Arvada Press December 12, 2024

WEEK OF DECEMBER 12, 2024

VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 24

FREE

Four finalists named for Arvada City Council vacancy

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Annual Olde Town Tree Lighting kicked off Arvada’s holiday season on Nov. 30.

PHOTO BY LILLIAN FUGLEI

Olde Town Tree Lighting kicks off Arvada’s holiday season

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI SPECIAL TO THE ARVADA PRESS

The streets of Olde Town were filled with merriment as Arvadans gathered to light the town at the Annual Tree Lighting.

On Nov. 30, Arvada kicked off the beginning of the holiday season with the annual tree lighting. Arvadans flooded Olde Town as they gathered to watch Mayor Lauren Simpson light the tree.

Joined on stage by fellow

councilmembers Sharon Davis and Shawna Ambrose, Simpson emphasized the longevity of Arvada’s holiday celebrations.

“Arvada is celebrating our 120th Christmas as a city this year,” said Simpson. “Whether you celebrate Christmas or any other holiday, I am so excited.

Let’s get this tree lit in celebration of the next 120 years.”

Festivities were not just limited to the tree lighting.

Olde Town Square was home to the Holiday Pop-Up Mar-

VOICES: 8 | LIFE: 10 | CALENDAR: 13

ket, where attendees could get started on their holiday shopping, with over 40 local vendors. The market saw a change from previous year, using tents rather than the market’s previous holidaythemed cabins. According to Olde Town Business Improvement Director Joe Hengstler, this change was made to accommodate more vendors at the market.

Beneath the tree, Arvadans took to the temporary skating rink, which will be open

until Jan. 2. The synthetic ice surface allowed attendees to enjoy the winter sport amidst other festivities.

Merry music floated through the air, with Ryan Chrys & The Rough Cuts taking the stage as attendees shopped and skated. Guerrilla Fanfare also marched through the streets, musically leading Arvadans back to town square to enjoy the tree lighting.

Arvada’s City Council has moved one step closer to naming the replacement for former Councilmember Lisa Feret — who was elected to the state legislature in November — as it has named the four finalists for the vacancy; Michael Griffith, Brad Rupert, Harriet Hall and Brandon Figliolino.

The first three candidates have all run unsuccessfully for council seats in the past; Griffith ran for the District 2 seat in 2023 and sought an at-large seat in 2021, Hall ran for mayor in 2019 and Rupert ran for the District 2 seat in 2007. Figliolino currently serves on the Arvada Planning Commission.

There were 17 applicants for the council seat in total.

After Feret’s election win, the city team took applications from any interested party, which Arvada’s City Council received on Nov. 25 and reviewed over the Thanksgiving weekend. All applications were graded on a rubric provided by the city’s human resources department, which included categories such as education and prior service to the city of Arvada.

Councilmember John Marriott raised issues with the rubric, which he said was an ineffective tool for measuring the candidates. The rubric asked councilmembers to evaluate candidates on a number of categories including education, board experience, involvement in the community and availability for the role.

“I think the rubric was nonsense and I don’t think it was enlightening at all,” Marriott said at a meeting prior to the Dec. 2 city council meeting.

The top four finishers by aggregate rubric scores are, in order, Griffith, Rupert, Hall and Figliolino.

Marriott’s top four differed from what seemed to be the general consensus among councilmembers; he placed Griffith first, followed by local realtor and business owner Alyssa Rossi, who tied with one-time city council candidate Jessica Fenske for second, and Hall in fourth.

SEE VACANCY, P4

SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS SEE PAGE 15 TO LEARN MORE

SEE LIGHTING, P12

ARVADAPRESS.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

2 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024D

CCM owner starts printing press operations in Colorado National Trust for Local News facility hopes to offer affordable option for newspapers STAFF REPORT

Colorado Community Media’s 25 weekly and monthly newspapers are now being printed at The Trust Press, a commercial printing facility in northeast Denver launched by the National Trust for Local News to address the skyrocketing costs of producing local news in Colorado.

Printing costs for CCM’s newspapers have risen more than 60% in the past two years. After the Gannett-owned printer in Pueblo closed in the summer of 2023, the nonprofit National Trust for Local News – which owns Colorado Community Media – began looking for more long-term and affordable solutions.

The project to stand up a new printing facility, named The Trust Press, spanned nearly a year.

“We’re excited that this path-breaking idea is finally a reality in Colorado,” said Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, CEO and cofounder of the National Trust. “Print newspapers are still valued, particularly in rural and underrepresented communities. We are proud to launch this affordable and sustainable printing solution that will strengthen local and ethnic news organizations across Colorado.”

The new press plans to begin printing dozens of other local and ethnic newspapers in the new year. The Trust Press is estimated to save local publishers at least $500,000 in 2025 compared to existing printing options, according to the National Trust.

The Trust Press was made possible by philanthropic support from the Colorado Media Project, Bohemian Foundation, Gates Family Foundation, and The Colorado Trust. The National Trust is continuing to fundraise to support the Trust Press, with roughly $700,000 remaining to reach the project’s overall

The centerpiece of the Trust Press is a four-tower DGM 430 Press purpose-built for smaller print LINDA SHAPLEY runs.

Olde Town debuts new holiday events just in time for winter festivities mid to late December and are part of

exactly, but basically, you just go into the

Olde Town on the streets, but really get into the businesses and see everything that they have to offer as far as experiences, gifts, food, drink and the whole array of everything,” Hengstler said.

Super Zoom Bang Bang and making cork ornaments at Silver Vines. The former two events are free to the public, while the latter will have a small cost to participate.

goal of $1.7 million.

“Gates Family Foundation is grateful for the partners that rallied to make this new printing solution possible,” said Thomas A. Gougeon, president of Gates Family Foundation. “While the future of news is digital, a local and affordable way to support print publications is an essential bridge to that future. We hope that this press will support smaller, local publishers on the Front Range in a way that is more affordable, more mission aligned, and more supportive of the local news ecosystem in Colorado.”

The centerpiece of the Trust Press is a four-tower DGM 430 Press purposebuilt for the smaller print runs that most local independent publishers now demand. The printing facility has already created five full-time jobs, with more expected in 2025.

“We have heard from so many local publishers here in Colorado who are struggling to find an affordable printing solution, and I am excited to serve them at the Trust Press,” said Kevin Smalley, director of the Trust Press. “We have a great team and first-rate facility in place.

We’re already printing 100,000 copies per week and will soon offer affordable printing services that support a wide range of publications and the communities they serve.”

Smalley, previously vice president of operations for The Daily Gazette in Schenectady, NY, joined CCM earlier this year to oversee the stand-up of the new press facility. Publishers or commercial printing customers interested in the Trust Press are encouraged to email printing@coloradocommunitymedia. com for more information.

Colorado Community Media, the nonprofit affiliate of the National Trust for Local News, operates two dozen weekly and monthly publications in and around the Denver metro area. The National Trust, founded in 2021 in Colorado, owns and operates more than 60 newspapers across Maine, Colorado and Georgia – critical sources of community news that serve nearly 40 counties and some five million people.

CORRECTION

A night of crafting, a cookie and an initiative by the BID to promote local business, you do the activity, there may businesses, BID Director Joe Hengstler or may not be a cost associated with such hot chocolate tour, caroling and said. activity, depending on what it is, and “As we looked at what we could do this then you get to make your own.” a gift card extravaganza are on holiday season to promote our business- Some of the offerings will be beaded es, we really wanted to give people a lot ornament making at Secret Level, ugly tap for the historic district of different options to not only just enjoy stocking decorating at Scrumptious and

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The Olde Town holiday events slate is already off to a hot start, but more merrymaking opportunities are just around the corner.

