Orchestra photo courtesy of Corey Christiansen Flowers photo courtesy of Scottie Iverson
Which Do We Feed?
While watching the news about the battle raging across the world and honoring the Passover and Easter week, I have become keenly aware of the battle we all face.
Inside every human heart, there is a quiet battlefield. It does not announce itself with the thunder of falling munitions or the clashes of steel, yet its consequences shape destinies, families, and nations. It is the human struggle between good and evil fought not on the battlefield but within all of us.
a soul, her child’s and her own.
The battle is relentless because both dogs are always hungry. Evil rarely appears in monstrous form. It whispers. It rationalizes. It tells us that “just this once” won’t matter, that no one will know, that we deserve it. Good, on the other hand, often requires effort. It calls for restraint when indulgence is easier, humility when pride feels justified, and forgiveness when pain demands revenge. Feeding the good dog can feel costly, even impossible in the moment, but it yields a life of freedom, integrity, peace, and joy.
Imagine, as an old story tells, that inside us live two dogs. One is fierce, angry, jealous, driven by pride and appetite. The other is gentle, courageous, patient, and full of love. They are always fighting. When asked which dog wins, the wise answer is simple: the one you feed. This metaphor is disarmingly clear and devastatingly true.
Every choice we make is a handful of food. Every thought we linger on, every word we speak, every action we take either strengthens the better angels of our nature or empowers the darker impulses that crouch in the shadows. There is no neutrality.
Consider one who feels unfairly treated at work. The seed of resentment is planted. They can feed it by interplaying the insult, nurturing their anger, sharpening their sense of injustice until it becomes a blade that cuts their relationships and poisons their peace. Or… they can starve it by choosing understanding, extending grace, and refusing to let bitterness take root. The same moment, the same wound, but two entirely different outcomes depending on which “dog” they feed.
Imagine a mother, exhausted and overwhelmed, whose child tests her patience for the hundredth time that day. Inside her, a surge of irritation, even anger, rises. She stands at a crossroads in a split second. Does she feed the dog of anger, snapping, wounding, leaving scars that last long after the moment? Or does she feed the dog of love, taking a deep breath, kneeling, choosing connection over reaction? In that instant, she’s not just managing behavior; she’s shaping
The tragedy is that many people don’t realize they are feeding the wrong dog until it has grown strong enough to dominate them. Habits become chains. Small compromises become defining patterns. What was once a choice becomes captivity.
But there is hope. Because the battle is ongoing, the outcome is not fixed. At any moment, we can change what we feed. We can starve the impulses that lead to destruction and begin nourishing the virtues that lead to life. It may feel slow at first, like trying to revive a neglected garden. But over time, what we water grows.
The question is not whether we have both dogs within us. We do. We all do. The question is: which one are we feeding? joneen@ narme.org
Dinner With a King: Lessons From the Gulf
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Travel has a way of opening doors, but occasionally it opens one you never expect
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to the United Arab Emirates as a guest of Sam Zakhem, a Denver resident and former U.S. ambassador to Bahrain appointed during the Reagan administration. Zakhem, born in Lebanon, became one of the most prominent Middle Eastern Americans in U.S. diplomacy and played a key role in strengthening ties in the Gulf, including efforts that helped secure a lasting U.S. naval presence in Bahrain.
look at a region that has transformed itself into a global energy and financial powerhouse.
Cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi rise from the desert with striking speed and ambition, not unlike the rapid growth we have seen in the American West.
BY BOB SWEENEY PUBLISHER
During the week, we were invited to a formal lunch at the Al Nahyan Palace in Abu Dhabi — an experience that remains unforgettable.
The setting was impressive, but what stood out most was the personal nature of the hospitality. During the meal, our host, a member of the Al Nahyan royal family, reached over and placed food on my plate with his own hands — a gesture of respect and welcome deeply rooted in the culture.
the city in a car bearing royal flags was an experience in itself — and one that drew immediate attention.
When we returned to our hotel, the reception was noticeably different. Staff greeted us with a new level of attentiveness. It was a reminder that, in any culture, perception can change quickly.
The visit also included a more informal and unexpected encounter. At the invitation of our host, we met with another senior ruler who knew Ambassador Zakhem well. In a relaxed setting inside his residence, the conversation turned candidly to American politics. He spoke openly about his admiration at the time for President Barack Obama and his interest in the direction of U.S. leadership.
Beyond the formal meetings, time spent in the markets of Dubai and Abu Dhabi revealed another layer of the region’s story. Many of the jewelry shops were owned and operated by Iranian merchants, highlighting the deep commercial ties that cross borders in the Gulf.
The trip offered more than memorable moments. It provided insight into a region where tradition and modern ambition exist side by side. The United Arab Emirates has built not only impressive infrastructure, but also a culture rooted in hospitality and relationships.
He had been invited to speak at a Gulf energy summit, and I was fortunate to join the delegation.
The trip offered a firsthand
The hospitality extended well beyond the table. At one point, our host made available his Rolls-Royce, complete with driver, for a visit to a newly built university. Riding through
There were also broader discussions about the region — including concerns about instability and the movement of arms across borders — underscoring the complexity of the Middle East then and now.
For those of us in Colorado, where growth and change continue to shape our communities, there are parallels worth noting. Vision, investment and respect for tradition can coexist — and even thrive.
Still, it is often the smallest moments that endure.
A shared meal. A candid conversation.
And, occasionally, a ride in a royal Rolls-Royce.
Monetary Policy: A Case for Criticizing the Federal Reserve
Fed Reserve Monetary Policy implementation put our nation’s economy on the path to ruin, to destruction of private ownership and individual freedom.
In 2008, under President Obama and Chairman Bernanke, the Fed unilaterally implemented Modern Monetary Theory (MMT.) They created massive amounts of additional money supply and thereby put us on the path to extreme dollar devaluation.
MMT ignores one of the immutable rules in economics, namely money supply, the number of dollars in circulation plays a key role in monetary theory and practicality. Central bank’s have one func-
tion, the prime directive: That is to uphold and maintain the value of the US Dollar. It does so by controlling inflation, which is simply a decline in the purchasing power of a dollar. Sounds innocuous, yet this single element forms the basis of our entire economy. The important, foundational, idea is a stable-value in the medium of exchange, the US Dollar. Inflation destroys that basis for trust.
Maintaining the purchasing power of the US Dollar is done through control of the number of dollars in circulation. More dollars in circulation decreases the value of every other dollar in circula-
tion.
When the Fed “printed” $8 Trillion excess dollars, starting in 2008, it started the economy down the path of extreme dollar devaluation, inflation. Instead of addressing the source of inflation, namely money supply, Powell attacked the wrong issue using interest rate increases. It is either criminal indifference or malicious intent.
Since the Fed Reserve’s formation in 1913, the value, the purchasing power, of the US Dollar has declined 97%. Our Central Bank has done more to destroy the national economy than any Communist, Fascist or Islamist has ever done.
After decades of watching the Fed, there can be no logical conclusion that monetary
“Our
policy has been mishandled and manipulated to the detriment of our nation. Leaving the FOMC in control is insane.
This problem is still solvable. Decrease the supply of money in circulation. That also, fortunately, requires a commensurate reduction in national debt (US Treasury Bonds outstanding) and federal spending. Both of which accrues benefit to the individual and to private business.
Jay Davidson is founder and CEO of a commercial bank, a student of the Austrian School of Economics and a dedicated capitalist. There is a direct connection between individual right and responsibility, our Constitution, capitalism, and the intent of our Creator.
