Here’s What Being a “Full-Service” Real Estate Agent Means to Us
To me — and, I believe, to my broker associates at Golden Real Estate — being a “full-service” real estate agent means more than providing the minimum “uniform duties” set forth by the Colorado Real Estate Commission, with my comments in brackets:
“Broker shall exercise reasonable skill and care for seller, including, but not limited to the following:
Performing the terms of any written or oral agreement with seller;
Presenting all offers to and from seller in a timely manner, regardless of whether the property is subject to a contract for sale;
Those are the minimum duties spelled out by the Real Estate Commission for an agent representing a seller. The Commission spells out similar duties for a broker representing a buyer, tenant or landlord.
Disclosing to seller adverse material facts [about the buyer] actually known by broker;
Advising seller to obtain expert advice as to material matters about which broker knows but the specifics of which are beyond the expertise of broker;
Accounting in a timely manner for all money and property received; and
Keeping seller fully informed [throughout] the transaction.
Those are the minimum duties, whether the agent is functioning as a transaction broker or an agent. A transaction broker, which we don’t recommend, is a broker who owes no fidelity to either party, but merely facilitates the transaction. If the broker is an agent, broker has the following additional duties:
“Promoting the interests of seller with the utmost good faith, loyalty and fidelity [above those of the buyer or him/herself].
Seeking a price and terms that are acceptable to seller [or better].
Counseling seller as to any material benefits or risks of a transaction that are actually known by broker.”
At Golden Real Estate, my broker associates and I are always seeking to “go the extra mile” when serving our clients. For sellers, that could include such things as providing a free professional staging consultation before the home goes on the market, so that it shows its best.
Sometimes the staging consultant recommends moving furniture, and, of course, we help there. And sometimes repairs are required, for which we provide our in-house handyman at the client-only rate of $30 per hour. He can handle light plumbing and light electrical matters such as replacing a vanity, toilet or chandelier, and he’s also good at doing drywall repair, including texturing.
A seller who is downsizing may need to sell or give away unwanted furniture. In many instances, we’ve been able to get the winning buyer in a bidding war to agree to purchase all the unwanted furniture — even if they didn’t want it. If there’s enough good quality furniture, we have an estate sales vendor who will run a sale and then donate the unsold furniture (using his own truck) to the International Rescue Committee, which donates that furniture to refugees from other countries for whom the IRC has found housing.
(When Rita and I sold our Golden home in 2022, we had a bidding war, and the buyer paid us $10,000 for the furniture we didn’t want in our 55+ apartment, and, best of all, I wrote into the contract that we could leave anything else that we didn’t want. That included our garage full of tools and “stuff”!)
Before our box truck died, we provided it
Here Are Some Reviews From Our Past Clients:
Golden Real Estate is the best residential real estate agency i have ever worked with. And I have bought more than 20 houses. What I like most is that they are not afraid to express their frank opinions about any piece of real estate. And I love the house they found for us on South Golden Road. — Don Parker
Dave Dlugasch did a phenomenal job working with us! We were not easy buyers because of an extensive “wish list” and he did his homework on each property we looked at until we found the right one. He gave us great advice and was very supportive of all our questions throughout the entire process.
— M. Madigan
Based on Jim Smith's knowledge, experience, and expertise in the real estate arena, we decided to work with him when it came time to downsize. We used Jim and his real estate firm to both purchase the new home and sell our existing property. All communication with Jim has been top notch. He also provided all packing materials and labor to make our move. It was a great experience from start to finish.
— R. Trujillo
We were beyond impressed with Kathy Jonke! She went above and beyond for us. She accommodated all of our needs. She was insightful and extremely helpful throughout the entire process! I can’t recommend her more! — Eve
Wilson
Not only did Jim Smith do a superb job in the marketing and sale of our home, he provided his company's moving truck and long time handyman Mark to move our belongings to our new home in Broomfield. When a problem occurred, he hired an outside moving company to help complete the move in one day instead of two! We are so pleased that Jim helped us through the process of selling our home and moving us into our new home.
— Reese & Sally Ganster Chuck Brown is a superb Realtor. He is very knowledgeable regarding the market, very
proactive and highly professional. Chuck was great at identifying potential properties that met our criteria, he moved very quickly to show us potential properties and his analysis of property values was on point and very thorough. Chuck was extremely proactive and responsive in his communications with us. Chuck went above and beyond our expectations. My wife and I have done six real estate transactions and we think Chuck is the best Realtor ever. We would highly recommend Chuck to other home buyers. — S. Diamond I was helping my mom and her husband sell the house. David Dlugasch was very accommodating to this dynamic. He arranged for all the paperwork to be done at the nursing home for the ease of my mom. David and I worked together to get the very full and dated house ready to go on the market. He went above and beyond by going to the paint store and hardware store etc. He was always available via text for any question I had along the way. He had a lot of resources. The best one was Mark, the handyman. I could always count on Mark. Mark was very meticulous and could do anything. What a great team! I could not have taken on this monumental task without them!!
—Heidi Warner
Greg Kraft was knowledgeable and professional. He was very easy to work with and was super proactive in searching the listings. That was a key in us managing to buy the townhome in a very competitive market. He was also very responsive and communicated really well with us and the listing agents. We would recommend him without reservation.
— J. Knight
Jim Swanson was kind and patient while listening to my questions. He helped me to translate the real estate language and manage the sale process. He connected the dots, allowing me to make good decisions, maintain my personal integrity and profit from the sale when a great offer came to the forefront. Jim, Thank you for putting communication and community first. — Name Withheld
for only the cost of gas used by buyers and sellers, and we still have a storage shed full of previously used moving boxes of all sizes, packing paper and bubble wrap, which we provide free to clients. Many times I have delivered those boxes and packing materials to a client so they don’t have to pick them up. (We’re running low on small moving boxes, if you have some you’d like to give us.)
