3-14-24 Villager

Can You See Yourself?

If we know any person well in this world, it should be ourselves. I’m sure that after fifty-four years on this planet, I should have a pretty good idea of who I am, what I believe, and how I want to live. Yet, in looking back over my life, I realize that a complete lack of self awareness has been my most obvious trait. Interestingly, that’s not an uncommon characteristic in the contemporary age.

In the first act of Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar,” the lead conspirator Cassius speaks to Marcus Brutus, trying to convince him to join the plan to assassinate Caesar. As the two men cautiously measure their words, feeling out the other’s inclinations, Cassius asks “Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?” It’s a rather poetic way of suggesting Brutus might not acknowledge who he really is and what he really thinks, especially in regards Caesar’s growing threat to the republic Brutus so dearly loves. In theater the heart of tragedy is often when a character comes face-to-face with his true identity, which can be inspiring or crushing.

The challenge to know and acknowledge our true identity is at the heart of all existential questions about the meaning of life and individual lives. Often our true identity is more clear to others than to ourselves. For much of my life, other people have held up a mirror to my face and subtly or bluntly showed me who I am.

Similar to Cassius clarifying to Brutus his vexations, friends have basically said, “Since you know you cannot see yourself, so well as by reflection, I, your glass, will modestly discover to yourself that of yourself which you yet know not of.”

For example, I went to college to be a history teacher, never knowing my true passion was the art of language and the teaching of writing. I used to meet friends outside the English building where they took a poetry class together. We’d play hacky sack and frisbee and listen to John play guitar. “You should take this poetry class,” they told me. “You’d like it.” Though I initially scoffed, I eventually took the class and another from the same professor.

The following semester over beers one night, my roommates said, “You talk about your English classes all the time, but you never mention your history classes. Why aren’t you an English major?” I stared at them dumbfounded, then changed my major the next day. Like many English

teachers, I spent my early years as an aspiring novelist, to no avail. Fortunately, I later found success in the nonfiction world, which has produced the bulk of my writing. It took my friend Daniel saying, “You know, you have a lot of success publishing nonfiction, yet you always write fiction. Why do you think you’re a novelist?”

Even my wife pointed out to me in our late twenties that I actually did want to get married and have kids. It wasn’t that she wanted something I didn’t. She just wasn’t going to waste time in a relationship that didn’t have common goals. As it turns out, we are each other’s one and only, and our family has been my greatest blessing. Amusingly, our friends in college knew we’d become a couple long be-

fore it occurred to us – they asked to be invited to our wedding long before we

I often ask the kids in my class, “Are you a student?”

While they think they spend most of their time in school, the reality is that that school is, in many ways, a small part of who they are.

ever dated. Self awareness can be elusive.

Often people identify themselves by their jobs, though it’s a weak substitute for identity. What we do is not who we are, and the distinction between action and identity is a tricky one. In a world where work hours are less defined by the punching of a clock, the notion of identity linked to jobs is increasingly complicated.

In numerology, 2024 is an “eight year,” meaning the numbers add up to eight. Eight years are years to “take action” and become who you really are. This year may be the time to finally get up and on to whatever comes next in our lives. I still recall my dad saying, even in his fifties, “I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up.” I know the feeling. Michael P. Mazenko is a writer, educator, & school administrator in Greenwood Village. He blogs at A Teacher’s View and can be found on Twitter @mmazenko. You can email him at mmazenko @gmail.com

The challenge to know and acknowledge our true identity is at the heart of all existential questions about the meaning of life and individual lives.

March Madness has arrived, basketball for many fans (see our new columnist, Ryan Boublik on pages 14-15 on this subject), and politics for those interested in the future of America.

Politics, like it or not, is the sole mandate to enjoy all the privileges, benefits, and freedoms of living in this great country. Basketballs, through nets, does not.

BY BOB SWEENEY

Gerri and I did our duty last Thursday evening attending our No. 315 precinct caucus. There were seven of us in our specific precinct out of hundreds, and about 30 people assembled overall, a poor showing.

The area district captain passed out lists of registered voters in each precinct. Usually, caucuses can be lively with competition to elect delegates to the county convention. There was no competition this year to any of the upcoming events. The rule is… if you don’t attend your precinct caucus, and the county convention, you’re not eligible to be a delegate to the state convention to be held mid-summer in Pueblo, or the national convention in Milwaukee. Convention years are primarily for the purpose of electing federal office holders all the way to the presidency. Some County Commissioner

Irish laughter dominated the birthday party among family, close friends, and colleagues of term-limited Centennial council member Kathy Turley as her husband Tom pulled a semi-secret birthday celebration for his celebrated bride of many years. Kathy is wellknown across Arapahoe County for her many activities and public service.

Birthday celebrants gathered at Gina Schreck’s Work, Wellness, and Events Center at 7173 S. Havana for the Saturday afternoon hootenanny on Feb. 24 to wish Kathy a “Happy Birthday.”

Kathy’s son Sean presented his mom a birthday cake. The celebrant uncased her guitar and joined her band of musicians for some uplifting songs with Kathy singing and strumming her guitar like an Irish “lassy” with a maiden name of Kelly. Grandson, Aiden joined the festivities giving his grandmother a peck on the cheek and hug as she performed.

candidates are up for election this year. Present county office holders are not up for re-election until 2026, along with state office holders.

In Arapahoe County Commissioner, icon Bill Holen from Aurora is winding up his 12 years of service to the county. Commissioner Jeff Baker is seeking his re-election to office, taking in far eastern Arapahoe County. Baker is the sole Republican member of the five-member county board. He has done an admirable job and deserves to be re-elected. He did attend our precinct caucus. Running to replace retiring Holen is state senator Ronda Fields who has been a shining star in the State Legislature. She will easily win that seat and I endorse her election. She is a strong advocate for transparency in government.

Jason Crow will easily be elected to Congress with no serious competition appearing in the 6th Congressional District. The real action this year is in the 4th Congressional District where Rep. Lauren Boebert has shifted from the 3rd District in Western Colorado to the Eastern Slope 4th District. Rep. Ken Buck

has announced his retirement from Congress, leading to the vacancy in the largly GOP District. There are 10 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 1 Libertarian candidate in that race, with the largest number of votes located in fast growing Douglas County.

It is a winner take all contest. Boebert has been endorsed for re-election by Trump and some political seers think that she will be the winner with $1.5 million in the bank, an experienced campaigner, along with a staff. This contest will dominate state politics at the future 4th District gathering, at or near, the State Convention in Pueblo. The county convention will be held at Smoky Hill High School on March 23. Democrats will have to gather to endorse delegates to the National Convention in Chicago and support present incumbents.

It is disappointing to hear that GOP Chair David Williams, himself a candidate for Congress in the 4th District, has moved to have paper ballots used, rather than electronic voting tablets. The electronic tablets were successful at the 2022 state assembly in Colorado Springs, saving hours. Votes were tabulated in minutes, not hours. In 2022 almost every candi-

date nominated at county and state assemblies lost in a very blue State election sweep.

The GOP National Convention is in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and will be a coronation, rather than a convention, as former President Trump will have enough delegate votes to cinch the nomination.

I rushed home to hear President Biden’s State of The Union speech, that fortunately for me, started late because of a Palestinian traffic blockade. I like to see the entrances of the elected presidents, regardless of party to the floor of the House… “Mr. Speaker, The President of The United States.” I’ve viewed many presidents entering the floor and being greeted by party colleagues. Thursday night was a highlight for President Biden. He seemed to enjoy the camaraderie of the evening and succeeded in getting under the skin of Republicans. Democrats seemed to love the speech, and Republicans seemed to shudder. It’s all in the eyes and ears of the beholders.

It seems that some changes are in order, but it is a long time before November 5. Anything can happen.

Sweeney sharon@villagerpublishing.com

LEGALS

Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com

NEWS EDITOR

Gerri Sweeney 303-773-8313 gerri@villagerpublishing.com

GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

Freda Miklin fmiklin.villager@gmail.com 303-489-4900

REPORTER

Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

FASHION & LIFESTYLE

Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com

DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Tom McTighe production@villagerpublishing.com

ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS

Susan Lanam — 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com

Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388

Gerri Sweeney — 720-313-9751 gerri@villagerpublishing.com

Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Gerri 303-773-8313

EDITORIAL COLUMNIST

Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com

The Villager is an award-winning, locally owned, independent newspaper. All letters to the editor must be signed. The contributor’s name, hometown and phone number must also accompany all letters to the editor for verification and we reserve the right to edit contributions for space. We attempt to verify all matters of fact but hold contributors liable for the content, accuracy and fairness of their contributions. All submissions become the property of The Villager and may be reused in any medium.

Reverend Martin Niemoller

“In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists and I didn’t speak up because wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and didn’t speak up because wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”

2024 Member

Tim and Kathy Turley enjoy the Irish spirt of life.

Sean Turley presents a birthday cake to his mother.

Kathy’s grandson gives his grandmother a warm hug.

Kent L. Swanson, a longtime resident of Cherry Hills Village, passed away peacefully on March 1, 2024. He was 79 years old.

Born on December 5, 1944, in Cheyenne, WY, Kent was the first of Ruby and Lloyd Swanson’s three children. After his father died when Kent was six, his mother later married Howard Wallace, who became a prominent father figure in Kent’s life. His childhood was spent boating and water skiing on the lakes of Minnesota, as well as fishing and hunting with Howard. He attended Mounds View High School in Arden Hills, MN, where he was a star of the varsity wrestling team, competing at the state level.

Kent graduated with distinction from the University of Minnesota with a degree in business, and received his MBA from the University of Chicago in 1969. With this education complete, he spent the next 32 years at Accenture. His innovative thinking, tireless

Kent L. Swanson

globetrotting in support of his clients, and senior mentorship to countless colleagues helped set the partnership up for its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange in 2001 and Kent for his retirement at the ripe old age of 57.

Despite his immense professional accomplishments, Kent’s most cherished role was that of devoted husband and father. He met Mary Jo (Jo), his wife of

50 years, as co-workers at Accenture (then Arthur Anderson) in 1969. They married in 1974, and four years later, the firm transferred him to Melbourne, Aus-

tralia, where Jo gave birth to their first two children. They settled Stateside in Colorado in 1982, and went on to have two more children, raising their family in Charlou in a house Kent designed and had built, and lived in until his death. While his demanding job took him around the world, there was no red-eye flight Kent wouldn’t endure to be back for every soccer game, school event, or weekend at home.

In his very active retirement, Kent served on the board of ALN Medical Management, MPC Computers, XTant Medical, HyperSpace Communications, and a number of other early stage ventures, as he couldn’t resist a new idea. He was also part-owner of a winery in Victoria, Australia (an undertaking that, combined with his lifetime achievement at Accenture, earned him the moniker “Chairman of the Bordeaux” among some of his kids’ friends). He was especially proud of his work as board chair for Boys Hope

Girls Hope of Colorado, a residential scholarship program for disadvantaged and promising students.

