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Trump names his plan to round up and deport millions of immigrants ‘Operation Aurora,’ startling state and local officials, activists
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WATCH IT: GOP election denier invites voter voyeurs to ogle ballot drop boxes
You know the feeling.
You’re out and about taking care of the stuff that you put off as long as you can, trudging into the grocery store, waiting in line at the bank, watching the numbers whiz by on the gas pump, when you notice it. Someone’s looking or staring at you.
Sometimes it’s someone who thinks you look like a long-lost friend, or that they know you from somewhere but can’t place it. Sometimes it’s just someone watching you for no good reason while you’re waiting to take your turn at the Post Office counter to mail a package as a favor to a neighbor.
Soon, it could be a fan of former Colorado gubernatorial candidate Heidi Ganahl out to watch or film you put your mail ballot in your neighborhood collection box.
If that strikes you as creepy, intimidating and possibly illegal, you’re not alone.
You might not remember Ganahl. She’s had a tough time getting Colorado residents to pay much attention to her since she ran for governor against Jared Polis and lost in 2022.
What you might remember is that she also had a hard time getting much media attention even then with her campaign. When she did, it was sometimes because she kept tap dancing around whether she was an election denier and believer in the Big Lie.
The mystery was solved when she chose Republican Danny Moore as her running mate for lieutenant governor in 2022. She chose Moore despite his having been booted out as chairperson of the state’s bi-partisan redistricting committee in 2021. Committee members agreed unanimously to remove Moore as chairperson after he made several remarks on social media making it clear he was neckdeep in Trump’s conspiracies.
“What we know for sure is that mass mail-in ballots can be controlled by the people you give them to (the Postman, ballot counters.) Once you hand them over you lose any voice you thought you had,” Moore wrote. In another post, he questioned how Biden could have ever amassed more than 80 million votes nationwide, against Trump.
Ganahl dismissed Moore’s denier gaffes and said about the 2022 “steal,” there weren’t enough fraudulent votes in Colorado to sway the results.
Her candidacy ended with political self-immolation when she tried to persuade voters that a tsunami of children were “presenting” as cats, dogs and “furries” in Jeffco schools and that teachers and others were setting up litter boxes to accommodate them.
Nostalgically, a woman supporting Trump at his Aurora rally last week trotted her kids up to the stage to relay a similar story for about 10,000 of the faithful. The mom said the kids at school have to step over feces on the school floors that the kid-cats and urchin-dogs drop all over
the school.
Ganahl has gone from tipping back a few glasses of denier Kool-Aid to dispensing it to her fan club through a fire hose on her X account.
She said she researched Colorado vote counting for two years and determined that all the Democrat and Republican clerks across the state are wrong in assuring voters elections are secure and accurate.
So she’s actively enlisting what she hopes to be an army of fellow deniers to join her group of “Citizen Drop Box Observers.”
“With so many people having questions around election integrity, we are excited to provide ways for citizens to engage with the process and legally provide oversight that will increase the confidence in the ultimate outcomes,” she says on the sign-up page.
Real election workers? Not so much.
If this brings back icky memories, locally, it probably comes from the 2020 incident where two men wearing fatigues and gats went into Arapahoe County headquarters in Littleton and started filming people as they came into the building to vote. The armed men made it so that voters had to pass them both ways to get in and out of the building.
Despite police and state worry, there was nothing anyone could do because it was legal to strap one on just about anywhere back then.
Intimidating? You bet, said Arapahoe County Clerk Joan Lopez and Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. So much so that they persuaded the Colorado Legislature to pass House Bill 1086 in 2022.
Now law, it tightens up restrictions on just how far you can go with your heater around election sites. The law says no closer than 100 feet from places where voting occurs.
That includes ballot boxes, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a
statement Monday. He points out to residents that acting “aggressively” toward people 100 feet or closer to a ballot box is a jailable offense.
What Ganahl’s Voter Voyeurs do at the boxes, and how close, is unclear.
Ganahl didn’t respond to requests for comment about whether she’s advising her league of voter voyeurs to leave their Glocks at home while out to “engage with the process and legally provide oversight that will increase the confidence in the ultimate outcomes.”
The situation could call for a need to watch the watchers. You can see where this is going.
When I asked Griswold on Friday if she has concerns about the scheme, she said she does. She’s waiting to see how many enlist in the program, and what they actually do.
She recommends to anyone who feels intimidated by Ganahl’s “observers” to call their county election office, or even police.
The notion to put ballot watching in motion is drawing bi-partisan winces already.
Former Colorado of State Republican candidate Pam Anderson, who was the Jefferson County clerk, offered this advice as a response to a social media post by Ganahl soliciting for people to join her band of lookers.
“Contact your party, unaffiliated candidate, pro or con issue committee to be a legal CO watcher or even better — election judge,” Anderson said in her reply to Ganahl’s X post. “You will actually have more access to observe the election. As a legal and official watcher you can be in closer proximity & not a kinda weird lurker.”
But if you’re into being weird and lurking, Ganahl says she can hook you up.
Follow@EditorDavePerryonBlueSky, Threads,Mastodon,TwitterandFacebookorreachhimat303-750-7555 ordperry@SentinelColorado.com
DAVE PERRY Editor
An Aurora voter drops off a ballot at northwest Aurora ballot box in 2022 Former Heidi Ganahl is soliciting far-right supporters to become ballot box “watchers,” worrying local election officials about harassment and intimidation.
SENTINEL FILE PHOTO BY PHILIP POSTON
Editorials Sentinel
Aurora has beat other adversities. It will best Trump’s malevolence, too
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump targeted Aurora in his latest string of miscreant campaigns intended to strike fear in Americans in hopes they vote to return him to the White House. But after he packed up his barrage of lies, exaggerations, demonization and caustic allies, it was his campaign and tattered reputation that was decimated by his visit.
Rallying tens of thousands of residents to hate minorities and immigrants illustrated who he is, and what his campaign stands for.
For weeks, Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, have alternated delivering a supercharged package of lies and conspiracies about Springfield, Ohio and Aurora.
The two top-of-the-ticket GOP candidates have both insisted that hard-working, community-minded Haitian immigrants in Springfield are unsuitable to make their home in the United States, and that they eat household pets they steal from their neighbors.
Even Republicans in Ohio have demanded he cease the hateful and dangerous, delusional rhetoric.
Here, Trump was inspired by Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky’s tour de force appearances on Fox News and other right-wing media outlets. She spent days promoting a local version of the Springfield anti-immigrant demonization. Jurinsky capitalized on shoddy apartments — which Mayor Mike Coffman said were operated by “slumlords” — and the questionable placement thereof possibly hundreds of Venezuelan refugee immigrants by Denver agencies. Jurinsky wildly exaggerated the threat of Venezuelan gangs, attracting the attention of Trump and his campaign with her insistence that the media, police and city staffers were hiding the gravity of the problem, and that they had “overrun” apartment buildings and streets in northwest Aurora.
Within days, Aurora garnered a false international reputation of being a gang-infested cesspool.
The stunning deceit was clearly designed to play into the anti-immigrant narrative Trump and some Republicans hope will frighten Americans into voting their ticket.
Reasonable and thoughtful Aurora residents, especially those who have lived here for more than a few years, recognize the lies and political propaganda for what they are.
Aurora is a tough city, populated by nearly 400,000 people who have been misjudged and mistreated before.
Aurora is a city where more people of color call home than white residents do. This is a city where tens of thousands of people were born in another country. This is a city where more than 100 languages other than English are spoken at home, and it’s been that city for decades.
Aurora is a city that was hoodwinked by developers in the 1970s promising to build a massive Disney-like destination called “Science Fiction Land.” City officials were ridiculed for their naiveté, and then they regrouped.
Once tabbed by a Denver Post political cartoonist for years as the city of “one tree,” it has long moved past its reputation of being a treeless prairie of tract-housing.
It’s been called “Saudi Aurora” and shunned for generations as Denver’s lowly step-city. This is the city, however, that outsmarted Colorado Springs and Denver to snag the largest hotel and conference center in the state, the Gaylord Rockies, which was host to Trump’s spiteful rally last week.
It is the city that has amassed one of the largest holdings of water in the state. Aurora was the city that outsmarted Denver into becoming the new home of the University of Colorado Medical School and University Hospital, anchor to the Anschutz Medical and Bioscience Campus, which drew Children’s Hospital Colorado and the VA Hospital for the region.
Aurora has not just maintained an active military base, it’s home to one of the few of the nation’s Space Force bases.
It’s a city that offers not just a mix of dozens of cultures and languages from around the globe, it capitalizes on them. Aurora is where residents and tourists alike can eat from around the globe, just by going around the block.
This is a city that has survived and moved past the Aurora theater shooting, the Chuck E. Cheese’s murders, the Labor Day Massacre and a host of other tragedies that befall large cities like Aurora across the nation, and across the globe.
When gang problems heated up in Aurora and the metro area in the 1980s, the community launched the Aurora Gang Task Force and became national leaders in community policing and providing school resource officers.
While the hate and cruelty Trump brought to Aurora, and shared with others, causes real and grave danger to all immigrants and all people of color, his ruthlessness and rhetoric will fade as the city moves past his corruption, too.
This is a community of survivors, honor and decency. Many, if not most, of the Venezuelan refugees who call Aurora home, among tens of thousands of other immigrants and people of color, intrepidly walked here from South America. The Venezuelan immigrants, and all immigrants, need the community’s assistance and patience to become just another interesting segment of the most diverse city in Colorado.
Trump’s toxic deceits will recede, just like the rest of the city’s hurdles, and the community will be stronger for it. That’s the real story of Aurora.
THE
AURORA
Vote ‘yes; on props 5A and 5B for
stronger Aurora Public Schools
As board members of Aurora Public Schools we wholeheartedly support ballot initiatives 5A and 5B, which are crucial for the future of our students, our schools, and our community. These initiatives represent a commitment to enhancing educational opportunities and ensuring that every child in our district can power their potential. We are especially excited to endorse these ballot initiatives that would mean NO net tax increase for Aurora voters.
