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VOLUME 41 • NUMBER 14 • MARCH 2, 2023

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Colorado is the 8th most expensive state for owning a home

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

As Governor Polis and the legislature grapple with how to solve the statewide housing shortage, which has been pegged at 127,000 housing units, industry experts are trying to figure out how to meet the state’s needs for its current and future population.

A study by Up For Growth, a “national cross-sector member network committed to solving the housing shortage and affordability crisis through data-driven research and evidence-based policy,” found that our state’s housing

shortage was the seventh highest in the U.S. The Villager delved into national and statewide data developed by TodaysHomeowner. com (TH) to assess the affordability aspect of the equation.

To better understand what it takes to buy and own a home in housing markets around the country, TH analyzed data they gathered from the U.S. Census Bureau, Zillow, and Freddie Mac. TH used the long-accepted industry standard that homeowners should spend no more than 30% of their pre-tax income on housing to determine affordability.

Using median monthly pre-

tax household income and the cost of a 30-year fixed rate 6.15% mortgage, TH found that in 60% of the country, the cost of housing falls within the 30%-of-pretax-income limit, but in 40% of the states, including Colorado, it is more than 30%, and can go as high as 62%.

The study found that the cost of housing relative to median income was lowest in the Midwest and highest in the West.

Median home prices across the U.S. range from $144,985 in West Virginia to $903,318 in Hawaii, with Colorado coming in at number 43 out of 51 (in-

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cluding Washington, D.C.) at $575,373.

Overall, homeowners in the Midwest spent an average of 22% of their pre-tax income on mortgage payments. That figure climbed to 25% in the South, 30% in the Northeast, and all the way to 41% in the West.

The least expensive states in which to own a home, starting with the most economical, were West Virginia, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Ohio. The most expensive states in which to own a home, starting with the priciest, were Hawaii, California, Washington, D.C., Mon-

tana, and Washington State.

In Colorado, TH determined that the median home priced at $575,373 requires just under 41% of median monthly pre-tax income of $6,855 to pay the monthly mortgage payment of $2,804.

For more information on the study’s findings, go to https:// todayshomeowner.com. fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

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PAGE 2 | THE VILLAGER • March 2, 2023

Colorado legislators wants to reform the state’s gun laws

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

On February 23, Democratic legislators announced they plan to propose four new statewide gun reform laws. The four bills have 16 different prime sponsors, eight representatives and eight senators, including the president of the state Senate and two members of state House leadership. All are Democrats, whose party includes 46 out of 65 members of the state House and 23 out of 35 members of the state Senate, representing clear majorities.

HB23-1219 would require a waiting period of at least three days before a person can take possession of a firearm after purchasing it in Colorado, with exceptions for

antiques and a member of the U.S. military who is about to be deployed outside the U.S. and is selling the gun to a family member.

SB23-168 would repeal limitations on the rights of victims of gun violence, as well as the Colorado Attorney General, to sue manufacturers and sellers of firearms and ammunition, if they believe the circumstances warrant holding those parties responsible.

SB23-170 would expand the categories of people who could ask a judge to invoke the red flag law from family members and law enforcement only to district attorneys, medical professionals, including mental health providers, and educators. Some members of law enforcement in Colorado have previously stated publicly that they

would not ask a judge to implement the red flag law.

SB23-169 would increase the minimum age for the purchase of all firearms to 21.

Currently, some firearms can be purchased by 18-year-olds.

For many Americans, the murder of 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Jefferson County on April 20,1999, signified the beginning of a 24-year ongoing epidemic of mass shootings. The Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research group that tracks these occurrences, reports that there were 647 mass shootings (the killing of multiple people in one incident) in 2022, including 21 that had five or more fatalities, and 80 mass shootings in the first six weeks of 2023.

In addition to Columbine, the single word that has come

to designate that incident, the July 20,2012 Aurora theater shooting that also killed 12 innocent people and injured 70 more, is painfully familiar to Americans in this state and nationwide.

There has long been talk of gun reform in this state, but only limited actions have been taken due to real and perceived Constitutional issues, as well as a considerable number of Colorado residents who sincerely hold the unconditional right to own and bear arms as fundamental to being a citizen of the United States.

There is also a significant gun lobby in Colorado, led by the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO), a local affiliate of the National Association for Gun Rights, that generally works to prevent gun control legislation.

The original Extreme

Risk Protection Order (red flag law) was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Polis in 2019. Among its sponsors when it was first proposed in 2018 was then-Assistant Minority Leader State Rep. Cole Wist, a rising leader in state Republican circles. In response to Wist’s support of the red flag law, RMGO worked against his re-election in 2018. Ironically, Wist lost the race and was replaced by now-State Sen. Tom Sullivan, whose son was killed in the Aurora theater shooting, and for whom gun reform is the primary, if not sole issue that has led and sustained his political career. Prior to his son’s murder, Sullivan was a postal carrier and not involved in politics. fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

Arapahoe County Health Department hits the ground running

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

On January 1, the Arapahoe County Public Health Department (ACPH) officially opened for business. It will take the place of the Tri-County Health Department for Arapahoe County Residents. Tri-County was forced to cease operations when two of the three counties it served, Douglas and Adams, voted to cancel their member-

ship.

At its January 18 meeting, the Arapahoe County Foundational Board of Health (BOH) made official its selection of Jennifer Ludwig as the ACPH public health director and Dr. Christopher Urbina as its chief medical officer.

BOH members are Nancy Sharpe, Chair, Shawn Davis, Vice Chair, Nancy Jackson, Dr. Heather Signorelli, and Bebe Kleinman, members.

The board meets on the sec-

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Jennifer Ludwig

Dr. Christopher Urbina

ond and fourth Wednesday of every month at 3:00 p.m. at the Arapahoe County Administration Building at 5334 S. Prince Street in Littleton.

ACPH is operating and offering its services at two locations in Aurora, one in Englewood, and one in Greenwood Village.

The list of services available at each location can be found at https://arapahoegov.com/2313/ Building-Locations-Services.

On January 18, Ludwig re-

ported to BOH that ACPH had filled 166 out of 183 staff positions to date. She also reported that 23 grants had been awarded to ACPH thus far with a total value of more than $12 million, including over $5 million from the state health department for programs including Women and Infant Care (WIC), Title V Maternal and Child Health, Emergency Preparedness and Response, and Environmental Health Delegated Programs.

Over $4 million of the total came from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mostly for Epidemiology and Laboratory Support Capacity.

At its February 15 meeting, BOH received a Communicable Disease Update report which noted that all COVID-19 community testing sites funded by the state health department were closed on January 15th. ACPH is distributing rapid at-home testing kits to community partners across Arapahoe County and considering setting up smallscale testing centers to provide equitable access across the county. As of February 1, “Arapahoe County is in sustained decline as it relates to current illness,” and, “There are no active COVID-19 outbreaks” in the county.”

On February 15, the BOH was presented a detailed power point on ACPH plans to conduct an ongoing program of Community Health Assessment and Planning to “increase availability and quality of public health services and ultimately improve health outcomes” via “a strategic plan for the entire community whereby local public health system partners collectively address priority areas.” This program, already in the planning stages, will gather data throughout 2023, then launch the Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) in 2024. CHIP will continue for five years, with ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of its performance, with countywide community outreach and engagement being used to determine the most important and impactful issues in public health. fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

March 2, 2023 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 3

This is your brain on fake news

I just finished reading How to Build a Healthy Brain. I’ve always wanted one of those. Not surprisingly, there was a lot of information about the importance of sleep, nutrition and exercise for brain health. The author Kimberley Wilson also discussed the hazards of social media and technology. Excuse me while I take this call. Kidding.

