, which is currently working on recommendations to reduce air pollution emissions from upstream oil and gas operations that form ground-level ozone,” Schleifer said.

Residents can sign up for air quality alerts so they know when air pollution is the highest.

Additionally, there are other sources of information. For example, the Sheridan Library — which is a branch of Arapahoe Libraries — is now o ering air quality monitors known as AirBeam3, which are palm-sized, portable air quality monitors. Patrons can check them out at 3425 W. Oxford Ave.

“Participants can collect air quality data, review ndings and contribute to a crowd-sourced air quality map of the Sheridan community,” said Cameron Bowen, Arapahoe Libraries facilities coordinator. “ ey can also learn how to improve the air quality in their home. For example, they can use an exhaust fan while cooking or learn how to get home weatherization assistance.”

Schleifer said in addition to monitoring the air, people can reduce their contributions to air pollution as well through many di erent ways.  ose methods include “biking, carpooling, or using clean energy sources and electric equipment rather than gas-powered when possible.”

“Our ozone pollution and your health website and the Simple Steps Better Air website provide more details on ways you can take action,” Schleifer said.

More information on the Sheridan Library program can be found at arapahoelibraries.org.

$30 per person.

However, as part of an extensive negotiation and deal with the City of Idaho Springs, local residents will ride for free (blackout dates excluded), according to Loevlie.

e City of Idaho Springs will also receive 50 cents of every ticket sold to continue building and maintaining a series of bike paths under construction at the Argo that will be considered to be “world-class” when completed, according to planners and local bike enthusiasts.

“It is only for maintenance for the mountain bike park, we’re not spending it on anything else,” Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon said.

At least 450 acres of hiking and biking will be free for locals to access and enjoy when complete, Harmon said.

Harmon was one of several city

LEARN TO PLAY BRIDGE FOR BEGINNERS

leaders at the Argo event and he said he believes this project is a positive step for Idaho Springs.

“It’s a very welcome amenity for our locals and our visitors alike and I think it’s going to be a great shot in the arm with jobs and money for the city too,” Harmon said.

In a symbiotic relationship between city, entrepreneur, developer and retailer, a trickle-down of money, be it tourist or local, bene ts all with a massive project and ultimate destination location like the Mighty Argo Cable Car promises to provide, according to Idaho Springs Downtown Merchant Association Director Sadie Schultz.

“We’re really starting to recognize ourselves as a recreational and historical hub and it’s really going to make a di erence. Especially, in the improvements that this project is going to bring to Idaho Springs,” Schultz said.

While it may seem dollar signs are the motivating factor in this development, organizers and investors claim respecting and maintaining the history and culture of Idaho Springs will be paramount.

“ is is the intersection of heritage tourism and outdoor recreation, you have a great look into the past and we’re promoting the rich history of Idaho Springs, the gold rush in Colorado, while getting people outdoors and into nature,” McFarland said.

The Mighty Argo Cable Car company broke ground in Idaho Springs July 25.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KOEBERL

Site of the future cable car company at the Mighty Argo in Idaho Springs.

An artist rendition of Miners Point at Mighty Argo Cable Car in Idaho Springs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MIGHTY ARGO

A Mighty Argo Cable Car prototype was unveiled at the groundbreaking event.

New motorcycle law allows for riding between lanes

But only when tra c is stopped

BY JUSTIN GEORGE THE COLORADO SUN

A Colorado law that went into effect Aug. 7 will allow motorcycles to ride between lanes past cars — but only if tra c has stopped. Riders must make sure lanes are wide enough to allow them to pass safely, and they are limited to 15 mph when overtaking stopped cars.

Dan Townsend has been riding motorcycles for roughly three decades. A new Colorado law will allow motorcyclists to ride between lanes past cars when tra c is stopped.

states that allow motorcycles to ride between lanes under some circumstances. e American Motorcyclist Association endorses the practice, saying it gives motorcyclists an “escape route” from being rear-ended. An Oregon transportation study found it also prevents air-cooled engines from overheating by keeping motorbikes in motion.

e new rule aims to reduce congestion by allowing riders to move

Motorcycles cannot pass using the right shoulder, and they cannot move in the opposite direction of tra c in the lanes.

up at stop lights and during tra c jams, while decreasing the chance for motorcycles to get rear-ended.

California and Utah are among

is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state. e Colorado Sun partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-size fact-checks of trending claims.