Why 5A and 5B Matter
Initiative 5A is a proposed $30 million annual tax levy that would provide funding for ongoing capital expenses. This would allow us to invest in crucial needs such as recruiting and retaining teachers, maintaining mental health professionals, and expanding educational programming. In an ever-evolving educational landscape, we must ensure our students are equipped with the tools they need to succeed. This funding will directly benefit our teachers and staff, enabling them to provide a more enriching educational experience for our students. Initiative 5B is a proposed $1 billion investment aimed at planning for the future. It will allow APS to build new schools and improve existing schools throughout the district. It focuses on creating safe, equitable and innovative learning environments for students and staff. This is a critical investment in our community’s future.
A Resolution for Change
In support of these initiatives, the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education passed a resolution affirming our commitment to providing an exceptional educational environment. The resolution outlines our dedication to fostering academic excellence, promoting equity, and ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed. By supporting 5A and 5B, we are taking a decisive step toward making our vision a reality.
Community Impact
Supporting 5A and 5B is not just an investment in our schools. It is an investment in the future of Aurora. The im-
plications of these initiatives extend beyond the classroom. Improved funding will lead to better job training programs, after-school activities, and mental health resources, contributing to a stronger, healthier community overall. When our schools thrive, our neighborhoods thrive.
No matter your zip code or economic background, every APS student deserves to learn and grow in the best educational environment. This demands an equitable allocation of resources. There are no “haves vs. have nots” in APS. We strive to be a destination district for all of our students. Whether families choose a traditional school, magnet school, special program, or district-approved charter school, we are committed to ensuring that every student powers their potential.
Investing in the Future WITHOUT Increasing Taxes
We understand that tax implications are a major concern for many residents. Ballot initiatives 5A and 5B come without a tax increase for homeowners. Thus, we hope all Aurora voters will choose to invest in academic success and the long-term prosperity of our community. By voting YES on 5A and 5B, you are choosing to prioritize education and the future of Aurora.
Join Us in Supporting Our Schools
We urge every member of our community to get involved and vote YES on initiatives 5A and 5B. Your support will directly impact the quality of education our children receive and will lay the groundwork. Together, we can ensure that our schools have the resources they need to prepare our students for success, both academically and personally. Let’s invest in our students and build a stronger and brighter foundation for the future of Aurora.
Your voice matters. Vote YES on 5A and 5B!
Submitted by the Aurora Public Schools Board of Education: Anne Keke, President, Michael Carter, Vice President, Danielle Tomwing, Secretary, Tiffany Tasker, Treasurer, Tramaine Duncan, M.Ed, Director, Dr. Debbie Gerkin, Director, Vicki Reinhard, Director
PUBLIC SCHOOLS BOARD, GUEST COLUMNISTS
Aurora becomes central to Trump’s ‘operation’ round up millions
‘YOU CAN’T LIVE WITH THESE PEOPLE. THESE ARE STONE COLD KILLERS. YOU COULD BE WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH YOUR HUSBAND. YOU’LL BOTH BE DEAD.’
BY SUSAN GREENE, Sentinel Reporter in Residence
Donald Trump, in a campaign stop here Oct. 11, called for a federal “Operation Aurora” to root out and deport undocumented immigrants not just from the city, but from all over the United States.
The former president and current Republican presidential nominee pressed harder than ever on the false narrative — debunked by police, city management and even the mayor who helped prompt it — that Aurora has been overrun by members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang also known as TdA. His focus on the gang was so central to his speech that his campaign lined the stage with blown up mugshots of its alleged members.
“Many of these people are murderers,” he told the crowd of about 10,000 supporters at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in the far northeast corner of Aurora near Denver International Airport. “You can’t live with these people. These are stone cold killers. You could be walking down the street with your husband. You’ll both be dead. They won’t even remember they did it the following morning. You can’t live like this.”
Trump went on to falsely tie his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris to the gang, claiming that she “inflicted violence and terror” on Aurora and “infested” three apartment complexes here with TdA members. He also asserted, falsely, that: Emergency rooms in Denver have seen a 6,000% increase in patients because of an influx in Venezuelans and other undocumented immigrants
since he was president.
Many children in Denver can’t attend public schools because of the high numbers of immigrant students taking their spots in classrooms.
Harris, tasked by President Joe Biden to address immigration along the southern border, has “lost 350,000 migrant children.”
And “13,099 illegal aliens convicted of murder are at large” in the United States.
“They will take over your house. That’s what you’re gonna have if you don’t vote for Trump,” he said, one of several times when he referred to himself in the third-person.
“November 5, 2024 will be liberation day in America,” he added about the upcoming election. “I will rescue Aurora.”
At no point in Trump’s nearly 90-minute speech did he elaborate on how his proposed “Operation Aurora” might work other than to say that undocumented immigrants “are gonna be out on their asses and they’re going to be out of this country.”
The city’s Republican mayor, Mike Coffman, chose not to attend the rally and slammed what he called Trump’s “mischaracterizations of our great community.”
“The reality is that the concerns about Venezuelan gang activity in our city — and our state — have been grossly exaggerated and have unfairly hurt the city’s identity and sense of safety,” Coffman said in a statement to the news media.
Yefferson Medina, a resident of one of the blighted apartment complexes at the center of Aurora’s recent
immigrant controversy, told the Sentinel Friday that he is experiencing discrimination in his job search because he is Venezuelan.
V Reeves, a community organizer with the Housekeys Action Network, and Aurora Councilwoman Crystal Murillo said vigilantes — presumably part of Trump’s anti-immigrant Make America Great Again movement — have been milling near the complexes threatening Venezuelans since Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky started spreading misinformation and stirring up election-season fears about those tenants in August.
Jurinsky, along with Rep. Lauren Boebert, and several other far-right Republicans, spoke Friday in the hours before senior Trump aide Stephen Miller introduced the candidate. Though Trump was 42 minutes behind schedule, the wait didn’t seem to bother the Western-hatted cowboys, yarmulke-wearing Jewish day schoolers, oil and gas lawyers and lobbyists, two off-duty Walmart greeters, truckers, and homeschooling mom the Sentinel spoke with in the audience.
One man, sporting a “Jesus is my savior. Trump is my president” T-shirt spent the wait praying for the candidate’s victory. A Trump impersonator with a bandage seemingly made from a mini-pad on his right ear passed the time by posing for photos.
Aside from the exaggerations about TdA’s presence in Aurora, Trump repeated other misinformation that has become a hallmark of his campaign. He said, falsely, that when he was president, the U.S. “had no inflation” and was energy inde-
pendent. The average rate of inflation during his term was 1.9%, according to federal records. Energy independence is a controversial term, but as most economists define it, it actually happened for the first time in 40 years, this year, according to experts speaking to Newsweek magazine.
Trump played a video insinuating that the U.S. Military under the Biden-Harris administration is full of cross-dressing soldiers prone to voguing. He claimed that he’s “leading in Pennsylvania by a lot,” when most polls show either a dead heat or a slight lead for Harris in the key swing state.
Trump also claimed “we’re doing great with women voters,” whom he said, “Like me because I will be your protector.
“The women want protection,” Trump said.
Polling trends among women voters consistently show Harris leading Trump.
At several points in his speech, he mocked how Harris pronounces her first name. He called her “a threat to democracy,” said she “doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about” and “has no clue what the hell is going on.
“I”m telling you, there’s something wrong with her,” he said.
“Just in case you didn’t know it,” he added, “Biden hates her.”
Trump went on to call Harris’ running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, “a total moron,” and mentioned his own running mate, U.S. Sen. JD Vance, only once — more than an hour into his speech.
He had especially sharp words for
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, whom he falsely accused of leading an effort late last year to disqualify him from Colorado’s ballot because of his incitement of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in the U.S. Capitol.
“He’s a coward. He’s a fraud. He’s pathetic,” he said.
There is no evidence that Polis, a second-term Democrat, was part of that effort. Rather, Trump’s eligibility was challenged by six Colorado voters — four Republicans and two independents who portrayed him as a threat to democracy. Those plaintiffs were backed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal watchdog group.
The United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously in March that Trump could not be disqualified from Colorado’s ballot.
Trump lost the state by 13 percentage points four years ago in an election he insisted Friday that he won. “We did much better by millions of votes in 2020, but we won’t discuss that,” he told the crowd.
He recited his usual talking points that inflation, Hamas’ massacre in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wouldn’t have happened under his watch. He drew roaring applause by pledging to “Drill, baby’ drill” domestically to promote energy independence.
And, in a nod to law enforcement, he called for “indemnifying police against any prosecutions” — an issue that’s a tender button in Aurora, whose police department has a long record of excessive force and other misconduct.
Aurora City Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky, right, listens to former northwest Aurora resident Cindy Romero describe her apartment in northwest Aurora.
PHOTO BY TRI DUONG/SENTINEL COLORAOD
AROUND AURORA
Activists and city lawmakers balk at Aurora police recruiting at Trump rally
Some Aurora City Council members and civil rights activists are questioning the police department’s decision to search for officer recruits at the Oct. 11 campaign rally for Donald Trump.
“It is disconcerting that APD would try to recruit at a political event of any kind, but especially at a rally for a candidate that has attacked our city and harmed our community members,”
Councilmember Alison Coombs said Oct 14.
Coombs wasn’t alone in her criticism.
“That shouldn’t have happened,” said Councilmember Crystal Murillo.
“One in five people in Aurora are foreign-born, and police are supposed to be working to rebuild trust in our community. Trying to recruit officers at a rally built on fear mongering, xenophobia, and all the phobias just feels like a really irresponsible thing to do.”
The reproval by both council members and civil rights activists came after the Sentinel spotted two uniformed, on-duty Aurora Police officers standing in the crowd of more than 10,000 people at Trump’s rally Friday exhibiting materials reading, “Join our team, Aurora PD is hiring.”
Both of the officers, Abdul Syidi and Arturo Zepeda, said they were part of the department’s recruitment team aiming to find rally-goers who may be interested in joining the force. They referred Sentinel questions to APD’s communications office.
Police did not speak directly to the optics of recruiting at a Trump rally, but they did say that Aurora police recruit regularly and at a wide range of events.
“Those events include Global Fest, Aurora Pride, Cinco de Mayo and Juneteenth events, Black Arts Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, Taste of Ethiopia, and this summer’s Blue Angels Air Show in Colorado Springs and the National Asian Peace Officers’ Association annual conference in Nashville, to name just a few,” said police spokesperson Joe Moylan. The unit recently
recruited at at a job fair sponsored by “Congressman Jason Crow’s (a Democrat),” police said.