I was surprised by the section on the effects of fake news on health though. Wilson quoted a study from Manchester Metropolitan University that found people who had “low information discernment” had a “flawed response to threat.” That causes stress which harms mental and physical health. She didn’t say so, but I think “low information discernment” is a polite way to say you’ll believe almost anything.

For example, maybe you

heard the urban legend that every year we swallow an average of eight spiders while we sleep.

It’s not true but you can see why someone with low information discernment might have a flawed response upon hearing it. They’d probably never sleep again which would definitely be bad for their brain.

Someone with high information discernment wouldn’t fall for it and if they had any doubts, they’d do some research before they started taping their mouth shut every night.

To test your information discernment, take this quiz which I based loosely on Wilson’s critical thinking guidelines—very loosely.

1) We’re more likely to believe people we like or think

are similar to us—whether they know what they’re talking about or not. With that in mind, who do you believe when it comes to the importance of exercise, your neighbor Oscar who drives across the street when he visits you or Mayo Clinic? A) Mayo what? B) Oscar. I drive across the street to see him too. C) Mayo Clinic. Oscar thinks aliens stole the tomatoes out of his garden last summer. That was me.

2) People with low information discernment sometimes confuse fact and opinion. If someone on your favorite news show says coffee is better with cream and sugar in it, do you think it’s true?

A) Who cares? I agree. B) He’s a rich, well-dressed political pundit. Everything he says is fact. C)

I’m a tea drinker.

3) The volume and frequency someone speaks on a subject has no correlation with their level of expertise. Would you let your mechanic take out your appendix? A) Sure. I trust him completely. Actually he delivered my baby. B) No. I’d go to my dentist for that. C) My appendix is fine.

It stays where it is.

4) Consider the motivation of the person making the claim.

With that in mind, why do you think Candidate Carol is spreading the story that her opponent was suspended from second grade? A) The public has a right to know. B) I don’t care. I love a good scandal. C) She’s trying to draw attention away from the fact that she’s embezzling from her children’s 4-H club.

5) Consider the evidence.

Do you believe Celebrity Cecil when he says, without proof, that eating corn chips will make you look 15 years younger? A) That face is the only evidence I need.

B) He posted it on Facebook, so it has to be true. C) I don’t even believe everything I say.

6) Movie Star Mavis says pepperoni pizza beats sausage and if you’re smart, honest and good looking, you know it. Which do you prefer? A) I’m smart, honest and good looking so I prefer pepperoni—I guess. B) I’m smart and honest but not good looking.

Maybe pepperoni will help. C) I’ll take a slice of each.

Now tally your scores. If you answered with C’s, congratulations on your healthy brain—and appendix. But if you answered with A’s and Bs, those who are smart, honest and good looking agree you should read How to Build a Healthy Brain.

Dorothy Rosby is the author of I Used to Think I Was Not That Bad and Then I Got to Know Me Better and other books. Contact her at www. dorothyrosby.com/contact

ARAPAHOE COUNTY C NVERSATIONS Art in the City

Springtime in the City of Centennial encourages artistic opportunities for the Centennial Arts and Cultural Foundation. Partnering with the City affords the chance to invite, review and select.

Community artists to display their creativity on the Traffic Box Wraps throughout the City. A meeting with the City Council at the Village Workspace Office was called to establish the parameters and location of the box wraps.

The overall theme of the art submissions was unanimously agreed amongst the attendees.

Christine Sweetland, Centennial City Council Woman, District 2 said, “We are thrilled that the City of Centennial partnership with the Centennial Arts and Cultural Foundation will kick off with the Traffic Box Wraps. The initial wrapped boxes have been so well received in the community. We are excited to have artists and community members being part of the process moving forward.”

Artworks submitted should address Centennial’s vision statement, “The City of Centennial is a connected community, where neighborhoods matter, education is embraced, businesses are valued, and innovation absolute.” Call for Entry for artists begins in March. Design specifications and compensation will be explained in the application process.

For more information contact: Stephanie Piko Stephanie@centennial-art.org

Save the Date

May 13 & 14, 2023 Spring Wine and Chalk Art Festival–Tickets on sale now!

The calendar may read winter but our thoughts are turning to spring and the Chalk Lines & Vines festival. Sample wines from 15+ Colorado wineries, watch chalk artists bring their masterpieces to life, and enjoy live music and entertainment. $10 discount for the first 300 tickets sold! 21+ over only, tickets at arapahoecountyeventcenter.com or scan the QR code with your smartphone.

Join our team Arapahoe County is always hiring. A full listing of open positions are available on arapahoegov.com/jobs or scan the QR code with your smartphone.

Looking for some relief?

Resources you depend on—from food, clothing and housing assistance to medical and family services—are available now.

Find what you need by visiting ArapaSOURCE.org

arapahoegov.com

Visit arapahoegov.com/osmasterplan to read the DIVE summary report.

WEEK OF FEB. 27

PAGE 4 | THE VILLAGER • March 2, 2023

PART 3: NEWSPAPER TECHNOLGY AND IBM

Using new technology, the newspaper exploded with growth. Moffat County and Craig boomed with energy development and the arrival of coal-fired electric power plants. The small newspaper now had a two-unit new Goss printing press that could print color and 20,000 16-page newspapers an hour.

We had 30 newspaper carriers and had expanded over a decade of growth purchasing other newspapers that failed to convert to the new offset printing boom.

The first of many newspapers purchased during our 19 years in Craig was The Middle Park Times in Kremmling, the oldest business in Grand County owned by

The Villager

Paul Way. I stopped by his newspaper, coming back from Denver on a Friday morning, Paul was still standing on a platform feeding his antique press sheets of paper. He was exhausted and the paper was late. His wife Mary was the linotype operator and the large office was filled with type cases, office supplies, and a windmill Heidelberg printing press for commercial printing.

Paul asked me if I would like to buy his newspaper. I said, “How much?”

He said that he would sell the newspaper for $16,000 and that he would finance the purchase with $1000 down. We shook hands and agreed to do the deal at month’s end.

During that month he billed his subscribers and collected a considerable amount of money that I had to honor.

There were no lawyers in Kremmling, so we went to a friend of his, a local rancher, and we sat around a table and wrote out the deal, shared a drink, and I gave him $1000 signing a note for $15,000.

My first satellite newspaper of many to come had arrived, on a note and a handshake.

I was having a late lunch at the Kremmling café and I told the waitress that I had just purchased the local newspaper. She was overjoyed and stated, “I could put out a better newspaper than they print.” I said, “Really, do you want a job?” She said, “Yes” and she became the editor.

Doris stayed with the newspaper for years and with her Polaroid camera we were able to print breaking news and cover high school sports for the first time in history. We shipped papers and copy back and forth on the Continental Trailways bus line that ran on

U.S. 40 through Craig, Kremmling, on to Denver.

The newspaper was very successful. I paid the note off quickly and expanded the newspaper across Grand County. I did the summer programs for the Troupe of American College players at the theatre in Grand Lake.

Only mistake I made was that I didn’t buy the Granby newspaper for $35,000 years later.

I was still locked in stiff competition in Craig with the Empire-Courier. Their response to my now booming daily newspaper was to purchase a brand new $65,000 Blue Comet linotype and continued to print on their poor-quality rotary broadsheet letterpress. In 14- years, I owned that newspaper, a dream come true.

TO BE CONTINUED: NEWSPAPER BUSINESS WAS BOOMING

An American tourist in Iran

A year ago, I wrote about taking the road less traveled and joining my adventure traveling son on a trip to Iraq. This year the destination was next door in Iran. For my son, it is his 154th country and for me a chance for some father-son time off the beaten track.

Similar to Iraq, the US State Department issues this warning, “Do not travel to Iran due to the risk of kidnapping and the arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens. Exercise increased caution due to wrongful detentions.”