Sometimes a seller will need to move furniture or other belongings into a storage unit so their home shows better, and we have been able a couple times to procure a free first month’s rent, with no contract beyond that.
Our personal “cleaning lady” isn’t taking on new accounts but is always available for one-time move-out cleanings of our listings. I just found out that she pulls out the range and refrigerator and cleans behind them, which I wouldn’t have expected, but which makes sense, because the buyer is likely to replace one of those appliances and would be disgusted at how dirty it was there! Thanks, Cybil!
Golden Real Estate is still one of the only brokerages which shoots a narrated video tour for every listing and posts it on YouTube, with links to the MLS, which in turns gets it onto the public and broker websites which get their listings from the MLS. We’ve been doing that for two decades, yet other brokers have been slow to realize its value. It has resulted in some out-of-state buyers (including one last fall) going under contract without seeing the listing in person until they fly in for the home inspection.
We also have switched to a photographic vendor owned by Zillow for shooting the magazine-quality still photos and Matterport interactive photos for our listings. They also
” will be on this page every other week, so the next time you’ll
create accurate floor plans of every listing and shoot a drone video and aerial photos. Because the vendor is owned by Zillow, our listings garner priority display on that important website.
I’m also a member agent on Homes.com, the nation’s new #1 listing website, which garners each of our listings many times more views than otherwise. Here’s a recent statistical report sent to one of my sellers:
I love rolling up my own sleeves and getting dirty for my clients. Once I used a logging chain and my truck to pull juniper bushes out of the front yard of a listing to improve its curb appeal. I look forward to the opportunity to surprise and delight you with what we consider being a “full service” Realtor!
These Past “Real Estate Today” Columns May Interest You
Clickable links for each column can be found at www.JimSmithColumns.com
Feb. 20, 2025 — We Have a Tool to Help You Find the ‘Perfect’ Home That’s Not on the MLS
Dec. 26, 2024 — As Pro-Tenant Laws Expand, Some Small Landlords Are Considering Cashing Out
Dec. 19, 2024 — What Are the Costs of Buying or Selling a Home in Colorado?
Nov. 7, 2024 — We Need to Take Seriously the Pollutants Emitted When Cooking With Gas
Oct. 31, 2024 — Cooperative Living Presents an Attractive Alternative for Downsizing Seniors
Sept. 26, 2024 — Some Thoughts on Keeping Your Death From Becoming an Undue Burden on Your Heirs
Sept. 5, 2024 — What Knowledge and Skills Should You Expect Your Real Estate Agent to Have?
Aug. 8, 2024 — Seniors Over 70 Might Consider Downsizing Into a Rental, Not a Smaller Home
July 25, 2024 — Many Homeowners Don’t Understand Title Issues, Which Could Lead to Big Problems Later On
June 6, 2024 — Here Are Some Simple Steps to Take to Avoid Unpleasant Surprises After Closing
Mar. 21, 2024 — What’s Behind the Buzz About ‘Indoor Air Quality’ and ‘Sick Building Syndrome’?
Feb. 22, 2024 — Most Sellers Don’t Know How to Interview a Listing Agent. Here’s Some Guidance.
Dec. 21, 2023 — D.R. Horton Inks Deal to Build Homes With OSB Made From Grass Instead of Wood
Nov. 23, 2023 — Scamming Has Become Its Own Industry, and We’re All Prospective Victims
Sept. 28, 2023 — Insurance Companies Are Pulling Out of California. Is That in Our Future?
Aug. 10, 2023 — What Are Some Common Mistakes That Homeowners Make When Selling?
June 15, 2023 — Don’t Let Capital Gains Tax Deter You From Cashing Out on an Investment Property
May 11, 2023 — Do Agents Inflate the Cost of Buying or Selling Your Home with ‘Junk Fees’?
Apr. 20, 2023 — What Are Some Affordable Ways to Make Your Home More Attractive to Buyers?
Mar. 16, 2023 — Here Are Some Ways to Make Your Home More Accommodating to Seniors
Feb. 9, 2023 — Understanding Indoor Air Quality and How It’s Managed in Super-Insulated Homes
Oct. 27, 2022 — Sales Taxes May Be Lower, But Property Taxes Are Higher in Unincorporated Areas
Oct. 6, 2022 — How to Make Sure That the House You Buy Will Not Be a ‘Money Pit’
Sept. 22, 2022 — What Steps Can You Take to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient?
July 28, 2022 — Aging in Place vs. Moving to a 55+ Community: Here Are Some Considerations
May 26, 2022 — Reflections on Selling Our Home and Moving Into a 55+ Rental Community
Jan. 6, 2022 — Marshall Fire Is a Wake-up Call for Building More Fire-Resistant Homes
Dec. 2, 2021 — My Favorite Home Improvements When Purchasing a New-to-Me Home
Oct. 14, 2021 — Court Rules That Sending an Email Can Bind You, Even Without Signing It Oct. 7, 2021 — What Are the Most Common Foundation Issues You Might Encounter in a Home?
State lawmakers brace for special session on Medicaid
Budget director estimates cuts to federal funding could reach $1 billion
BY JOHN INGOLD THE COLORADO SUN
Lawmakers and other state officials have for weeks been bracing for the possibility of coming back to the Capitol later this year to deal with potential federal cuts to Medicaid likely to be included in Congressional Republicans’ still-beingwritten budget proposal.
“There certainly are a lot of indicators that would suggest that we might end up having to come back in the event that there’s a dramatic cut to Medicaid,” state Sen. Judy Amabile, a Boulder Democrat and member of the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee, said in March, as first reported in The Colorado Sun’s politics newsletter, The Unaffiliated.
Speaking to a group of health care leaders in April, Gov. Jared Polis’ budget director put it a little more bluntly. Mark Ferrandino said the state is estimating up to $1 billion in cuts to Colorado’s federal Medicaid funding under proposals being discussed in Washington, D.C..