Larry DiPasquale, founder, Epicurean Catering/E5
Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com
FASHION & LIFESTYLE
Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com
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ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS
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Scottie Iverson
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
Gerri 303-773-8313
EDITORIAL COLUMNIST
Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com
The Best Possible Reason to Imagine the Worst Possible Outcome
I sped across town, pulled into the parking lot and jumped out of my car. I was running late for a date with my dental hygienist. But when I grabbed my purse it felt too light. Uhoh. That meant my cellphone wasn’t in it.
There was no time to search so I ran into the clinic, checked in and was in the hygienist’s chair before you could say, “why are you always misplacing your phone?”
While the hygienist prepared her equipment, I thought back. I’d been at a gathering at a friend’s house. I’d taken my phone out to set the date for our next one. Then I grabbed my purse and a canvas bag I had with me and rushed out. But I couldn’t remember what I’d done with my phone in the process.
Instantly a horrifying picture popped into my head and I gasped. The hygienist, who was by then examining my teeth, asked. “Do your gums hurt?”
They were fine. I gasped because I was imagining my phone lying in the middle of my friend’s street being crushed under the tires of a car. And then a bigger car. And then a truck. And then a semi-truck.
but you lack imagination. When the hygienist was finished I jumped out of the chair, checked out at the front desk and ran out the door. I intended to rush back to my friend’s house and pick up what was left of my phone because I was worried that a tech-savvy criminal could still get data from a crushed phone. Before I let myself ponder the dangers of that, I opened the passenger side door and dug around on the seat. My phone wasn’t there. Then I looked in the canvas bag. It wasn’t there either. I raced around to the driver’s side and nearly tore the door off opening it. And there was my phone on the floorboard. So you were wrong. Fortunately, so was I.
By the time the hygienist was cleaning my teeth I was estimating the cost of replacing my phone and thinking about how I needed to do it immediately because I was traveling later in the week. How would I call a cab from the airport without a cellphone? How would I know my flight was delayed without text alerts from the airline? How would I reschedule my flight when I missed my connection? “Oh no,” I thought. “I’m going to miss my connection!” I gasped again. The hygienist said, “Is that tooth sensitive? Maybe that old filling needs replacing.”
Let me pause here to say I know what you’re thinking. My phone may have been just fine. I could have left it at my friend’s house. Or put it in the canvas bag I’d been carrying. Or laid it on the passenger seat of my car. No offense,
Some people would say I was catastrophizing—imagining the worst possible outcome. But that’s hard to say and even harder to spell. Plus it sounds so negative. I like to think my imagination prepares me for the worst. And when the worst doesn’t happen, which it seldom does, I enjoy a wonderful sense of relief I’d never experience if all along I trusted that my phone was lying on the floorboard of my car. Or that the house was still standing because I hadn’t left the stove on after all. Or that thieves hadn’t walked away with my electronics because I did remember to lock the front door.
I savor that feeling after every bout of vivid imagination I have. And I have them fairly often. After this last episode, I took a moment to relax, give thanks and hug my phone.
Then as I drove away, I remembered that old filling. Uh-oh. What if it does need replacing? Or maybe I’ll need a crown instead? Or a root canal? Or dentures?
Dorothy Rosby is the author of I Didn’t Know You Could Make Birthday Cake from Scratch: Parenting Blunders from Cradle to Empty Nest and other books. Contact her at www.dorothyrosby.com/contact.
The ‘two-way street’ helps DU keep Carle
When David Carle was 18 years old and finishing prep school at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Fairbault, Minnesota, he was projected to be a second-round choice in that year’s National Hockey League Draft.
And he had a scholarship offer in hand from the University of Denver, where his older brother Matt—a 12year NHL defenseman—had played on the sixth of now 10 NCAA national hockey championships as a sophomore and had received the Hobey Baker Award as the nation’s best college hockey player as a junior.
A pro career that might match or even exceed Matt’s seemed a possibility.
But a medical exam before the 2008 draft identified, and a subsequent test at the Mayo Clinic confirmed, an enlarged heart muscle that was not immediately life-threatening but has been shown to be a leading cause of sudden death in athletes.
David retired immediately, but the end of his on-ice career marked the beginning of a different hockey career—be-
hind the bench. That started with DU honoring its scholarship offer even though he would never wear the Pioneers sweater in competition—as long as he remained with the team in some capacity.
George Gwozdecky, then head coach, made sure he did.
David Carle graduated from DU in 2012 and immediately followed DU assistant Derek Lalonde to the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League as Lalonde’s assistant in the future Detroit Red Wings’ head coach’s first head coaching opportunity.
by the Dallas Stars. That opened a door for David Carle, who was only 27 years old. Many wondered if he was too young.
Now in his eighth year as DU’s head coach, Carle’s record through the 2026 NCAA Regional in Loveland is 206-85-20.
more victories and DU will be national champs for a record 11th time—and the third time in the last four years under Carle. Another national title would put Carle second alone behind Armstrong.
loyalty is a two-way street. He’ll never forget that DU stood with him when he could no longer play.
Two years later Carle came back to Denver as an assistant to new head coach Jim Montgomery. Carle served in that role for four years, helping Montgomery win the 2017 national championship.
It is nearly every collegiate hockey coach’s dream to become an NHL head coach, and Montgomery’s dream came true when he was hired
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He’s the thirdmost successful hockey coach in DU history, behind Murray Armstrong (460 wins) and Gwozdecky (443).
Ahead of him with five national titles, Armstrong was DU’s coach from the 1956-57 season through 197677, when he retired to Florida at age 61. (An avid golfer, he lived to 91.)
Along with those five national championships and 460 victories, Armstrong’s teams had only three losing seasons in his 20 years as head coach. (Carle has had one.)
The Pioneers play top-seeded Michigan tonight in the semifinals of the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. Two
But it won’t be easy. Michigan is second, with nine national championships. And the other two teams in Vegas are third and fourth all-time, North Dakota (8) and Wisconsin (6).
Carle could have been a head coach in the NHL by now. He withdrew his name from consideration for the St. Louis Blues head job in 2024, and with the Chicago Blackhawks last year.
If head coach of an NHL team is hockey’s behind-thebench pinnacle, why then would anyone pass it up?
In David Carle’s case, it’s no mystery.
“Denver is home,” he said after spurning the pros and signing a contract extension with DU that will keep him the Pios’ head man for the foreseeable future. (DU did not publicly disclose the term.)
Or, to put it another way,
“We feel very blessed and grateful to stay here,” he said in 2025. “I think going through (the NHL process) probably solidified that even more for us. I think it reiterated that there’s zero reason to leave Denver in the near term—if ever.”
He and wife Mellissa are the parents of three young children—who could attend DU free of charge if their dad remains there that long. As unlikely as that is, it doesn’t necessarily mean Denver won’t still be home.
There’s an NHL team in Denver, too, and the current head coach, as successful as Jared Bednar has been, won’t be behind the Avalanche bench forever.
Denny Dressman writes a weekly sports column for The Villager. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@ comcast.net
We Never Compromise on Quality Care
• Aislyn Nelson, MD PhD is a board-certified dermatologist
Aislyn Dermatology is a direct pay dermatology practice. A directpay model means the clinic is not contracted with any insurance companies, however, you can use a health saving account (HSA) for payment. What are the pros and cons of this clinic model?