Also like for last year’s trip, friends and family thought I was crazy and would possibly die. At the time of this writing, in my home, I am very much alive and well.

We flew to Istanbul, as we

did last year, for some more sightseeing and time for my son to work remotely using reliable internet access. First in Iran was Shiraz. Then to Persepolis, the palace home to Kings Darius and Xerxes in around 500 BC. Xerxes is the Persian villain in the movie 300. The palace was burned to the ground by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. Talk about history!

Next was to Yazd,

BY BRIAN C. JOONDEPH the city of wind catchers. Then on to Isfahan, home to the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, the second largest in the world, surrounded by mosques and palaces. Finally, to Tehran, a bustling city of 9 million, the second largest city in the Middle East behind Cairo. Anyone that complains about traffic in Denver should spend a day in Tehran

to see what traffic is really like.

The food was delicious - kebabs, saffron rice, and a variety of stews and soups. Shopping included a Persian rug, turquoise and other Iranian jewelry, saffron, and delicious baklava.

Just as in Iran, I needed and got a local haircut, also a fun and interesting experience. Videos and photos of our trip are on my son’s and my Instagram accounts, authentic_traveling and bjoons_adventures, respectively.

Lastly was a visit to the former US embassy in Tehran, seized and abandoned during the 1979 revolution, now a museum with a variety of colorful anti-American murals adorning the walls of the embassy grounds.

We felt completely safe the entire time. We had a guide for the trip, a requirement for American visitors. Politics and governments aside, the Iranian

people love Americans and were both surprised and appreciative of our visit.

The women’s protests are long over and while most women still wear a hijab of some sort, many do not and dress as westerners. The morality or religious police have been shut down after last September’s protests.

But there is no doubt who is in charge, with ubiquitous posters around town of the two Supreme Leaders, Ayatollahs Khomeini, and Khamenei. We walked past the madras where Khomeini was educated.

All in all, it was a great trip, experiencing the culture, history, food, and most of all the welcoming Iranian people. Safety was never an issue and I felt far safer in Iran than I would in downtown Denver.

If you are looking for a real adventure trip off the beaten path, skip the beach and venture to Iran. Carpe diem!

Name: __________________________________________________

Office: 6972 S. Vine St., Suite 363, Centennial, CO 80122 • (303) 773-8313 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Arapahoe County, Colorado. (USPS 431-010) Published weekly by the Villager Publishing Co., Inc. 6972 S. Vine St., Suite 363, Centennial, CO 80122. Available for home or office delivery by U.S. Mail for $62 per year. Single copies available for $1 per issue.

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Postmaster: Send address changes to The Villager, 6972 S. Vine St., Suite 363, Centennial, CO 80122 Deadlines: Display Advertising, Legal Notices, press releases, letters to the editor, 4:00 p.m. Friday.

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PUBLISHER & EDITOR Gerri Sweeney gerri@villagerpublishing.com PUBLISHER Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR Susan Sweeney Lanam 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com VICE PRESIDENT/MARKETING Sharon Sweeney sharon@villagerpublishing.com LEGALS Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com NEWS EDITOR Gerri Sweeney 720-313-9751 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 Linda Kehr — 303-881-9469 linda@villagerpublishing.com Valerie LeVier — 303-773-8313 valerie@villagerpublishing.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Susan 720-270-2018 PHOTOGRAPHER Stefan Krusze — 303-717-8282 octaviangogoI@aol.com 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 I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”

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2020 Member

QUOTE of the WEEK

Get action.

QUOTE of theSeize WEEK the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.

– Theodore Roosevelt

March 2, 2023 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 5

Michael Fields wants criminals to serve at least 85% of their sentence

P

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

rior to assuming the role of president of Advance Colorado Institute, Michael Fields was the executive director of Colorado Rising Action as well as the Colorado state director of Americans for Prosperity, a national conservative organization whose mission is to “advocate for long-term solutions to…unsustainable government spending…a broken immigration system…a rigged economy.” Trained as an attorney, Fields has taught elementary and middle school in Aurora in addition to working in government and advocacy.

Advance Colorado is a conservative think tank that also provides training for candidates for political office.

On March 1, Fields told members of the Arapahoe County Republican Breakfast Club meeting at Maggiano’s DTC that his organization is focused on “policies that matter to people,” including education, public safety, and the cost of living, as influenced by taxes and the state budget.

He explained that the current state legislature, in which Democrats hold a significant majority, is “coming after our TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights passed by the voters in 1992) refunds of $9 billion over the next four years,” and Coloradans’ gun rights.

Pointing to the general assembly’s stated policy of using TABOR money that is not refunded for education, Fields asserted, “Only 55% of education money gets to the classroom. We all want teachers to get paid more, but that money is going to administrative costs.” In Colorado, allocation of monies for specific expenses in K-12 public education are determined by local elected school boards.

Fields noted the importance of TABOR in controlling spending by the legislature, which he said contained many liberals “who want to raise everybody’s taxes, grow government, raise property taxes even more, etc., etc.” He said their policy is, “We want everything. Why can’t we get even more of people’s money?” and that they are trying to enact “green policies that will hurt businesses.”

Another area of great concern Fields noted was the potential for significant increases in residential property taxes resulting from the

combination of repealing the Gallagher Amendment in 2020 and rising property values, “unless the legislature does something this year.”

SB22-238 “2023 and 2024 Property Tax,” passed and signed into law in 2022, provides a temporary solution to the problem for this year and next year, but not beyond that. The issue is being discussed currently by Colorado Concern, a highly regarded group of business leaders, but no solution has been adopted by the legislature as of this writing.

Pointing to the fact that, “77% of Republicans and 72% of Democrats turned out in Colorado” in the No-

vember 2022 elections, when Democratic candidates won overwhelmingly, Fields said, “It’s not a turnout issue. The problem is that Republicans (in Colorado) are only 24% of the electorate; 47% of people are now unaffiliated,” adding that many of the unaffiliated “are still open to good ideas,” like cutting taxes.

Fields has been instrumental in sponsoring ballot issues to cut the state income tax rate in the past and vowed to continue to do so in future elections.

He also talked about the crime rate across the state, which has been rising, as has the rate of recidivism. Since most criminals in Colorado

Michael Fields is president of Advance Colorado Institute.

Photo by Freda Miklin

currently serve only 40% of their sentence, Fields plans to promote a ballot measure that would require violent offenders to serve no less than

85% of the time to which they are sentenced after being convicted. fmiklin.villager@gmail. com

40TH Annual Signature Event

Saturday, March 18, 2023 1:00 – 5:00 PM

Calvary Baptist Church • 6500 E. Girard Avenue • Denver CO 80224 Free and Open to the Public • Come and Go or Stay All Day

Providing an opportunity to enjoy live operatic performances of 15 finalists who will compete for $38,000 in awards! Competition for Colorado Singers supports singers ages 23-32 in pursuing their operatic careers. The Guild has awarded almost $1 million to Competition winners, many of whom have successfully launched their operatic and musical careers as a result.

Dr. Jeremy Reger accompanying 2020 First Place Winner Claire McCahan Photo courtesy of DLOG

Photo by Scottie Iverson

2022 First Place Winner Lauren Bumgarner

“We invite you to join us at the Competition where you will hear some truly exquisite voices while at the same time showing your support for these extraordinary young singers. They are the future of the art form we love!”

