Aging is often described as a season of wisdom, reflection, and new beginnings. People talk about retirement, grandchildren, travel, and the freedom that comes with fewer responsibilities. Yet another side of aging is rarely discussed: the deep emotional pain of letting go. One of the hardest transitions many older adults face is leaving the home where they built a lifetime of memories and moving into a smaller apartment in an assisted living community.
ing out a house. It can feel like sorting through chapters of their own identity. Moving into her new place feels arduous and overwhelming.
most: love, relationships, faith, stories, memories, and the impact we have had on others.
For some, the move signifies safety, convenience, and a new chapter. Many senior communities offer wonderful opportunities: exercise classes, social events, beautiful gardens, art groups, music, friendships, and activities that keep residents engaged. There can be laughter in the dining room, friendships formed over coffee, and moments of joy as new routines take shape. But before those opportunities begin, there is often a painful journey through grief and loss.
Currently, I am assisting my dear friend with this process. She is a tender soul, deeply attached to her many memories. Her husband of fifty-three years passed away three years ago. She was only recently emotionally able to clear out his closet. She has been managing the responsibilities of owning a large home where she raised her four children. This past year, she has had some health issues, and her children want her to be protected and cared for in a community tailored to older adults’ needs.
Moving is not simply about changing addresses. It is about saying goodbye to a life carefully built over decades. The house was where her children took their first steps, where birthday cakes were baked, where her family gathered around the holiday table, and where her grandchildren ran through the rooms with excitement. Every corner holds a story. The mark on the wall where a child grew taller. The kitchen cabinet filled with favorite recipes. The garden where flowers were planted year after year. The garage filled with tools, projects, and reminders of a lifetime of creating and contributing. As I help her, the overwhelming task is deciding what stays and what goes. A lifetime of treasures and oversized furniture must suddenly fit into a few small rooms. The China cabinet holding dishes passed down from a parent may not fit. The books collected over fifty years may need to be donated. The photographs, letters, awards, handmade crafts, greeting cards, and sentimental items must be sorted into piles: keep, give away, sell, or discard. For an older adult, this is not just clean-
The apartment and facility may be beautiful, clean, and comfortable, but they are unfamiliar. The furniture will not fit. The windows look out on a different view. The sounds of her neighborhood, the birds, the neighbors, the familiar footsteps, and the predictable rhythm of her life are changing. In her tenderness, I remind her that it takes courage and strength to begin again. This is yet another challenge of getting older. Aging asks us to release what we cannot keep while holding tightly to what matters
The transition may be brutal. The grief may be real. Yet within that grief lies something beautiful, a reminder that a meaningful life cannot be boxed. The treasures that matter most were never the things on shelves. They were the moments, the people, and the love that filled the rooms. A smaller apartment may hold fewer possessions, but it can still hold a lifetime of memories.
I am reminding my friend that although it is difficult, letting go of these things and embracing this new life enables her to live in abundance, surrounded not by things but by friendship, care, and love. Indeed, with the right mindset, her glory days lie ahead. She has certainly earned them. joneen@narme.org
For nearly a decade, one of the most visible parcels of undeveloped land in Greenwood Village has sat quietly along Interstate 25, waiting for its future to be decided.
Today, that future is finally taking shape.
Construction has begun on The Village at Landmark, a 13-acre residential community that will bring approximately 90 luxury homes to the heart of Greenwood Village. The development rep resents far more than a new housing project. It marks the successful conclusion of a long chapter in the city’s history and provides an answer to a challenge many residents have faced for years.
Selling a large home on a 2½-acre lot often means leaving the community altogether because there have been relatively few opportunities to move into a smaller, more manageable home while remaining in Greenwood Village or Cherry Hills Village.
BY BOB SWEENEY PUBLISHER
The Village at Landmark helps address that need.
a defining issue in local elections. Citizens organized and council members were voted out. The voters made their voices heard through the Save Our Village movement.
The result was a lengthy search for a solution that balanced property rights, neighborhood concerns and the long-term interests of the city.
That search appears to have found its answer.
State Bank, giving the company a direct stake in the success of the community where it is based. That local connection makes the project especially meaningful.
The development will add new residents, strengthen the local tax base, support nearby businesses and provide housing opportunities that have long been in short supply. Most importantly, it will transform a vacant property into a thriving neighborhood.
Greenwood Village and neighboring Cherry Hills Village are home to some of Colorado’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Many residents have lived in their homes for decades, raising families and building strong ties to their communities.
As those residents enter a new stage of life, many would like to remain close to friends, churches, businesses and community organizations they have supported for years. Yet options have been limited.
expected to range from approximately $1.7 million to $3 million, will provide an opportunity for residents to downsize without leaving the community they love. They will offer luxury living with less maintenance, fewer landscaping demands and a lifestyle better suited to many empty-nesters and retirees.
The development is being built by Century Communities, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders and one of Colorado’s largest residential developers. Nationally recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most
As construction equipment moves dirt and foundations begin to take shape, residents are witnessing more than the beginning of a housing development. They are seeing the successful resolution of an issue that has occupied public discussion for years.
Equally important, the project brings productive use to a property that has been the subject of extensive public debate.
Longtime residents will remember the controversy surrounding earlier proposals for the site. Plans for a major commercial development generated strong opposition and became
Trustworthy Companies, Century Communities has built homes across the country for more than two decades.
