Villager Year in Review 2018

December 27, 2018 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 9

DR. HARRY BULL STEPS DOWN AS SUPERINTENDENT OF CHERRY CREEK SCHOOLS Dr. Bull was appointed superintendent in 2013 after serving in roles as teacher, dean, principal and administrator. In 2017, he was named both Superintendent of the Year by the Colorado Association of School Executives and Man of the Year by The Villager.

The Midterm elections dominated this year’s news

BY BECKY OSTERWALD MANAGING EDITOR

2

018 will be remembered as a year that politics dominated both the local, state and national discourse — good and bad. It ended with Arapahoe County turning to solid purple, while at the same time throwing out all but one county official.

Election/Politics

The year started with Greenwood Village resident Walker Stapleton declaring his candidacy for Colorado governor. He lost the general election, however, to Boulder Continued on page 10 DAM’S NORTH BUILDING BREAKS GROUND BELOW: Audio-visual tech Allison Hill takes a look at the scale model of the Denver Art Museum.

RIGHT: President and CEO of Global Down Syndrome Foundation Michelle Sie Whitten, architects Curtis Fentress and Jorge Silvetti, Board Director Lanny Martin, Anna Sie and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, John Sie, Sharon Martin and Museum Director Christoph Heinrich.

File photos

PAGE 10 | THE VILLAGER • December 27, 2018

CCSD HONORS STUDENTS WHO EARNED A PERFECT ACT/SAT SCORE Cherry Creek Schools honored 20 seniors who earned a perfect score on the 2017 ACT or SAT. Seated, L to R: Isani Singh, Rachel Moes, Hannah Cussen, Daivi Patel, Ryan Olsen. Standing, L to R: Gloria Jung, Kylie Hunter, Hari Sowrirajan, Ansley Avis, Emily Powis, Jared Scott, Grace Lao, Christopher Lee, Aditya Kumar, Paul Nicknish, Siddhart Mane, Matthew Fox. Continued from Page 9

resident Jarod Polis.

The First Amendment was constantly under attack and The Villager maintained the avid defense of the U.S. Constitution.

Local students started becoming engaged in the political discourse after yet another school shooting — this one in Parkland, Florida where 17 people were gunned down.

Teenagers at Cherry Creek High School walked out of class and held a protest in the school quad.

Covering the GOP assembly job fell to The Villager’s cub reporter Freda Miklin. In

LITTLETON’S COLUMBIA SQUARE A BLIGHTED RUINS Once populated by Safeway and a prep school, Littleton’s Columbine Square was a virtual ruins. A fire started by homeless campers had destroyed one of the buildings. All the buildings has since been destroyed.

File photos

Cherry Hills Village is the 2nd richest city in America

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE AND GREENWOOD VILLAGE IN TOP 100 RICHEST CITIES IN U.S. Bloomberg Reports released its list of richest cities. Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village are both in the top 100. CHV is ranked second, while GV came in at 84.

April she reported Cynthia Coffman failed to make it onto the Primary ballot after she made negative remarks about a fellow candidate for governor.

Only Cherry Hills Village held a municipal election in 2018 with three council seats and the mayor up for election that was hotly contested. The current mayor, Laura Christman, lost to Russel Stewart.

Council member Mike Gallager ran unopposed while incumbent Katy Brown beat her challenger Zachary Bishop, but Earl Hoellen lost to challenger Afshin Safavi.

Up for re-election at the county level was GOP members Matt Crane for clerk and recorder, Dave Walcher for sheriff, Marc Scott for assessor; and Nancy Sharp for commissioner. Sue Sandstrom for treasurer and Kelly Lear for coroner were unopposed.

Heads shook in disbelieve when Republican elected officials in Arapahoe County took a beating and were replaced by voters with Democratic challengers. Replacing them are Joan Lopez, clerk, Tyler Brown, sheriff and PK Kaiser, assessor, however, Sharp stayed in office along with fellow commissioner, Nancy Jackson, a Democrat, soundly trounced Win Deal.

At the state level, DemoContinued on page 12

December 27, 2018 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 11

CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE RELOCATES CITY HALL The Cherry Hills Village city hall, formerly located at 2450 E. Quincy, was relocated to 120 Meade Lane as the city prepares for construction of a new city hall, scheduled to open mid 2019.

Change in Colorado Employment Year-Over-Year (000s) 100 90

Change in Colorado Employment Monthly data is shown with the blue line.

Average annual data is shown with the red line.

+83,100

80

+77,500

+68,900

70

Average employment through February is almost 67,000 greater than the same period in 2017.