The Olde Town Arvada Business Improvement District announced four new events for this year; a Night of Holiday Crafting and Making, the Olde Town Cocoa and Cookie Tour, the Olde Town Arvada Caroling Contest and the Stuffing Stuffer Gift Card Extravaganza.

The events are set to take place from

Night of Holiday Crafting and Making | 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13

Price varies by participating business First up is the Night of Holiday Crafting and Making, which will see participating businesses offer crafts for folks to join in on making.

“Participating businesses will be offering an activity to do,” Hengstler said. “I’m still gathering up what everybody’s doing

Olde Town Cocoa and Cookie Tour | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 15

Tickets available for purchase This event will resemble other “walkabout” type events in Olde Town, such as the Eggnog and Cider Competition, and will see folks have the opportunity to sample hot chocolate and cookie offerings throughout the historic district.

SEE FESTIVITIES, P4

An article that was published in the Dec. 5 paper about the Wheat Ridge Turkey Trot included an erroneous photo of the winner in the men’s category, Hayden Browers of Arvada. See above for the correct photo of Browers.

Email linda@cotln.org with any corrections.

Arvada Press 3

24December 12, 2024 ADVERTISEMENT

Media Coverage of Denver’s Real Estate Market Can Be Confusing or Even Misleading

About this time each month, the media updates readers and viewers on Denver’s real estate market, based on the “market trends” report released by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors (DMAR), based on data from REcolorado, our local MLS. The headline last Friday in the Denver Post was, “Metro Denver home sales tumble in November, taking prices down with them.”

When I worked for daily newspapers, the reporters did not write their own headlines. That was left to the copy desk, which I also worked on for awhile. So, remember to read the whole article and not just the headline!

However, headlines are what most people rely on, leading to a “conventional wisdom” about any given topic.

There are two problems with that headline. First, you need to know that the statistical report for “metro Denver” is based on statistics for an area that is more rural than urban or metropolitan, as I explain

below. Second, the statistics are based on month-to-month movement, which is not seasonally adjusted like other statistics.

So, look at the two charts I printed at right to correct for those two flaws in the coverage.

Year-over-year, the number of sales is way up, and although the median closed price for detached single-family homes is down a little from October, it’s actually up fractionally from the prior November. The median closed price for the attached homes is actually up significantly from a year ago and up slightly from October.

DMAR’s statistics for condos and townhomes in its 11-county area were way off from the statistics based on a 25mile radius of downtown Denver. DMAR reported that the median price of attached listings was down 1.2% from November 2023, but you can see that it’s actually up quite a bit — 15.4%. The number of closings was up 51.4%.

According to DMAR, the number of

What’s the Statistical Definition of ‘Metro Denver’?

People often want to know, “How’s the real estate market?” That question is answered each month by the Denver Metro Association of Realtors using data from the Denver MLS, which is REcolorado. But they define “metro Denver” as the 11 counties that touch on the metro area. That map is at left. It would be just as easy to gather statistics (as I do) based on a 25-mile radius of downtown Denver, shown at right.

The yellow circle on the left map approximates the 25-mile radius that I use.

Median Closed Price

Median Closed Price

Closed Listings

Single-Family Detached Homes Nov. 2023 to Nov. 2024 (within 25 miles of Downtown Denver)

Closed Listings

Condos and Townhomes Nov. 2023 to Nov. 2024

(within 25 miles of Downtown Denver)

active listings was up 39.3% from Octo- ples of how much stats can vary based on ber 2023. In the 25-mile radius, they were the urban/rural mix of DMAR versus up only 30%. These are just some exam- looking at a 25-mile radius of Denver.

Understanding Your Home’s Exterior Last week’s newsletter from our friends at Alpine Building Performance was on this topic, and some of the descriptions below are from them, but I have added my own content and edited theirs.

Brick or Stone Veneer - It has been decades since builders actually built brick or stone structural walls. Nowadays, homes are almost always wood frame with only a veneer of brick or stone.

And that “stone” is usually “cultured stone” (example at right), which is made from concrete with additives to create the look of real stone and molded into different shapes. It’s fun to look at a wall and see if you can find where different shapes are repeated.

Composite Decking - Trex was probably the original brand name for this product, which is a mostly petroleum product. Its first version over 25 years ago was gray and not very wood-like in appearance. It also was prone to sagging if your joists were more than 12 inches apart. Now Trex and its several competitors make versions which look quite wood-like. I like TimberTech’s line.

Balcony vs. Deck - A balcony is technically a structure that does not have exterior stairs to the ground level and can only be accessed from the interior.

Fiber Cement Siding - If you own a tract home built since, say, 1990, and you think you have wood siding, you quite likely have fiber cement siding that looks like wood.

James Hardie® dominates this product line with their “HardieBoard.” This exterior cladding is made from a mixture of cement, sand, water, and cellulose fibers. In addition to wood, it often mimics stucco or masonry, offering superior resistance to moisture, pests, fire, and weather. Fiber cement is a popular siding choice due to its affordability and benefits.

Flatwork - Refers to horizontal surfaces made from materials like concrete or pavers, including sidewalks, driveways, patios, and slabs, providing functional and decorative flat surfaces in outdoor spaces. It is not structural! It is slab-on-gravel, and if the earth under it is not properly prepared, it is prone to settling, which is fixed by “mudjacking,” a process in which a concrete slurry is pumped through 4-inch holes in the concrete to raise it. Your basement and garage floors are probably slabs on gravel. I am particularly fond of “stamped concrete,” which is typically colored and can resemble flagstone.

EIFS - (Exterior Insulation and Finish System) is also know as “artificial stucco.”

It’s a multi-layered exterior wall cladding that provides insulation, waterproofing, and a customizable finish. It typically consists of an insulation board, base coat with fiberglass mesh, and a decorative finish coat often referred to as synthetic stucco. While EIFS has a bad reputation for moisture issues, it can be a great product IF it is installed properly.

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4 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024De

VACANCY FROM PAGE 1

Now, the finalists will be interviewed simultaneously by city council in council chambers on Dec. 13, after which council will decide on their appointment. Members of the public can give comment on their preferred candidate by Dec. 10, which will be factored into the decision.

Presumptive frontrunner Griffith was at the meeting on Dec. 2 and spoke to the Arvada Press about being named a finalist.

“It’s exciting and I look forward to the opportunity to get in front of council and talk about why I think I’d be a great fit with this council and help them with all the things that Arvada is facing right now,” Griffith said.

“I also look forward to hearing what the other finalists have to say about why they think they would be the best to be on council,” Griffith continued. “And it sounds like we might get to all do that together.”

Rupert said he was also excited for the interview next week.

“I’m pleased to be part of the process, and I look forward to the interviews next week,” Rupert said. “I have extensive experience in other public service, from the school board to the state college system to the various nonprofits that I’ve served on, and many of them are very community oriented and dedicated to our community of Arvada.”

Hall said that she felt her years running the Jefferson Center for Mental Health and being otherwise involved in the community makes her a good candidate for the job.

“I am excited be selected as a finalist

for the vacant position on council,” Hall said. “The city is facing many challenges right now. As an active Arvada resident who has spent years learning city processes for providing essential services, budgeting, and responsible development and growth, it’s clear to me that my years running a large community organization as well as my professional training, could be important to council in 2025.