What many residents may not realize is that Century Communities is headquartered right here in Greenwood Village. Its corporate offices occupy the upper floors of the building that also houses First American
Credit belongs to the Greenwood Village City Council, city staff, community leaders and residents who stayed engaged throughout the process. Their efforts helped produce a project that respects the character of the community while addressing a genuine housing need.
After years of uncertainty, the future of this important property is finally coming into focus.
For Greenwood Village, that’s a victory worth celebrating.
See pages 8 and 9 for more on the new community.
DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Thomas McTighe production@villagerpublishing.com
ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Susan Lanam — 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com
Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388 cogambler@mac.com
Gerri Sweeney — 720-313-9751 gerri@villagerpublishing.com
Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS Gerri 303-773-8313
EDITORIAL COLUMNIST
Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com
Proudly introduces Sean O’Donnell, your qualified Home, Auto, and Liability Insurance Advisor
Call to schedule a risk evaluation today!
Q: Please share your local background.
A: I grew up in Greenwood Village and attended Cherry Creek High School. During my high school and college years, I caddied and worked as a bag room supervisor at Cherry Hills Country Club and Glenmoor Country Club. I greatly appreciated my time at these clubs as I grew a deep understanding of this community and the families in it. I’m proud to raise my family here and to continue to serve the people I grew up around.
Q: What’s the most common mistake high-profile families make with their insurance?
A: Carrying coverage designed for the mass market when your asset profile demands something fundamentally different. Standard policies are built around average replacement costs and average liability exposure, whereas high-net-worth families are not average in either category. The gap between what a standard policy pays and what it actually costs to rebuild, replace, or defend is usually only discovered after a loss. It’s my job to set up your insurance properly to ensure that you are made whole after a loss.
Q: What does an umbrella policy actually protect — and how much is enough?
A: An umbrella policy provides liability coverage in the event that you are personally sued. How much is enough should be anchored to your total net worth and exposure. I work with families carrying umbrella coverage from $1M to $100M+. The cost relative to the protection is one of the best values in personal insurance.
Q: What’s changed in the private client insurance market that families should know about?
A: The market has tightened considerably, particularly for high-value homes in Colorado. Carriers have reduced appetite for certain zip codes and home rebuild costs have risen sharply since 2020. Homes that were adequately insured three years ago are likely underinsured today. Families should be reviewing their policies annually, if not multiple times per year.
Q: What should a family look for when choosing a private client insurance broker?
Q: How is insuring a $4M home in Cherry Hills different from a typical homeowners policy?
A: On a total loss, a standard policy pays “Actual Cash Value,” i.e. the depreciated value. A private client policy from a carrier such as Pure Insurance or Chubb pays “Guaranteed Replacement Cost,” where the home is rebuilt to its original standard regardless of what it costs at the time of the claim. Private client carriers also provide dedicated claims teams and on-site risk consultations.
A: For families in this community, I’d suggest working with someone local; someone who grew up here and understands what it means to own property, raise a family, and build a life here. Access to the right carriers matters, too. Pure, Chubb, AIG Private Client, and a handful of others are built specifically for this market and are not available through every broker.
Beyond that, look for someone who holds specialized credentials in private risk, understands your full asset picture, and treats the relationship as long-term rather than transactional. I hold a credential in Private Risk and Insurance Advisory from the Private Risk Management Association and have spent my professional career exclusively in this space. I would be happy to meet with you!
BY FREDA MIKLIN SENIOR REPORTER
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
In 2019, a 25-person citizens committee, comprised of business and nonprofit leaders from around the county, met half a dozen times before deciding to recommend a property tax hike of $68 a year on the average Arapahoe County home to fund a much-needed new Arapahoe County Detention Center. The plan was to scrape and rebuild the jail, built in 1986 to house 386 inmates, which was then holding 1,100 to 1,200 people daily, 70% of whom were pre-trial detainees who had not been convicted of a crime. By a two to one margin, voters said no to the tax increase to rebuild the jail, which was estimated to cost $464 million.
Then COVID happened, along with criminal justice reform, both of which resulted in a reduced jail population, but the current average is still 850-950 inmates, 2.3 times the number the facility was expected
to accommodate when it was built 40 years ago. In addition to a lack of space for inmates and particularly, medical care, the building had multiple infrastructure issues, including its plumbing and electricity.
Last month, the county announced it had completed a major expansion and renovation of the Detention Center. Using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money from the federal government, the jail now has a new 22,000-square foot kitchen and laundry facility to support more efficient operations and better conditions
for both staff and inmates.
Additionally, 12,000 square feet of new health services space has been added, significantly increasing medical and behavioral health capacity, allowing staff to better support individuals with complex health needs. According to the county, “Approximately 90 percent of individuals in custody have a medical or mental health condition, and only 15 percent are actively participating in treatment programs. The expanded space will allow staff to better monitor, treat, and support those individuals
in a safer, more appropriate environment.”
New features include improved medical exam rooms with direct access to the ambulance bay, enhanced observation areas, and safety-focused design elements such as self-harm-resistant fixtures and advanced monitoring systems. The space was designed to support health and dignity, with natural light incorporated throughout, ADA-compliant cells and bathrooms, and in-cell features such as controllable lighting and power outlets to support medical equipment like CPAP machines.
Arapahoe County Sheriff Tyler Brown said, “This is a purpose-built space designed for the realities we face today. It helps our team do their jobs more effectively and ensures they can go home safely at the end of each day. Our goal is compassionate accountability. We are responsible
On June 9, Common Sense Institute sponsored a panel discussion on some of the laws that were considered by the 2026 Colorado general assembly. Former Aurora City Council Member Dustin Zvonek, who was on the staff of Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman when he was a Member of Congress, and who currently holds the position of Homelessness Fellow at Common Sense Institute (CSI), moderated the discussion between a Republican and a Democratic legislator.