+66,900

+60,700

+54,400

60

50 40 30

The period 2011 to 2014 is the only time in history the annual Colorado employment increased at an accelerating rate for four consecutive years.

20 10 0

+56,200

+36,300

2011

2012

2013

2014

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, NSA, cber.co.

Colorado-based Business and Economic Research http://cber.co

The lack of qualified workers is preventing the economy from expanding at a faster rate.

2015

2016

2017 23

JOBS REPORT BODES WELL FOR COLORADO The good economic news just kepts coming. According to the Colorado 2018 Economic Forecast, through the first two months of 2018, Colorado’s average job growth far outpaced the pace of prior years. During January and February 2018, Colorado added 67,000 more jobs than it did during the same two months of 2016.

‘ENOUGH IS ENOUGH’ - BRUINS JOIN IN THE NATIONWIDE PROTEST AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE It was a crowded quad at the Cherry Creek High School March 14 when students joined a nationwide walk- out of class protesting gun violence and demanding politicians finally do something. The movement began after the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland Fla. a month before, when 17 students and faculty were gunned down by a former student using an AR-15 rifle.

File photos

DEMONSTRATING THE PRICE OF EDUCATION, NOT A BARGAIN BASEMENT DEAL On April 26, and 27, Colorado Public School Teachers joined the states of West Virginia, Arizona, Oklahoma and Kentucky in walking out of classrooms and off their jobs. Not just to protest low teaching wages, they were raising awareness in the overall disproportionate rate of public education funding. Most importantly, the needs of the students and the classrooms where their work is being done.

PAGE 12 | THE VILLAGER • December 27, 2018

Continued from Page 11

CHERRY CREEK SCHOOLS’ INNOVATION CAMPUS TO OPEN AUGUST 2019 CCS is building the Cherry Creek Innovation Campus (CCIC) for 11th- and 12th-graders. It will be focused on careers for today and in the future.

CENTENNIAL AIRPORT CELEBRATES 50 YEARS WITH CAPT. SULLY SULLENBERGER A highly distinguished group of 600 government, business, and community leaders gathered at the Marriott DTC May 24 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Centennial Airport with an inspired address from Capt.

Sully Sullenberger, the hero of U.S. Airways flight 1549 Jan. 15, 2009.

crats maintained the nationwide blue tsunami, electing Polis, Phil Weiser as attorney general over George Brauchler, Wayne Williams was defeated by Jena Griswold for secretary of state, and local resident Brian Watson was beaten by Dave Young for treasurer. Democrats also took control of the statehouse and state senate.

Longtime Congressional representative, Mike Coffman, was soundly beaten by Democratic challenger Jason Crow for the 6th Congressional District seat.

By December State Sen. Jack Tate, R-27 had decided not to seek reelection in 2020.

Rumors were confirmed Dec. 5 that Democratic District 26 State Sen. Daniel Kagan, a Cherry Hills Village resident, would resign his seat effective Jan. 11, 2019. This opened the door for current HD3 Rep. Jeff Bridges to apply to the vacancy committee

to be Kagan’s replacement.

Education

The Villager was able to bring its readers that Cherry Creek School District Superintendent Harry Bull would be retiring at the end of the current school year. At the school board meeting he announced his retirement, Bull said, “I’ve been blessed to serve as the superintendent of the Cherry Creek School District, an organization that’s taught me the true meaning of excellence.

To say my departure will be bittersweet is a vast understatement.”

The Cherry Creek Bruin football game faced off against Valor Christian in the state football championship game. Creek came up short, however, losing 24-14 ending with a 12-2 record for the year.

Business/Economy

Business stories were always part of The Villager in

A SOLEMN DAY OF REMEBRANCE The 86th Memorial Day Ceremony at Fort Logan National Cemetery May 28 was a day of solemn remembrance and deep reflection. It was noted during the ceremony that Memorial Day is to remember and commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving and defending the United States and those that have died defending it.

50 YEARS OF LE BAL DE BALLET Le Bal de Ballet honors outstanding high school seniors and their families. This year, the 53 Debutantes and Young Men of Distinction are graduating from 17 high schools throughout metro Denver.

December 27, 2018 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 13

2018. Mostly featured on theCorridor.biz pages. News ranged from a report that the economy was rolling full speed ahead as was reported to the South Metro Chamber of Commerce to the opening of the Western Union campus in December.

By April, the “Wall Street of the West” had become a standard statement when referring to the I-25 business corridor.

As the popularity of marijuana has increased, so has the recognition that it is an economic boon for Colorado as was reported in April.