“My service on the Arvada Sustainability Advisory Committee, Jeffco Board of Health, the Board of Community Table, and many other organizations, as well as years as an Arvada resident following development issues in Olde Town and throughout Arvada, are other strengths I bring,” Hall continued.

Griffith added that he feel his experience on the Planning Commission — an advisory body to city council — makes him a good fit for the current makeup of city council.

“I think it’s the experience that I have in the environment, sitting on the dias on a regular basis for the last eight plus years chairing the planning commission,” Griffith said. “Everything that we see on Planning Commission goes to city council with our recommendations, and I’ve been making those recommendations for such a long time.

“There’s a certain amount of institutional knowledge I have,” Griffith said.

“And this council, I think, has a lot of a lot of big ideas and aspirations for the city, and I think that’s a good thing. But when it comes down to getting the nuts and bolts in place to achieve those goals and aspirations, I think that’s where I can really help, and that’s my goal.”

The appointee will be sworn in on Dec. 16 and will serve the rest of Feret’s term — which ends this November.

The four finalists for the Arvada City Council vacancy. Clockwise from left: Michael Griffith, Brad FILE PHOTOS Rupert, Brandon Figliolino, Hariett Hall.

You can provide safer schools for our children The DeAngelis Center Foundation offers a variety of trainings and services supporting school and community safety. Our mission is to teach proper response and past lessons learned to help prevent and avoid traumas.

Helping to create more beautiful futures for our children and every person living in our community.

Four new events are set to bring a little extra holiday cheer to Olde Town Arvada. COURTESY CITY OF ARVADA

FESTIVITIES FROM PAGE 2

“People will be able to come down to buy tickets, go around to participating businesses, and turn in the tickets for a little treat,” Hengstler said.

Tickets can be purchased in Olde Town Square just before or during the event.

Make a gift! Take a Training!

Learn how you can make a difference at

deangeliscenter.org

Olde Town Arvada Caroling Contest | 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 20

Carolers must pre-register; registration is free Arvadans are invited to bring their best singing voices on Dec. 20 for a night of festive caroling! Hengstler walks through the night’s process.

“There is a little registration thing, and then we’re going to put you in a spot, and then you carol and then people can walk around and judge the carolers,” Hengstler said. “People will be able to vote on their favorite and the categories are going to be ‘Best Carolers,’ ‘Best Costumes and Outfits,’ and ‘Best Holiday Spirit.”

Stocking Stuffing Gift Card Extravaganza | 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 22

Folks must purchase gift cards for discounted amounts The Gift Card Extravaganza will see businesses offering discounted gift cards to their stores of as-of-yet-unspecified amounts. Coupons will be awarded in Olde Town Square and can then be redeemed at participating businesses.

Arvada Press 5

24December 12, 2024

H O L I D AY WORSHIP

FROM ALL OF US AT COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

6 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024De

Caring for Colorado Energy Workers

Jefferson County jury convicts Arvada contractor for defrauding elderly woman and exposing public to asbestos

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Did you work at

Rocky Flats or a Uranium Site?

A Jefferson County jury recently found Lance Slayton guilty of multiple charges related to defrauding an elderly property owner and endangering an Arvada neighborhood with hazardous asbestos materials, according to an announcement from Attorney General Phil Weiser.

“This case highlights the grave consequences of putting profit over safety and the well-being of our most vulnerable citizens,” Weiser said.

“A jury found that Slayton deceived an elderly woman, stole tens of thousands of dollars from her and exposed workers and the public to dangerous asbestos contamination,” Weiser continued. “This conviction reinforces our commitment to safeguard public health, protect older Coloradans from scams and hold fraudulent contractors accountable.”

Slayton, who was indicted by a statewide grand jury in June 2023, was convicted of multiple charges, including Criminal Exploitation of an At-Risk Person, Theft of an At-Risk Person, Intentionally Causing and Contributing to a Hazardous Substance Incident and two violations of the Air Quality Control Act. According to evidence presented at trial, Slayton, through his companies Preferred Companies LLC and Colorado Catastrophe Assistance Program, was hired to abate asbestos and restore a fire-dam-

aged rental unit owned by an 82-year-old Arvada woman.

Instead, Slayton hired unlicensed laborers and improperly removed and disposed of asbestos-containing materials, creating hazardous conditions.

Slayton received more than $70,000 in payment but failed to complete the project, leaving the property unsafe and noncompliant with state regulations, according to the indictment.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment found serious violations at the site, including improper handling of asbestos, which placed workers and nearby residents at risk of exposure to the carcinogen.

Slayton is being held without bond in the Jefferson County jail and is scheduled for sentencing on Dec. 20.

Christina Becker, Slayton’s girlfriend, is also a defendant in the case and is scheduled to appear in court on Dec. 9.

Protecting yourself from asbestos remediation fraud

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that was widely used in building materials and other products due to its strength and heat resistance. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibers can become airborne and inhaled, leading to serious health risks such as asbestosis, lung SEE JURY, P7

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Arvada Press 7

24December 12, 2024

Arvada Elks raise $28,000 for Jeffco Schools families in need this holiday season A total of 224 local families will receive $125 in grocery store gift cards

Call first: 3540 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreeen, CO, 80439 Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 Web: ArvadaPress.com To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or Scan this QR Code

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Over 200 families of Jefferson County Public School students will have a happier holiday this year, thanks in part to the contribution of the Arvada Elks Lodge, who raised $28,000 as part of their annual holiday food drive efforts.

The Elks held a number of fundraising events throughout the year, including the group’s New Year’s Eve Party, March Madness Party and a membership appreciation luncheon. This year, the lodge’s biggest fundraising event was a casino night held in November that included an auction, raffles, and real casino games.

The cumulative total of the fundraising efforts ended up being close to $29,000 after operating expenses. Most of that money will be going to families in need this holiday season, which the Elks facilitate in partnership with the Jeffco School District.

“We work with Jefferson County Public Schools — we have 16 schools picked out, and we’ll be giving each school 14 gift cards,” Elks Member Rick Assmus said.

“And then from there, we don’t really get involved, because they can’t share personal information about who’s on reduced lunch programs. But 14 families from 16 area schools will be getting, you know, a little extra Christmas this year.”

Assmus added that Kroger gave the Elks a discount for purchasing gift cards in bulk; the lodge decided to use the extra money to support the family of the late Golden Police Officer Evan Dunn and his injured counterpart Bethany Grusing. That contribution was given to the Golden Elks for them to handle the presentation of the funds.

The Golden Elks had a fundraiser recently for the fallen officer that was killed and then his training officer that was injured,” Assmus said. “We really try to support our partners and our other lodges in the local areas. So, we donated $1,000 to each family. We gave it to the Golden Elks so they could donate it through their process.”

The schools that will benefit from the Elk’s holiday food drive are Arvada, Wheat Ridge and Pomona High Schools; Oberon, North Arvada and Everett Middle Schools; and Foster, Hackberry, Lawrence, Little, Secrest, Swanson, Warder, Weber, Peak/Pennington and Stevens Elementary Schools.

A publication of

LINDA SHAPLEY Director of Editorial & Audience lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

KRISTEN FIORE West Metro Editor kfiore@coloradocommunitymedia.com

RYLEE DUNN Community Editor rdunn@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant

The Elks also donated to the families of the Golden Police officers involved in the incident last month that PHOTOS COURTESY ARVADA ELKS left one officer dead and one injured.

eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

BUSINESS INQUIRIES For advertiser or vendor questions, please email our business department at accounting@ 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 Arvada Elks held a number of events this year to raise money for local families.