- Karen Bruggenthies, Competition VP

DENVER LYRIC OPER COMPETITION FOR COLOR

Saturday, March 20, 1 LIVE-STREAMED ON THE D denverlyricoperaguild.org/20

Denver Lyric Opera Guild (DLOG) is a non-profit membership organization of several hundred members whose purpose is to encourage, promote and financially support young Colorado opera singers, and to provide continuing education to guild members in the appreciation and knowledge of opera. www.denverlyricopera.org

PAGE 6 | THE VILLAGER • March 2, 2023

2022 Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research grants are already at work Research includes artificial intelligence and new bodily routes to fighting drug resistance

BY PETER JONES

More than $235,000 in locally raised grant funds were awarded last year by Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Research to support everything from developing new and unique drug therapies to using artificial intelligence to more precisely treat one of the most challenging of cancers.

All four of the 2022 grants— awarded during the 10th anniversary year for Wings of Hope—are supporting the multi-faceted and groundbreaking work taking place at the University of Colorado Cancer Center on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.

“The 2022 grants awarded are some of the most exciting ones to date in terms of their potential to translate into more effective patient outcomes and treatments,” said Maureen Shul, Wings of Hope’s founder and executive director.

“We have every reason to believe these research projects being funded today will translate into more positive patient outcomes in the near future.”

The largest grant, $109,000, is funding research into a new immunotherapy regimen that has been designed to perform the difficult task of activating cancer-fighting cells while simultaneously allowing the deceptively similar “enemy” cancer cells to die off naturally.

“Most of the therapies we have on the market activate the good cells, but what they do is activate any cell [with a particular genetic tag]. This one only activates the good cells. It hijacks the main food product for the bad cells,” explained Dr. Sana Karam, the radiation oncologist leading the study. Karam’s team, including Drs. Angelo D’Alessandro and Ross Kedl, is using the regimen— in concert with traditional radiation therapies—on both mice and human cells. The lead researcher is optimistic about a treatment that she says may finally send those frustratingly resistant pancreatic cancer cells running for the proverbial hills.

“Think of it as little good cells hunting, like a police force, going around the bloodstream,” Karam said.

“If there’s a bad cell that happens to escape and comes back again, there’s a memory cell that has formed and can remember that

Featured speaker SR-71 pilot Brian Shul with sister Maureen Shul and auctioneer Gary Corbett cancer and can go kill it.”

The second-largest Wings of Hope grant, nearly $80,000, will target what is called the CD93 pathway to the pancreas. The troublesome CD93 protein is no friend to the cancer-fighting agents that try to make their way through the human body, according to Dr. Yuwen Zhu, the surgical oncologist who is leading the research with assistance from Karam.

“By blocking the pathway, we can improve the immunotherapy and the chemotherapy. The pathways are used by the cancer cells to evade the therapy,” Zhu explained.

This initial research to set up a kind of biological roadblock is using mice in the initial stages and is focusing first on melanoma of the skin before moving onto the more challenging pancreas.

“There’s always a problem in terms of penetration of the drug to the pancreas, which is a hurdle Municipal City Attorney Linda Michow with former City of Centennial mayor Cathy Noon

another difficult protein, CHD1L, which has been known to cause drug resistance in a large percentage of pancreatic cancer patients. With financial support from the CU Cancer Center, Dr. Daniel LaBarbera, co-director of the Anschutz Campus’s Center for Drug Discovery, has developed OTI-611, which has already shown promise for inhibiting the protein in research outside the human body.

“If successful, this could lead to a new clinical therapeutic regimen or a therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer patients to improve the mortality rates and to not only treat the tumors into recession but also help prevent them,” said LaBarbera, who is working alongside Dr. Natalie Serkova.

By binding to the troubling protein, the drug would potentially inhibit the effects of CHD1L, easing the transmission of radiation and chemotherapy, effectively sensitizing the pancreas to those life-saving treatments. So far, the studies in mice have been promising.

“We don’t see significant toxicity in their major organs, including the liver, the heart and the bone marrow, and we’ve seen a survival rate of 30 days—we would expect that to transfer to years in humans,” LaBarbera said of his anti-tumor agent, which he hopes to test for safety in humans within a couple years.

The final grant, also for $25,000, is looking into how the burgeoning technology of artificial intelligence might be used to improve patient outcomes.

This decidedly 21st century research is using AI to create “digital twins” of real pancreatic cancer patients. The idea is to see if past patients’ treatments might have been improved with the now-available precision offered by AI when targeting the often evasive pancreas.

“We’re using artificial intelligence to fill in the gaps, to hope-

Jim Noon, Evie, Maureen Shul, Cathy Noon

Mick Roemer, Maureen Shul, Sam Realmuto, Kelly Eliassen, Steve Cusick ready to tee off at annual Kingsbury Open City Park 5K Run/Walk for Pancreatic Cancer Research

LEFT TO RIGHT: Jim Comerford, pancreatic cancer survivor; Former City of Centennial mayor and pancreatic cancer survivor Cathy Noon; Todd Pitts, PhD, Director, GI Translational Research Lab, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus; Wings of Hope founder Maureen Shul; Sana Karam, MD, PhD, Associate Professor Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus for drug delivery and immunotherapy,” Zhu said. “This pathway could be important.”

A third grant for $25,000 will help fund research into battling

Wings of Hope board member Ann Adams, Amy Mitchell, Maureen Shul, and Susan Squyer at Kendra Scott hosted fundraising benefit for Wings of Hope, Park Meadows

Cristina Cenciarelli and Director of CU Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus Dr. Richard Schulick fully tell us how we can predict on any given day exactly where a patient’s pancreas is going to lie,” said Dr. David Thomas, a physicist specializing in medical imaging.

“The pancreas sits around a lot of squishy organs that are very sensitive to radiation,

and we can do a lot of harm if we miss the pancreas.”

AI technology has already been used in the treatment of lung cancer and even for COVID-19.

“The results we’ve seen so far are very promising,” said Thomas, who is working with Dr. Danna Gurari, a computer scientist specializing in visual data.

Funding for all four grants came from the annual Wings of Hope benefit and through partnerships with the Kingsbury Open and Shane Lee Memorial golf tournaments.

This year’s Evening of Hope, featuring singer Hazel Miller, wilal take place Sept. 8.

Wings of Hope for Pancreatic Cancer was founded in 2012 by Maureen Shul as a way to find purpose and give meaning to her own grief after losing her mother and brother to the disease within months of one another.

“I had no preconceived notion 10 years ago what Wings of Hope would accomplish,” she said.

“Thanks to the tremendous generosity of so many, we have been able to annually award grants for cutting-edge and novel pancreatic cancer research projects at the University of Colorado Cancer Center.”

For more information, visit wingsofhopepcr.org.

March 2, 2023 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 7

Candidates for Denver mayor stake out positions in debate

BY FREDA MIKLIN GOVERNMENTAL REPORTER

On February 16, the 13 candidates who are participating in the Denver Fair Elections Fund, created after a 2018 ballot measure was approved by the city’s voters, participated in their first televised debate. Those candidates who opt into the Fair Elections Fund agree not to accept donations over $500 from any individual. They are rewarded by getting a 9 to 1 match from the city of every donation they receive for $50 or less, e.g., they receive $225 in city funds for a $25 donation.

Asking the questions were 9News reporters Kyle Clark, Marshall Zelinger, and Anusha Ray. In her opening statement, State Rep. Leslie Herod said that, “Denver has been run for far too long by special interests that don’t put people first.”

Aurelio Martinez said, “Denver is broken,” and he would “tackle homelessness and housing.”

Thomas Wolfe said he will “end encampments that make our city unsafe and filthy,” acknowledging that the problem “is a full-blown humanitarian crisis.”

Kelly Brough touted her experience as CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and as chief of staff for John Hickenlooper when he was Denver’s mayor.

Terrence Roberts said that, “Housing should be declared a crisis in this city” and that poverty is the precursor to both domestic violence and youth and gang violence.