Elected to the State House in 2024, El Paso County State Rep. Jarvis Caldwell (R-HD20), a 10year U.S. Air Force veteran, is House Minority Leader. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council.
Elected to the State Senate in 2022, after serving four years in the State House, Adams County State Sen. Kyle Mullica, is an Emergency Department nurse. He chairs both the Senate’s Health & Human Services Committee and its Capital Development Com-
mittee, while also serving on the Finance Committee and the Transportation & Energy Committee. His wife, Julie Duran Mullica, is an Adams County Commissioner.
Asked where he found common ground with Democrats during the 2026 legislative session, Caldwell pointed out that doing so was the only way he could get legislation passed, since there were 43 Democrats and 22 Republicans in the
State House during the 2026 session. Caldwell named energy policy, the business regulatory climate, crime, and child sex trafficking as areas where he successfully worked with Democrats in sponsoring legislation that was passed and signed by Gov. Polis.
Mullica named school funding and holding the executive director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing ac-
for maintaining safety and order, but we also recognize that many people in our care have medical and behavioral health needs. This expansion allows us to provide a higher level of service while helping individuals address the issues that brought them here.”
Board of County Commissioners Chair Leslie Summey said, “This project is a clear example of what it means to invest in Arapahoe. We couldn’t replace the facility entirely, so we took a thoughtful, creative approach to make the most of what we have and make it more effective.” She continued, “It says to the folks who find themselves here, ‘you are still OK.’ Arapahoe County cares for its residents. We care for everybody.”
Construction of the improvements began in 2023 and was completed in phases to keep the facility fully operational. The cost was $46.4 million in ARPA funds.
challenges.” Mullica pointed out that the budget constraints facing the state have affected every member of the legislature, noting that any bill one introduced that had a fiscal note was going to “have a hard path forward,” regardless of one’s party. He also noted that the positive aspect of severe fiscal constraints on the legislature is that every bill is examined very carefully to determine if its potential cost is warranted.
countable for high-profile mismanagement of Medicaid funds that cost the state more than $30 million in the current fiscal year before the billing code error was discovered, as areas where both parties worked together to accomplish common goals.
Zvonek next asked Mullica how the state’s “fiscal reality impacted Democrats’ priorities this year” and about “the long-term structure of Colorado’s budget
Zvonek asked Caldwell where the parties agree and disagree about the cause of the state’s long and shortterm budget issues. Caldwell said that Joint Budget Committee staff have been sounding the alarm about the structural deficit, “going back to 2020-2021,” adding that the budget shortfall was $1.2 billion in 2025, $1 billion in 2026, and expected to be “at least $700 million in 2027.” He also shared that, despite significant cuts, “the budget we passed this year was a record $46.8 billion,” compared to $29 billion in 2019, thus, “We need to reign in some of this spending.” He pointed to the fact that Medicaid costs go up every year, despite enrollment being flat.
Continued on page 7
Continued from page 6
Caldwell also said that some House members blame the federal government for the cuts in HR-1, the Congressional bill that cut federal taxes, resulting in state taxes, which are based on federal rates and rules, also going down. He also noted that some representatives blame TABOR for the state’s budget problems, while others think it has prevented them.
Mullica was pleased to share that the general assembly has created a Commission on Medicaid, comprised of 13 senators and representatives, to be
chaired by Republican Sen. Lisa Frizell, to “identify, consider, and evaluate legislative and executive branch action options to implement a sustainable Medicaid program. (It will) identify, consider and evaluate recommendations regarding implementing federal Medicaid policy changes in 2026, 2027, and 2028, and appropriately supporting Coloradans impacted by those policy changes.” The Commission will issue a report by December 11, 2026.
Zvonek pointed to SB26-137, a bipartisan regulatory review measure adopted in 2026 “requiring
state agencies to review regulations every five years and eliminate outdated or duplicative rules.” Caldwell, who is the Minority Leader, noted that he co-sponsored the bill with the Majority Leader. Everyone agreed it was done in response to the business community of Colorado saying that we have too many regulations. Colorado has been identified as the sixth most regulated state in the nation.
The moderator asked Sen. Mullica to address the recent slowdown in our state’s population growth, and whether “state policies, like taxes, regulations,
housing, and labor laws have contributed to it; and what can the general assembly do to restore Colorado’s competitiveness?” Mullica conceded that there have been missteps in public policy, but, he said, “The biggest issue is that Colorado has become extremely unaffordable… and we can do better… How do we break down the barriers so that affordable housing can be built?” He noted that the construction defects issue is still a hindrance to building condominiums despite multiple attempts by the legislature to solve it.
Caldwell agreed that the
cost of living is a hurdle for people who want to come to live in Colorado, particularly the cost of housing for young adults. He also said that many of the efforts to control rent and other costs have not had the desired impact of protecting tenants from overly aggressive landlords. Rather, they have scared off developers of new housing. That is consistent with what we heard from developers at a recent multifamily housing forum we reported on in the May 28 issue of The Villager
Whatever you may think about sports betting, it has provided a great benefit to water projects in our state. Since sports betting became legal in May 2020, the state has collected more than $154 million in taxes, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board has provided grants totaling $140 million to projects that preserve and conserve Colorado’s water. That positive impact is accompanied by a growing observation that sports betting is viewed as “the next big public health crisis” by the executive director of the Problem Gambling Coalition of Colorado.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) filed a federal civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, on behalf of a student at Boulder’s Southern Hills Middle School who faced antisemitic harassment from other students that was “pervasive, escalating, and severe.”