JURY FROM PAGE 6

cancer and mesothelioma, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Due to these dangers, the EPA and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment strictly regulate the handling, removal and disposal of asbestos to minimize exposure and protect public health.

The CDPHE keeps a list of contractors who are certified for asbestos abatement, which is mandatory for professionals conducting this type of work. Before hiring anyone, the department recommends verifying their credentials

on its website.

Additionally, check the contractor’s business registration status on the Colorado Secretary of State’s website. This can reveal potential red flags, such as unregistered businesses or suspiciously linked entities.

Colorado regulations advise hiring separate firms for asbestos inspection and abatement to avoid conflicts of interest. If a contractor offers both services, it increases the risk of fraudulent practices, such as overestimating asbestos levels to inflate project costs.

If you suspect fraudulent activity, report it to the CDPHE or the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. The department states that timely reporting can prevent further fraudulent activities and protect others.

MEET ELIZA! Eliza (297761) is a 15-year-old female cat who has had a bumpy road lately. Nevertheless, her affectionate side is starting to shine through, and she enjoys petting when comfortable. She has lived with other cats and may like a calm, friendly kitty pal (not a busy kitten or cat teenager.) Eliza is recommended for quiet homes without kids or with kids aged 10 or older.

Arvada press A legal newspaper of general circulation in Jefferson County, Colorado, the Arvada Press is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 3540 Evergreen Parkway, Evergreen, CO 80439.

POSTMASTER: Send address change to: Arvada Press, 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225, Englewood, CO 80110

CORRECTIONS Colorado Trust for Local News asks readers to make us aware of mistakes we may have made.

Email linda@cotln.org if you notice a possible error you would like us to take a look at.

303.278.7575

FoothillsAnimalShelter.org info@fas4pets.org

8 Arvada Press

LOCAL

December 12, 2024D

VOICES The proposed Navigation Center is a moral imperative

“

…the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped.”

— Vice President Hubert Humphrey, 1977 I have been a resident in Arvada for over 10 years. As a mother, an educational leader for over 20 years and one who has served homeless families and have had family members and friends who have experienced being unhoused, I am deeply saddened by the stereotypes, misinformation, and at times, disinformation provided at the recent City Council Meeting on Oct. 7 and beyond as well as disinformation flyers being distributed in the Candelas & Arlington Meadows neighborhoods. On Oct. 7, as the room was brimming with dark green shirts worn by members of the Arlington Meadows community in protest to the Navigation Center proposed for the Arvada Early College building on 60th; I was inspired by the turnout and zeal to address real concerns about being a neglected community, yet disheartened by the fear, stereotypes and mis/dis information.

First, just like many of the community members who spoke at City Council, I have a deep concern about the rise in homeless population. However, the inhumane treatment we’ve witnessed in Denver proper with turning grassy areas into boulders, closing parks and fencing off green space areas has not worked.

The homeless population continues to rise and encampments have proliferated, albeit in more of a nomadic way as law enforcement are mandated to disband encampments. The real questions are: What are we doing to support the un-

housed with rehabilitation, social services, meals, job training, and temporary/permanent housing? How are we helping the unhoused to get back on their feet?

In spring of 2022, I approached then-Council member Lauren Simpson regarding the homeless crisis. I was comfortBarbara J. Dray ed when she said that the council had already voted to open a navigation center in Arvada and had convened a group who was working with Jefferson County on getting two navigation centers in Jefferson County (one in Lakewood, one in Arvada). Please see the 2021-2023 Homelessness Action Plan that called for two Navigation Centers.

However, John Marriott suggested on Oct. 7 that the City needed to complete a “Market Study” before moving forward with a navigation center in Arvada, as if this had not been discussed previously. Heading Home Jeffco along with members from the City of Arvada have conducted studies, gathered data, and completed what Marriott referred to as “Market Research,” to examine what works and what doesn’t to solve the issue of homelessness in Jefferson County. The City of Arvada, in particular, has done their due diligence in determining how to honor their commitment for a Navigation Center in Arvada by (1) looking at existing shelter and navigation models across the metro Denver area and (2) evaluating various available properties across Arvada for a potential site, focusing on the necessary aspects of being near reliable public transit, the zoning issues, and economic viability. They have also consulted with and hired experts

GUEST COLUMN

from many organizations, ranging from Family Tree to the Denver Rescue Mission. So when some council members and community members suggest we need to slow down, we need to do the research; I am here to say that that has actually been done. We can’t afford to kick the can on this.

I think we can all agree that more forums with the community surrounding the Arvada Early College are warranted. In fact, multiple council members acknowledged this need and proposed plans to include the community through small and large group forums. It is incumbent upon us to move forward expeditiously with a plan for a navigation center. Winter is coming and with the rise in extreme weather patterns it is critical we set in motion a plan for an Inclement Weather Shelter as well as a hub with services to get folks back on their feet. As Bob Fifer reminded the Council at the end of the meeting on Monday; approval for an Arvada navigation center was already voted on under the previous mayor in 2021. Now it’s a matter of where in Arvada.

As I listened to the well-intended, concerned citizens of Arlington Meadows, I couldn’t help but feel that we had two distinct issues coming up. First, Arlington Meadows – being the only community of Arvada situated in Adams County – has been a neglected community for public and social services ranging from child care and schools to road and utility maintenance. Second, the resistance to a navigation center in their community is because they felt left out of the process.

The frustration from Arlington Meadows was colored with fear, stereotypes, and at times unfounded claims about navigation centers often conflating them with homeless shelters.

Friends, we are in a national crisis and homelessness is not just an Arvada issue

— it’s not just a Denver Metro issue — it’s a national epidemic!!

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, more people than ever are experiencing homelessness for the first time. From 2019-2023, the number of people who entered emergency shelter for the first time increased more than 23%.

What does this all mean? This issue is not going away on its own and in fact it is projected to get worse due to the rising cost of housing, medical care, and inflation. We must come together as a community with our local government to solve this issue. “Not in my backyard” is not an option, my fellow community members.

What we know from what has happened in Downtown Denver. Making homelessness inhospitable by closing areas for encampments is not the solution, and pushing unhoused out to the fringes of the city or deterring them from much needed services is not a solution. We have all been affected and must come together to resolve this issue and work together to create humane options that have been proven to be effective. The proposed Navigation Center at 60th & Sheridan is one such option, on the edge of commercial and residential properties as well as close to light rail and bus routes with being already zoned for its use makes it an ideal location.

Barbara J. Dray has been a resident of Arvada for over 10 years. An activist at heart she received her Ph.D. in Bilingual Special Education studying Anti-Racist, Abolitionist ways of knowing and supporting schools & districts to reduce disproportionately in Special Education.

Her 30 year career in education centered equitable practices in multilingual and high poverty schools.

Look with your heart

W

hile I just recently read about this concept, physicists and neuroscientists discovered long ago that when we look at something, technically, what we see is the past. Studying the speed of light and the human brain, scientists learned that for us to identify an object, light must hit the object, bounce off, and move to our eyes where our brains process the image.

These steps take time; ultimately, while it is only a fraction of a second, it is the past that we are seeing.

The James Webb Space Telescope, looking deep into space, provides a clear example of this concept. Because of the strength and location of that telescope, we can observe images of events that took place 13 billion years ago. The light has taken that long to reach us.

The idea that what we “see” is in the past is thought provoking.