He loved rainstorms, preferably accompanied by a good cigar; dining al fresco, no matter the season or wind chill; the Economist; Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups; sweeping views of the Sea of Cortez; off-roading in the Rocky Mountains; crossword puzzles; and sitting by the fire, particularly with his family beside him. And he loved good red wine, but any wine really if he had someone to share it with.

Kent stayed in the present, and savored the moment. He often turned to the person next to him and asked, “Isn’t this just wonderful?” He was frequently the first to laugh at his own

jokes, but as the undisputed king of one-liners, certainly not the last. He was the best of storytellers. And, as long as you weren’t an airline ticketing or gate agent, those who were lucky enough to meet Kent will remember him for his warmth and curiosity in conversation, and his constant, quiet generosity.

He is survived by his loving wife and four children; Graham of Denver, CO; Tim (Fiorella) of Boulder, CO, and their children Adele, Fernando, and Santiago; Dan (Stacy) of Castle Pines, CO, and their children Ben and Zach; and Clare Ansel (Jon) of Rye, NY, and their children Sam, Will, Charlie, and Graham. His nine grandchildren will all miss their beloved Yampa very much. Kent also leaves behind his sister Lola Threinen (Ben) of Lake City, MN; his brother Dana Swanson (Karen) of Ham Lake, MN; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A private celebration of life is being held later in the month. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado.

Erin go Bragh!

Marilois and Hal Ray McElroy settled on the East Coast and then moved to Texas. His grandparents had immigrated to America from Northern Ireland. Lawrence Hal McElroy was born to Marilois and Hal in Corpus Christi in 1941. Lawrence Hal McElroy was known as “Mac” or “Big Mac.” He was handsome, charismatic, a former football player for Texas Christian University and very self confident. A mutual friend set him up on a blind date in the mid 70s with the beautiful, talented, fashionable Carla Jo whose heart has always been and will always be loyal to Texas. That first date didn’t go well, but somehow Mac charmed her back into his life (Irish men are known to be romantic and chivalrous) and they were married in Dallas. They had two children – Michelle Ray and Wesley Vaughn. Carla had always had an eye and flair for design. Rumor has it she stayed home from school one day and painted one of the rooms in her parents’ home. (Whether or not the color was green has not been shared.) She began her career in design out of the McElroy home in Texas in 1978. Her business was mostly residential but included some commercial offices such as those of the Texas Rangers. When Mac’s job brought them to Denver in 1995, she continued the business out of their home and in 2002 opened a popular showroom in Highlands Ranch called A Classic Design. Shannon Griffith and Michelle McElroy worked at that store.

Little did Carla know when she hired Shannon, who had studied design at South Dakota State University, she was hiring her future daughter-in-law. Wes, who manages all the critical behind the scenes elements of the business, and Shannon met while working

there at the same time. Even the third generation is interested in the business. They literally grew up surrounded by design and creativity as Carla’s had two nurseries in back of the store (Carla’s Summer Camp) so the children could be close to their moms Shannon and Michelle.

“May you have all the happiness and luck that life can hold and at the end of your rainbows, may you find a pot of gold.”

- Carla McElroy

Down memory lane with generations of a spirited Irish family starting with McElroy

ABOVE: First page of the leather embossed crest scrapbook shows Hal Ray McElroy of Edna, Texas with Company “D” U.S. Naval Construction Batallion Stevedores.

RIGHT: A news clip of the Hal Ray and Marilois McElroy anniversary

The cover of a precious family scrapbook housing family history and treasures collected by Hal Ray McElroy from travels to England and other parts of the world

Carla’s grandparents –Logan and Inez Vaughn (considered a Welsh/ Irish surname)

As a young coupleLawrence Hal “Mac” McElroy and Carla Jo McElroy

Photos courtesy of the McElroy Family

It’s an Irish sweep - McElroy. McElroy. Moriarity. Coyne.

“Kiss me, I’m Irish.” - Wes McElroy (Likely said to Shannon on their first date – St. Patrick’s Day)

Cousins, who are more like siblings, on St. Paddy’s Day a few years ago:

Liz Moriarity, Asher McElroy, Torie Moriarity and Landen McElroy

”I love being part of an Irish family. Family is a big thing in Ireland and Irish customs around families are a good thing to know about. Generation after generation has continued to teach the importance of family values – which is why I think our family business has grown and continued for two generations. We are now teaching our children the importance of family and having them around the office – hoping there will be a third generation to take over Carla’s.” -Michelle McElroy - Moriarity

Young Michelle Ray McElroy (Ray in honor of her grandfather Hal Ray)

Young Wesley Vaughn McElroy (Vaughn in honor of his maternal great great grandparents)

Mac, Carla, Wes and Michelle on the day of Michelle’s First Communion at Saint Michael’s Catholic Church in Bedford, Texas

Shannon Griffith (also Welsh/Irish surname) and Wesley McElroy were married at Bethany Lutheran Church in July 2007. They started dating on St. Patrick’s Day in 2004 . (Wes had worked for her father and they met while she worked for his mom.)

Matthew Patrick Moriarity (who owns Moriarity Agencies that insure Carla’s and the employees) and Michelle McElroy were married at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in January 2009

Luck o’ the Irish - On April 15, 2023, Irishman Thomas Michael “Mike” Coyne (nicknamed Penny by Asher) was blessed with a full Irish family. He and Carla, whose spouses had passed, had gone to the same high school but didn’t know each other until a class reunion that sparked a courtship. The newlyweds are surrounded by Matt and Michelle Moriarity and their daughters Victoria (Torie) and Elizabeth (Liz) and Shannon and Wes McElroy and their sons Asher and Landen. The entire family enjoys heading to Mike’s Camdenton, Missouri home in the summer on Lake of the Ozarks. The young ones even prefer it over Disneyland.

An Irish flag is proudly flown at the home of Shannon and Wes McElroy

Inside the opulent showroom of Carla’s A Classic Design in Southglenn (renamed and located there since 2010) – Carla and fellow designers daughter Michelle and daughter-in-law Shannon pose in front of one of the many elaborately decorated Christmas trees at the annual open house. This tree cleverly dubbed Irish You A Merry Christmas by Torie and Liz was voted People’s Choice by shoppers.

Photo by Scottie Iverson

THANK YOU FOR HOSTING!!

Stephanie

Bronco

and the Centennial Arts and

Bob

of Freedom

Love Justice International and the Village Workspace joined together for a night of art, music, food and inspiration to help fight human trafficking

Mayor

Piko

Cultural Foundation; Former

Player

Swenson

58 Project;

Artist Jami Nix Rahn, Mayor Stephanie Piko, Libby Swenson with Love Justice International, Senator Chris Kolker, District Attorney John Kellner, former Denver Bronco Bob Swenson of Freedom 58 Project, and Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown

Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown and District Attorney John Kellner

Libby Swenson with artist Jami Nix Rahn

Jami Nix Rahn

Don Sheehan, Tammy Maurer, Kathy Turley, Richard Holt, Amy Tharp and Robyn Carnes

Volunteers of the Centennial Arts and Cultural Foundation Gwen Stanton and Wendy Collins

Stephanie Piko, Jami Nix Rahn and Libby Swenson Emily, Annaka and Ellen of Colorado Music Institute

Stephanie Piko

Photos by Susan Sweeney Lanam, The Villager

CLAIRE

Several years ago, Claire was under the false impression that she was tra\Je\ing from Uganda to China for a reputable job. The reali howe\Jer, was that her traffickers were using her to smuggle drugs into ,ran. Claire did not make it past the airport, where the authorities discovered the drugs her traffickers had hidden in her suitcase. She was

prompt\y arrested and spent five years in an Iranian prison. Although she was originally sentenced to be executed, she was miraculously re\eased\ Her journey eventually led her to Love Justice Uganda, where she fervently works to ensure -innocent men, women, and children are kept from experiencing the horror and injustice she endured.

Artist Johanna Spinks uses the iconic Catholic portrayal of sainthood for Claire’s suffering, courage, and perseverance and has created both paintings - one in watercolor and the other with oil and gold leaf.

THE GIRL IN STILETTO SHOES

The informant began hastily relaying what she had just witnessed that night while working undercover in a nearby nightclub. She stated, 11LJsten, there’s some terrible stuff happening at this nightclub. It’s the third time I have seen this. At around 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights, when everyone is drunk and on drugs, the police bring these children with them.”

Through her tears, she continued, ‘’The worst was when this little girl came walking in wearing stiletto heels. She couldn’t have been older than seven. She was wearing a littJe mini skirt and a spaghetti strap off-the-shoulder top. The child didn’t know what to do. She was nervous and didn’t know how to stand or sit, so she got yelled at. She was supposed to be dancing, but she could hardly even walk in those things; she was tripping over and over. She danced one song, and I tried to move towards her, but women blocked me from reaching her.”

Even their aura says, ‘I’ll kill you if I have to,’ with no qualms about it. And then they take these little girls and march them upstairs to private rooms. I will always remember that little girl with the strap falling off her shoulder and her clothes too big ... she was just a baby. The heels, the strap, the look; I can’t get it out of my mind. They had her drugged, but she was aware enough to know there was danger. She was alone, and she was terrified.” Our executive chairperson shared, “I was so traumatized by what I was hearing, and the desire to do something about it simmered so strongly in my heart until I could no longer ignore it. Sometimes something is so big, so scary you want to close your eyes and pretend you haven’t heard it, but if the community searches for the courage, they will find renewed purpose, healing, and even joy.”

The informant continued, “There are always different women looking after the kids. They are so arrogant.

Vail Artist Jami Dix Rahn was so moved by the story that she poured her emotions into an abstract piece centered around the little girl’s plight. She shaded each plane of the fragmented picture separately rather than maintaining a single light source-an approach that created a sense of depth without the illusion of a solid form. Beauty out of chaos.

be in the know

follow

BY FREDA MIKLIN I

State House committee passes housing near transit bill after contradictory testimony

On March 6, the state House Committee on Transportation, Housing & Local Government held a 3 1/2-hour meeting that included testimony from a wide variety of stakeholders before voting 7-3 to send HB24-1313 Housing in Transit-Oriented Communities (see Villager Newspaper March 7, 2024) on to the House Finance Committee for consideration. It has not yet been scheduled to be heard there, as of this writing.

Nearly all those who testified agreed that there is a significant housing shortage in our state, especially in the Denver metro area. Most of those who spoke to the committee agreed that it is right for the state to address the situation. Support for the bill diverged between those who are directly impacted by its requirements and those who see the need it addresses and favor a solution but are not obligated to act to implement it.