Kwame Spearman said he wasn’t “convinced that our neighborhoods are living up to their full potential,” and as mayor, he will focus on homelessness, safety, and affordability. Spearman ran into trouble later on by citing statistics from a study by Denver Homeless Out Loud that he said indicated more than half of homeless people preferred living in tents to a home or shelter. The next day he acknowledged he had mistaken the statistics of the study. The organization that published it also took responsibility for publishing graphics that may have been unclear.

Mike Johnston said he was running to end the problem of homelessness in Denver.

State Rep. Chris Hansen said, “We need to build a safer, more affordable, and greener Denver,” touting his success in bringing funding to Denver through his position as a state legislator. Later, the other candidates in the debate criticized him for a television ad he was running that they said depicted

criminals as being people of color. Hansen denied the accusation.

Ean Thomas Tafoya touted his role as Colorado state director for “an environmental justice organization that’s taken on the biggest polluters,” and noted that he has experience working in all levels of local government.

Trinidad Rodriguez said he has helped secure funding for affordable housing communities, schools, clinics, and hospitals during the 25 years he has been in finance.

Jim Walsh talked about teaching political science at CU Denver for 25 years.

Debbie Ortega cited her “long years working on large and small projects from housing affordability to addressing the needs of our unhoused population as the executive director of our Homeless Commission.”

Lisa Calderón said she has been a nonprofit executive for 20 years, running the city’s re-entry program, domestic violence programs, and Emerge Colorado.

When Kyle Clark asked the candidates if, as mayor, they would forcibly clear encampments that are in violation of Denver’s urban camping ban, Trinidad Rodriguez said that Denver is not providing sufficient health care services, including mental health and addiction care “to those people who have these conditions,” that he believes get in the way of the homeless “accepting treatment and help.” He supports “taking people into treatment on an involuntary basis” if necessary.

Debbie Ortega said she would increase the focus on helping the homeless get back to work and self-sufficiency through “programs like Denver Day Works...which has gotten people off the streets and into full-time jobs.” She also noted the importance of matching employers’ needs to potential workers skills.

Lisa Calderón pointed to the fact that many homeless individuals have been victims of domestic violence or recently released from incarceration, and often shun shelters due to concerns about COVID, not because they prefer to live in a tent.

Thomas Wolfe described the homeless population as, “chemically dependent, mental and criminal, and sometimes all three.” He would like to see appropriate health services provided to the first two groups. For the third, he said, “We need to enforce law and order. We’ve been lax about that.”

Chris Hansen would rely more on the nonprofit organizations of the city, like the Salvation Army, to help the

homeless.

Leslie Herod noted that, “People on the streets are real human beings…We can’t incarcerate ourselves out of homelessness…I don’t know how many Denverites want to build more prisons just to house people.” She pointed to that fact that, “Denver, DPS (Denver Public Schools), and RTD own the majority of vacant lots in this city,” and 303-536-7545 those could be used to build more permanent housing. info@puremaintenanceco.com Kelly Brough said, “My family received government PureMaintenanceCO.com assistance to keep food on our table. I have executive and relevant experience. I’ve even served as a legislative analyst for all 13 members of the Denver City Council. established 1978 Terrence Roberts responded “Housing should be declared a crisis. I don’t agree with just destroying encampments without a place for people to go. Youth and gang violence, and domestic violence are related to poverty. We need a housing budget that is more than 2% of our public safety budget.”

Kwame Spearman answered, “I’m the CEO of Tattered Cover. Think about what you love about your city. Think about your neighborhood. Is it headed in the right or wrong direction? I plan to make the tough choices on homelessness, safety • cabinetry • countertops • design • installation and affordability.”

Mike Johnston said, “No FREE consultation and estimate one should be homeless in Showroom: 4151 S. Natches Ct. Englewood Denver. We have a moral obligation to get people into www.bkc.co 303.327.4542 housing. We can do that.”

Chris Hansen responded,wArd inning ArdiAC Are “I believe we need to build SOUTH DENVER CARDIOLOGY ASSOCIATES a city that works. I’m frusCaring for your heart, one beat at a time! trated because it doesn’t feel like Denver is living up to its potential …We have an opportunity with federal dollars to make generational change in Denver to address housing, transit and the homelessness crisis.

Improve your quality of Ean Thomas Tafoya life with Pritikin ICR shared, “I started at MSU to organize for composting and this year we passed a law that will help 31 million people compost and recycle.

Trinidad Rodriguez reGet a $99 Calcium Heart Score sponded, “We need a solution that serves this group of people who need mental health services. Living on the street is inhumane.”

You can watch the entire two-hour debate at: https: //www.msudenver.edu/ university-events/denvermayoral-debate/.

Make an appointment with one of our Candidates who are on the region’s most experienced Cardiologists ballot but were not permitted to participate in this debate 1000 SouthPark Dr., because they did not opt in to the Denver Fair Elections Littleton, Colorado 80120 Fund are Renate Behrens, Al 303-744-1065 Gardner Andy Rougeot, and Robert Treta. www.southdenver.com fmiklin.villager@gmail.com

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PAGE 8 | THE VILLAGER • March 2, 2023

March 2, 2023 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 9 Jay Precourt, 2023 Colorado Business Hall of Fame Inductee addresses the crowd after being honored

Robin Wise, JA President & CEO, poses with Don & Linda Childears

Professionals from Multiple Industries Join League of Inspirational Business Leaders The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain are pleased to announce that earlier this month they inducted the 2023 class of laureates to the Colorado Business Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame honors Colorado’s most distinguished and influential business leaders by recognizing their professional accomplishments and long-term impact on our state’s economy, as well as their philanthropic contributions to our community.

Mark Smith, 2023 Colorado Business Hall of Fame Inductee

Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain President & CEO Robin Wise and Board Chair Lori Davis provide remarks

Katherine Berger, Daughter of 2023 Colorado Business Hall of Fame Inductee, Bill Berger

Mary Pat Link, 2023 Colorado Business Hall of Fame Inductee

Colorado Business Hall of Fame Inducts 2023 Laureates Denver North Junior ROTC Color guard present the American & Colorado Flag to start the ceremony

“Truly a thank you to everyone who made this evening a success!” - Robin Wise

JA student ambassadors, dressed to the nines, welcome guests to the event

This year’s induction ceremony theme, Freedom to Thrive, paid homage to how past laureates, and this year’s inductees, leveraged opportunities our free enterprise system provides to launch enterprises that created jobs and contributed to Colorado’s vitality.

Colorado Business Hall of Fame laureates are part of a league of remarkable individuals who have made legendary contributions to the free enterprise system,” said Robin Wise, president and CEO of JA-Rocky Mountain. “Through their actions and accomplishments, the laureates were selected for their enduring entrepreneurial efforts and business excellence, ethical standards, and philanthropic endeavors that have made Colorado stronger. They are outstanding role models for the next generation as they take the reins of leadership in the years to come.”

Emcee & Denver 7’s Morning News Anchor, Brian Sanders, welcomes the crowd

JA supporters celebrate laureates at the Happy Hour reception

The 2023 Colorado Business Hall of Fame laureates are: Bill Berger, Mary Pat Link, Jay Precourt, Frederick Ross and Mark Smith. They represent a variety of industries, including computer consulting and programming; real estate and architectural development; oil and gas; and mutual fund management.

Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce President & CEO J.J. Ament addresses the crowd

JA supporters celebrate laureates at the Happy Hour reception

Networking at the VIP reception

JA Student Ambassadors address the crowd

WHAT’S HAPPENING?