PHOTO/COURTESY OF TRAVIS HEACOCK PHOTOGRAPHY

For Keith Garcia, artistic director of Denver Film’s Sie FilmCenter and founder of the CinemaQ LGBTQ+ lm festival, the most rewarding thing about hosting the annual event is every time he thinks the festival might be unnecessary, he’s reminded of its importance to the community.

“People still need to come together, see a lm and talk about it,” he said. “It’s a crucial respite from the daily world to tell stories and have a good time together.”

VOICES

CinemaQ celebrates its sweet 16

COMING ATTRACTIONS

e “sweet 16” of the CinemaQ Film Festival, presented by William LaBahn, runs at the Sie FilmCenter, 2510 E. Colfax Ave., from ursday, Aug. 8 through Sunday, Aug. 11.

is year’s festival features 14 lms, running the gamut from hilarious comedies like opener “My Old Ass” to incisive documentaries such as “Any Other Way: e Jackie Shane Story.”

“Some of the larger festivals can be really overwhelming, so we like

Wformation. ere will also be a BLQ mixer event following the panel.

hat fun: You’re going on a guided outdoor trip. As you get ready, here are some tips from actual guides about what to expect, as these patient men and women have experienced a few trips that did not go well.

First, follow the packing list. Do not leave your raingear at home because your brother tells you it never rains in the desert. If it is 100 degrees in the shade at your house and the list recommends a down parka: bring it. It can and will snow at 10,000 feet in midsummer. If the guide goes through your pack removing extraneous objects and gets the weight down from 40 to 20 pounds, do not put the discards back.

If food is provided, you will be given a preferences/allergies form. Obviously you will want the chef to know if peanuts will put you into a coma, but if you will not eat spinach

the idea of keeping it light with 14 options,” Garcia said. “ is allows audience members to nd what speaks to them from different stories. Not every lm is for everybody, but we make sure there’s a lm for everybody.”

A new feature of the festival this year is the BLQ (Black Lives Queerly) program, a result of a partnership with Black Pride Colorado that aims to produce more screenings of lms that focus on Black queer stories. As part of this programming track, the festival will include an Aug. 10 panel that will feature a discussion and Q&A by creatives from multiple disciplines as they share their experiences navigating a creative world as a Black queer creator, according to provided in-

Another highlight of the festival is the CinemaQ Marketplace, which will be held at Sie from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11. e market’s aim is to uplift locally-owned queer small businesses, who will be selling everything from handmade art and artisan soap to upcycled clothing and tarot card readings.

No matter what lms audiences decide to explore, they’re certain to leave with new perspectives on the world and a renewed appreciation for the importance of celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.

“For all the lms we consider, we look at vision, visibility and voices. We try to select lms for the festival that represent all three in fresh and unique ways,” Garcia said. “ e best part of CinemaQ is that it o ers a platform for people to see themselves in lm. I hope audiences identify and are challenged by the characters they see and want to have a conversation afterwards.”

For the full schedule and tickets, visit www.denver lm.org.

Troubadour comes to The Alley

Bryan Bielanski, a rising singer/ songwriter based out of Charlotte, North Carolina, writes the kind of tunes that just stick with you. His recently released album, “Bryan’s Super Happy Fun Time 3,” takes inspiration from rock legends like R.E.M. and Tom Petty and creates a style that’s both familiar and uniquely his own.

Bielanski is stopping by e Alley, 2420 W. Main St. in Littleton, at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 16, and it’s a great venue for the warm, welcoming music he specializes in. Find more information at www.littletonalley.com/.

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

Before you sleep on the ground, read this

WRITERS ON THE RANGE

or chard, include that as well.

you were afraid they would not allow you on the trip.

Marjorie Woodru

If you employ a strict diet for reasons of philosophy — meat is murder! — or fad diets — carbohydrates are suicide! — keep it to yourself. Description of a First World resident: We de ne ourselves by what we refuse to eat. If the guide tells you not to ride past the Burr Trail switchbacks in Utah, do not ride past the Burr Trail switchbacks. If the guide says, “Drink some water,” drink some water.

Be honest about your medical background. Do not, upon arrival at the rst day’s campsite, mention that you have diabetes and did not say anything beforehand because

Do not lie about your physical abilities. You tell yourself you have six months to get into shape, but we know what the road to hell is paved with. Walking the dog twice a day instead of once is not a strenuous exercise routine.

Be realistic. On the rst morning of a ve-day mountain bike tour, a participant announced that he had never been on a bike in his life. e entire rst day was spent teaching him how to ride and the itinerary readjusted to t his needs.