ADL alleges that records show that despite repeated incidents, leading to formal school reports and an official police investigation, the school district failed to
effectively address the problem.
Construction work at Centennial Stadium, which will be the home base of Colorado’s professional women’s soccer team, Denver Summit FC, is progressing. The official opening is planned for July 18, when the Summit will take on the Portland Thorns. When it’s finished, the facility will have three full-size soccer pitches, a state-ofthe-art recovery center including a gym, treatment area, hydrotherapy, and sauna; private player locker room and dedicated nutrition bar, plus an elite training core, integrating strength and conditioning, sports science, and sports medicine.
The 20,000-square-foot elite performance center, situated on 43 acres, is being built from the ground up as a partnership between the City of Centennial, Cherry Creek School District, and Common Spirit Health.
Congressional District
Four Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert has announced that she has gotten more than $16 million in “critical community project funding
requests” for her district included in the Fiscal Year 2027 Appropriations Bills that have advanced through the House Appropriations Committee. These bills will continue to move through committee markups, then on to the Senate, which will work on them, as the legislative calendar progresses toward the fall.
Boebert’s Democratic opponent in the November general election will be retired U.S. Navy Admiral Eileen Laubacher, a mother of five and grandmother of three who served on the National Security Council as Senior Director for South Asia from 2022 to 2024.
By the time you read this, all 82 branches of FirstBank in Colorado will have been rebranded to PNC Bank FirstBank had been the region’s largest locally based, Colorado-chartered bank until its owner, FirstBank Holding Company, was acquired by Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank in January for $4.1 billion. Of FirstBank’s 2,500 Colorado employees, 777 were laid off as PNC consolidated its Colorado operations. All those people were offered an opportu-
nity to fill open positions at the company, according to PNC, but they did not say where those jobs were located. Before the two banks combined, FirstBank held 12.33% share of the Colorado market and PNC had 0.95%, according to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. After the merger, the new PNC Bank will be Colorado’s second largest, behind Wells Fargo.
Arapahoe County Coroner Dr. Kelly C. Lear, a board-certified physician in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology and Forensic Pathology who began her career with that office two decades ago, is retiring effective June 30. During her distinguished career, Dr. Lear has performed thousands of medicolegal examinations, provided expert testimony in criminal proceedings, published peer-reviewed work in forensic and medical journals, and shared her expertise with colleagues locally and nationally. She has also done important work related to sudden unexpected death in childhood, having served on the Colorado State Child Fatality Prevention Review Team. Her leadership has
been recognized around the state and the nation.
Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain announced that Robin Wise, President & CEO, will retire at the end of 2026, concluding an extraordinary 35-year career with the organization. The JA-Rocky Mountain Board of Directors has begun the process of searching for a worthy successor to Ms. Wise, known for her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to young people’s success in the world.
Lynn Bartels, 69, a highly regarded and well-liked Colorado political reporter for 22 years, lost her battle to glioblastoma on June 19. Bartels, who wrote for the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post, was known as being tenacious in her reporting and fiercely fair to Democrats and Republicans alike, (though she had a favorite). There was hardly a politician in this state who she didn’t know, nor was there one who didn’t like and respect her for her hard work and unflinching honesty.
The
Homes
Dear Readers,
What are the legal requirements to disclaim an inheritance?
As noted in a previous article, a beneficiary may want to disclaim an inheritance for many reasons, including avoid estate taxes, to protect government benefits, to dodge creditors, to prevent unwanted property liabilities, or to pass assets to the next generation in line.
To successfully disclaim an inheritance, the beneficiary must sign a
“qualified disclaimer”. The key elements for such a disclaimer are as follows:
The refusal to inherit must be in writing and delivered within 9 months of the decedent’s death and must be made before receiving anything of value, or any benefits from
E-mail:
the disclaimed inheritance.
The beneficiary must not have accepted or used any benefit from the asset before making the disclaimer. The beneficiary must not have received any consideration or anything of value for making the disclaimer.
The beneficiary cannot dictate who receives the assets next. The property automatically passes to the next person in line according to the will, trust, or state succession laws. Disclaimers are irrevocable and are binding on the beneficiary, as well as on the beneficiary’s heirs, successors and assigns. Thus, it is best to consult with a qualified estate planning attorney before
refusing any asset.
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.
As a courtesy, there is no charge for my initial consultation with clients. I have served seniors and their families for over 48 years regarding their medical and estate planning needs.
I received an email last week that reminded me of a historic moment in my youth.
In the email, Major League Baseball told Rockies fans how to access an app that would enable them to vote as many as seven times a day for their favorite players in All-Star Game balloting, in particular for Hunter Goodman in the Rockies’ case.
My immediate thought was of Cincinnati in 1957 and how things have changed.
Ford Frick, who had been National League President before becoming Major League Baseball’s third commissioner, was not pleased. “I can take it if we lose,” he said, “but I strongly object to our league making a burlesque out of the AllStar Game. I never want to see such an exhibition again.”
That was the year— if you’re old enough to recall— when rabid baseball fans in The Queen City stuffed the ballot boxes and elected seven Reds starters to the 24th All-Star Game at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
The Redlegs, as they were called then to avoid any suggestion that the Reds were commie-associated, were riding the crest of success they hadn’t experienced in more than a decade.