PAGE 10 | THE VILLAGER • March 2, 2023

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS

AT THE BASKETBALL SOCIAL HOUSE SUPPORTING THE NONPROFIT HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT

Pam and Chanel

HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT

Susan with The Villager and Allison and Ashley with SMDC

Jim and Christy Boswell, owners of Scenthound with Neil Alvarado with Bold Digital Ventures

Michelle and Sean Meade

Chef Matthew Smith and Jimmy Bemis, co-owner The Basketball Social House

Jimmy, co-owner The Basketball Social House, Barb Ritchie, nonprofit Courageous Faces and Barb Day of Blue Sky Promotions

Pam Swift, Hide in Plain Sight and Bob Maroney

More than 50 chamber members enjoyed the event

COSPONSORED BY THE VILLAGER AND THE BASKETBALL SOCIAL HOUSE Thanks to all who attended • www.villagerpublishing.com

March 2, 2023 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 11

The Basketball Social House Team members and special thanks to event planner Marisa Tomlinson (second from left)

Co-owners Matt Barnett, and Jimmy Bemis

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PAGE 12 | THE VILLAGER • March 2, 2023

Baseball Classic’s back, but is it actually ‘classic’?

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It will never stir worldwide national passions the way the FIFA World Cup does every four years, but the World Baseball Classic is returning after a six-year absence, and it seems to be catching on with some folks.

“I never followed the tournament closely in the past,” Rockies closer Daniel Bard told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding recently. “I was too busy getting myself ready, or in 2017, I was just not very good at baseball, so it didn’t appeal to me a whole lot.

“But I’ve gone back and watched a bunch of highlights.

Every time I see it, it gets me even more excited.”

The fifth WBC begins play next week with squads representing 20 nations playing fiveteam round-robins at four sites.

Bard will be part of the United States team this time.

The top two teams from each Pool advance, with the World Champion decided in a one-game final in Miami March 21.

The U.S. is defending the title, but Japan, Cuba and the Latin American countries that produce so many Major Leaguers—led by the Dominican Republic and Venezuela— are strong contenders. Puerto Rico has finished second in each of the last two Classics.

For those who are interested, this month’s games will be televised, on a combination

of Fox, FS1, FS2 and the Fox streaming service Tubi (some at odd hours because of sites in other parts of the world).

Two previous WBCs are among the highest-rated TV events EVER in baseball-crazy Japan, which has won this international tournament twice.

But so far, the WBC hasn’t captured the attention of America’s baseball fans—yours truly among them—to a degree that approaches the frenzy of Japan’s baseball fanatics or soccer nuts worldwide.

I am more likely to follow the Rockies’ progress in Scottsdale, and news in general from camps in Arizona and Florida, than watch WBC games. I view the WBC as a distraction to the coming Major League season and an unwise risk of injury.

Beyond baseball’s decline from true “national pastime” status in the States and soccer’s worldwide popularity, which dwarfs both soccer and baseball in the U. S., the reasons the WBC is not on par with the FIFA World Cup seem obvious.

1. The U.S. team attracts many MLB stars, but many others (including home run champ Aaron Judge this time) eschew participation for various reasons. So, it’s not America’s best in every instance.

2. The WBC takes place when players are shaking off the rust of four months of relative inactivity, working their way into shape for the

six-month grind ahead. So, we’re not seeing anyone in mid-season form.

3. WBC games are competing for attention daily with spring training action in the Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues, which provides at least a hint of what to expect come Opening Day. That’s what I care about.

4. Baseball, in general, is up against the dominant sports attraction of the moment— March Madness. Even nonfans get excited enough to fill out a bracket and enter an office pool.

All of that said, Rockies fans who have a parochial rooting interest in this WBC have several reasons to watch.

Eleven current or former Rockies are on WBC rosters, including:  John Axford, Canada;  Elias Diaz, Colombia:  Carlos Estevez, Dominican Republic;  Alan Trejo, Mexico;  Justin Lawrence, Panama;  Daniel Bard, Kyle Freeland, Adam Ottovino and Nolan Arenado, USA; and  Jhoulys Chacin and German Marquez, Venezuela.

More broadly, many superstars are expected to play, such as two-way marvel Shohei Ohtani, a former American League most valuable player; 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara; the latest addition to the 3,000-Hit Club, Miguel Cabrera; and Miggy’s fellow former MVPs Mike Trout, Paul Goldschmidt, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Jose Altuve.

The WBC was conceived

by Major League Baseball’s then-commissioner, Bud Selig, after the International Olympic Committee dumped baseball from the Summer Games in 2005.

The Classic was held in 2006, 2009, 2013 and 2017, and attendance increased each time—from an average of 18,900 per game in ’06 to 24,342 in ’17.

By comparison, the World Cup in Qatar late last year averaged 53,000 per game. So, baseball has some ground to cover before the WBC rivals FIFA’s world tournament for popularity.

Covid delayed the next Classic by two years. We’ll soon see what effect the pandemic hiatus had on the public’s level of interest in this attempt to broaden baseball’s reach.

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 15 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@ comcast.net.

March 2, 2023 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 13

Could you have a thyroid problem and not know it?

SAVVYSENIOR

processes.

The symptoms for an underactive thyroid (also known as hypothyroidism) – the most common thyroid disorder in older adults – will vary but may include

BY JIM MILLER fatigue and weakness, unexplained weight gain, increased sensitivity to cold, constipation, joint pain, a puffy face, hoarseness, thinning hair, muscle stiffness, dry skin Dear Almost, and depression. Some patients If your thyroid is out of may even develop an enlarged whack, it can cause a number of thyroid (goiter) at the base ovf health issues that can be tricky the neck. However, in older to detect because the symptoms adults, it can cause other sympoften resemble other age-related health problems. In fact, as many toms like memory impairment, loss of appetite, weight loss, falls as 30 million Americans have or even incontinence. some form of thyroid disorder, And the symptoms of an but more than half aren’t aware overactive thyroid (or hyperof it. thyroidism) may include a rapid heart rate, anxiety, irritability, What to Know fatigue, insomnia, increased The thyroid is a small butterappetite, weight loss, tremors fly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck that has a huge of the hand, frequent bowel job. It produces hormones (called movements, sweating, as well as an enlarged thyroid gland.

T3 and T4) that help regulate Too much thyroid can also cause the rate of many of your body’s activities, from how quickly you atrial fibrillation, affect blood pressure and decrease bone denburn calories to how fast your heart beats. It also influences the sity, which increases the risk of osteoporosis. function of the brain, liver, kidThose with the greatest risk of neys and skin. developing thyroid disorders are If the gland is underactive women who have a family hisand doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormones, it causes body tory of the disease. Other factors that can trigger thyroid problems systems to slow down. If it’s include: autoimmune diseases overactive, and churns out too much thyroid, it has the opposite like Hashimoto’s or Graves disease; thyroid surgery; radiation effect, speeding up the body’s Dear Savvy Senior, What are the symptoms of thyroid disease?

I’ve been dealing with a number of health issues over the past few years, and a friend of mine recently suggested I get my thyroid checked because it might be causing my problems.

Almost 66

treatments to the neck or upper chest; and certain medications including interferon alpha and interleukin-2 cancer medications, amiodarone heart medication and lithium for bipolar disorder.

Get Tested

If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, or if you’ve had previous thyroid problems or notice a lump in the base of your neck, ask your doctor to check your thyroid levels.

The TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) blood test is used to diagnosis thyroid disorders but depending on what they find, additional blood tests may be necessary.

If you are diagnosed with a thyroid problem, it’s easily treated. Standard treatment for hypothyroidism involves daily use of the synthetic thyroid hormone levothyroxine (Levothroid, Synthroid and others), which is an oral medication that restores adequate hormone levels.

And treatments for hyperthyroidism may include an anti-thyroid medication such as methimazole and propylthioracil, which blocks the production of thyroid hormones. Another option is radioactive iodine, which is taken orally and destroys the overactive thyroid cells and causes the gland to shrink. But this can leave the thyroid unable to produce any hormone and it’s likely that you’ll eventually become hypothyroid and need to start taking thyroid medication.