The bill, whose four prime sponsors are Democrats from the state House and Senate, drew unqualified support from civic and business entities who testified, including the Downtown Denver Partnership, Colorado Concern, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, and Gary Community Ventures. It also elicited support from nationally recognized researchers in public policy, including the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute. All agreed that more housing is needed for Coloradans that should be planned taking into consideration cost, transportation options, and the environment, increasing available housing options for individuals at different income levels while reducing the overall number of regular commutes in single-passenger vehicles to the workplace and other destinations from remote single-family homes.

Even the Colorado Municipal League (CML), which represents 270 cities and towns across the state, agreed partially on the goals of the bill, pointing out that, “There is actually a lot of alignment on the outcomes of this legislation to what municipal leaders are trying to do all the time.”

The strongest opposition to the bill came from representatives of the Cities of Broomfield, Centennial, and Greenwood Village. Cities are the entities that would be most directly impacted by the bill because it has components that could require them to change their zoning policy near transit centers in ways that would impact city planning for roads and infrastructure, at potentially significant cost, some but not all of which could be reimbursed under the provisions of this legislation. More

“HB 1313 is a culmination of months of stakeholdering, difficult but productive conversations, and researched, identified best practices and solutions for our affordable housing crisis. (It) seeks to remove barriers to affordable housing near transit and jobs, support a robust transit system with nearby housing…and save people money on housing and transportation.”

– Rep. Iman Jodeh, Prime Sponsor of HB241313

importantly, there was testimony that the legislation conflicts with the home rule provisions of the state Constitution, and also that their views were not given proper weight during the stakeholding process that preceded the bill’s introduction.

Prime sponsor Rep. Iman Jodeh introduced the discussion with, “HB 1313 is a culmination of months of stakeholdering, difficult but productive conversations, and researched, identified best practices and solutions for our affordable housing crisis. Throughout the last few years, it is clear that voters support changes that will meaningfully address our housing crisis….70% of Coloradans support making it easier to build more housing close to jobs and transportation hubs. One policy tool is creating more transit-oriented

communities, connecting housing and transit. HB 1313 seeks to remove barriers to affordable housing near transit and jobs, support a robust transit system with nearby housing, protect vulnerable communities from displacement, and save people money on housing and transportation.”

She continued, “That will create access to…affordable homes in even the most expensive communites, close to jobs and transit and other community benefits. We urgently need these affordable units. We understand many local governments have been… moving in this direction…We want to offer incentives to them to go further. We also recognize the scale of our affordability challenges and the climate crisis are bigger than any individual jurisdiction can address on their own.”

Rep. Jodeh concluded, “Our bill… integrates incentives, goals, and accountability to ensure that all jurisdictions with frequent transit service are working together to build more housing. The bill has a lot of flexibility for how communities can meet these goals.”

State Rep. Steven Woodrow, the other House prime sponsor added, “Colorado’s housing market is in dire health…The supply and demand differential (in housing units) has caused the average home in Colorado to increase in value by approximately 112%, with a large part of that increase occurring over the last three years since remote normalization. Colorado is now infamous for having the four most expensive non-coastal housing markets in the U.S.”

He continued, “HB24-1313 will legalize smart, affordable, and attainable homes near existing transit and neighborhood centers,” adding that he and Rep. Jodeh have met with stakeholders weekly, including local governments, for hundreds of hours over the past nine months, to get this bill to where…(it) “incentivizes more housing near job centers and the transit by making local governments calculate…a housing opportunity goal for their residential areas and provides a menu of options on how local government partners reach their goals while maintaining affordability.”

He continued, “We created a model with two new incentives funds, the transit- oriented community infrastructure fund grant program and a new CHFA (Colorado Housing and Finance Authority) affordability housing tax credit in transit centers. We will also be working with our local government partners with technical assis-

“Colorado’s housing market is in dire health… Colorado is now infamous for having the four most expensive non-coastal housing markets in the U.S… The people of Colorado support more density by transit by upwards of 70%.”

– Rep. Stephen Woodrow, Prime Sponsor of HB241313

tance funding for implementation purposes.”

He summarized, “HB24-1313 represents an opportunity for the State of Colorado and its communities to build with climate, water, and affordability concerns in mind.”

State Rep. Lisa Frizell (R-Douglas County) asked the bill sponsors what type of response they had received from cities during stakeholder meetings. Rep. Woodrow answered that, “The feedback has been mixed… This bill is about increasing total zoning capacity by transit centers in the hopes that that will lead to greater development because the ceiling has been raised. It is not about any specific project,” adding, “The conversation continues.”

State Rep. Marc Catlin (R- Delta, Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel Counties) asked the bill sponsors if this proposal reflects, “The goals of the general assembly, rather than the people that live there.” Rep. Woodrow responded, “The people of Colorado support more density by transit by upwards of 70%...This issue polls off the charts,” adding, “Things have gotten too expensive. People in (both our) communities know that things have gotten too expensive. Their children can’t find places to live.” Pointing to the state demographer’s projection that Colorado’s population will

Continued on page 11

Continued from page 10

reach 7,500,000 by 2050, he said, “If we’re going to grow, we need to grow in a smart, strategic way that has all local governments doing their fair share.”

Rep. Frizell wanted to know, “How is existing development being accounted for in this bill?” Rep. Woodrow said existing development counts toward existing density and zoning capacity.

As the public testimony began, Committee Chair Rep. Meg Froelich (D-Arapahoe and Denver Counties) noted that two-thirds of those signed up to testify were in favor of the legislation, compared to one-third who opposed it.

SUPPORTERS

Will Toor, executive director of the Colorado Energy Office, testified he supports the bill because, “In addition to its benefits for housing access and affordability, this is important climate policy... Transit oriented development lowers emissions in several ways. First it lowers emissions from buildings by reducing the energy needed to heat and cool buildings. More compact development means more shared walls and smaller units, which results in less energy use. In Colorado, household energy demand, on average, is 70% less for multifamily housing compared to single unit detached dwellings… Likely the largest impact is on transportation emissions, one of the biggest contributors to our ozone pollution problem and to greenhouse gas emissions in Colorado. When people can live closer to their regular destinations and to transit options, they need to drive much less… This bill is a critical solution for reducing emissions across multiple sectors, will lower housing and transportation costs, and lower water use.”

Rep. Don Wilson (R-El Paso County) asked Director Toor what transit systems and states supported his data. Toor said the data was, “based on density across a wide variety of transit service.”

Britt Diehl, director of external affairs at Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP), testified that, “Working collaboratively with our partners, the City and County of Denver and the State of Colorado, we advocate on behalf of business for policies that facilitate building a resilient, well-connected, economically powerful downtown Denver. We know that a thriving economy is dependent on its workforce. Small and large businesses alike are struggling to

“Downtown Denver Partnership supports the removal of restrictive barriers at the local level to allow for more communities to increase housing near transit and jobs. This will help bring down housing costs and create more livable, walkable communities. There are many transit stops in the Denver Metro area that are underdeveloped and underutilized by riders. HB1313 will encourage the market to build more housing, including affordable options, due to the incentives included in the bill.”

– Britt Diehl Director of External Affairs

Downtown Denver Partnership

find and retain employees due to the lack of affordable housing options nearby. People are being forced to move further and further away causing long commutes, costly infrastructure burdens on taxpayers and local governments, and harmful impact on the envi-

ronment. DDP supports the removal of restrictive barriers at the local level to allow for more communities to increase housing near transit and jobs. This will help bring down housing costs and create more livable, walkable communities. There are many transit stops in the Denver Metro area that are underdeveloped and underutilized by riders. HB1313 will encourage the market to build more housing, including affordable options, due to the incentives included in the bill. Local governments are encouraged to meet their residents’ housing needs (with) a variety of options... We believe that this legislation will increase ridership for our transit systems by making it easier for our workforce to live near and utilize transit… We are eager to see that transit system better utilized to support economic growth, decrease congestion and pollution, and support a growing workforce.”

Annelise Steele, representing Colorado Concern, an alliance of CEOs representing every industry in Colorado, told the committee, “Housing is one of the number one concerns I hear from our employers. It is incredibly important for employee retention and recruitment. This is incredibly pivotal for economic development in this state.”

Carly West, Vice-President of Government Affairs at the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, told the committee, “We are a membership organization of over 1,000 Colorado companies, 80% of which are small businesses… Our economic development corporation is in conversations daily with companies who are considering either moving to or expanding their operations here in Colorado.

The thing that we hear from them, over and over again, is the need for housing. They are worried about whether their employees will be able to find housing or they’ll be able to afford it, (which presents) a challenge for them in hiring the talent that they need for their companies to be here in Colorado… We are the fifth most expensive housing market in the nation.”

Adie Tomer, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC, said, “HB 24-1313 promises to give Coloradans more choice in their daily lives and bring greater affordability and environmental resilience in the process…Our research at Brookings finds local residents in metro Denver and Colorado Springs often travel about 18,000 less miles per year when they live closer to

“Housing is one of the number one concerns I hear from our employers. It is incredibly important for employee retention and recruitment. This is incredibly pivotal for economic development in this state.”

– Anneliese Steel Senior Director of Public Affairs Colorado Concern

places like the bill’s “transit areas,” (which) can save households $1,000 per year just in vehicle expenses.”

Dr. Yonah Friedmark, research director of the Land Use Lab of the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center of the Urban Institute, whose research focuses on the intersection of land use, affordable housing, transportation, and governance, pointed out that, “Too many of the homes constructed in Colorado in recent decades are in places far from transit. In the Denver urban area, which accounts for onethird of the state’s housing growth between 2000 and 2020, my research found that just 27% of new units were located within one-half mile of rail transit stations, despite the enormous investment in light rail and commuter lines in the greater Denver area over that period. The remaining units were much farther from transit. As a result, their residents are likely to drive more, produce more pollution, and have higher transportation expenses. Meanwhile, transit ridership suffers. A key problem is that many localities are zoning to prevent dense new housing construction… These conditions are inhibiting people from being able to live in communities near transit in Colorado.”

OPPONENTS

CML Executive Director Kevin Bommer told the committee that CML is in the position of, “Opposing the bill unless amended.” He explained, “Ideally, this legislation would put the state in the role of incentivizing and improving safe and reliable transit. The problem is, this legislation starts with the presumption that local governments and municipalities are the problem and must be told what to do by the state… For over a year, municipal leaders have been begging for partnership, not pre-emption from this body and from Gov. Polis. We are here. We are working on outcomes. We are at the table. I hope that the goals, which are largely unattainable, can at least be amended to a point where it might work, and that we talk about putting transit first (before development). You can’t just zone for density and expect that people are going to be there if they can’t get where they want to go.”

In response to a question from Rep. Frizell following his testimony, he reiterated, “You cannot have the development until you have the transit to support it.”