When we look at our struggles, it is easy to get stuck viewing the past. Pondering an illness or some other difficulty can leave our minds focused on what we are not able to do or what we do not have. There are traps in that perspective. Yes, there are Jim Roome things that we can gain from looking at the past, but we must understand that it can be inaccurate, less than a full picture.

Do we have the ability to see more than the past?

When we look with our hearts, we see more.

Looking with our heart comes with WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT

opening ourselves up to feeling all the emotions that surround our existence.

When we look with our heart, we see the kind things people are doing for us, as well as the opportunity to help those around us. When we look with our heart, we understand the value of moments with others. There is a purity of emotion in that view, joy, elation, appreciation.

Looking with our heart allows us to see the abundance that surrounds us.

Don’t get me wrong, our eyes are incredibly important to “seeing the situation.” But when we only look with our eyes, we are limiting ourselves. Seeing everything that surrounds us, the support, the care, the love is only possible when we look with our hearts. Our hearts show us encouragement and hope.

My hope for you is that this week you will sit and gaze with awe and wonder at what your heart shows you and that

as you look with your heart, you will see, with great clarity, the past, present, and future. Additionally, I hope the view will remind you of all the other hearts that stand side by side with you.

I would appreciate hearing from you as you find helpful morsels in these columns. This week I would especially love to hear about the things that you see when you look with your heart. I can be contacted at jim.roome@gmail.com Jim Roome lives in Arvada with his wife Beth. He spent 34 years in public education. Lessons learned from the one two punch of being diagnosed with MS shortly before his best friend was diagnosed with terminal cancer led him into a new pursuit as a freelance writer and speaker. He uses his life experiences and love of stories to inspire, educate and encourage local, national and international audiences.

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 week’s newspaper.

• Letters must be no longer than 400 words.

Arvada Press 9

24December 12, 2024

Once upon a hilarious night at the Arvada Center

T

he holiday season is about more than just Christmas trees, snow and twinkling lights. It’s also about family, loved ones and finding ways to spend time together. That same truth applies to holiday theater, which the Arvada Center is channeling in its production of “Once Upon a Mattress.”

“This is the kind of show that is written for kids of all ages to laugh and get, while at the same time there’s another layer that adults can enjoy,” said Mathenee Treco, who plays Sir Harry in the production. “The togetherness and fact that it’s a show for everyone is what makes it feel like a holiday show.”

Directed by Kenny Moten, “Once Upon a Mattress” runs at the center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., through Sunday, Dec. 29.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, 1 p.m. on Wednesday and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

The classic musical is a hilarious riff on “The Princess and the Pea” fairy tale, with Prince Dauntless’s (EJ Dohring) outspoken Queen mother and silent King father decreeing that no one in the kingdom may marry until their son finds someone to wed. The leading contender seems to be the awkward Winnifred the Woebegone from the swamp (Aléna Watters), but can she pass the test?

“This is one of the most classic musicals of all time — it literally jump-started Carol Burnett’s career,” Treco said. “What we’ve done is up the ridiculous factor of the show. Someone described it as Monty Python’s version of the musical.”

One of the most interesting things about doing a show with roots that go so far back is finding ways to modernize the telling of the story, Treco added, with the cast and crew exploring ways to handle things that wouldn’t be written the same way anymore.

For Treco, doing the show means more than just performing in a holiday show — his connection to the Arvada Center goes back years, so being here for “Once Upon a Mattress” feels like a real homecoming.

“The Arvada Center gave me my equity card and they’ve always been very supportive of me,” he said. “I love the rehearsal process here and building a community within the show.”

While the main aim is to entertain audiences and give them something fun to enjoy the holiday season, Treco also hopes the show inspires people to try more theater they may not be familiar with.

“Everyone who sees the show may not have heard of it before, but we hope they come away pleasantly surprised,” he said. “There are so many genius shows out there that I wish were produced more and were seen by more people.”

All the details are available at https:// arvadacenter.org/events/once-upon-amattress.

‘The Nutcracker’ returns COMING to PACE Center ATTRACTIONS Some holiday tradi-

tions are timeless and one with the longest history is the staging of “The Nutcracker” ballet around Christmastime.

Those looking to see the classic story this year will want to head to the Parker Arts, Culture & Clarke Reader Events (PACE) Center, 20000 Pikes Peak Ave., to see the Denver Ballet Theatre take to the stage from Thursday, Dec. 12 through Tuesday, Dec. 17. Performances are at 2 and 7 p.m.

“The Nutcracker” is set at a Christmas Eve party and follows a young girl named Clara who goes on a magical adventure to the Land of the Sweets. Featuring toptier choreography and a score by Tchaikovsky, it’s a performance that shouldn’t be missed.

More details at https://parkerarts.org/ event/the-nutcracker/.

JCC hosts third annual Latkes and Lights event

The Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center’s (JCC Denver), 350 S. Dahlia St., Latkes and Lights Hanukkah event is back for its third year, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15.

The annual event includes two latke competitions, a craft fair featuring local vendors, live music, Hanukkah games, and more. According to provided information, attendees can taste latkes from restaurants like Ash’Kara, Latke Love, Zaidy’s, Rosenberg’s, all of whom are competing for the Golden Latke Award. There will also be vendors selling goods and fresh pita and olive oil tasting from Challahrado Hearth.

For more information and tickets, visit www.jccdenver.org/portfolio-items/ latkes-and-lights/.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — The Allman Betts Family Revival at the Paramount Theatre

Unfortunately, they just don’t make bands like The Allman Brothers Band anymore. But while Duane and Gregg Allman and guitarist Dickey Betts are no longer with us, the next generation is carrying on.

Devon Allman and Duane Betts host the annual Family Revival, which provides the opportunity to celebrate the band’s music and pulls in some of the best performers in blues, country and rock.

The revival is coming to the Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18. This year the band and its guests will be performing music from the Duane Allman 1970s era and the 1990s comeback era with two amazing sets.

Get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Incentives for energy efficiency are plentiful this holiday season

With the colder months approaching, we’ve got some projects we’ve been wanting to do around the house to make things more efficient and save some money on our electric bills. Anything we can do to keep the heat in our house and our money in our wallet is a good thing.

As I was researching rebates or savings programs available to help us offset the cost of these kinds of projects, I found

our state’s energy office website (energyoffice.colorado.gov) has a mountain of information to help save literally thousands of dollars on things like rewiring, upgrading insulation, replacing your HVAC and other home appliances. This is perfect timing and will help make our home a little warmer during the holidays.

I encourage others looking to upgrade to explore ways to make your home warmer and save you some money!

Sara Kuntzler, Arvada

Memory In Loving

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

10 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024D

LOCAL LIFE

A

nthony Dominguez and Nate Harner have worked plenty of jobs and some have been fulfilling.

Dominguez was a medical caregiver and Harner is a musician in Fort Collins.

But both men were caught a little off guard by the accolades heaped on them after they started installing Christmas lights this fall for Humbug Holiday Lighting. The north metro company’s motto is “All The Magic Without The Hassle” and people are more than joyful to let Humbug take the complicated and sometimes dangerous task of hanging Christmas lights out of their hands.

“People are just so happy to see us,” said Dominguez, who recently carefully lined up a string of colorful lights outside a home in north Broomfield. “They are so grateful ... it just seems what we do makes people smile.”

“One customer was so happy for what we did for them, she baked us a plate of cookies,” Harner said. “I have never seen that before.”

This is Humbug’s first year in the Christmas lighting business, and owner Brad Goins said he is still dealing with the joy he is spreading.