Moylan said APD is “welcoming of all people interested in pursuing a rewarding career in law enforcement, regardless of their race, gender, cultural heritage, religion, sexual orientation, political affiliation or background.”
The department’s new chief, Todd Chamberlain — has not yet responded to criticism about the ethics and optics of soliciting recruits at a political gathering , especially one for a candidate who has repeatedly stoked unfounded fears of minority immigrants in Aurora.
Trump came to the Gaylord Rockies Resort on Friday after weeks of campaigning on a false narrative inspired by Republican Aurora Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky that parts of Aurora has been overrun by members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan prison gang also known as TdA. Aurora police and city management have debunked those claims, saying the group has only a limited presence in a few apartments in the city and is not a major public safety threat. Republican Mayor Mike Coffman also criticized Trump for perpetuating false narratives about immigrants — fears Coffman at first helped Jurinsky stoke in news interviews and social media posts in August.
Coffman did not answer inquiries Monday about the department’s recruitment efforts.
Police departments nationwide report facing challenges hiring new officers. According to the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, “Public perception of law enforcement has worsened since the highly publicized” police killings of George Floyd and others in 2020 and “negativity and lack of support surrounding law enforcement have led to a record number of resignations and retirements.” The bulletin cites a study by the Police Executive Research Forum showing that law enforcement recruitment is down 27% to 60%, depending on the area.
Aurora Police Department faces additional recruiting challenges because of a long and highly publicized string of excessive force and other misconduct by its officers. APD has been under a state order, called a consent decree, since 2021 after an investigation by the Colorado attorney general into its re-
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cord. That probe found “patterns and practices” of excessive use of force, especially against people of color. The decree requires APD to mend its ways by 2027.
Councilmember Coombs said recruiting at a rally for a presidential candidate who spent most of his speech demonizing immigrants doesn’t help a police force already distrusted the city’s immigrant and minority communities.
“Trump’s scapegoating of immigrants and mass deportation rhetoric is bald-faced fascism,” she said. “That’s not who we want in the police department for a city where one-fifth of our people are immigrants.”
Auon’tai M. Anderson, a metro civil rights activist who has spearheaded recent protests against the department since the officer-involved killing of Kilyn Lewis, an unarmed Black man being arrested in May, said he is “not surprised” that APD tried recruiting officers at a rally “built around fear-mongering against Black and brown people.”
“It’s unfortunate they’re not even trying to look like they’re taking the consent decree seriously,” he said.
“It’s January Sixth all over again,” said V Reeves, a spokesperson for Housekeys Action Network Denver, a group working with the Venezuelans and other immigrants in the city. “It’s incredibly dangerous when we see law enforcement that’s supposed to be impartial has strong alliances with a candidate who is actively spewing hate and inciting violence against migrants.”
Recruiting for officers at anti-immigrant, or any, political events, she said, “Just shows how corrupt the system is.”
Councilmember Crystal Murillo, who is the daughter of immigrants from Mexico, said racist messaging at Friday’s Trump rally and a threatening phone call from an unidentified white supremacist during the Sept. 9 council meeting have made her feel unsafe in the city she has been elected to help govern. Fearing those events might embolden someone prone to violence, she’s planning to attend tonight’s council meeting virtually rather than in-person “as an extra layer of security for myself.”
— Susan Greene, Sentinel Reporter in Residence
Colorado Dems skewer Trump in Aurora ahead of campaign rally at Gaylord
Before former President Donald Trump arrived in Aurora Oct. 11 for a campaign rally, local Democratic leaders pushed back against his rhetoric, accusing him of spreading misinformation and demonizing immigrants for political gain.
“Donald Trump has invited himself to Aurora to do what he does best — demonize immigrants and lie to serve his own political purposes,” said Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet during a press conference held Friday morning inside the Cheluna Brewing Company at The Stanley Marketplace in northwest Aurora.
Local officials, including Gov. Jared Polis, Sen. John Hickenlooper, and Reps. Jason Crow and Diana DeGette called the press event to rally support for Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Democrats said they want to hold Trump responsible for spreading misinformation about the Aurora community and killing the toughest bipartisan deal to secure the border in decades, officials stated.
For weeks, Trump has repeated a debunked narrative that Aurora has been overrun by Venezuelan gang members.
At the Stanley event, Polis, Bennet and Crow highlighted the positive changes in Aurora, one of Colorado’s fastest-growing and most diverse cities.
“The true Colorado gem, the great city of Aurora,” Polis said. “Of course, Aurora is a safe, vibrant, wonderful place to live.”
With a population of 400,000, Aurora has seen a notable decrease in crime over the past two years, including a 31% drop in auto theft and a 25% drop in burglary, Polis said.
Regional statistics show a similar drop in crime rates across the metro area, and in many places across the nation.
Polis attributed these local improvements to increased investment in law enforcement and targeted crime prevention efforts, such as targeting auto theft or funding additional prosecutors.
strength as a diverse community, with more than 130 languages spoken and nearly 20% of residents born outside the U.S. He criticized Trump’s attempts to divide the city, calling the former president’s rhetoric harmful and misleading.
The Democrats praised Harris, whom they described as committed to solving immigration issues and uniting communities like Aurora.
“Kamala Harris brings practical solutions,” said Polis, urging voters to support Harris in the upcoming election. The leaders framed the election as a choice between Harris’ forward-thinking leadership and Trump’s divisive politics.
As Aurora moved into the national spotlight, elected Democrats and others, including Republican Mayor Mike Coffman, said they hoped to shift the narrative, showcasing the city as a thriving, safe and inclusive place for families and businesses while rejecting Trump’s attempts to use it as a backdrop for his campaign.
With the election just weeks away, they called on Coloradans to stand together and reject what they described as a “toxic” political agenda.
“These lies and these distortions about immigrants and refugees in our community are designed to tear us apart and to pit us against each other so that we cannot unite and push back against his lies and distortions, but we will not do it because we know who we are,” Crow said. “We are Aurora strong.”
— Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Colorado
DA: No charges against Aurora officer who shot Kilyn Lewis during May arrest
District Attorney John Kellner said the Aurora police officer that fatally shot Kilyn Lewis during his arrest in May will not face criminal charges in the shooting.
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However, the focus quickly shifted to Trump, who Democrats say is using his visit to promote fear and division. They pointed to Trump’s past decisions, particularly his role in blocking bi-partisan created comprehensive immigration reform in Congress, as evidence that he is more interested in stoking political fires than solving real problems.
Senate Republicans twice blocked a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing the number of migrants allowed to claim asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, following pressure from Donald Trump, according to the Associated Press.
The bill, first rejected in February due to its link to a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and U.S. allies, has become a focal point amid growing concerns over immigration in this election year.
Bennett responded emotionally on Oct. 11, sounding angry about the effects Trump’s rhetoric has caused Colorado.
“He has such a pathological hatred for immigrants and for immigration in this country that he can’t even see the economic benefits of immigration in the United States or in our history,” Bennet said.
Crow emphasized Aurora’s
“I find that there is no criminal liability on the part of Officer Michael Dieck stemming from this (Officer Involved Shooting.) Criminal charges, therefore, are not appropriate or warranted related to the officer’s use of deadly force,” Kellner, 18th Judicial District Attorney said in a statement Oct. 11.
Family members of Lewis, who have boisterously and sometimes disruptively protested Aurora City Council meetings since June, said they were stunned by the decision. The family has repeatedly been critical of the department for what they deem was the wrongful police shooting of an unarmed Black man and a preventable death.
“We have not had adequate time to carefully review this report or provide a thorough response, but at first glance, we are deeply disappointed and outraged,” family members said in a statement that day. “The decisions made by the leaders of Aurora are a grave injustice.”
On Oct. 14, family members said they may ask for a change in state law, requiring prosecutors to divulge charging decisions first to families, then the public.
The family said they learned of the long-awaited decision through the media in the afternoon.
“The lack of respect and regard for our family is staggering as we have been present and begging for answers and transparency since we lost Kilyn,” Auon’tai Anderson, spokesperson for the Justice for Kilyn Action Team said
in the statement Friday.
It appears that Dieck will return to limited duty at the police department.
“Officer Dieck remains on restricted duty in a non-public facing role,” police spokesperson Joe Moylan said in a statement. “The investigation into the use of force by APD’s Force Investigation Unit, as well as the administrative review of the incident are ongoing.”
Kellner said he and investigators presented the shooting case to an Arapahoe County grand jury, which declined to hear it.
Five officers rushed onto Lewis May 23 while attempting to arrest him at an Aurora apartment parking lot. Police bodycam video showed that only one officer, Dieck, fired at Lewis as he raised his hands above his head, holding a mobile phone in one hand.
The Lewis family and supporters have been outspoken in its condemnation of the actions of Dieck, demanding consequences for him from police and city lawmakers. Appearing at every city council meeting since May, protesters have sometimes been raucous, often disrupting meetings.
In video clips taken from the perspectives of multiple officers, Lewis can be seen raising his hands, one of which held a phone, before Dieck fired the single shot that police say caused Lewis’ death.
Lewis had run-ins with law enforcement prior to May, pleading guilty to separate incidents of robbery, child abuse, trespassing and illegally discharging a firearm. State records show he served time in Colorado’s Department of Corrections.
After the Denver shooting, police officials said Aurora and Denver police tracked Kilyn Lewis to an apartment complex in the 300 block of South Ironton Street, where Aurora SWAT officers confronted him as he was standing near the open trunk of a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo, one of the vehicles visible on surveillance camera footage taken of the drive-by shooting weeks prior.
The body-worn camera footage released in June shows officers approaching Kilyn Lewis with their guns raised and demanding that Lewis get on the ground.
Kilyn Lewis starts to back away and reaches behind his back. He then moves his hands, one of which holds a cellphone, from behind his back and raises them, and is shot once by Dieck. As he falls to the ground, Kilyn Lewis yells multiple times, “I don’t have nothing.” Family members have repeatedly asked for unedited and all body cam video from the shooting, but as of last week, had not received it, a spokesperson for the family said.
In the Oct. 11 report, investigators essentially repeated that description of events, adding some detail.
“The officers converged on Mr. Lewis with weapons drawn, identifying themselves as police officers, and yelling repeated commands for him to show his hands and get on the ground,” according to the investigation report.
“Mr. Lewis initially showed his left hand but did not follow commands and instead dropped his right hand to his right rear pocket and began to dig in that pocket, out of direct view by the officers.
“Mr. Lewis then brought his hand up from his right rear pocket holding something in his hand. At that point, Officer Mike Dieck of the APD SWAT team fired one round from his pistol, striking Mr. Lewis in the stomach.”
The investigation says that Lewis fell to the ground and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died.
The report cites an autopsy, revealing that the cause of death was the gunshot wound to the abdomen.
“Toxicology results revealed recent cocaine and fentanyl use by Mr. Lewis,” the report states.
Kellner said he accepted Dieck’s explanation for firing at Lewis.
“Dieck explained that he fired because he believed the object in Mr. Lewis’ hand was a firearm, and based on the totality of the circumstances, including Mr. Lewis’ body movement, moving towards the officers when confronted, the crime Mr. Lewis was wanted for, and his violent history, that Lewis was preparing to shoot at Dieck and other officers,” Kellner stated.
— Sentinel Staff
COPS AND COURTS
Former social worker admits to
faking brain cancer to dodge prosecution in Aurora false child abuse case
A former Arapahoe County social worker admitted she faked having brain cancer to avoid prosecution for falsely accusing an Aurora City Council member of child abuse.
On Oct. 8, Robin Niceta pleaded guilty to charges of forgery, criminal impersonation, attempting to influence a public servant, tampering with physical evidence and two lesser misdemeanors of second-degree forgery.
Niceta was charged after calling in a bogus child-abuse tip about Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky to the Arapahoe County child services agency where Niceta worked. Jurinsky had previously criticized Niceta’s girlfriend, former Aurora police Chief Vanessa Wilson, on a talk radio show.
Investigators tracked the call back to Niceta after case workers looked into it and cleared the claims against Jurinsky.
As the case against Niceta was heading to court, her lawyers tried to delay the proceedings, eventually asking to evaluate her competency to stand trial, claiming she was suffering from glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Niceta’s lawyers provided prosecutors with images they claimed were scans of a brain tumor, along with medical reports signed by “C. Marquez M.D.” from New Mexico Oncology and a letter purportedly from the City of Hope cancer treatment center in California.
Investigations revealed that she forged the cancer documents and made up the name of the doctor, oncology center and treatment center. The investigation found that she forged websites and phone numbers for the establishments that all led back to her.
“This defendant went to great lengths to fake a terminal illness and fabricate records to avoid facing justice,” Chief Deputy DA Chris Gallo said in a news release. “The Arapahoe
County Sheriff’s Office spent countless hours gathering evidence to unravel Niceta’s scam.”
In November 2023, Niceta was found guilty of attempting to influence a public servant and making a false child abuse report. She received a fouryear sentence in the Department of Corrections.
“It’s absurd that a former social worker, entrusted to protect children,
maliciously attempted to tear a family apart with false accusations,” District Attorney John Kellner said in the news release. “Her actions were spiteful, vindictive and wasted numerous county resources.”
Niceta is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 17, 2025 for faking the cancer diagnosis.
— Cassandra Ballard, Sentinel Staff Writer
•
•
Get in the Halloween spirit and join us for Treat Street, Oct. 19 and 20, from 11 a.m.–4
TRUMP’S AURORA RALLY PROMPTS A
NEIGHBORHOOD
COUNTER-PROTEST
AND A FIESTA
Donald Trump’s visit to Aurora ignited strong reactions from community leaders and residents of the Edge at Lowry apartments, who gathered to protest his rhetoric on immigration and broader political agenda.
Residents of the Edge, a multi-building apartment complex in northwest Aurora, and community leaders organized a “Fiesta at the Barrio” to show they are just people, not the dangerous elements Trump has portrayed.
The Edge and two other apartment complexes nearby have become the center of local and national controversy. Police and city officials say there have been limited Venezuelan gang issues in some of the buildings. But they blame problems primarily on negligent apartment landlords, police and city officials say. Conditions at the property are “unlivable,” and the city is currently pushing court orders to make repairs, restore electricity, plumbing and water.
Mayor Mike Coffman has called property owners, “slumlords.”
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, however, has for the past few weeks falsely insisted that Venezuelan gangs have overrun the apartment buildings, and the entire city. Police maintain the actual gang issues are a minor problem in the area.
The controversy drew Trump to a rally Friday at the Gaylord Rockies hotel, about 10 miles east of the Edge.
Immigrant rights groups and local advocates led a demonstration before the fiesta, Friday highlighting frustrations with Trump’s policies and his continued targeting of immigrant communities.
Local elected leaders, including Aurora City Councilmember Crystal Murillo and state House representatives Tim Hernandez and Mandy Lindsay, joined the protest to address what they say is harm to immigrants and minorities caused by Trump’s rhetoric.
“This is fear-mongering and lies for political gain,” said V Reeves, a Housekeys Action Network Denver spokesperson. “These are families and hard-working people being villainized.”
She said the demonization has already had real consequences for many Venezuelan and Spanish-speaking residents.
“A lot of them lost their jobs, folks who still have their jobs, folks who have work permits, folks who have citizenship, those folks have found that their hours have been cut in half,” Reeves said. “They’re being told by their bosses not to let anybody know that they’re Venezuelan.”
V, along with representatives from the National Immigration Law Center Immigration Justice Fund and the Colorado Immigration Rights Coalition Action Fund, condemned not only Trump but also local political figures like Aurora City Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky and U.S. Representative Lauren Boebert, Republicans who they accused of exacerbating the situation.
Jurinsky appeared repeatedly on Fox News as well as local right-leaning TV, radio and print media saying that mainstream media, city government and police were hiding or downplaying the gravity of Venezuelan gang involvement in northwest Aurora. She said apartment complexes and some streets were overrun by Venezuelan gangs. She has since made attempts to backpedal from her original claims.
Reeves detailed how anti-immigrant sentiment created by the Venezuelan hysteria has affected a wide range of immigrant families, who have suffered work losses and opportunities.
Children, too, Reeves said, have faced bullying, and many families now fear harassment in public spaces.
A mother of two previous residents at a CBZ Management apartment, Yuemys Perez-Aponte told the Sentinel that her sons were falsely identified as members of the Venezuela gang Tren de Aragua. She said that when the Aurora Police Department let them go because they lacked evidence of them being gang members, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials immediately picked them up and placed them in detention, even though they had already applied for asylum.
Reeves said that Perez-Aponte’s sons were initially arrested for sweeping empty bullet shells off their porch, and police cited it as tampering with evidence. Their mugshots have been used throughout national media, and she aims to clear
their names.
Activists urged the city to take responsibility for improving housing conditions at the Edge at Lowry, demanding safety measures and financial assistance. They emphasized that without proper support, tenants would continue to face extreme hardships, long-term debt and homelessness.
Aurora is currently embroiled in legal action in municipal court in an attempt to force property owners to restore the buildings and apartment to habitable and safe conditions.
Repeated calls to CBZ officials from the Sentinel have gone unreturned.
Immigrant rights officials and Aurora immigrant residents insist that rhetoric by Trump, Boebert and Jurinsky, amplified by media and social media portend grave dangers for minority and immigrants.
Will Dempster, vice president of strategic communications at the National Immigration Law Center Immigrant Justice Fund, delivered a passionate address recalling Trump’s “legacy of racism and cruelty” toward immigrants.
“Ever since he came down his golden escalator nine years ago, Donald Trump has attacked and spread lies about immigrants,” Dempster said.
He warned that Trump’s promises of mass deportations in a potential second term would have devastating consequences for communities across Colorado and the nation.
“Trump is only stoking hate and division for political gain,” Dempster said.
City Council Member Crystal Murillo reflected on the fear and division Trump’s visit stirred in Aurora.
“It’s been a really long week in Aurora with the impending and ultimate visit of Trump,” Murillo said. She criticized CBZ Management, as well as political officials, for neglecting Venezuelan residents and using intimidation tactics to keep them silent. Murillo condemned the deplorable conditions many immigrant families were forced to endure, pointing to the systemic failures that allowed such mistreatment to continue.
State Rep. Mandy Lindsay, D-Aurora, also expressed deep frustration with the national spotlight on Aurora due to Trump’s false narrative.
“It’s disgusting to have people in leadership,
in the city council, or former presidents say outright, provably false lies again and again,” she said.
Lindsay warned of dangers caused by a rise in vigilante actions spurred by social media, where outsiders have come to Aurora to make false claims about the community. Her concerns reflected the broader fears shared by many that Trump’s rhetoric was causing real-world harm.
Hernandez, a former public school teacher and state representative representing Denver, spoke passionately about the impact of Trump’s policies on undocumented students and families in Aurora. He called Trump’s call for mass deportations “a fascist policy, outcome and choice.”
“Mass deportation is not a solution to a border crisis; it is an act of hate,” he said.
Faith leader Pastor Tracy of Mountain View United Church also joined the rally, emphasizing the moral imperative to welcome immigrants.
“In Aurora, we care for our neighbors no matter where they were born,” she said. “Hate is not welcome in Aurora. We are diverse, we are strong, and we are united.”
Trump’s visit to Aurora may have stirred tensions, but it also galvanized a community whose members say are ready to fight for justice. The rally was more than a response to Trump’s rhetoric — it was a broader statement about Aurora’s commitment to inclusion and dignity for all residents.
“The city must stop siding with out-of-state slumlords who profit off our community’s suffering,” Reeves said.
The rally ended as a street party among residents in the neighborhood celebrated a mild fall Friday night with music, grilled foods, games and dancing.
BOTTOM RIGHT: A resident of The Edge At Lowry looks at a sign on the apartment complex Oct. 11, 2024 during a protest and fiesta countering anti-immigrant rhetoric Donald Trump delivered to a rally in Aurora earlier in the day. TOP LEFT AND RIGHT: Residents at The Edge of Lowry and nearby celebrate during a fiesta in the parking lot, celebrating a warm fall day. Many of the residents are Venezuelan immigrants, under scrutiny because of a false anti-immigrant narrative promoted by Donald Trump and Aurora City Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky.
PHOTOS BY TRI DUONG/Sentinel Colorado
BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Staff Writer
Less is best
CONSIDER THE ‘MINOR BULBS’ — CROCUSES, SNOWDROPS AND MORE — WHEN PLANTING FOR SPRING
BY JESSICA DAMIANO, Associated Press
As the summer garden winds down, it’s time to think about spring flowers, and the best way to ramp them up would be to plant bulbs now.
We’re all familiar with tulips, daffodils and hyacinths, the popular, colorful -- and omnipresent – harbingers of spring. But there’s a class of lesser-known beauties called minor bulbs that may not get as much attention, and that’s unfortunate because they can provide the earliest splashes of color when our souls need it the most.
Make no mistake: Minor bulbs get their name from their size, not their importance in the garden. Most are less than an inch in diameter, which makes them easy to plant, but their impact is great.
They also tend to “naturalize,” or multiply, each year, and can be planted in large groupings under trees and shrubs or even right in the lawn, where their foliage usually dies down just as mowing season begins. You might even interplant minor bulbs with tulips and daffodils to start the party early.
Perhaps the most well-known of the minor bulbs is the crocus, which displays white, cream, purple, lavender, orange or yellow flowers above 2- to 5-inch-tall stems and grassy foliage.
Winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) is another ground-hugger, reaching only 3-6 inches tall. Its shiny, upward-facing, yellow, buttercup flowers will unleash a carpet of color over bare soil or a dormant lawn as you await the beginning of spring. It’s also great in rock gardens.
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalus) is a 3- to 6-inch plant in the Amaryllis family with dainty, white flowers that bloom in late winter.
Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa) is a lovely 4- to 6-inch plant with tiny, upward-facing, star-shaped blue flowers with white centers.
Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are among the tallest of the minor bulbs. The armeniacum species tops out at roughly
6-8 inches tall with blue or purple, densely packed, urnshaped flowers reminiscent of tiny grape clusters. The latifolium species, named for its broad foliage, offers similarly shaped but unique color-blocked, blue-and-purple flowers on foot-tall stems.
Spacing, depth and other bulb-planting tips
Regardless of which bulbs you decide to plant, I’m giving you permission to ignore the spacing recommendations that come with them (you must, however, plant at the recommended depth for each bulb type). This advice applies to major bulbs like tulips, as well.
Never plant any bulbs in single-file rows, which, I promise, will lead to disappointment. Instead, group them together, ideally in drifts of 12, 20, 100 or more. If that sounds expensive, you’re right; it can be. Look for bulbs sold in bags for the best value or buy from catalogs that offer bulk pricing (I’ve also had good results with some I purchased at a warehouse club).
When planting directly into the lawn, don’t fret about placement. Just toss a handful of bulbs into the air and plant them where they land. In spring, they’ll look like they’ve been there for years. Trust me on this.
No need to fertilize them now. Those little bulbs contain all they need to survive winter, grow, thrive and bloom. The time to feed them, if necessary, is right after their flowers die down in spring.
To discourage critters from making a winter meal of your spring garden, add a handful of crushed oyster shells to each hole or cover a bed of bulbs with chicken wire before backfilling with soil. Plants will grow through the buried wire openings, but squirrels and other digging animals won’t be able to gain access. If burrowing creatures are a problem, lay the chicken wire both above and below the bulbs before burying, or lay the bulbs in a specially made bulb cage or basket and bury the whole thing.
ABOVE: This image provided by Quintessential Gardens shows glory of the snow growing beneath daffodils in Westport, Mass. on April 14, 2022.
Jessica Cook/Quintessential Gardens via AP
BELOW: This image shows grape hyacinths weaving around hostas in a garden in Fairfax County, Va., on April 9, 2024. Emmanuel Touhey via AP
scene & herd
Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra Unveils New Salon Series Highlighting Jazz’s Cultural Legacy
Working to deepen community engagement with jazz music and its cultural roots, the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra is launching a novel weekday Jazz Salon Series in partnership with the Aurora Fox Arts Center.
Curated by CJRO’s Artistic Director, Drew Zaremba, the series promises to be a dynamic and intimate experience for audiences, highlighting the intersection of music, culture, and community. The initiative marks a significant evolution in the orchestra’s programming and outreach, according to theater and orchestra officials.
The series, which will feature onehour sessions, aims to make jazz more accessible to a broad audience, including both students and adults.
“We want to create a space where music lovers of all backgrounds can immerse themselves in the storytelling power of jazz,” Zaremba said in a statement. “These salons are about more than just music. They are a way to connect with the history and culture that gave birth to jazz.”
The first installment, titled The Music of Latin America, is slated for Oct. 15 at the Aurora Fox Studio Theatre. This premier will delve into the musical heritage of Central and South America, focusing on vibrant genres like mambo, samba, and Tejano music.
Venezuelan-born keyboardist Victor Mestas will join Zaremba to guide attendees through the history and influence of these genres, offering a rich blend of music and cultural context.
“This session will not only be a treat for jazz lovers but will also serve as an educational experience,” Zaremba noted. “We want people to walk away with a deeper understanding of how the rhythms and sounds of Latin America have shaped jazz as we know it today.”
The salon is designed to be affordable and welcoming, with discounted ticket options for seniors, students, and children. Group rates are also available to ensure that the entire community has an opportunity to participate in this unique musical journey.
Since taking on the role of Artistic Director in 2020, Zaremba has been instrumental in expanding the CJRO’s artistic scope. A noted composer, conductor, and performer, Zaremba’s leadership has brought fresh energy to the orchestra. His efforts to integrate the works of local composers and experiment with different styles have pushed the boundaries of what a jazz orchestra can offer. The new salon series is a direct reflection of his commitment to creating innovative and culturally enriching programming.
“This series represents what I’ve always envisioned for the CJRO—tak-
ing jazz beyond the concert hall and creating an environment where people can truly engage with the music and its stories,” Zaremba said. “By exploring different eras, genres, and cultural influences, we’re able to show the depth and breadth of jazz in a way that’s meaningful and relevant to today’s audiences.”
Future sessions of the Jazz Salon Series promise to continue this exploration of jazz’s rich history and cultural significance.
In February, the salon will focus on The Birth of Jazz in New Orleans, tracing the genre’s origins in the African American communities of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
An April session will take attendees through Jazz from the 20th to the 21st Centuries, highlighting the transformative power of jazz across the decades and offering a behind-thescenes look at some of the most influential composers and performers of the last century.
Founded in 2012 by Art Bouton, the CJRO has built a reputation for excellence, consistently delivering powerful performances that span genres from swing to soul. Under Zaremba’s direction, the orchestra continues to attract top-tier musicians and collaborate with a diverse array of artists. As it approaches its 12th season, the CJRO remains a vital part of Colorado’s cultural landscape.
Tickets for the Jazz Salon Series can be purchased through the Aurora Fox box office or via the CJRO’s website. With limited seating available, the CJRO encourages jazz enthusiasts and newcomers alike to secure their spots early for what promises to be a series of thought-provoking and entertaining performances.
IF YOU GO:
The Music of Latin America
Oct. 15, 11 AM
Aurora Fox Studio Theatre, 9900 E. Colfax Ave.
Tickets: $10-$20 Group rates available
Details: coloradojazz.org or 303-739-1970.
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
Get your ticket to ride on the classical thrilling journey on Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express at the Vintage Theatre.
Whether you’re new to Agatha Christie or a longtime fan, you won’t want to miss this fantastic show, which boasts these classic lines: “We are losing heat and light, provisions are low, the passengers are angry and we have a dead man rotting in compartment two. How are things with you?” and “Examine your heart and tell us what you want.”
IF YOU GO:
Runs through Oct, 20. Fridays through Sundays. Curtains vary with weekly matinees available.
Tickets: $20-$36
Details and ticket sales: www.vintagetheatre.org/
Fall Into Fun Festival at city hall — for free
Celebrate the warm autumn with the City of Aurora’s annual Fall Into Fun festival.
This free family-friendly event will feature live performances by local musicians Jacob Larson, Cody Land-
strom, and Conjunto Colores.
Enjoy all kinds of local food from a food truck rodeo, shop at a variety of vendor booths, and take part in activities like trick-or-treating, playing on inflatables, face painting, a trackless train, and even mechanical bull riding.
Best part? Stop by the “GOURDgeous” pumpkin patch for a free souvenir.
Parking at city hall lots is free on a first-come, first-served basis. You can also take the R-Line to the Aurora Metro Station, and walk the short distance east on Alameda Parkway to the festival.
IF YOU GO:
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Oct. 19
Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway
Details: AuroraGov.org/ FallIntoFun.
13th Floor Haunted House
Denver’s ultimate Halloween event is back for encore boos. 13th Floor is Denver’s largest haunted house, boasted as one of the scariest haunted houses in the country. This legendary haunt returns for the 2024 season with NEW Mini Escape Games, new characters, a new layout, and two brand-new secret bars inside the haunt. Scare-fanatics will see the return of their favorite attractions such as the Shriekeasy, ‘The Sacred Skull: A Tiki Tarot Experience,’ Class Axe Throwing, Behind-The-Screams tours, Zombie Shooting Gallery, and No Name’s Curtain Chaos. Three new themes inside the haunt will take visitors through Crimson Night, Nautical Nightmare and Macabre. Get
IF YOU GO:
Tickets: $19.99 - $34.99
7 pm nightly from Oct. 2
3400 East 52nd Ave.
Details: http://13thfloordenver.com
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama
The Life and Art of Tokio Ueyama features more than 40 paintings loaned to the museum by the Japanese American National Museum and Ueyama’s family, whose combined efforts to preserve his work have allowed the story of this accomplished and cosmopolitan artist to be told at the Denver Art Museum for the first time.
Born in Japan, Tokio Ueyama moved to the United States in 1908 at age 18, where he made a home until his death in 1954. This exhibition tells the story of Ueyama’s life, including his early days as an art student in San Francisco, Southern California, and Philadelphia; his travels abroad in Europe and Mexico; his role as artist and community member in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles; and his unconstitutional incarceration during World War II at the Granada Relocation Center, now the Amache National Historic Site, in southeast Colorado.
Following the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941, Tokio and his wife Suye were among more than 120,000 Japanese Americans forcibly relocated into American concentration camps. More than 10,000 people were unconstitutionally incarcerated at Amache in the following years, making it the third largest “city” in Colorado at the time. There, Ueyama taught adult art classes to 150 students. This exhibition tells
a story of a time in Colorado’s history, of a place where Americans experienced dislocation and loss, and, more importantly, displayed unimaginable resilience, tenacity, and creativity in the face of prejudice.
IF YOU GO:
Tickets: Included in general admission, which is free for members and for all visitors 18 and under.
10 a.m. daily from Oct. 3
Denver Art Museum, 100 West 14th Ave Parkway
Details: 720-865-5000 and www.denverartmuseum.org/en/ exhibitions/tokio-ueyama Fun at the Firehouse
Come at 10 am on the first or third Saturday of each month for a fire-related story and craft time. You can even stick around after the craft for a guided children’s tour of the Museum that’s great for the whole family. Reservations are required to ensure appropriate supplies for the crafts. There will be a different book and craft each month.
IF YOU GO: 10 a.m. Oct. 19
Tickets: $9-$15 reservations required
Denver Firefighters Museum, 1326 Tremont Place
Details and RSVP: denverfirefightersmuseum.org
Discovering Teen Rex
Take an extraordinary journey into our prehistoric past with the arrival of “Discovering Teen Rex” as we unveil a remarkable fossil discovered by a crew of inquisitive young dino hunters in North Dakota. The fossil prep lab will be displayed alongside dinosaur fossils, including Triceratops and Edmontosaurus, from the Denver Museum of Nature and Science collection. The whole family is invited to come experience history in the making as our team of renowned paleontologists clean, preserve and study this rare adolescent T. rex fossil — one of only a handful found worldwide — before the public on the Museum floor.
IF YOU GO: Free with museum ticket purchase Daily 9-5
Tickets: $19.95-$25.95 Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd. Details: 303-370-6000 or at dmns.org
Vanity and Vice: American Art Deco
Delve into the vibrant era of 1920–1933 and explore the dynamic designs that emerged during this period of rebellion.
Step into the story of a progressive Prohibition-era woman as you journey through her boudoir and a speakeasy, immersing yourself in the Art Deco objects that defined her world. Experience the freedom and change of the time, as American women embraced independence both at home and in society.
From chic bobs to cocktail parties, this exhibition showcases the evolution of the modern woman through fashionable perfume atomizers, vanity sets, and stylish drinking and smoking accessories. Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco invites you to indulge in the
glamour of a bygone era. This special exhibition is included with admission and does not require a separate ticket.
IF YOU GO:
Through Jan. 12, 2025, opens at 11 a.m.
Kirkland Museum 1201 Bannock St. Info: www.kirklandmuseum.org/ vanity-vice/#
The Power of Poison
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science exhibition provides an interactive experience and incredible way to discover what you’ve always wanted to know about nature’s toxic arsenal. Through a live performance and interactive dioramas, the spellbinding “The Power of Poison” will take Museum visitors into familiar and novel tales of illness, enchantment and death by poison. Journeying through the Colombian forest, they will uncover fascinating secrets about the many plants and animals that wield poison as a potent tool for defense and survival. Finally, the exhibition will uncover how scientists are studying poison’s effects on human cells to protect, repair and heal our own bodies and improve our health.
IF YOU GO:
Open every day, 9 a.m-5 p.m., Most Fridays 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Included with museum admission ticket, $19.95-$24.95
2001 Colorado Blvd. Info: 303-370-6000 and www.dmns.org/
Fazal Sheikh: Thirst | Exposure | In Place
Fazal Sheikh: Thirst | Exposure | In Place is an exhibition created from three projects photographer Fazal Sheikh made on the Colorado Plateau from 2017 to early 2023. Sheikh’s portraits and landscapes shed light on the far-reaching consequences of extractive industry and climate change. The exhibition presents Sheikh’s recent work in three interrelated sections: Thirst is a new series of aerial photographs that document the decline of the Great Salt Lake in northeast Utah, which is shrinking due to overconsumption and dwindling rain and snowfall. Exposure examines the impacts of uranium, coal, oil and natural-gas extraction on the American Southwest and on its Indigenous inhabitants. In Place evokes the enduring landscapes of the Bears Ears region in Utah, bringing Sheikh’s photographs together with contributions from scientists and Indigenous communities in and around Bears Ears in southeastern Utah.
Visitors will reflect upon the transformation—and often devastation—of these landscapes in the context of the past, present and future, while considering the juxtaposition of beauty and catastrophe, as well as intimate, human-scale stories and those spanning vast geological eras and changes.
IF YOU GO:
Tickets: Free- $27.00
Through Oct. 20, 10 a.m.
Denver Art Museum 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy 720-865-5000
Info and tickets: www.denverartmuseum.org/en/ exhibitions/fazal-sheikh
Last season, the Cherokee Trail and Cherry Creek boys golf teams finished in a tie for second place at the Class 5A state tournament.
A year later and with nearly the same lineups, the same programs battled it out for the top prize over two days at CommonGround G.C., with the victory eventually going to the Bruins, who held off the Cougars by three strokes when the final round concluded Oct 8.
The Cherokee Trail foursome of senior Christopher O’Donnell, juniors Dalton Sisneros and Brayden Forte and sophomore Anthony Chen played blistering golf on the second day of the tournament, but couldn’t catch a steady Cherry Creek team, which finished 3-under-par.
“Getting some hardware is always good,” said first-year Cherokee Trail coach Ryan Stevens.
“I’m so proud of their effort. They battled their way all the way through to the end. These guys are exceptional golfers and their hard work came to fruition.”
Hardware comes home
Forte — who tied for second place at last season’s state tournament at Collindale G.C. in Fort Collins — carded a 1-under 70 on the final day that coupled with his 73 in the opening round and placed him 15th in his third state tournament appearance.
“On the front nine Monday, I missed about five putts from about six feet,” Rosman said. “They weren’t bad putts, I just couldn’t read greens. On the back nine, I started reading them a bit differently and shot 30 (5-under). Did it again today and played well, so I think if read the greens a bit differently I would have easily won.”
Rosman — who shot a 10-under-par 62 at a Centennial League tournament at Aurora Hills G.C. earlier in the season — earned the best individual finish since Devyn Solano took fourth in 2013 and may be the best in the program’s 25-plus year history.
His showing helped coach Kurtis Bailey’s Wolves finish 11th in the program’s first trip to state as a team since 2021.
Senior Andrew Sinar shot 74 in the second round to follow a 79 that put him in a tie for 49th, while freshman Sam Silver shaved seven strokes off his opening round score with a 78 in his final round to place 74th and sophomore Dominik Fedotov shot 82 after an 85 that put him 79th. Continental League champion Regis Jesuit dropped 10 strokes in the second round and coach Craig Rogers’ all-senior team of Sam Walker, Ryland Doolittle, Anthony Lore and Roland Thornton finished in ninth place.
BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor
By their own high standards, the Cougars stumbled a bit on the opening day with a score of plus-6 219, which put them in a tie for fifth place. But Cherokee Trail played like the best team in the state on the final day with a combined score of 6-under-par that was the best for any team in the tournament on either day and three strokes clear of the Centennial League rival Bruins and third-place Fossil Ridge for the best showing in the final round.
Leading the way for the Cougars as Sisneros, who tied for 14th as a sophomore, but played both of his rounds under par to finish in a three-way tie for third place. Sisneros shot a 2-under 69 in the opening round and was a shot better in the final round to gain three spots in the standings and finish in a deadlock with Fairview’s Miles Kuhl and Columbine’s Alex Lest.
“I just stayed patient and that was the main thing that kept me in it the whole time,” Sisneros said. “I like this course historically and I felt like I was able to attack the greens.”
O’Donnell finished 52nd as a freshman, 62nd as a sophomore, 25th as a junior and tied for 28th to cap his career. He finished three places lower than in 2023, but with the overall improvement of the field, had a two-day score of 146 that was seven strokes better than the previous season. O’Donnell’s final career state round was a 2-under 69 that moved him up from 52nd coming into the final day after he shot 77 to open.
Chen also shot 77 to open and made it 4-for-4 for Cherokee Trail players to shoot better scores in the second round as he carded a 73 that put him in a tie for 41st. That marked a one-place improvement from 2023, though his score was nine strokes better.
The Aurora area also had the individual runner-up in Grandview senior Michael Rosman, who finished just a stroke behind Castle View’s Gavin Amella for medalist honors.
Rosman played the final 27 holes of the tournament at a sparkling 9-under-par, but he was plus-1 on his opening nine holes and that ultimately kept him from overcoming Amella.
Walker tied for 28th at state after winning a regional championship the previous week, as he shot a 1-under 70 on the final day to go with a 76 for a two-day total of 146, which was seven strokes better than in 2023, when he placed 25th.
Doolittle and Lore were next for the Raiders as they finished in an Aurora-dominated five-way tie for 41st (which also included Cherokee Trail’s Chen) with two-day totals of 150. Doolittle shot 75 in both rounds of his only career state tournament appearance, while Lore made a 10-stroke improvement on his state showing from 2023 (when he tied for 49th) with rounds of 76 and 74. Thornton represented Regis Jesuit at the state tournament for the fourth time in his career and he finished in a tie for 53rd with a two-day total of 154 (which included a 73 in the final round).
Eaglecrest junior Gregory White tied for 15th as the best result among the Aurora area’s three individual qualifiers. White fired a 2-under 69 in the second round to jump up from 30th to 15th. Smoky Hill sophomore Reece Nuwash tied for 32nd
rounds of 74 and 73,
witih
while Buffs’ junio Hudson Roth finished 83rd.
COUGARS’ PRIZE: From left, junior Brayden Forte, senior Christopher O’Donnell, junior Dalton Sisneros and sophomore Anthony Chen pose with the runner-up trophy after the conclusion of the 2024 Class 5A boys golf state tournament
Oct. 8 at CommonGround
G.C. (Photo by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
HUNTING WOLF: Grandview senior Michael Rosman adjusts the medal he won as the runner-up in the individual standings at the Class 5A boys golf state tournament Oct. 8 at CommonGround G.C. Rosman played in the final group and finished by Castle View’s Gavin Amella by a single stroke. (Photos by Courtney Oakes/Aurora Sentinel)
CLASS 5A BOYS GOLF
SOFTBALL League champs Cherokee Trail, Vista PEAK Prep part of 5A regional field
The Colorado High School Activities Association released seedings and pairings for the Class 5A softball regional postseason Oct. 14 and the 32-team field included Aurora area representatives in Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview and Vista PEAK Prep.
Cherokee Trail finished the regular season 19-4, which included a 6-3 home victory over Grandview Oct. 9 that secured the Centennial League championship. Coach Caley Mitchell’s team got a five-RBI performance from Sydney Cobb — who hit a tie-breaking three-run home run in the bottom of the 6th inning — and 5 2/3 strong innings of relief from Emma Rice (who also had an RBI) to earn a second straight league crown.
The Cougars landed the top seed in the postseason and will play host to No. 16 Chaparral, No. 17 Grand Junction and No. 32 Pine Creek at the Aurora Sports Park in Region 1 play. Two teams from Region 1 and from the other seven regionals will qualify to play in the 5A state tournament Oct. 25-26.
A second league champion from the area is Vista PEAK Prep, which won a 15-12, 8-inning thriller at Denver South Oct. 12 to take the City League crown. In a game resumed in the 2nd inning after it was suspended by weather back in August, the Bison made a tag out at the plate in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings. Amara Herrera drove in Lauren Reed with the goahead run and Jaya Gray followed with a two-run, inside-the-park home run to put coach John Waller’s team in front and Herrera got the last three outs to secure the program’s first league championship. Vista PEAK Prep is the No. 28 seed in the postseason and will play in the Region 5 tournament starting Oct. 18 at No. 5 Legend with No. 12 Erie and No. 21 Brighton. After the loss to Cherokee Trail, coach Liz Carter’s Grandview team finished the season 17-6. The Wolves go the No. 9 overall seed and will travel to the Western Slope for the Region 8 tournament that is hosted at Canyon View Park by No. 8 Fruita Monument. The regional also includes No. 24 Heritage and No. 25.
Eaglecrest posted a 14-9 regular season record that landed it the No. 15 seed. Coach Yvette Hendrian’s Raptors will be part of the Region 2 tournament (with No. 18 Fossil Ridge and No. 31 Vista Ridge) set for Oct. 18 at No. 2 Broomfield.
FOOTBALL
Aurora teams post 4-7 record in Week 7 play
Week 7 of the prep football season included a mix of close and lopsided results in games involving Aurora teams, which finished a combined 4-7.
Eaglecrest remains atop the city in teams of total wins with five, but the Raptors fell short in their quest for No. 6 with a 14-13 loss at Cherokee Trail Oct. 11. Coach Jesse German’s team got two touchdown passes from Joe Steiner to Burke Wityhcombe in the last two minutes — sandwiched around an onside kick recovery from Elvis Ampofo — but a failed 2-point try made the difference.
Coach Justin Jajczyk’s Cherokee Trail team got two fourth-down touchdown passes from Tyson Smith — one to Brian Cusack and the other to Brandon Mc-
Cullough — plus a key stop from Noah Collins on the Eaglecrest two-point try to improve to 3-4 and join the Raptors at 1-1 in Centennial League play.
Regis Jesuit continued its recent roll with a 45-7 Southern League home win over Fountain-Fort Carson Oct. 11. Coach Danny Filleman’s Raiders (4-3, 2-0) stretched their win streak to four games with help from a defensive touchdown from Will Anzures (on an interception return) and one on special teams when Cade Filleman took back a fumbled snap on a punt to the end zone. Luke Rubley threw two long touchdown passes to JoJo Hernandez and Joe Pron scored twice.
Overland stretched its winning streak to two games and boosted its record to 3-4 overall (plus 2-0 in the 5A Metro North League) with a 50-21 win at Westminster Oct. 11. Coach Tony Lindsay Sr.’s Trailblazers saw Jarrius Ward rush for 190 yards and two TDs, while Dejay Davenport rushed for a score and caught a scoring pass from Angel Chavez.
Grandview got touchdown passes from two different quarterbacks (two from Blitz McCarty and one from Cade Hirstine) en route to a 49-0 Centennial League win over Smoky Hill Oct. 10. Coach Tom Doherty’s Wolves (3-4, 1-1 Centennial League) also got two rushing scores from Caleb Llamas as well as one apiece from McCarty and Chris Blanks, while Xay Neto, Aaron Ball and Logan Meines all got receiving scores vs. coach Brandon Alconcel’s Buffs (0-7, 0-2).
Rangeview fell below .500 with a 2114 5A Front Range South League road loss to Horizon Oct. 11 at North Stadium despite a passing touchdown (to Jay’Sean Toliver-Qualls) and rushing score for Tyson Tuck. Coach Chris Dixon’s Raiders are now 3-4 overall and 0-2 in league. Also going down to defeat were coach
Chris Kelly’s Aurora Central team (2-5, 0-2 in 4A Denver Metro League) with a 28-0 loss to George Washington Oct. 10, along with Vista PEAK Prep (3-4, 0-2 in 5A Front Range South League) with a 500 loss to Erie Oct. 11, coach Rashad Mason’s Gateway team (1-6, 0-2 in 4A I-25 League) with a 40-0 loss at Centaurus Oct. 12 and coach Dennis York’s Hinkley team, which fell 53-0 to Kennedy Oct. 11.
BOYS TENNIS
Players from four city teams 5A state bound
Four Aurora programs had individuals or doubles teams earn their way through regional tournaments to get into the Class 5A boys tennis individual state tournament, which runs Oct. 17-19 at the Denver Tennis Park.
Regis Jesuit finished 7-for-7 in Region 2 play on its own courts Oct. 10-11 with singles players Alec Rodriguez-Fields (No. 1), Blake Wright (No. 2) and Sebastian Wright (No. 3) moving on along with doubles teams in Clay Dickey and Vlad Sukhovetskyy (No. 1), KC Eckenhausen and Adam Rydel (No. 2), Carl Siegel and Edward Samuelson (No. 3) and Spencer Buege and Aiden Prananta (No. 4).
Grandview played host to the Region 7 tournament and got through singles players Justin Son (No. 1), Kaahan Wani (No. 2) and Krish Wani (No. 3) and No. 2 doubles team of Atharv Peroor and Nathan McIsaac as regional champs. Blake Hardin and Carter Benson got in as No. 1 doubles runners-up.
Cherokee Trail played in Region 5 and came away with two singles berths for Sachin Suresh at No. 2 and Clark Deleeuw at No. 3, along with doubles state spots for the No. 3 team of Ali Minhajuddin and Dillon Ray plus Eddy Tay
and Kunj Patel in the No. 4 spot. Smoky Hill got in Kaelen Szumny and Pravinh Jaine at Nos. 2 and 3 singles.
WEEK PAST
The week past in Aurora prep sports
FRIDAY, OCT. 11: The Aurora Central boys cross country team won the Colorado League championship in a tiebreaker over Skyview at the Aurora Sports Park. Led by Alfonso Zamora in third, the Trojans had five of the top nine finishers. Anayelli Munoz took fourth for Aurora Central in the girls race. ... THURSDAY, OCT. 10: The Cherokee Trail girls volleyball team opened the Centennial League Challenge with an 11-kill effort from Londyn Donaldson in a 25-5, 2511, 25-18 victory against Overland Eaglecrest (to Arapahoe), Smoky Hill (to Cherry Creek) and Grandview (to Mullen despite 19 saves from Savannah Adams and 15 from Sajal Glunz) all lost their first round matches. ...Yaman Khudhair’s goal in the later stages of the second half lifted the Overland boys soccer team to a 3-2 win over Eaglecrest. Raayan Balkis had the other two goals for the ‘Blazers, while Adam Keresemo and Ethan Robl scored for the Raptors. ...The Vista PEAK Prep boys soccer team got goals in the second half from Damian Rios and Israel Martin-Tinajero to win 2-0 at Rangeview. ...In battle of the top two teams in Class 5A, the Cherokee Trail softball team fell to undefeated Broomfield 1-0. Kaitlyn Hendrian hit a walk-off grand slam for the Eaglecrest softball team in 15-12 win over Cherry Creek in 10 innings to conclude the Centennial League Challenge. Hendrian had two homers and seven RBI. ...Colton White of the Grandview boys cross country team finished
second to lead locals at the Centennial League Championship race at deKoevend Park. Evan Valencia joined White in the top five in fifth for the Wolves, who were fourth. Dylan Smith (7th) paced Cherokee Trail to a city-best third. The Cherokee Trail girls cross country team finished third behind Jade McDaniel (4th) and Clara Kapfer (10th), while Eaglecrest’s Jenna Winn (9th) also made the top 10. ...The Regis Jesuit girls flag football team blanked Ponderosa 19-0 behind Delaney Sitzmann’s two touchdown passes to Catherine Eure and another score from Mayte Barnes WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9: The Cherokee Trail girls volleyball team finished 7-0 in Centennial League play in the regular season with a 25-19, 25-22, 27-25 road sweep of Cherry Creek. Ella Notheisen piled up 21 kills and Kassie Cooley added 14, while Avery Krause recorded 42 assists. ...Alicia Davis scored vis rush and reception for the Smoky Hill girls flag football team, which downed Overland 38-6. ...The Smoky Hill field hockey team won its sixth game in a row with a 3-1 defeat of Pine Creek. ...TUESDAY, OCT. 8: The Grandview girls volleyball team secured a 25-23, 25-18, 25-22 Centennial League home sweep of Eaglecrest. ...The Rangeview girls volleyball team swept past Hinkley Jack De Simone had two goals, while Charles Sharp had a goal and three assists for the Regis Jesuit boys soccer team in a 5-0 win over Chaparral. ...The Cherokee Trail boys soccer team scored topped Smoky Hill 2-1 Brandom Funez scored a goal for the Gateway boys soccer team in a 1-0 victory over Adams City. ...Aniyah Baltazar hit a grand slam and homered twice with seven RBI in the Overland softball team’s 20-11 win at Kennedy.
TOP: Jubilant players from the Vista PEAK Prep softball team pose with the City League championship trophy it won with a 15-12 victory at Denver South Oct. 12. The Bison rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth inning and held on to win the program’s first league title. ABOVE LEFT: Cherokee Trail senior Brandon McCullough, right, pulls in a touchdown pass in front of Eaglecrest’s Cy White during the Cougars’ 14-13 Centennial League win over the Raptors Oct. 11 at Legacy Stadium. ABOVE RIGHT: Overland’s Sahniya Vaughn (5) heads upfield in a Centennial League girls flag football game with Eaglecrest Oct. 7.Vaughn scored, but the Raptors won 40-18. (PHOTOS BY COURTNEY OAKES/AURORA SENTINEL)
meeting may be obtained at www.eaglebendmetro.com or by calling (303) 858-1800. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: EAGLE BEND METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Colorado /s/ WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law Publication: October 17, 2024 Sentinel
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AMENDED 2024 BUDGET
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the SADDLE ROCK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”), will hold a public hearing at 22251 E Ridge Trail Drive, Aurora, Colorado and via teleconference on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., to consider adoption of the District’s proposed 2025 budget (the “Proposed Budget”), and, if necessary, adoption of an amendment to the 2024 budget (the “Amended Budget”). The public hearing may be joined using the following teleconference information: https://us06web.zoom.us/ j/81499005214?pwd=OXNLOCs5b01SVXQ5YzU5Q1RNVm54QT09
Meeting ID: 814 9900 5214 Passcode: 733160 1-720-707-2699
The Proposed Budget and Amended Budget are available for inspection by the public at the offices of Simmons & Wheeler, 304 Inverness Way S #490, Englewood, CO 80112.
Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the Proposed Budget and Amended Budget at any time prior to the final adoption of the Proposed Budgets or the Amended Budgets by the Board. The agenda for any meeting may be obtained at https://engage.goenumerate. com/s/saddlerockmetro or by calling (303) 858-1800. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: SADDLE ROCK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT, quasi-municipal corporations and political subdivisions of the State of Colorado /s/ WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law Publication: October 17, 2024 Sentinel NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AMENDED 2024 BUDGET
The Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the COAL CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1 (the “District”), will hold a public hearing via teleconference on October 22, 2024, at 1:00 p.m., to consider
Meeting ID: 818 9800 9953 Passcode: 475263 Call In Number: 720-707-2699
The Proposed Budget and Amended Budget are available for inspection by the public at the offices of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 East Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111.
Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the Proposed Budget and Amended Budget at any time prior to the final adoption of the Proposed Budget or the Amended Budget by the Board.
The agenda for any meeting may be obtained at coalcreekmetrodistrict.org or by calling (303) 858-1800. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIREC-
TORS: COAL CREEK METROPOLITAN DIS-
TRICT NO. 1, a quasi-municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Colorado /s/ White Bear Ankele Tanaka & Waldron Attorneys at Law
Publication: October 17, 2024 Sentinel
NOTICE OF VACANCIES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EASTPARK70 METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the EastPark70 Metropolitan District of Adams County, Colorado.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, pursuant to Section 32-1-808, C.R.S., that vacancies currently exist on the board of directors of the EastPark70 Metropolitan District (“District”). Any qualified, eligible elector of the District interested in filling a vacancy and serving on the board of directors should file a Letter of Interest with the board of directors of the District on or before the close of business on Monday, October 28, 2024, c/o the District’s General Counsel, McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203.
Forms of Letters of Interest are available and can be obtained from: EastPark70 Metropolitan District, c/o Jennifer Pino at McGeady Becher Cortese Williams P.C., 450 E. 17th Avenue, Suite 400, Denver, Colorado 80203, (303) 592-4380. EASTPARK70 METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By:/s/ Elisabeth A. Cortese Attorney for the District
Publication: October 17, 2024 Sentinel PUBLIC NOTICE OF CONTRACTOR’S FINAL SETTLEMENT
Pursuant to 1973 C.R.S. 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on/or after the 24th day of October, 2024, final settlement with M. A. Meyer Construction, will be made by the Joint District No. 28J of the Counties of Adams and Arapahoe (Aurora Public Schools) for and on account of the General Construction Contract for APS District Laundry Facilities Additions Project #333324, and that any person, co-partnership, association, company, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against any of the contractors for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractors, or any of their subcontractors, in or about the performance of said work may file at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on/or after,24th October, 2024, a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Board of Education of said school district at the office of: Support Services Aurora Public Schools 15701 E. 1st Avenue Aurora, CO 80011 Failure on the part of a claimant to file such statements prior to such final settlement will relieve said school district from all and any liability for such claimant’s claim. JOINT DISTRICT NO. 28J OF THE COUNTIES OF ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE STATE OF COLORADO
PUBLIC NOTICE OF CONTRACTOR’S FINAL SETTLEMENT
Pursuant to 1973 C.R.S. 38-26-107, notice is hereby given that on/or after the 4th day of November, 2024, final settlement with (Rocky Mountain Turf Solutions) , will be made by the Joint District No. 28J of the Counties of Adams and Arapahoe (Aurora Public Schools) for and on account of the General Construction Contract for (APS District Stadium Turf and Scoreboard Improvement/Project # 3320-24, and that any person, co-partnership, association, company, or corporation who has an unpaid claim against any of the contractors for or on account of the furnishing of labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractors, or any of their subcontractors, in or about the performance of said work may file at any time up to and including said time of such final settlement on/or after,4th November, 2024, a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on account of such claim with the Board of Education of said school district at the office of: Support Services Aurora Public Schools 15701 E. 1st Avenue Aurora, CO 80011
Failure on the part of a claimant to file such statements prior to such final settlement will relieve said school district from all and any liability for such claimant’s claim.
JOINT DISTRICT NO. 28J OF THE COUNTIES OF ADAMS AND ARAPAHOE STATE OF COLORADO
First Publication: October 17, 2024
Final Publication: October 24, 2024
Sentinel THE COMMONS AT EASTCREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT
NOTICE CONCERNING 2024 BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to all interested parties that the necessity may arise to amend The Commons at East Creek Metropolitan District 2024 Budget and that proposed 2025 Budget have been submitted to the Board of Directors of The Commons at East Creek Metropolitan District; and that copies of the proposed Amended 202 Budget, if necessary, and 2025 Budget have been filed at the District’s offices, 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado, where the same is open for public inspection; and that adoption of Resolutions Amending the 2024 Budget and Adopting the 2025 Budget will be considered at a public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. This District Board meeting will be held via Zoom without any individuals (neither Board Representatives nor the general public) attending in person.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/ j/86267550643?pwd=V3RnRGRtWkRyUlZZc1VMWTJFZjFHdz09
Meeting ID: 862 6755 0643 Passcode: 987572 Call In Number: 1-719-359-4580
Any elector within the District may, at any time prior to the final adoption of the Resolutions to Amend the 2024 Budget and adopt the 2025 Budget, inspect and file or register any objections thereto.
THE COMMONS AT EAST CREEK METROPOLITAN DISTRICT By /s/Peggy Ripko Secretary
Publication: October 17, 2024 Sentinel WATERSTONE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2
NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING AND NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET AND NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO 2024 BUDGET
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the Waterstone Metropolitan District No. 2 (the “District”) City of Aurora, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, will hold a regular meeting (the “Meeting”) at 1:00 p.m. on October 17, 2024, for the purpose of conduct
FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2025. A copy of the proposed budget has been filed in the office of Simmons and Wheeler PC, 304 Inverness Way South, Suite 490, Englewood, CO 80112, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed budget will be considered at the meeting of the District to be held at 1:00 p.m. on October 17, 2024. Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the 2025 budget.
FURTHER, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a proposed amended budget has been submitted to the District for the fiscal year of 2024. A copy of the proposed amended budget has been filed in the office of Simmons and Wheeler PC, 304 Inverness Way South, Suite 490, Englewood, CO 80112, where the same is open for public inspection. Such proposed amended budget will be considered at the meeting of the District to be held at 1:00 p.m. on October 17, 2024. Any interested elector within the District may inspect the proposed budget amendment and file or register any objections at any time prior to the final adoption of the YEAR budget amendment.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE WATERSTONE METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2 By: /s/ MILLER LAW PLLC
Publication: October 17, 2024
Sentinel
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2024PR30973
Estate of George Guy Hutchison, III aka George G. Hutchison, III, Deceased.
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before February 17, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Attorney for Personal Representative
Letitia M. Maxfield
Atty Reg #: 44108
Wade Ash, LLC 5251 DTC Parkway, Ste. 825
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: 303-322-8943
First Publication: October 17, 2024
Final Publication: October 31, 2024
Sentinel
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2024PR31029
Estate of Dennis Gerald Leary aka Dennis G. Leary aka Dennis Leary, Deceased.
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before February 3, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Timothy W. Leary
Personal Representative c/o Frank J. Danzo, III
Atty Reg #: 26789
Chayet & Danzo, LLC 650 S. Cherry St., Ste. 710 Denver, CO 80246
Phone: 303-355-8500
First Publication: October 3, 2024
Final Publication: October 17, 2024 Sentinel
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2024PR136
Estate of Phillip Richard Coburn, Deceased.
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before February 3, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred. Janie Suzanne Phillips Personal Representative 3365 S. Jericho Ct. Aurora, CO 80013
First Publication: October 3, 2024
Final Publication: October 17, 2024 Sentinel
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2024PR195
Estate of Bethany Anne Zimmer aka Bethany A. Zimmer aka Bethany Zimmer, DeAll persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the
claims
NOTICE TO CREDITORS BY PUBLICATION
PURSUANT TO §15-12-801, C.R.S. Case No. 2024PR30932
Estate of Monte Eric Stein aka Monte E. Stein aka Monte Stein aka Monty Stein, Deceased. All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on or before February 10, 2025, or the claims may be forever barred.
Attorney for Personal Representative Sarah J. Stein Atty Reg #: 43877 231 E. Vermijo Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Phone: 719-219-0772
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Campaigner, for short 10) More than implement
Sway daringly with a partner? (with "go") 12) Spoken 13) D.C. subway 18) The "U" of ICU 22) Bean counter, for short
Vintage 24) Result of a bobbled grounder
25) Since an onset? (with "go")
26) Miles per hour, e.g.
27) Olympics light
28) Skip
30) Do schoolwork?
32) Decorative hanging tapestry
34) Central New York city
35) Features of male lions
37) Appropriate
38) "_Ha'i"
40) Casual criticism
41) Digging pick
43) Common deciduous tree
44) Sean of Hollywood
45) Gorge
46) AM/FM device
47) Peruses a book
49) Bride's covering
52) "_ Maria"
53) Tennessee athlete, for short
54) Not just "a"
55) Today, in Tijuana
56) Just manage (with "out")
57) Cabernet, for one