A new residential development was unveiled between Belleview and Colorado

Boulevard. Koelbel Company hosted a party for the unveiling in April. Buz Koelbel said of the Crossing at high Line Canal, “This is one of the true, last remaining special properties in the entire metro area. We couldn’t be more honored to continue the Koelbel legacy of developing unique properties and creating special places for people to achieve the lifestyle and living environment of their dreams.”

New businesses that opened include (but not limited to) WildeFire Bistro, Ocean Prime, PetSmart, Western Union’s new campus.

Continued on page 14

UPDATE ON THE WESTIN HOTEL PROJECT AND ANOTHER NEW GV 10-STORY OFFICE BUILDING The revised plan called for a high-end hotel with approximately 175 rooms within eight floors, a six-story office building, a limited retail component, and a mix of surface and underground parking within a parking structure.

THE 18TH ANNUAL COLORADO DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL CELEBRATING ASIAN CULTURE AND DRAGON BOAT RACING AT SLONE LAKE The Colorado festival continues to grow and is still the largest one in the U.S. Boat racing is the highlight of the festival, with multi-rower crews battllng across Sloanes Lake for the checkered flag.

File photos

A GRAND 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF LITTLETON’S GREAT PARADE Littleton celebrated the 90th anniversary of its Western Welcome Week Aug. 18 with the grandest parade yet, hosting parade floats and participants from both near and far. This year’s parade hosted a delegation from Bega, Australia, Littleton’s Sister City along with other participants from many other parts of Colorado.

HENRY L. STRAUSS HONORED FOR COMMITMENT AND VALUABLE SUPPORT TO THE FIELD OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE At the May 25, 2018 University of Colorado’s Anschutz School of Medicine Commencement Ceremony Henry L. Strauss was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters degree.

PAGE 14 | THE VILLAGER • December 27, 2018

Continued from Page 13

Municipalities

Always changing the faces in city government.

Dustin Varney took over as the Greenwood Village police chief, replacing John Jackson who took over the job of city manager.

At the end of her term, Cathy Noon handed the reigns of City of Centennial mayor over to Stephanie Piko, according to The Villager’s other new reporter Doris Truhar.

Centennial celebrated its 20th Anniversary in July when many of the current and city leaders gathered at the Pancake House to share memories, express gratefulness and also to inspire future leaders of the city.

Centennial also caused an uproar when a new Mercedes dealership was planned for East Arapahoe Road. Neighbors signed petitions to oppose the business. After originally approving the dealership in a split vote, the city council threw out an ordinance that would have allowed the dealership.

Nearly all members of the Greenwood Village City Council ran for election in 2017 on a platform of no residential growth in the city except for single-family homes. The Greenwood Village Comprehensive Plan, a document that sets forth the goals and policies of the city to provide guidance to decision-makers about growth and development and is to provide a framework for future development, was praised by the city council in August.

Cherry Hills Village police officer Cory Sack was shot Aug. 20 when he responded to a report of a home invasion. This is the first time a CHV officer has been shot in the line of duty.

According to CHV Chief Michelle Tovrea, a 911 call was received by Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, and when Sack entered the home, he was confronted by one suspect who opened fire. Sack was shot in the left leg above the knee and the right foot. The arrest of Angelo Alston, 17 was made Aug. 31 in Aurora. He was charged with 32 counts related to the shooting.

Smoke and mirrors for horse arenas were discussed at the GV council meeting in August. The board had been discussing numerous topics including mirrors used in horse arenas.

Recall elections in a city like Englewood are unusual, and it was never entirely clear what motivated the organizers to recall Laurett Barrentine in the first place.

She did, however, survive the recall in September by four percentage points.

KIDS RAISE FUNDS FOR INJURED CHVPD OFFICER Cherry Hills Village police officer Cory Sack was shot Aug. 20 when he responded to a report of a home invasion. This was the first time a CHV officer has been shot in the line of duty. A GoFundMe account had been set up for Sack and CHV Chief Michelle Tovrea said approximately $52,000 has been raised and an additional $900 was raised by area kids that set up a lemonade stand over a weekend.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY IS ‘GROUND ZERO’ IN TAKING BACK COUNTRY What began and ended as an energized Arapahoe County Democratic Party annual dinner Aug. 25, had a moment of silence for a giant Republican who had died hours earlier, Sen. John McCain.

30TH ANNIVERSARY OF DOCTORS CARE – PASSION, DRIVE, COMMITMENT FOR THE MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED Thirty years ago, the vision of Dr. Gary VanderArk was equity for all mankind. He and other doctors got together to serve the needs of the South Metro area of Denver.