“I’ve enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would,” Goins said. “They are all just so incredibly excited to see us. It’s just something super special for them.”

As of late November, Humbug had serviced 60 homes. Most are in the north Denver metro area, but Goins thinks the company’s reach will soon stretch further south and beyond.

“This business is going to grow. There is such a demand,” he said.

Natalie — the Broomfield homeowner — said she and her family have hung Christmas lights for the past 15 years. This year, her husband announced he no longer wanted to take the risk.

“He’s afraid of heights, and he didn’t want to do it anymore,” she said.

Natalie, who asked that her last name not be used, contacted Humbug, which relies on online marketing as well as signs planted on the side of roadways to advertise their services.

“This is so great. You guys are great,” Natalie told the Humbug crew. “...The best part is that no one has to be hurt.”

Goins said worries over safety usually prompt people to call for his company’s services. It has led to the overall growth of the Christmas light industry in Colorado and elsewhere, Goins said.

“People call and say, ‘You really do this?’”

Goins said. “A lot of people still don’t realize we’re out there.”

A typical installation may take up to four hours and the price tag to let professionals handle the work also widely varies, according to Goins and other light installers contacted by Colorado Community Media.

A two-story home may cost about $500 to decorate, especially if it has been fitted for lights before. Some larger and more elaborate homes may cost a few thousand to fit.

But many homeowners and businesses are more willing to pay for the installation just so they can forgo the hassles of hanging their own lights.

“When we do it, that means for homeowners there is no more climbing ladders or untangling lights. Who wants to do that during the holidays?” Goins said.

Most of the people who call for professional light installers are wives who no longer want their husbands climbing ladders and potentially hurting themselves, said Chris Rhodes, co-owner of Window Genie, which hangs Christmas lights in Arvada, Brighton, Denver, Eastlake and Wheat Ridge.

SEE LIGHTS, P11

Brad Goins of Humbug Christmas Lights uses a pole to decorate a tree with Christmas lights. PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY

Arvada Press 11

4December 12, 2024

LIGHTS FROM PAGE 10

Anthony Dominguez of Humbug Christmas Lighting helps put up a string of holiday lights.

PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY

The Humbug Holiday Lighting crew of Nate Harner, owner Brad Goins and Anthony Dominguez pose before starting work on a house in PHOTO BY MONTE WHALEY Broomfield.

The company just finished decorating a home in Greenwood Village for “a few thousand dollars,” Rhodes said.

“A lot of guys say ‘Oh no, I can do it. I can do it,’” Rhodes said. “The wives are saying ‘Well, let’s get someone else to do it.’”

A generational shift is also fueling the growth of professional Christmas cheer installers, Goins said.

Baby boomers are aging out of stringing lights, especially for homes that are more than one story, he said.

“The generations after baby boomers are more than willing to let someone else do it for them,” Goins said. “Plus, they want to do something elaborate, something they can be proud of.”

Humbug professionals consult with homeowners before they start work on a home, Goins said.

“Professionals create a stunning and customized lighting design tailored to your home’s unique architecture,” states the Humbug website.

Humbug workers do the installation, takedown and storage.

“Licensed, insured, and OSHA-certified technicians ensure the job is done safely, reducing the risk of accidents,” according to the Humbug website.

“The company uses commercialgrade lights and materials that are more durable and brighter than standard store-bought lights,” Goins said.

Some homeowners bring out their own lights and offer to let Humbug use those instead, Goins said.

“We always say no,” he said. “They almost always have some lights that are broken and need to be replaced.”

Humbug will also adjust or repair their display as needed to keep their house displays looking ideal, he said.

“We take a lot of pride in what we do and we want to make our customers happy,” Goins said.

Many of Window Genie’s 100 or so Christmas light customers are those who already use the company’s window cleaning services, Rhodes said.

Christmas light installation is the second most lucrative part of the business, said Rhodes, adding that by Thanksgiving the company is done with Yuletide services.

“It’s become a big part of our business,” Rhodes said. “We get customers coming back every year, wanting the whole Christmas treatment.”

Window Genie — based out of Thornton — installs LED lights, programmable RGB lights and remote-controlled lights, Rhodes said.

The company also offers a three-year, no-worries warranty on all maintenance and storage of customer lights.

Window Genie’s methods are more meticulous than the typical “Uncle Bob” approach of just wrapping up lights in a haphazard manner and tossing them into a corner of the basement or work shed, Rhodes said.

Each customer’s strand is carefully wrapped up and includes a small map that informs installers where each light goes next year, Rhodes said.

Window Genie also carefully screens employees for their ladder skills, he said.

“If we see someone white knuckle a ladder, we won’t use them,” Rhodes said.

12 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024De

Arvadans took to the synthetic ice in Olde Town Square as they waited for the tree to be lit.

LIGHTING FROM PAGE 1

“It is this community that makes the tree lighting so special,” Simpson said. “It is each and every one of you who show up. You are the reason we do all of this. I cannot tell you how

beautiful it is to see all of you here tonight.”

Arvada’s holiday merriment has festivities stretching through December, which you can find in the Arvada Press’s Olde Town Holiday Guide at coloradocommunitymedia. com/2024/11/27/make-merry-olde-town-arvada-holidayevents-guide/#

Mayor Lauren Simpson counts down to the tree lighting, joined on stage by councilmembers Sharon Davis and PHOTOS BY LILLIAN FUGLEI Shawna Ambrose.

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24December 12, 2024

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14 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024De

A SEASON ENDING

Dakota Ridge juniors Jack Offerdahl (44) and Coby Stewart (4) defend Broomfield senior Mikhail Benner (9) during the first quarter Saturday, Nov. 30, at Jeffco Stadium. Broomfield won the battle of the Eagles in the Class 4A state semifinal game.

Underwritten by Diana and Mike Kinsey

Dakota Ridge junior quarterback Kellen Behrendsen gets off a pass during the Class 4A state semifinal game Saturday, Nov. 30, at Jeffco Stadium. Dakota Ridge’s season came to an end with PHOTOS BY DENNIS PLEUSS JEFFCO PUBLIC SCHOOLS a 45-7 loss to Broomfield.

Arvada Press 15

24December 12, 2024

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16 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024D

Foothills Art Center’s annual market features gifts galore Astor House campus hosting event through Dec. 29

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Whether looking for holiday cards, stocking-stuffers, cute jewelry to wear to upcoming holiday parties, or that perfect piece of art to fill that empty space on the wall before company arrives, Foothills Art Center has it all.

This year, the organization is hosting its 49th annual Holiday Art Market in a new location — its Astor House campus at 1133 Arapahoe St. This year’s market features more than 3,000 unique items by 90-plus Colorado artists, including many based in the Denver area.

Shoppers can browse a variety of jewelry, textiles, photographs, paintings and ceramics, as well as holiday cards, ornaments and other wintertime items. Paid FAC members get 10% off any purchase.

While the Astor House and market will be closed Dec. 2425, last-minute shoppers can still stop by through Dec. 29. The market will be hosting a sale Dec. 26-29, when all customers can buy items 30% off.

FAC representatives said the new location and space is working out well for the annual market. It previously hosted the annual event at its former headquarters at 809 15th St, which is now serves as the Creative Campus with classes and artist workspaces.

The Astor House campus is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon5 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is free.

In addition to the Holiday Art Market, the “Decomposing/Recomposing” art exhibition is ongoing in the Astor House’s south gallery space.

For more information, visit foothillsartcenter.org.