Pros:
• Exceptional personalized care with a physician
• Transparent pricing - no hidden or surprise fees
• Expedited visit scheduling
• Follow-up communication and easy access to Dr. Nelson for questions
• Medications, labs and pathology can all still go through insurance
Cons:
• Your insurance plan cannot be used
Due to difficulties with insurance companies, many private medical
offices have turned to the direct-pay model. The goal is to provide quality care for patients while being appropriately compensated. Insurance reimbursements continue to get smaller and smaller and thus physicians have to see more patients in the same amount of time. This can lead to very short visits where patients feel rushed and are not able to ask all their questions. Additionally, procedures are not considered part of a visit charge and patients often have to pay extra even though they have insurance. Direct-pay removes both of these issues.
At Aislyn Dermatology, our visit prices are transparent. For a full body skin exam, also called a skin check, the price is $250. That includes biopsies, liquid nitrogen (freezing) of both pre-cancers and benign lesions, if needed. We want to make sure you know the price up front and also take care of the things that bother you. Often with insurance-based clinics, benign lesions require another visit and an additional cost. We try to make things efficient and fair.
Central City Opera Announces 2026 Festival Tickets On Sale; 70th Anniversary of The Ballad of Baby Doe World Premiere
Central City Opera announced that tickets are now on sale for its 2026 Festival. This 94th season is anchored by the convergence of three anniversaries on a single stage: 250 years of American independence, Colorado’s 150th year of statehood, and the 70th anniversary of Central City Opera’s world premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe.
The festival runs June 27 through August 2 in the company’s historic 550-seat opera house, built in 1878 in the Colorado mountain town of Central City, 35 miles west of Denver. The season features three mainstage productions – Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Douglas Moore and John Latouche’s The Ballad of Baby Doe, and Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play Master Class – alongside the return of CCO in Concert and the debut of the St. James Chamber Series.
Single tickets start at $34. Subscriptions, which include preferred seating, free exchanges and savings of 20% or more, are also available starting at $51.
The Marriage of Figaro
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
June 27 – August 2
When it premiered in 1786, The Marriage of Figaro scandalized the aristocracy in Vienna. Today, it is the gold standard of operatic comedy. Mozart’s masterpiece captures a single day of romantic chaos in a nobleman’s household, where disguises fail, servants outmaneuver masters, and the truth sneaks out at the worst possible moment. Baritone Andrew Wilkowske sings the title role opposite soprano Maureen McKay as Susanna, with baritone Luke Sutliff as Count Almaviva and soprano Erica Petrocelli as the Countess. David Radamés Toro directs; Marcello Cormio conducts.
The Ballad of Baby Doe
Music by Douglas Moore | Libretto by John Latouche
July 4 – August 1
Seventy years ago, The Ballad of Baby Doe received its world premiere at Central City Opera. This summer, the opera returns home in a new production that coincides with America’s semiquincentennial and Colorado’s sesquicentennial — three mile-
stones converging on a single stage. Based on the true story of silver baron Horace Tabor and the young woman who scandalized Denver society to be with him, The Ballad of Baby Doe captures pioneering ambition, passionate love, and devotion that outlasted fortune itself. Legendary soprano and CCO alumna Cynthia Lawrence directs, with new scenic design by Lawrence E. Moten III and costumes by Lynly A. Saunders. The cast features bass-baritone Weston Hurt as Horace Tabor, soprano Emily Pulley as Augusta Tabor, and soprano Virginia Mims in her role debut as Baby Doe. Aaron Breid conducts.
Master Class
By Terrence McNally
July 18 – July 31
A young singer steps onto the stage. Maria Callas tears her apart — then builds her back up, stronger. Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play, inspired by the master classes Callas taught at Juilliard in 1971 and 1972, is a searing yet funny exploration of artistic greatness, sacrifice, and why some voices stay with us forever. Henry Award-winner Jennifer DeDominici takes on the role of Callas, originated on Broadway by Zoe Caldwell and later portrayed by Patti LuPone and Faye Dunaway. Arthur Bosarge plays Manny Weinstock, and Isaiah Feken appears as the Stagehand. The production features live performances of arias from Tosca, Macbeth, and La sonnambula. Ken Cazan directs. Due to extraordinary demand, a seventh performance has been added on July 31 at 7:30 PM, starring Marcia Ragonetti, acclaimed for her previous portrayals of Callas.
CCO in Concert
Conducted by Brandon Eldredge
July 10 & 11
The Central City Opera Orchestra takes center stage for two nights, joined by festival singers for an evening of favorite arias, duets, and overtures from across the operatic repertoire.
St. James Chamber Series (New for 2026)
July 14, 21, 28
Three concerts performed by CCO Orchestra chamber musicians prior to select matinees, offering audiences a deeper connection to the season’s music in a historic landmark across the street from the Central City Opera House.
Central City Opera’s 94th summer festival runs June 27 through August 2. Single tickets are on sale now at centralcityopera. org or by calling 303-292-6700.
Central City Opera, founded in 1932, is the fifth-oldest professional opera company in the United States. The company performs in an intimate 550-seat opera house built in 1878, located at 8,500 feet above sea level in Central City, Colorado, where it owns and maintains 28 Victorian-era properties in a National Historic Landmark district.
Daniels Fund Awards 205 Students Four-Year Daniels Scholarships
Highly Selective Program Awards Up to a Full Ride for College
The Daniels Fund announced its 2026 class of Daniels Scholarship Program recipients. The Fund selected 205 high school seniors from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming – including 150 students from Colorado. The full list of scholarship recipients can be viewed at danielsfund.org/2026danielsscholars.
Since 2000, the Fund has invested nearly $440 million in scholarship programs, including scholarships awarded to more than 5,600 Daniels Scholars.
The Daniels Scholarship is one of the most selective and sought-after scholarships in the United States.
“We are honored to award 205 four-year college scholarships to outstanding young men and women who exemplify academic excellence, character, and a commitment to service,” said Hanna Skandera, Daniels Fund President & CEO. “Those of us who had the privilege of meeting and interviewing these new Daniels Scholars came away deeply inspired by this exceptional and promising generation.”
As part of the interview process, 180 top business and community leaders from the Daniels Fund’s four-state region interviewed prospective scholars.
Students are selected for their strength of character, leadership potential, commitment to serving the community, academic potential and financial need. As the living legacy of Daniels Fund founder Bill Daniels, Daniels Scholars embody the values he most cherished.
Daniels Scholars may use their scholarship at any accredited nonprofit college or university in the United States. They have their full cost of attendance covered at partner schools and up to $100,000 over four years if they choose to attend another school.
At any given time, around 900 Daniels Scholars are attending approximately 200 colleges and universities throughout the United States.
Motivated high school seniors graduating in 2027 are encouraged to visit DanielsFund.org to learn more. Applications for the new class of Daniels Scholars open in September.
About the Daniels Scholarship Program
The Daniels Scholarship Program provides a fouryear college scholarship for graduating high school seniors with great potential, strong character, and big dreams. Daniels Scholars receive full cost of attendance at partner schools, or up to $100,000 at other schools across the United States. More than just a financial resource making college possible, the Daniels Scholarship gives recipients access to intensive development, coaching, and engagement opportunities to prepare them as highly sought-after employees and leaders ready to give back to their communities and positively influence American life. Through the scholarship, Daniels Scholars receive the tools and support to achieve their highest goals, resulting in generationally transformative impacts for their families and communities.
About the Daniels Fund
Established by cable television pioneer Bill Daniels, the Daniels Fund is a private charitable foundation dedicated to improving American life, with particular focus on Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. In addition to the Daniels Scholarship program, the Fund invests in nonprofits through its grants program and sponsors a national ethics competition. Visit DanielsFund.org to learn more.