Later, Bommer reminded the committee of a statement made in 2015 by then Member of Congress Jared Polis, who said, “Not only is a local government’s robust land-use authority supported legally, it also makes sense from a policy perspective. A local government…is ultimately responsible for preserving the character of a community… through transparent public processes…When addressing contentious issues, local governments have more opportunities for public participation than a state or federal government.”

City Attorney Tonya

Haas Davidson, on behalf of Greenwood Village, explained, “We do not believe that the bill is necessary to solve the state’s housing problem. The bill states that the housing deficit is between 65,000 and 90,000 units… Arapahoe County alone has already approved the construction of 92,500 units, so that problem is being solved.”

She continued, “The main focus of this bill is to try to meet the state’s climate goal by placing high volumes of people near transit. But to get people out of cars, we need a viable public transportation system. RTD has dramatically reduced train and bus service and now only offers 70% of what was offered in 2019, and what is offered doesn’t

Continued on page 12

Continued from page 11

“In the Denver urban area, which accounts for one-third of the state’s housing growth between 2000 and 2020, my research found that just 27% of new units were located within one-half mile of rail transit stations, despite the enormous investment in light rail and commuter lines in the greater Denver area over that period… A key problem is that many localities are zoning to prevent dense new housing construction… These conditions are inhibiting people from being able to live in communities near transit in Colorado.”

– Dr. Yonah Friedmark, Research Director Land Use Lab of the Metropolitan Housing and Communities Policy Center

The Urban Institute

work for many commuters.

The executive director of the regional air quality council told Colorado Public Radio News that, to make a real difference in reducing driving, you need a transit system that serves thousands of times what RTD is presently capable of serving… This bill would require Greenwood Village alone to allow an additional 25,853 units to be built within a half-mile of four light rail stations, all of which are adjacent to the I-25 corridor. We have 2,285 now and we have traffic jams now.”

Later, Froelich asked the GV city attorney what her city planned for undeveloped land near the Orchard and Arapahoe Light Rail Stations, which is in the area GV refers to as the Corridor Planning Area in its comprehensive plan. Froelich noted that those two light rail stations were built two decades ago when she was a member of the GV City Council.

Haas Davidson replied that, “Greenwood Village does not own either property. It is owned by developers, so it is up to them to come forward. Residential is allowed…Nothing has been brought forward.”

Although GV’s zoning code does allow residential development at the Orchard and Arapahoe Light Rail Stations with specific approval by the city council, it has been city policy since 2018 that, “Higher density residential development will be discouraged in the Corridor…Higher density residential is a use that exceeds on average four dwelling units per acre.” One reason for that policy is that the city believes higher density residential development of more than four units per acre will bring too much car traffic to the surrounding roads.

Commissioner Jessica Campbell-Swanson, representing Arapahoe County, said the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) testified that the commissioners, “are in a very friendly amend position,” explaining, “The BOCC is unified in our commitment and desire to increase housing that is affordable across income brackets. We see density and transit-oriented development as a solution to many of our state’s problems… The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.”

She went on to explain that Arapahoe County hopes to see amendments to the current bill that will, “(increase) flexibility in establishing our housing opportunity goals and in definitions of boundaries of our transit areas, (revisit) the

“Companies who are considering either moving to or expanding their operations here in Colorado…are worried about whether their employees will be able to find housing or they’ll be able to afford it, (which presents) a challenge for them in hiring the talent that they need for their companies to be here in Colorado… We are the fifth most expensive housing market in the nation.”

Carly West Vice-President of Government Affairs

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce

proposed half mile buffer (because it) does not work for all stations and Arapahoe County. Many properties that are within a half-mile as the crow flies but are located a mile away if you follow the street network or consider existing intervening barriers to access; and (consider) utilities be-

yond water, such as sanitary, sewer and waste water.”

Centennial Mayor Stephanie Piko offered, “Colorado’s Constitution and subsequent court rulings clearly support a government’s right for local control of land use. As demonstrated earlier by the bill’s sponsors, the complexity of the land use decisions are immense. Based on the number of amendments and technical changes that they presented, it is obvious that their stakeholding since May didn’t do enough justice to the complexity of this bill. It is impossible for the state to know exactly what is happening on the ground. I agree with Commissioner Campbell-Swanson on highlighting all of the other utilities that are in play here, in trying to get them to all work for redevelopment.”

Pointing to her own city, Piko told the committee, “We do care about increasing housing. We have 1,800 units that are under construction and over 8,200 units in the pipeline. All of these locations have been vetted by the city to handle the infrastructure investments that are needed to make that type of density work in the right locations (which) includes having access to grocery stores… restaurants…office buildings. If we give up all of our space along our (Dry Creek Avenue) light rail corridor to housing, then there is no place for office and no place for those people to go to work. We need to make sure that there is mixed-use.”

Turning to the impact of the threat of loss of Highway Users Tax Funds, Mayor Piko explained, “We are going to lose, in the City of Centennial, over $4 million if we do not make the goals that are set by this bill. That’s $4 million a year paid by our citizens that goes to the road and bridge safety in our community.”

Danee Brouillard, Director of Governmental Affairs for the City and County of Broomfield, said, “Broomfield remains committed to working with our partners. We value the conversations around housing diversity. Broomfield supports density

“Colorado’s Constitution and subsequent court rulings clearly support a government’s right for local control of land use… We are going to lose, in the City of Centennial, over $4 million if we do not make the goals that are set by this bill.”

Stephanie Piko Mayor, City of Centennial

in both current and future transit areas.”

Brouillard said she was there to share the concerns that Broomfield expressed during the stakeholder meetings in which they participated, which were, “Broomfield is looking for partnership with the state…to find a path forward to tackle this crisis (and) provide accountability to get the work done in a reasonable timeline…The bill forces changes to zoning capacity without providing a new source of funding for the costs associated with ensuring there is infrastructure capacity to facilitate development,” and, “It is really challenging, specifically for Broomfield, to attract mixed-use development that would benefit from the proximity to transit when Broomfield currently lacks meaningful transit service from the majority of our community. Additionally, the limited areas that are served by transit have recently experienced reduction in service.”

“The bill states that the housing deficit is between 65,000 and 90,000 units… Arapahoe County alone has already approved the construction of 92,500 units, so that problem is being solved.”

– Tonya Haas Davidson City Attorney, City of Greenwood Village

Wynne Shaw to run for Lone Tree Mayor

Wynne Shaw, 8-year Lone Tree City Council member and the council’s current mayor pro tem, is honored to announce her candidacy for Mayor of the City of Lone Tree. Wynne serves as Chair of the 58-member Denver Regional Council of Governments

(DRCOG), Chair of the Regional Transportation Committee, and past Chair of the Douglas County Housing Partnership. She represents Lone Tree as a member of the E-470 Board and Transportation Committee and also as a member of the Douglas County Com-

munity Foundation. Wynne is an active supporter of the Lone Tree Arts Center, including in her role as the Education Committee Chair of the Lone Tree Arts Center Guild in support of sensory inclusive and student programming at the Arts Center. Lone Tree’s municipal

election is Tuesday, May 7; ballots will be mailed to all Lone Tree registered voters on April 15th. For additional information, visit https://cityoflonetree.com/ departments/city-clerk/elections/2024-city-council-candidates or www.wynnefor lonetree.com

Cherry Hills Village Police Department welcomes its first K9 officer

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

CHV Police Chief Jason Lyons is pleased to announce the creation of the Cherry Hills Village Police Department K9 Unit. Its first team will be comprised of Police Officer Darion Ives, selected in a competitive process for the role of handler, and the city’s first K9 officer, Tuco.

Tuco is a 14-month-old Belgian Malinois whose bloodline traces directly back to the country of Belgium. Officer Ives and Tuco will spend one week getting to know one another, then attend a 10-week police canine academy. Tuco’s training will include the ability to track and apprehend suspects as well as detect narcotics.

Tuco was acquired through a generous donation by the Cherry Hills Police Foundation, whose web site is CHV

PoliceFoundation.org.

At the city’s March 5 regular council meeting, Foundation President and Vice-President Mark L. Griffin and Jan Harrison Griffin were present when Chief Lyons announced the gift, valued at $22,000 for the dog and specialized training, and the city council unanimously passed a resolution gratefully accepting it.

Officer Ives joined CHVPD in January 2024 with ten years of experience as a police officer, including in the towns of Castle Rock and Monument.

With the launch of its K9 Unit, Cherry Hills Village joins other local law enforcement agencies, including Arapahoe County, Greenwood Village, and Littleton, who also have four-legged officer partners. Most often, they are Belgian Malinois, like Tuco, or German Shepherds, though many other breeds can be trained for the trade. fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

CHV Police Officer Darion Ives and K9 Tuco

CHVPD Chief Jason Lyons and Cherry Hills Police Foundation board members Jan Harrison Griffin, vice president and Mark L. Griffin, president.

Photo by Freda Miklin

Inside COACH March Madness with Ann STROTHER ABROMAITIS

BY RYAN BOUBLIK

CONTRIBUTING COLUMNIST

March is Colorado’s snowiest month. Yet, even those Coloradoans who embrace the snow and blue skies often opt to take a break from their outdoor playground in favor of an indoor sporting event. March, undoubtedly, is the most magical time of year for fans of collegiate hoops. 68 Division I teams in both the Mens’ and Womens’ brackets fiercely vie for the title of NCAA National Champion in the tournament now branded as March Madness.

Coach Ann Strother Abromaitis

live coverage of a game in the 1982 NCAA Men’s Tournament. (Coincidentally, the first NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament was also held in 1982). In 2010, the NCAA paid $17.2 million to license the phrase and make it official. It would take 12 more years (2022) until the NCAA began using March Madness for the Women’s Tournament as well.

2004 seasons. Drafted into the WNBA, Abromaitis played for three different franchises and also represented the U.S. on an international stage, medaling three times. Talk about an over qualified resource, Coach Abromaitis was kind enough to lend her thoughts regarding March Madness.