Do not stop taking your medications. Medicines can have side effects. Stopping a long-term medication may also have side e ects. I did not know that stopping anti-depression meds could cause massive irritation until a non-medicated hiker grabbed their gear and stomped o in a snit.

Don’t be sel sh. I was on a on riv-

er trip that eliminated all day hikes because one person threw a hissy about “wasting time” that could better be spent sitting on the beach drinking Mai Tais.

Don’t be a twit. I was busily bisecting bagels one morning to prepare lunches when a would-be epicurean loftily told me not to touch his bagel. “Bagels should be sliced just prior to eating.”

Everyone began demanding that I stop touching their bagels until the senior leader chimed in. “ ose bagels have been bouncing around in packs for three days! Give us a break!”

Use the equipment you will rely on: Try out that new bicycle. Put up that tent, in ate that air mattress. Carry that backpack with the proposed equipment within. You may decide to abandon those hardback books.

Clarke Reader

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Let Je erson and Adams County pay for Social Services

I found it disturbing that the Arvada City Council purchased the Early College building for $6.3 million shortly after it closed its doors. Instead of evaluating the possible uses of the property, the cost of bringing the building up to code and whether there was a cheaper option, City Council paid the asking price for the property.

Also disturbing is the fact that Arvada tax payers also pay both Adams County and Je erson County for Social Services. When did the City of Arvada start paying for social services except for the Block Grant money from the federal government for County providers?

e City of Arvada must provide for clean drinking water, sewage, maintaining streets and roads, parks and open space and most importantly a police department. I don’t know who pays for those scooters in town, but my point is the City Council should not take on extending their mission. Let Je erson and Adams County pay for Social Services.

As an aside, in the past land

banking was done to protect open spaces and never by the City of Arvada.

Lorraine Anderson, Arvada

Land banking

e Arvada City Council has recently purchased a building for $6.3 million on West 60thAvenue. In 2022, the Arvada City Council purchased a property on Marshall St. for $2.75 million. Both buildings require renovations, so we are looking at $10+ million in taxpayer funds for these two buildings which have no stated purpose.

e Council has used the term “land banking” to describe these purchases. Reminds me of a friend who bought much of a wardrobe two years ago, hasn’t worn any of it, and recently bought another large selection of suits. When I asked my friend about these purchases, the reply was, “I’m wardrobe banking.”

I suggest the Arvada City Council sell these two properties and return the money to the Arvada taxpayers, so we can do some banking of our own.

Clint Jones, Arvada

WOODRUFF

Female guides are every bit as competent as their male counterparts. Resist “mansplaining” or telling them they look so amazing lugging gear or rowing a boat. Guides will not break the law for you. If there is a ban on res, they will not build a re — even if you promise not to tell.

Every company advertises knowledgeable guides, but I have overheard some outlandish “facts” from outdoor companies. Spoiler: Rocks in the Grand Canyon are not red because they are encrusted with dust from Sedona, Arizona, nor do they

attract lightning.

If you want a true educational trip, opt for one o ered by a nonpro t organization.

A guided trip can still lead to frustration. It can rain for days, high winds can make putting up a tent a chore and blisters can manifest. But if you’re prepared to accept some hardship, getting outdoors can also lead to new friendships and a more relaxed approach to adventure. Maybe, even, it can be the trip of a lifetime.

Marjorie “Slim” Woodru is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. She works as an educator at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

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A CLEAR MESSAGE

Denver deaf and hearing interpreters explain importance of communication

BY ELISABETH SLAY ESLAY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Using uid hand gestures, expressive facial expressions and precise body language, sign language interpreters in the Denver metro area facilitate clear communication for individuals uent in American Sign Language.

eir skillful use of visual communication bridges linguistic gaps and enhances accessibility across a wide range of contexts and environments.

“Basically anywhere that a deaf person goes where communication needs to happen and where the ADA protects them from discrimination, I am there,” said Rae Rose, local interpreter and owner of  Rose Sign Language Interpreting.

‘An instrument of fairness’

When Rose was a child she had a conversation with a member of the deaf community that changed her life.

“We were playing and there was a bit of a communication breakdown where she had a great idea but none of us were getting it and this woman, who was studying to be an interpreter came over and…she just interpreted our conversation

and left,” Rose said. “I was like ‘I want to do that.”’

So, Rose became an American Sign Language Interpreter.

It was in college that she interpreted for the rst time and felt she had chosen the right path.

