November 27, 2020
FREE
DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
ParkerChronicle.net
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 10 | LIFE: PAGE 12 | CALENDAR: PAGE 15
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 2
Remote learning moving forward Gov. Jared Polis stressed need for in-person education for state’s youngest learners BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Mrs. Claus, portrayed by Kam Breitenbach, in a specially designed transparent, plastic face covering. The covering helps in photos — and, Breitenbach said, she doesn’t want her makeup to go to waste. PHOTO BY NICK PUCKETT
‘Mrs. Claus’ hopes to save Christmas
Kam Breitenbach feels it is more important than ever to celebrate holiday
SEE REMOTE, P4
‘I just think Christmas is so important, and it’s so important to children.’
BY NICK PUCKETT NPUCKETT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The Christmas decorations on Kam Breitenbach’s fireplace stay up year-round. A small, plastic tree and a smiling snowman sit beneath the mantel displaying her master’s degree in Santa school. It is not uncommon to see Breitenbach portraying Mrs. Claus around Parker in the middle of July, spreading Christmas cheer at local charity
After Gov. Jared Polis stressed the need for Colorado’s youngest learners to return to in-person learning, including those in areas transitioning to new and tighter COVID-19 restrictions, the Douglas County School District remained on track to move all its students in the opposite direction this semester. As of Nov. 17, the district had thousands of students and staff in quarantine and expected those numbers
Kam Breitenbach
and Rotary events. A leader in the local Rotary club and a former Parker police employee, Breitenbach is perhaps better known as Mrs. Claus. The character has become a lifestyle, one Breitenbach sees as bearing a unique responsibility to keep Christmas
going through the pandemic. “It’s going to look different,” Breitenbach said, sitting in her living room wearing her new, plastic face covering designed to show her smile. “It’s still extremely SEE MRS. CLAUS, P14
NEW RULES
Indoor dining at restaurants banned under new COVID-19 restrictions P2