The first NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament consisted of eight teams and was hosted in 1939 (when FDR was President and Hitler had already begun wreaking havoc across Europe). “March Madness” was not a phrase coined by the NCAA, rather it was originally the name for an Illinois High School Basketball Tournament started long before in 1908. It wasn’t until an essay titled “March Madness” was published in 1939 in the Illinois Interscholastic that the name was picked up by media outlets and gained traction. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, the name “March Madness” was thrown around as a handle for the IHSA Tournament. It was first used on the national stage when Brent Musberger (a former Chicago sportswriter) used March Madness during his

Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Colorado basketball legend, Ann Strother Abromaitis, about March Madness from a player’s perspective. Abromaitis, now the Women’s Varsity Basketball Coach at Kent Denver, is arguably the most accomplished player in the history of Colorado basketball. Among her accolades, Abromaitis won back-toback State Championships, was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith High School National Player of the Year during her senior season, was named an All-American, and was inducted into the CHSAA Hall of fame in 2022. She was recruited by legendary coach Geno Auriemma, played four years of college hoops at powerhouse UCONN and was crowned a National Champion in the back-to-back 2002-2003 and 2003-

So how does a team advance to the Sweet 16, the Elite 8, the Final 4 and then ultimately, hoist the NCAA National Championship Trophy at the end of March Madness? Constructing a championship roster is complex, “people often think it’s a huge roster of talented players” Abromaitis remarked, “but you need a roster of players that want to build something and want to play their role.” Building a team that has the potential to “go all the way,” however, is

sits under the goalpost and meditates prior to games in order to “get in the zone.” Rumor has it that former University of North Carolina Head Basketball Coach, Roy Williams, had to have a piece of tape wrapped around his chair, never wore red, only drew in blue on a white board, and would throw away the tie he wore if the Tar Heels lost. Although to a lesser degree, Abromaitis and her teammates also had superstitions, “We always ate the same pregame meals, listened to the same music, and had some weird dances or handshakes prior to the game.”

only half the work, the other half is winning. In order to win, Abromaitis stated, “[A team needs] an attitude and a mindset that sets it apart from other teams.”

Achieving the right mindset is much easier said than done. Each athlete has their own individual routine and superstitions. National Champion, J.J. McCarthy (Michigan’s Quarterback and rumored Broncos’ potential draft pick),

Athletes are often coached to focus on the things they can control, but outside forces remain at play. Many university student sections have unique rituals when it comes time for the opposing team to shoot free-throws. Collegiate fans are notorious for chanting personal insults, raising hypnotic signs, or flaunting men dressed in speedos in an effort to fluster a player. Arizona State’s “Curtain of Distraction” can be a free-throw shooter’s worst nightmare. When the curtain drops, the ASU student section is infamous for revealing obnoxiously dressed persons, flamboyant characters and even celebrities right before an opposing free-throw. When asked about how fans impact the game, Abromaitis exclaimed, “A lot! [Players] have to be able to play through good and bad fans.” Athletes who find the most success are usually calm and collected in these high pressure moments.

Abromaitis won back-toback State Championships, was named the Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith High School National Player of the Year during her senior season, was named an All-American, and was inducted into the CHSAA Hall of fame in 2022. She was recruited by legendary coach Geno Auriemma, played four years of college hoops at powerhouse UCONN and was crowned a National Champion in the back-to-back 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons.

Drafted into the WNBA, Abromaitis played for three different franchises and also represented the U.S. on an international stage, medaling three times.

I asked Coach Abromaitis what are the keys to balancing a student-athlete life during the month of March? She responded, “Balance is an interesting word. I wouldn’t say I was balanced, but we had study hall on the road, before every game and we often had to take tests on the road as well. Sometimes we had to take [tests] before or after games

Abromaitis spoke on this issue saying, “If you are waiting until the last minute to have a nice gym to workout in, you’re probably too late anyway. I didn’t think too much about it other than, [questioning] this is what [the NCCA] is giving to the men versus, what is given to the women and how we approach Women’s Basketball versus Men’s Basketball…

When I inquired as to what advice she would give her younger-self or the current UCONN team...

Coach Abromaitis... thoughtfully replied, “Don’t take the experience for granted, enjoy your teammates and enjoy the moment.”

ers around her better. I recognize Caitlin does that too, but I know first hand what Diana did for all of us, and that speaks volumes about the definition of best player ever.”

Going into this year’s March Madness, I forecast a National Title for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Women’s Tour-

and often spent late nights and early mornings preparing for school.”

During the 2021 March Madness Tournament, the NCAA received national backlash for the disparity of gym equipment between the men and women.

I think ultimately, everyone who was there was prepared and probably wasn’t going to need to use the facilities.” She continued noting that the stigma around Women’s Basketball is still prevalent at the high school level with referees minimizing and muttering “well, it’s just girls basketball.” Abromaitis responded by saying, “what do you mean by that, it’s basketball. It doesn’t have to be girls or boys.”

Caitlin Clark, an Iowa Guard, made NCAA history this season by breaking the all-time women’s college scoring record. Clark passed Washington’s Kelsey Plum to add another sparkling stat to her already robust résumé. She did it in style by sinking an in transition logo shot. These extremely difficult, long range shots, seem to be commonplace for Clark. After the game, Shaquille O’Neil dubbed her the greatest NCAA Women’s player to step foot on the court. Coach Abromaitis also played with her fair share of great players including Diana Taurasi, so I wanted to hear her thoughts on O’Neil’s statement. “I would never want to take anything away from what she [Caitlin Clark] has accomplished, but obviously I’m biased. Diana should definitely be in the conversation because she took a really young group, who had never played in college, to two championships. Yes, she could score whenever she wanted, but she also made the play-

nament and the UCONN Huskies in the Men’s Tournament. Coach Abromaitis also made predictions. On the Women’s side, she was torn between UCONN and South Carolina. For the Men, she also selected the Huskies because she had the opportunity to watch them practice when she returned for her 20th reunion noting that they were “very intense and have the pieces to make a deep run because the players are all ‘firing’ at the right time.” It’s very loyal of the former Husky to select UCONN to be crowned champions in both events. However, UCONN’s Men’s team is seeking what Abromaitis accomplished, back-to-back titles. She knows first hand that winning last year’s March Madness “put an even bigger target” on the Husky men this year.

When I inquired as to what advice she would give her younger-self or the current UCONN team, she thoughtfully replied, “Don’t take the experience for granted, enjoy your teammates and enjoy the moment.”

As we concluded, Coach Abromaitis emphasized that players “have to trust what they have built throughout the season” going into the tournament. In addition, “... people make crazy shots that you can’t plan for, so expect the unexpected.” I believe the unforeseen upsets and the unpredictable nature of the tournament, in a nutshell, is what makes March Madness incredibly exhilarating.

Photos by Carol MacKay

BY PATRICE MATTESON

Give our south metro cities their own zip codes

Dear Bob,

I heartily support Wynne Shaw for Mayor of Lone Tree

recently become the new DRCOG Board Chair. When Wynne speaks people listen!

Suitcases became culturally significant around the 1920s, when they made appearances in books like the Hardy Boys series and in films like the silent film The Woman in the Suitcase. Early suitcases (usually called “suit-cases”) were lighter and more portable than trunks, but they were still bulky by today’s standards. Leather, wicker, or thick rubbery cloth was stretched over a rigid wood or steel frame.

became its best-selling product, the company changed its name to Samsonite. For years, the brand was at the forefront of design for non-wheeled suitcases.

Samsonite was founded in Denver, Colorado, on March 10, 1910, by Black Hawk, Colorado-born luggage salesman Jesse Shwayder (1882–1970) as the Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company. A religious man, Shwayder named one of his initial cases Samson, after the Biblical strongman, and began using the trademark Samsonite in 1941 for its tapered vulcanized fiber suitcase, introduced in 1939. In 1965, after the Samsonite suitcase

American entrepreneur Bernard Sadow pitched his version of the wheeled suitcase, for which he was granted a patent in 1972, to various department stores before it was picked up and sold at Macy’s stores starting in 1970. It took several years to become the predominant form of suitcase, and Sadow’s version was soon superseded by the Rollaboard, a type of wheeled suitcase that was upright rather than flat like Sadow’s model and invented in 1987 by American pilot Robert Plath. In 2004, Samsonite started selling the first “spinner-style” suitcase, which had four wheels and could be moved and spun in any direction.

The addition of wheels to the suitcase has since been called one of the most significant innovations in travel.

Loving to travel, I agree with this statement. Modern updates like 360-degree spinner wheels, expandable zippers, and interior organizational pockets have made packing more manageable, and travel ing through airports easier.

Reading your column last week about the frustration you faced finding locations in Cherry Hills Village and Centennial, relying on zip codes, took me back to an article I wrote for this newspaper late in 2018. It was about the history of south metro cities Cherry Hills, Greenwood Village, and Centennial, trying for years, without success, to get their own zip codes. Nothing has changed in the past four and one-half years. The zip codes for both Cherry Hills Village and Greenwood Village “belong to” Englewood and Littleton. Centennial, despite being 30 square miles and having a population approaching 115,000, borrows its six different zip codes from Englewood, Littleton, and Aurora. No wonder you had so much trouble finding the UPS facilities using the zip codes in their addresses!

Here’s something to think about. It is a fact that, “Everyone reports to someone.” Why can’t a U.S. Senator or Member of Congress take action to get the United States Postal Service to change its policy and give our south metro cities their own zip codes?

Your governmental reporter, Freda Miklin

Policy for letters to the editor

Lone Tree has been fortunate to have had mayors with the time and experience to lead our city to where we find ourselves today. It is important that we continue on this path. As you decide who you will support for mayor in the Tuesday, May 7th election, please consider these points.

As a former Lone Tree Council Member/Mayor Pro Tem, I am keenly aware of the time required to be Lone Tree’s mayor. I consider both Wynne Shaw and Marissa Harmon to be friends of mine. They are both delightful ladies, and Lone Tree is blessed that they wish to serve our city.

Wynne has served for eight years on the Lone Tree City Council and is currently mayor pro tem. She owned and operated a micrographics business before beginning an extensive career in financial services with Charles Schwab and TIAA. Throughout her time on council, she has consistently shown that she has the time, experience, and dedication to serve Lone Tree exceptionally well. Her hard work on the 58-member Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) has earned her much respect from municipal leaders in the Denver Metro area. In fact, she has

Marissa served on Lone Tree’s Planning Commission for one year and now has been on city council for two years. She currently owns and actively works in her Lone Tree hair salon. In addition, she is a wife and a busy mother of two young children. Being Lone Tree’s mayor is a Full Time Job!

After Wynne has served as mayor, I would expect to be able to support Marissa without hesitation. Her children will then be older, she may then have more time to devote to leading Lone Tree, and she will have had the opportunity to acquire the depth of knowledge that will earn her the respect of others throughout the region.

Last but not least, if Marissa is elected mayor in May, three of the four city council seats will then be held by new members with no council experience, all led by a very inexperienced mayor. Surely that is not what any of us want as our city deals with challenges and opportunities in the coming years!

I heartily support Wynne Shaw for Mayor of Lone Tree in our May 7th Election. I hope you will, as well.

Sharon Van Ramshorst

Former Lone Tree City Council member/Mayor Pro Tem

The Villager encourages letters to the editor. Letters should be no longer than 350 words and are subject to editing for length, clarity and libel. Priority will be given to submissions about the newspaper’s content and/ or issues of community concern. A phone number, not for publication, should be included for verification purposes. Letters must be emailed to gerri@villagerpublishing.com. Please include city of residence.