A National League pennant was still possible when Cincinnati went to Chicago for the final weekend of the 1956 season (when the slugging Reds tied the major league team record for home runs held by the Yankees and sent five starters to the Game Between the Leagues).
A year later Cincinnati was in first place for 39 days between May 11 and that year’s All-Star Game.
Packing the 1957 NL starting lineup with Reds players was a real community effort.
Local television pioneer Ruth Lyons, who hosted the first midday TV talk show, The 50/50 Club, urged her legion of followers daily to vote for those Redlegs.
The radio voice of the Reds, Waite Hoyt, who won 237 games for the Yankees and six other teams in a 21-year Hall of Fame career, pushed voting for the home team’s players during every game broadcast.
Taverns and bars—of which there are many in the Greater Cincinnati area—made filling out a ballot a condition of service for patrons. Burger Beer, radio sponsor of all Reds broadcasts, provided thousands of ballots.
The Cincinnati Times-Star, one of Cincinnati’s two evening newspapers at that time, published a ballot daily that had fill-in blanks for all eight positions and listed the Reds’ starting lineup alongside—above the admonition, “Vote Early! Vote Often!”
And fans of all ages (including yours truly) filled out ballots from home and sent them in. One reportedly submitted 1,400 ballots herself, another 820. I wasn’t yet a teenager, but I originated my share, too.
Baseball Commissioner
Frick responded by replacing two Cincinnati starters, Gus Bell and Wally Post, with Willie Mays and Hank Aaron, and, more emphatically, taking All-Star Game voting away from the fans.
Frick’s alternative was to have the players, managers and coaches choose the starters from among their opponents. Each would be allowed two votes for opposing players at each position.
Stan Musial, making his 14th All-Star appearance, was the only non-Cincinnati player voted into the NL starting lineup in 1957. He played the whole game at first base and had a double and a walk in four plate appearances.
The six Redlegs who made the team—catcher Ed Bailey, third baseman Don Hoak, shortstop Roy McMillan, second baseman Johnny Temple, left fielder Frank Robinson and demoted center fielder Gus Bell—went a combined 3-for10, and Bell, who drew their only walk, drove in two runners with a pinch hit double. (Aaron and Mays went a combined 3-for-8.)
The AL won 6-5, the winning pitcher starter Jim Bunning, a native of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.
Not until 1970—the infamous All-Star Game ironically played in Cincinnati and decided when the Reds’ Pete Rose, who grew up in Cincinnati, obliterated catcher Ray Fosse to score the game-winner in the 12th inning—did Bowie Kuhn restore suffrage to the fans. He oversaw distribution of 26 million ballots to once again legalize fan participation.
The top vote-getters in 1957, Cincinnati’s Frank Robinson and Ed Bailey, received just under three-quarters of a million votes each. That’s less than six percent combined of the total ballots circulated 13 years later.
One month before this summer’s All-Star Game, the top vote-getters—Shohei Ohtani in the NL and Yordan Alvarez in the AL—each had already received more than a million votes.
I’m left to wonder: What would Ford Frick say?
Denny Dressman writes a weekly sports column for The Villager. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@ comcast.net.
Standing on the deck of a small boat in the North Atlantic, I stared at two jagged sea stacks rising from the ocean beneath gray skies and a steady wind. Known as Drangarnir, these dramatic rock formations are among the Faroe Islands’ most recognizable landmarks. Movie fans may recognize them as Neverland in Disney’s “Peter Pan & Wendy.”
It was an appropriate introduction to a place that often feels more like a fantasy world than a modern travel destination.
When Denver’s summer heat turns relentless, where better to escape than the windy, rainy, and decidedly chilly North Atlantic? That was my thinking as I set off for a weeklong exploration of two of the world’s most fascinating destinations: the Faroe Islands and Iceland.
Getting there is easier than one might expect. Icelandair offers a nonstop flight from Denver to Reykjavik. After a short layover, a brief flight took me to Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands, roughly halfway between Iceland and Norway. Although the islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, they feel like a world unto themselves.
I rented a car and quickly realized that driving is the best way to explore the Faroes. The islands are linked by an impressive network of bridges, causeways, and tunnels, making travel surprisingly easy despite the rugged
terrain.
One tunnel featured perhaps the most unusual traffic circle I have ever encountered. Located entirely beneath the ocean floor, the roundabout connects tunnels from three different islands. Even more impressive, it is illuminated by colorful artwork that transforms an ordinary drive into something resembling a science-fiction movie.
The weather was exactly as advertised. Sunshine could quickly give way to fog, rain, and strong winds, only to clear again a few minutes later. Even in summer, warm, waterproof clothing was essential.
I stayed in Tórshavn, one of the world’s smallest capital cities. My Airbnb overlooked the harbor, and each evening
I enjoyed local specialties, including lamb and freshly caught fish. The Faroese take pride in their food, much of it sourced from the surrounding ocean or from the sheep that seem to outnumber the people.
One afternoon, I joined a boat excursion through narrow channels and beneath towering cliffs. The landscape was spectacular, but the stars of the trip were the puffins. These small seabirds look almost cartoonish, with their brightly colored beaks and awkward appearance. Watching them launch from grassy cliffs and dive into the ocean was one of the highlights of the journey.