“Just to be clear to everyone,” Ferrandino said, “if that’s the cut, we are not backfilling, which means we have to make cuts both in Medicaid and other places in the state budget to deal with it.”
Medicaid is the state’s most expensive program. The agency that runs the program has an $18 billion budget for next year. More than $10 billion in that bud-
get comes from federal funds, meaning Colorado could be facing a 10% cut in that funding if Ferrandino’s projections are correct.
Colorado contributes about $5 billion to the Medicaid program out of the state’s general fund, making it the largest source of general fund spending. When Ferrandino says the state will not backfill, he means the state won’t chip in more general fund money to make up for the possible federal cuts. There just isn’t enough cash to do so.
This is especially true because next year will see another tight budget, regardless of what happens at the federal level. Ferrandino described what lawmakers did this year to close a $1.2 billion budget gap as essentially punting the problem into next year.
“It is going to be a more difficult budget,” Ferrandino said in remarks at the Colorado Hospital Association’s Hospitals on the Hill, a lobbying day for health care leaders that also features informational sessions for those leaders. “We are going to have to look at cuts. I will say Medicaid … if not controlled is going to eat up the entire state budget. Which is going to mean we have to make difficult decisions in the health care space.”
The combination of these two funding crises has sent Colorado officials and health care leaders into overdrive in the past few weeks to fight against federal cuts to Medicaid.
Earlier this month, Polis and Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera sent a letter to Colorado’s Congressional delegation urging them to reject cuts to Medicaid. The envisioned cuts could mean a loss of 12,000 jobs, $1.3 billion in state GDP
and $82 million in state and local tax revenue, the pair argued.
“Children, hardworking individuals, people with disabilities, seniors, and safety net providers are not political pawns or talking points,” they wrote in the letter. “These cuts would mean losing access to lifesaving care with devastating consequences.”
urging House leadership to preserve Medicaid. Nearly one-third of people in Hurd’s district are covered by Medicaid, the highest percentage of any Colorado representative.
Watering Restrictions
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The Colorado Health Policy Coalition, a group of more than 80 health care organizations from across the policy spectrum, followed that with its own letter opposing cuts. Just this week, the Colorado Rural Health Center released a statement criticizing proposals to cut programs that specifically support rural health care providers.
“Cutting funding that has been a cornerstone supporting the rural health care delivery system for decades is both short sighted and profoundly damaging,” said Michelle Mills, the CEO of the Colorado Rural Health Center, said in the statement. “Every dollar of federal funding invested in rural healthcare is an investment in thriving communities.”
The debate over health funding cuts has also created fault lines among Republicans in Washington.
Colorado U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd, a Republican who represents western and southern Colorado signed onto a letter
Meanwhile, Colorado U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, a Republican who represents a swing district predominantly in Adams and Weld counties, told Colorado Public Radio that cuts to Medicaid would be made only to eliminate misuse of funds and to make the program work better.
“We’re going back to cutting out the fraud, waste and abuse that actually preserves the program by making sure that we can get more resources to the people who are actually lawful beneficiaries of it,” Evans said.
If the cuts do happen, Ferrandino said state officials do not yet have a plan for what they would slash — in part because it remains uncertain exactly which areas of Medicaid the GOP may target.
“I don’t know what we will do,” he said. “I don’t know what the legislature will do. I know we’ll be in a special session, so we’ll see all of you in July or September or August to deal with it.”
This story was printed through a news sharing agreement with The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned nonprofit based in Denver that covers the state.
The Colorado state Capitol, pictured in 2023.
PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD
Economic Factors, Policy Landscape Lead to Budget Shortfall
Fire and medical emergency response services are at
risk
The Challenge
There’s been a 20% increase in calls for service since 2019.
This includes structure, vehicle, and wildland fires; explosions and hazmat incidents; water rescues; vehicle crashes; public or police assistance; and medical emergencies.
Emergency medical calls now account for 65% of all response – this is expected to increase with an aging population.
Costs have increased dramatically in six years; for example:
The cost for a fire engine has gone from $725,000 to $1.3 million (79% increase).
The cost for protective bunker gear has gone from $4,321 to $6,047 (40% increase).
To continue providing quality fire and emergency response, South Metro needs an additional $34 million annually.
State legislation that passed during a special session in 2024 reduces property tax revenue South Metro collects by $16 million in 2026 and $270 million over 10 years.
South Metro Fire Rescue is facing an immediate budget shortfall due to years of rising costs, consistent increases in demand, and new state legislation. Without new revenue, the organization will not be able to maintain the high level of service for fire and emergency response that residents and businesses deserve, and have come to expect.
Did You Know?
South Metro is a full-service department Here are a few key facts:
stations across 30 square miles 287
personnel across 800 divisions 8
residents, which will serving 571,500 in grow to 595,0004 years municipalities and 12 counties 3
Including:
Centennial Airport, Lockheed Martin, Highlands Ranch, 4 Square Mile, and The Pinery
The Bottom Line
With $34 million needed to address increased demand for services and rising costs, plus the $16 million shortfall, South Metro needs to identify how it will generate $50 million in additional funding annually.
ESD loses suit over Open Meetings Law
Elizabeth parent filed legal action in response to board’s last-minute agenda change
BY NICKY QUINBY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
e Elizabeth School Board violated the Colorado Open Meetings Law — known as COML or OML — in September 2023, the Elbert County District Court recently ruled.
In a summary judgment dated April 17, the court ruled that the Elizabeth School District violated OML. Jessica Capsel, a local mother and Elbert County resident, led a suit last fall alleging that ESD violated the law during a Sept. 11, 2023 board meeting by not giving full and timely notice of an agenda item to pass a “Resolution to Keep Elizabeth Schools Open and Education Unrestricted.”
e resolution was focused on keeping the district’s schools open for “full, in-person learning.”
e intent of open meeting laws is to give citizens an opportunity to participate in decision-making processes that might impact them and their communities.
e judgment, which clears a path for Capsel to recover attorney fees, stated, “ e OML is clear that notice must be full and timely and must be posted no less than twenty-four hours prior to the holding of a meeting. While the original notice was timely, it was not full and, while the amended notice was full, it was not timely. e Court nds that the amended, full notice was not timely in accordance with
the requirements of the OML.”