A Sacred Musical Work performed by The Cornerstone Chorale & Orchestra
Presented
By
The Littleton Colorado Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
a Message of Hope
Composed of professional-level singers and musicians from all walks of life, The Cornerstone Chorale & Orchestra invites everyone to enjoy the Spirit that accompanies beautiful, uplifting music. Above all, we desire to proclaim the divinity of Jesus Christ and His gospel every time we perform. Visit: cornerstonechorale.com to learn more about the chorale, orchestra, auditions (beginning in August) and upcoming events.
“Writing Lamb of God was the most intensely agonizing and consuming work I have ever undertaken. But in retrospect, that’s how I suppose it must be. I hope this work will help bring to life for you the events depicted from the final days of the Savior’s life, and even more how in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him
by Scottie Iverson
ABOVE: Charlie and Judy McNeil, Colorado Governor candidate Barbara Kirkmeyer, Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman
RIGHT: Cornerstone Board Member Susan Biles, Cherry Hills Village Councilman Doug Robinson, Emily and Chris Musso
From Catholic Charities: Lisa Heaton, Deacon Tim Heaton, Darren Walsh (president and CEO), Jenn Cerf, Katie Moon, Michelle Gallegos
Jay and Kristina Davidson, Earl Wright and Sandy Smith
Aurora NAACP President Omar Montgomery with Craig McIlroy (Giving Machines Denver) VP of Cornerstone Productions John Tice, Board Member Carol Miller
Holding leadership positions in Scouting Colorado: Brian Fleming, Michael Fifhause, Bob Dickinson, Charlie McNeil
ABOVE: President of the Littleton Colorado Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints –Don Pebbles and his wife Rachel
RIGHT : Dr. Thomas Mayes (NAACP), Elder Karl (2nd Counselor of Presidency of the US Central Area of the Church) and Claire Hirst, Paul and Carol Archer, Pastor Dwayne Johnson (Mean Street Worship Center)
The Cornerstone Chorale and Orchestra directed by Steven Williams, a business immigration attorney who received his BA in Music from Brigham Young University and his JD from the University of Virginia
BY FREDA MIKLIN SENIOR REPORTER
follow FREDA
• 9-time Colorado Press Association award winner • Former Greenwood Village City Council Member • GV resident since 1992 • Mother of five graduates of Cherry Creek High School and college • FMiklin.Villager@gmail.com
No start date for the Marilyn Hickey rebuild, including Whole Foods, approved by Greenwood Village over 18 months ago
After repeated delays on the redevelopment of the 10.248acre property at 8081 E. Orchard Road in Greenwood Village, formerly owned by Marilyn Hickey Ministries, which the GV city council approved more 18 months ago, The Villager reached out to the developer to ask when residents can expect to see the demolition of the old, boarded-up building and the construction of the new project begin.
The approved development is comprised of 54 attached townhomes on the northern five acres of the property and what has been planned to be a Whole Foods grocery store, along with other retail, on the southern five acres of the property.
On April 3, the spokesperson for Alberta Development Partners, Senior Associate Kylie Provost, told us that they hope to initiate demolition and construction as soon as all the necessary elements come together, but that currently, there is no specific timeline to do so.
In response to our questions, Ms. Provost told us that Whole Foods is not yet under contract with Alberta, but that negotiations are ongoing. She is optimistic that an agreement will be reached soon and Alberta Development is actively working to finalize the details.
We also asked Ms. Provost when the residential builder planned to get started on the townhomes. Back on September 16, 2024, after they voted to approve the project unanimously, Alberta Principal Don Provost told the GV City Council, “To be clear… we will not be the developers of the residential. We’re under contract with a best-in-class national single-family builder who we will sell those to, and they will build them and execute them.”
On April 2, 2026, Kylie Provost told The Villager that the project’s timing remains fluid as they coordinate all
aspects, including finding a new residential builder, after the original one withdrew. She explained that progress continues as market conditions are evaluated and the team works to synchronize each phase, so they can put all the puzzle pieces together, before demolition of the old building, followed by new construction, can begin.
The Villager also reached out to the Arapahoe County Treasurer’s office, who informed us that Alberta is currently one year delinquent on its 2024 property taxes for this location. The 2025 taxes have not yet been paid and are due April 30. The combined total due to the county treasurer for the property, including interest on the 2024 delinquent amount, is $742,282.64, if paid by the end of this month.
The property at 8081 E. Orchard Road was annexed by Greenwood Village back in 1975. Some will recall it was once known as the Beau Monde Shopping Center.
In 2016, Alberta Development Partners floated the idea of a 24-acre mixed-use development, including office space, residential, retail, and a 4.67acre linear park, in that area. It was to include this property, which Alberta said then would contain a Whole Foods grocery store. On February 17, 2017,
hoping the project would move forward, Alberta purchased the 10.248-acre property from Marilyn Hickey Ministries for $14,813,876 and began ending the leases of the remaining tenants. The building was soon empty.
That proposal never reached the GV City Council, or even its planning and zoning commission, where it must be heard before moving to council. Residents’ fears of the potential traffic the plan could bring to the area caused an upheaval in GV, leading to changes on the city council.
In 2018, a group of four members of the GV council, led by former Council Member Dave Kerber, who represented District Two, where this property is located, led a successful effort by the city council to change GV’s comprehensive plan to say that “significant additional housing is neither anticipated nor encouraged,” in the area that includes 8081 E. Orchard Road, and “higher density residential development,” defined as “a use that exceeds on average four dwelling units per acre,” “will be discouraged in the (area).”
When it became clear that no mixed-use development that included residential would be considered by the new GV council, Alberta shelved their plans.
Colorado’s flat state income tax rate seems to be key to its affordability
A recent study by Wallet Hub ranked Colorado 37th out of the 50 states for its overall tax burden, which is positive for in-migration, an area where our state has fallen behind in recent years, according to multiple studies.
A closer look at the data makes it clear that it is our state
income tax that gives us the edge. Even though the stated individual tax rate is a flat 4.4%, the effective individual income tax burden, according to the study, is 1.43%. That is something the proponents of a ballot initiative to change our system to a graduated income tax, may wish to consider,
since it appears that the current flat tax rate is a positive aspect of our economy.
Projections published by the Secretary of State for a constitutional change to a graduated income tax, as it is currently structured by the people trying to get it on the November ballot, indicate that state revenues
In the years that followed, Alberta made several shortlived attempts to put forth a plan to redevelop the property, without residential, but none moved forward. As time passed, the large boarded-up building and unused parking lot drew squatters and other crimes. It also became and remains a huge eyesore at a highly visible location in Greenwood Village.
On September 16, 2024, the GV Council, including Kerber, voted unanimously for the proposal by Alberta to build 54 attached townhomes on five acres of the property (10 per acre, rather than four) and commercial development on the other five acres, subject to a final plat and site improvement agreement.
Although Whole Foods wasn’t specifically named as the “high-end grocery store” in the official documents approved for the development, renderings attached to it depicted Whole Foods as part of the plan.
On October 17, 2024, we reported that, after the vote to approve the development was taken, “Provost told the city council he anticipates beginning demolition of the boarded-up building at the site ‘sometime later (in 2024) or early (in 2025),”and he expected it to take four to five
would go up by $2.7 billion annually if the voters adopt it by the required 55% margin, with the effective tax burden going up only for those who make at least $1 million annually.
