WEEK OF JUNE 29, 2023
VOLUME 78 | ISSUE 36
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Winners Guide Inside This Issue! • 2023 BEST OF THE BEST • Online at: bit.ly/2023BestOfTheBest
Colorado taxpayers should see hefty refund checks Good news on revenues means more money coming back to residents BY JESSE PAUL THE COLORADO SUN
Part of the music influence comes from Millie’s mother who insisted all her children take music lessons despite raising five children on only $60 a week. Millie, 86, still plays in the JeffCo Symphony and Jim, 90, still plays the drums. “It’s in our blood,” said Jamie Brown, their daughter. Jim and Millie’s two children are also musicians. Jamie plays the flute, and oboe and sings while Gary plays the drums. Their children and their grandchildren all play instruments, too. Before kids, they decided to open
Colorado taxpayers will be sent even larger refund checks next year than expected after state tax revenues finished the fiscal year much higher than budget analysts for the legislature and in the governor’s office predicted. The state may now have to refund nearly $1 billion more than originally expected, nonpartisan Legislative Council Staff and the governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting told state lawmakers in June, increasing refund checks by hundreds of dollars per person. Exactly how large those Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refund checks will be remains in flux, in part because the number will be determined by whether voters pass Proposition HH in November, a 10-year property tax relief plan from Democrats in the General Assembly and Gov. Jared Polis. The legislature passed a bill in the final three days of its 2023 lawmaking term, which ended May 8, that would make the refund check amounts the same for everyone if voters pass Proposition HH. They were originally expected to be about $650 for single filers and
SEE UNIVERSAL, P16
SEE REFUNDS, P10
After 63 years, Jim and Millie Patterson will close their community-loved music store, Universal Music.
PHOTO BY LUKE ZARZECKI
Community staple Universal Music says goodbye
to Thornton, and thousands Northglenn-Thornton music move of students, including more than foster children later, Universal store was instrumental 120 Music will play their last note on July 15. for generations “You’re 90 years old, that’s why BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Back in 1960, Jim and Millie Patterson had the mission to put as many instruments in children’s hands and give as many music lessons as they could. So they opened up a music store. They started out successfully in Denver and eventually moved up to Northglenn. After 63 years, a
we’re quitting,” Millie said to Jim jokingly. “We want to keep going.” For Jim and Millie, their whole lives revolve around music. In fact, they met through music. Jim was in the Air Force band, and his bandmate introduced him to Millie, who at the time was in the Denver University summer orchestra. The two hit it off and the next 68 years are history. “I wouldn’t have Jim without music,” said Millie.
VOICES: 12 | LIFE: 14 | CALENDAR: 17 | SPORTS: 24
Legacy
WESTMINSTERWINDOW.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Landmark 20th
July 28, 29 & 30
Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!
Dancers Welcome!
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