“It was probably two sentences (but) I was like ‘Oh man, oh man,”’ Rose said. “I had put all the pieces together and they had their conversation and I did it and it was nothing to anybody but I was over the moon.”

Rose founded Rose Sign Language in 2009 and it “facilitates communication between people who sign and people who don’t sign.”

Whether at a doctor’s o ce or while riding a pool noodle during a swim lesson, Rose signs in a myriad of environments including medical, education, behavioral and kids sports.

“It takes a lot of creativity and a lot of di erent strategies to make those lessons visually successful but also working with deaf kids I have a lot more options,” Rose said. “I love seeing any of my consumers start at one place and end in a di erent place having achieved a lot. at’s one of the best parts of my job.”

Rose runs the day-to-day operations of her business and helps connect other interpreters with those who need the services.

Colorado native and deaf sign language interpreter Jennifer Salaz with her sister, Victoria Ulibarri, whom she said encouraged her to become an interpreter.

ing excited to have a conversation with each other without…paper,” Salaz said.

In her capacity as a deaf interpreter Salaz said she works directly with deaf students who’ve immigrated from other countries and her work allows “for better access to communication and understanding for these students.”

“It’s my language (and) being able to teach others that have moved from other countries is amazing,” she said. “Watching them nally able to communicate with a language they can use and call their own is very inspiring.”

The right register

Similar to Rose, Salaz also provides interpreting services in medical settings.

“ is is important because sometimes the hearing interpreter uses the wrong register, not serious or too serious depending on the situation, or uses words that the deaf consumer doesn’t understand,” Salaz said.

MESSAGE

“I am a very big-picture person,” Rose said. “So I love seeing all the pieces t together and I love doing it better. I saw some great things as a new member of the eld but I wanted to reproduce and put my own sparkle on it.”

Along with providing interpreting services, Rose said her company is also big on advocacy and education.   “We’re able to provide members of the hearing company a chance to learn ASL from a deaf person,” Rose said. “ is is a deaf person sharing their culture, their birthright.”

For Rose, the aspect of interpreting that intrigued her was “the fairness of it.”

“As a white woman with my allotted amount of privilege, to be able to be an instrument of fairness is worthwhile and to make it easy for as many people and as many organizations as possible to create fairness and create

equity…that’s important,” Rose said.

Filling in the gaps

For Colorado native and deaf sign language interpreter Jennifer Salaz, one of her favorite and most impactful times signing was when she interpreted for a deaf high school student.

Salaz explained as a deaf interpreter she is able to ll in the gaps and expand on things for those whose native language is American Sign Language.

“ e student was having an indepth conversation about a serious (topic),” Salaz said. “ ey were writing back and forth in the previous class with a di erent interpreter because the student didn’t feel comfortable. at wasn’t successful.”

However, after she began interpreting for the two students, Salaz said the conversation was successful for both parties as they could better communicate.

“ ey were able to have a genuine peer-to-peer conversation with the con dence that their information was safe and both walked away feel-

Rose said the way she interprets ASL depends on her consumer. It’s important to ensure they understand what is being said.

“English has its own variations, its own dialects, its own accents. Everybody’s got their own level of uency with English,” Rose said. “Same with ASL or any sign communication.”

As a deaf woman, Salaz said, she herself relies on interpreting services and has experienced misrepresentation “time and time again” including an experience when her daughter was taken away from her because she was “misrepresented by a ‘skilled’ hearing interpreter.”

“All because the interpreter didn’t understand me or their ego was too big to ask for clari cation,” Salaz said. “Because of this, I want to support the deaf community as they do have to experience the same injustices.”

Salaz said her sister encouraged her to become a deaf interpreter and become involved with the community to help prevent similar issues from happening to others.

The future

Salaz said interpreting in general is important for both hearing and deaf people and she describes the deaf community in Colorado as large.

However, Salaz said many members of the deaf community grow up in hearing families and it can be

isolating because of the communication barrier.

“I am one of six kids, and if my sister, who can uently sign, doesn’t attend a family event, I’m lost,” Salaz said. “I feel like most of my deaf friends have the same experience…I explain this because having the community is like having an additional family that shares the same experiences. Being able to share experiences, talk about life and communicate that is key.”  is is something she thinks interpreters need to carry with them as they venture into the world.

“I hope that interpreters would put their egos aside and realize this is about their work and not them,” she said. “ ey are amazing people and the deaf community welcomes them. We just want a clear message to be produced for all of us.”

Rose said she hopes for increased equity and recognition that everyday people can do something to make a di erence.