“I feel good about the outcome of the case although I wish it hadn’t had to happen in the rst place,” Capsel said. “I have felt con dent about the outcome since we started the lawsuit but the constant delays have been frustrating. If the board had just acknowledged their error from the beginning and corrected it, this lawsuit never would have happened.”
“We went to them immediately after the
September 11, 2023 meeting telling them what we saw and asking them to correct it and they refused,” she said. “ ey left no other choice. at’s all this is about — following the law and being transparent in the people’s business.”
Elizabeth School District Superintendent Dan Snowberger said the board supports the Colorado Open Meetings Law but also wants to be responsive to constituents. “When a board consists of volunteers and typically holds one business meeting where action can be taken, there are times where items prompted by constituents’ concerns surface close to the time of a meeting. If postponing action is required, this could prevent the board from being responsive to its constituents in a timely manner.”
Snowberger maintains the district gave adequate notice. “Boards across the state modify meeting agendas when new issues or topics arise after initially posting notice of meetings,” he said. “Items are moved on agendas, removed on agendas, and added when necessary on school district, town agendas, and county agendas.”
Avoiding `piling on’
Capsel alleges she has noted more meeting violations since her lawsuit was led. “Frankly, the community has seen several potential open meeting violations in the 1.5 years this case took to conclude but we didn’t want to `pile on.’ We hoped the outcome of this case would help the board realize just how important government transparency is to this community and make sure they don’t violate Sunshine Laws again as they move forward,” she explained.
In court, the district appeared to argue that the board can amend its agenda without providing a new notice, even if
the amended notice is posted less than 24 hours before the meeting. Capsel points to an Oct. 2, 2023 board meeting where ESD attorney Brad Miller advised the board that it is legal to change agendas and adopt resolutions at regular board meetings.
“So you may adopt that at a single reading,” he said, “and because at a regular meeting you can amend your agenda and add something, this is not unusual and this was a perfectly appropriate practice.” e court was not persuaded. ough it’s been over a year since the lawsuit was initially led, Capsel says government transparency was worth the ght. “And that’s all this was about,” she said, “... expecting the Elizabeth School District to give the Elizabeth community the information they have a legal right to expect. Walking into a meeting, introducing a new resolution/policy that has neveR been shared or discussed before and immediately passing it is unacceptable. And now the courts have agreed.”
Snowberger feels ESD has been a victim of lawfare over the past two years, with a “handful of residents ling countless numbers of Colorado Open Records Act, or CORA, requests requiring legal counsel involvement” along with the lawsuit. “It is sad that a community member would choose to waste district resources by ling such a lawsuit in the rst place simply because they disagree with the decision the board made,” Snowberger said.
“ e district will always defend itself and do what is right,” he continued. “We continue to remain focused on improving our educational program to improve student overall academic performance, and won’t let these distractions deter us from
The Elizabeth School Board meets at its o ces on Elbert Street in Elizabeth.
PHOTO BY NICKY QUINBY
LIBRARY BOOKS
and it was later revealed that the district discarded the books at that time.
e ACLU alleges that the removal violates First Amendment rights and is based on partisan politics. e school district maintains the content in the books does not support ESD’s curriculum and contains graphic content.
“Because the books were identi ed as books containing sensitive topics,” he went on, “they will be placed on the
Snowberger said the school district is disappointed in the April 28 order. “Although the Tenth Circuit denied the stay, it will proceed with our appeal. We feel con dent the problematic content of these books will be exposed during the appeal,” he told the Elbert County News. “In the meantime, we will respect and comply with the lower court’s order. We are in the process of obtaining copies of the books now since they are no longer in the district’s possession.” e books were then returned to circulation on May 1.
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School library content and 19 suspended books were a main focus of the Aug. 26, 2024 Elizabeth Board of Education Working Session. Board members read aloud excerpts from some of the books on the Suspended List. President Rhonda Olsen read aloud from “Thirteen Reasons Why.”
LIBRARY BOOKS
sensitive topics list so that parents who have chosen to ‘opt their children out’ of sensitive content will be able to do so as this case plays out.” e district created a Sensitive Topic Book List and if students check out any book on the list, their parents are noti ed. Parents can also opt out of allowing their kids access to books on the list entirely.
Tim Macdonald, legal director for the
ACLU of Colorado, said, “ e courts have once again con rmed what has always been true: the Elizabeth School District cannot remove books just because they don’t align with the board’s preferred political beliefs. Ensuring students have access to a diversity of viewpoints in their school libraries is in the best interest of all students, parents, and teachers. We look forward to seeing the books returned to school library shelves.” e books in question are: (1) “ e Hate U Give” by Angie omas; (2) “Beloved” by Toni Morrison; (3) “ e Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison; (4) “ e Kite Runner”
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Friday, June 13 presented by 6:00 pm: Blinker Fluid Band • 8:15 pm: Hillbilly Demons
Saturday, June 14 presented by 5:30 pm: Chris Daniels & The Kings 8:15 pm: The Walker Williams Band Sunday, June 15 presented by 3:30 pm: The Threadbarons • 6:00 pm: Jewel & The Rough
For information about the original ACLU suit and related documents, visit aclu-co.org/en/cases/crookshanks-etal-v-elizabeth-school-district.