For more information on thyroid disorders, visit the American Thyroid Association at Thyroid. org.

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Being civilized in an uncivilized world No matter what our age, we must have the skills necessary to engage in civilized behavior.

For civilization to work, we must practice courtesy, respect, and other civilized behaviors.

All of us need to know that we serve our own interests best when we consider the interests of others. This is the essence of civilized behavior and the foundation for an effective society that values individuality and not collective groups. It is also the basis for personal success and achievement.

It starts with the family. Couples need to be respectful of one another and have the skills to work through their differences in an effective manner. Children need to able to play cooperatively and not demand more toy time grabbing and screaming. Siblings need to keep their hands to themselves and use words to share their frustration with one another. Employees and employers need to exhibit respectful behaviors and boundaries in the workplace even if there is a disagreement in the office.

When we meet new people, we need to be skilled in the art of

small talk, personal pleasantries, etiquette, grooming and manners.

Life is hard, and people get frustrated. All of us are prone to be annoyed at other drivers for a minor infraction that effects our schedules. We get angry when we call for customer service and must go through several phone prompts to finally get to a service representative.

We have watched over-zealous parents scream at coaches or young players on the field because they felt that their child was treated unfairly. The discussion of politics is a vivid example of how uncivilized we have become screaming and name calling to whomever does not share our views. The internet is bursting with examples of disrespect, sarcasm, and incivility. Leaders do it, corporate executives do it, parents do it, and now children are doing it. They are exposed to negativity at home when families deal with conflict in unhealthy ways. Many children witness domestic violence, sarcasm, disrespect, passive-aggressive behavior, blame shifting, lack

of self-regulation and emotional abuse.

In this sometimes-toxic culture we are losing our humanity and our ability to self-sooth, make healthy, rational, and intentional decisions, stay calm and cope with the incivility we encounter. This normalization of incivility is affecting our health, sense of well-being, our democracy and is even threatening our way of life.

To change this, it starts with us. We must recognize the humanity, dignity and worth of every individual. We must not give away our power to those who frustrate or even insult us.

We need to learn new ways of responding rather than reacting. Many times, a kind or soft word helps to deescalate the situation. We must institute he Golden Rule which engenders ageless truth. We must not look to harm others. We must obey the rule of law, desire justice for all, increase our emotional intelligence, value differences, be inclusive, come to the aid of those in need and make it a priority to build healthy relationships. The health of our nation depends on you! joneen@ myrelationshipcenter.org

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PAGE | THE THEVILLAGER VILLAGER• •March February 23, 2023 PAGE 22 14 | 2, 2023

LEGALS LEGALS

By H. Throttle

2023 Toyota Highlander Limited scores big

T

he factory distributors have been taking very good care of me with excellent all-wheel drive SUVs during these nasty winter months.

The latest Toyota 2023 Highlander has been a stellar performer. No slips, or slides, on the Bridgestone all-weather tires.

The Highlander has a “snow” function control along with three drive modes, eco, normal and sport. I rotated through all three depending upon road conditions, sport isn’t a good idea on slick highways, better to use less power in the eco mode. Overall, I found the normal mode very adequate in power and fuel economy.

Gasoline prices spiked over $4.00 this week making fuel economy a primary concern for most motorists. I filled up at a Kum & Go with the price at $4.17 a gallon, the tab was over $50.

The Highlander has a

2.4L turbo/4-cylinder engine delivering 265 horsepower with an eight-speed versatile transmission. I found the mid-size SUV spirited and the transmission works perfect when using gear choices.

Fuel economy rated 28 miles on the highway and 21 for city driving. Very good for an SUV that can haul eight passengers with three rows of seating.

What I liked the best was the feeling of security, power, and control. The icy highways and blowing snow were a breeze and this feeling of security is hard to beat in nasty

winter weather that has been very prevalent this year.

The Highlander has all of the Safety Sense 2.5 features and the Star Safety System monitors cross traffic, forward radar cruise settings, pre-collision protection, and lane safety alerts along with pedestrian warnings. With all of the safety features the Highlander scores a perfect five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

I like to review cars before looking at the price. I was pleasantly surprised to see this Highlander with a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $48,625 fully equipped and loaded with options.

The styling is modern with comfortable seating in a spacious cab with a sunroof overhead. The exterior “Green Mica” paint is very attractive.

Consumer reports score this vehicle very high.

This is one of the best vehicles tested in price and performance.

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SPECIAL DISTRICTS The Arapahoe Libraries Board of Trustees (the “Board”) invites interested residents to apply for an open position.

The Board is a seven-member governing, policy-making board. The Board is responsible for a $43 million budget, nine facilities, and the policies for funding and operating these facilities.

Arapahoe Libraries serves all of Arapahoe County except the cities of Littleton, Englewood and Aurora.

It also serves a small portion of Adams County that is within the Deer Trail School District. New Trustees are recommended by the Board and confirmed by the Arapahoe

County Board of County Commissioners and the Deer Trail School District Board of Education, the two governmental entities that formed the District in 1966.

The time commitment for Trustees is substantial. The Board meets on the third Tuesday of every month beginning at 5:30 p.m. (dates and times are occasionally changed.)

Meetings are scheduled on a rotating basis at the various District libraries. In addition to the 2-4 hours of reading to prepare for each meeting, trustees must also commit to attending some library events, study sessions, and occasional workshops, conferences

and related meetings. An iPad will be provided for Board reading material.

Besides your time and interest in the Library, the most important qualification is a sincere commitment to provide the best possible library service to the residents of the entire District. Experience interpreting financial statements is also encouraged. Applicants must live within the Arapahoe Library District service area to serve on the board.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the functions of the volunteer position.

Interested persons should complete the online application found at https://arapahoelibraries.org/ board-of-trustees/.

Applications must be received

by Monday March 26, 2023 at 4:00 pm. For further information please contact Oli Sanidas, Executive Director, at 303-792-8987.

Published in The Villager First Publication: March 2, 2023 Last Publication: March 26, 2023 Legal # 11056 ___________________________

ARAPAHOE COUNTY TREASURER NOTICE OF PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE AT TAX LIEN SALE AND OF APPLICATION FOR ISSUANCE OF TREASURER’S DEED To Every Person in Actual Possession or Occupancy of the hereinafter Described Land, Lot or Premises, and to the Person in Whose Name the same was Taxed or Specially Assessed, and to all Persons having an Interest or Title of Record in or to the said Premises and To Whom It May Concern, and more especially to KATHERINE R WISNER, MEADOW HILLS I CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, INC.

You and each of you are hereby notified that on the 7th day of November, 2019, A.D., the then County Treasurer of the County of Arapahoe, in the State of Colorado, sold at public tax lien sale to ANDREA ELLERBROCK, the following described real estate situate in the County of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, to-wit: UNIT 13762D BLDG 12 AS PER CONDO DECLARATION RECORDED IN B 3865 P 136 MEADOW HILLS I CONDOS aka 13762 E LEHIGH AVE Ste D and said County Treasurer issued a Certificate of Purchase therefore to ANDREA ELLERBROCK;

That said tax lien sale was made to satisfy the delinquent general taxes assessed against said real estate for the year 2018; That said real estate was taxed or specially assessed in the name(s) of KATHERINE R WISNER for said year 2018; That said ANDREA ELLERBROCK, on the 7th day of November, 2022, the present holder of said Certificate, who has made request upon the Treasurer of said County for a deed to said real estate; That a Treasurer’s Deed will be issued for said real estate to the said ANDREA ELLERBROCK, on or about the 27th day of June,

2023, A.D., unless the same has been redeemed.

Said property may be redeemed from said sale at any time prior to the actual execution of said Treasurer’s Deed.