Several holiday-themed wood pieces are on display Dec. 3 at the Foothills Art Center’s annual Holiday Art Market at its Astor House campus. The show PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN features more than 3,000 art pieces of various media by local artists.

Jewelry by Duendes Tejidos, foreground, is on display Dec. 3 at the Foothills Art Center’s annual Holiday Art Market at its Astor House campus. The market features more than 90 Colorado-based artists

Peter Steele’s photographs are on display Dec. 3 at the Foothills Art Center’s 49th annual Holiday Art Market at its Astor House campus. The market runs through Dec. 29.

The winter of our discontent

I

fondly recall the tour I took of Hearst’s Castle on the California coast. I hadn’t planned on it, but when I saw how the woman at the welcome center, after I told her I had just watched “Citizen Kane,” huffed about how the movie was NOT a fair representation of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst’ life, I couldn’t resist. I have to admit I was not disappointed. The tour was quite interesting. I entered the hallowed bedrooms where the rich and famous slept, gazed at magnificent works of art and statuary and learned that Hearst finally resorted to cutting off David Niven from the bar. Apparently he was a lush.

However, the most striking part of the tour for me came at the end when

we were herded into Hearst’s film room where he would do private, first-run showings of Hollywood films. Our guide stated Hearst invited and entertained a wide breadth of stars and artists. All were welcome except one.

“Who do you think it was?” he asked offhandedly.

Columnist Stirred from my reverie, I clicked around on my heels and without hesitation said, “John Steinbeck.”

I was both right and delighted not be-

JERRY FABYANIC

cause I knew that factoid but because it wasn’t hard to surmise. Steinbeck was brutally cutting toward the mega-rich, especially Hearst, and Hearst hated him passionately.

It’s not hard to imagine why: Steinbeck ripped away the veneer Hearst and many of the uber-wealthy of that time cloaked themselves with and hid behind. In so doing, he exposed not only them but also us in our complicity by venerating them and allowing them to get away with pretty much anything they want. He laid bare the corruption in their souls and the proclivity for it in ours. For then as it is now, it was about strength and success, success defined by wealth, power and status.

If you’re looking for adventure or ro-

mance in a novel or getting lost in a whodunit, John Steinbeck is not your author.

But if you dare take a peek into an unsettling side of the human soul, he’s your guide. And there’s no place better to start with than “The Winter of Our Discontent.”

As he watches the drama unfold he’s the center of, it slowly dawns on Ethan Allen Hawley, the story’s protagonist, that strength and success are seemingly above reproach, above morality and criticism. He wonders though if there is a “check in men” that “stops or punishes” but concludes there isn’t and that the only punishment meted out in that moral universe is for failure.

SEE FABYANIC, P23

Arvada Press 17

24December 12, 2024

Trail of Lights shines bright for the holidays at Chatfield Farms

BY SUZIE GLASSMAN SGLASSMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

More than 50,000 people visited the Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms in 2023.

A mix of brightly-colored lights adorn the landscape at Chatfield Farm’s Trail of lights.

For those seeking holiday magic, the Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms is lighting up the season with a dazzling display of sparkling lights. Now in its 16th year, the event welcomed more than 50,000 visitors in 2023, cementing its place as a favorite destination for families and holiday enthusiasts across the region.

“This year, we have over a million LED lights strung throughout the trail, all supporting our sustainability mission,” said Erin Bird, associate director of communications for the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Installation begins each October after the Pumpkin Festival wraps up, continuing until the opening in late November.

“We reuse many of the decorations year to year, and we always try to bring something new — whether it’s a feature tree in a new color or a completely fresh display,” Bird said.

The feature tree, which glows in a different color each year, has become a highlight for returning visitors. As far as which colors they choose, Bird said, “It’s just the whim of the team.”

“We know there are a lot of people who come back every year, so we like to make it a fresh experience,” Bird said.

This year’s additions include a massive illuminated Christmas tree sculpture and interactive displays like the music-synced treehouse play area.

Bird explained that guests can stroll a mile-long loop or take a shorter route. On select nights, the Holiday Market offers local crafts, gifts, and specialty foods, adding an extra layer of festivity.

According to Bird, the Trail of Lights isn’t just about holiday cheer. It’s part of a broader effort to highlight Chatfield Farms’ year-round appeal. From its July

Visitors follow an illuminated trail through the Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms.

Lavender Festival to the Pumpkin Festival in October and year-round wildlife viewing, the farm provides outdoor experiences for every season.

“There’s something special here, whether it’s seeing the gardens come alive in the spring or catching a glimpse of migrating birds,” Bird added.

Running through Jan. 5, the Trail of Lights invites visitors to bask in the season’s glow while enjoying a quintessential Colorado experience. Tickets and additional details are available on the Trail of Lights website at www.botanicgardens. org/events/special-events/trail-lights.

ST. JOAN OF ARC C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

Proclaiming Christ from the Mountains to the Plains www.StJoanArvada.org 12735 W 58th Ave · 80002 · 303-420-1232 Daily Masses: 8:30am, Mon-Sat Confessions: 8am Tue-Fri; 7:30am & 4:00pm Sat Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00pm Sunday Masses: 7:30, 9:00, 11:30am, 5:30pm

Advertise Your Place of Worship

HERE

Living Water Spiritual Community (Unity) LGBTQ+ SAFE “Find Connection…Discover Faith” All Are Welcome

Sunday Worship 10:00AM Green Mountain Presbyterian Church 12900 W Alameda Pkwy Lakewood, CO 80228 303-985-8733 www.gmpc.net

Bright orange and blue lights illuminate one section of the path at Chatfield Farms.

COURTESY OF DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS / PHOTOS BY SCOTT DRESSEL-MARTIN

We meet in person with extraordinary live music on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month from 10:30a.m. to noon at: Activity Options, 7401 W. 59th Ave., Arvada, 80003.

All other Sunday meetings are on zoom from 10:30a.m. to noon.

Please phone: 720-576-9193, or email: livingwaterspiritualcommunity@gmail.com Our website is: www.livingwaterunity.org

To advertise your place of worship in this section, call Erin at 303-566-4074 or email eaddenbrooke@ColoradoCommunityMedia.com

18 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024De

C R O S S W O R D

P U Z Z L E

NEVER WILL I EVER...

BY MARC VARGAS • ZAZ@CAMPVARGAS.COM

... VACATION ON THIS PLANET, AGAIN.

© 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.

Solution

Crossword Solution

Arvada Press 19

24December 12, 2024

.com/Classifieds

DEADLINES:

CLASSIFIED LINE ADS: FRIDAY, 12 P.M.

SERVICE DIRECTORY: WEDNESDAY, 5 P.M.

CAREERS

LEGALS: TUESDAY 5 P.M.

MARKETPLACE

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Staff Accountant* (RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY) Lift Maintenance - Experienced Lift Maintenance Mechanic Levels 2-3* FREE EMPLOYEE SHUTTLE FROM THE FRONT RANGE * AND CLEAR CREEK COUNTY Vehicle Maintenance - Mechanic* * ACCESS TO ACCIDENT INSURANCE, HOSPITAL CARE INSURANCE * PAID SICK LEAVE * POTENTIAL END OF SEASON BONUS UPON COMPLETION OF WORK COMMITMENT

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Misc. Notices

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Firewood

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20 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024De

SERVICE DIRECTORY A/C

Concrete/Paving

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

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Service Directory

Continues Next Page

Arvada Press 21

4December 12, 2024

SERVICE DIRECTORY Lawn/Garden Services

Snow Removal

Residental snow removal Servicing the West & North areas

Mark: 303.432.3503 Painting

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

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22 Arvada Press

December 12, 2024De

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Arvada Press 23

24December 12, 2024

Coloradans sway FDA panel on schizophrenia drug controls

BY RENATA HILL MOODFUEL

Content warning: this article describes a suicide attempt.