The initiative to change to a graduated income tax is titled Change in Income Taxes Owed by Income Category and proponents are currently out gathering the signatures required to get it on this year’s election ballot. The language of the proposed change to the
months.
Provost continued, “Then construction of the townhomes and commercial buildings will begin in the summer of 2025 and be completed in one year.”
As of this writing, no demolition work has begun at the site, nor has any new infrastructure been built, both of which are necessary before new development can get started.
Since the September 2024 approval, the GV City Council has been asking why the development has not gotten underway. Reasons given for the repeated delays include difficulty getting a demolition permit, changes requested by Whole Foods in the footprint of their store, changes in Whole Foods’ required ancillary equipment outside the store, and the number of parking spaces they need. There was also a delay reported to have been about the property line between this property and the Doubletree Hotel. The latest delay came when Alberta reported to the City, earlier this year, that Whole Foods wished to change the size of their store from 35,500 square feet to 30,000 square feet. That required a hearing at the planning & zoning commission, which could not be scheduled until April 7. Five days before that hearing was to take place, Alberta notified the City that Whole Foods had changed its mind about decreasing the size of their store and wished to proceed with the previously planned 35,500-square foot plan.
On April 3, spokesperson for the developer, Senior Associate Kylie Provost told The Villager that, although Alberta is not yet able to estimate when they will begin the project, starting with demolition of the old building, “It is encouraging that Whole Foods has committed to the full 35,500 square feet, as originally planned.”
state Constitution says that the state is authorized “to retain and spend any increased revenue from the new tax structure, as a voter-approved revenue change, meaning it can bypass regular TABOR limits, and won’t be subject to TABOR refunds. The $2.7 billion in new annual revenue to the state is intended to supplement current levels of funding for K-12 public school education, health care, and early childcare and education programs.
8081 E. Orchard Road on December 2, 2025
Photo by Freda Miklin
The
is
In Every Classroom, A Connection: The Story of Michael Storin
BY CLAIRE CRAWFORD, STAFF WRITER
Usually, substitute teachers’ names and presences don’t always have a strong impact on high school students. But longtime substitute teacher Michael Storin usually gets positive and compelling reactions from the students under his care.
“Storin is one of Creek’s favorite substitutes,” senior Raene Mascarenas Reese said.
He’s been subbing at Creek since 2013 and is known for his spontaneous stories, inspiring monologues, positive attitude, and playful humor. In his teaching, he focuses on building strong, supportive connections with both students and colleagues.
“It’s when I see a sparkle in their eye, or a smile on their face, then I know that we have connected in a positive manner,” Storin said.
Storin has a strong love and passion for teaching. Which stems all the way back to when he attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, which is where he started teaching science in 1974 at Wilson Junior High.
appreciate everyone in this department.”
With Storin being a part of Creeks community for over 10 years, he recognizes the work that goes into be-
Matuschek said. “He was really good at nurturing, yet motivating and inspiring.”
“Full-time teachers have so much more responsibility,” Storin said. “The whole preparation just for class time is so much more intense now than it was when I was a teacher.”
ing a teacher, especially at Creek.
He has taught at multiple schools throughout Colorado, including West Middle School and Prairie Middle School, where he taught for 33 years before retirement. As well as being a retired teacher, Storin has two kids, which he believes assists in his relationship with students.
“I want people to understand science is such a cool [topic] to learn,” Storin said. “I [also] want them to
“Full-time teachers have so much more responsibility,” Storin said. “The whole preparation just for class time is so much more intense now than it was when I was a teacher.”
Before he became a substitute, Storin used to coach wrestling at Prairie Middle School. His old student, math teacher Rob Matuschek, has since worked and learned alongside him for many years.
“There was a lot of character development that the coaching staff would do,”
Storin’s ability to help students grow and mature has never faltered over the years. His guidance helps many kids with ambition and inspiration for their lives, proving that it’s in their hands and they can be whatever and whoever they want to be.
“He gives me hope for the future,” senior Sofia Gutierrez said.
Many students also feel that his advice gives them
important new standpoints on their lives.
“He definitely has a bigger impact than he thinks he does,” senior Hazel Kemp said.
Storin thinks that recognizing kids he has only substituted for once, smiling at kids he has never met before, and joking with kids he’s familiar with are ways he can connect to the community with an irregular schedule.
“I hope we all can learn something from him, about having an impact on people and always knowing to take a positive outlook on things, no matter how tough it gets,” Matuschek said.
Substitute teacher Michael Storin leads an environmental science class with one of his beloved stories. (Claire Crawford)
follow FREDA NEWS BRIEFS
BY FREDA MIKLIN – SENIOR REPORTER
SB26-004 Expand List of Petitioners for Protection Orders has passed the general assembly and was signed into law by Governor Polis on April 6. It is effective immediately.
This bill expands the state’s Red Flag Law by adding “institutional petitioners,” including K-12 schools, universities, hospitals, behavioral health facilities, and community-based co-responders to the list of parties who can petition a court to temporarily restrict access to firearms for individuals deemed a danger to themselves or others. Prime Sponsors of this bill include local legislators Sen. Tom Sullivan-Centennial and Rep. Meg Froelich-Arapahoe County.
F
rom our friends at the Denver Post: “Political uncertainty and higher mortgage rates” did not deter buyers and sellers of residential real estate last month, as closings for
homes and condos in metro Denver surged 28% between February and March. A total of 3,631 homes closed in March, according to the Denver Metro Association of Realtors.
With the lowest snowpack levels in the state’s recorded history—26% of the median, as of April 2-it will come as no surprise that most of the state’s ski areas, except Vail, Arapahoe Basin, and a small portion of Breckenridge, have already closed, much earlier than they normally do.
Greenwood Village residents and anyone else who is interested have a new option on the City’s Notify Me page, Cherry Creek Campus Rebuild Project. It will provide updates on the multi-year construction there that could impact on the community. You can sign-up at https://greenwood village.com/list.aspx.
From Business Den, the owners of the six-building Panorama Corporate Center at 9501 E. Panorama Circle, near I-25 and Dry Creek Road, have defaulted on a $133 million loan on the property, which ballooned last February. The appraised value of the property, which is home to the headquarters of United Launch Alliance and also contains a large Comcast office, is currently just under $15 million. EverWest Real Estate paid just shy of $191 million for the 780,648-square-foot complex in 2016. EverWest is currently known as Sagard Real Estate.
Imperial Chinese Restaurant closed last week after 41 years in business at 431 South Broadway (its second location after moving from its first, which was nearby), to the disappointment of decades-long loyal patrons. A sign on the door blamed rising costs and economic challenges. In August 2024, Imperial announced a plan to
open a new restaurant, Imperial To Go, at 4960 S. Newport Street in Belleview Station. It was supposed to be focused on pickup and delivery. The sign is still up, announcing it, at that location, but there has been no other indication it is still planned.
Democratic rising star Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear will headline the Party’s 6th Annual Obama Gala on June 6, 2026 at the Denver Center for Performing Arts. Tickets will be available to the public beginning April 20.
The Colorado Governors Art Show and Sale will be held at the Loveland Museum Gallery at 5th & Lincoln Avenue in Loveland from April 25-June 6. It will feature 65 Colorado artists. You can view and purchase paintings online beginning April 25 through the show’s website, governors artshow.org.