To see the Elizabeth School District’s Resource Page regarding the ACLU complaint, visit tinyurl.com/473knzb4.
by Khaled Hosseini; (5) “You Should See Me in a Crown” by Leah Johnson; (6) “#Pride: Championing LGBTQ Rights” by Rebecca Felix; (7) “George” (now published and referred to as “Melissa”) by Alex Gino; (8) “It’s Your World—If You Don’t Like It, Change It” by Mikki Halpin; (9) “ e Perks of Being a Wallower” by Stephen Chbosky; (10) “ irteen Reasons Why” by Jay Asher; (11) “Looking for Alaska” by John Green, (12) “Nineteen Minutes” by Jodi Picoult; (13) “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins; (14) “Glass” by Ellen Hopkins; (15) “Fallout” by Ellen Hopkins; (16) “Identical” by Ellen Hopkins; (17) “Burned” by Ellen Hopkins; (18) “Smoke” by Ellen Hopkins; and (19) “Redwood and Ponytail” by K.A. Holt. e Elbert County News originally covered the district’s decisions last August: tinyurl.com/43cumsrb. e most recent article about the issue is available at tinyurl.com/a2c7ptsf.
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Friday, June 13 presented by 6:30 pm: TEN YEARS GONE • 8:30 pm: PATRICK & THE LVB Saturday, June 14 presented by 6:00 pm: GLITTER IN THE AIR • 8:30 pm: LAST MEN ON EARTH Sunday, June 15 presented by 4:00 pm: DUEY & UNBROKEN • 6:30 pm: THOSE CRAZY NIGHTS
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Firm but fair is common sense but not always common
“Firm but fair.” It’s one of those classic phrases that has circulated through every management seminar, leadership book, and HR handbook for decades. It feels obvious, practically baked into our collective understanding of what good leadership should look like. Yet, despite its wide acceptance as common sense, it remains glaringly absent in far too many workplaces, households, communities, and yes, even comment threads on social media.
Here’s the truth: being rm but fair isn’t just a leadership competency. It’s a life competency. It should be at the heart of every interaction we have with colleagues, friends, family, neighbors, and strangers. But too often, we confuse rmness with control and fairness with softness. We dig in on our personal convictions so deeply that we forget to leave space for empathy. We mistake being “right” for being righteous. And in the process, we alienate the very people we claim to want to understand.
WINNING
into the local community, posted a friendly message on a Facebook group asking for suggestions on things to do and places to explore. Simple, harmless, open-hearted. Within minutes, someone replied, not with a welcome or a restaurant recommendation, but with hostility. e responder attacked the state the woman had moved from, implied she was part of some political problem, and warned her not to bring “those values” into this state. No questions asked. No attempt to understand who she was or what she believed. Just a fast, angry judgment based on an assumption and a zip code. at’s not rm. at’s unfair.
comes vague, enabling, and chaotic. It’s only when the two are in balance that trust is built.
Leadership, whether at home, at work, or online is about holding the line without drawing swords. It’s about communicating standards while listening to perspectives. And it’s about recognizing that someone can disagree with you without being your enemy. We don’t have to dilute our convictions to be fair. But we do have to discipline our assumptions if we ever hope to lead or love well.
Being rm but fair means telling the truth even when it’s uncomfortable, but doing so with compassion and integrity. It means making tough calls without playing favorites. It means standing up for what’s right, while also pausing long enough to ask, “What might I not be seeing here?”
lean in when they know you’re not out to shame them, but you won’t coddle them either. Fairness gives rmness credibility. Without it, our rmness just feels like force.
A reader recently reminded me how quickly things can go sideways when fairness is left out of the equation. She’d just moved to a new state and, eager to plug
Firmness is about clarity, boundaries, and expectations. Fairness is about empathy, consistency, and understanding. One without the other becomes toxic. Being overly rm without fairness becomes rigid, authoritarian, and divisive. Being overly fair without rmness be-
And yes, being rm but fair takes work. It takes emotional intelligence. It takes humility. It takes the courage to course-correct when we get it wrong, which we all do. e beauty of this mindset is that it doesn’t just create better leaders, it creates better humans. When people feel both seen and held accountable, they rise. ey
Surviving the chaos: A real parent’s guide to kids in all the things
Let’s be honest: “Surviving” multiple kids in sports and activities is the bar. We’re not out here thriving. We’re not “leaning in.” We’re leaning over — into the trunk to nd a shin guard that may or may not be crusted with last season’s granola bar. And that’s OK.
If you’re a parent juggling multiple kids with multiple schedules in multiple zip codes, rst: I see you. Second: Here are a few survival tips that are more “real talk” than “Pinterest mom.” No judgment, no pressure, just solidarity and hopefully a laugh or two.
1. Let go of the dream schedule
Once upon a time, you thought a colorcoded family calendar would save your life. Maybe it was even laminated. But now? at calendar looks like a rainbow exploded and half the colors are mystery events you don’t remember agreeing to.
You don’t need a perfect schedule. You need just enough structure to get everyone where they need to be most of the time. If you’ve ever pulled up to practice 15 minutes late with a kid wearing their soccer cleats on the wrong feet but still standing, congratulations. at counts as a win.
2. Accept that dinner is a suggestion
You may have once believed in the family dinner table. You may have even cooked real meals that required pots and pans. But now? “Dinner” is often a grab bag of snacks eaten in a folding chair at the edge of a eld. And that’s ne. ere’s no trophy for quinoa. If your kids are fed, hydrated, and relatively upright, you’re doing great. Embrace the power of protein bars, drive-thru chicken nuggets, and those weird Uncrustables that somehow never go bad. You’ll be back to real food at a real table soon, hang in there!
3. Find your people
You know who really gets you? e other parents in lawn chairs at 6 a.m. on a Saturday. e ones with co ee thermoses the size
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Bravo for new gun law
So, whether you’re leading a team, raising a child, moderating a community forum, or simply navigating relationships in today’s divided world, don’t just ask, Am I being rm enough? Ask also if I am being fair enough. Because when fairness is discernible, rmness is acceptable. And that’s not just common sense, it’s good practice. Where do you see yourself? Are you doing a fantastic job of balancing your rmness approach with your fairness mindset? Or could you be a better practitioner of connecting, being rm but fair? As always, I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com. And when we understand that when fairness is discernible, rmness is acceptable, it really will be a better-than-good life.
Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.
Regarding the news article “Douglas County fought new gun bill and lost”:
Commissioners wrong on gun law
of toddlers. ese are your people. You don’t have to be best friends with every parent on the team, but nding even one or two who’ll give you the scoop on game times and remind you when it’s your turn to bring snacks? at’s gold.
Bonus: Shared misery builds fast friendships. You’d be amazed what lifelong bonds are formed over bleacher splinters and forgotten water bottles.
4. The car is your second home — treat it accordingly
At this point, your vehicle is less of a car and more of a mobile command center with crumbs. It smells like old cleats and hope. Embrace it. Keep a car kit: snacks, extra clothes, water bottles, Band-Aids, sunscreen, and maybe a second phone charger (because someone’s always at 3%).
5. Say “no” when you need to
Here’s the secret nobody tells you: you don’t have to say yes to every season, every sport, or every extracurricular that gets handed to you. It’s OK to say, “You know what, this is too much right now.”
Sometimes, doing less keeps the whole family from falling apart. If your sanity is hanging by a single piece of washi tape, permission granted to hit pause. ere’s no activity on earth more important than your peace of mind.
6. You’re allowed to not love it all
It’s OK if you don’t live for every single moment. at doesn’t make you a bad parent. at makes you human. And hey, sometimes there are bright spots.
I want to sincerely congratulate Governor Polis for signing the bill, “Semiautomatic Firearms & RapidFire Devices,” on April 10. It is another positive step forward to get these guns under control and o the streets.
Of course, in their typical extremist approach, the Douglas County commissioners passed a resolution against the bill and fortunately it was disregarded by Governor Polis who understands the bill does not violate the antiquated Second Amendment.
I want to make it very clear to the commissioners — you may try to come across that every person in Douglas County agrees with your militant stance just because you are the commissioners of the county, but there are many, including myself, who are not aligned with you and I do not consider you as being representative of me. I just hope Governor Polis realizes this when it comes to Douglas County.
e quote by Commissioner Laydon is a good example of how he does not represent me: “ ose are times when I think you want all of your neighbors to be armed … to have that bulwark against tyranny, no matter where it may come from.”
I certainly don’t want all the neighbors to be armed, so he is wrong in his quote saying “I think you want …” — I’m not part of his world of “you.” Additionally, I realize that we are not under attack by tyranny; that again is not in-line with his fanatic outlook.
e bill is an excellent step toward strengthening the enforcement of gun control. I encourage the governor and state legislature to continue this course by passing additional gun control bills.
Kevin B. Frey,
Castle Rock
Regarding the Douglas County commissioners’ failed attempt to stop a state law that will require Coloradans to obtain a permit and complete safety training before purchasing certain semiautomatic rearms: What if this bill had been in place before March 22, 2021? e mass shooting at the Boulder King Soopers where 10 lives were ended would not have happened. Ahmad Alissa’s mad carnage that horrible day took the life of o cer Eric Talley and nine other workers and customers. is bill requires Coloradans to obtain a permit and complete training before purchasing certain semiautomatic rearms. Alissa was deemed mentally ill but was able to walk out of that rearms shop in Arvada the same day to plan and commit a mass shooting. If only this bill had been in place 10 people would still be with their loved ones.
No, commissioners, this bill does not take away the 2nd, 5th or 14th Amendment rights. It does not unfairly target the American rearm manufacturers with “burdensome regulations and costs.” When crafting a “resolution” from Douglas County you must represent the entire population of Douglas County. e three commissioners responsible for this resolution neither asked for input from the citizens of Douglas County or noti ed the county of this ridiculous resolution. Mr. Laydon states “ ose are times when I think you want your neighbors to be armed ... to have that bulwark against tyranny, no matter where it comes from.”
I believe our three county commissioners need to be increased to at least ve maybe seven commissioners so they can govern for the entire county. Mr. Laydon, Mr. Teal and Mr. Van Winkle, you need to govern not dictate.
Gail McDonnell, Castle Rock
Megan Trask and Cody Galloway
BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When Justine Williams came to Colorado from England, she pursued horse therapy for people with disabilities.
“As a kiddo in England, I was one of those kids who asked my mom and dad if I could ride horses, and I’ve always loved horses. So, they bought me a horse for my birthday, and I took 10 riding lessons and worked at the barn to pay for my riding lessons,” Williams said. Williams said that when she was 11 years old, her friend had a stroke, so she grew up with her childhood friend being disabled.
“By the time I graduated from high school, I knew I wanted to work with people with disabilities, and I found out about therapy horses,” Williams said.
Williams went to Budapest to train in conductive education at the Pet Institute.
“It’s where I learned about therapy and horses,” she said.
She ended up getting married and then came to the U.S., moving to Colorado in 2001. With her passion and education as a therapist, she started her Rhythm of the Horse therapy services in Fort Lupton in 2021. Williams works with children with di erent types of disabilities, such as kids with autism, who don’t speak much.
“With training, I initiate a lot of language when they are on the horse. I teach them to say ‘go’ or ‘stop’ with my horses, Chloe or Gus,” Williams said. “It could be overwhelming to make the horse move, which is what they want, but they need to say something. So, they’re motivated to say something,”
She also works with children and adults with cerebral palsy.
“I also work with disabilities from stroke, ADHD, Down syndrome, multiple sclerosis, anyone with neuro-motor dysfunction, and I also work with other neurodivergent issues such as autism (and) sensory processing disorder,” Williams said.
Rhythm of the Horse also has a program for horse reading for children who are new readers or struggling readers, and can learn to read with a horse.
“So, they’re learning to feel more comfortable and con dent about reading by partnering with the horse. It’s very special,” Williams said.