After listening to hours of explanations by medical experts and 25 compelling, personal stories on Nov. 19, a joint advisory committee of the Food and Drug Administration recommended ending the restrictions on clozapine, an antipsychotic medication for treatment resistant schizophrenia.

During a live stream on the FDA’s YouTube channel, committee members voted 14-1 to dismiss a decades-old policy that requires an exclusive, exhaustive process for doctors, pharmacies and patients in order for patients to acquire a handful of pills before restarting the process month after month, for life.

Coloradan Kate Rawlinson, leader of the Colorado Mad Moms, had flown in for the eight-hour meeting and sat among the large group of patient advocates. Many wore black T-shirts proclaiming “Clozapine is the safest antipsychotic in the world.”

Although the expert presentations about the policy, known officially as the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy or REMS, were essential to committee members’ medical understanding, the content was bone-dry.

In stark contrast, the stories of tragedy and tenacity voiced by the mothers of adult children living with this severely debilitating brain disease were gripping.

The women, who called themselves The Angry Moms, had gathered from around the country to express clear frustration with the protocol. They testified about their loved ones’ needless suffering due to multiple points of failure built into the process causing extreme access problems and interruptions.

Many concluded their testimony with the same statement, which became somewhat of a mantra, “The greatest risk of clozapine is not getting clozapine.”

Many Angry Moms opened with gutting stories of family members’ suicide attempts and follow-throughs after doctors refused to prescribe clozapine be-

FABYANIC FROM PAGE 16

It’s a pathetic ethical and moral code, but it is quintessentially American, encoded in the American ethos by Hearst and his uber-wealthy contemporaries, the so-called Titans of Industry. Success at all cost or else you’re fired. And not only literally, but figuratively in your private life because it’ll be well known that you’re a loser.

As part of a livestream on Nov. 19, Coloradan Carrie Wallace testified to the FDA panel about her son, Nathan, and the restrictive regulations on the schizophrenia drug clozapine.

SCREENSHOT FROM FDA YOUTUBE CHANNEL

cause of the burdensome REMS. Others detailed the challenges of drawing blood from patients with schizophrenia and “no blood, no drug” pharmacy policies.

The Angry Moms brought with them two doctors, a pharmacist, two patients and the doctor director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, all of whom testified about the helpfulness of clozpine, the only FDA-approved treatment for the illness.

Several reiterated the consequences of not receiving the medication once started, including a very high suicide risk.

Dr. Kathryn K. Erickson-Ridout, who arrived separately, testified for the American Psychiatric Association.

“The REMS program, while well-intentioned and -designed, does create a barrier to prescribers and patients using clozapine,” she said.

She noted that only 4 percent to 5 percent of schizophrenia patients receive clozapine, despite 22 percent to 37 percent having treatment-resistant schizophrenia. Since November 2021, she said, 66 percent of prescribers reported trou-

ble obtaining the drug for their patients.

The livestream translated the committee members’ rapt attention as complete stillness. It was obvious even through the camera. They didn’t want to miss one word of these lived experiences, one image of a person on clozapine who could smile again versus one image of a car crashed into a tree, the latest suicide attempt of a person who couldn’t get clozapine because of the regulations.

The FDA implemented clozapine protocol in 2015 to educate stakeholders about the drug’s potentially dangerous side effects. It can cause severe neutropenia, a condition in which the number of white blood cells – neutrophils – decreases drastically and the body becomes unable to fight infection. Yet, research as recent as June 2024 said this risk had been overstated in the original studies 35 years ago and drops steeply after the four months to one year of use.

The committee members spoke about their choices after the voting concluded.

“I do not believe that the REMS’ approach to documenting and enforcing is

Wanting to be careful with a spoiler alert for those who haven’t read the novel, I won’t provide the context of the following. But I hope if you read or reread the book, you’ll take your time, slowread, and highlight the exchange Ethan has toward the end of the story.

After surveying the ruin that has transpired, Ethan wryly observes what’s covered up, for the perps and their solicitous followers and acolytes, doesn’t exist.

Hide it, ignore it, talk over or away from it, and poof, it’s gone, it never happened.

Ethan is disgusted and deeply shaken

by the rot, the moral dissoluteness that solidified in those around him, including the ones he loves most. But he’s more unnerved by how he, after the seed was planted, allowed it to fester and grow within himself. Alluding to the biblical admonition about the wages of sin, Ethan plaintively asks, “Has sin gone on strike for a wage raise?” Sin being the unethical, immoral, unbridled pursuit of success, power and status.

While reconnecting with his Moral North Star, Ethan remembers that in the end, all anyone has and leaves as a lega-

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PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

serving the health of the patients or the needs of the community,” said member Sascha Dublin, M.D., Ph.D., an epidemiologist at Kaiser Permanente.

Rajesh Narendran, a psychiatrist at UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, stated, “I strongly feel that the REMS at this point is just a hindrance. I think you should get rid of the REMS.” Other members noted that clozapine’s effectiveness outweighs the neutropenia risk for most patients, and argued prescribers should be trusted to follow labeling instructions without additional requirements.

The lone dissenting vote came from Walter Dunn, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Mood Disorders Section at West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He favored a streamlined protocol focused on the first 18 weeks of therapy when neutropenia risk is highest.

The FDA is not required to follow advisory committee recommendations, but often does. Dr. Tiffany R. Farchione, director of the FDA’s Division of Psychiatry, assured the audience that their testimony would impact regulatory decisionmaking.

Back at her hotel after the hearing, Rawlinson emailed about the committees’ support of terminating the clozapine regulations. “We were gobsmacked!

(I) did not expect that vote outcome at all ... we prepare ourselves for the worst in this world of disappointment, but the angels were with us today!”

Now, the FDA will consider the committees’ recommendations as it evaluates potential changes. Any modifications could significantly improve prescribing practices and patient access to this critical medication.

Editor’s Note: The joint committees are the Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee (DSaRM) and Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee (PDAC).

This article is reprinted with permission from Moodfuel, a Colorado-based news service that connects state residents to mental wellness through inclusive, solutions-based stories and resources.

cy is their integrity, dignity and reputation, which, as Ben Franklin reminded us, is like glass: easily cracked and never well mended.

Despaired, Ethan must decide what to do about his moral quandary. What action does he take? Read the book in this, the winter of our discontent, and thou shalt knowest the answer.

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

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

R24-118 A Resolution Accepting an Annexation Petition Concerning Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Coal Creek Maintenance Yard, a Parcel of Land Approximately Located on the South Side of State Highway 72 Between Canyon Pines Drive and Plainview Road, in the City of Arvada, County of Jefferson, State of Colorado, Finding said Petition Substantially Compliant with C.R.S. 31-12-107(1), and Setting a Public Hearing for January 6, 2025, 6:15 p.m. for City Council to Determine Whether the Area Meets the Requirements of C.R.S. 31-12-104 and 105, and is Considered Eligible for Annexation Legal Notice No. 419383 First Publication: November 21, 2024 Last Publication: December 12, 2024 Publisher: Jeffco Transcript ###

Arvada Legals December 12, 2024 * 1

24 Arvada Press

888•382•0152

License #1518457.

December 12, 2024