Family of Gerry and Andie Goldberg pleads with CHV City Council to work with GV to make the intersection of Belleview & Franklin safer
BY FREDA MIKLIN SENIOR REPORTER
As many are aware, Andie Goldberg was killed crossing the intersection of Belleview Avenue & Franklin Street, returning to her home in Greenwood Village, in May 2024. Last month, her widower, Gerry Goldberg, lost his life driving his car at that same intersection.
The Goldbergs were well known and well liked by their neighbors. That was clear from the large number of them who came out to support Gerry Goldberg in his effort to get a traffic signal installed at that corner after he lost Andie, before the horrible accident that claimed his life on March 2.
The Goldbergs did not have children of their own. Their close relatives in Denver were Gerry’s nephew, Aaron Svoboda, and Andie’s niece, Kylie Pressley (no relation to Jerry Presley) and her husband, Jeff Wilkins.
On April 7, the three of them came to share their thoughts with the Cherry Hills Village City Council at its regular city council meeting.
Aaron Svoboda talked about his family recently celebrating Passover and leaving an empty chair at the table “to convey the absence we all felt,” where his uncle Gerry was supposed to be, laughing and participating with the family.
Aaron explained, “Now Gerry and Andie are both gone. An entire household, wiped off the face of the
earth. Not by illness. Not by time. At an intersection in the neighborhood they called home for more than three decades.”
He went on, “On the days we’re rested, focused, and unhurried, we’re careful. We see what’s coming. But we don’t always get to drive on our best days or drive among others on theirs. We drive on days we’re late to pick up our kids, days we’re running behind for a meeting, days our minds are somewhere else. It happened to me recently. I was behind the wheel, and I couldn’t stop thinking about my uncle who had just died. I know I was not as focused on the road as I should have been…Those are the days when we need our engineering and infrastructure to serve us. Not on our best days—on our human days.”
He continued, “I work in oncology. I’m a medical physicist. I understand what it means to gather data and investigate. I’ve built my career on it. When someone comes to a doctor feeling unwell, we start with the least invasive test, then proceed methodically, conscious of limiting the cost and inconvenience to the patient. Sometimes the early results are inconclusive, so we have to order the MRI. When it results in a diagnosis, we do not order more tests. We immediately transition from gathering data to deciding
what to do about the problem. Two people are dead at this intersection in less than two years. We have our MRI. The image is clear.”
Svoboda concluded, “I understand this council is hearing from a divided community. I am not here to demand a predetermined answer. I’m asking for a process to start in earnest—a serious, collaborative engineering-driven process in which we honestly examine every option for making this intersection safer. That is how we honor Gerry and Andie. Not with a political win. With a process worthy of what was lost. Please—let’s determine how to make this intersection safer, not keep asking if it needs to be made safer. So other families won’t have to gather around their table and stare at empty chairs.”
Next to speak was Jeff Wilkins, who was there with his wife Kylie Pressley. He said, “I’m here as a family member of those who lived— and whose lives were lost—at the corner of Belleview and Franklin. When we spoke here last November, we had our Uncle Gerry with us. We are heartbroken, and yes, we are angry, but we want to be constructive.”
He expressed understanding for longtime residents of CHV who are opposed to a light, but, he pointed out, “Greenwood Village has doubled in population since 1990. Cherry Hills Village has grown by 20%. Arapahoe County has 270,000 more residents. This area isn’t a quiet place at the edge of town anymore. Traffic volume, vehicle sizes, and speed have all in-
creased. It’s time the intersection change, too.”
He continued, “Two members of this community are gone. That should be enough. Belleview isn’t a dividing line. This isn’t city versus city. It isn’t about politics or optics. Working together with Greenwood Village to make this intersection safer is the only way forward.”
Wilkins shared, “After Gerry’s death, my wife and I stood at that intersection, placing flowers. I timed drivers waiting one, two, even three minutes, until frustration set in, and they took dangerous risks. When nine out of ten drivers feel pressured into making unsafe moves, the issue isn’t the drivers—it’s the intersection. It is a flawed design, and a traffic light is the simplest, most effective fix.”
He noted that cut-through traffic already exists and “adding a light won’t create new routes,” but measures like “No through traffic” signs or speed bumps could address those concerns.
Wilkins concluded, “Please, do the right thing. Work together with Greenwood Village. Install the light. Protect lives before another tragedy forces your hand.”
Read previous related articles at www.villager publishing.com
Aaron Svoboda, Kylie Pressley, and Jeff Wilkins in front of the Cherry Hills Village City Hall on April 7, 2026.
Photo by Freda Miklin
Dear Readers,
More pointers on funding your Revocable Living Trust
If you have created a revocable living trust as part of your estate plan, remember that only assets transferred to the trust are controlled by the trust and having too many or the wrong kind of assets outside the trust may require that your estate be subjected to probate at your death.
The following pointers may be helpful to you in titling and managing your assets under a trust now and in the future:
1. Basic Trust Title:
The basic title that is recommended for use in holding all assets in the trust is:
“The John Doe Trust dated April 3, 2026”
Some institutions may require slightly different wording; however, the trust name should always appear in the title. It is usually better not to use the name of the trustee in asset titles since the trustee may change between the
time the asset is acquired by the trust and the time it is subsequently sold or transferred.
2. Identification of Trustees/ Statement of Authority:
When acquiring property in the name of a trust, or selling property that is already titled in the name of a trust, it will usually be necessary to furnish some evidence of the identity of the trustee or trustees having authority to sign deeds or other legal documents on behalf of the trust.
Usually, an institution such as a bank or brokerage company will be satisfied with simply receiving a copy of a document entitled Certification of Trust, or copies of the first and signature pages of the trust agreement, rather than the entire trust document. If a successor trustee is acting, the page that appoints the suc-
cessor trustee should also be provided.
Colorado law permits a Statement of Authority to be furnished or recorded as a substitute to show the authority of the trustee or trustees of a trust. This is usually used for transfers of ownership of real estate and is recorded with the applicable trustee’s deed in the county where the real property is located.
What are the four key medical/estate plan documents you need now?
Many of my clients have asked: “What are the critical estate plan documents to have?” Merely 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 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
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.
SPECIAL DISTRICTS Miscellaneous
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 38-26-107, C.R.S., that on May 1, 2026 final settlement with Inliner Solutions, A Puris Company will be made by Havana Water and Sanitation District, for the “2025 Sewer Rehabilitation Project” project subject to satisfactory final inspection and acceptance of said facilities by the District. Any person, co-partnership, association of persons, company or corporation that has furnished labor, materials, team hire, sustenance, provisions, provender, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or his or her subcontractor in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that supplies, laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work whose claim therefore has not been paid by the contractor or subcontractor, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work contracted to be done, may file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid on such claim with Havana Water and Sanitation District, c/o, Nic Carlson, District Manager, 8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 300, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. Failure to file such verified statement or claim prior to final settlement will release the District and its employees and agents from any and all liability for such claim and for making final payment to said contractor.
Havana Water and Sanitation District
Published in The Villager
First Publication: April 2, 2026
Last Publication: April 9, 2026
Legal # 31904
NAME CHANGE
State of Minnesota, County of Anoka,
District Court: Notice of Hearing for Name Change(Minor)
An application for a Name Change has been filed
By Yadira Dvorak to change the name of Dylan Sanchez Aguas to Dylan Dvorak
A hearing will be held on April 8, 2026, at 8:30 a.m.
The hearing will be held remotely via Zoom Meeting ID 161 781 2082 passcode 014887
Published in The Villager
First Publication: March 26, 2026
Last Publication: April 9, 2026
Legal # 5013_PubSwift_Aguas
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Elizabeth Marie
Bergeron, Deceased
Case No.: 25PR31242
All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the Personal Representative or to the District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado on or before July 04, 2026, or said claims may be forever barred.