PRIZE GIVEAWAYS FROM LOCAL MERCHANTS: Every attendee has a chance to win!

DELICIOUS FOOD:

Indulge your senses with tasty treats!

U.S. Rep. Ken Buck leaving office ten months early

On March 12, U.S. Rep. Ken Buck (R), who represents Colorado Congressional District Four, announced that he will step down from his position as a Member of Congress on March 22.

That will leave the seat vacant until a special election is held on June 25 to fill it. Until the winner of that contest is officially sworn in, the GOP will have a 218 to 213 majority in the House of Representatives.

In an interview on cable news, Buck said, “It is the worst year of the nine years and three months that I’ve been in Congress and having

talked to former members, it’s the worst years in 40, 50 years…This place has just devolved into this bickering and nonsense and not really doing the job for the American people.”

There are currently 10 candidates vying for the GOP nomination to run for Buck’s seat in what is viewed

as a strongly Republican district. Contenders include former radio host Deborah Flora, former State Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, and current CD3 U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who has relocated from the state’s western slope to its eastern slope.

CD Four includes parts of Adams and Arapahoe Counties, plus 19 other full counties that comprise most of the eastern rural plains of our state, along with the front range local jurisdictions of Parker, Castle Rock, Loveland, and Highlands Ranch.

LENDING AGENT

I am a Colorado native who thoroughly understands the state's growing and diverse real estate market. With nearly 30 years of experience in the mortgage industry and consistently recognized as a top producer, I am known for creative solutions for unique or complex loans.

My team’s commitment to providing superior customer service, combined with excellent problem-solving skills, makes the difference in potential borrowers becoming homeowners. We know the benefits of making the mortgage process a win-win endeavor for all our clients. With this, our team brings an exceptional knowledge of the mortgage industry and practical hands-on experience to each transaction.

When it comes to mortgage lending, I don’t want to do one transaction, I want to help you with your short- and long-term goals, as well as set you up for success in the future to help you obtain those goals!

You’re Invited!

Wednesday April 3, 2024

The Curtis Ballroom

5345 Landmark Place, Greenwood Village 7:30-8:30am

We are excited to invite you to be a part of our Friends of The Fix Breakfast and Kitten Shower! It’s a FREE event!

April is the beginning of kitten season, and this breakfast is a one-hour event to inspire you to help us make a difference for thousands of cats and kittens that need us this year. Get involved with The Feline Fix as a supporter, a foster family, or a volunteer. Invite friends, family, and co-workersall are welcome! If you’re a cat lover and you’d like to help the most vulnerable cat population in the Denver Metro area then this is for you! Your attendance will help us rescue more kittens, place them in foster care, give them the medical attention and socialization they need, and then adopt them into permanent, loving homes in 2024!

Let‘s get them off the streets forever!

You will enjoy a full, sit-down breakfast and coffee bar, and our 'Kitten Therapy' team will be there with plenty of kittens to share with everyone! Who doesn't want to start their day cuddling a kitten?

To attend, simply RSVP for you and your guest(s)to stacey@thefelinefix.org

*Seating is limited, so RSVP today*

Cannot attend but would like to donate to the kitten program? Visit: KittenShower.Givesmart.com

visit TheFelineFix.org

Aspen Academy names new Associate Head of School

Aspen Academy, a leading Pre-Kindergarten through 8th Grade educational institution, announced the appointment of Dana Kohls as the new Associate Head of School, beginning in the 2024-2025 school year. This appointment comes as part of Aspen Academy’s strategic efforts to enhance its leadership structure, respond to the

increasing need for durable skills in elementary and middle school education, and ensure continued excellence in education and community experience.

Mrs. Kohls brings with her a wealth of experience in education, having served as Aspen Academy’s Director of Lower School for the past seven years, where she has demonstrated

Come worship with us at St. Thomas More Parish

Holy Thursday, March 28

7:00pm – Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday, March 29

3:00pm and 7:00pm – Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

Holy Saturday, March 30

8:00pm – Solemn Vigil of Easter

Easter Sunday, March 31

6:30am, 8:30am, 10:30am and *12:30pm Mass

*There will also be a Spanish Mass at 12:30pm

8035 S Quebec St | Centennial, CO | 80112 303.770.1155 | stthomasmore.org

exceptional leadership and innovation within the early and elementary programs. With over 27 years of experience as an educator and administrator, Mrs. Kohls has consistently fostered a culture of excellence, collaboration, and community among students, faculty, and families.

In her new role as Associate Head of School, Mrs. Kohls will serve as the Chief Academic Officer, responsible for leading and managing the academic program and team. This appointment follows a rigorous international and national search, in which nearly a hundred candidates were considered and interviewed over a three-month period involving teachers, staff, directors, students, and founders.

“We are thrilled to have Mrs. Dana Kohls assume this new position of Associate Head of School at Aspen Academy,” said Kristina Scala, Founder and President. “Her extensive experience, passion for education, and commitment to cultivating a positive and supportive learning environment make her an ideal candidate for this role. We believe that her leadership will further enhance our vision and commitment to academic excellence while benefiting our students, families, and team members as we equip students with durable skills for a life-

Because, being a kid is harder than it looks.

time of success.”

Mrs. Kohls holds a Bachelor of Education with a concentration in Mathematics and a Master of Science in Education Media Design and Technology. She is highly regarded nationally for her expertise in mathematics and literacy development and has received numerous grants and awards for her leadership and professional development in these areas.

Throughout her career, Mrs. Kohls has demonstrated a proven track record in designing and implementing engaging and effective curriculum, assessments, and instruction that empower students to realize their full potential and foster a love for learning, growth, and leadership.

“I am honored and excited to be appointed as the Associate Head of School at Aspen Academy,” said Mrs. Kohls.

“I look forward to continuing to work with the talented students, faculty, and staff, to build upon the school’s exceptional academic foundation and continue our commitment to creating a holistic learning experience that prepares students for a successful future with life skills from fortitude and leadership to communication and critical thinking. Every child possesses a unique combination of strengths and interests. Education should provide opportunities to capitalize on those strengths and differentiate for the needs of all learners by providing a multi-layered, rigorous, and engaging curricular experience.”

About Aspen Academy

Aspen Academy in Greenwood Village, Colorado, is a renowned educational institution committed to providing an extraordinary educational and community experience for its students, families, team members, and alumni. With a focus on innovation and academic excellence, Aspen Academy cultivates a positive and supportive learning environment that prepares students with the durable skills and attitudes necessary for academic and life success. To date, students have launched more than 400 student-run businesses. Learn more at aspenacademy.org.

So, Wilson’s gone; can Paton be far behind?

My first boss at the Rocky Mountain News was managing editor E. B. Blackburn, an irascible, cantankerous Southerner given to folksy pronouncements that were piercingly apt, thought-provoking and not easily forgotten. He was the prototypical crusty old newsman.

He once called me into his office to express his displeasure with the newsroom’s failure to act on suggestions he had been passing on. I was then assistant managing editor in charge of the newsroom at night.

cial maneuvers, announced that Russell Wilson had been informed that the club was cutting him loose before he played the last three seasons of his monster contract.

“Denny,” he barked, “I’m tired of droppin’ rocks down the well and never hearin’ a splash.”

Virtually every story about Wilson’s release has included a recap of the ill-conceived trade that brought him here and the unwise decision to sign him to an expensive long-term deal before he played even one down for Denver.

But nowhere have I read a word about the courage it took the architect of that acquisition, Broncos General Manager George Paton, to swallow hard, admit the colossal mistakes, and move on.

I feel the same way when people don’t answer my emails or phone messages.

Another time, discussing a staffer with whom he was dissatisfied almost to the point of termination, and that staffer’s supervisor who, he felt, was slow to act, he sagely observed:

“Always remember, Denny, the greatest job security any of us has is the unwillingness of the person who hired us to admit they made a mistake.”

I’ve thought of that pearl countless times, always marveling at the wisdom in his admonition.

It came to mind again last week, when the Broncos, in the first of a flurry of finan-

Admitting defeat is the first, painful, step to reversing course. Only then can going forward begin.

It remains to be seen if the team can make the right decision in the wake of acknowledging the worst trade in NFL history.

I, for one, think the best chance to succeed is hitting on a quarterback in next month’s draft of college players (admittedly no small feat), rather than signing any of this year’s free agent QBs.

The best of those seeking employment elsewhere is Kirk Cousins, taken in the fourth, not first, round in 2012. He was 50-37-1 with Minnesota but had only three winning

seasons and took the Vikings to the playoffs just twice in six years. Before that, he went 23-23-2 in three seasons as the starter in Washington. Significantly, he and Wilson are the same age: 35.

Among the others are:

• Ryan Tannehill, who after back-to-back seasons of 11-5 and 12-5 for Tennessee in 2020 and 2021 went 9-11, combined, the last two AND also is 35 years old;

• Sam Darnold, the third pick in 2018, who has been a bust in New York with the Jets and in Carolina, and was a backup in San Francisco to Brock Purdy;

• Jameis Winston, a former overall No. 1 draft choice whose nine-year won-lost record is 34-46 (including 6-4 in four seasons, 21 games, with New Orleans); and

• Gardner Minshew, a journeyman at best whose only claim to fame in five otherwise undistinguished seasons is leading Indianapolis to a 7-6 record as the Colts’ starter for most of last season.

Without the benefit of oneon-one interviews or any other exposure at the NFL Combine, I still like what I’ve seen of Michael Penix Jr., ahead of Michigan’s J.J. McCarthy and Oregon’s Bo Nix.

But, thankfully, it’s not my job that’s on the line here.

Denver’s decision to admit the gargantuan Russell Wilson mistake led me to look back over the Broncos’ biggest moves the last few years.

Here’s a timeline:

January 2021—George Paton hired as general manager January 2022—Nathaniel Hackett hired as head coach March 2022—Russell Wilson acquired in trade from Seattle August 2022—Walton-Penner Group buys the Broncos December 2022—Hackett fired after 15 games

February 2023—Sean Payton named head coach

April 2023—John Elway ends his long association with the franchise March 2024—Wilson released, two-year record: 11-19

Applying Ben Blackburn’s view literally, one could conclude that GM Paton is on thin ice for a reason that goes beyond the failed hiring of Nathaniel Hackett and acquisition of Wilson.

Broncos legend Elway, the man who hired him, is no longer in the front office.

Denny Dressman is a veteran of 43 years in the newspaper business, including 25 at the Rocky Mountain News, where he began as executive sports editor. He is the author of 16 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at denny dressman@comcast.net

How to Divide Your Personal Possessions Without Dividing the Family

Dear Savvy Senior,

Do you have any suggestions on divvying up my personal possessions to my kids after I’m gone without causing hard feelings or conflict? I have a lot of jewelry, art, family heirlooms and antique furniture, and four grown kids that don’t always see eye-to-eye on things.

best of intentions. Here are a few tips to consider that can help you divide your stuff with minimal conflict.