William said Rhythm of the Horse also o ers its Equine Assisted Learning Program for people who may be overwhelmed in life or have relationship issues.
e children and adults can choose which horse they want to work with and eventually build a bond with that horse to get through their fear, anxiety or whatever they are experiencing.
Rachel Sartucci, who has cerebral palsy, comes once
Karen MacDowell, a volunteer with Rhythm of the Horse
a week for training for up to an hour. Her mom, Elizabeth Robinson, said Rachel, who is now 30, started the program when she was 21.
“I think the program is helping her not get old and tight as quickly. She has cerebral palsy, a type that makes her muscles contract and not go back out. Her right side is weaker, so when she’s on the horse, it relaxes her muscles,” Robinson said.
Karen MacDowell is retired, and has been volunteering with Rhythm of the Horse for about ve years.
“I’ve been working with Rachel the whole time I’ve been here. It’s important work, and it makes you feel good to help others,” MacDowell said.
Colleen Larson is also retired and has been volunteering for four years, helping Williams with the clients.
“What Williams does with the horses and with riders is amazing. When they get on and o the horse, it’s nothing short of miraculous,” Larson said.
Rhythm of the Horse is a nonpro t and o ers scholarships based on nancial need. e organization applies for grants and fundraises.
“We are looking for volunteers to come and help with the di erent programs. We welcome high school students or adults — anybody who is interested,” Williams said.
PAGE 16: From left, Elizabeth Robinson, Rachel Sartucci, Justine Williams and Karen MacDowell assist Rachel, who has cerebral palsy, get mounted on the saddle for her training.
TOP: Justine Williams and Karen MacDowell help Rachel Sartucci with hands-and-arm stretching exercises while mounted on a horse.
BOTTOM: Justine Williams and Karen MacDowell work with Rachel Sartucci to use her voice to command the horse to go or stop with music, while Colleen Larson leads the horse. This therapy helps with communication, cognitive abilities and social-emotional growth.
EQUINE THERAPY
In addition, Williams stated that she is initiating a program to nd local do-it-yourself enthusiasts who would like to come together and form their own small group and social network.
“ ey could help build and x things on the farm — such as walking ladders for the children learning to walk or x a fence — where they can socialize with the kids,” Williams said.
Williams has a large barn arena on her property, but it needs someone to put electricity in it so she can expand and use it on hot days and cold days to train her clients.
“I have multiple sclerosis,” Williams said. “Before my mother passed in 2015, she always worried about me working in the heat. I work outside in the heat, which exacerbates my MS symptoms.”
Williams said she hopes to launch a capital campaign to run electricity underground from her house to the barn.
“I could have more classes throughout the day on cloudy days and wintertime to get some heat in here and some lights in the evening to do train-
For more information on Rhythm of the Horse therapy, contact Justine Williams, executive director and therapist, at 303-681-8183 or email her at justine@rhythmofthehorse.org. The website is www.rhythmofthehorse.org.
The services Williams o ers:
ing,” Williams said. “We could hold fundraising events and bring in more fun. So that’s something that I would like to do with this indoor area.”
• Conductive education, a holistic education with individuals with neurological impairment or delays.
• Adaptive riding for individuals with special needs to learn horseback riding or transition to other programs.
• Sensor integration therapy, which helps children with sensory-processing challenges improve their ability to handle sensory input.
• e Horsepower Reading and Math program combines social emotional learning with academics to support students struggling with reading and math due to ADHD, anxiety, depression and other challenges.
• Equine-assisted learning activities with a horse, such as mounting or dismounting it, which focuses on personal development and academic skills.
In addition, Rhythm of the Horse o ers various camps during school breaks, accommodating school groups. Homeschoolers and emotional support groups are available upon request.
PHOTOS BY BELEN WARD
Justine Williams hopes to raise funds to install electricity inside the barn to be able to make more use of its arena.
Justine Williams works with Rachel Sartucci to put a hoop over a pole, which works her cognitive skills.
Sterling Ranch’s bovine neighbors
Community uses cattle for prairie management, neighborhood morale
BY FRANK DEANGELI SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Since the age of homesteading, Colorado ranchers have strategically utilized cattle grazing to help mitigate re risk, break up soil and fertilize land. Today, community developers at Sterling Ranch — located in unincorporated Douglas County — are nding success using this same strategy while also providing residents with an authentic sense of Western heritage.
Gary Debus, general manager of the Sterling Ranch Community Authority Board, praises the community’s successful implementation of its Prairie Management Plan — of which cattle grazing has been a key aspect.
“ e plan established many of the principles for living in nature, such that we don’t disturb the native areas and the gulches. It’s kind of a holistic approach to prairie management – we’re pretty proud of that,” said Debus.
In October, 150 cattle arrived at Sterling Ranch — their home for the winter. Debus said that a mature cow can eat 25 to 30 pounds of dry matter a day, meaning that this herd has been eating up to 4,500 pounds daily — a signi cant impact on the area’s fuel load, or amount of available combustible material.
“We represent a gap in Douglas County’s urban wild re plan because we aren’t considered a high-risk wild re area, while the areas around us are,” said Debus.
He added that this type of responsible prairie stewardship is one of many bene ts built into the Sterling Ranch community.
Outside of just prairie management, Debus said that hosting cattle herds near the neighborhood has provided residents with a sense of joy, comfort and legacy.
“People just love seeing the cows and hearing them moo in the evenings. It’s just kind of a soothing, comforting thing, and a sense of being part of the West in Colorado,” said Debus.
In March and April, the community welcomed 150 newborn calves, adding further to the neighborhood’s charm. Debus says they are playful, curious and sometimes mischievous. Occasionally, a calf will slip under the barbed-wire fences, but, in Debus’ words, “they learn very quickly that these pokey fences are not to be messed with.”