Skipton S. Reynolds, Attorney for the Petitioner,
Personal Representative 2 Inverness Drive E, Ste. 102 Englewood, Colorado 80112
Published in The Villager
First Publication: April 2, 2026
Last Publication: April 16, 2026
Legal # 5014_Column_NTC Bergeron
PUBLIC NOTICE
Public Notice of Petition for Change of Name
Case No.:25JV17
Public Notice is given on January 30, 2025 that a Petition for a Change of Name of a Minor Child has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court.
The Petition requests that the name of Mosaic Tascyna Martinez Lowe be changed to Mosaic Tascyna Martinez. Case No.:25JV17
Hearing will be held on 04/16/2026 at 10:00 am MST Via WEBEX. Please Contact the Arapahoe County Court Via Phone or in Person at 7375 S. Potomac ST, Centennial CO, 80112 For further information
By: Honorable Judge Hurst Clerk of the Court / Deputy Clerk
Published in The Villager
First Publication: April 2, 2026
Last Publication: April 26, 2026 Legal # 5016_Name Change_25JV17
NOTICE
In accordance with Sec. 106 of the Programmatic Agreement, AT&T plans COLLOCATION TO EXISTING MONOPINE at 5701 S. UNIVERSITY BLVD, GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO 80121. Please direct comments to Gavin L. at 818-391-0449 regarding the site COL01873.
Perspective: Sitting on the Other Bench
BY JERRY PRESLEY
Westlands Park is in Greenwood Village. Inside the park is an amazing sculpture that can only be seen if one is open-minded and willing to see things from a different perspective. It is a 100-foot-tall steel power pole that most people consider an industrial eyesore, and it dominates the southern views. But if you stand in one specific spot—the exact location of a commemorative bench—that tower transforms into something amazing. The steel beams morph into the articulated limbs of a towering insect. Suddenly, the power pole turns into a magnificent Praying Mantis (https://jerrypresley.com/the-praying-mantis).
It is a lesson in the power of empathy: a slight shift in where you stand can change the reality of what you see.
I’ve spent much of my life advocating for this kind of “perspective-shifting.” Recently, however, I’ve seen how difficult it is to maintain that posture when emotions run high. Our community is currently grappling with a heartbreaking challenge at the intersection of Belleview and Franklin—a place where my friends and neighbors, Andie and Gerry Goldberg, both lost their lives.
In the wake of such tragedy, it is natural to retreat to our own “benches.” On one side, there is an urgent call for a traffic light to prevent further loss. On the other, there is a deeply held desire to protect the serenity of neighborhood streets and avoid the “destruction” of property that sidewalks or eminent domain might bring.
When we stay fixed on our own side of the street, we only see the “power pole”—the eyesore, the costs, and the “Us vs. Them” of jurisdictional lines.
I recently shared my thoughts with Mayor Katy Brown and the Cherry Hills Village City Council. The Mayor rightly pointed out that her duty is to represent the specific needs and concerns of her citizens, some of whom worry that safety measures like lights or sidewalks might fundamentally alter the character of their community. She is right to listen to those voices. Every perspective in this debate is rooted in a valid concern: some people fear for their lives, others fear for their serenity.
But the “Mantis” teaches us that these aren’t two different objects; they are two perspectives of the same reality.
To find a solution, we must be willing to “sit on the other bench.” We need to look at the options—the traffic light, the sidewalks, the pedestrian underpasses, and the traffic-calming measures—not as wins or losses for one city or the other, but as a collective palette for a safer community.
I am not asking for a “win.” I am asking for a process of unity. I am asking both the Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village councils to step back and look at this intersection together. A joint staff report isn’t about ignoring one city’s needs; it’s about creating a common set of facts so that we can all see the same Mantis.
So, I invite our elected officials to metaphorically, or perhaps literally, sit on each other’s benches. Listen with the genuine intention of truly seeing what the other side sees. If we approach this with an open mind rather than a defensive posture, we might discover a compromise that honors both the “serenity” of our neighborhoods and the safety of our neighbors.
The solution to political polarization isn’t agreement; it’s the courage to change where you stand until you finally see the hidden good-faith effort in the person across the aisle. Let’s look for the Mantis together.
(Jerry Presley is a former Greenwood Village city councilmember. For more information visit AndiesLight.com.)
(Sitting on the bench, admiring the Praying Mantis sculpture are Greenwood Village city employees: From L to R: Anthony Martinez, Kevin Bertrand, and Troy Dussart.
Photo by crew chief Craig Reichard
Closeup of the plaque on the back of the bench
CITY OF CENTENNIAL OFFICE
MOVIE NIGHTS
Applications open for the Neighborhood Engagement Grant, and residents can rescue movie night kits. Apply at Centennialco.gov/ movies for use between May 22 and Sept. 4. A $250 refundable deposit is required.
MUSEUM OF OUTDOOR ARTS
MADDEN GALLERY “BEYOND THE WESTERN HORIZON”
MARCH 19-JULY 31. Tue.-Fri. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sat. to be announced.
CENTRAL CITY OPERA’S THEATRE OF DREAMS GALA
Celebrating 70th Anniversary - commission of the Ballad of Baby Doe. FRIDAY, APRIL 10 5:30 PM - Denver Art Museum cocktails, dinner, live performances. Black-tie fundraiser, gold and silver attire encouraged. RSVP deadline Fri March 20 Buy tickets or sponsor: centralcityopera.org/gala
CHERRY CREEK REPUBLICAN
GENERAL MEETING/LUNCHEON
TUE., APRIL 14. 11-11:30 a.m. Social Time, Meeting 11:30 a.m. Double Tree by Hilton, DTC, 7801 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village. Free parking. Cost is $38. Speakers: Amanda Hardin on training and responsible gun ownership and Jay Schneiderman speaking on what is going on today in the Middle East from his perspective. Prepayment online at www.cherrycreekrepublicanwomen.org. Questions: May Jane Cox 303-880-6582.
CANCER LEAGUE OF COLORADO FRIENDS OF CANCER LEAGUE
GENERAL MEETING
THURS., APRIL 16 at Mama Kim Malaysian Fusion, 8745 E. Orchard Rd., Greenwood Village. Election of officers, nominating committee members and funds allocation committee members, changes to the CLC Bylaws. RSVP by April 11 at 5 p.m. to 41shipman@gmail.com or barbarassreece@aol.com
COLORADO BALLET ONE GALA
THURS., APRIL 16, Denver Center
Performing Arts Complex. Jill Anschutz, chair. 5:00 p.m. cocktail reception - Ellie Caulkins Opera House; 7:00 p.m. dinner, honoring Artistic Director Gil Bogg’s for 20-year anniversary with Colorado Ballet in Seawell Ballroom. 9:00 p.m. performances in Opera House; 10:00 p.m. Dessert, music & dancing.
REMEMBER 6-SIX MILLION JEWS
PERISHED IN THE HOLOCAUSTREMEMBER & LEARN
SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2-4 p.m. Babi Yar Park in Denver, 10451 E. Yale Ave., Denver. A line-up of speakers.
SOUTH METRO CHAMBER
BUSINESS IN FULL BLOOM
ANNUAL BUSINESS AWARDS
SHOW APRIL 24, 6-10 p.m. Reservations 303-7950142.