File photos

CHERRY HILLS SENIOR SWIMS TO SHORE FROM ALCATRAZ Sally Duncan, 78, ‘escaped’ from Alcatraz Sept. 29. She, along with 17 other swimmers, known as the “Wine Sharks” from Colorado, successfully completed the 1.27-mile swim, nonstop, from the infamous prison in the middle of the San Francisco Bay to the shore of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

December 27, 2018 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 15

Miscellaneous

$13.7 MILLION FORENSICS LAB OPENS SOUTH CENTENNIAL AIRPORT Three years in the making, the Unified Forensic Lab finally opened for business and a tour was given to the press Sept. 27 and began accepting evidence the same week. The final building, south of Centennial Airport in the Meridian Industrial Park, cost $13.7 million is 26,500 square feet with ability to add on as 18, needed.

PAGE 12 the | THE VILLAGER • October 2018 2017 July August September 2018 July October

Voter registration numbers for Arapahoe County

FALLFEST COMES TO GREENWOOD VILLAGE On a sunny Oct. 6 afternoon, Greenwood Village put on another great free event for its families at William McKinley Carson Park, adjacent to city hall. Over 800 people got their free tickets in advance through the city’s new online reservation system, split 500 to 300 in favor of kids over adults.

There was a yummy free lunch for all of full-sized kosher hot dogs, chips, lemonade and cupcakes, along with plenty of Halloween candy for the children at the carnival games.

The Villager was able to bring home numerous awards from the Colorado Press Association Convention in April. After devoting massive time and ink while coverage and reporting on the 2017 Orchard Station Subarea and winning many other editorial awards, your local newspaper was honored as the 2017 Editorial Sweepstakes Winner. Taking First Place in both the State and National Competition was The Villager Legal Section.

Wings Over the Rockies opened a new attraction at the Centennial Airport in July. The 19,000 square foot facility gives visitors with a dynamic look at the world of aviation.

Democratic 134,405 135,773 136,867

33.80% 33.80% 33.77%

Republican 117,306 117,697 117,874

29.50% 29.30% 29.08%

Unaffilated 145,936 147,824 150,600

36.70% 36.80% 37.15%

139,212 140,295

32.82% 32.58%

113,793 112,778

26.83% 26.19%

171,172 170,375

40.35% 39.57%

City

Total

DEM

%

REP

%

Aurora Centennial Cherry Hills Village Englewood Glendale Greenwood Village Littleton Sheridan Bennett Bow Mar Columbine Valley Deer Trail Foxfield Unincorporated TOTAL

197,604 81,256 5,336 23,627 3,278 12,540 31,976 3,424 308 494 1,230 477 679 61,948 424,177

72,749 22,177 1,228 8,258 1,208 3,204 8,911 1,243 56 113 191 61 138 19,675 139,212

36.82 27.29 23.01 34.95 36.85 25.55 27.87 36.30 18.18 22.87 15.53 12.79 20.32 31.76 32.82

44,344 27,812 2,305 4,766 489 4,602 9,862 679 145 210 633 231 325 17,379 113,793

22.44 34.23 43.20 20.17 14.92 36.70 30.84 19.83 47.08 42.51 52.36 48.43 47.86 28.05 26.83

Unafiliated 77,072 30,086 1,757 9,971 1,487 4,565 12,596 1,414 103 166 378 176 209 23,918 163,898

Libertarian 197,604 887 35 412 62 126 436 48 3 4 14 4 4 661 4,821

%

%

39.00 37.03 32.93 42.20 45.36 36.40 39.39 41.30 33.44 33.60 30.73 36.90 20.78 38.61 38.64

0.29 0.21 0.15 0.51 0.67 0.17 0.30 0.44 0.32 0.20 0.08 0.29 0.25 0.28

Other

Total 397,647 401,696 405,341

7121

American Constitution 652 110 3 88 6 15 63 22 0 0 2 5 1 138 1105

424,177 430,569

2%

% 0.33 0.14 0.60 0.37 0.18 0.12 0.20 0.64

0.16 1.05 0.15 0.22 0.26

Unity 88 10 0 12 4 7 13 3 0 0 0 0 0 21 158

% 0.04 0.01 0.00 0.05 0.12 0.60 0.40 0.09

0.03 0.04

CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS IN ARAPAHOE COUNTY

Unaffiliated voters outpace Republicans and Democratstells in the latest registration numbers for the ballots county. Democrats rank second and Arapahoe County Clerk LWV why our are safe Republicans bring up the rear.

Colorado and another state was less than 10 out of 3.2 million.

On Oct. 15, 3.2 million ballots were dropped off at the general mail facility in downtown Denver. They are being delivered statewide in waves this week. Most Arapahoe County voters will drop off their ballots at one of the 40 ballot box locations located allaround the county, 26 of which are accessible 24 hours a day.