Milkshake, a 2-year-old cow designated as the Sterling Ranch’s mascot, is one of the new mothers. She and her bull calf, Oreo — along with a few friends of theirs — graze in a eld closer to houses than the rest of the group. Earlier this year, neighbors joined a “baby pool” to try and guess when Milkshake would have her baby, and, appropriately, the winner was awarded a gift card to Shake Shack.
“We don’t just call her a celebrity — she’s a celebri-cow,” said Debus. “ ere are a lot of neighbors that maybe don’t know who I am, but they know who Milkshake is.”
Most of the herd will soon be returned
to its summer home, but Milkshake, as a community xture, gets to stay in the neighborhood.
Each fall, Sterling Ranch puts on a cattle drive event, further honoring its seasonal
neighbors. ousands of people attend the event, during which cattle are navigated through the neighborhood to their winter pasture. Barbecues, roping lessons and petting zoos are all part of the fun.
Sterling Ranch’s “celebri-cow,” Milkshake, and her calf, Oreo. COURTESY OF STERLING
Butterfly Pavilion starts the 2025 monitoring season
BY MONTE WHALEY MWHALEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Westminster’s Butter y Pavilion is playing a key role in identifying and preserving butter ies across Colorado, as the 2025 butter y monitoring season began May 3 at Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown.
To kick o the season, the Butter y Pavilion has released the 2024 Annual Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network report on the state of Colorado’s native butter y populations. Last year marked the 12th year of Monitoring Network as one of the nation’s fastest-growing community science programs focused on butter y conservation.
O cials say this year’s announcement comes at a critical time in buttery habitats. A new study published in Science magazine shows a 22% decline in butter y abundance across the U.S. between 2000 and 2020.
Butter y Pavilion played a signi cant role in the research, contributing Colorado-speci c data from the Monitoring Network and collaborating with nearly two dozen scientists through the “Status of Butter ies in the United States” working group, according to a Pavilion news release.
More data needed
e ndings highlight the urgent need for local and national e orts to protect pollinators, one of the most vital and vulnerable components of our ecosystems, according to a news release.
“While we have a lot of great data, we still need more for a comprehensive picture,” said Shiran Hershcovich, Lepidopterist Manager at Butter y Pavilion and co-author in the Science study, said in the news release. “ at’s where the public comes in with community science programs like (Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network), which allow us to cover more geographies and provide essential insights for conservation.”
In a press release, the 2024 Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network Report notes that 452 surveys were submitted across 69 monitoring routes in 12 Colorado counties. Reports came from 59 active monitors, including 40 new vol-
early 2025/2026 season announcement
unteers, that contributed 385.4 hours of butter y observations.
As of Oct. 15, 2024, the program had documented 144,002 individual butter ies through 4,764 surveys, totaling 4,899.8 hours of monitoring since 2013.
Participating counties in 2024 included: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomeld, Denver, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Gilpin, Je erson, Larimer, and Weld.
Big growth for 2025
e Butter y Pavilion is aiming for ambitious growth of the Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network in its 13th season, according to the news release. e 2025 goals include expanding the program to 18 counties, recruiting 90 monitors, and surveying 80 sites along 90 routes. In addition, Butter y Pavilion will begin in-depth analysis of its decade-long dataset to better understand trends and inform conservation strategies statewide, the news release states.
“ is is people-powered science,” said Hershcovich. “When our community gets involved, they become stewards of our environment and champions for native invertebrates.”
e Monitoring Network trains volunteers to monitor butter ies in their communities from May to September. After attending a training session, monitors choose a route and walk it at least three times per season, recording every butter y they see within a six-meter radius. Volunteers also note weather conditions, time, and habitat data.
is year’s training dates and locations include three joint sessions with the Monarch Larva Monitoring Program: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 at Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 10 at Cherry Creek State Park in Denver and 10 a.m. to noon May 17 at Lory State Park west of Fort Collins.
A fourth program hosted solely by the Colorado Butter y Monitoring Network is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 18 at East Boulder Community Center. Self-paced online video training is also available. ose interested can visit and sign up here: https://butter ies. org/research-and-conserve/butter ymonitoring/
PACE Center | 7:30 PM
Join us for an unforgettable night of soul-stirring music at Devon Allman’s Blues Summit, a powerhouse gathering of blues legends that promise to electrify the stage!
early 2025/2026 season announcement
PACE Center | 7:30 PM
Fondly known as “America’s answer to The Beatles,” The Lovin’ Spoonful bring their chart-topping folk-rock hits to the PACE Center!
A male monarch pulls nectar from a Rabbitbrush, which is a vital resource for the pollinators in our region. The insects rely on the nectar from those plants and others during their annual migrations.
COURTESY LIZ GOEHRING
LETTERS
to become certi ed early childhood teachers (paid opportunities available). is education is valued at $3,200.
— Volunteer Business Advisors support childcare centers in strengthening their operations.
Douglas County has a vibrant older adult community. is is the perfect chance to channel skills, energy and passion into a meaningful role.
How to get involved
ECSC welcomes new members in fall, spring, and summer cohorts. Training is free and fully remote. We will begin training soon for our Encore Subs and Volunteer Business Advisors in June. Sign up now.
— Classroom Volunteers complete 21 hours of training.
— Volunteer Business Advisors complete sevenhours.
— Encore Substitutes can earn certi cation in two to
four months, depending on experience.
Once trained, ECSC connects participants with local early childhood education sites in need of their expertise.
Why now?
Colorado faces a severe shortage of early childhood educators. Seventy percent of program directors struggle to nd quali ed sta . Meanwhile, adults 65 and older represent the largest share of future population growth in the state. is demographic shift positions older adults as an invaluable workforce resource.
Join the movement
ECSC is more than a program, it is a movement. Douglas County residents, we need you. If you are looking to make a di erence and support young children, ECSC is the perfect opportunity. For more information, visit earlychildhoodservicecorps. org or contact us at recruitment@earlychildhoodservicecorps.org.