17 MILE HOUSE TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE
SAT., APRIL 25, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Unearthing the Past! The archaeological story of 17 Mile House built in the mid-1800s as a restaurant stop for pioneers traveling the Smoky HillCherokee Trail. The property later became a dairy and cattle ranch before its preservation as a heritage park. 8181 S. Park Rd., Centennial. Free event. Register at arapahoeco. gov/17milehouse.
FRIENDS OF NURSING SPRING LUNCHEON AND SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS PRESENTATION
On SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 2026, at 11 am. Please join us as we celebrate our 45th Anniversary, honor our Founder, Greta Pollard, bid on Silent Auction items, and award $180,000 in nursing scholarships! This event will be held at Cherry Hills Country Club, 4125 S. University Blvd., Cherry Hills Village, CO, 80113. For information, please call 720-8913412.
13TH ANNUAL “A PERFECT PAIRING”
APRIL 25 4 p.m. Enjoy unlimited Food & Beer pairings. All proceeds help send children and adults with disabilities to EasterSeals Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Village in Empire, CO. Tickets: aesbid.org/ELP/ESCANPO 26
MS. COLORADO SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT
SAT., APRIL 25, 2 p.m. at the Mizel Arts & Cultural Center’s Elaine Wolf Theater, celebrating women 60 and better. Contestants will compete in interview, evening gown, Philosophy of life & talent. Featuring former Colorado. Queens, the Tambourine Group, The Bella Dance Group, and special musical guests. Ms. Colorado Senior America 2026 will be crowned and advance to the national pageant in October. Tickets: 303-316-6360.
CANCER LEAGUE CAR RAFFLE
Win a 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4. Drawing at the Hope Ball MAY 2, 2026, HyattRegency DTC, 9 p.m. You do not have to be present to win. Donated by Doug Moreland’s Family & Family of Dealerships. Only 3000 tickets sold. Info: www.cancerleague.org
CHERRY CREEK REPUBLICAN WOMEN LADY LIBERTY
LUNCHEON
TUE., MAY 12, 11:00 a.m. Doubletree Hilton, 7801 E. Orchard Rd. $50 per person. Pre-pay by Monday, May 4 at www. cherrycreekrepublicanwomen.org
CENTENNIAL FINE ARTS
FESTIVAL
MAY 30-31 at the Streets at SouthGlenn. Featuring award-winning regional & national artists. Sponsored by the Centennial Arts & Cultural Foundation. Deadline to submit art is Feb. 28. https://artist.callforentry.org/festivals
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT YOUTH TRAILBLAZER SUMMER CAMP
JUNE 15-19. Helps middle school students develop an understanding of basic business principles & the professional world. Scan the QR code in The Villager March 12 issue, page 14.
SECOND ANNUAL AMERICA’S MILITARY HEROES GOLF EVENT
MON., JULY 27, Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Course benefiting Semper Fl and America’s Fund. Be a golfer, non-golfer, sponsor a hole or District Challenge. Call 301-404-2706 or militaryheroesgolf@gmail.com
WESTERN CONSERVATIVE SUMMIT
JULY 31-AUGUST 1. 250th Anniversary 1776. After a two-year hiatus, this milestone Summit will consider “A New Birth of Freedom: Reigniting the American Dream.” Learn more: Western Conservative Summit.com
CLUB NEWS
OPTIMIST CLUB OF MONACO SOUTH
FRIDAYS from 7-8 a.m. for the pasts 49 years. American Legion Hall, Yale & I-25. Call Frank 303-759-9232 for a free breakfast. Have fun meeting new friends and an opportunity to give back to the community.
DENVER LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at 12 noon at the American Legion Hall, I-25 & Yale. Interested in joining? Call Bob, 720-313-9741.
ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 a.m. At Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway,Englewood. Info: Gail 720-377-7682.
WHAT’S NEW?
“COLORADO CONNECTOR” OR “COCO” IS SSTHE NEW NAME FOR FUTURE FRONT RANGE
PASSENGER RAIL TRAIN
The rail train is planned to link communities from Fort Collins to Pueblo. The name was selected by more than 28,000 votes on April 6, 2006.
LITTLETON FINE ARTS GUILD
“A TOUCH OF COLOR” . Visit the Depot Art Gallery at 2069 W. Powers, just north of the Buck Recreation Center. Hours Wed.-Sat. 11-4 p.m. Show runs until April 19. www.depotartgallery.org
COLORADO REPUBLICANS TO HOLD 2026 STATE ASSEMBLY IN PUEBLO
APRIL 11 - CSU Pueble Massari Arena.
SIGN UP FOR JOB ALERTS
Arapahoe County is hiring. Visit jobs. arapahoeco.gov. This is a new site.
“BLACK BASEBALL’S HEYDAY”
Capturing an Era in Art and Words, Written by Villager author Denny Dressman and Art by Anthony High. Pre-Order Now! https://www.
mcfarlandbooks.com/product/Black-BaseballsHeyday/
RENEW YOUR VEHICLE REGISTRATION
Renewal kiosks are fast, easy and issue you tags on the spot? Go to COMVExpress.com to find a location near you.
BUSINESS NEWS
ASH & AGAVE RESTAURANT NOW OPEN
Inspired by the shores of the Mexican Rivierabringing costal Mexican flavor to the table where smoke, salt, and citrus lead the way. Fresh seafood and fire-kissed meats. Cherry Creek Shopping Center, Lower Level near Neiman Marcs. 720-464-3819.
RODIZIO GRILL “THE BRAZILIAN STEAK HOUSE”
LOCATED IN THE DTC AT 125 & Dry Creek and Downtown Denver, 18th & Wynnkoop
FIRST AMERICAN STATE BANK
Locally Owner and operated. 8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 100, Greenwood Village.
MOVET - PRIMARY CARE
VETERINARY SERVICES
In Home, In Clinic or Virtual. Locally owned woman owned business. 4912 S. Newport St., Denver. Call 720-507-7387 MovetCare. com
NEED AN ATTORNEY?
Call Donald Peterson for a free telephone or video consultation. 303-758-0999. Email: Donald@PetersonLaw.Co Located at 5675 DTC Boulevard, Suite 250, Greenwood Village.
OLIVER’S “A TOAST TO THE TASSSEL!”
Host a graduation celebration on the fullprivate terrace. Accommodates 10-15 guests seated or up to 80 guests reception style. RSVP: nicole@oliversitalian.com
AISLYN DERMATOLOGY
Dr. Aislyn Nelson MD, PhD dermatologist is located in Lincoln Medical Center, 11960 Lioness Way, Ste. 225, Parker. 719-992-0127. www.aislynderm.com “We Do It All.”
JOSHUA TREE EXPERTSCERTIFIED ARBORISTS
Schedule a Winter Arborist Inspection to develop a tree care plan for the winter time.303-229-8777. www.joshuatreeexperts. com/denver-south-co
ROGERS & SONS INC. - ELEVATED CLIMATE CONTROL
Curated Cooling & A/C Services; Radiant Heating & Snow Melt Integration; Whole-Home Humidification and more. Private Consultations: 720-408-7411. https://rogershvac.com
CARLA’S A CLASSIC DESIGN
From unique gifts to festive decor. Shop small
and local at The Streets at Southglenn, 6851 S. Gaylord St., Centennial. 303-683-0372
GE TREE SERVICE
Trusted & Reliable for 20 years. A Certified Arborist, Licensed & Insured, Family Owned & Operated.Free estimates. Call 303-500-2017. www.coloradotreeremoval.com