Sweating the Small Stuff

Conflicted Parent

Dear Conflicted,

Divvying up personal possessions among adult children or other loved ones can often be a tricky task. Deciding who should get what without showing favoritism, hurting someone’s feelings or causing a feud can be difficult, even for close-knit families who enter the process with the

Dear Readers,

Do you have one of the top 10 most stolen vehicles?

The Denver Police Department offers the following tips regarding crime prevention:

Vehicle Theft:

• Always lock your car and roll up your windows.

• Remove garage door openers and valuables from your vehicle even when you are parked in front of your home.

• Park in a well-lit, highly visible area.

For starters, you need to be aware that it’s usually the small, simple items of little monetary value that aren’t mentioned in your will that cause the most conflicts. This is because the value we attach to the small personal possessions is usually sentimental or emotional, and because the simple items are the things that most families fail to talk about.

Family battles can also escalate over whether things are being divided fairly by monetary value. So, for items of higher value like your jewelry, antiques and art, consider

• Use a steering wheel lock or other anti-theft device.

• Have theft-deterrent license plate fasteners installed by the Denver Police.

Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicle List:

In order, the top ten most stolen vehicles are: Hyundai Elantra, Chevrolet Silverado, Hyundai Sonata, Ford F-150, Kia Sportage, Ford F-250, Kia Optima, Hyundai Tucson, Honda Civic and Kia Soul.

You can pick up a free steering wheel lock, The Club, from

getting an appraisal to assure fair distribution. To locate an appraiser in your area, try ISA-appraisers.org, Appraisers.org or AppraisersAssociation.org

Dividing Fairly

The best solution for passing along your personal possessions is for you to go through your house with your kids or other heirs either separately or all at once to find out which items they would like to inherit and why. They may have some emotional attachment to something you’re not aware of. If more than one child wants the same thing, you’ll have to make the ultimate decision.

Then you need to sit down and make a list of who gets what on paper, signed, dated and referenced in your will. You can revise it anytime you want. You may also want to consider writing an additional letter or create an audio or

BY DONALD PETERSON

video recording that further explains your intentions.

You can also specify a strategy for divvying up the rest of your property. Here are some popular methods that are fair and reasonable:

Take turns choosing:

Use a round-robin process where your kids take turns choosing the items they would like to have. If who goes first becomes an issue, they can always flip a coin or draw straws. Also, to help simplify things, break down the dividing process room-by-room, versus tackling the entire house. To keep track of who gets what, either make a list or use adhesive dots with a color assigned to each person to tag the item.

Have a family auction:

Give each person involved the same amount of play money or use virtual points or poker chips to bid on the

stolen.

If the vehicle is stolen, when the vehicle owner calls police to report the theft, DPD can then track the vehicle in real time with the goal of locating and returning the vehicle to the owner and arresting the suspect.

items they want.

Use online resources:

For families who want help or live far apart, there are web-based resources like FairSplit.com that can assist with the dividing process.

For more tips, see “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate?” at YellowPiePlate. umn.edu. This is a resource created by the University of Minnesota Extension Service that offers a free video and detailed workbook for $12.50 that gives pointers to help families discuss property distribution issues and lists important factors to keep in mind that can help you avoid or manage conflict.

It’s also very important that you discuss your plans in advance with your kids so they can know ahead what to expect. Or you may even want to start distributing some of your items now, while you are still alive.

help others care for you and to achieve your overall estate planning goals, the following documents create an effective medical/estate plan package:

1. Healthcare Power of Attorney;

2. General Financial Power of Attorney;

3. Advanced Directive for Medical/Surgical Treatment (“Living Will”); and

the Denver Police Department, District 3, while supplies last, if you own a vehicle in the Top 10 Most Stolen Vehicle List. You will need to show your vehicle registration to receive The Club for free.

You may also register your Bicycles, Scooters, E-Bikes and receive a Free 529 Garage Shield. You must take a picture of your bike and serial number and bring it with you to the District 3 station.

Contact information for Denver Police Department, District 3 Station: 1625 South University Blvd. Denver, CO 80213 3.Dist@denvergov.org Denvergov.org/police

Emergencies dial 911

Non-Emergency: 720-9132000

You may also register your vehicle for DenverTrack and receive a free window decal. The decal/sticker is a visible deterrent that alerts potential thieves that the vehicle has GPS and will be tracked if stolen. The DenverTrack program works with the vehicles’ GPS system to track stolen vehicles in real time. The program requires vehicle owners to preauthorize Denver Police access to the manufacture’s GPS service (e.g., OnStar, etc.) in the unfortunate event that their vehicle is

The Denver Police Department is committed to reducing auto thefts in Denver. Residents can now sign up for the DenverTrack through https:// denvergov.org/_/Safety_/Auto-Theft-Prevention.

The Denver Police Department is hosting a Crime Prevention Tune Up every Friday in March, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the District 3 Station.

What are the four key medical/estate plan documents you need now?

Many of my clients have asked what are the critical documents needed, particularly in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Simply being married does not give you the legal right to gain access to your spouse’s medical records or make medical decisions on your spouse’s behalf, even in an emergency. To avoid this problem and to

4. Will (or a Will with a Trust).

Careful medical/estate planning should include preparation and signing of these documents, to accomplish your goals and protect you, both during your lifetime, and at the time of passing. The Power of Attorney documents allow you to designate those agents whom you authorize to help you on your behalf during your lifetime, and the Will/Trust documents allow you to nominate others to help with your estate after your passing, as well as to identify the beneficiaries and the distributions to them, to accomplish your estate planning goals.

CHV installs electric vehicle chargers at City Hall

On March 5, Cherry Hills Village held a ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate its four new electric vehicle charging stations, installed just outside the city council chambers at CHV City Hall at 2450 E. Quincy Avenue.

The chargers are part of CHV’s efforts to address the sustainability and resiliency areas outlined in its recently updated Villager Master Plan, which says that renewable energy technology, water conservation, and resiliency strategies should be encouraged, including in all city operations.

An $18,000.00 grant from the Charge Ahead Colorado grant program, administered by the Colorado Energy Office, was used to help defray the $28,505.00 cost of the four charging stations.

CHV recently purchased its first electric vehicle, a Ford F-150 Lightning pick-up truck, and plans to purchase a second electric vehicle later this year.

The F-150 pick-up truck is being driven by CHV Public Works Project & Operations Manager Ryan Berninzoni, who is responsible for managing the city’s right-of-way permits, which requires him to drive all around the city regularly.

The new electric vehicle chargers are available for residents and visitors to CHV City Hall and John Meade Park to charge their electric vehicles while, at the same time, providing the needed infrastructure for the city to be able to add electric vehicles to its municipal fleet.

Visitors can use the electric charging stations Monday through Sunday between 6:00 am and 9:00 pm by downloading the Blink Charging App. The cost is $2/hour for the first two hours, $4/hour for hours three and four, and $5/hour for hours five and beyond.

Questions about the use of the charging stations can by directed to Jay Goldie, Deputy City Manager and Director of Public Works at jgoldie@ cherryhillsvillage.com or 303783-2731.

fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

CHV Deputy City Manager and Public Works Director Jay Goldie and Mayor Katy Brown show the city’s new Ford F-150 Lightning electric pick-up truck. Photos by Freda Miklin

CHV City Council Members, from left to right, Earl Hoellen, Robert Eber, Al Blum, Mayor Katy Brown, Susan Maguire, and Dan Sheldon cut the ribbon for the city’s new electric charging stations.

Relationship landmine

Spending, unending consumption, credit cards, online shopping, ATMs, refinancing deals, and online money transfers have made managing finances a shell game and a relationship landmine. Debt is at an all-time high and it is affecting the quality of relationships. For millennials who are marrying later, both partners have a financial history they bring into the relationship. Some enter marriage with undisclosed financial obligations. This disclosure-avoidance regarding debt creates a crumbling of trust and may even feel like a betrayal deconstructing the fabric of the relation-

ship.

Not only do we come into relationships with debt, but we also have unspoken expectations about how we make, spend, save, and give money.

We have years of modeling about how our family of origin managed resources.

Money affects choices, identities, self-worth, sense of freedom, security, emotions, hopes, dreams, expectations, and even sleep patterns.

Conversations about money are based on intention, unspoken motives, daily decisions, activities, and a framework of a belief system that is not untangled in our consciousness or

adequately verbalized. This makes finances the third rail of relationship management and a tightrope of delicate discussions. This is especially true as we deal with this inflationary economy.

Research highlights that most adults enter marriage with some form of debt. Dr Scott Stanley, professor of psychology at the University of Denver, opines that “It is pretty common to find out that the person you married has more debt and less income than you realized.” This is a “negative dowry” effect. There used to be such a thing as a dowry, defined as property or money brought by a bride to her husband during their marriage. Also, a “hope chest” was a common furniture item where women would

add items of value or family heirlooms to bring into their marriage for legacy building. These traditions are a thing of the past. The way a couple deals with this “new normal” predicts the success or failure of their relationship.

To overcome this land mine, there must be emotional safety in the relationship defined as the ability to be honest, vulnerable, and be able to discuss this issue openly. Stanley recommends that couples view themselves as two separate individuals with a shared third identity: me, you, and us. A way to diffuse conflict when both individuals are working and sharing duties at home is a shared bank account with each partner having their accounts that are used by each individual but disclosed to

one another with trust and transparency. For relationships to be successful, both partners need to contribute equally regarding effort and finances. If one person feels that he or she is the only one contributing to the success of the union, resentment will run high, and the relationship equilibrium will be negatively affected.

On a positive note, today’s couples have the amazing opportunity to design and reimagine how their relationship is going to operate, not having to align with the roles of the past, ensuring the relationship is defined by full disclosure, honesty, transparency, and respect. This is the pathway to avoiding the relationship landmine. joneen@narme. org

DISTRICT COURT ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO

Arapahoe County Justice Center 7325 S. Potomac St, Centennial, CO 80112

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, Petitioner - Plaintiff, v. BERLIN ROBERTO DOBLADO-

CANACA, and any unknown persons who may claim any interest in the subject matter of this action, to wit: $3,104.00, in United States Currency, Respondent – Defendant(s)

Case Number: 23CV31767

Div./Ctrm.: 15

CITATION TO SHOW CAUSE

WHY CONTRABAND PROPERTY SHOULD NOT BE FORFEITED

THIS MATTER comes before the court pursuant to §16-13-501,

et seq., C.R.S., as a Petition in Forfeiture seeking a Citation to Show Cause Why Contraband Property Should Not Be Forfeited, brought by the District Attorney for the Eighteenth Judicial District, State of Colorado.