Witness my hand this 17th day of February, 2023, A.D. Michael Westerberg Treasurer Arapahoe County Published in The Villager First Publication: February 23, 2023 Last Publication: March 9, 2023 Legal # 11038 ___________________________

NAME CHANGE

District Court Arapahoe County, Colorado 7325 S Potomac Street Centennial, CO 80112 In the Matter of the Petition of: Parent Petitioner: LISSETTE ACEVEDO For minor child: EFRAIN TONY ACEVEDO For a Change of Name to: TONY ACEVEDO PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME Case Number: 23CV28 Division 14, Courtroom 14 Public Notice is given on January 27, 2023, that a Petition for a Change of Name of a Minor has been filed with the District Court.

The Petition requests that the name of: EFRAIN TONY ACEVEDO be changed to TONY ACEVEDO CLERK OF THE DISTRICT COURT /s/ CTR By: Division 21 Clerk Dated: February 1, 2023 Published in The Villager First Publication: February 23, 2023 Last Publication: March 9, 2023 Legal # 11053

Legal Notices: Your Right to Know!

NOTICE TO CREDITORS NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of LINDA LOUISE PHILPOTT, also known as LINDA L. PHILPOTT and formerly known as LINDA HORNUNG, Deceased Case Number 2023PR30040 All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to the Arapahoe County District Court of the City of Centennial, Colorado on or before June 23, 2023, or the claims may be forever barred.

The original of this document is on file at the law office of Donald Glenn Peterson /s/. Donald Glenn Peterson Donald Glenn Peterson Attorney for Personal Representative 4100 E. Mississippi Avenue, Suite 410 Denver, CO 80246 Telephone: (303) 758-0999 Published in The Villager First Publication: February 23, 2023 Last Publication: March 9, 2023 Legal # 11055

Tell your elected officials you read

March 2, 2023 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 15

MAYORS & COMMISSIONERS YOUTH AWARDS NOMINATIONS OPEN Deadline: MARCH 3. A scholarship program for exceptional high school seniors.

Visit arapahoegov.com/ youthawards

22 at the Columbine Country Club. Scholars from Colorado’s nine Schools of Nursing will be the recipients. Invitations for the spring event at 17 Fairway Lane in Littleton will be mailed in March.

“WHAT’S NEW?” The Robert and Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to announce it has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts to receive a Grant for Arts Projects award of $20,000. The grand will support the Newman Center’s 20th anniversary.

SPRING WINE & CHALK ART FESTIVAL MAY 13 & 14. Sponsored by CHERRY CREEK Arapahoe County. Sample wines SAVE THE DATE JUNE REPUBLICAN WOMEN from 15+ Colorado wineries, 9-10, WESTERN MARCH LUNCHEON watch chalk artists bring their CONSERVATIVE SUMMIT MARCH 14, 11:00 a.m. Double masterpieces to life, enjoy live Colorado Convention Center Tree by Hilton DTC, 7801 E. music and entertainment. $10 Denver. For tickets, sponsorship, Orchard Rd. Speaker: John discount for the first 300 tickets and exhibit info., visit Fabbricatore “the Border Crisis sold! 21+ over only, tickets at WesternConservativeSummit. and What It Means for Colorado com arapahoecountyeventcenter.com. and America.” He is just back after spending a week at the border.

Cost $32. RSVP deadline: Tuesday, March 7 at 5 p.m. Call Karen at Commercial Agricultural 303-667-8767.

DENVER LYRIC OPERA GUILD PRESENTS 40TH ANNUAL COMPETITION FOR COLORADO SINGERS SAT., MARCH 19, 1-5 p.m.at Calvary Baptist Church, 6500 E. Girard Ave., Denver. 15 extraordinary, young singer finalists will compete for $38,000. in awards. Free and open to the public. Come and go or stay all day. www. denverlyricopera.org

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Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain President & CEO receives coveted leadership award Robin Wise Honored at Leadership of the Rockies Annual Retreat Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain (JA) announced that our President & CEO Robin Wise recently received the “Leader In Action” award from the Leadership Program of the Rockies (LPR) at their annual retreat. This award is given to a LPR graduate who has displayed leadership, risk, courage, entrepreneurship, and success while promoting the timeless principles of liberty and capitalism.

LPR identifies and brings together emerging leaders from the legal, economic, business, university, and political, nonprofit and civic professions to learn how visionary, principle-centered leadership can positively impact their community.

As the leader of JA, Robin is the driving force for the largest economics education organization in the region and a visionary.

Along with her team, Robin launched a campaign to build the JA Free Enterprise Center, which will soon house two state-of-the-art learning labs, the Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator and the Robert and Judi Newman JA Finance Park. Together, they will fuse the physical and digital worlds to deliver innovative, inspirational learning

experiences in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness, reaching an additional 20,000 students annually.

In addition to the achievements as CEO, Robin is active in her community. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Common Sense Institute, actively pursuing public policies that embrace free enterprise. Robin was also named one of the most admired CEOs by the Denver Business Journal, recognized as a force for free enterprise, entrepreneurialism and financial literacy.

“I am honored to receive the Leader In Action award because JA is an organization that embraces free enterprise and teaches the values on which the Leadership Program of the Rockies stands,” said Robin Wise, president and CEO of JARocky Mountain. “Our goal is to arm thousands of students each year with the tools they need to build a future for themselves in which they are optimistic, economically self-sufficient, and determined, with a belief in the power of free enterprise.”

Robin will continue to challenge students to dream big and provide them with a plan to achieve their goals. Her leadership and legacy at JA will stand for many more decades.

PLACES TO GO

PAGE 16 | THE VILLAGER • March 2, 2023

Vance Kirkland’s Cosmos Exhibition

BY LISA J. SHULTZ

The Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art is celebrating their 20th anniversary with a temporary exhibition entitled Vance Kirkland’s Cosmos, which is available to view through May 28, 2023. Vance Kirkland (1904-1981) is the namesake for the museum, but this is the first focused exhibition of Kirkland’s work and is well worth seeing.

Many people may know Kirkland for his vibrant Dot Paintings. His art began to explore outer space in 1954 and continued until his death in 1981.

His imagination created several series depicting the evolution and expansion of the outer universe and his own personal universe.

In 1977, Vance Kirkland commented, “…I am trying to paint something I do not know exists in a tangible way…if I am looking at space, who is going to say that it never existed? It has existed in my mind.”

The exhibition is co-curated

by Founding Director and Curator Hugh Grant and Deputy Curator Christopher Herron.

It includes some of the artist’s impressive large-scale paintings, seldom seen on public display and features a newly-named series of paintings done in the last years of his life—Energy of Forms in Space.

On Wednesday, April 19, 2023, the museum has planned an Evening with the Curators, Planning Vance Kirkland’s Cosmos. Hugh Grant will share personal recollections of his time working with Vance Kirkland in the 1970s and how his study of Kirkland’s works led to identifying a new series of paintings featured in the exhibition. Both curators will share their planning process and behind-the-scenes insights about assembling the show.

The museum is located at 1201 Bannock Street in Denver and open Wed.-Sat:11am to 5pm and Sunday 12 to 5pm.

Admission is free for member and $12 General admission (ages 13+ only), $10 Seniors (age 65+), Teachers, Students (ages 13+) and active-duty military personnel with ID. Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art is worth a visit in general, and this special exhibit adds value to your time there.

For more information, visit kirklandmuseum.org.

Lisa J. Shultz is an art and culture columnist for The Villager since 2020. Lisa is a Denver native, and she loves to inspire exploration of the city’s treasures in her book Essential Denver.

She features the Kirkland Museum on page 86. Find out more about her and her book at LisaJShultz.com and Essential Denver.com.