She encourages hearing people to see interpreters as an awareness that there are deaf people in the same space as them who need to or enjoy frequenting the same environments as them.

“Everywhere that you see an interpreter there maybe just think ‘I didn’t know there were deaf people in my town. Cool. Maybe I should learn a little ASL,”’ Rose said.

Photo on P16: Owner of Rose Interpreting, Rae Rose, signs “connect,” highlighting the importance of American Sign Language and its ability to connect people. PHOTO BY ELISABETH SLAY

Deaf sign language interpreter Jennifer Salaz signing at Denver Comic Con. Salaz said in her role as an interpreter she ensures her deaf consumers understand exactly what they’re being told in a conversation with a hearing person. COURTESY OF JENNIFER SALAZ

Colorado’s top-paying and lowest-paying jobs

The state’s annual wage data report is out

BY TAMARA CHUANG

THE COLORADO SUN

Fast food cooks kept the top spot as Colorado’s lowest-paid occupation by averaging an annual wage of $33,251 last year. On the opposite end, neurologists retained their top rank as the highest, averaging $409,685, according to the latest wage report from the state’s labor department.

e annual report, based on Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data, o ers one of the most comprehensive looks at how much workers in Colorado earn. State labor department analysts just released their take on it, providing a plethora of charts for additional context. One insight? ey looked at how hourly wages changed between

2013 and 2023.

For food preparation and servingrelated jobs, those average wages soared 78.1% in 10 years, and had the highest growth rate of all major occupations for wage growth. When adjusted for employer costs, the historic increase dropped to 18.58%, which was still one of the highest pay bumps for all occupations, said Barb Wills, lead technical analyst for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment OEWS program.

“You kind of expect high wage occupational groups to (be) increasing so this was encouraging,” she said.

“It was nice to see them catching up.”

e most obvious contributor is the state’s higher minimum wage, which is pegged to in ation. In that same 10-year period, the state’s minimum wage has shot up 75.4%, while in Denver, where the majority of food workers are, the minimum wage is up 122.2%.

ere’s more to it, said Ryan Gedney, a Denver economist known

as “ e Stat Guy.” Colorado’s tight labor market before the pandemic was a big contributor as demand for workers pushed salaries higher.

In Gedney’s calculations of wage data, Colorado’s overall median annual income rose 21.9% between 2015 and 2019, ranking the state third highest nationwide. But between 2019 and 2023, income growth of 20.8% “was outpaced by 32 other states,” he noted online.

Other highlights from the state’s OEWS report:

• e Boulder metro area had the highest annual average and median wages in the state, at $87,221 and $64,753, respectively. Eastern and southern Colorado areas had the lowest average wage at $54,205 and median wage of $45,220.

• e majority of the state’s labor force is in the Denver metro area, at 56.7%, or nearly 1.6 million workers.

e Colorado Springs metro is second with 11.1%, or 310,390 workers.

• Colorado has 10 times more astronomers than the rest of the nation, thanks to the federal labs and universities located in the state.   is story was printed through a news sharing agreement with e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonpro t based in Denver that covers the state.

“I think Colorado’s fall in ranking between 2019 and 2023 could be a re ection of other states increasing their minimum wages and having tighter labor markets than Colorado post-pandemic,” Gedney said in an email. “While Colorado’s minimum wage continued to increase through 2023 (and onward due to indexing), that gain was only 23% between 2019 and 2023. Additionally, Colorado’s openings-to-unemployed ratio bounced around signi cantly in 2022 and 2023, with rankings as low as sixth but as high as 36th. at said, I don’t see Colorado’s relatively low rank between 2019-2023 as discouraging.”