The Faroe Islands have been described as “extreme and slightly bonkers,” and I would agree. The landscape is dramatic, the weather unpredictable, and the engineering projects linking the islands seem almost impossible. Yet everything works remarkably well. Even my AT&T phone
connected without issue.
Continuing my strange travel tradition, I even managed to get another international haircut before leaving the islands.
After three days, it was time to move on.
Returning to Reykjavik, I rented another car and headed into the Icelandic countryside. Cellular service was excellent, Google Maps worked flawlessly, and the drive was straightforward.
My first stop was Þingvellir National Park, where visitors can literally walk between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. Nearby geothermal springs bubbled up from the earth, a reminder that Iceland’s volcanic forces remain very much alive.
Waterfalls seemed to appear around every corner. Some were broad and powerful, while others were narrow ribbons cascading down sheer cliffs. Iceland has no shortage of natural wonders.
The following day, I drove along Iceland’s famous south coast. Black-sand beaches stretched for miles along the North Atlantic, framed by volcanic cliffs and crashing waves. The scenery was unlike anything I had seen elsewhere.
Along the route were two of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. Their names may be hard to pronounce, but their beauty needs no translation.
Near the village of Vík, I joined a horseback ride along a windswept black-sand beach. Icelandic horses are smaller than their American counterparts but remarkably sturdy and sure-footed. While my guide unexpectedly found herself on the ground twice during the ride, I managed to stay in the saddle, preserving my John Wayne aspirations.
My final evening was spent back in Reykjavik at the famous Blue Lagoon. Soaking in warm, mineral-rich water as the cool North Atlantic air swirled overhead was a fitting way to conclude the trip.
Dinner afterward introduced me to another Icelandic specialty: the humble hot dog. Having lived in both New York and Chicago, I considered myself reasonably knowledgeable about hot dogs. Iceland’s version surprised me. Served with crispy fried onions, mustard, ketchup, and a creamy remoulade, it was among the best I have tasted anywhere.
Bright and early the next morning, I headed to the airport for the seven-hour flight home to Denver. Icelandair may be more of a no-frills airline than some international carriers, but a nonstop flight is hard to beat.
Traveling through both countries, I often thought about the Vikings who first settled these remote islands more than a thousand years ago. Standing beside waterfalls, crossing rugged mountains, and watching the ever-changing weather roll in from the North Atlantic make it easier to appreciate the challenges they faced.
The Faroe Islands and Iceland offer very different experiences, yet they share a sense of wildness and isolation. Both offer a welcome escape from Denver’s summer heat and a reminder that some of the world’s most memorable destinations lie far from the usual tourist trail.
If either is on your bucket list, my advice is simple: go. Just remember to pack a rain jacket.
OF COLORADO
DISTRICT COURT ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO
7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, CO 80112
Plaintiff: CrossCountry Mortgage, LLC,
v.
Defendants: David Alberto Wachsmann; Scott Turner in his official capacity as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; The Farm at Arapahoe County Homeowners’ Association, Inc.; and Michael R. Westerberg in his official capacity as the Public Trustee of Arapahoe County, Colorado.
Intervenor-Plaintiff: Guadalupe Soto, an individual,
v.
Intervenor-Defendants:
David Alberto Wachsmann, an individual, CrossCountry
Mortgage, LLC, Scott Turner in his official capacity as the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; The Farm at Arapahoe County Homeowners’ Association, Inc.; and Michael R. Westerberg in his official capacity as the Public Trustee of Arapahoe County, Colorado.
Attorneys for Intervenor-Plaintiff
Guadalupe Soto: Daniel C. Nelson, #49904 Tyler D. Meurer, #56551 Goodspeed Merrill 9605 South Kingston Court, Suite 200 Englewood, CO 80112
Phone: 720-943-9033 Email: dnelson@ goodspeedmerrill.com tmeurer@goodspeedmerrill.com
Case No. 25CV32383 Div: 31
SUMMONS BY PUBLICATION THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
PUBLIC MEETING
TO THE ABOVE-NAMED
DEFENDANT DAVID ALBERT WACHSMANN:
You are hereby summoned and required to appear and defend against the claims of IntervenorPlaintiff Guadalupe Soto’s Amended Complaint filed with the court in this action, by filing with the clerk of this court an answer or other response. You are required to file your answer or other response within 35 days after service of this summons upon you. Service of this summons shall be complete on the day of the last publication. A copy of Intervenor-Plaintiff Guadalupe Soto’s Amended Complaint may be obtained from the clerk of the court.
If you fail to file your answer or other response to the Amended Complaint in writing within 35 days after the date of the last
Holly Hills Water and Sanitation District (District) will hold a public meeting to discuss the Project Needs Assessment (PNA) for the South Holly Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project (Project). The public meeting will be held on July 28, 2026, beginning at 7:00 pm at the American Legion Post 1 (5400 East Yale Avenue, Denver, CO 80222). A presentation will cover the need for the Project, alternatives considered, the recommended alternative, and current status of funding for the Project. The presentation will also cover future projects contemplated in the District’s capital improvements plan. The PNA is posted on the District’s website (www.hollyhillswsd.org) for review in advance of the public meeting. Questions regarding the public meeting may be directed to Justin Janca, District Manager (720.213.6621, justin@publicalliancellc.com).
Published in The Villager
Published: June 25, 2026 Legal # 5022_Holly Hills
NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to § 38-26-107, C.R.S., that on July 16, 2026 final settlement with Inliner Solutions, LLC. will be made by Goldsmith Gulch Sanitation District for the “2025 Capital Improvement Program Project” subject to satisfactory final inspection and acceptance of said facilities by the District. Any individual, corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, limited liability company, partnership, association, or other legal entity that has furnished labor, materials, sustenance, or other supplies used or consumed by such contractor or its subcontractor, in or about the performance of the work contracted to be done or that has supplied laborers, rental machinery, tools, or equipment to the extent used in the prosecution of the work, and whose claim therefor has not been paid by the contractor or subcontractor, at any time up to and including the time of final settlement for the work
publication, judgment by default may be entered against you by the court for the relief demanded in the Amended Complaint without further notice.
This is a C.R.C.P. 105 action for judicial foreclosure in real property regarding the following real property.
LOT 25, BLOCK 1, THE FARM AT ARAPAHOE COUNTY, FILING NO. 7, COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO,
known and numbered as 6598
S. Telluride St., Aurora, CO 80016. Dated June 5, 2026.
Published in The Villager.
First Publication: June 11, 2026.
Last Publication: July 9, 2026.
GOODSPEED MERRILL
s/ Tyler D. Meurer
Daniel C. Nelson, #49904
Tyler D. Meurer, #56551 9605 S. Kingston Court, Suite 200
contracted to be done, is required to file a verified statement of the amount due and unpaid, and an account of such claim with Goldsmith Gulch Sanitation District, c/o, Lisa Johnson, Clifton, Larson & Allen, 2001 16th Street #1700, Denver, CO 80202, on or before the date hereinabove shown. Failure on the part of any claimant to file such verified statement of claim prior to final settlement will release the District, its Board of Directors, officers, employees and agents of and from any and all liability for such claim.
s/s. Goldsmith Gulch Sanitation District
Published in The Villager
First Publication: June 25, 2026 Last Publication July 2, 2026 Legal # 31406
PUBLIC MEETING
Holly Hills Water and Sanitation District (District) will hold a public meeting to discuss the Project Needs Assessment (PNA) for the South Holly Street Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project (Project). The public meeting will be held on July 28, 2026, beginning at 7:00 pm at the American Legion Post 1 (5400 East Yale Avenue, Denver, CO 80222). A presentation will cover the need for the Project, alternatives considered, the recommended alternative, and current status of funding for the Project. The presentation will also cover future projects contemplated in the District’s capital improvements plan. The PNA is posted on the District’s website (www.hollyhillswsd.org) for review in advance of the public meeting. Questions regarding the public meeting may be directed to Justin Janca, District Manager (720.213.6621, justin@publicalliancellc.com).
Published in The Villager
Published: June 25, 2026
Legal # 5022_Holly Hills
Englewood, CO 80112
Phone: (720) 473-7644
Email: dnelson@ goodspeedmerrill.com tmeurer@goodspeedmerrill.com
This summons is issued pursuant to Rule 4(g), Colorado Rules of Civil Procedure.
Published in The Villager
First Publication: June 11, 2026
Last Publication: July 9, 2026
Legal # 31401
DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE STATE OF COLORADO 7325 South Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado 80112 (303) 649-6355 Telephone
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO Petitioner, In the Interest of: CHLOE HENDERSON, Child, and concerning, VANESSA HENDERSON AND TOBIAS LEE ARCHULETA, Respondents.
Tamra White, Esq. #22049
Assistant County Attorney Attorney for the People 14980 East Alameda Drive, Aurora, CO 80012
Tel: (303) 636-1384
Fax: (303) 636-1889
Case No: 26JV47
Division: 22
NOTICE OF DEFAULT ADJUDICATORY HEARING AND DISPOSITIONAL HEARING CONCERNING VANESSA HENDERSON
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that a Default Adjudication Hearing and Dispositional Hearing regarding VANESSA HENDERSON is set on July 20, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in Division 22 at the Arapahoe County District Court, 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, Colorado 80112.
You have the right to be represented by an attorney during these proceedings; if you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to represent you. In the event you fail to appear for said hearing at the date and time indicated, the Petitioner, the People of the State of Colorado, will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the child dependent and neglected and adopt the prepared treatment plan for you in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code, or to determine that there is no appropriate treatment plan.
The Arapahoe County District Court is holding hearings via Cisco WebEx Meetings to allow for audiovisual and/or audio participation. Participants may use any computer, tablet or smart phone equipped with a camera and microphone for audiovisual participation. Parties should use the following link:
•https://judicial.webex.com/meet/ D18-ARAP-Div22
• Enter your name and email address (so we know who you are). You will then be in the virtual courtroom.
• Select your audio setting. If the audio on your computer or tablet does not work, please use the alternate audio option of calling in to the number below.
• If you do not have a device that will support a video connection, you may still participate by audio only by calling 720-650-7664. When prompted enter Access code: 2594 887 9073 then press #, # (no attendee ID is needed). If you elect to appear in person, you must be at the Courthouse a half-hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin.
s/ Tamra White
Date: June 15, 2026
Tamra White, Esq., Reg. #22049 Assistant County Attorney Attorney for Petitioner
Published in The Villager
Published: June 25, 2026 Legal # 31405
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 AMERICA 2026
The Festival runs JUNE 27-AUG. 2 in the 550-seat opera house in Central City. This is the 70th Anniversary of the Ballad of Baby Doe World Premiere. The season features three MainStage productions - Mozart’s the Marriage of Figaro, the Ballad of Baby Doe and Master Class - alongside the return of CCO in concert and the debut of the St. James Chamber series. Tickets: Call 303-292-6700.
2ND ANNUAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM OF THE ROCKIES GOLF TOURNAMENT
MON., JULY 13. Info: Call 303-4880018
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
Join the Centennial Institute for the 2026 Western Conservative Summit, JULY 30-AUGUST 1, 2026, at Colorado Christian University, as we reflect, recommit, and rearticulate the intellectual foundations of conservatism for the next 250 years of American exceptionalism. The weekend kicks off Thursday evening with the William L. Armstrong Award Dinner, followed by two full days of incredible speakers and workshop sessions. Register now at WesternConservativeSummit.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, 720-3139741.
ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS
Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 a.m. At Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway,Englewood. Info: Gail 720377-7682.
WHAT’S NEW?
ARAPAHOE COUNTY HIRING BIPARTISAN ELECTION JUDGES
For the June & Nov. elections. Flexible schedules, variety of positions open, open to citizens from any county. Go to jobs.ArapahoeCo.gov or call 303795-4511
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/BlackBaseballs-Heyday/
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 OLIVER’S HOST A CELEBRATION
Host a celebration on the full-private terrace. Accommodates 60 guest seated for dinner or up to 85 guests for a cocktail reception. RSVP: nicole@oliveritalian.com
ASH & AGAVE RESTAURANT
NOW OPEN
Inspired by the shores of the Mexican Riviera-bringing 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 Owned and operated. 8390 E. Crescent Parkway, Suite 100, Greenwood Village.
MOVET - PRIMARY CARE VETERINARY SERVICES
In Home, In Clinic or Virtual. Locally woman owned business. 4912 S. Newport St., Denver. Call 720-5077387 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.
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
COWBOY MOVING & STORAGE
Commercial & Residential Moves - Also, load & hold. Call 303-789-2200.
THE AUDIOLOGY METHOD
Schedule a hearing test. 7180 - E. Orchard Rd., Ste. 302, Centennial. 720457-5113.
HOST YOUR EVENT AT THE JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT FREE ENTERPRISE CENTER
In Greenwood Village. Events @ JARockyMountain.org
CHERRY HILLS ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE
6325 S University. Blvd., Centennial. Call for Tour 720-592-0252
PRIVATE AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION + MORE
5 Star Google Reviews. Transportation Executive Services LLC. Call 720-9695386.
ST. ANDREW’S VILLAGE
SENIOR LIVING
Upscale dining, engaging events and activities. Call 720-684-5913. Located at 133801 E. Yale Ave., Aurora.
SEMION BARBERSHOP
FOR ALL - MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN
5910 S. Univeristy Blvd., Greenwood Village. 720-531-3998.
THE EYEWEAR COLLECTION
Owner Aaron Mozes is a CCHS graduate. Comprehensive Eye Exams, Eyeglasses, Contacts. 5910 S. University. Blvd., Unit D4, Greenwood Village.
BKC KITCHEN & BATH
Free consultation & estimate. Visit showroom at 4151 S. Natches Ct., Englewood. 303-761-7477.
FALL PARTIES/EVENTS?
BOOK TODAY
Rocky Mountain Valet. Visit www. rockymntvalet.com
KIMPTON CLARET HOTEL
Host your next special event at The Kimpton Claret. www.clarethotel.com
PARKSIDE VILLAGE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY
14501 E. Crestline Drive, Aurora. Lunch is on us - schedule your tour today. 720-315-7778 or visit ParksideVillageRetirement.com
Columnist Jessica
jessbcarrington@gmail.com
Are you looking for an authentic Mexican restaurant where every dish is rooted in Mexican tradition? A place that isn’t too far South or too far North to drive, in a thriving and bustling pocket of town popular to locals and surrounding areas that offers a refined upscale dining experience? The answer is El Tule Mexican Cuisine and Bar located in the heart of the Denver Tech Center, at 4862 S. Newport St. They just opened their doors a few weeks ago, and the space is gorgeous! The centerpiece is a grand tree that shelters each table beneath its leafy canopy giving this restaurant an enchanting magical charm.
El Tule is inspired by family recipes and regional flavors particularly from Oaxaca like their house made tortillas prepared with heirloom masa. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner and GM, Luis Alvarado. You can see, taste, and feel his passion behind this restaurant in his desire to share a piece of where his family comes from, with each person who walks through the door.
They have a lively bar with crafted cocktails and a curated wine list. My husband I started with the BEST tasting, very generous portion of chicharron de filet. An appetizer featuring crispy fried tenderloin over house made guacamole and salsa negras. I’m spreading the word about this item, because its that good, a must order! If you like flautas, try the Oaxacan chicken picadillo, mole coloradito, slow cooked chicken, queso fresco, also known as the flautas de pollo. Their street corn is a unique hit, and the tuna tiradito is something I will return to order containing charred habanero aioli, sesame ponzu, chili oil, cucumber, red onion, serrano, and cilantro. For the mains we had two kinds of delicious tacos, the shrimp gobernador and carne asada. You can taste the authenticity of their mole negro and mole coloradito sauces on their enmoladas oaxaquenas. We also enjoyed their fire roasted bone marrow. Not only is this good for you, the flavor was outstanding. I’ll fill you in on something. No matter how full I may be, I almost never leave without dessert. They know how to do churros here! I give these a 10/10 accompanied by a chocolate and caramel dipping sauce. The mouth watering menu here is growing to soon include short rib and fresh seafood items, and I look forward to my return for both! Make a reservation on Open Table or call (720) 573 -6021.