Clerk and Recorder Matt Then on Oct. 22, in-person Crane oversees elections in polling places will open in 12 Arapahoe County locations in Arapahoe County.

Photo courtesy of League of Women Voters These voter centers will be availpilot program in 2016 found 50 able six days per week, from potential people who may have 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays voted in more than one state. and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on When those individuals’ voting Saturdays through Nov. 3. At records were examined closely, that point, 16 more in-person the actual number of voters who polling places will open for the were found to have cast ballots in last few days of the election. On Monday, Nov. 5 and Tuesday, food • beer • rugby Nov. 6, Election Day, all in-perpolling places in Arapahoe unlimited tastings son County will be open from 7 a.m. includes entry to to 7 p.m. Voters using in-person USA Women’s 7s voting centers need to have an acceptable form of identifica$40 online tion. Those are listed on the $45 at the gate secretary of state’s website.

Voters can also mail their ballots. Crane said they will require 71 cents postage, but the U.S. Postal Service requires they be mailed by Oct. 30 to COFFMAN COULD OVERCOME A LOT, BUT NOT THE TRUMP EFFECT guarantee arrival in time to be Democratic U.S. Rep.-elect Jason Crow beat incumbent counted in the election. If a voter Mike Coffman by a striking 11- point margin. Coffman happensspelled to be outside of Arapahoe County, it out. “In this congressional district, it was a referendum onballots can also be dropped official ballot boxes the president,” he said. “In the end, the waves were tooinbig in other Colorado counties. The for this ship to stay afloat.” The next morning Trump was state’s clerks have arranged to neither sympathetic nor about to accept any responsibility for deliver each others ballots to the loss. He could only muster the words, “Too bad, Mike.” county clerk. the applicable Crane told LWV members about a cutting-edge process now being installed in Colora-

unaffiliated, 31 percent identify themselves as Democrats, and 30 percent are Republicans.

If any of Over the past four years, new and changed voter registrations Clerk andnews recorderhighlights Matt the in Arapahoe County followed Crane, who oversees elections seenCounty, in this section,a similar, but more striking in Arapahoe spoke pattern. As the total number of to the League of Women Votconsider a subscription registered voters increased 11 ers of Arapahoe and Douglas to The percent from 315,618 to 348,869, Counties (LWV)Villager at their gen-to stay eral meetinginformed Oct. 8 at the Las and the number of those not affiliated with either major party Brisas Mexican Restaurant up-to-date in 2019!increased a whopping 22 percent, in Greenwood Village, about compared to an increase of 12 the voting process we use.

Call 303-773-8313 percent in the number of voters Crane described Arapahoe who chose to affiliated with the as a “purple countyx301 in a purple Democrats and a decrease of 3 state,” since voter registration in percent in the number who cast the county, where 38 percent are unaffiliated, 33 percent are regis- their lot with the Republicans.

NOVAK WINStered MS.Democrats, SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANTOn the question of voter and 27 percent Gayle Novak along with 38 are other contestants who 60 Crane said that the data registered Republicans, close-arefraud, does not support its existence ly mirrors affiliation statistics and older, competed in interview, evening gown, philosophy anywhere in the United States, Overall, 37 percentand of title. of life, and talent forstatewide. the precious crown registered voters in Colorado are including Colorado. He said a

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER you missed

october 20th 1-5pm infinity park stadium in glendale just north of I-25 & colorado blvd.

featuring

there is no doubt that Russians attempted to hack our election in 2016 and there is every reason to believe those efforts continue.

On May 10, The Washington Post wrote, “As local officials across the country scramble to hack-proof their voting systems ahead of the midterm elections, there’s one state that is paving the way as a leader in election security. Colorado has done virtually everything election experts recommend states do to stave off a repeat of 2016.” A recent national newscast identified Illinois and Georgia as states which were successfully hacked by Russians during the 2016 election.

On a happier note, Coloradans generally and Arapahoe County residents take full advantage of their right and obligation as Americans to participate in elections, as long as they believe them to be significant. Turnout in Arapahoe County in 2008, when President Obama was first elected, was a whopping 95 percent. When Obama was re-elected in 2012, the turnout in Arapahoe County was still a healthy 93 percent. That number decreased to 84 percent in 2016, due to the high negatives of both major party candidates.

In the last mid-term national election, 2014, turnout was a respectable 64 percent, though less than the 74 percent in the prior mid-term election held during Obama’s first term in 2010.

In stark contrast to those numbers, Crane told the audience that only 23 percent of eligible voters bothered to cast a ballot in the 2017 municipal elections in Arapahoe County, a number that might give pause to some city councilors around the coun-