Thu 8/15

Spaceman Bob @ 7pm

Summit Music Hall, 1902 Blake St, Denver

Spinning Jenny @ 8pm

Globe Hall, 4483 Logan St, Denver

Fri 8/16

Method Man & Redman

@ 6:30pm

Sat 8/17

Jaenga - Denver Rooftop Party! @ 3pm

Club Vinyl, 1082 N Broadway, Denver

Mux Mool @ 3:15pm Larimer Lounge, 2721 Larimer St, Denver

THURSTON @ 8pm

The Black Buzzard, 1624 Market St, Denver

Sun 8/18

Adam Bodine @ 10:30am Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

Mon 8/19

Beyond Laser Light Experience @ 12pm Denver

LIL LOTUS @ 6pm / $15

Moon Room at Summit, Denver

DJ Rockstar Aaron: Forbidden Bingo Mondays - Swanky's @ 7pm

Swanky's Vittles and Libations, 1938 Blake St, Denver

Tue 8/20

Downtown Lakewood Street Fest @ 5pm

Red Rocks Amphitheatre, 18300 W Alameda Pkwy, Morrison

Gin & Gothic: A Brontë Rocktale

8/16

@ 7:30pm

Ellie Caulkins Opera House, Speer Boule‐vard and Arapahoe Street, Denver

Belmar, Lakewood, 439 S. Upham Street, Lakewood. info@belmarcol orado.com

Live @ The Rose - Forever Man @ 6pm / $25

Buffalo Rose, 1119 Washington Avenue, Golden. information@buffalorose.net

Wicked @ 2pm

Temple Hoyne Buell Theatre, 1400 Curtis Street, Denver

Slim Cessna's Auto Club @ 5pm

Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W Florida Ave, Denver

Okan @ 7pm Dazzle Denver, 1080 14th Street, Denver

LUCKI @ 7pm

Fillmore Auditorium, 1510 Clarkson St, Denver

Wed 8/21

George Cessna @ 7pm

Hi-Dive, 7 S Broadway, Denver

Rhye @ 8pm

Bluebird Theatre, Denver

Akiko Tsuruga @ 6pm Nocturne, 1330 27th St, Denver

Throwing away the stigma over hoarding

Understanding the di erent levels of hoarding disorder can help those who su er

BY HALEY LENA HLENA@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For those who struggle with hoarding disorder, there tends to be a sense of shame and embarrassment. That’s partly because society and mainstream media have stigmatized the complex mental condition.

Dr. Trisha Hudson Matthews, chair of the Department of Human Services and Counseling at Metropolitan State University of Denver, said people shouldn’t have to feel ashamed if they have the disorder. She said they shouldn’t internalize what others say about them. She says hoarding is a community health issue.

“The first thing that tends to pop up for most people is when we see hoarding, on any level, is that, ‘They’re just lazy,’” said Matthews. “Once you start applying that to people and saying that, ‘You’re lazy,’ then they start to self-blame.”

Multiple studies indicate that

hoarding disorder is on the rise in the United States. It is estimated that 2%-6% of the population suffers from the disorder, according to the International OCD Foundation, and symptoms often appear about three times more in adults aged 55 and older.

As a society, the terms “hoarding” and “OCD” are used freely and many don’t fully understand the impact behind them, said Matthews.

What is hoarding disorder?

Although similar, hoarding disorder is different from collecting. Collectors gravitate towards collecting possessions in an intentional and organized manner.  Hoarding disorder however is a mental health disorder in which

A room filled with clothes, shoes, books and other items. Hoarding items in a home can be seen on a spectrum with di erent levels of clutter. SHUTTERSTOCK

HOARDING

people have difficulty discarding or parting with possessions that are no longer useful to them or have value, according to the American Psychiatric Association.

“It’s the inability to give up anything because everything carries significant meaning,” said Matthews.

The disorder also has similarities to obsessive compulsive disorder — which is a diagnosis that’s been around longer. Severe hoarding disorder was only added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013.

Hoarding disorder can cause a home to become cluttered. In more extreme cases, it often interferes with daily tasks and can increase safety hazards. Having worked with clients with the disorder, Matthews says there is a wide spectrum.

She says the disorder can result in severe effects on mental and physical health, social life, finances and, when left untreated for a long time, it can lead to legal issues such as a house being condemned.

While the causes of hoarding disorder are unknown, about 75% of people with hoarding disorder have co-occurring mental health conditions like anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, and OCD, according to the International OCD Foundation.

It often stems from trauma, said Matthews. It can come from childhood trauma or commonly after losing someone significant in their life.

“It really depends on how we cope with the external things that happen in life,” said Matthews. “Typically when you’re hoarding, for whatever reason, they cannot release it and they won’t come for help because of the shame and embarrassment.”

The impact from society and media

When seeing someone with hoarding disorder, many may think they’re lazy, dirty and ask why they can’t just clean up their

house.

But people with the disorder are often suffering, said Matthews. They are people who have lost connection with their family. Neighbors won’t talk to them. There’s physical health issues.

“We desensitize ourselves by putting it on TV for entertainment versus actually helping them,” said Matthews. “They start shutting down from the outside world because people start judging them. It becomes hard to step out of those stigmas that would actually help reverse the issue.”

Reality shows that focus on hoarding may perpetuate a stigma that the disorder disappears simply by cleaning up a house when in fact, the situation is far more complex.