The Court has examined the Petition and the supporting affidavit and has considered the PetitionerPlaintiff’s request for the issuance of a Citation to Show Cause.

The Court is satisfied that the Petitioner-Plaintiff has shown probable cause that the seized property in this action, as described in the caption above, is contraband property subject to seizure, confiscation, and forfeiture pursuant to §16-13-501, et seq., C.R.S. The Court finds that each named Respondent-Defendant in the caption is the only person known to have, an interest in, or to have asserted and interest in, the subject matter of the action.

The Court, therefore, issues this citation:

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO

TO THE ABOVE RESPONDENTDEFENDANT:

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED AND ORDERED TO APPEAR for a first appearance on this case in the District Court in and for the Eighteenth Judicial District, State of Colorado, at the Arapahoe County Justice Center, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial, Colorado 80112 in Division/Courtroom 15, on March 28, 2024 at 9:00 a.m., and to show cause, if any there be, why the court should not grant the relief requested in the Petition in Forfeiture served herewith, which seeks the forfeiture of the subject matter property described in the caption above, which was seized on the date of July 1, 2022, at or near the location 10225 E Girard Ave # M105, City and County of Denver, CO 80231, Arapahoe County, State of Colorado. the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office is the agency holding the seized subject matter property.

The Court orders that this citation may be served by certified mail, in accordance with §16-13-505(7), C.R.S.

WARNING: If you wish to have the subject property returned to you, you must respond to this Citation to Show Cause. You are warned that, pursuant to §16-13-505(1.7) (b) and (8), C.R.S., if you fail to file a response to the Petition in Forfeiture and in accordance with §16-13-505(2)(d), or if you fail to appear personally, by counsel, or as otherwise directed by the Court at the first appearance, pursuant to §16-13-505(8), C.R.S., judgment by default shall be entered against you by the Court forthwith for the relief demand in the Petition in Forfeiture, without further notice.

Pursuant to §16-13-505(2)(d), C.R.S., the responsive pleading shall be designated a response to petition and citation to show cause and shall be filed with the court at or before the first appearance on the petition and shall include:

(II) A statement setting forth with particularity why the seized property should not be forfeited. The statement shall include specific factual and legal ground7s supporting it and any affirmative defense to forfeiture as provided in this part 5.

(III) A list of witnesses whom the respondent intends to call at the hearing on the merits, including the addresses and telephone numbers thereof; and

(IV) A verified statement, supported by documentation, that the claimant is the true owner of the property or an interest therein.

You are advised that, pursuant to §16-13-505(5) C.R.S.: “Continuance of the hearing on the merits shall be granted upon stipulation of the parties or upon good cause shown.”

DONE this _____day of ______________, 20___

BY THE COURT:

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE

Published in The Villager

First Publication: March 7, 2024

Last Publication: March 14, 2024 Legal # 11480

Tel:

Case No: 23JV30064

NOTICE OF

PLEASE

Randy Salazar on April 1, 2024, at the hour of 4:30 p.m., in Division 22, at the Arapahoe

Justice Center, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112.

The Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via Cisco WebEx Meetings to allow for audiovisual and/or audio participation. Participants may use any computer, tablet, or smartphone equipped with a camera and microphone for audiovisual participation. Parties should use the following link:

• https://judicial.webex. com/meet/D18-ARAPDiv22

• Enter your name and email address (so we know who you are). You will then be in the

•

•

Published

First Publication: March 14,

Last Publication: March 21, 2024

# 11489

Erinn

(I) A statement admitting or denying the averments of the petition;

COLORADO BALLET PRESENTS COPPELIA

MARCH 8-17, at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House Coppelia follows the story of a young couple, Swanhilda and Frantz, as they navigate a series of enchanting events involving a life-like doll and its mysterious maker, Dr. Coppelius. Filled with love, humor, and adventure, this ballet is a family-friendly event that will leave audiences with a sense of wonder and delight. For tickets and times of performances visit COLORADOBALLET.ORG or call Patron Services at 303-339-1637; Mon. Thru Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

2024 ART ON LOAN PROGRAM ENTRY DEADLINE MARCH 11, 2024.

Administered by the South Suburban Public Art Committee. The program is a year-long outdoor exhibit designed to promote public interest in art, develop community pride, and enhance the visitor experience around the Goodson Recreation Center (Centennial) and The Hudson Gardens & Events Center (Littleton). A $500 Exhibitor’s Honorarium is provided to each artist after the artwork is installed in June 2024. The project is open to all artists residing in Colorado who have the background, experience, and reputation for completing such a project. Info: Call 303-483-7003.

CHERRY CREEK REPUBLICAN WOMEN ”PUTTIN’ ON THE GLITZ”

MARCH 12 Tuesday, 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Luncheon and Fundraiser Dress to Impress as the theme implies Entertainment (Colorado’s own Frank Sinatra), Silent and Live Auctions DoubleTree Hotel, 7801 E. Orchard Road, Greenwood Village 80111 $50. pre-paid reservations by March 5 www. cherrycreekrepublicanwomen.org

ARAPAHOE COUNTY COTTAGE FOOD SAFETY

MARCH 12, 5-8:30 p.m. Learn food safety guidelines and the specifies of operating a home-based cottage food business from a home kitchen. To RSVP scan the QR code in the Arapahoe County ad on page 3 Feb. 22 issue.

CITY OF AURORA’S ELECTRONICS RECYCLING PRICING STARTED

MARCH 12.

MARCH 11-16 & MARCH 18-22 at Techno Rescue at 3251 Lewiston St., Suite 10 from 8:00 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon.-Fri. And 10-2 Sat. Info on pricing - AuroraGov.org/Recycle

SOUTH METRO DENVER CHAMBER BUSINESS AWARDS 2024

MARCH 14, 5-8 p.m., Curtis Ballroom at The Landmark/Comedy Works in Greenwood Village. Deadline for nomination, Feb. 10. Contact Jeff Keener at jkeener@bestchamber. com

AURORA TO HOST

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS ON REGIONAL NAVIGATION CAMPUS

MARCH 14, 6-8 p.m. for business owners. MARCH 28 6-8 p.m. for residents. Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Pkwy, Paul Tauer Council Chamber. Virtual option available at EngageAurora.org/ NavigationCampus. In Jan. Aurora City Council voted to purchase the property at 15550 E. 40th Ave. in Aurora to serve those experiencing homelessness. The city is expected to close on the property in May 2024.

WANT TO PUBLISH AND SELL MORE OF YOUR BOOKS?

MARCH 15 online – zoom via your computer or MARCH 16 in person at Dr. Briles office. Lunch & snacks with one day intensive training. Early Bird registration ends Feb. 17. Register: https:/./bit.ly/PublishingUnplugged

ENGLEWOOD CHAMBER RIBBON CUTTING

MARCH 21, 4-5 p.m. at the renovated longest running establishment in Englewood - Sam Hills Barbershop by Arrow at 3436 S. Broadway. RSVP: lindsy@ myenglewoodchamber.org

LEARN THE ART & SCIENCE OF FERMENTING YOUR OWN SAUERKRAUT

MARCH 28, 7-8:30 p.m. at CSU Extension ARAPAHOE County Office in Centennial. Workshop fee $20 and includes a jar of kraut to ferret at home. Scan the QR code in the ARAPAHOE County ad in The Villager to RSVP.

ST. THOMAS MORE PARISH SERVICES

MARCH 28, Holy Thursday, 7:00 p.m. - Mass of the Lord’s Supper. MARCH 29, Good Friday, 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. - Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. MARCH 30, Holy Saturday, 8:00 p.m., Solemn Vigil of Easter. MARCH 31, Easter Sunday, 7:30 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Mass. There will also be a Spanish Mass at 12:30 p.m. The Parish is located at 8035 S. Quebec St., Centennial. Call

303-770-1155 or stthomasmore.org

ENGLEWOOD CHAMBER AFTER HOURS NEWORK

MARCH 30, 5-7 p.m. at The Tabletop Tap, 3422 S. Broadway. Free & open to the public. RSVP: lindsey@myenglewoodchamber.org

COLORADO AUTHORS’ HALL OF FAME TO OFFER FIVE $2,000 SCHOLARSHIPS

For aspiring Colo. authors & authors-tobe. Winners will have an opportunity to participate in an extensive 12-mo. Mentoring program. Applications deadline MARCH 31, 2024, with the winning recipients announced in August with a luncheon event to be held on Friday, Sept. 16. Scholarships envisioned by founder of the Hall, Dr. Judith Briles. Info: www.ColoradoAuthorsHallofFame.org

ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS

1ST & 3RD THURSDAYS at 7 p.m. at Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway, Englewood. Next meeting: March 7. Info: Gail 720-3777682.

SOPRANO SARA GARTLAND TO PERFORM AT CENTRAL CITY OPERA’S “THEATRE OF DREAMS” GALA

APRIL 5 at the Cable Center at Denver University. Honoring Judy & Newell Grant. Tickets: centralcityopera.org/gala

SOUL DOG RESCUE NONPROFIT TO HAVE FIRST GALA

APRIL 5 at Denver Museum of Nature & Science. For Tails of Hope tickets: www. souldog.org/gala

READING, WRITING AND A WARDROBE LUNCHEON TO BENEFIT CLOTHES TO KIDS OF DENVER

APRIL 11, 11:30-1:00 at Wellshire Event Center, 3333 S. Colo. Blvd. RSVP: val@ clothestokidsdenver.org

COLORADO BALLET’S THE ONE GALA

Returns APRIL 18 at the Ellie Caulkins Oper. a House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Tickets: 303-339-1618 or COLORADOBALLET.ORG/Gala

FRIENDS OF NURSING SCHOLARSHIP LUNCHEON

APRIL 20 11 a.m. at Cherry Hills Country Club. FON to award S$112000 to nursing

students. Rick Crandall will be the Master of Ceremonies. Tickets: 720-891-3412.

WHAT’S NEW?

Cherry Creek Republican Women memberships are due. Annual dues are $40 per year for regular members. Info: sstsruna@ comcast.net or call 303-913-1394.

ARAPAHOE COUNTY 4TH ANNUAL SPRING WINE & CHALK FESTIVAL

MAY 18 & 19. At the Fairgrounds. Early bird discount thru March 1. Visit arapahoecountyeventcenter.com

ROCKY MOUNTAIN BOYS STATE

JUNE 2-8 FOR HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS

Premier civic program in Sterling, CO.

Applications: www.CoLegionBoysState.org

WHAT’S NEW IN AWARDS?

FINALISTS FOR DCPA STUDENT PLAYWRITING COMPETITION

“CONSIDER THE RAVENS” by Victoria Schnell - Cherry Creek High School. “MY FUTURE IS (KINDA) IN YOUR HANDS” by Esther WeissCherry Creek High school. There were 107 High School submissions for these awards.