Sentinel Colorado 2.23.2023

MAKING HISTORY

Besieged AP Black history class prompts little controversy in Aurora high school

Honest Journalism

A strong community depends on access to trusted news. Please help us continue that mission with a donation.

You can’t put a price on quality local journalism. So we didn’t. Sentinel Colorado offers free website access. The Sentinel Street Edition is free across the region.

Join our mission. Every donation of $50 or more includes a subscription sent to your home, office or as a gift for someone else. Access to Honest Journalism for everyone depends on you.

Please take a moment to go to SentinelColorado.com and click on “Donate 4 Sentinel” in the navigation bar to find out more and to donate. To donate by check, send your contribution to Sentinel Colorado, 3033 S. Parker Road, Suite 208, Aurora, CO 80014

#NoPayWallHere

On the move, the Sentinel’s leap to new digs uncovers old amazements

These days, it’s easy to envy people who have any job other than at a newspaper.

But not today.

Journalism has gotten pretty difficult over the last several years.

The Googles have sucked dry a lot of advertising dollars, shrinking already overtaxed newsrooms. Donald Trump ushered in an era of just lying about anything or just inventing “alternative facts” to misinform on whatever he liked. It’s a habit that has grown hugely popular with downstream politicians, all the way to local government.

Newsrooms, struggling to keep up with covering outright crazy, were gutpunched during the pandemic. Government officials and others, behind Zoom meetings and email, were able to further buffer themselves from hard questions for nearly two years.

Partly as a result of how the pandemic changed everything, The Sentinel is moving the newsroom. For now, fewer people coming to work fewer days of the week calls for less space.

While packing up our newspaper lives this week, I’ve come across a bevy of treasures from when a far-less convenient life seemed far more rewarding.

I found my treasured pica pole, hailing back to a technology not much further along than molten lead type.

A long time ago, newspapers were actually created in composing rooms. There, reporters and editors, sneaking in to check a headline or cutline “on the bench” were waved out of the room by X-ACTO-knife wielding composers. The room was filled with molten wax, used to glue “galleys” created by a special printer to “flats.” Among the special tapes and blue-line pens, flats went to “camera” where technicians literally took pictures of the staged newspaper pages, creating life-size negatives. The negs were “burned” into printing plates with lights and acid, strapped onto massive printer rollers and, voila, in mere hours, the magic of newspapers created newspapers, as if by magic.

All of that is now a digital process without wax, knives, gnashing of teeth or curmudgeonly composers.

Back then, however, the trauma of making newspapers could ease into the psyche of journalists instead of slamming head on.

Taking notes and quotes from a sobbing neighbor about what led to a shooting or a lethal car crash was separated from seeing it all in print. After covering something gruesome, there was the car-trip back to the newsroom.

Typewriters or first-gen computers became the clackity conduit to rough drafts on copy paper, marked up with a copy pencil upstairs in the Denver Post smoking lounge. The process required making special marks that are now as hieroglyphic to budding journalists as is cursive to the class of 2023.

The story would move to the city desk editor, then maybe to the “slot,” the cruelest beast in the newsroom. The slot is an editor who remembers every grammar and style error made by every reporter since the dawn of time and bludgeons them with the recollection at every possible chance.

“Perry! You still don’t know the difference between ‘persuade’ and ‘convince’?”

I do now.

From there, a reporter’s fateful words would find their way to the composing room. Then camera, and finally, the plate room. By the time the building rumbled with rolling presses and the “bulldog” found its way back into the newsroom, a reporter would have told the story about how upsetting all that blood was and maybe even had a beer.

Now, “print” journalists file nearly live-time, often from the curb or even the car.

Journalists live in an instant world of chaos and Twitter posts.

In the back of our waning offices are boxes of old black-and-white photos, going back to the 1960s, some even to the early 1900s when this fishwrapper was called The Aurora Democrat and Adams County News.

I came across the Journalist of the Year Award for former Editor Jack Bacon, honored as the top newspaperperson in 1993. He was an amazing man who breathed news stories and copy style as easily and often as he did the cigarettes he was constantly lighting, snubbing and relighting.

He called them “snipes,” and his office and writing reeked of lingering Turkish tobacco.

Here’s a photo of the day we launched The Aurora Daily Sun, April 30, 2004. The pageone story “above the fold” was about pornography filters coming to library computers. A story in the right rail explained how a political fundraiser at The Stampede with Peter Coors and then Gov. Bill Owens turned into an anti-press event after The Sentinel’s intrepid photographer was booted from the event not once, but twice. “An unidentified event official demanded the photographer’s camera.”

The photos and memories of the last 30 years come in a tsunami in these boxes and drawers.

The Pope came to Aurora once. He was nice. One time, a reporter had to get tested for bubonic plague after hanging out with infected prairie dogs as he worked on a story.

There was the time I learned to drive a police car, sirens wailing at top speed with our photographer kind of whimpering in the seat

next to me. And the fighter jet ride, when the pilot asked if I was OK in the back seat and suggested I try breathing as I felt the pressure of my liver press hard against my knotty spinal cord.

Here’s a picture of former Sheriff Pat Sullivan and me digging up old unexploded bombs near the Aurora Reservoir. Sullivan bombed his own life and career after he retired and traded a lifetime of law enforcement for being a meth head who lured young men with drugs in exchange for sex.

Here’s a picture of John Kerry, then a presidential candidate, reading from one of my columns at a campaign event at Fitzsimons.

That’s a picture another reporter took during the Elijah McClain protests when shooting broke out on I-225, closed because of a massive march. I was talking with him on the phone as the event was unfolding when suddenly said, “Somebody’s shooting.” All I could hear then was him running and people yelling. He was running toward the gunfire.

Between the plane crashes, car crashes, gazillion elections, shootings and protests, there have been thousands of hours spent with amazing people who make up this place called Aurora.

Teachers, mechanics, inventors, swimmers, actors, moms and more.

Packed up, it all goes to our new, nearby digs.

There are old newspapers going back decades and millions of words, photos and memories stored as electrons somewhere on a server.

As a journalist, I not only have been able to lead my life, but I’ve been allowed to sport the lives of tens of thousands of people all across the region.

Despite the real hardships, I’m OK with just moving, and we’ve got lots to tell you about what comes next.

Despite the complaints, it’s still the best job in the world. Follow @EditorDavePerry on Mastadon, Twitter and Facebook or reach him at 303-750-7555 or dperry@SentinelColorado.com

DAVE PERRY

Editor

Raphael Gwynn, publisher of the Aurora Democrat and Adams County News sometime in 1908. Current Editor and Publisher Dave Perry anticipates better heating in new Sentinel offices when the newspaper moves to new digs next week. (Sentinel File Photo)

Editorials Sentinel

Workweek’ bill is a schedule for disaster not better jobs

Proponents of Colorado’s Fair Workweek Employment Standards proposal have pointed out a handful of worrisome labor problems across a variety of industries, but they’ve also shown that their controversial bill is not the answer.

State legislators would be wise to spike House Bill 23-1118 and look for real solutions to nagging labor issues.

From the inception of this well-meaning and misguided measure, the Fair Workweek bill has looked like a solution hunting for a problem. Part of that is because even bill proponents and sponsors seem unsure what the bill does.

It’s intended to do a handful of things. First, it requires businesses like restaurants, bars and retailers to schedule part-time employees for two weeks at a time.

It’s not an unreasonable request.

Proponents of the bill say one-week schedules make it difficult to work second jobs, attend school or even manage daycare. There was, however, no evidence, nor testimony offered during a marathon initial hearing on the bill earlier this month, that made it seem a mandated, regulated and state-monitored two-week work schedule would create an outcome proponents are looking for: schedule flexibility for themselves but not their employers.

The restaurant and hospitality industry is built on employing high-school and college students and others who depend on — or who enjoy — the ability to request shift flexibility from week to week. Restaurants and thousands of other part-time employees and employers negotiate during hiring school schedules — for parents and students — and other real-life encumbrances.

To expect a state law to dictate an often complicated and dynamic process, which benefits employers and employees alike, is grossly unrealistic and misguided.

If the real problem is employers unwilling to allow employees to call in sick or see doctors or attend to real-life tasks and events, those things are not addressed in this bill.

Whether part-time employers in every industry should provide for pro-rated, full-time benefits such as paid personal time off is a needed and worthy discussion, but that’s also not the subject of the bill.

We have no misgivings about unscrupulous employers who over-schedule employees to hedge their bets against no-shows, but making unionization easier or providing for transparent state complaint platforms is a far more effective way to address exploitative employers than are cumbersome regulations.

Specific trade and site unions are built to protect workers and employers. Their purpose is to find and negotiate solutions that ensure the business can operate and employees can work there. That’s very different than bureaucrats trying to force one-sizefits-all regulations across myriad industries and businesses as different as all of Colorado.

The bill also addresses workers in the construction industry who are reportedly regularly required to show up for work each day but often sent away, informed there is no shift today and to return tomorrow. That’s not a labor issue, it’s a fraud issue. Stopping shifts for safety-related weather or other similar concerns is expected, but promising work to a pool of people and not delivering it is bait-and-switch fraud, not a pesky employment problem.

It’s not that the treatment of employees isn’t a critical problem needing to be addressed. Dismissing unfair treatment of employees or untenable wages because it’s problematic for consumers only shows that some businesses are not viable without abusing people to make for “healthy” profits or cheap prices.

But hamstringing regulations that have little hope of providing unclear answers to vague problems is the definition of a bad idea that needs to be stopped.

Table House Bill 23-1118.

The simple mistruths of politics

There are no small number of accusations lately that — shocking as it may be — some of our politicians are lying to us. Some Republicans shouted the “L” word during President Biden’s State of the Union Address, when he said Republicans wanted to end Social Security and Medicare.

Freshman Republican George Santos spun a lot of yarn during his campaign and many of the things he claimed — such as where he went to high school and college and many other things — were simply untrue.

And Biden himself, reports Reason, makes claims about his policies that makes his even supporters roll their eyes.

Reason refers to last summer’s Inflation Reduction Act, which the president claimed would tame inflation, which does nothing to tame inflation, according to CBS News.

As Reason points out, all of our recent presidents have practiced in their share of mistruths:

“… Joe Biden hardly invented political lying, especially among presidents. His recent predecessors in the Oval Office lied about everything everywhere all at once (Donald Trump), health care policy (Barack Obama), pretexts for war and torture, (George W. Bush), and sex (Bill Clinton).”

And the truth is politicians tell mistruths because we want them to.

When advancing our country’s interests around the world, we want our leaders to be more clever than the dictators we want them to outwit, and cleverness often requires deception.

We punish politicians who tell us we are going to have to cut back on spending or the country will go broke — as we reward those who tell us not to worry about our $31 trillion debt and that we can most certainly afford more goodies for all.

I just wish we could be more honest about all of our mistruth.

If you are a Republican and can only see mistruth happening on the Democrat side — or a Democrat who only sees misinformation happening on the Republican side — you are not paying close enough attention.

How can you call Republican politicians “election deniers” for questioning the 2020 election without also referring likewise to the Democrats who made the very same claims about the 2016 election? Or

vice versa?

How can you think that the 2016 election was the most corrupt in history (because your candidate lost) but the 2020 election was the most accurate, well-run election ever conducted (because your candidate won)?

I suppose the only thing that really is true about Republicans and Democrats was said by the great humorist Will Rogers:

“The more you read and observe about this politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other.”

What it comes down to is we get the leaders we deserve, and if we want them to tell us mistruths, we will keep not addressing our very real challenges — but we will be entertained by fictional solutions that won’t do any of us any good.

I suppose the only saving grace is that the often ridiculous promises and claims that are made by our politicians are never as bad as they could be, as the federal government is the most inefficient organization on the face of the earth.

As Will Rogers explains, that’s something we should be grateful for:

“Those who complain about the high cost of government should be glad we’re not getting all the government we’re paying for.” –

Tom Purcell, creator of the infotainment site ThurbersTail.com, which features pet advice he’s learning from his beloved Labrador, Thurber, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist. Email him at Tom@ TomPurcell.com.

‘Fair

TOM PURCELL, CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

Lawn way from home

AURORANS WILL BE LIMITED TO TWICE-WEEKLY WATERING STARTING IN MAY

BY MAX LEVY, Sentinel Staff Writer

Starting May 1, Aurora residents will be required to cut back on watering outdoor landscaping as the city activates a conservation plan meant to save water during droughts.

City staffers have pushed back on the idea that Aurora is well-positioned for the warmer months as news outlets have reported above-average snowpack figures considering the entirety of the state.

Aurora’s water originates high in the Rockies, in the basins of the Colorado, Arkansas and South Platte rivers. Snowpack data compiled by Aurora Water as of Feb. 13 indicates that, while the areas of the Upper Colorado basin that are of interest to Aurora are about 11% fuller than average, the Arkansas is about 15% less full, while the South Platte is lagging by 33%.

“We’re at 84% across all three of our positions right now,” Greg Baker, public relations manager for Aurora Water, said Thursday. “When you talk about the statewide basis, you hear people saying, you know, Steamboat Springs has fantastic snow. Or Wolf Creek Pass is doing fantastic. That’s great, go down and ski there, but it’s not where our water comes from.”

Snow may continue to fall for months and

will begin to melt around April, at which point downstream communities such as Aurora will begin to have a better idea of the amount of water they’ll be able to store.

“We have seen late season snows even up into May that might help us recover,” Baker said. “But we’re not going to gamble on it.”

Aurora’s City Council voted unanimously to impose the lowest level of drought restrictions on Aurora Water customers on Feb. 13. The specific trigger for the restrictions was the determination by Aurora Water that, between the amount of water in the city’s reservoirs and the snowpack, the city only has enough water on hand to meet its needs for 25 to 30 months.

The change means customers will only be allowed to water outdoor landscaping twice a week starting in May. Baker estimated that around 40-45% of the city’s water is used for landscape irrigation each year.

By a margin of 9-1, with Councilmember Angela Lawson dissenting, the council also voted on first reading to change how surcharges on excessive water use are calculated so that residents of multifamily housing developments and commercial customers won’t be unfairly burdened. The charges will also go into effect

in May.

For each customer, Baker said the median water use between December and February will be calculated to find a winter-quarter average. That volume of water plus 10% will be used as the baseline for the rest of the year, above which a $1.95 charge will be levied for every 1,000 gallons of water consumed.

Baker said the restrictions are meant to cut down on the city’s water use by at least 20%.

“We understand the sentiment and the attachment people have to their lawns,” Baker said. “But the reality is turf isn’t always an appropriate plant choice in a high mountain desert that gets 15 inches of precipitation a year.”

He said homeowners’ associations are legally prohibited from penalizing members if their lawns become discolored from a lack of water and that the city is educating those entities on the rules. Baker also said less frequent watering can also help grass develop deeper root systems and become more resilient.

Information about free classes, cash rebates and other incentives for drought-resistant landscaping offered by the city can be found at www.auroragov.org/residents/water/ landscaping.

Beginning May 1, Aurora residents will be required to reduce their outdoor watering as part of a conservation plan the city will be putting into effect. AP File Photo

Lawmakers consider rent control

In a vast hall at Colorado’s Capitol building last week, Mary Bashor’s voice quavered as she described the terror she felt of possibly being pushed from her home of 28 years due to rent increases.

“My greatest fear is that I will have to leave my home I love, which is filled with memories of my deceased daughter and family. That would kill me,” Bashor said through Zoom during a committee meeting on a bill addressing rent control.

After Colorado’s housing prices ratcheted up to crisis levels, Democratic lawmakers are considering a drastic measure: repealing the

state’s 1981 ban on rent control and allowing local towns and counties to pass their own caps on rents.

If approved, Colorado would join a group of states, including California and New York, that have some level of statewide or local rent control. While the bill would not install statewide rent control, the goal is to give communities the power to dampen rent increases after the state’s median home price rose by 40% — nearing $600,000 — since the beginning of 2020, according to the rental platform Zillow.

Even though Democrats hold majorities in both state chambers in Colorado, the legislation faces an uphill battle.

Critics argue that rent control dissuades developers from building more units, strangling housing supply and driving up rent in adjacent neighborhoods.

“We understand why these policies look attractive,” said Ted Leighty, CEO of the Colorado Association of Home Builders, in the committee hearing. “But this policy is a false idol. We need more supply. Period.”

Even Colorado’s Democratic governor, Jared Polis, has opposed similar measures in the past and could veto the bill if it gets passed in both the House and Senate.

“Governor Polis is skeptical that rent control will create more hous-

ing stock, and locations with these policies often have the unintended consequences of higher rent,” his spokesperson Katherine Jones said in a statement.

The legislation could be amended or watered down to appease the governor as it works its way through the legislature.

The bill is one of several housing affordability measures the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature is considering this year, including opening up state-owned land for affordable housing developments.

— JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America

Gas well plugging bill advances

From Colorado’s high desert to the wooded hills of Pennsylvania, millions of oil and gas wells sit deserted, plunging thousands of feet into the earth. Many haven’t been plugged, some leak greenhouse gases.

In Colorado, lawmakers are considering a solution that would give these wells a new, redemptive purpose: deep receptacles to trap carbon for millennia.

The idea is to keep carbon locked away in a special type of charcoal known as biochar, which is made by burning organic matter at high heat and low oxygen. The substance could be used to fill defunct oil and gas wells. Proponents say biochar would not only filter dangerous gas leaks but also stop that carbon from forming carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Colorado lawmakers gave initial approval last week for a study to assess whether biochar would work to plug defunct wells.

If successful, experts say that sinking biochar into a portion of the over 3 million abandoned oil wells nationwide could help tackle climate change — estimates range from keeping millions to billions of tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Still, the idea is relatively new and a number of feasibility questions remain. The study would direct Colorado State University to review research and run new tests to determine, in part, the efficacy of biochar in filtering gases and sequestering carbon as well as the technical feasibility of using it to plug oil and gas wells.

Carbon naturally cycles through Earth’s ecosystems, floating in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide before being snatched up by little bluestem grasses, ingested by grazing bison on the prairie, and when the animal keels over and begins decomposing, returning to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide.

But extracting fossil fuels has unearthed carbon — formed out of ancient plant matter over eons — that’s been stored underground largely since the Mesozoic Era, the age of dinosaurs over 65 million years ago.

“Where we need to focus is: How do we not only stop putting excess carbon into the cycle but can we take measures to take carbon out of

›› See METRO, 7

the cycle permanently?” said Rep. Karen McCormick, a Democrat and one of the bill’s sponsors. “That’s where I see biochar having a great benefit.” To read more of this story, visit www.sentinelcolorado.com.

has “a zero-tolerance policy against employing anyone under the age of 18.”

— JESSE

BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America

JBS fined for hiring minors

One of the country’s largest cleaning services for food processing companies employed more than 100 children in dangerous jobs at 13 meatpacking plants across the country, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday as it announced over $1.5 million in civil penalties.

The investigation into Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, began last summer. Department officials searched three meatpacking plants owned by JBS USA and Turkey Valley Farms in Nebraska and Minnesota, and found 31 underage workers as young as 13. They also searched PSSI’s headquarters in Kieler, Wisconsin. Underage workers were found at plants in eight states.

The department went on to review records for 55 locations where PSSI provided cleaning services and found even more violations, involving children ages 13 to 17. The agency obtained a temporary restraining order in November and a permanent injunction in December, when PSSI entered into a consent judgment that committed the company to no longer employ minors illegally.

Over the past three years, children were found to be using caustic cleaning chemicals and cleaning “dangerous power-driven equipment, like skull-splitters and razor-sharp bone saws,” Jessica Looman, principal deputy administrator of the department’s Wage and Hour Division, told reporters.

At least three of those minors, including a 13-year-old, suffered burns from the chemicals used for cleaning at the JBS plant in Grand Island, Nebraska, officials said.

Some of the children worked overnight shifts and were also enrolled in schools during the day, department spokeswoman Rhonda Burke said in an email.

The fine PSSI paid on Thursday, $15,138 for each minor, is the maximum allowed under federal law. But investigators believe the company actually employed many more than the 102 children they verified. Under the consent judgment, Looman said, PSSI must identify and remove them from dangerous work.

“Make no mistake, this is no clerical error, or actions of rogue individuals or bad managers,” Looman said. “These findings represent a systemic failure across PSSI’s entire organization to ensure that children were not working in violation of the law. PSSI’s systems in many cases flagged that these children were too young to work, and yet they were still employed at these facilities.”

The company’s vice president of marketing, Gina Swenson, said in a statement Friday that the company

As soon as PSSI became aware of the allegations, she said, it conducted audits and hired an outside law firm to help strengthen its policies. PSSI has also conducted additional training for hiring managers, including on spotting identity theft, she said.

None of the minors identified by federal investigators still work for PSSI, and the Department of Labor “has also not identified any managers aware of improper conduct that are currently employed” by the company, Swenson added.

PSSI has said it employs about 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations nationwide, making it one of the largest food-processing-plant cleaning companies.

The 13 plants where violations were found were in Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas. The ones with the most violations were the JBS plant in Grand Island, Nebraska, where PSSI employed 27 minors; the Cargill plant in Dodge City, Kansas, where 26 children worked; and a JBS plant in Worthington, Minnesota, where 22 minors worked. The Labor Department also searched a Tyson facility in Sedalia, Missouri, but found no verifiable violations there.

The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which represents meatpacking plant workers, called PSSI “one of the worst actors” in the industry.

“Paying a simple fine is not enough, their entire business model relies on the exploitation of workers, vicious union-busting tactics, and the violation of human rights,” Marc Perrone, the union’s international president, said in a statement. He called on the meatpacking industry to use its power over contractors like PSSI to end the exploitation of children for good.

Asked about the immigration status of the children, Labor Department solicitor Seema Nanda said the department focuses only on whether they are minors.

And because the department is a civil law enforcement agency, officials can’t comment on whether any of the plants might face criminal charges or whether any of the children were victims of labor trafficking, said Michael Lazzeri, regional administrator of the department’s Wage and Hour Division. He said any detected trafficking is referred to other agencies.

Looman said the Wage and Hour Division has seen around a 50% increase in child labor violations since 2018, including minors working more hours than permitted in otherwise legal jobs, using types of equipment they shouldn’t while doing legal jobs, and children working where they should never be employed in the first place.

“Nobody under 18 should be working in a meat processing plant,” she said.

— STEVE KARNOWSKI

• GreatBurgers

• GreatCheesesteaks

• 20 TV’s

• Open St age

• Saturdays:11:30AM-3PM

The deadline for nominations is approaching! Exceptional high school seniors can be nominated for the Arapahoe County Mayors and Commissioners Youth Awards scholarship program through March 3

EDUCATION

CCSD receives grant for mental health center

The Cherry Creek School District received $1.5 million from a federal spending bill for the construction of its mental health day treatment center after inflation put its initial budget in the red.

Tony Poole, Cherry Creek’s assistant superintendent of special populations, shared the news last week in an update on the center’s progress at the district’s February

board of education meeting.

Traverse Academy is scheduled to open this fall, and is being built with funding from a $150 million bond issue approved by voters in the 2020 election, with $15 million budgeted for the day treatment center.

Poole said supply chain issues and inflation that followed in the years since the measure was approved put the construction over budget. The district was put in the position of having to cut some of the features it hoped to include on the campus. Instead, it applied for and received a grant for additional funding from the offices of Rep. Jason Crow (D-Centennial) and Sen. John

Hickenlooper (D-CO) in a Congressional spending bill passed in December.

In a December news release, Crow’s office said the $1.5 million for Cherry Creek Schools was one of 15 community project funding requests that each member of the House of Representatives was eligible to submit. Organizations including the Colorado Freedom Memorial Center, the Aurora Mental Health Center, Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center received funding through the bill.

“As families struggle with rising costs and uncertain supply chains, I’m focused on ensuring Coloradans

have access to the resources they need to thrive,” Crow said in a statement. “I’m proud to deliver these investments to support kids in our community, provide mental health care, honor our veterans, and so much more.”

The day treatment center will be a partnership between the school district, Children’s Hospital Colorado and CU Anschutz. It is being built by MOA Architecture, which Poole said “did a fantastic job of listening to us” and helping us build a facility that met the district’s vision.

When designing the facility, Poole said the district wanted to make sure that it looked inviting and non-institutional and made good use of natural light and outdoor space. The facility will include multiple outdoor seating areas and classrooms.

Kim Avalos, who is currently the district’s  assistant superintendent of special education, has been selected to be Traverse Academy’s principal.

“She will bring a lot of talent to this facility,” Poole said.

Traverse Academy is believed to be the first of its kind partnership between a public school district and a children’s hospital, and it has garnered national attention since its inception.

Poole said that CBS news will be airing a segment about the center later this month and that school districts from Minnesota, Ohio and other places in Colorado have reached out to Cherry Creek about how to emulate their work.

The district is currently dealing with some challenges regarding which regulatory agency in the state will oversee Traverse Academy, since it falls under the jurisdiction of multiple agencies, including the Colorado Department of Education, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the newly created Behavioral Health Agency. However, Poole said officials at multiple agencies have been “very supportive” of the district’s work.

Board members expressed excitement about Traverse’s progress, with Anne Egan praising the selection of Avalos to lead the academy.

Board member Janice McDonald said it was “bittersweet” that the district needs to have a facility like this in the first place due to the number of children and teens struggling with mental health issues.

“But thank God they will have a warm and inviting place to go to receive help,” she said.

— CARINA JULIG, Sentinel Staff Writer

POLICE Woman shot in domestic dispute

An unidentified woman was shot and injured Feb. 18 after a domestic violence episode in north Aurora, according to police.

Police said the woman suffered minor injuries from the shooting at about 9:45 p.m. somewhere near East Colfax Avenue and Idalia

Street.

“The suspect has not been located,” police said Sunday.

No other details were released.

Police said anyone with information can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000, police said.

— SENTINEL STAFF

Man killed running from deputies

A man pulled over for a traffic stop along a northern Colorado interstate was killed when he ran from deputies and was hit by a vehicle, authorities said Sunday.

The suspect was stopped along Interstate 25 near Fort Collins at 9:15 p.m. Saturday for driving with an expired registration, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

The man allegedly gave a fake name and then ran from deputies, who deployed a Taser against the suspect, the sheriff’s office said.

The man was struck by a passing vehicle and later pronounced dead after being taken to a hospital. The identity of the deceased man was not immediately released.

Fort Collins police will lead the investigation into the death.

Police spokeswoman Erin Feit declined to say if the Taser was used successfully on the suspect before he was hit by the vehicle.

— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

COURTS

Coach on probation for sexting student

A former Cherry Creek High School softball coach was sentenced to 10 years of probation last week for soliciting explicit material from a teenage girl in Virginia who later took her own life.

Paul Severtson, 38, was arrested by Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office deputies in July and charged with criminal solicitation, a class 4 felony. He pleaded guilty in December, according to online court records, and was sentenced Feb. 13. As part of his sentence, Severtson will have to register as a sex offender and pay about $10,000 in fees.

Severtson was arrested after the sheriff’s office was contacted by law enforcement officials in Hanover, Va. about a juvenile girl who had died by suicide. Investigators in Virginia found that the girl had been messaging Severtson on several social media apps, a news release from July announcing his arrest said. The girl’s age was not released.

Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office investigators said officers found that Severtson was active on the social media messaging app Kik, where he had several accounts passing him off as a 22-to-23-yearold.

“Investigators found that Severtson was attempting to persuade his victim to produce and send nude images and videos of

9

Welcome Back Your A-Town All Stars!

herself, which due to her age, would be considered child sexual abuse material,” the release said.

At the time of his arrest, Severtson was the head coach of the Cherry Creek High School girls softball team and the Colorado Styxx girl’s softball club, the release said. From November 2017 to August 2020 he also coached at Heritage High School, Littleton High School and Chaparral High School.

Along with coaching, Severtson had also worked as a paraprofessional at Cherry Creek High School, West Middle School and with a small group of students at Cherry Creek Elevation, the district’s online school. He was fired immediately after the district was notified of his arrest.

In July, the Sheriff’s Office said it was concerned Severtson had more victims and encouraged anyone with any information about him to contact the tipline at 720-874-8477. Severtson was active on Kik under the accounts Tyson Richard with a username “TYSONHELP,” and Reggie Collins username, “REGGIEBBC11,”  and as Jordan Styme, username, “JSTYME8080,” the Sheriff’s Office said. There are not currently any pending charges against him in Colorado, according to online court records.

— CARINA JULIG, Sentinel Staff Writer

Denver DA won’t prosecute shooter

Prosecutors will not file criminal charges against the man who fatally shot a 12-year-old boy inside a stolen car in Denver during a shootout.

The Denver District Attorney’s Office does not believe it can prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in the Feb. 5 shooting, an ethical standard it must meet in order to file charges, office spokesperson Carolyn Tyler said Friday.

Police have said the owner of the stolen car used an app to track and find his vehicle — and that when he approached it, there was an “exchange of gunfire” with at least one person inside the car. The boy, identified as Elias Armstrong, drove a few blocks away, and police said they found him inside with a gunshot wound.

He died after being taken to the hospital.

Other people who were in the vehicle appeared to run away before officers arrived, police said.

Police said Friday that they are still investigating who stole the vehicle, who else was inside, and who fired at the car’s owner and was seeking tips from the community.

In 2021, police issued an alert for Armstrong, then 10, after he ran away from home.

— THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chasing progress

BLACK AND LATINO CHILDREN UNDER 18 SAW THE STEEPEST DROPS IN POVERTY

BY SAJA HINDI,

Post and TINA GRIEGO, Colorado News Collaborative

The kitchen table, round and glass, with wooden legs, sits in a sunlit corner of Alejandra Carrera and Clemente Flores’ apartment. It is one of the first things visitors see.

To the outsider, it’s a nice table. To the couple, married 26 years, it’s a symbol of their economic progress over the last decade. They bought it new, on sale, last year. “We have always had to buy second-hand,” Flores said. Puro segundo.

Their Aurora apartment is a newer one-bedroom, small like the others before it. But it is a big improvement from the roachplagued aging buildings they could afford when they moved to Colorado 13 years ago.

Carrera, 66, and Flores, 67, call their home their “refuge,” the result of hard work, steady jobs and slowly rising incomes.

“Here, where we live now, we can rest when we don’t work and we feel comfortable,” Carrera said.

This is as close to the American Dream as they have ever been, she said.

The couple’s experience mirrors a larger trend of falling poverty rates among Black and Latino Coloradans — as well as their continued struggle toward economic prosperity. A

Census data finds:

Poverty rates for Latino Coloradans have been falling to near-historic lows. The trend, with occasional interruption by economic downturns, continues a more than half-century decline. The pandemic slightly reversed the course, but 2021’s 15% Latino poverty rate was still among the lowest recorded. The Latino-white poverty gap roughly halved between 2011 and 2021. Only Maine and Iowa, with relatively small Latino populations, saw a greater narrowing of that gap.

Poverty rates for Black Coloradans have generally followed the same trend with nearly one in five living below poverty thresholds in 2021. The Black-white poverty gap narrowed more than in all but seven other states.

White Coloradans’ poverty rates, which have hovered in the high single-digits for decades, fell between 2011 and 2021 to 7%.

Black and Latino children under 18 saw the steepest drops in poverty over the same period, a reflection in part of rising median household incomes and in line with other measurements recording historic declines among children nationwide over the last 25 years.

Despite the falling poverty rates, Latino and Black Coloradans were still about twice as likely to live in poverty as white Coloradans. Black and Latino children were about

three times as likely to live in poverty as their white peers.

Reliable data is unavailable for the state’s smaller Asian and Indigenous populations. The Denver Post and COLab examined poverty and other economic data between 2011 and 2021, the most recent Census data available, for Chasing Progress, a series on socio-economic and health equity gaps among Black, Latino and white Coloradans.

The drop in Black and Latino poverty rates is, on its face, encouraging, said Charles Brennan, deputy director of research at the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.

But he, like economists, community organizers, policymakers, advocates for children, low-wage workers and others, interviewed for this story cautioned that the official poverty threshold is only one measure of economic health. It is based on pre-tax cash income and three times the minimum cost of food in 1963, adjusted for today’s prices.

The more polite critics called the measure “antiquated.”

But the poverty threshold is the basis for government guidelines that help determine access to public assistance, such as food stamps. In 2021, the poverty guideline, adjusted for inflation and identical nationwide, was $26,500 for a family of four.

A real economic struggle exists in the

space between official poverty and self-sufficiency, Alex Sánchez, president and CEO of Voces Unidas de las Montañas, said. Voces Unidas serves Latino residents in Colorado’s central mountain region, including Vail and Aspen, where many work in the construction, retail and service industries.

Families might be making more than $50,000 a year, he said, but “they are not making enough to make ends meet, much less to thrive. If we are using the same standard to measure poverty for every community in the country and not adapting to the reality of differing costs for housing, food, basic needs, we are not telling a story that is accurate.”

Behind the decline

In 2011, Carrera and Flores were temporary workers, picking up assigned hotel-kitchen jobs. Combined, they made about $29,000, their W-2s show. They were paying about $700 for their apartment in central Aurora. It was run down but affordable.

Colorado was still grappling with Great Recession aftershocks. One in four Latinos and Black Coloradans (and one in 10 white Coloradans) were living in poverty.

Five years later, in 2016, as Colorado’s economy was finding its footing, voters statewide kickstarted a series of annual

Valerie Harris, 52, right, talks with her husband Forris Harris Jr., 55, after her arriving home from work in Aurora, Colorado on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023.

Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post

Denver

Preps

More classifications and smaller brackets combine to give the upcoming boys and girls basketball postseason a different look.

The arrival of Class 6A as the largest classification and fields of 32 teams — instead of 48 — headline the differences of the last playoffs against this one, which begins with the first round of girls play Feb. 21.

BASKETBALL

The postseason is scheduled to conclude March 12 at the Denver Coliseum (its usual venue in non-pandemic times), there will just be another classification worth of finalists this time around.

Sienna Betts, 6A’s leader in scoring average, rebounds and blocked shots — enters the postseason at 14-9 after it finished second in the new Centennial League Tournament.

Cherokee Trail has the highest seed among Aurora girls teams as coach Tammi Traylor-Statewright’s squad sits No. 5 with help from 18-5. The Cougars had an outstanding start to the season — which included a win over No. 3 Highlands Ranch — but suffered four of its losses in Centennial League play in addition to its fourth-place finish in the league tournament.

Regis Jesuit is in the postseason for the 19th consecutive season and has made it to at least the Sweet 16 in six straight seasons. Coach Jordan

Postseason tip-off

BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor

Despite the changes, Aurora still has a heavy presence in both postseasons. Seven Aurora teams made the playoffs in boys — Eaglecrest, Grandview, Rangeview, Regis Jesuit and Smoky Hill in 6A, plus Vista PEAK and Gateway in 5A — and six girls squads are postseason bound — Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Rangeview and Regis Jesuit in 6A and Vista PEAK in 5A.

Aurora has the defending large school champion in girls basketball in Grandview, which won the final title last season (in what would now be 6A) and will begin its title defense as the No. 11 overall seed. The Wolves — who graduated three senior starters, including All-American Lauren Betts — have qualified for the postseason for 21 consecutive seasons and advanced to the Final Four or state championship game in seven straight seasons.

Coach Josh Ulitzky’s team — which has back a key contributor from last season in sophomore

Kasemodel’s Raiders finished the regular season 15-8 and could be a rematch with Cherokee Trail (which they lost to in non-league play) in the second round if both teams wins.

The last two Aurora 6A girls playoff qualifiers face each other in the opening round when No. 19 Eaglecrest (14-9) visits No. 14 Rangeview (16-7). Both are postseason regulars (the Raiders are in the playoffs for the 14th straight season, while the Raptors have made it in 10 in a row) and just met in regular season play, a game won 50-44 by Eaglecrest in early January.

The last girls postseason qualifier is Vista PEAK, which received the No. 12 seed in the 5A bracket. Coach Howard Payne’s Bison earned their first-ever postseason win last season and hope to surpass that this season after spending the year in the City League (formerly Denver Prep League).

The Aurora teams in the boys postseason are largely regular postseason qualifiers — though Gateway qualified for the first time since 2019 — and are led by Smoky Hill, which has the No. 5

overall seed. Led by 6A’s second-leading scorer and Player of the Year candidate Rickey Mitchell, the Buffaloes (18-5) are in the playoffs for seventh straight season, but have been stopped in the Sweet 16 in three consecutive campaigns.

Seventh-seeded Regis Jesuit (17-6) extended its postseason qualification streak to 21 seasons and has made it to at least the Sweet 16 in three straight, while 14th-seeded Grandview (14-9) — which has had a resurgent season — is back for the first time since 2020 and has made at least the Great 8 in the its last four trips to the playoffs.

Eaglecrest is dancing for a 21st consecutive season as well and the 20th-seeded Raptors — who have a win over No. 1 Mountain Vista to their credit — could shake up the bracket immediately if it can win a first round round road game over No. 13 ThunderRidge. A Rangeview team with plenty of new faces and hampered by preseason injuries comes into the postseason seeded No. 31. The Raiders extended their playoff streak to 14 seasons. Vista PEAK (17-6) has had a strong season and is the No. 9 seed in the 5A bracket as it seeks its first postseason win since 2020. It’s been even longer for Gateway (last playoff win in 2011) and it will be a tall task for the Olys to break that streak as they are the No. 32 seed going

against No. 1 Air Academy.

ABOVE: Sophomore force Sienna Betts, right, leads Class 6A in scoring average, rebounding and blocked shots and she will try to help the Grandview girls basketball team maintain its recent tradition of deep runs in the girls basketball postseason. The Wolves have almost an entirely new cast from the one that captured last season’s 5A state championship.

BELOW: Smoky Hill senior Rickey Mitchell is 6A boys’ second-leading scorer and will try to help the fifth-seeded Buffaloes break through the Sweet 16 round that have stopped them the past three seasons. Photos by Courtney Oakes/Sentinel Colorado

Four Aurora boys wrestlers got their first taste of wrestling under the brightest lights the state wrestling tournament has to offer Feb. 18.

Eaglecrest junior Adonias Cantu, Regis Jesuit sophomore Garrett Reece, Vista PEAK senior Ezekiel Taylor and Grandview senior Max Kibbee all earned their way onto the floor at Ball Arena for the season-ending spectacular that unfolds in front of thousands of spectators.

In the end, none of them came away victorious, but it was a great showcase for the city, which saw 12 of its 34 qualifers earn top-six places and it was also encouraging for the future as half of them were underclassmen.

Left: Regis Jesuit sophomore Garrett Reece, third from right, stands in the second place spot on the medal podium after the Class 5A 132-pound match at the boys state wrestling tournament Feb. 18 at Ball Arena. Also pictured, sixthplace finisher Gunner Lopez of Grandview, right.

Below top: Vista PEAK senior Ezekiel Taylor, left, tries to pull in Roosevelt’s Bronco Hartson during the 4A 190-pound title match. Taylor lost a 7-0 decision.

Below middle: Grandview senior Max Kibbee, third from right, and Rangeview senior Greg Brooks, second from right, placed second and fourth, respectively, in the 5A 190-pound brack at state.

A trip to the finals was maybe a year later than expected for Kibbee, who got past Rangeview star Greg Brooks in an all-Aurora semifinal before he was lost by fall to Legacy’s Quinn Funk in the championship match. Kibbee lost to Funk at the Top of the Rockies Invitational in January, but had won 12 straight matches since then — most in commanding fashion — but the finals loss made him 35-6 for the season.

Regis Jesuit expected to have two of its five state qualifiers make the finals, but only Reece did so as senior heavyweight Dirk Morley suffered an unexpected loss in the quarterfinals.

Reece assured himself of a second top-six place in as many varsity seasons and he hoped to earn his first title when he came up against Ponderosa’s Jacob Myers in the 5A 132-pound final. Reece knew he had a difficult matchup and that proved to be true as Myers caught him quickly and earned a win by fall in 35 seconds. Reece finished 43-4.

Podium position

Cantu’s story was perhaps the most amazing given that he wrestled at the junior varsity level last season, but made the jump to varsity in a big way. He had an outstanding regular season and made it through his side of the state bracket impressively to give Eaglecrest a Class 5A 106-pound finalist for the second straight season.

BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor

Like Dorian Ervin in 2022, Cantu ended up on the short end of the title match as he trailed the entire match before losing to Pomona frehsman Zaiydn Quinonez 7-5.

Cantu got as close as 6-5 inside the final minute, but came up short to finish the season 39-9. Along with junior Ethan Diaz — who placed fifth at 120 pounds — he helped coach Javier Quintana’s Raptors finish ninth among 42 teams in the final 5A standings, just behind Grandview for city-best honors.

Coach Ryan Budd’s Wolves had the most qualiifers of any Aurora program with eight and four of them placed as sophomore Charlie Herting — who missed last season due to injury — earned third place at 165 pounds and freshmen Gunner Lopez (132 pounds) and Jonathan Montes Gonzales (138) each took sixth in addition to the runner-up finish from Kibbee, who improved one spot on where he came in last season.

Morley, meanwhile, responded in a big way from his loss with three straight pins and a 2-1 victory to claim third to help coach Dan Wrona’s Regis Jesuit team to 11th place.

Vista PEAK tied for 17th place in the 4A standings as two of its three qualifiers — Taylor and fellow senior Oscar Valdez — placed in the top four.

It was the first time the program had multiple placers in a single season and also the first that a Bison had made it to the finals as it assured Taylor of bettering the previous best Vista PEAK finish of third by Donavon Jarmon in 2021.

Taylor (39-5) ran into a difficult opponent in Roosevelt’s Bronco Hartson in the final and spent most of the match on the defensive in a 7-0 loss by decision. Coach David Benedict’s team also got a fourth-place finish from Valdez, who had a 36-9 season mark.

Also on the medal podium was Rangeview’s Brooks, the city’s only four-time state qualifier, who ended up fourth at 190 pounds. It was his third straight podium finish as he was fourth last season as well and fifth in 2021. Brooks finished his career with 108 wins and just 15 losses, eight of which came in state competition.

Cherokee Trail senior Ellis Williams made the most of his second trip to state as he earned fourth place at 175 pounds to cap a 34-12 season.

BOYS WRESTLING

Bottom: Eaglecrest junior Adonias Cantu, right, waits for the referee’s whistle in the 5A 106-pound final against Pomona’s Zaidyn Quinonez.

PHOTOS BY COURTNEY OAKES/SENTINEL COLORADO

Right: Eaglecrest senior Blythe Cayko ties up with Calhan’s Taylor Knox during the 190-pound title match at the girls state wrestling tournament Feb. 18 at Ball Arena. Knox won 3-2 in double overtime to deny Cayko a second straight state title.

Below top: Vista PEAK senior Leilani Caamal, third from left, holds up her second place medal after she finished as the 155-pound runner-up at the girls state wrestling tournament.

Below middle: Regis Jesuit junior Alexis Segura, right, fights for position against Mesa Ridge’s Isabella Cross during a loss by decision in the 125-pound state championship match.

Bottom: Overland senior Vianca Mendoza closes her eyes and smiles after she recorded a pin to earn fifth place in the 120-pound girl state wrestling bracket.

Blythe Cayko exited prep wrestling in a blaze of glory Feb. 18, even if it didn’t end with her arm raised.

One of the final matches of an exceptional championship session of the girls state wrestling tournament on the big stage at Ball Arena pitted Cayko against Calhan’s Taylor Knox in a rematch from exactly one year earlier.

Cayko got the better of Knox in 2022, but the tables were turned this time as Knox prevailed with a 3-2 overtime victory in what was easily one of the most palpably intense matches of the night.

GIRLS WRESTLING

“I would rather go out in double overtime, blood running down my face, than something lame,” Cayko said. “We gave them a show, no doubt about that.”

As a junior and senior, Cayko went a combined 57-2 and the only two losses came to Knox and both were by close decision.

“Obviously a win would have been preferred, but that’s high school wrestling and part of life,” said Cayko, who has indicated she doesn’t plan to wrestle in college. “I know I have a team and a family that loves me regardless of how I perform. I’m proud of myself because it was a hell of a career.”

Cayko ended up as the lone placer for coach Horacio Vialpando’s Eaglecrest team, which finished in a tie for 15th place out of 65 scoring teams.

Segura is also a multiple-time finalist after she made it in 2021 (when the tournament was held on Pueblo due to the coronavirus pandemic) and the younger sister of three-time Regis Jesuit boys state champion Antonio Segura got back again after missing last season due to injury.

Title eludes trio

Cayko’s loss was one of three in championship matches for Aurora wrestlers as Regis Jesuit junior Alexis Segura and Vista PEAK senior Leilani Caamal also finished as runners-up.

Since Cayko pinned Knox in last season’s state championship match, a rematch was largely expected. Both wrestlers made it through the regular season, regionals and three rounds of the state tournament with identical 25-1 records, with the only losses coming to each other.

BY COURTNEY OAKES Sports Editor

And through the end of three periods, it was, of course, a 2-2 tie with neither wrestler budging an inch. That is until Knox broke the tie with an escape point in the first extra periods and kept Cayko from scoring to seal the match.

Afterwards, the two fierce competitors let their game faces turn into smiles and shared a hug.

“I think we’re both at a point of relief that it came finally stop being so awkward,” Cayko said. “When you’re going back and forth, you are supposed to see the other person as the enemy. The first thing I said to her after we hugged was ‘I’m going to add you on Snap (Chat) now.’ and she said ‘I’ll be sure to add you back.’ So much respect for her as my national teammate and just an athlete in general.”

The conclusion brought an end to Cayko’s prep wrestling career in which she evolved from a good wrestler into an elite one.

She defeated Mesa Ridge’s Isabella Cross in the regular season (Cross’s only loss in 42 matches), but the rematch went to Cross, who got the first takedown in the second period and kept Segura from getting much going.

Still, Segura enjoyed the stage — which she said was more intense than her national experience —and believes it will serve her well next year.

“I am happy with my experience, especially with being injured last year,” said Segura, who finished 28-4. “Even though I’m a little frustrated with how some things went in the match, I’m still entire grateful for the opportunity.”

Vista PEAK was the only Aurora team with multiple placers in Caamal and junior Rachel Allred, who finished sixth at 145 pounds to help the Bison to a city-best 13th in the standings.

Caamal went 1-2 at state last season, but earned three wins to become the Vista PEAK program’s first girls state finalist. She was stopped by Discovery Canyon’s Victoria Guinard, who won by a 5-1 decision to end Caamal’s season at 36-5.

“I’m very grateful for my team, coaches, family and everybody who helped me get this far and put their time into making me the wrestler that I am. Thanks to all of them for helping push me.”

All four of Aurora’s girls wrestling programs ended up with a state placer, a group rounded out by Overland senior Vianca Mendoza. The two-time state qualifier pinned her way to fifth place at 120 pounds and finished 39-12.

PHOTOS BY COURTNEY OAKES/SENTINEL COLORADO

Preps

ICE HOCKEY Regis Jesuit, Cherry Creek in 5A state field

The Colorado High School Activities Association put out the Class 5A state ice hockey playoff bracket on Feb. 20 and the 12-team field includes both local teams in Regis Jesuit and the Cherry Creek co-op.

The Raiders finished the regular season with an 8-6-4 record and ended up with the No. 4 seed, which gave them a bye along with No. 1 Valor Christian, No. 2 Denver East (the defending state champion) and No. 3 Ralston Valley.

Regis Jesuit will get on the ice first in the quarterfinals, which are Feb. 28-March 1 at South Suburban Sports Complex, and go against No. 12 Lewis-Palmer or No. 5 Monarch.

As the No. 6 seed, Cherry Creek — a collection of players from across Cherry Creek Schools — is among the eight teams to play in the opening round. The Bruins (11-7-1) will be on home ice at the Family Sports Center at 5:40 p.m. Feb. 24 against No. 11 Resurrection Christian (9-8-1).

The postseason progresses with quarterfinals Feb. 28-March 1 at South Suburban, followed by semifinals March 4 at World Arena in Colorado Springs and the championship game is set for March 7 at Magness Arena.

BOYS BASKETBALL Eaglecrest finishes 2nd in Centennial League

The Eaglecrest boys basketball team came into the inaugural Centennial League Tournament seeded No. 2 and that’s where the Raptors finished after a 56-45 loss to Cherry Creek Feb. 18 at Arapahoe H.S.

Eaglecrest lost to the Bruins for the second time on the season and finished the regular season 14-9.

Third-place in the tournament went to third-seeded Smoky Hill, which outlasted Grandview 91-90 in a high-scoring affair that was much more explosive than the 71-59 contest they played in the league season (in which the Wolves came out on top to take regular season league honors. Torian Gasaway scored 10 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter for the Buffaloes (18-5), who also got 18 from Lorenzo Contreras and 16 from Kai McGrew. UK Onyenwere had a gamehigh 26 points and Gavin Placide added 24 for Grandview (14-9).

Overland and Cherokee Trail met in the seventh-place game and the Trailblazers avenged a 28-point league season loss to the Cougars with an 86-76 victory. Siraaj Ali poured in 29 points to pace Overland, which finished the season 8-15. Cherokee Trail ended 7-16.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Grandview topped by Arapahoe for Centennial League tourney title

The Grandview girls basketball team came into the first Centennial

League Tournament with the No. 4 seed and ended up in second place when it concluded.

The Wolves held the lead for a good portion of its matchup with second-seeded Warriors Feb. 18 at Cherry Creek High School, but got outscored by eight points in the fourth quarter in a 47-43 defeat. Sienna Betts scored 18 points and Sydnie McClain added 12 for Grandview, which finished the regular season 14-9.

Third-seeded Cherokee Trail fell to top-seeded Cherry Creek — which lost to Grandview in the semifinals — 57-47 just 10 days after a 16-point loss to the Bruins to conclude the league’s regular season. Cherokee Trail fell to 18-5.

Eaglecrest (14-9) finished in sixth place after a 59-46 loss to Mullen despite Amaia Jones’ 13 points and 10 apiece from Nia McKenzie and Natalie Soto. Overland cruised past Smoky Hill 65-43 in the seventh-place game as the Trailblazers finished the season with a 12-11 record, while the Buffs came in at 2-21.

SPRING SPORTS New season getting ready to get underway

The last of the three prep sports seasons of the school year — spring — began for boys swimming and boys volleyball on Feb. 20, as those sports were allowed to begin practice.

Those two sports also begin competition quickly as they are allowed to begin the regular season Feb. 25.

The remainder of the large spring slate (baseball, girls soccer, track &

field, boys and girls lacrosse, girls tennis and girls golf) can begin practice Feb. 27.

WEEK PAST

The week past in Aurora prep sports

MONDAY, FEB. 20: No competition was held due to the closure of school districts on Presidents Day SATURDAY, FEB. 18: The regular season came to an end in boys basketball with a decent-sized slate. Outside of the four games in the Centennial League Tournament, Hinkley, Rangeview and Vista PEAK completed crossover games in their first season in the City League. The Raiders were victorious over Northfield behind a n 18-point effort from Mareon Chapman and 10 from Kenny Black-Knox, while the Bison also prevailed as Alante Monroe-Elazier tallied 17 points, Gabe Britton 13 and Carson McDonald 10 in a 66-50 win over George Washington. The Thunder dropped a 69-59 game to Kennedy. ...The girls basketball regular season closed with a similar slate that saw Rangeview defeat Regis Groff 48-42 with help from Jenesse Byrd’s 13 points, while Vista PEAK dropped a 73-51 contest against top-ranked George Washington. ...The ice hockey regular season came to a close with a 6-1 win over Battle Mountain for the Cherry Creek co-op team Ayden Schmidt (Cherokee Trail) had a hat trick in the first

ABOVE: The Regis Jesuit and Cherry Creek co-op ice hockey teams both qualified for the Class 5A state playoffs. The Bruins will be in action Feb. 24 in the first round, while the Raiders have a bye to open and then will play in the quarterfinals Feb. 28-March 1. ABOVE

RIGHT: Vista PEAK’s Kyree Polk goes up for a contested layup during the Bison’s 57-48 City League crossover boys basketball loss at Denver South Feb. 14. LEFT: Rangeview’s Royce Edwards, left, gets ahead of a defender for a layup attempt during the first quarter of the Raiders’ 52-39 City League crossover home loss to Thomas Jefferson Feb. 14. (Photos by Courtney Oakes/Sentinel Colorado)

For more on these stories, visit sentinelcolorado. com/preps

period for the Bruins, while Maxamillion Taoua (also of Cherokee Trail) had three assists. ... FRIDAY, FEB. 17: The Regis Jesuit boys basketball team finished off a 17-6 regular season with a 56-48 win over Legend. TaRea Fulcher led the Raiders with 21 points, while Joe Dorais had 18 and Damarius Taylor 14. ...Connor Ihaia and Michael Manville scored first-period goals, but the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team couldn’t add more in a 2-2 overtime tie with Monarch in its last game of the regular season. ...THURSDAY, FEB. 16: The Eaglecrest boys basketball team downed Smoky Hill for a second time with a 6763 home win that put the Raptors into the Centennial League Tournament title game. In the other semifinal, top-seeded Grandview fell 51-35 to fourth-seeded Cherry Creek as UK Onyenwere led the Wolves with 10 points and Gallagher Placide had nine. The two consolation semifinals were close contests as Overland fell to Mullen 58-55 despite Siraaj Ali’s 21 points and Cherokee Trail dropped a 57-51 decision to Arapahoe. ...The semifinals of the girls Centennial League Tournament saw wins from Grandview over Cherry Creek on one side of the bracket as the fourth-seeded Wolves prevailed 55-36. Sienna Betts had a game-high 20 points (plus 17 rebounds), while Sydney McClain added 11 and Isa Dillehay 10. Arapahoe topped Cherokee Trail 61-52 on the other side as Alana Biosse paced the Cougars with

14 points, while Damara Allen added 13 and Aaliyah Broadus 10. Nia McKenzie scored 15 points to lead three Eaglecrest players in double figures in a 56-22 win over Overland in a consolation semifinal, while Yamoni Perez tallied 13 in Smoky Hill’s 9028 loss to Mullen. ...Hana Belibi and Jane Rumpf finished with 13 points and 12 points, respectively, as the Regis Jesuit girls basketball team held on to defeat Legend 48-47. ...Eianna Jackson and Amirah Pena tied for game-high honors with 22 points as the Vista PEAK girls basketball team downed Denver East 68-54 in a City League crossover. ...Ian Beck scored two goals, Michael Manville had three assists and Ryan Miller saved all 14 shots he faced as the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team blanked Cheyenne Mountain 7-0 at World Arena. ...WEDNESDAY, FEB. 15: The Aurora Central boys basketball team finished as the runner-up of the Colorado League Tournament with a 73-66 loss to Adams City in a game played at Gateway Alejandro Flores scored 21 points, Camron Crisp added 17 and Christopher Perkins had 14. Gateway topped Skyview 44-32 in the third-place game. ...The Aurora Central girls basketball team finished third in the Colorado League Tournament with a 43-36 win over Thornton as Jamaea Johnson-Gonzalez (17 points) and Shaya Kelley (13) scored in double figures. ...Parker Brinner had two goals and an assist and Connor Ihaia had a goal and an assist, but the Regis Jesuit ice hockey team lost 4-3 in overtime to Denver East at Big Bear Ice Arena. ...TUESDAY, FEB. 14: Joe Dorais poured in 22 points, while Damarius Taylor had 15 and Nick Frontz 10 in the Regis Jesuit boys basketball team’s 88-52 win over Castle View. The girls team also came out on top (55-42) in a doubleheader sweep for the Raiders. ...In boys hoops City League crossover contests, Vista PEAK lost at Denver South 57-48 and Rangeview dropped a 52-39 contest to visiting Thomas Jefferson with Royce Edwards and Kenny Black-Knox leading the way with nine and eight points, respectively. ...In City League girls hoops crossover play, Rangeview downed Denver North 50-32.

RACE TO THE TOP

Aurora students laud pilot Black history class caught in culture wars

BY CARINA JULIG, Sentinel Staff Writer

In late January, the 30 students in Overland High School teacher Nathan Umetsu’s first-period class arranged themselves in a circle to hold a debate about Reconstruction, the period of U.S. history just after the Civil War.

Despite that it was early in the morning, and the students were all in their second semester of senior year, they eagerly engaged in the teacher’s prompt for the debate — had Reconstruction succeeded or failed in its goal of enfranchising newly freed African Americans?

“We’re not debating slavery, we’re not debating injustice, we’re debating whether Reconstruction was a success or a failure,” said Umetsu, who asked the students to change seats in the classroom based on whether their views changed throughout the debate and gently prompted a return to the initial question when answers veered further afield.

In many ways, it was a typical day in a high school history class. But it was also part of a nationwide experiment in teaching Black history. The students were in Overland’s AP African American Studies class, which is currently in its first year of implementation.

“It’s one of my favorite classes to go to,” said Gloria Ansah. “It’s a great way to start my day, learning about Black history.”

ABOVE: A stack of history books lay in wait to be used by Nathan Umetsu’s senior AP African American Studies class. This class at Overland High School is the only one of its kind in the state of Colorado.

BELOW: Taliyah Claiborne presents her arguments during a break out group discussion regarding the failures of Reconstruction in the United States following the Civil War, Jan. 30, at Overland High School.

Photos by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado

Overland is one of 60 schools in the nation — and the only one in Colorado — participating in the pilot program for AP African American Studies. Designed by College Board, the organization responsible for the implementation of all AP curricula and tests, the class has been in development for a decade.

Based on feedback from the pilot program, College Board is making adjustments to the curriculum and plans to roll the course out to more students in the coming school year. But in a political climate where the teaching of ideas about race and injustice has become a culture war flashpoint, the course has come under fire by some on the political right.

In the Overland community, however, the course has been met with excitement. Students the Sentinel spoke to over the course of several school days in January and February said that the class has taught them things about Black history that they hadn’t learned in their other history courses and that they hope it will eventually become available to students across the country.

“I hope that every school can have AP African American Studies, because it’s a great opportunity for students to learn about Black history,” student Razan Mohamed said.

Senior Isaac Montoya heard about the class last year in his AP U.S. history class, when the school was encouraging interested students to sign up for the new class. Montoya said he’s always enjoyed history, and the idea of participating in a brand new course appealed to him.

“I’ve always been a history buff, but I learn something new in this class every day,” he said.

A number of students said they were particularly encouraged to take the class by Umetsu, who is a popular teacher on campus and taught many of the seniors in previous years.

“He makes teaching fun,” Montoya said.

Umetsu has been with the district for 10 years, and this is his third year at Overland, where he teaches U.S. history and government. Umetsu has a master’s degree in American history, and said that he jumped when he was offered the opportunity to teach the new African American Studies course.

“There’s not a day that goes by that I regret saying yes to this opportunity,” he said.

Umetsu said that students know about the major figures in Black history — Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., etc. — but many are less familiar with other people he talks about in the class, such as journalist and anti-lynching activist Ida B. Wells-Barnett. He said that students are excited for the opportunity to go deeper into Black history in the course, which has four main units: early African empires, the transatlantic slave trade, Civil War and Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement.

The course is described by College Board as interdisciplinary, and along with history also discusses Black people’s contributions to the U.S. through the lens of arts, literature and political science.

In the debate about Reconstruction, a number of students drew parallels between the discrimination Black people faced after the Civil War and current events, including the police killing of Tyre Nichols which had happened earlier that month. Umetsu said he tries to make the course relatable to students’ lives while still focusing on the source material and not becoming biased towards any one particular interpretation.

“Having your own personal connection is great, but how can you draw from the history?” he said. “It’s a balance.”

College Board has asked that all students take the AP test in the spring and to complete a five-page paper on a topic related to the class as a final project, Umetsu said. Because it’s a pilot, students will

be able to take the test for free but will not be able to count a passing grade toward college credit. However, they can use the weighted course to count towards their GPA.

Every three months, Umetsu said College Board solicits feedback from him and all the other teachers in the pilot on how the course is going and ways it could be changed or improved. The pilot will continue next school year with the course being offered in more than 500 schools, according to College Board, and is scheduled to become widely available in the fall of 2024.

Overland was asked to participate in the program because of the demographics of its student body, which is majority Black and Hispanic. According to data provided by the school district, of the 30 students enrolled in the class, 22 are Black and four are Hispanic.

Natassja Campbell was in Umetsu’s American history class last year, where he noticed she had a clear affinity for learning about Black history.

“Every time I’d do assignments it was always about Black identity or anything that had to do with my ethnicity,” she said. He encouraged her to sign up for AP African American Studies, and she said she appreciates that the class teaches her more about Black history.

“Considering that I am African American, there are certain things I didn’t know about my history” before taking the class, she said, noting that at the beginning of the year she hadn’t been familiar with noted scholar and activist W.E.B. Du Bois.

In early February, the students read a section of Du Bois’ book “The Souls of Black Folk” in class, where they analyzed it and compared it to other readings from Booker T. Washington, a contemporary of Du Bois’ who frequently clashed with him on the best ways for Black people to improve their standing in the nation.

In class, Umetsu talked about how the differences in the two men’s backgrounds (Washington was born enslaved, Du Bois was not) may have influenced their outlooks on life. He also guided students through a reading of Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s famous poem “We Wear the Mask” and how it related to the concept of double consciousness — an idea first coined by Du Bois about the psychological effects of racism on Black people post-slavery.

In class, Umetsu talked about how the differences in the two men’s backgrounds (Washington was born enslaved, Du Bois was not) may have influenced their outlooks on life. He also guided students through a reading of Paul Lawrence Dunbar’s famous poem “We Wear the Mask” and how it related to the concept of double consciousness — an idea first coined by Du Bois about the psychological effects of racism on Black people post-slavery.

deeper dive into it, you’re learning more about what happened behind the scenes rather than just what’s on the top layer.”

deeper dive into it, you’re learning more about what happened behind the scenes rather than just what’s on the top layer.”

The opportunity to go deeper into facets of Black and African history that don’t otherwise get covered is something that students said they valued.

The opportunity to go deeper into facets of Black and African history that don’t otherwise get covered is something that students said they valued.

Even more so than other history classes, AP African American Studies is focused on primary sources from the time periods it covers because it doesn’t have a textbook that students use. Umetsu said he appreciates the focus on primary sources — which were specifically selected by College Board with the help of historians and experts — because it exposes students to numerous points of view and encourages them to think critically.

Even more so than other history classes, AP African American Studies is focused on primary sources from the time periods it covers because it doesn’t have a textbook that students use. Umetsu said he appreciates the focus on primary sources — which were specifically selected by College Board with the help of historians and experts — because it exposes students to numerous points of view and encourages them to think critically.

“This gives multiple points of view, students can come in every day with an open mindset,” he said of the primary sources. “It’s not just here’s what one person is saying, we can look at multiple viewpoints and challenge those.”

“In my other history classes we talk about (Black history) but we touch on it briefly, and in this class it’s every day,” Ansah said. “We go more specific in this class, which I appreciate. It’s not like we’re feeling rushed to get past a unit.”

“In my other history classes we talk about (Black history) but we touch on it briefly, and in this class it’s every day,” Ansah said. “We go more specific in this class, which I appreciate. It’s not like we’re feeling rushed to get past a unit.”

ciples of AP that have served us well in other courses,” the FAQ said. “This course offers an unflinching encounter with the facts and evidence of African American history and culture. No states or districts saw the official framework before its release on February 1, much less provided feedback on it.”

ciples of AP that have served es,” the FAQ said. “This encounter with the facts American history and culture. saw the official framework ruary 1, much less provided

Next year, Umelsu said Overland plans to offer the class again to seniors. In the district community, he said there’s been a lot of support for the class.

Next year, Umelsu said Overland plans to offer the class again to seniors. In the district community, he said there’s been a lot of support for the class.

“We had eighth grade parent night at Overland the other night and there was a round of applause from the parents who were like ‘hey, when can we sign our students up?’” he said.

“This gives multiple points of view, students can come in every day with an open mindset,” he said of the primary sources. “It’s not just here’s what one person is saying, we can look at multiple viewpoints and challenge those.”

After analyzing the readings, Umetsu had the students pivot to a more interactive activity, where they each had to research one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and design their own pennant for the school they selected.

After analyzing the readings, Umetsu had the students pivot to a more interactive activity, where they each had to research one of the nation’s historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and design their own pennant for the school they selected.

Several students in the class said they plan to go to an HBCU after graduation or to pursue a minor in African American studies in college. Taliyah Claiborne said that the class inspired her to apply to Clark Atlanta University, where she hopes to study business. She’s also encouraging her younger sister, currently a junior, to take the class.

“We had eighth grade parent night at Overland the other night and there was a round of applause from the parents who were like ‘hey, when can we sign our students up?’” he said.

In a document shared with the Sentinel, College Board said that the required reading list will now be exclusively focused on primary sources and will no longer include some contemporary scholarship, which had included works by scholars including Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Kimberlé Crenshaw. The document said this was due in part to the cost of copyright permissions and the difficulty of choosing which contemporary scholars to highlight.

In other places, the reception hasn’t been as positive. Last month, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said that the course violated state law and pushes a political agenda on students, and that it “lacks educational value.” As governor, DeSantis has worked to restrict the topics that can be taught in the state’s public schools, particularly around race and LGBTQ identity.

In other places, the reception hasn’t been as positive. Last month, Florida governor Ron DeSantis said that the course violated state law and pushes a political agenda on students, and that it “lacks educational value.” As governor, DeSantis has worked to restrict the topics that can be taught in the state’s public schools, particularly around race and LGBTQ identity.

Several students in the class said they plan to go to an HBCU after graduation or to pursue a minor in African American studies in college. Taliyah Claiborne said that the class inspired her to apply to Clark Atlanta University, where she hopes to study business. She’s also encouraging her younger sister, currently a junior, to take the class.

Officials in Virginia, North Dakota, Arkansas and Mississippi are also currently reviewing the curriculum, according to reporting from the Washington Post.

Officials in Virginia, North Dakota, Arkansas and Mississippi are also currently reviewing the curriculum, according to reporting from the Washington Post.

“...we began receiving questions from contemporary scholars about why their peers’ articles were included but not their own – highlighting for us the chilling effect that a mandated list of contemporary articles would have on the tremendous scope and vitality of scholarship in the discipline today,” the document said. “While the inclusion of secondary sources remains a course requirement, teachers are now required to select their own secondary sources, as they do in all other AP courses.”

In a document shared Board said that the required be exclusively focused on no longer include some which had included works Henry Louis Gates Jr. and document said this was copyright permissions and which contemporary scholars “...we began receiving porary scholars about why included but not their own chilling effect that a mandated articles would have on the vitality of scholarship in document said. “While the sources remains a course now required to select their as they do in all other AP

Claiborne said she felt like the class was important because Black history is “such a big part” of U.S. history. Her U.S. history class went over the basics of Black history “but in this class you’re taking a

Claiborne said she felt like the class was important because Black history is “such a big part” of U.S. history. Her U.S. history class went over the basics of Black history “but in this class you’re taking a

College Board announced revisions to the course’s curriculum shortly after DeSantis’ announcement, the timing of which drew suspicion that the changes were politically motivated. In an FAQ College Board sent to school districts shared with the Sentinel, the organization disputes this.

College Board announced revisions to the course’s curriculum shortly after DeSantis’ announcement, the timing of which drew suspicion that the changes were politically motivated. In an FAQ College Board sent to school districts shared with the Sentinel, the organization disputes this.

Some new topics are also being added to address gaps in the pilot version, including “more connections to the African Diaspora, such as a comparison to slavery and emancipation in Brazil,” “collaborations between African and white Americans during the long civil rights movement” and “the landmark contributions of queer Black Americans like Bayard Rustin and Pauli Murray to the civil rights movement,” the document said.

Some new topics are gaps in the pilot version, tions to the African Diaspora, to slavery and emancipation tions between African and the long civil rights movement” contributions of queer Black Rustin and Pauli Murray ment,” the document said.

“The updates took nearly a year and were based on two factors: what we gathered from the comments of over 300 professors and returning to prin-

“The updates took nearly a year and were based on two factors: what we gathered from the comments of over 300 professors and returning to prin-

Claiborne said that some of the backlash to the course reminds her of some of the things that they study.

Claiborne said that some course reminds her of some study.

“It just makes me think rather go back to how it

“It just makes me think how some people would rather go back to how it was in the 1960s where

we’re more segregated than integrated,” she said.

Umetsu emphasized the course’s focus on viewpoint diversity and historical sources. He believes that buzzwords like “critical race theory” and “queer studies” that some critics have used to describe the course are designed more to provoke people than to accurately describe what’s being taught.

“We don’t teach theory at all in the classroom,” he said. “We use primary sources, we engage multiple points of view, there is no CRT in here. We’re not leaning towards a certain point of view, students have to come in with that open mind ready to go.”

In a statement provided to the Sentinel by district spokesperson Lauren Snell, Cherry Creek Schools said that it values its partnership with College Board to provide students with a wide array of AP courses.

“We are proud to be among the first 60 high schools across the country piloting an AP African American course during the 2022-23 school year as it aligns with our core values,” the statement said.

Despite the controversy, Umetsu said he hopes that ultimately the course will be widely available to students.

“This is a course that everyone should have the chance and opportunity to take,” he said. As an elective it isn’t a requirement for students, “but I know a lot of them would jump at the chance to take this course.”

At Cherry Creek’s February board of education meeting, board member Angela Garland echoed the views of many of Umetsu’s students when she spoke about the importance of recognizing Black History Month.

“Remember, Black history is American history,” she said.

INSIDE LEFT PAGE: Lamarana Balde, center left, a senior at Overland High School, presents a counterargument during a group breakout session discussing the Reconstruction era in the United States following the Civil War, Jan. 30 during an AP African American Studies class.

INSIDE RIGHT PAGE: Nathan Umetsu sits with students in his AP African American Studies class, Jan. 30 at Overland High School during a break out session in which the class discussed the successes and failures of the Reconstruction era of American history.

Photos by PHILIP B. POSTON/Sentinel Colorado

ABOVE: Taliyah Claiborne speaks with her teacher Nathan Umetsu during an AP African American Studies class, Jan. 30 at Overland High School. Mr. Umetsu teaches the only AP African American History class in Colorado.

Review: “The Year of Magical Thinking”

JOAN DIDION’S ACCLAIMED MEMOIR IS INTIMATE, VIVID IN AURORA FOX ART CENTER’S BLACK BOX STUDIO

BY CARINA JULIG, Sentinel Staff Writer

When Joan Didion died on Dec. 23, 2021, she followed her daughter Quintana Roo Dunne by 16 years and her husband, John Gregory Dunne, by 18. Widely considered to be one of the nation’s greatest writers, Didion achieved accolades throughout her life for her incisive essays on politics and culture as well as a number of novels. She also collaborated with her husband, also an author, on screenplays.

But it was her 2005 memoir “The Year of Magical Thinking” that pushed her into literary superstardom, a somewhat surprising place for a woman so reticent off the page. The book details the year after Dunne’s sudden death of a heart attack as the couple was sitting down to dinner on Dec. 30 after having visited their daughter in the hospital, who at the time was unconscious with septic shock. Throughout the year, Quintana continued to struggle with health problems and was hospitalized again in Los Angeles (she later died of acute pancreatitis in 2005, an experience Didion chronicled in her 2011 book “Blue Nights”).

The book struck a nerve for its frank depictions of grief, and following its success Didion adapted it into a one-woman stage play which debuted on Broadway in 2007. That play is now being performed at the Aurora Fox Arts Center, where it runs for one more weekend.

The play is the second production of the season in the Fox’s black box studio, which hadn’t been used since before the pandemic. The more intimate venue is perfect for the stripped-down performance, which features very little scenery or special effects.

The emotional heft of the play is carried by its one and only actor, Billie McBride, who has worked at a number of Denver-area theatres as an actor and director. McBride

is returning to the Fox after previously being scheduled to perform in the Fox’s adaptation of “Peter Pan” in 2020, which was canceled after the coronavirus lockdowns threw live theatre into turmoil. She does a good job carrying the production, which without a compelling presence would easily lag.

Those who have read the memoir will recognize many of the play’s beats, some of which are copied line-by-line from the book (and at one point McBride even sits down to read from a copy of the memoir, which is one of the few props onstage). But the cadence is slightly different — with someone reading the work out loud more of Didion’s sly humor comes through, and there were multiple points in the show that garnered laughter. For those who were enthusiasts of Didion’s work the play also takes on something of a memorial air, as the knowledge that she has now joined the ranks of the dead hangs unspoken in the air.

Indeed, this play will probably be received differently after the past several years, which has made many more people familiar with the kinds of nerve-wracking extended hospital stays that are described so vividly in the play. The play opens with an admonishment from McBride, playing Didion, that though what happened to her was unique, something like it will happen to each one of us at some point in our lives. She was right.

Making widely appealing art out of the vagaries of grief, which can be personal to an isolating degree, is difficult. Both the book and the play succeed at this task, particularly in how they describe the strange forms of denial and delusion that grief can induce as the brain struggles to process what has happened.

“I have negotiated grief,” director Christy Montour-Larson said in a director’s note. “I have gotten that phone call when life changed in an instant, when life as I knew it ended. Perhaps you have, too. And when your rational

mind is trying to tell you things you don’t want to hear, even the toughest of us will go looking for the loophole. You know, the one that gives a fighting chance to negotiate beyond the rational. The one that makes you keep your loved one’s shoes just in case they might need them when they returned.”

The Fox will return to the main stage for the final two shows of the season, “Toni Stone” and “Treasure Island.” Debuting March 10, “Toni Stone” is the Colorado premiere of a play about the first woman to play baseball in the Negro Leagues, and the first woman to play professionally in any men’s league in the U.S. “Treasure Island” is a new musical adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of adventure on the high seas.

If you go:

Runs through Feb. 26,

• Thursdays-Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and

• Sundays at 2 p.m.

Approximate 90 minute runtime with no intermission

Adult tickets $28-$40

Purchase online at aurorafox.org or by calling 303-739-1970

Masks recommended but not required.

Billie McBride performs The Year of Magical Thinking at the Aurora Fox Arts Center, which is running through Feb. 26.

Photo provided by Aurora Fox Arts Center

2023 SCFD Free Days

& Nights at the Denver Nature of Museum and Science

scene & herd

The Denver Pancake and Booze Art Show at the Sports Castle

Feb. 26, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Denver Museum of Nature and Science. 2001 Colorado Blvd. 80205. Visit https://bit.ly/3Se29I8 for more information.

This one pretty much explains itself, but just in case let’s talk about it for a moment. Free admission to an awesome museum is something of which we can all get on board. No need for a reservation either — just walk right up anytime during the day and you’ll be given free entry to take in all of the permanent exhibitions of the museum. One recommendation: you allow yourself at least two hours if you want to take in the entirety of the museum’s exhibits.

March 4, 8:00 p.m. to midnight. The Sports Castle 1000 Broadway, Denver, CO 80203. Visit https://bit. ly/3k7J3qH for more information.

Boozy breakfast for dinner, plus art? Sign us up. The Pop-Up Underground Art Show is coming to the Sports Castle. One of the largest pop-up art movements in North America is celebrating more than 10 years of bringing together all you can eat pancakes and local artists. More than 100 artists will be showcasing their pieces, live music performances and live body painting are just a few of the attractions of this delicious event.

Presale tickets are available for $10 while admission will be $15 the day of or at the door. If you want to submit your own work, you can find information for that opportunity here: https://bit.ly/3k7J3qH.

Girl Scout Cookie & Beer Pairing at Peak View Brewing

Cooking in the 1800’s: Family Workshop at Plains Conservation Center

The Pond Ice Rink at Southlands Mall

Tuesday Night Bingo at Grandma’s House

Now until Feb. 26 with hours varying based on the day. 6155 S Main St, Aurora, CO 80016. Visit www.shopsouthlands.com for more information.

Time is running out to lace up your skates and get to The Pond skating rink. The weather seems right for it, provided it did indeed snow as predicted. The skating rink is located in the town square of Southlands Mall in southeast Aurora, just outside of the movie theater — making it the perfect location should you want to get to the moviehouse to check out a flick, and then wrap your day with some laps around the rink.

It’s the quintessential winter time activity so you’re going to want to do yourself a favor and check the schedule so you can head out east and show your best Kristi Yamaguchi impersonation. Times and admission prices vary.

Feb. 28, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Grandma’s House, 1710 S. Broadway, Denver, CO 80206. Visit https://bit. ly/3IA9LjZ for more information.

This fun weekly event is at a bar, not your granny’s house. In fact, we don’t even know your granny. But we do know that a complimentary game of Bingo with the purchase of a full beer has the makings for a good couple of hours out of the house. Now you’re likely wondering what the prizes are. It’s beer! Buy a beer, play some bingo, win a beer. Pretty straight forward, no? Here’s the lesser-known kicker, they brew their own beer! And it’s pretty tasty to this hack. So, be a good grandchild and go visit Grandma’s House.

Feb. 25, 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sand Creek Park 2700 Peoria St., Aurora, CO 80011. Visit www.sandcreekgreenway.org/events-on-thegreenway-1/winter-bird-walk for more information.

Despite the deep freezes we’ve had this winter season, some birds opt to hunker down and bear the frigid temps with promises of warmer days ahead. In the meantime, why not have a saunter along the Sand Creek Greenway in hopes of seeing some of our feathered friends.

No birding experience is necessary for this walk and binoculars will be provided for those of us that don’t own a set. Registration is required and can be done at https:// www.sandcreekgreenway.org/ events-on-the-greenway-1/winterbird-walk.

Feb. 25, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Peak View Brewing Company. 9672 E. Arapahoe Rd., Greenwood Village, CO 80112

If this doesn’t scream typical Colorado. We sure do love our beer, don’t we. And who doesn’t love Girl Scout Cookies? Seriously, show us this person.

Peak View Brewing knows the skinny here, which is why they are hosting their second annual Girl Scout cookie and beer pairing. Their brewers have crafted four special beers to be paired with the aforementioned cookies. Not that we would blame you for getting there at 11 o’clock in the morning, but they’ll be pouring these cookie flights all day.

Feb. 25 at 2:00 p.m. Plains Conservation Center. 21901 E. Hampden Ave., Aurora, CO 80013. Visit www. catalog.botanicgardens.org/DateSelection.aspx?item=4369 for more information.

Think you had what it takes to make it as a pioneer in the middle of the nineteenth century in Colorado? Let’s test that by signing up for the family workshop this weekend at the Plains Conservation Center, where you’ll cook a meal on a wood burning stove in the sod village. You’ll learn a few skills while you make fresh applesauce, muffins and even fresh butter.

This hands-on opportunity would be a fun way to spend your Saturday afternoon with the fami ly, where you’ll also learn about the prairie itself, and those that lived on them in the 1800’s. Tickers are $12 per person and can be purchased at www.catalog.botanicgardens.org/ DateSelection.aspx?item=4369.

minimum-wage hikes. (It’s now $13.65 an hour. Denver’s is $17.29 per hour.)

Among those fighting was Services International Employees Union (SEIU) member Eva Martinez, who has been a janitor at Denver’s Republic Plaza for 29 years.

Her income supplemented her husband Jose’s, an auto detailer, and their growing family of five girls.

Between them, the couple increased their income by more than $20,000 over the last decade. Eva Martinez said she’s now making more than $18 an hour.

“I feel like our lives changed a lot,” she said in Spanish. “I feel like we have a lot more security. I feel like I was lucky that I was able to get a job that was a union job. I feel like that played a huge role in us being able to feel secure.”

The minimum-wage increase was a big boost to the lowest-wage workers, a disproportionate percentage of whom are Black and Latino. The scheduled increases also succeeded in upping minimum wages at a faster rate than the state’s median wages, said Chris Stiffler, senior economist for the “equity-focused” Colorado Fiscal Institute. Within four years, his research found, Colorado had the fifth-highest minimum wage in the country.

As the economy moved into the full flush of its long, slow economic expansion, unemployment hit record lows. Carrera and Flores started new jobs, working at 3 Margaritas, a Mexican restaurant. Their paychecks grew.

That median household income rose and official poverty levels, which are based on pre-tax wages, fell over the last decade is not surprising, Stiffler said.

“Every time you see a rocking economy, you see the poverty rate drop and a boost to wages on the lower end of the spectrum,” he said.

And Colorado was rocking. Between 2011 and 2021, Colorado had the fifth-highest growth in the U.S. in real gross domestic product. The state also had the fifth-highest gain in the nation in per capita income, growing nearly 68% over that time, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Median household income over the decade outstripped inflation.

Still, other factors, direct and indirect, influenced not only how much people were earning over the decade, but also their ability to participate in the labor force in the first place, the COLab/Denver Post analysis of Census and state data found.

Among them:

Women in Colorado have been waiting longer to have children and having fewer children overall. In 2020, only seven states had lower fertility rates.

The percentage of births to teens plummeted, with a 66% drop for Hispanic teens between 2010 and 2020 and a 56% drop for Black teens in part due to the

state’s long-acting reversible contraceptives program.

The share of Black and Latino single-parent families, who are most vulnerable to poverty, fell slightly over the decade.

State demographer Elizabeth Garner also points to pandemic-era aid, including expanded child tax credits, as a buffer for the worst impacts of a public health and related economic crisis that disproportionately affected Black and Latino Coloradans. And larger demographic forces may be at play, she added, including the relative youth of a growing Latino population entering the labor force as older white residents leave it.

Colorado has also seen an increase in the percentage of households that are “doubling up” -- living with related family members, including grown children and grandparents -- boosting household incomes. In 2019, more than a quarter of Colorado kids were living in doubled-up households, according to a report by Colorado State University’s Colorado Futures Center.

Overall, the decade was good to Valerie Harris and her husband, Forris, a Black couple living in Aurora.

“We’re definitely in a better position today than we were 10 years ago,” she said.

In 2011, they were making around $65,000 together and had five children at home. They had some financially tough years after that -- her husband was laid off and took a lower-paying job; she had to stop working temporarily in her job as a certified nursing assistant for health reasons -- but they are now in a more stable position with three kids still at home. Her husband has a better-paying job at the Veterans Administration. She is working as a certified nursing assistant, has started her own business, Silver Lining Promotions and Management, and does tax preparation on the side. They are now making almost double what they once did, she said.

‘Renting this lifestyle’

The Harrises saw their household income rise because of higher-paying work, but also because Valerie Harris has worked multiple jobs for the past decade.

The Martinezes reached financial stability because Jose Martinez worked six days a week. He worked days and Eva worked nights, so they didn’t have to pay for child care. With three of their daughters and a grandson living with them, they still work alternate schedules.

“This is also very hard because we sacrifice our relationship,” Jose Martinez said.

Carerra and Flores have yet to find stability. Their income increased by about $13,500 between 2011 and 2021, according to their W-2s. But Carrera said she sometimes works 60 hours a week because she is healthier than her husband. She also sells jewelry and food to pad their income.

It’s not enough.

The Carrera-Floreses are pay-

ing $1,675 a month for their 700sq.ft. one-bedroom. Then there are the $584 monthly car payments, car insurance, medical bills, utilities, gas and food. Both have diabetes and other health issues. They go to Metro Caring monthly for food. Some months, they cut back on Carrera’s blood-pressure medication, though insulin is non-negotiable. And some months, they turn to the credit card. Their boss, friends and even customers sometimes help them out.

What separates Carrera, Flores, the Harrises and the Martinezes are housing costs. The Martinezes paid off their home in 2018. Flores and Carrera are paying more than double their rent in 2011, almost half their income.

The Harrises lost their home to foreclosure in the Great Recession and now pay nearly $2,400 in rent for a small house.

The couple is again working toward homeownership, a primary driver of generational wealth. According to 2021 five-year American Community Survey data, about four in 10 Black Coloradans were homeowners. (In comparison, more than 70% of white Coloradans were homeowners and 54% of Latinos.)

Her family may be doing better, Valerie Harris said, but Black Coloradans as a whole are not.

“We don’t own more homes. We don’t own more businesses. We just have more jobs. That’s not better.”

She said it feels as though Black Coloradans are “renting this lifestyle” with less ownership, and therefore, “no control over our future or our destiny.”

The fragility of economic stability became evident during the pandemic. Harris, immunocompromised, had to leave her job, so they relied on unemployment and her husband’s income. The restaurant that employed Carrera and Flores closed for a month before switching to take-out. The couple took a payday loan, got a two-month grace period on their car payments and fell behind on their electric bill.

To get a better handle on how people are doing, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy uses the University of Washington School of Social Work‘s Center for Women’s Welfare’s Self-Sufficiency Standard. Calibrated for each of the state’s 64 counties and for various family sizes and types, it takes into account the cost of housing, child care, food, health care, transportation, taxes and tax credits.

The 2022 report calculates that one adult in Arapahoe County needed to earn $38,089 to cover basic needs – slightly less than what Flores and Carrera earned combined.

In Denver, a single adult with one preschooler and one child in school needed to earn more than $40 an hour full-time to meet basic needs. In Summit County, served by Voces Unidas, that same family had to earn $103,225 a year, or 448% of the federal poverty guidelines. The authors of the Self

Sufficiency Standard, who refer to the poverty threshold as a better measure of “deprivation,” emphasize that their own measure includes no frills — no movie nights, no dinner out.

The fact that Black and Latino poverty rates have remained significantly higher than white speaks to “a long history of people of color being deprived of economic opportunity that was given to white people,” said Sarah Hughes, former research director for the Colorado Children’s Campaign.

The poverty rates, she added, are a reflection of interconnected policies and programs that have deprived people of color the same opportunities to build wealth, from redlining to higher-interest loans to inadequate school funding and lack of access to quality health care.

“Oftentimes, when people look at disparities, they often jump to individual-level explanations rather than systemic explanations when we know systemic issues are really at the root,” she said.

Closing the gaps

The bottom line, the 2022 Self-Sufficiency Standard report says, is that two ways exist to get people to self-sufficiency: lower costs or higher incomes.

Closing the equity gaps needs to be at the center of both, Nita Gonzales, a longtime community leader in Denver, said.

“Society has to know that it will not tolerate inequity as the norm,” she said. “It will not tolerate houseless relatives as the norm. It will not tolerate children that go to bed hungry as the norm. It will not tolerate people who do not have a health care home as the norm. Society has to say it’s unacceptable.”

Scott Wasserman, president of the progressive Bell Policy Center, said that the decline in poverty rates is “super encouraging when we think about raising the floor. … Where we’re stumbling is that next step.”

The focus needs to be on structural barriers to equity like housing equity and its role in creating intergenerational wealth, he said.

Affordable housing is dominating the current legislative session as well as the Denver City Council and mayoral races. Among the suggested solutions: land-use reforms, rent control, giving cities and counties dibs on apartment

buildings for sale to make rents affordable.

Advocates and experts also point to expanded access to no or low-cost early childhood education as a solution that not only benefits children but parents and the economy as a whole. Colorado ranks eighth in the country for most expensive child care, with an average annual cost of $15,325, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

“We … know that when you help the child, then the parent has the ability to go to school, to go to work and to be much more productive than they have ever been,” said Elsa Holguín, president and CEO of the Denver Preschool program.

The legislature last year invested millions in the childcare industry, and free universal preschool, pushed by Gov. Jared Polis, is set to begin in fall 2023.

But advocates say there’s much more to be done, and lawmakers are looking to expand state income tax relief for families with children.

Federal safety net programs are also critical, advocates for families said. Colorado’s Democratic Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper have argued that the expanded child tax credit, a pandemic safety net, should have been made permanent.

The tax credit “lifted 2.9 million children out of poverty” during the pandemic, U.S. Census Bureau researchers found in a 2022 analysis of its impact. A Child Trends analysis, using the same data, found the federal safety net -- earned income tax credits, food stamps, Social Security, cash public assistance, housing subsidies and other programs -has played an increasingly larger role in the “astounding decline” of child poverty since 1993.

Without assisting families with child care costs, housing and health care, Wasserman said he doesn’t believe all Coloradans’ economic prosperity can improve.

Carrera and Flores said they dream of eventually being able to own a three-bedroom home with a backyard, where they can cook the foods they love and sell some of it to make money.

“We are old,” Carrera said. But what they don’t have in time, she said, they have in faith that the ability to “achieve our dreams” is still within reach.

report.

Burt Hubbard and Rossana Longo contributed to this

Eva Martinez, 52, is at her home in Lakewood, Colorado on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023. Martinez has been a janitor working primarily at Republic Plaza for going on 29 years in downtown Denver. She is a mother of five.

Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post

Because the people must know

COMBINED NOTICEPUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103 FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0608-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On December 9, 2022, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

Sanford H. Becker, IV AND Tara P. Becker

Original Beneficiary(ies) MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR TERWIN ADVISORS LLC, ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, as Indenture Trustee, on behalf of the holders of the Terwin Mortgage Trust 2007-1SL, Asset-Backed Securities, Series 2007-1SL

Date of Deed of Trust

November 21, 2006

County of Recording

Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

December 05, 2006

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

B6171218

Original Principal Amount

$140,478.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$23,252.21

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 1, BLOCK 2, PINEY CREEK VILLAGE, FILING NO. 1, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO. Also known by street and number as: 6091 South Kalispell Street, Aurora, CO 80016.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 04/12/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 2/16/2023

Last Publication 3/16/2023

Name of Publication Sentinel

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 12/09/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: /s/ Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Alison L Berry #34531

N. April Winecki #34861

David R. Doughty #40042

Nicholas H. Santarelli #46592

Lynn M. Janeway #15592

Janeway Law Firm, P.C. 9800 S. Meridian Blvd., Suite 400, Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 706-9990

Attorney File # 22-026376

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado

Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICEPUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0582-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On November 18, 2022, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

Bianca Madrid AND Brian K. Arguello

Original Beneficiary(ies)

MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. AS NOMINEE FOR CELEBRITY HOME LOANS, LLC., ITS SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

COLORADO HOUSING AND FINANCE

AUTHORITY Date of Deed of Trust

July 27, 2021

County of Recording

Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

July 29, 2021

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

E1119475

Original Principal Amount

$446,758.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$439,788.71

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 28, BLOCK 9, PHEASANT RUN FIL-

ING NO. 1, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO.

APN #: 2073-07-1-06-028

Also known by street and number as: 15077 East Stanford Drive, Aurora, CO 80015.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/22/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 1/26/2023

Last Publication 2/23/2023

Name of Publication Sentinel IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE

MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/18/2022 Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: /s/ Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Alison L Berry #34531

N. April Winecki #34861

David R. Doughty #40042

Nicholas H. Santarelli #46592

Lynn M. Janeway #15592

Janeway Law Firm, P.C. 9800 S. Meridian Blvd., Suite 400, Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 706-9990

Attorney File # 22-028708

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado

Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICEPUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0585-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On November 18, 2022, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

BARBARA J. GONZALES AND RONALD

G. GONZALES

Original Beneficiary(ies) MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. ACTING SOLELY AS NOMINEE FOR QUICKEN LOANS INC.

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS INC.

Date of Deed of Trust

November 02, 2017

County of Recording

Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

November 08, 2017

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

D7127493

Original Principal Amount

$400,000.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$430,717.71

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations of the terms thereof

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 68, BLOCK 2, SERENITY RIDGE SUBDIVISION FILING NO. 1, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO. Also known by street and number as: 26052 E FREMONT PL, AURORA, CO 80016-6158.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/22/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 1/26/2023

Last Publication 2/23/2023

Name of Publication Sentinel IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/18/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: /s/ Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Anna Johnston #51978

Ryan Bourgeois #51088

Joseph D. DeGiorgio #45557

Randall M. Chin #31149 Barrett, Frappier & Weisserman, LLP 1391 Speer Boulevard, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80204 (303) 350-3711 Attorney File # 00000009649518

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado

Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICEPUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0594-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On November 29, 2022, the undersigned

Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

MICHAEL D. KOLB

Original Beneficiary(ies)

MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC. ACTING SOLELY AS NOMINEE FOR QUICKEN LOANS INC.

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

ROCKET MORTGAGE, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS, LLC F/K/A QUICKEN LOANS INC.

Date of Deed of Trust

December 23, 2014

County of Recording

Arapahoe Recording Date of Deed of Trust

January 02, 2015

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

D5000044

Original Principal Amount

$176,739.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$146,996.44

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust and other violations of the terms thereof THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

LOT 33, BLOCK 2, GREENBROOK SUBDIVISION, FILING NO. 2, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO. Also known by street and number as: 987 S EVANSTON CIR, AURORA, CO 80012. THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 03/29/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 2/2/2023

Last Publication 3/2/2023

Name of Publication Sentinel

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO

A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE

A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED;

DATE: 11/29/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: /s/ Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Anna Johnston #51978

Ryan Bourgeois #51088

Joseph D. DeGiorgio #45557

Randall M. Chin #31149

Barrett, Frappier & Weisserman, LLP 1391

Speer Boulevard, Suite 700, Denver, CO 80204 (303) 350-3711

Attorney File # 00000009661307

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado

Revised 1/2015

COMBINED NOTICEPUBLICATION CRS §38-38-103

FORECLOSURE SALE NO. 0604-2022

To Whom It May Concern: This Notice is given with regard to the following described Deed of Trust:

On December 6, 2022, the undersigned Public Trustee caused the Notice of Election and Demand relating to the Deed of Trust described below to be recorded in the County of Arapahoe records.

Original Grantor(s)

Jerome L. Harris and Markisha C. Harris

Original Beneficiary(ies)

Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc., as Beneficiary, as nominee for Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Mr. Cooper, its successors and assigns

Current Holder of Evidence of Debt

Nationstar Mortgage LLC

Date of Deed of Trust

September 18, 2020

County of Recording

Arapahoe

Recording Date of Deed of Trust

September 28, 2020

Recording Information (Reception No. and/ or Book/Page No.)

E0129716

Original Principal Amount $339,270.00

Outstanding Principal Balance

$326,081.55

Pursuant to CRS §38-38-101(4)(i), you are hereby notified that the covenants of the deed of trust have been violated as follows: Failure to pay principal and interest when due together with all other payments provided for in the evidence of debt secured by the deed of trust and other violations thereof.

THE LIEN FORECLOSED MAY NOT BE A FIRST LIEN.

Lot 1, Block 7, Summer Valley Subdivision

Filing No. 17, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado.

Also known by street and number as: 18161 E Bellewood Dr, Aurora, CO 80015.

THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED HEREIN IS ALL OF THE PROPERTY CURRENTLY ENCUMBERED BY THE LIEN OF THE DEED OF TRUST.

NOTICE OF SALE

The current holder of the Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, described herein, has filed Notice of Election and Demand for sale as provided by law and in said Deed of Trust.

THEREFORE, Notice Is Hereby Given that I will at public auction, at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, 04/05/2023, at The East Hearing Room, County Administration Building, 5334 South Prince Street, Littleton, Colorado, 80120, sell to the highest and best bidder for cash, the said real property and all interest of the said Grantor(s), Grantor(s)’ heirs and assigns therein, for the purpose of paying the indebtedness provided in said Evidence of Debt secured by the Deed of Trust, plus attorneys’ fees, the expenses of sale and other items allowed by law, and will issue to the purchaser a Certificate of Purchase, all as provided by law.

First Publication 2/9/2023

Last Publication 3/9/2023

Name of Publication Sentinel

IF THE SALE DATE IS CONTINUED TO A LATER DATE, THE DEADLINE TO FILE A NOTICE OF INTENT TO CURE BY THOSE PARTIES ENTITLED TO CURE MAY ALSO BE EXTENDED; DATE: 12/06/2022

Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee in and for the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

By: /s/ Susan Sandstrom, Public Trustee

The name, address, business telephone number and bar registration number of the attorney(s) representing the legal holder of the indebtedness is:

Amanda Ferguson #44893

Heather Deere #28597

Toni M. Owan #30580

Halliday, Watkins & Mann, PC 355 Union Blvd., Ste. 250, Lakewood, CO 80228 (303) 274-0155

Attorney File # CO11947

The Attorney above is acting as a debt collector and is attempting to collect a debt. Any information provided may be used for that purpose.

©Public Trustees’ Association of Colorado

Revised 1/2015

460401146040-25 Hair Clip Bow w/Clear Stones

11-460401146040-26 Christmas Santa Earring

11-460401146040-27 Ring w/White Stone

11-460401146040-28 Hair Clip

11-460401146040-29

Earring w/Clear Stones

11-460401146040-30 Charm

11-460401146040-31 Pink Hair Rubber Band

11-460401146040-32 Silver Charm

11-463441146344-13 Pair of Earrings 11471741147174-16 Costume Feather Earring

11-471741147174-17 Clear Stone Earrings1

1-471741147174-18 Black Costume Earrings

11-471741147174-19 Yellow Color Earring

11-471741147174-20 Double Ring

16-4140259010-7 White Timex Watch

16-4140259010-8 Red & White Geneva Watch

16-4140259010-9 White & Brown Geneva Watch 08-220250822025-5 Ring

08-220250822025-6 Necklace

08-220250822025-7 Necklace

08-220250822025-8 Ring

08-220250822025-9 Key Chain

12-159071215907Z-5 Bracelet

12-159071215907Z-6 Necklace

21-7081218516-48 Soviet Kopeck Coins in Case 21-7081218516-55 Silver Soviet Kopeck Coins in Case

21-7081218516-611 Soviet Animal Coins in Case

18-9784180858-2 Foreign Money

20-1190182308-4 Mexican Coin

20-879182062-74 Ecuador Coins & 1 Australian Coin

11-108631110863-12 Chinese Bank Note

11-431501143150-16 Foreign Coin

14-6837146837-15 Pesos

20-2303183074-12 Russian Bill

10-449931044993Z-16 Canadian $2 Coin

Terms of the sale will be cash, certified check, Visa, American Express, or Mastercard at the conclusion of the sale. The successful bidder will be required to remove all items after the close of the sale. All sales are final WITH NO WARRANTY.

Any and all bids can be rejected at the discretion of the City of Aurora.

/s/ Kadee Rodriguez, City Clerk

First Publication: February 16, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

PROGRAM

AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN (HOMEARP)

BEFORE THE COLORADO GROUND WATER COMMISSION DETERMINATIONS OF WATER RIGHT LOST CREEK DESIGNATED GROUNDWATER BASIN AND LOST CREEK GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT - ARAPAHOE COUNTY

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Serenity Ridge Metropolitan District No. 1 of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

Band 05-487890548789-14 Bracelet 05-487890548789-15 Watch w/No Band 06-516010651601Z-1 Earring

Earrings

Earring 06-516010651601Z-4 Earring 06-516010651601Z-5 Earring 09-174650917465Z-3 Men’s Wedding Band

09-209580920958-4 Earrings

09-209580920958-5 Watch

15-2001314793-2 Watch

20-29135201812-1 Silver/Chrome Men’s Watch w/Copper Accent

20-29135201812-2 Men’s Watch

20-29135201812-3 Men’s Multi Colored

Smoke/Chrome Watch

20-29135201812-4 Watch w/Chrome Face

20-29135201812-5 Watch Face

20-29135201812-6 Square Kenneth Cole

Watch Face

20-29135201812-7 Yellow Men’s Watch

20-29135201812-8 Black Casio Watch

20-29135201812-9 Silver Watch w/Blue

Face

20-29135201812-10 Women’s Watch w/ Leather Band

20-29135201812-11 Women’s Chrome and Yellow Faced Watch

20-29135201812-12 Women’s Plastic

Watch

20-29135201812-13 Gold Ladies Watch

20-29135201812-14 Watch Face

20-29135201812-15 Seiko Watch Face

20-29135201812-16 Bulova Watch

20-29135201812-17 Women’s Fossil

Watch

20-29135201812-18 Women’s Geneva

Watch

20-29135201812-19 Women’s Plastic Bolun Watch

20-29135201812-20 Women’s Plastic Accutime Watch

20-29135201812-21 Women’s Guess Watch w/Leather Band

11-7010117010-29 Bill Fossil Watch

11-7010117010-30 Relic Watch

11-7010117010-31 NY&C Watch

11-7010117010-36 Women’s Watch 17923770806-1 Diamond Bracelet

17-923770806-2 Gold Necklace

17-923770806-3 Silver Metal Watch

15-4717931038-18 Russian Coin

15-4753431415-1 Foreign Money Pesos

15-4753431415-2 Foreign Money Bahamas One Dollar

15-4753431415-3 Foreign Money Canadian 215-4753431415-4 Foreign Money

Canadian 215-52348169-10 One 50 Pesos Bill

16-2509348926-4 Foreign Currency

21-11992222024-25 Misc. Foreign Currency Coins

NOTICIA PÚBLICA

CIUDAD DE AURORA, COLORADO PERÍODO DE COMENTARIOS

PÚBLICOS Y AUDIENCIA PÚBLICA PROGRAMA DE ASOCIACIONES DE INVERSIÓN EN EL HOGAR

PLAN DE RESCATE AMERICANO (HOME-ARP)

Se notifica que la ciudad de Aurora recibió $4,149,712 en fondos del HOMEAmerican Rescue Plan (“ARP”) en una asignación única del Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de EE. UU. (“HUD”). Los fondos federales HOME-ARP se crearon para ayudar a las personas o los hogares que se encuentran sin hogar, en riesgo de quedarse sin hogar y otras poblaciones vulnerables, proporcionando viviendas asequibles, asistencia para el alquiler, servicios de apoyo y refugio no colectivo, para reducir la falta de vivienda y aumentar la vivienda. estabilidad. El plan de asignación HOME-ARP (“el plan”) define el uso de los fondos de la subvención HOME-ARP para abordar estas necesidades dentro de las actividades elegibles aprobadas por HUD. La Ciudad pondrá a disposición fondos para actividades una vez que se hayan completado la consulta asociada del Plan de Asignación HOMEARP, el proceso de participación pública y la aprobación de HUD a través de la enmienda sustancial del Plan de Acción Anual PY 2021.

Un borrador del Plan de Asignación HOME-ARP de la Ciudad de Aurora estará disponible para un período de comentario público de 15 días. También se da aviso de que se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública para permitir que el público revise y haga comentarios.

Los ciudadanos pueden ver los planes preliminares desde el 1 de marzo de 2023 hasta el 16 de marzo de 2023 en las oficinas de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario en 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012, y también se pueden ver y descargar desde el sitio web de la Ciudad por auroragov.org/housing.

Audiencia Pública: Se llevará a cabo una audiencia pública para revisar y discutir el borrador del Plan. La audiencia se llevará a cabo el 14 de marzo de 2023 a las 6:30 p. m. en el Centro Municipal de Aurora, 15151 East Alameda Parkway, Aurora CO 80012. Si desea asistir virtualmente, puede hacerlo a través de Microsoft Teams, Meeting ID : 295 641 085 812, código de acceso: PTUvMM, o llamar (solo audio), +1 720-388-8447, 176559966# Estados Unidos, Denver, ID de conferencia telefónica: 176 559 966#, ciudad de Aurora, Colorado.

Se anima a las residentes a asistir y participar. Para obtener más información, comuníquese con el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario al 303-7397900. Este aviso también estará ubicado en el sitio web de Vivienda y Desarrollo Comunitario a partir del 30 de enero de 2023, haga clic en el siguiente enlace, auroragov.org/ housing.

Accesibilidad: La Ciudad de Aurora no discrimina por motivos de discapacidad en la admisión, acceso u operaciones de programas, servicios o actividades, incluido el proceso de participación pública. La Ciudad realiza adaptaciones razonables para las discapacidades que interfieren con el pleno acceso a cualquier programa, servicio o actividad, incluido el proceso de participación pública.

Publication: February 23, 2023

NOTICE is given that the City of Aurora was awarded $4,149,712 in HOME-American Rescue Plan (“ARP”) funds in a onetime allocation from the U.S. Department of Urban Housing and Development (“HUD”). Federal HOME-ARP funding was created to assist individuals or households who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations, by providing affordable housing, rental assistance, supportive services, and non-congregate shelter, to reduce homelessness and increase housing stability. The HOME-ARP Allocation plan (“the plan”) defines the use of the HOME-ARP grant funds to address these needs within the HUD-approved eligible activities. The City will make funds available for activities once the HOME-ARP Allocation Plan’s associated consultation, public participation process, and HUD approval have been completed through the substantial amendment of the PY 2021 Annual Action Plan.

A draft of the City of Aurora’s HOME-ARP Allocation Plan will be available for a 15day public comment period. Notice is also given that a public hearing will be held to allow the public to review and make comments.

Citizens can view the draft plans from March 1, 2023, to March 16, 2023 at the Housing & Community Development offices at 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO 80012, and can also be viewed and downloaded from the City’s website by auroragov.org/housing.

Public Hearing: A public hearing will be held to review and discuss the draft Plan. The hearing will be held on March 14, 2023, at 6:30 pm, at the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 East Alameda Parkway, Aurora CO 80012. If you would like to attend virtually, you can do so through Microsoft Teams, Meeting ID: 295 641 085 812, Passcode: PTUvMM, Or call in (audio only), +1 720388-8447,,176559966# United States, Denver, Phone Conference ID: 176 559 966#, City of Aurora, Colorado.

Residents are encouraged to attend and participate.

For further information, please contact the Housing & Community Development Department at 303-739-7900.

This notice will also be located on the Housing & Community Development website beginning January 30, 2023, please click see the following link, auroragov.org/ housing.

Accessibility: The City of Aurora does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission to, access to, or operations of programs, services, or activities, including the public participation process. The City makes reasonable accommodations for disabilities that interfere with full access to any program, service, or activity, including the public participation process.

Publication: February 23, 2023 Sentinel

ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO ALIAS ORDER TO ISSUE CITATION AND CITATION TO SHOW CAUSE Case No. 2011DR2026

To: JESSICA IRENE HERNANDEZ The Court, having reviewed the Verified Motion and Affidavit for Citation for Contempt of Court filed on by Respondent on August 14, 2022 (date), orders that the clerk issue a Citation to Show Cause to the party named to appear before the Court at a date and time certain.

Date: January 11, 2023

You are ordered to appear before this Court at the place, date and time listed below to show cause, if any, for the failure and refusal to comply with the Orders of this Court entered on March 8, 2022 (date) and to show cause why sanctions and/or imprisonment should not be imposed.

You JESSICA IRENE HERNANDEZ and OSCAR CERVANTES, JR (Name) are hereby ordered to appear at: Court Location: ARAPAHOE COUNTY COURT 7325 S. POTOMAC ST, CENTENNIAL CO 80112

Date: Friday, March 31, 2023 Time: 11:00 AM in division 21

If you fail to appear in Court at the time, date and place specified, a bench warrant will be issued for your arrest without further notice and you may be further sanctioned according to the law for your failure to appear.

Date: January 11, 2023

First Publication: February 2, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to section 37-90-107(7), C.R.S., and the Designated Basin Rules, 2 CCR 410-1, Shashank Raizada and Tabassum Raizada have applied for a determination of right to an allocation of designated groundwater from the Denver aquifer underlying 39.82 acres described as the SW 1/4 of the NE 1/4 of Section 11, Township 4 South, Range 64 West of the 6th P.M. The applicant claims ownership of this land and control of the groundwater in this aquifer underlying this property. The groundwater from these allocations is proposed to be used on the described property for the following beneficial uses: household use; livestock and domestic animal watering; and irrigation of lawn, garden, pasture, trees, and nursery.

In accordance with section 37-90-107(7), the Colorado Ground Water Commission shall allocate groundwater from the above aquifers based on ownership of the overlying land. A preliminary evaluation of the application finds the volume of water available for allocation underlying the abovedescribed property to be 1,350 acre-feet for the Denver aquifer. This amount is subject to final evaluation, and subsequent to issuance of the determination, adjustment to conform to the actual local aquifer characteristics.

In accordance with section 37-90-107(7) (a), well permits issued pursuant to subsection 107(7) shall allow withdrawals on the basis of an aquifer life of one hundred years.

In accordance with Rule 5.3.6 of the Designated Basin Rules preliminary evaluation of the application finds the replacement water requirement status underlying the above-described property to be not-nontributary (4% replacement) for the Denver aquifer.

Upon Commission approval of determinations of rights to the allocations, well permits for wells to withdraw the allocations shall be available upon application, subject to the conditions of each determination, the Designated Basin Rules, and approval by the Commission. Such wells must be completed in the aquifer for which the right was allocated and must be located on the 39.82 acres of the above described property. Any person wishing to object to the approval of this determination of right to the allocation must do so in writing, briefly stating the nature of the objection, the name of the applicant, a general description of the property, and the specific aquifer that is the subject of the objection. The objection, including a required $10 fee per application being objected to, must be received by the Colorado Ground Water Commission by close of business April 1, 2023. Objections should be sent via email to DWRpermitsonline@state.co.us, upon which the objector will be emailed an invoice for paying the fee online. If the objector is unable to provide the objection via email please contact 303-866-3581.

First Publication: February 23, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023 Sentinel

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., that an election will be held on May 2, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time two (2) Directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms to May 4, 2027.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are available and can be obtained from Steve Beck, the Designated Election Official for the Serenity Ridge Metropolitan District No. 1, c/o Steve Beck at Special District Management Services, Inc., 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado 80028, (303) 987-0835 and on the District’s website at https://serenityridgemd1-2.colorado.gov.

The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form or letter is to be submitted to the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business on February 24, 2023, sixty-seven (67) days prior to the regular election. Affidavits of Intent to be a WriteIn Candidate must be submitted to the Designated Election Official by the close of business on February 27, 2023, sixty-four (64) days prior to the regular election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, pursuant to Section 1-13.5-1002, C.R.S., that applications for and return of absentee voters’ ballots may be obtained from / filed with Steve Beck, the Designated Election Official of the District, c/o Steve Beck at Special District Management Services, Inc., 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado 80028, (303) 987-0835, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., until the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 25, 2023).

SERENITY RIDGE

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 1

By: /s/ Steve Beck Designated Election Official

Publication: February 23, 2023 Sentinel

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, and particularly to the electors of the Serenity Ridge Metropolitan District No. 2 of Arapahoe County, Colorado.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to Section 1-13.5-501, C.R.S., that an election will be held on May 2, 2023, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. At that time two (2) Directors will be elected to serve 4-year terms to May 4, 2027.

Self-Nomination and Acceptance Forms are available and can be obtained from Steve Beck, the Designated Election Official for the Serenity Ridge Metropolitan District No. 2, c/o Steve Beck at Special District Management Services, Inc., 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado 80028, (303) 987-0835 and on the District’s website at https://serenityridgemd1-2.colorado.gov.

The Self-Nomination and Acceptance Form or letter is to be submitted to the Designated Election Official no later than the close of business on February 24, 2023, sixty-seven (67) days prior to the regular election. Affidavits of Intent to be a WriteIn Candidate must be submitted to the Designated Election Official by the close of business on February 27, 2023, sixty-four (64) days prior to the regular election.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN, pursuant to Section 1-13.5-1002, C.R.S., that applications for and return of absentee voters’ ballots may be obtained from / filed with Steve Beck, the Designated Election Official of the District, c/o Steve Beck at Special District Management Services, Inc., 141 Union Boulevard, Suite 150, Lakewood, Colorado 80028, (303) 987-0835, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., until the close of business on the Tuesday immediately preceding the election (Tuesday, April 25, 2023).

SERENITY RIDGE

METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NO. 2

By: /s/ Steve Beck Designated Election Official

Publication: February 23, 2023 Sentinel

INVITATION TO BID

Colorado International Center Metropolitan District No. 7 (hereinafter called the “Owner”) will receive sealed Bids for the High Point Northwest Early Grading Project (the “Project”) at 18591 E 64th Ave, Denver CO until 10:00 am., March 9, 2023. At such time, Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud.

A description of the Work to be performed is: Earthwork mass grading of the High Point Northwest property including erosion control, drainage improvements and the relocation of Dandelion Draw.

Electronic bid packages will be available after 10:00 am. on February 20, 2023. Send request for bid documents to Randy Ficklin II at randy@silverbluffcompanies. com.

Bids shall be made on the forms furnished by the Owner and shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope and endorsed with the name of the Bidder. A Bid Bond in an amount equal to ten percent (10%) of the total Bid amount will be required. The Bid Bond will be retained by Owner as liquidated damages should the Successful Bidder fail to enter into a Contract with the Owner in accordance with the Bid. Bidders must supply a list of Subcontractors providing $10,000.00 or more in labor and/or materials to the Project.

Attention is called to the fact that Bidders offer to assume the obligations and liabilities imposed by the Contract Documents. The Successful Bidder for the Project will be required to furnish a Performance Bond and a Labor and Materials Payment Bond in the full amount of the Contract Price, in conformity with the requirements of the Contract Documents.

Bidders are hereby advised that the Owner reserves the right to not award a Contract until sixty (60) days from the date of the opening of Bids, and Bidders expressly agree to keep their Bids open for the sixty (60) day time period. Owner reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive any informality, technicality or irregularity in any Bid, to disregard all non-conforming, non-responsive, conditional or alternate Bids, to negotiate contract terms with the Successful Bidder, to require statements or evidence of Bidders’ qualifications, including financial statements, and to accept the proposal that is in the opinion of the Owner in its best interest. Owner reserves the right to accept any combination of Bids which in Owner’s sole, and absolute judgment will, under all circumstances, best serve the Owner’s interests. Owner also reserves the right to extend the Bidding period by Addendum if it appears in its interest to do so.

Any questions concerning this bid shall be directed in writing to: Randy Ficklin II at randy@silverbluffcompanies.com no later than 5:00 pm, March 6th 2023.

Publication: February 23, 2023

Sentinel

INVITATION TO BID

Sky Ranch Community Authority Board (the “CAB”) will receive sealed Bids for the Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control (“GESC”) Services (the “Project”) at the office of the CAB Engineer: Independent District Engineering Services, 1626 Cole Blvd, Suite 125 Lakewood, CO 80401, Phone: (314) 225-8530. Bids shall be made on the forms furnished by the CAB and shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope and endorsed with the name of the Bidder and must be delivered to the CAB Engineer no later than 10:00 a.m., on March 9, 2023. At such time, Bids received will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Attention is called to the fact that the Successful Bidder will be required to advance funds to the CAB in an amount equivalent to the amount of the bid submitted in order to fund the Project (the “Project Advance”), and to enter into a capital funding agreement with the CAB to address the CAB’s repayment of the Project Advance to the Successful Bidder.

A description of the Work to be performed is: Grading, erosion and sediment control services to the CAB for the Sky Ranch development, including, without limitation, monthly BMP maintenance for existing onsite BMPs.

Bid packages will be available for pickup after 10:00 a.m. on February 23, 2023, at Independent District Engineering Services, 1626 Cole Blvd, Suite 125, Lakewood, CO 80401.

Bids shall be made on the forms furnished by the CAB and shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope and endorsed with the name of the Bidder. Bidders must supply a list of Subcontractors providing Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) or more in labor and/ or materials to the Project.

Bidders are hereby advised that the CAB reserves the right to not award a Contract until ten (10) days from the date of the opening of Bids, and Bidders expressly agree to keep their Bids open for the ten (10) day time period. CAB reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive any informality, technicality or irregularity in any Bid, to disregard all non-conforming, non- responsive, conditional or alternate

Bids, to negotiate contract terms with the Successful Bidder, to require statements or evidence of Bidders’ qualifications, including financial statements, and to accept the proposal that is in the opinion of the CAB in its best interest. The CAB also reserves the right to extend the Bidding period by Addendum if it appears in its interest to do so.

Any questions concerning this bid shall be directed in writing to:

/s/ Stan Fowler, PE District Engineer 1626 Cole Blvd, Suite 125 Lakewood, CO 80401 sfowler@idesllc.com

Publication: February 23, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE AS TO PUBLIC HEARING ON THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE 2022 BUDGET

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of the BEACON POINT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT (the “District”) will hold a regular meeting via teleconference on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at 6p.m. for the purpose of conducting such business as may come before the Board, including a public hearing on the second amendment to the 2022 budget (the “Second Amended Budget”). This meeting can be joined using the following teleconference information:

To Join Zoom Meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85818907706 ?pwd=SXdZazl6QW44TkR6Nm14R0tWa

3F5dz09 Meeting ID: 858 1890 7706; Passcode: 935407; Call In: 1-720-707-2699

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Second Amended Budget has been submitted to the District. A copy of the Second Amended Budget is on file in the office of CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP, 8390 E. Crescent Parkway #300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, where the same is open for public inspection.

Any interested elector of the District may file any objections to the Second Amended Budget at any time prior to final adoption of the Second Amended Budget by the Board. This meeting is open to the public and the agenda for any meeting may be obtained by calling (303) 858-1800.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: BEACON POINT METROPOLITAN DISTRICT /s/ WHITE BEAR ANKELE TANAKA & WALDRON Attorneys at Law

Publication: February 23, 2023

Sentinel NOTICE OF EXCLUSION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there have been filed with the Boards of Directors of the Eastern Hills Metropolitan District Nos. 9-11, in the City of Aurora, County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado (the “Districts”), petitions praying for the exclusion of certain lands from such Districts.

1. The names and addresses of the Petitioners and a general description of the property described in such petitions are as follows:

Names of Petitioners: Cooper/Alpert #3, LLP Eastern Hills, LLC Cherry Creek Vista Holding Partnership, LLP

Address: 3033 E. First Avenue, Suite 725 Denver, CO 80206

Name of Petitioner: NL Parklands V4 Land Co, LLC

Address of Petitioner: 5290 DTC Parkway, Suite 150 Englewood, Colorado 80111

General Description of Property: Land in Section 17, Township 4 South, Range 65 Property: West of the 6th Principal Meridian, in the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

2. The prayer of the petitions is that the property described in the petitions be excluded from the Districts.

3. The area sought to be excluded from the Districts is located entirely within the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, and does not include property within any other county or within any other incorporated city, town, or city and county, and the Districts currently encompasses property in the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, and therefore no notice of the proposed exclusion under Section 32-1-207(2), C.R.S., as amended, is required.

Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all interested persons to appear at the public hearing of the Board of Directors of the Districts at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023, via video conference, and show cause in writing, if any they have, why such petitions should not be granted. The video conference can be joined via Zoom

Meeting Number: 145 721 3768; Meeting

Password: emBMpTcx772. To attend the meeting by phone dial: 650-479-3208 and enter Passcode: 145 721 3768 #.

The failure of any person in the existing Districts to file a written objection shall be taken as an assent on his part to the exclusion of the area described in this notice.

EASTERN HILLS METROPOLITAN

DISTRICT NOS. 9-11

By: /s/ Russell W. Dykstra, Esq. District Counsel

Publication: February 23, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 38-26-107, C.R.S., that on March 9, 2023 final settlement with Conroy Excavating, Inc. will be made by East Cherry Creek Valley Water and Sanitation District, for the “2022 Well Decommissioning” project subject to satisfactory final inspection and acceptance of said facilities by the District. Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or his or her subcontractor in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies, laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work whose claim therefore has not been paid by the contractor or subcontractor, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, may file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on such claim with East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District, c/o, Mr. Dave Kaunisto, District Manager, 6201 S. Gun Club Road, Aurora, Colorado 80016. Failure to file such verified statement or claim prior to final settlement will release the District and its employees and agents from any and all liability for such claim and for making final payment to said contractor.

/s/ East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District

Publication: February 23, 2023

Sentinel NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15- 10-401, C.R.S. Case No. 2022PR0311118

In the Interests of: Mia Amore-Hero

Broad- nax

To: Anthony Broadnax

A hearing on Guardianship for Minor for Appointment of Guardianship for the above-named minor will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be contin- ued:

Date: February 15, 2023

Time: 8:00 am MDT

Courtroom or Division: 12

This appearance is virtual.

/s/ Amanda Bradley, District Court Judge/ Magistrate

First Publication: February 2, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15- 10-401, C.R.S. Case No. 2022PR0311117

In the Interests of: Malachi Iden Broad- nax

To: Anthony Broadnax

A hearing on Guardianship for Minor for Appointment of Guardianship for the above-named minor will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be contin- ued:

Date: February 15, 2023

Time: 8:00 am MDT Courtroom or Division: 12

This appearance is virtual.

First Publication: February 2, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE OF HEARING BY PUBLICATION

PURSUANT TO §15-10-401, C.R.S. Case No. 2022PR0311115

In the Interests of: Alijah Matthew Broadnax

To: Anthony Broadnax

A hearing on Guardianship for Minor for Appointment of Guardianship for the above-named minor will be held at the following time and location or at a later date to which the hearing may be contin- ued:

Date: February 15, 2023

Time: 8:00 am MDT Courtroom or Division: 12

This appearance is virtual.

/s/ Amanda Bradley, District Court Judge/ Magistrate

First Publication: February 2, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE OF INCLUSION

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that there has been filed with the Boards of Directors of the Eastern Hills Metropolitan District Nos. 9-11 of the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, Colorado (the “Districts”), a petition praying for the inclusion of certain land in such Districts.

1. The name and address of the petitioner mentioned in such petition are as follows:

Name of Petitioner: NL Parklands V4 Land Co, LLC

Address of Petitioner: 9801 East Easter Avenue Centennial, CO 80112

General Description of Property: Parcel of land in a portion of Section 17, Township 4 South, Range 65 West of the 6th Principal Meridian, in the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado

2. The prayer of the petition is that the property described in the Petition be included within the Districts.

3. The area sought to be included into the Districts is located entirely within the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, and does not include property within any other county or within any other incorporated city, town, or city and county, and the Districts currently encompass property in the City of Aurora, Arapahoe County, and therefore no notice of the proposed inclusion under Section 32-1-207(2), C.R.S., as amended, is required.

Accordingly, notice is hereby given to all interested persons to appear at the public hearing of the Board of Directors of the Districts at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, March 3, 2023, via video conference, and show cause in writing, if any they have, why such petition should not be granted. The video conference can be joined via Zoom Meeting Number: 145 721 3768; Meeting

Password: emBMpTcx772. To attend the meeting by phone dial: 650-479-3208 and enter Passcode: 145 721 3768 #.

EASTERN HILLS METROPOLITAN DISTRICT NOS. 9-11

By: /s/ Russell W, Dykstra, Esq. District Counsel

Publication: February 23, 2023

Sentinel NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Notice is hereby given that PODS Enterprises, LLC, located at 21110 E 31st Circle, Aurora, CO 80011, will sell the contents of certain containers at auction to the highest bidder to satisfy owners lien. Auction will be held online at www.StorageTreasures. com starting on March 2, 2023 and ending on March 9, 2023. Contents to be sold may include general household goods, electronics, office & business equipment, furniture, clothing and other miscellaneous

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Security Self Storage, in accordance with C.R.S. 38-21.5-103, hereby gives Notice Of Sale, to wit: On MARCH 16, 2023 at 2 P.M. at 2078 S Pontiac Way, Denver, CO 80224 will conduct a sale on Lockerfox. com prior to the sale date for each storage space in its entirety to the highest bidder for cash, of the contents of the following units to satisfy a landlord’s lien, Seller reserves the right to refuse any bid and to withdraw any property from sale, The public is invited to bid on said units.

Angela Cowell: totes, grill, mini fridge, engine jack, motorcycle frame, tires, skateboards, tools. Bobby Weatherspoon: grill, hand dollies, bar stools, totes, x-mas tree, recliner. Dakota Sands: mattress, lamp, grill, propane, appliances. Dakota Sands: refrigerator, washer, mattress, barstool, boxes, lamp, misc. Charles Knapp: furniture, vacuum. Samantha Bofill: clothing, totes, speaker, lamp. Jarvis Blumenberg: clothes, cassette stand, VHS, misc. James Sisneros: furniture, totes, luggage, medicine cabinet, misc. Joshua Staffen: totes, boxes, grill, toolbar, baby items, shampooer, misc.

First Publication: February 23, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Security Self Storage, in accordance with C.R.S. 38-21.5-103, hereby gives Notice Of Sale, to wit: On MARCH 16, 2023 at 2 P.M. at 10601 E Iliff Ave, Aurora, CO 80014 will conduct a sale on Lockerfox.com prior to the sale date for each storage space in its entirety to the highest bidder for cash, of the contents of the following units to satisfy a landlord’s lien. Seller reserves the right to refuse any bid and to withdraw any property from sale. The public is invited to bid on said units.

Olesia Stockhold: boxes, luggage, chairs. Lisa Hatcher: dresser, desk, guitar, misc.

First Publication: February 23, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Security Self Storage, in accordance with C.R.S. 38-21.5-103, hereby gives Notice Of Sale, to wit: On MARCH 16, 2023 at 2 P.M. at 4480 S Buckley, Aurora, CO 80015 will conduct a sale on Lockerfox.com prior to the sale date for each storage space in its entirety to the highest bidder for cash, of the contents of the following units to satisfy a landlord’s lien, Seller reserves the right to refuse any bid and to withdraw any property from sale, The public is invited to bid on said units.

Jerold William Brotherton: totes, kitchen cabinet, boxes, tires, furniture. John Berens: boxes, tires, furniture, army trunk, toolbox, auto supplies. Izaiah Ronzell Robinson: flat screen TV, car batteries. Jason Harp: luggage, shores, shelf, misc. Mikhail Antoinette Kelly: boxes, fishing poles, table, chairs, bed, weight machine, grill, microwave.

First Publication: February 23, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE

Security Self Storage, in accordance with C.R.S. 38-21.5-103, hereby gives Notice Of Sale, to wit: On MARCH 16, 2023 at 2 P.M. at 2025 S Holly, Denver, CO 80222 will conduct a sale on Lockerfox.com prior to the sale date for each storage space in its entirety to the highest bidder for cash, of the contents of the following units to satisfy a landlord’s lien, Seller reserves the right to refuse any bid and to withdraw any property from sale, The public is invited to bid on said units.

Shawn Marquand: tools, totes, sofa, air compressor, ladder, misc. Sydney Adamson: furniture, boxes, totes, luggage, misc. Kacie Garcia: TV, compressor, monitors, grinder, luggage, misc. Tyler Grimm: truck topper, pressure washer, miter saw, sound mixer, cooler. Jania Gannon: massage tables, boxes. Deannia Blea: tools, trunk, tires, TV, ladder, luggage, boxes, misc.

Lesley McConnell: rocking chair, mannequin, monitors, totes, luggage, boxes, misc. Shaun Eubanks: TV, tools, chiar, motorcycle jack, hand dolly, boxes, misc. Allan Aguilar: golf clubs, chair, misc. Sacha Franich: framed art, mirror, misc.

First Publication: February 23, 2023

Final Publication: March 2, 2023

Sentinel

FreeDailyCrosswords.com

ACROSS------------,

I) Native of Novi Sad

5) Sassy, like a shampoo brand?

9) Riding costume

14) Cafe _ (black coffee)

15) Gray-matter creation

16) Freezing home

17) Birdbath organism

18) Godmother, sometimes 19) Senator who made the rounds?

20) Bird-brained baseball instructors?

42) Feature of some modern stadiums

43) Model, originally

44) Sphere

45) Cousin of an ostrich

46) One submitting a I 040

48) Anything of material value

52) A Rockefeller 54) Have something

56) In the style of, on menus

57) Bird-brained posterior? 61) Practical 63) Java can be found in it 64) Ready to be picked 65) Strongboxes 66) Talese and Goldin

67) Aphrodite's husband

68) Pharaoh's land

69) Buttocks, in slang 70) Nag, e.g.

14th

DOWN

I) Speak irritably to

2) Stone Age tool

3) Square-_ (sailing ship)

4) Highlands hill

5) Key instrument?

6) Chemical extractions

7) You may get a hand here

8) "Bye now!"

9) Loftily situated

I 0) Shoelace end

11) Response to a sneeze

12) A positively charged atom

13) Amount of bricks?

21) Cousteau's bailiwick

22) Certain facial blemish

26) Opposite of west

27) "_ can play that game"

29) Jack's giant, for one

31) One of the five senses

32) Kentucky boxing legend

35) It has two pieces on the beach

37) Cries openly

BIRD BRAIN