Matt and Krista Gregg, owners of Bio-One of Colorado, a hoarding cleaning service in the south metro, agree that TV shows may not accurately portray hoarding disorder.

“When you see it on TV, it’s the most extreme scenarios,” said Krista. “That’s the only real exposure people have had and there’s a lot of shame that’s portrayed. There’s a lot of sadness that’s portrayed.”

By talking about the different levels of hoarding, the Greggs hope to eliminate the shame associated with the disorder.

“There are fixes that can be done,” said Krista. “There are people out there to help.”

Ways to help

With busy work schedules and families to take care of, it’s easy for any home to become cluttered. However, there comes a point when all the stuff can have physical and mental effects on the residents. Bio-One of Colorado is just one of many companies that give strategies to help with decluttering and cleaning.

Detailed on the Institute for Challenging Disorganization, there are five levels of hoarding.

A home is considered a level one when there are items not being put away for some time, like things piling up in the kitchen or laundry spread across the house, but there is no concern for safety.

When the home starts to be-

come overwhelming for the resident, that’s considered level two, while level three shows extreme disorganization and is considered the turning point between manageable disorganization and a more serious issue like key living areas being blocked.

A home becomes a level four when multiple rooms are cluttered to the point they are not being used for its intended purposes. Level five is when the living space becomes unusable due to structural damage, sanitation and risk for health issues.

As hoarding disorder is a complex mental health issue, there is healing involved, Matthews said, adding it’s talking about what holding onto that item means to you and what would you be giving up if you let go. Therapy is a useful tool to help distinguish between hoarding and being messy.

Whether it’s through decor trends such as minimalism, or

simple spring cleaning, there are many ways to declutter. Some cleaning methods are even trending such as the KonMari Method which includes parting with items that don’t bring you joy anymore and thanking them before discarding or donating them.

Another method is Swedish Death Cleaning, inspired by Margareta Magnusson’s book, “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning.” This method is used to help family members and friends not have to go through all your belongings once you pass. Magnusson writes in her book that life becomes more pleasant and comfortable when we get rid of “some of the abundance.”

More: Don’t know where to start? Just need some simple cleaning up? Contact Bio-One at 720-679-8945. Other cleaners/organizers in the area include: Molly Maid, Chloe’s Cleaning Company and Organized Chaos. Home.

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SPORTS

Where to begin when tackling 14ers: Tips from a seasoned hiker

How to take your hiking to new summits

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e Rocky Mountains dazzle natives and transplants alike with their stunning peaks and seemingly endless hiking trails. From quick outings to day hikes, it’s easy to get out there and explore the beautiful Colorado landscape.

But for diehards, 14ers are the Goliaths just waiting to be conquered. But they aren’t to be taken lightly. If you’re truly serious about taking your hiking skills to the next level, there are a few things to know before taking on these mountain titans around the state.

We asked a local experienced hiker to provide tips about 14ers, including where to start, what to take with you and which are the toughest to tackle.

What is a 14er?

A 14er, or fourteener, is a mountain with a peak above 14,000 feet above sea level.

ere are nearly 100 14ers in the United States (all in the West). Colorado boasts the most of any state with 53 ( ere are 58 peaks above 14,000 feet in Colorado, but to qualify as an o cial “14er” in the hiking community, a peak must have at least 300 feet of prominence, which is the amount of elevation it rises above the lowest saddle that connects to the nearest, higher peak, according to 14er.com).   Alaska has 29 and California has 12.

sure-wise. ere are often crowds, he said, so prepare for that. But with the trailhead conveniently located o Guanella Pass, it’s an easy one to knock out rst, he said.

“Mount Bierstadt trail takes you a little over seven miles as you gain 2,700 feet to a summit with amazing views of countless peaks,” Lundgren said. “For the truly bold, you can also take the ‘sawtooth’ route and bag Mount Blue Sky as well, but I’d recommend waiting for this one as the infamous ‘sawtooth’ has some serious exposure.”

Mount Blue Sky

Formerly known as Mount Evans, this 14er is one of the most notable peaks in the Front Range and can be seen from most of the Denver area. It’s another close one — only about an hour’s drive from Denver. Lundgren said Mount Blue Sky takes you on a ve-mile horseshoe trail that gains just over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Plus, you can bag a 13er in Mount Spalding along the way, he added.

“Keep an eye out for mountain goats along this trail as they’re common throughout this area,” Lundgren said. “Oh, and all those cars and families you might see at the summit? Mount Blue Sky is one of two 14ers that you can actually drive to the top of; the other being Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs. But trust me, it’s much more rewarding to take the trail to the top.”

Mount Quandary

Where to start? Tips from a seasoned hiker

Keep in mind: all 14ers you hike in Colorado won’t require you to climb a full 14,000 feet. With Denver sitting at 5,280 feet, you’re already at a decent head start before you get to the base of your 14er of choice. Pikes Peak, for example, has a base elevation of 7,400 feet.

Some 14ers can be tackled in a few hours, while others might take up to two days.

A full list of every 14er in the Centennial State can be found at www.14ers.com.

Don’t go alone. For rst-timers, tag along with an experienced hiker or consider one of the many guided hike companies along the Front Range, such as Colorado Adventure Guides.

A local hiker, Zachary Lundgren, grew up in the mountains of Evergreen. After graduating from CU Boulder and a teaching stint at the University of Northern Colorado, he now works in communications for the Colorado School of Mines.

So far, he’s summited about a dozen 14ers and has some advice for those irting with the idea.  Lundgren said to stay away from

Sunlight Peak due to a dangerous “leap of faith” at the summit, where hikers must hop between rocks at 14,000 feet to nish the hike. He also suggests waiting to do Mount Sne els because “it’s the hardest hike I’ve ever done.”

But he recommends some good starting points below, with each taking about four to seven hours to complete round-trip.

Mount Bierstadt

Lundgren said Bierstadt is commonly known as “your rst 14er” and should be the universal rst choice. Only about an hour and a half drive from Denver, it is one of the safer choices for starters expo-

Quandary is a little farther away (just south of Breckenridge), and is a little harder, Lundgren said. You eclipse 3,300 feet of elevation in over six miles to the summit.

“Mountain goats are also a common sight on this trail and denitely aren’t shy,” he said. “Another unique aspect of Quandary is that this is one of the more common winter summits for locals as there’s very little avalanche risk on the route. But it’s de nitely advisable to tackle this one in the summer rst and always check for local weather conditions before setting out on any hike.”

From left to right: Bruce, Matt and Zach Lundgren pose for a photo at the top of Mount Blue Sky, which was Mount Evans until its renaming in 2023. COURTESY PHOTO

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e DeCaLiBron

“Short on time but looking to bag a few peaks? en you need to check out the vaunted DeCaLiBron. is funny name represents a unique route where you can bag four (or three, there’s still some debate) 14ers in one go,” Lundgren said. “Hike Mount Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, and Bross on a seven-mile trail north of Fairplay that ascends just over 3,000 feet in elevation. Some claim that Mount Cameron is not o cially a 14er as it has only 118 feet of prominence from its parent peak, technically classifying it as a sub-peak. However, technicalities aside, I still tell my friends I bagged four 14ers in a day. You should, too.”

For a full list of peaks in Colorado, visit 14er.com/14ers or 14ers. com/13ers.

What should you bring with you?

Tackling a 14er is no regular day hike. It requires much more time, further distance traveled and more energy spent. e last thing you want is to be unprepared halfway through or if something were to go wrong.

ough technically you could climb 14ers in the winter or spend overnight trips tackling them, we’ll cover the basics for a same-day, summertime 14er trip.

According to 14er.com, the main gear you should bring with you includes:

Plenty of food and water  A hat Gloves  Sunscreen  Gloves Synthetic shirts and synthetic long underwear Fleece or windbreaker jacket Waterproof shell/jacket Nylon shorts Hiking pants Hik-

ing boots / scrambling shoes Hiking socks Watch Pack (that ts the hike/climb) Headlamp Sunglasses Knife or multi-tool A water bladder or bottles Compass GPS Maps Tape Whistle Matches/lighter TP (in Ziploc bag) Trash Bag Cell phone Extra batteries Emergency supplies, including a rst-aid kit SPOT or other personal locator device Optional: Trekking poles Optional: Water lter Optional: Satellite Phone (expensive but extremely valuable in an emergency)

For a list of winter and/or overnight gear, visit www.14ers.com/ gearlist.php.

Do you have 14er tips or opinions about where locals should begin?

Email Jrenfrow@coloradocommunitymedia.comwith your takes.

Local hiker Zachary Lundgren poses for a photo at the top of Mount Bierstadt. Lundgren recommends Bierstadt for first-time 14er hikers due to its ease and proximity to the city.

The DeCaLiBron is a trail that connects four 14ers in one hike: Mount Democrat, Mount Cameron, Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross.