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VOLUME 44 • NUMBER 42 • SEPTEMBER 10, 2026
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such an important value Boundaries are Kind ing to her that she ignored my request? Considering each
Now that school has started, students are returning to a routine and learning to avoid chaos while maintaining healthy educational habits and relationships. To do this, boundaries are essential. Creating and articulating boundaries in the classroom and in relationships is kind and creates clarity. To optimize learning, clarity and consistency are essential, which sets students up for success by helping them understand the system, rules, and expectations. Students often know when they can push the limits and with whom they can do so. A student who behaves well with their regular teacher may act out and clown around when a substitute takes over the classroom. A child may push all the limits with mom but will honor the line with dad. Setting limits on what we will and will not tolerate in relationships may sound uncaring or unloving. The truth is that research shows the opposite. Boundaries do not restrict freedom; they enhance it. Years ago, an educational study was conducted at a newly built school. Education students at a nearby university asked the contractor not to complete the playground fence. The education majors observed children ages 5–11 during recess. All the children, without exception, played close to the building. Months later, when the fence was erected to define the play area, the children ran and played up to the fence line, even pressing their little noses against it. This demonstrates freedom in knowing limits, being aware of their edges, and going the distance within those boundaries. Physical boundaries are about proximity to one another. No one teaches us to stand 12 inches apart when speaking. Yet we instinctively step back if someone is too close. As we get to know that person, we feel safe and allow less distance between us. With several loved ones vying for alone time, this example is one many readers can identify with. Think about morning coffee time. To most, this time, in the quiet of the start of a new day, when we pour our first cup of coffee, is sacred. We are getting the cobwebs out, waking up slowly, and enjoying the smell, taste, and warmth of our morning ritual. Family members should be instructed to honor this time. It is so universal that coffee mugs declare when
it is okay to approach the morning coffee lover. When the cup is full, the line says, “Shhhh.” We take a few sips, and the midline of the cup declares, “Almost.” When empty, it reads, “Now talk.” My 91-yearold mom was a great cook. She thought about what to serve from the moment she awoke. When she came to Colorado to visit, she prepared the meals. Sitting next to her, I asked, “Would you like more?” She replied, “No thanks, I’m stuffed.” She immediately served me another helping. Did she not hear me? Is this an Italian tradition of overserving guests? Is eat-
of these questions, her age, her habits, and the intent of her heart, I chose not to rebuke her and hurt her feelings. I just let the extra help remain and gave her grace. However, I would assert myself and speak out if someone else did not honor my request. Creating healthy boundaries and, in a kind and loving way, informing others about what you will and will not accept enhances relationships, especially now as we are creating a new routine and rhythm. Boundaries, when articulated clearly and with respect, are kind. joneen@narme.org
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WEEK OF SEPT. 7
Opinion
PAGE 4 | THE VILLAGER • September 10, 2026
or it may find nothing gasoline as one of the at all. A dry hole is a great villains of the very expensive hole. family budget. I unI filled up my car the other If oil is found, it derstand why. When day and the bill was a little has to be pumped you pull up to the over $50. That got my attenfrom the ground, pump and watch $50, tion, as it always does. But gathered and trans$60 or more disappear BY BOB SWEENEY then I walked into the store at ported, often by from your bank acPUBLISHER the gas station and bought a pipeline or truck, to a count, it hurts. bottle of Coke. refinery. At the refinery, it is But then I look at that The price was $3.79. processed into gasoline, die- $3.79 bottle of Coke sitting I stood there for a minute sel fuel, jet fuel, asphalt and in my hand. and thought, “Something a long list of other petroleum That Coke didn’t have to doesn’t seem right here.” products. be discovered thousands of Think about what it takes The finished gasoline then feet beneath the earth. Noto put gasoline into your au- has to be transported again, body had to drill a well to tomobile. Before there is a delivered by tanker truck to a find it. It didn’t have to be gallon of gasoline, somebody service station, stored in un- pumped, refined, transported has to find the oil. Land has derground tanks and finally through a pipeline, hauled to be leased, geologists and pumped into your automoby tanker truck and stored in drilling crews have to do bile. an underground tank before I their work, and an expensive That is quite a journey for could drink it. drilling rig has to be brought a gallon of gasoline. It got me thinking about in. And yet we have become the price of things — and accustomed to thinking of about how little we someThe drill may find oil —
times think about what goes into producing the things we buy every day. A neighbor recently sent me the following piece. I don’t know who originally wrote it, and there was no byline attached to it. It appears to have circulated on the internet for quite some time. Some of the prices in it are obviously dated, so I wouldn’t necessarily take every figure as current. But the comparison it makes is interesting. It asks us to look at the price of a gallon of gasoline alongside the price of many other ordinary things we buy. So, with that introduction, here is the anonymous piece exactly as it was sent to me.
I keep hearing people complain that gasoline is over $4.00 a gallon. And yes, I’d love to see it at $2.00 again. But before we declare gasoline the most outrageously expensive liquid on Earth, let’s put things in perspective. For $4.00, I get a GALLON of gasoline. I pour it into a 4,000-pound machine, turn a key, and that gallon will haul me, my wife, the groceries, the golf clubs and half the junk in my trunk almost 30 miles down the highway. That’s actually a pretty impressive day’s work for $4.00. Now let’s compare. A restaurant sells me a 5-ounce glass of wine for $9. That’s about $230 a gallon. And how far does it transport me? Usually from the dinner
your biggest concern. So yes, $4.00 gasoline is expensive. But it’s also a remarkable bargain when you think about what you’re buying. You’re purchasing enough concentrated energy to push several thousand pounds of steel, glass, groceries and humanity nearly 30 miles. Meanwhile, we’ll cheerfully pay $6 for coffee, $9 for wine and $3 for water, then stand at the gas pump staring at the numbers like we’re watching the national debt clock. Maybe gasoline doesn’t need better pricing. Maybe it just needs a fancier name, e.g. “Handcrafted Premium Petroleum, locally pumped, small batch refined, with subtle notes of octane and dinosaur.”
There is more to the price of oil than meets the eye
table to the men’s room. A fancy coffee shop can charge $6 for a 16-ounce latte. That’s $48 a gallon. It doesn’t transport me 30 miles. It transports me from “Leave me alone” to “Okay, now you may speak.” Bottled water at a convenience store might be $2.50 for 20 ounces. That’s $16 a gallon, for something that occasionally falls out of the sky FOR FREE. A 12-ounce energy drink at $3.50 works out to more than $37 a gallon. Apparently caffeine becomes a precious mineral once you put lightning bolts on the can. Buy one of those little 2-ounce bottles of “energy shot” for $3. That’s $192 a gallon. At that price, it shouldn’t give me energy. It should mow my lawn.
Maple syrup at $8 for a 12-ounce bottle? About $85 a gallon. And its principal technological achievement is making pancakes sticky. Vanilla extract at $6 for two ounces? That’s $384 a gallon. For $384, I expect the vanilla bean to come to my house and bake the cookies. Printer ink can cost thousands of dollars per gallon. And unlike gasoline, it sometimes refuses to come out because the printer has decided cyan is low. Even that $9 glass of wine deserves another look. At roughly $230 a gallon, filling a typical 15-gallon gas tank with restaurant wine would cost about $3,450. Of course, after drinking 15 gallons of wine, transportation would no longer be
Freedom or engagement? Both good and evil ideas start with a vision. That vision promises to solve a problem we have. Politicians fit the same mold. How to differentiate, how do we tell if a vision is good or evil? And if evil sounds good in the beginning, what shall guide us to choose the right path? These issues have perplexed philosophers since the beginning of time. Each person must decide for himself; fortunately, many great thinkers have pondered these profound ideas and many have written their revelations into books or carried through the spoken word. Although the knowledge is readily available, it seems our Creator wants us each to find the answer to that question in our lifetime. The fact that our Creator wants each person to seek this answer gives rise to the fact that our Creator recognizes our individual nature and bestows certain rights upon each of us individually. This is the beginning of our nation, as expressed first in te Declaration of Independence.
The Torah, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Kabbalah, Confucius, the Stoics and Ancient Greek philosophers and many more speak to this profound issue. Our questions contain the answer. We must judge the idea by its outcome, the consequences of its actions, through studying its history. Each act contains consequence. So, to take an idea or vision on its surface is foolhardy and dangerous. We are required to look more deeply into the consequences of that act. Therefore, the question becomes: Does this vision lead to the reason we were endowed with our individual nature, or does it enslave us. This one question answers the confusion surrounding our existence in this life. Let’s apply it to an example. For instance Communism and Socialism. On the surface Engle’s, Lenin and Marx envisioned a future that helped the common man. Their mantra is the concept that all men are cre-
ated equal (and they are) but the outcome s that concept should be enforced by a greater entity. Unfortunately that greater entity was central-controlling politburos. Government or monarchy, what’s the difference? It’s still a controlling entity. Communism uses euphemism like together, collectivist, equity, nice concepts that fit our religious and moral heritage of noble cause. But look at the outcome, not surface rhetoric. Communism and Socialism lead inexorably to control. It leads us away from individual freedom and liberty. There is one economic system that fits the concept of individual freedom, and the right to choose. That adheres to the concept upon which our nation was founded: The sanctity of the individual. That system is subsumed by the concept of Fair Trade: Willing buyer, willing seller, without outside coercion. In other words Capitalism. Capitalism fits the founding concept of an individual and free choice. However, in order to function, Capitalism must be free from federal restrictions,
except the Rule of Law. Rule by regulation is just control by a bureaucrat in the Administration. As such, it bestowed unwarranted power in the office of the President. Capitalism is the exact opposite of Cronyism. Cronyism. is the unholy alliance of public and private entities to stifle competition. Cronyism uses the power of government to restrict free choice. This is the nature of our economy today. In other words, the Left is correct in one sense, the economic system is rigged. Ironic that they complain about what they have done since President Wilson (D) created the bureaucratic monster that rules our lives today. To be fair the Republicans, especially those who support big government, are no better. Let’s apply our Principle (all men are endowed with life, liberty and ownership) to the current state of our confusion. The differentiation is not R or D, the only choices are control through big government or individual freedom. Don’t take anything on its surface, look more deeply into the consequences of its actions and decide if it leads to freedom or enslavement.
The Villager
Office: 22095 E. Chestnut Place, Aurora 80016 • (303) 773-8313 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Arapahoe County, Colorado. (USPS 431-010) Published weekly by The Villager Publishing Co., Inc. 22095 E. Chestnut Place, Aurora 80016. Available for home or office delivery by U.S. Mail for $85 per year. Single copies available for $2 per issue. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID IN GREENWOOD VILLAGE, CO. 80112 AND ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. A Colorado Statutory Publication CRS (197324-70 et al). USPS # 431010 ISSN 1539-6274 (Print) ISSN 2993-7280 (Online) Postmaster: Send address changes to The Villager, 22095 E. Chestnut Place, Aurora 80016 Deadlines: Display Advertising, Legal Notices, press releases, letters to the editor, 4:00 p.m. Friday. Classified Advertising, noon Monday.
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Gerri Sweeney gerri@villagerpublishing.com PUBLISHER Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com CREATIVE MARKETING DIRECTOR/ CO-PUBLISHER Susan Sweeney Lanam 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com LEGALS Becky Osterwald legal@villagerpublishing.com NEWS EDITOR Gerri Sweeney 303-773-8313 gerri@villagerpublishing.com SENIOR REPORTER Freda Miklin fmiklin.villager@gmail.com 303-489-4900 REPORTER Robert Sweeney bsween1@aol.com FASHION & LIFESTYLE Scottie Iverson swan@denverswan.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION MANAGER Tom McTighe production@villagerpublishing.com ADVERTISING CONSULTANTS Susan Lanam — 720-270-2018 susan@villagerpublishing.com Sharon Sweeney — 303-503-1388 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 The Villager is an award-winning, locally owned, independent newspaper. All letters to the editor must be signed. The contributor’s name, hometown and phone number must also accompany all letters to the editor for verification and we reserve the right to edit contributions for space. We attempt to verify all matters of fact but hold contributors liable for the content, accuracy and fairness of their contributions. All submissions become the property of The Villager and may be reused in any medium.
Reverend Martin Niemoller “In Germany, the Nazis first came for the communists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a communist. Then they came for the Jews and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew. Then they came for the trade unionists and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist. Then they came for the Catholics and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak for me!”
2026 Member
QUOTE of the WEEK QUOTE the WEEK Weofcannot
direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails. – Dolly Parton
September 10, 2026 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 5
PAGE 6 | THE VILLAGER • September 10, 2026
f o l l ow F R E DA BY FREDA MIKLIN SENIOR REPORTER
13-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
State’s voters will decide between competing income tax ballot measures, likely without realizing all the implications
In recent years, sponsors of Colorado ballot measures have become increasingly effective at gathering enough signatures to qualify their proposals for the ballot. This year, they went 14 for 14: every measure approved for circulation received enough valid signatures to appear on the November 3 general election ballot. It is also becoming increasingly common for citizen-initiated ballot measures in Colorado to give rise to related ballot measures that compete with or even cancel out the original one. The November 3 ballot—scheduled to begin arriving in Colorado voters’ mailboxes on October 2— will include two directly competing state income tax measures. Given the complexity, many voters may not fully understand how their votes on both measures could interact. Amendment 87, “Graduated Income Tax,” is a seven-page proposal combining statutory changes with a constitutional amendment. It would slightly reduce state income taxes for taxpayers with federal adjusted gross income (AGI) of $100,000 or less, while significantly increasing taxes on Colorado’s highest-earning individuals and corporations. We calculated that, under Amendment 87, taxpayers with AGI of $60,000 would save $245, or 9% compared
to what they currently pay, annually. Taxpayers whose AGI is $750,000 would pay $7,175 more per year, a 22% increase over the current flat tax. Those with AGI of $1,500,000 would pay $35,925 more, or 54% above what they pay now. The percentage increase rises from there. If enacted, Amendment 87 is projected to raise $2 billion to $2.7 billion annually, depending on the estimate. That revenue would be exempt from TABOR limits and earmarked for “K-12 public school education, health care, early child care, and education programs,” providing a substantial boost to the state’s current $46.8 billion budget. Some of the ways that that additional money could be used are not specific, a concern to non-supporters. Proposition 136, “Income Tax Rate Cap,” is a one-sentence statutory change that would cap state income taxes for individuals and corporations at the current 4.4% rate for 2027 and future years. Because the two measures directly conflict, voters likely want to know what happens if both pass. The answer is complicated—and illustrates the challenges that can arise when laws or constitutional changes are made through petition-driven initiatives rather than the elected state legislature, where proposals are subject to committee review, testimony, and vig-
orous public debate, during which they are fully vetted. According to an analysis by Common Sense Institute, if both Amendment 87 and Proposition 136 receive more yes votes than no votes, statewide, on November 3, “The future of Colorado’s income tax system will be decided by which initiative garners more “yes” votes. Should Proposition 136 have a higher “yes” vote total, not only will the top tax rate remain at 4.4%, but the tax cuts proposed by Amendment 87 on earners making $100,000 or less would also take effect. On net, Colorado taxpayers would see an income tax reduction. Should Amendment 87 get more “yes” votes, the graduated income tax structure will pass in full.” The Villager researched the history of Colorado’s state income tax rates. From 1937 to 1987, Colorado used a graduated income tax system in which higher earners paid higher state income tax rates. That changed in 1987 when lawmakers adopted a single, flat rate of 5%. In 1992, Coloradans passed the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), a ballot measure crafted by Douglas Bruce, a colorful character who was later elected El Paso County Commissioner and appointed to the state legislature, before eventually being convicted of four felonies, including money laundering, attempted brib-
ery of a public official, and tax fraud involving the use of a charitable organization. But we digress. TABOR required Colorado to maintain a flat income tax, though it did not set the rate. Following the initial 5% rate, lawmakers lowered it to 4.75% in 1999 and again to 4.63% in 2000. In 2020, voters approved a ballot initiative lowering the rate to 4.55%. Proponents returned in 2022 with another ballot initiative that voters adopted, lowering the rate again, this time to 4.4%, where it has remained through 2026. In February 2020, the Bell Policy Center (Bell), a local non-profit, non-partisan, progressive research and advocacy organization, began advocating for a return to a graduated income tax, arguing it would be less regressive and fairer than the flat tax. That effort culminated in September 2025, when Bell, together with the Protect Colorado’s Future coalition, filed Ballot Measure 195, now Amendment 87, which would significantly increase state income taxes on individuals and corporations with federal taxable income above $500,000, lower taxes for those making under $100,000, and leave rates unchanged for Coloradans with AGI between $100,000 and $500,000. Supporters of a graduated income tax argue that higher earners should pay a
larger share of their income in taxes and that the added revenue would help fund the areas named in the proposal: public K-12 education, health care, child care, and education programs. Opponents argue that the new TABOR-exempt revenue would encourage unnecessary spending, and that Colorado’s low, simple, flat tax helps attract and retain businesses to our state that support the state economy. They also contend that Colorado has become less attractive to new businesses and residents in recent years, and they warn that because the income thresholds are not tied to inflation, higher rates could affect more taxpayers over time. Proposition 136 was certified for the ballot on August 20. Amendment 87 was certified on September 1. When Amendment 87 was certified, Bell posted on X: “Income Tax Fairness is on the ballot! Colorado’s tax system is broken. A nurse or teacher making $50K pays the same rate as a millionaire or big corporation. Under Initiative 195 (now Amendment 87), 97% of taxpayers get a tax cut, & no one under $500K pays a penny more.” Michael Fields of Advance Colorado, the designated representative for Proposition 136, responded, “Voters aren’t going to support a measure that raises taxes on seniors, veterans, and small businesses.”
Phil Weiser and Greg Lopez answer questions at Colorado governor forum; Victor Marx declines On August 27, Colorado Politics, the El Pomar Foundation, and KOAA News5 sponsored a gubernatorial forum at the Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts in Colorado Springs. The three candidates on the November 3 ballot---Democrat Phil Weiser, Republican Victor Marx, and Independent Greg Lopez, were invited. Weiser and Lopez accepted. Marx, whose All Things
Possible Ministry is based in Colorado Springs, declined. The only debate invitation Marx has accepted to date is from the Colorado Chamber of Commerce (CCC). He agreed only after CCC replaced the scheduled moderator, Kyle Clark, with Ed Sealover, a former reporter with the Denver Business Journal who is now employed by CCC as an editor and vice
president of strategic initiatives. Asked how they would address affordability if elected, Lopez said his first step would be to review regulations and fees so that “government doesn’t make life harder” but instead “makes life easier.” Weiser said, regarding affordability, he would focus on: 1) making starter homes “quicker, easier, and cheaper” to build; 2)
expanding primary and preventive health care; and 3) using competition to keep prices down. He cited his success as attorney general in stopping the merger of King Soopers and Safeway as an example of something he did to keep prices down. Asked how they would balance next year’s budget as federal Medicaid and food-stamp cuts take effect, Lopez pointed to his lieutenant governor, Taylor
Romero, who he said has more than 25 years of medical-industry experience. He said Medicaid would be addressed under her guidance. He also criticized the legislature’s Joint Budget Committee for using baseline budgeting rather than zero-based budgeting. As governor, he pledged to question every department, program, and expense by asking whether it works Continued on page 7
September 10, 2026 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 7
f o l l ow F R E DA Continued from page 6
effectively, and puts people over politics. Weiser said he would listen closely to communities about programs they know well, citing Medicaid as an example; adopt new technology to make government more efficient; and make targeted investments in programs. He noted that in Colorado, 45% of people released from prison return within three years, which he said drives prison costs. Returning to housing, the moderator noted that Lopez had promised 25,000 starter homes in four years, while Weiser had set a goal of 40,000 owner-occupied units. Asked how they would achieve those goals, Weiser proposed 1) reducing the cost of and speeding permits for starter homes, especially modular homes, pointing out it currently takes as long to permit starter homes as “mega-mansions;” 2) working with local governments to make starter homes more affordable; 3) and encouraging innovation. He said modular homes are 20% cheaper and 30% faster to build than conventional homes. He also proposed down-payment assistance for teachers
and law enforcement professionals on starter homes. Lopez said he would meet with builders, developers, and local planning departments, drawing on his land-use experience to reduce housing costs through changes such as smaller side-yard setbacks and detached sidewalks. Asked how he would bring new-home prices down to the $235,000 figure he had cited, Lopez pointed to tap and sewer fees, metro districts, HOAs, and special districts as major cost drivers. He argued that developers and builders pass costs to homeowners through metro districts, increasing costs to homebuyers. He also said that the state must ensure it has the workforce needed to build lower-cost homes. The moderator asked Weiser why the state should have a role in home-rule cities’ zoning decisions, including his proposal to encourage housing near public transit. Weiser said the state should collaborate with local governments, challenge them to lower permitting fees, and create incentives for homes—including transit-oriented housing—that make cities more livable and sustainable. Lopez pointed to home
Screenshot of Independent candidate for Colorado governor Greg Lopez (left) and Democratic candidate Phil Weiser (right) in Colorado Springs on August 27
rule cities, stating, “I would never take away local control from a jurisdiction.” The candidates were asked how they would respond, as governor, to a recent report that the Trump administration “appears to have coordinated pressure on Colorado over Tina Peters’ incarceration and the state’s vote-by-mail system, among other things.” Reading from the copy of the U.S. Constitution he had in his pocket, Weiser said states, not the federal government, “manage the time, place, and manner of elections” and argued that Colorado has the right to
run its elections by mail. He said any federal effort to interfere with Colorado’s system would constitute a threat to state sovereignty and vowed not to tolerate lawless behavior. Lopez also pulled out a copy of the Constitution and said, “State’s rights trump federal laws.” As an unaffiliated candidate, he said he represents the people rather than a party and would “stand tall” against anyone trying to harm Coloradans. Later, asked about an area in which he had recently changed his views, Lopez said, “Something I’ve changed my mind
about…is being a Republican, because the two-party system is failing the people of Colorado.” Asked whether they agreed with Gov. Polis’ recent commutation of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ nine-year sentence for crimes tied to abusing her office, Lopez said he supported the decision because an appeals court judge had questioned the sentence’s length. Weiser disagreed, saying Peters had been convicted by a jury and had not taken responsibility for, or repented of, her crimes, adding that the appeals court judge had remanded the case to the original court for resentencing and Polis’ action interfered with that decision. Asked about their top legislative priority if elected, Weiser named legislative action on data centers, while Lopez proposed reducing the number of bills each lawmaker may introduce from five to two. When the candidates were asked whether they would support expanding ranked-choice voting, Weiser said, “I am for experimenting with ranked-choice voting at lower levels so we can learn more.” Lopez replied, “The jury is still out on that.”
fo l l ow F R E DA N E WS B R I E F S
L
ittleton Restaurant Week takes place Sept. 11 – 20. Participants include Bistro 36 Drinkery & Eatery, Cherry Cricket Littleton, Manning’s Steak House, Platte River Bar and Grill, The Melting Pot Littleton, and 22 others. Go to https://www.littletonbusinesschamber.org/events/ restaurant-week to see all their names and their special plans for Restaurant Week. _______________________
I
n-N-Out Burger has submitted plans to the City and County of Denver to build a new location of its popular restaurant at 1470 S. Colorado Blvd., near the Colorado Blvd. exit
of Interstate 25, in the former location of the BlackEyed Pea, which closed three years ago. According to published reports, the site plan indicates it will be just under 4,000 square feet and will have 74 seats inside the restaurant and 58 outside. This will be In-N-Out’s 16th Colorado location. _______________________
O
n September 3, Greenwood Village Police arrested Luis Enrique-Pena, 19, of Westminster, CO, on charges of vehicular homicide due to reckless driving, hit-and-run involving serious injury or death, and driving with a revoked license, in connec-
tion with the fatal hit-andrun collision on I-25 near Orchard Road on August 30 that resulted in a fatality. The suspect is being held at the Arapahoe County Detention Center. _______________________
F
EMA has approved federal disaster assistance to the state of Colorado to supplement recovery efforts in the areas affected by the wildfires, flooding and mudslides between June 27 and July 29, 2026. Public assistance federal funding is available to the state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing
basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by wildfires, flooding, and mudslides in Custer, Dolores, Ouray, and Pueblo counties. _______________________
D
r. Mordecai Ian Brownlee has announced he will step down as president of Community College of Aurora, following over five years in that position, in December 2026. His leadership was praised by CCCS Chancellor Dr. Marielena DeSanctis. _______________________
C
entennial’s Chalk Art Festival ’26 will be held on Sat-
urday, September 12 from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. at the Streets at SouthGlenn. There will be vendor booths, free face painting, balloon art, and other kids’ activities, plus live music and booths where youth ages 5-17 will be selling their creations. _______________________
C
ompression packing cubes or vacuum bags---by whatever name you choose to call them--- are becoming more and more popular for travelers as a way to fit more into a suitcase, especially if you’re trying to use only carry-on luggage. _______________________
PAGE 8 | THE VILLAGER • September 10, 2026
September 10, 2026 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 9
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PAGE 10 | THE VILLAGER • September 10, 2026
No experience needed.
You don’t need to be a climber. You just need to be willing to clip into a harness, step backward off the edge of a 19-story building, and rappel down the face of the Kimpton Claret Hotel in downtown Denver — all for kids fighting cancer at Children’s Hospital Colorado. That’s Over the Edge, happening September 16, 17 & 18, and registration is open now.
Here’s what it takes:
🪢 Register to rappel
Sign up, then raise a minimum of $1,000 in pledges to earn your spot on the ledge. First-timers make up most of our roster every year — no rappelling experience required, just a fundraising goal and the will to hit it. Once you’re registered, your personal fundraising page becomes the engine. That’s where the rest of your network comes in: Ask a business to sponsor you — Employers and local businesses often cover a big chunk of a rappeller’s goal in exchange for visibility at the event.
💛
your people to cheer — Nothing gets you 🎉 Bring over that ledge like your own crowd shouting from the ground.
Point your network to give directly — Every gift 💝 toward your total funds research, clinical trials, and patient services at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
Through our partnership with Children’s Hospital Colorado, 100% of what you raise goes straight to the kids and families who need it most. Cancer League of Colorado is entirely volunteer-run, and since 1969 we’ve granted more than $27 million to the fight against cancer — this September, your rappel adds to that total. Register today and claim your ledge spot for September 16, 17 or 18. With gratitude, Cancer League of Colorado
denverovertheedge.com
September 10, 2026 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 11
Douglas Whitmer Hershey April 16, 1942 - July 18, 2026
D
ouglas Whitmer Hershey of Sacramento, California passed away on July 18, 2026 in his home watching the American River and surrounded by family, after a long battle with Alzheimer disease. He was born on April 16, 1942, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania to Doris West McLaughlin (Hershey) and Harold Whitmer Hershey. He was raised in Hershey, Pennsylvania and graduated from the Hill School. He graduated from Yale University with a major in philosophy. Thereafter, he attended the Cornell University School of Medicine. After receiving his M.D. degree, he did an internship at the Kaiser Hospital in San Francisco and a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Doug lived in Salvador, Brazil for six months during his Ob/gyn residency
studying human reproduction with the internationally renowned scientist Dr. Elsimar Coutinho, and learning Brazilian Portuguese. After practicing general OB/Gyn in Aspen, Colorado for several years, he did a fellowship in Prenatal Diagnosis at the UCLA School of Medicine as major developments in prenatal diagnosis and fetal ultrasound were emerging, and molecular DNA testing was developing. He became triple board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology (American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology), and both Clinical Genetics and Cytogenetics (American Board of Medical Genetics) – an uncommon accomplishment. He was on the faculty of the University of Colorado in the mid-1980s – a brief stint in academic medicine, despite superb qualifications. He practiced prenatal diagnosis in Sacramento for decades serving
thousands of pregnant women with up-to-date knowledge, testing and genetic counseling. He was affiliated with Sutter Hospital and the University of California, Davis. He was an enthusiastic and skilled skier, mountain climber and bicyclist – interests that he passed to his sons. He summited many mountains in Colorado, California, Alaska (Denali) and
Nepal. He was a music enthusiast. He never stopped being active, frequently playing golf as a long-time member of the Del Paso Country Club. He will be remembered for his gentle spirit, his keen sense of humor, his insatiable love of chocolate and his fanatical devotion to the Sacramento Kings. He was a loving father and a caring husband. His ashes will be spread in the American River and on an Aspen mountain, and buried in the Hershey Cemetery in Pennsylvania, next to his parents and grandparents. Doug was predeceased by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Jane Bronwyn Bateman, M.D.; his twin sons, Rhys (Kyndall) and Walker (Kaitlyn) Hershey; his grandchildren Emery and Everett Hershey; his sister, Suzanne Hershey; his niece Courtney Bress; and nephew Harley Bress.
PAGE 12 | THE VILLAGER • September 10, 2026
New Cook book by Colorado Author Delivers over 80 WOWlicious Appetizers
Dr. Judith Briles
Makes: 20 dates | prep time: 15-20 minutes | cooking time: none Ingredients 20 Medjool dates, pitted 8 oz. cheese of your choice - Boursin, goat - plain or with cranberries, bleu cheese 3T apricot jam 1 orange, zested 1 lemon, zested
Putting it all together Step 1: Remove your cheese of choice - or mix it up and have a variety - and soften to room temperature. You can make ahead and refrigerate. Remember to bring them out before serving so the cheese is at room temperature. Step 2: Zest your orange. For a colorful visual variety, you could
add in lemon zest, even lime - just a small amount. You want the orange to be the dominator. Step 3: Open the slit on the Medjool dates. Add less than ½ oz of cheese, then ½ tsp of apricot jam. Step 4: Sprinkle zested orange and lemon on top. Serve.
Judith will be personally signing books and bringing tasting samples to: • Barnes & Noble Southlands Sunday, Sept. 20 • Barnes & Noble Colorado Blvd., Saturday, Oct. 3
American Book Fest Author Laureate honoree Book Marketing & Publishing Expert | Book Coach Bestselling Author | Speaker | Podcast Host Creating successful authors with practical publishing guidance.TM Author of 49 books and honored with over 60 book awards Founder of the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame Podcast: Author U-Your Guide to Book Publishing: https://bit.ly/YouTubePodcasts Videos: Author & Publishing Tips in 3 minutes: https://bit.ly/Author-PublishingTips BOOK 30 or 60 Minutes with me | Join my exclusive Mentor Program • Get my Memoir: When God Says NO-Revealing the YES When Adversity and Loss Are Present • Historical Fiction: The Secret Journey, The Secret Hamlet…The Secret Rise • Author Success: The Author’s Walk Cookbooks: Cooking with Judith | Appetizers with Judith
Monfort, DePodesta assess ‘Climb’ so far Rockies President Walker Monfort and Paul DePodesta, President of Baseball Operations, met with ticket plan holders for an hour late last week to provide a status report on The Climb. That’s the name they’ve given to their ongoing effort to restore, first, team credibility, then, team respectability, and finally, team competitiveness resulting in championships in the beleaguered organization. Both men are in the first full year in their positions, and the difference they represent in the Rockies is obvious throughout the program—even as this year’s Rockies flirt with a fourth straight 100-loss season. Monfort, who is far more personable and forthcoming than his father, Dick, face of the Rockies for years, told the audience specifics his dad likely never would have divulged. First, he pointed out that the club’s budget increased by 15% this year (worth eight figures, he said) and that, in part, the extra money enabled DePodesta and those who report to him to hire 23 additional folks in the non-playing operation, a critical boost in off-the-field activity. Second, he explained that Greg Penner and Carrie Walton Penner, in effect, bailed out the Rockies when they bought a 40% interest in the ball club earlier this year. The abbreviated Covid season, followed by the revenue loss when the team’s local television network went under, resulted in the Rockies going seriously into the red. Shifting from the business to the strictly baseball side, Monfort noted that 61 of this year’s games, going into the weekend series with the Cardinals, had been decided by two or fewer runs, a marked leap in competitiveness. (Only 41% of them ended in victory, he conceded.) DePodesta, meanwhile, delivered an assessment of his first 10 months focused on baseball. He cited various statistical ranking that show the Rockies have improved markedly— from near the bottom of the major leagues to middle of he pack. And he recognized the contributions of several players added since he moved to Denver, most notably outfielder Jake McCarthy, who has blossomed at the top of the batting order; Rookie of the Year candidate T.J. Rumfield, slick-fielding at first base and patient at the plate; versatile Willi Castro, who has played all four infield positions this seasons; Troy Johnston, one of the team’s leaders in batting average as a sometimes-outfielder
and frequent designated hitter; and lefthanded reliever Brennan Bernadino, who already has set a personal record for appearances in a seasonand has an earned run average under three. DePodesta also admitted that not every move succeeded, without identifying by name either pitcher Michael Lorenzen or infielder Edouard Julien, two off-season additions who were released by mid-season. He acknowledged the never-ending challenge of pitching at Coors Field and said he already has concluded that “building a pitching staff the way everyone else does doesn’t make sense.” In Denver, more long relief rather a different bullpen arm each inning is key. McCarthy, Rumfield and Bernadino were acquired in under-the-radar trades; Castro signed as a free agent; and Johnston was claimed off waivers—which, DePodesta said, shows some of the varied ways the Rockies must succeed if they are to compete successfully with big boys such as the Dodgers and their seemingly bottomless pockets. At the same time, the new chief thinker of the organization’s baseball future acknowledged the Los Angeles farm system, noting it was in the top five of organizations producing its own talent, then called everyone’s attention to the Rockies minor league successes in the Arizona Complex League, the Class A California League’s Fresno Grizzlies and the Hartford Yard Goats at Double-A. And he recognized slugging Charlie Condon, who remained at Albuquerque all season, as yet another example of his approach to building a team. “Three things can happen when you call up a young player,” he told the audience. “One, they’re not ready so they fail. Or two, they struggle to survive. Or three, they’re ready to succeed. We’re trying to bring young players up when they’re ready to succeed.” The TV voice of the Rockies, Drew Goodman, emceed the hour-long Q&A and offered an illuminating addendum to all that Monfort and DePodesta had to say. Noting that he frequently chats on the field before games with managers and players from opposing teams, he said: “They all see the difference in the other dugout these days. They can sense the change that’s coming.” ________________________ Denny Dressman writes a weekly sports column for The Villager. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@comcast.net.
September 10, 2026 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 13
Why I Don’t Ask for Directions Anymore
Dear Voice on My GPS, It’s no exaggeration to say you’ve changed my life and it’s high time I thanked you for it. You see, I was born without one of those internal compasses some humans and most animals have. Oh, I did my best to compensate. I made it a point to travel only with people who knew where they were going. When I traveled alone I’d leave hours early to allow myself plenty of time to get lost and be that way for a long while. And I was never too shy to ask for directions. Then I’d have to ask again because I didn’t understand them the first time. I learned long ago that just because someone can get themselves to a certain place doesn’t mean they can explain to somebody else how to get there. Especially if the somebody is me. Some people just wave their arms in the direction you should go, jibber-jabber for a bit and then end with something silly like, “It’s easy to find.” Well it would be easy for them, wouldn’t it? They’ve been there already. It’s even worse when they say, “You can’t miss it.” When someone says that to me, I always mutter under my breath, “I bet I can.” I’ve missed many homes and some goodsized businesses in my day and the businesses often had big signs on them. Other folks give directions in a stream of consciousness style: “Go north past the lot where the old hardware store was before they tore it down two or three years ago. It might even be four by now. When you get to the Dairy Twist, take a left. If you have time, stop for a chocolate malt. They make a good one! Did I say left? I meant right. Turn right at the Dairy Twist and go two or three miles, give or take, until you get to the
Smith’s house. Of course the Smith’s don’t live there anymore. They up and moved in the middle of the night a few years back. Boy I’d love to know what happened there….” After directions like that, I used to go back to my car and sit in stunned silence for a few minutes. Then I’d drive directly to the next gas station to ask for directions again. But Voice, everything changed when GPS was invented and you came into my life and my dashboard. Thank you for never telling me a location is easy to find or giving me directions like your train of thought is going off the track. And thank you too for never giving directions as, well, directions. North, south, east and west are meaningless to me. I do have right and left down pretty well though. And thank you for always remaining calm and never criticizing me when I mess up following your instructions. Not all of my passengers are as patient. And you’re fun too. I enjoy changing your settings to give you different accents. It makes me feel like I’m traveling farther than I am. I know it’s possible to actually change your language too, but I don’t see any reason to do that. I’d be as likely to understand right and left in your Mandarin or Slovenian versions as I am to understand north, south, east and west in English. Anyway Voice, thank you again for all you do. I’m so grateful I don’t have to stop and ask for directions anymore. Dorothy Rosby is the author of I Used to Think I Was Not That Bad and Then I Got to Know Me Better and other books. Contact her at www. dorothyrosby.com/contact.
?
Sa ve t
he
Da te
Invites You To The
2026
“EVENING OF HOPE" Saturday, September 19, 2026
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM Cocktail Hour 6:30 PM Dinner – Presentation, & Live Auction
The Denver Inverness 200 Inverness Drive W. Englewood, Colorado TICKETS/SPONSORSHIPS: www.wingsofhopepcr.org Benefiting
All proceeds from this event go directly toward raising awareness and funding pancreatic cancer research at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus
LEGALS
PAGE 14 | THE VILLAGER • September 10, 2026
COURTS
The Villager Newspaper has been awarded the
BE ST Public Notice Section 5 years running by the Colorado Press Association
1st place - 2018, 2021, 2023, 2024 2nd place - 2022 and the
2018 BE ST Public Notice Section by the National Newspaper Association
SPECIAL DISTRICTS
NOTICE TO CREDITORS
INVITATION TO BID CHERRY CREEK VISTA PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT ORCHARD PARK PLAYGROUND PROJECT Notice is hereby given that the Cherry Creek Vista Park and Recreation District (“District”) seeks bids from qualified contractors for Little Tykes Playground Equipment to renovate its Orchard Park, 11350 E Orchard Road, Englewood, 80111, County of Arapahoe, Colorado (“Project”) as outlined in the playground plan specifications. To receive a pdf copy of the specifications please email, Joanna Waldenmyer at jwaldenmyer@rootpartnership.com. Emailed bids are due by September 25, 2026, not later than 12:00 P.M. MST to the District at jwaldenmyer@rootpartnership.com, info@ccrider. us, or Cherry Creek Vista Park and Recreation District, 1100 W. Littleton Blvd. #101, Littleton CO 80120. Please call ahead at 303-4821002 if delivering by hand to ensure someone is present for delivery. Bids not received by 12:00 P.M. MST will not be considered. A bid tabulation will be emailed to all participating bidders within ten (10) working days after the date of the Notice of Award for this Project. Questions regarding the project are to be submitted in writing to jwaldenmyer@rootpartnership.com by Monday September 14, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Responses will be provided to all bidders by Friday, September 18, 2026. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS: CHERRY CREEK VISTA PARK AND RECREATION DISTRICT Published in The Villager Published: September 10, 2026 Legal # 5026_ Cherry_Creek_Vista_PRD ________________________
NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of HANNELORE ESTENFELDER, Deceased Case Number: 2026PR030855 All persons having claims against the above-named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, or on or before January 7, 2027, or the claims may be forever barred. The original of this document is on file at the law office of Donald Glenn Peterson /s/. Donald Glenn Peterson Donald Glenn Peterson – Attorney for Personal Representative 5675 DTC Blvd., Suite 250 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Telephone: 303-758-0999 Published in The Villager First Publication: September 3, 2026 Last Publication: September 17, 2026 Legal # 31439 ________________________ NOTICE TO CREDITORS Estate of Sharon Lois Trudell, also known as Sharon L. Trudell and Sharon Trudell, Deceased Case Number 2026PR030867 All persons having claims against the above named estate are required to present them to the personal representative or to District Court of Arapahoe County, Colorado, or on or before January 7, 2027, or the claims may be forever barred. The original of this document is on file at the law office of Donald Glenn Peterson /s/. Donald Glenn Peterson Donald Glenn Peterson Attorney for Personal Representative 5675 DTC Blvd., Suite 250 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Telephone: 303-758-0999 Published in The Villager First Publication: September 3, 2026 Last Publication: September 17, 2026 Legal # 31440 ________________________
Dear Readers, What survivor benefits are available from Social Security or Department of Veterans Affairs?
Social Security
Eligible widows, widowers, minor children and in some cases, dependent parents age 62 and older, are eligible for survivor benefits. You may also be eligible for a lump sum payment of $255 paid directly to a surviving spouse or guardian of a dependent child. Sometimes divorced spouses are also entitled to benefits; however, the applicable laws
change frequently, so it is best to check with the Social Security Office in your area. You will need to call Social Security’s toll-free number: 1 (800) 772-1213 for more information. Use this number to report the death of someone
A 30% REDUCTION ON ESTATE PLAN DOCUMENTS IS CURRENTLY BEING OFFERED! FOR A FREE TELEPHONE OR VIDEO CONSULTATION, PLEASE CALL: 5675 DTC Boulevard, Suite 250 Greenwood Village, CO 80111 Telephone: (303) 758-0999 FAX: (303) 758-1091 E-mail: Donald@PetersonLaw.CO
Website: www.donpetersonlawfirm.com
DISTRICT COURT COUNTY OF ARAPAHOE, STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, Colorado Tel: 303-645-6600 PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO Petitioner, In the Interest of: TERELL TROY SMITH, JAIMELEE ANN SMITH, DEREK BOBBY SCOTT, and DEON EVERETT SCOTT, Children, and concerning, JEANNINE ALEXIS SMITH, JAMES PERRY, TARON BUTLER, and DAWAYNE KEITH SCOTT (DECEASED), Respondents. Eboni Younger-Riehl, Esq. #42359 Assistant County Attorney Office of the County Attorney Arapahoe County Department of Human Services 14980 E. Alameda Drive Aurora, CO 80012 720-423-3265 Case No: 26JV46 Division: 34 NOTICE OF ADJUDICATORY HEARING AND DEFAULT JUDGMENT AS TO RESPONDENT FATHERS JAMES PERRY AND TARON BUTLER To The Respondents: PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that an Adjudicatory Hearing and Default Judgment regarding Respondents JAMES PERRY and TARON BUTLER, is set for September 16, 2026, at the hour of 11:15 a.m. in Division 34, 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 will request that the Court enter a default judgment against you and adjudicate the child, dependent and neglected in accordance with the Colorado Children’s Code.
who has been receiving Social Security benefits. You must return Social Security retirement, disability, or survivor benefits paid for the month of death and any later months. Social Security is paid a month behind, and a recipient must live through the entire month to qualify for that month’s benefit. There are no partial or prorated payments. Items which may be required: certified copy of Death Certificate, deceased’s social security number, copies of deceased’s most recent W-2 forms or self-employment tax return showing earnings in the year of death, deceased’s employer, social security numbers of the deceased’s spouse and minor children, Marriage Certificate and/or divorce documentation. More information may be found at: www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs may have possible benefits for surviving family members. The following information will be required in
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-Div34 •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 408 0614 then press #, # (no person ID is needed). YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED to appear before the Court at said time and place, either in person, virtually via WebEx, or by phone. If you elect to appear in person, you must be at the Courthouse half an hour before the hearing is scheduled to begin. Dated: September 6, 2026
Published in The Villager Published: September 10, 2026 Legal # 31442 ________________________ DISTRICT COURT ARAPAHOE COUNTY STATE OF COLORADO 7325 S. Potomac Street Centennial, CO 80112 (303) 649-6355 Case Number: 26 JV 30114
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF COLORADO, IN THE INTEREST OF BELLA ALEXINE CARRILLO ARROYO, Child,
applying for benefits: Military Discharge Papers, VA file number if the deceased person was receiving VA benefits, social security number and branch of service, certified copy of the Death Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Divorce Decree and copies of the Birth Certificates of minor or disabled children. For more VA information, call 1 (800) 827-1000. Family members of retired military personnel may also contact the Casualty Assistance Office for the Denver area at (720) 847-6946.
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
Tracy Rumans Attorney Reg. #34218 Assistant County Attorney 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Ste 38 Aurora, CO 80012 Telephone: (303) 752-8900 Fax: (303) 752-8901 NOTICE OF ACTION AND HEARING TO: EMILIO PULIDO PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: You are hereby notified that a Petition has been filed to establish paternity and support for the above-named children. You are an interested party. You are further notified that the Petition is set for hearing at 7325 South Potomac Street, Centennial, CO 80112 in Division 307 on OCTOBER 21, 2026 at 10:45 a.m. You are further notified that if you fail to appear, the court may still enter an order. Published in The Villager Published: September 10, 2026 Legal # 31443
Misc.
/s/Eboni Younger-Riehl Eboni Younger-Riehl, Esq. #42359 Assistant County Attorney
NOTICE TO ESTABLISH PATERNITY AND SUPPORT
Upon Petition of the Arapahoe County Department of Human Services and NALLELY IBETH ARROYO LERMA, PETITIONER, and Concerning: CARLOS AARON CARRILLO TERRONES AND EMILIO PULIDO, RESPONDENTS.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF PETITION FOR CHANGE OF NAME In the Matter of the Petition of: Kahumo De Vil Chason For a Change of Name to: Kahumo Firehawk De Vil Case No: 26C100741 Public Notice is given on August 23rd, 2026 that a Petition for a Name Change of an Adult has been filed with the Arapahoe County Court. The Petition requests that the name of Kahumo De Vil Chason be changed to Kahumo Firehawk De Vil. By: /s/ Cheryl Ann RowlesStokes Arapahoe County Court Judge Published in The Villager First Publication: September 3, 2026 Last Publication: September 17, 2026 Legal # 5025_Swiftpub_Name Change ________________________
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.
September 10, 2026 • THE VILLAGER | PAGE 15
Classified Advertising COLORADO FREEDOM MEMORIAL PRESENTS “ON THE EVE OF CHANGE, REMEMBERING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF 911.” THURS., SEPT. 10, 5:30 p.m. The Colorado Freedom Memorial is located at Aurora’s Memorial Park at 756 Telluride St. 22ND ANNUAL HDSA HEROES & VILLAINS TEAM HOPE 5 K WALK & RUN SAT., SEPT. 12. Denver’s Central Park. Sponsored by the Rocky Mtn Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. Registration 8 a.m., event starts at 9 a.m. The fundraising event takes place in over 100 cities. Info: bateskath@gmail.com TAPS BENEFIT SAT., SEPT 12, 5 p.m. cocktail reception and silent auction, 6 pm. dinner and program. TAPS Legacy Award presented to Kimberly Delp-McCloskey and James McCloskey. Event Chairs: Barbara & Frank Kelley III; Event Directors: Laura Benton and George R Dempsey. Honor the courage and sacrifice of our nation’s fallen heroes at an intimate concert featuring Nashville songwriters Deborah Allen, Billy Montana, and Frank Myers as they share the personal stories behind their country music hits. Where? Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. colorado@taps.org GRANDPARENTS 4 KIDS DAYS SEPT. 13. Send a title of a book you love reading to your grandkids. G4K will purchase books to donate to schools. Looking for grandparentapproved favorites so every child can discover the joy of a truly great book. Deadline for submitting your favorite book title is Aug. 31. Send to info@ grandparents4kids.org
Info: Terri Mongait (720) 467-4143 terri@ beginagainranch.com SOUTH METRO DENVER CHAMBER WOMEN IN BUSINESS CONFERENCE THURS., SEPT. 24, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Speakers: Katie Mares, Best Selling Author, CustomHER experience; Reagan Cannon, International Leadership Speaker & Coach; Barbara Brooks, Speaker & Entrepreneur. Buy tickets at BestChamber.com/WIBC COLORADO UPLIFT GATHER & GIVE FRI., SEPT 25, 10 a.m. -12:30 p.m. Columbine Country Club. Keynote speaker: Dr. fJoe Sanders. $80 per guest. Register: https.//givebutler. com/c/2026-Guild-gather-give. RSVP by Sept. 15. 574-309-1825. NFWALK DENVER- CHILDREN’S TUMOR FOUNDATION SEPT. 26, 2-5 P.M. CLEMENT PARK SHELTERS J&K, 7306 W. Bowler Ave., Littleton. nfwalk@ ctf.org CSU 50-YEAR CLUB AWARDS LUNCHEON OCT. 2-the Friday of Homecoming & Family Weekend. Induct the class of 1976 and present the Public Service and Career Achievement Award winners. Held at the Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect Rd., Fort Collins. Info: 970-491-6533.
AURORA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL SOLD OUT THURS., OCT. 22, 6-9 p..m. Keynote Speaker: Chris Barton, Fonder & Creator of Shazam, Entrepreneur, Inventor, and Tech Investor. Join the waitlist for a table. Celebrating the economic successes of the City of Aurora, Adams County, WARD VI TOWN HALL MEETING WED., SEPT. 16 6-8 p.m. Heritage Eagle Bend and Arapahoe County at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Golf Club, 23155 E. Heritage Parkway, Parker. Info Convention Center. Questions: 303-755-22223. 303-739-7015. CLUB NEWS VETERANS COFFEE CLUB CANCER LEAGUE RAPPEL OVER Every Third Friday of the month from 8-10 a.m. THE EDGE SEPT 17-19. Kimpton Claret Hotel. Rappel 195 Buck Recretion Center Topeka Room, 2004 W.Powers Ave., Littleton. Coffee provided by ft. (19 stories). Fundraiser for Cancer League of Colo. Call 303-534-4317. denvserovertheedge. Littleton Elks Lodge com OPTIMIST CLUB OF MONACO FREE CHIPPING & MULCH EVENT SOUTH FRIDAYS from 7-8 a.m. for the pasts 49 years. FOR CENTENNIAL RESIDENTS American Legion Hall, Yale & I-25. Call Frank 303SAT., SEPT. 19, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Drop off location: Centennial Public Works Facility, located 759-9232 for a free breakfast. Have fun meeting at 7272 S. Eagle St. FREE MULCH starting at noon. new friends and an opportunity to give back to the community. Bring your tarp & shovel. Info: 303-325-8000 WINGS OF HOPE - EVENING OF HOPE SEPT. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Inverness Denver, 200 Inverness Dr. West. CU researchers present promising clinical trials. Tickets: wingsofhopecr. org Maureen Shul is the Wings of Hope founder an executive director. USE BOOK SALE AT KOELBEL LIBRARY SEPT. 18-20. Fri., Sept. 18, 9 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Sat., Sept 19, 9 a.m. -4:30 p.m. Sun., Sept 20, 12-4 p.m. Sunday Bag Day: Provided by the Library. Fill for $12. QUEEN’S TEA 2026 BENEFITING THE MS. COLORADO SENIOR AMERICA PAGEANT SUNDAY, SEPT. 20 2 –5 p.m. Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Course – Antero Ballroom. 23155 E. Heritage Parkway, Aurora 80016. Enjoy an afternoon of tea, finger sandwiches, sweet treats, live entertainment, and silent & live auctions. Wear your favorite tea party attire and fabulous hat while supporting the nonprofit Ms. Colorado Senior America organization. Tickets: $40 General Admission | $50 VIP. Tickets: https://mcsap2026queenstea.eventbrite.com.
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.
PRINTING & FOOD SERVICES AUG. 28 the new 123,000 sq. ft. Revere Parkway Warehouse had a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility serves 66 schools with 6 million meals. The new sub-zero freezer can store over 13.2 million hamburgers and the Print Shop has more than doubled its footprint to produce the district’s math curriculum in-house. COLORADO LOTTERY REPORTS RECORD FY26 SCRATCH SALES Nearly $888 million in total venue. More than $181 million to Beneficiaries. ARNOLD PALMER CUP COMING TO CHERRY HILLS COUNTRY CLUB JUNE 7-13, 2027. The event was hosted in 2026 by Trails Golf Links in Ireland. The cup now includes 12 men and 12 women per team. 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 303-795-4511 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/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 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 Rivierabringing coastal 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 Marcus. 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.
ENGLEWOOD LIONS CLUB MEETINGS Meets 1st & 3rd Thursdays at 7:00 a.m. At Mango Tree Coffee, 3498 S. Broadway,Englewood. Info: MOVET - PRIMARY CARE Gail 720-377-7682. VETERINARY SERVICES In Home, In Clinic or Virtual. Locally woman WHAT’S NEW? owned business. 4912 S. Newport St., Denver. Now hiring for the November election. Become Call 720-507-7387 MovetCare.com an election judge. Apply:ArapahoeNotes.gov/ election-judges NEED AN ATTORNEY? Call Donald Peterson for a free telephone or video OVERLAND HIGH SCHOOL MAKES consultation. 303-758-0999. Email: Donald@ WAVES WITH NEW AQUATIC PetersonLaw.Co. Located at 5675 DTC Boulevard, CENTER Suite 250, Greenwood Village. On August 28th a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the district’s first stand-only AISLYN DERMATOLOGY Aquatics Center. the 35,000 sf. facility was built Dr. Aislyn Nelson MD, PhD dermatologist is by Saunders Construction and designed by located in Lincoln Medical Center, 11960 Lioness DLR Group - an 8 lane, 25-yar, 417,000 gallon Way, Ste. 225, Parker. 719-992-0127. www. competition pool, and seating for 300 spectators. aislynderm.com “We Do It All.” CHERRY CREEK SCHOOLS OPENS NEW WAREHOUSE ELEVATING
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5 Star Google Reviews. Transportation Executive Services LLC. Call 720-969-5386. 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. University 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
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PAGE 16 | THE VILLAGER • September 10, 2026
money sense
5 rules for investing in retirement Managing your portfolio with new risks and priorities in mind takes careful planning and regular monitoring. Here are tips from Merrill on how to get started. Heads up: Investing in retirement is not the same as investing for retirement. All the smart strategies you used to accumulate enough for retirement will likely need adjusting as you enter the next chapter of your life. Think of it as a shift in perspective from investing for the really long term to being much more prepared for shorter-term risks. “If anything, investing in retirement is a bit more complex, given the variety of potential risks and uncertainties,” says Anil Suri, a managing director in the Chief Investment Office (CIO) for Merrill and Bank of America Private Bank. So where do you begin? It can start with a thorough portfolio review with your advisor, ideally at least three years before you retire. After you retire, plan to revisit your portfolio quarterly and keep these five investing guidelines in mind. 1. Review your asset allocation with new risks in mind. In mid-career, you could afford to be aggressive with your portfolio. When you are drawing down those assets after you retire and have less time to recover from market drops, a more conservative approach may make sense. Still, being too conservative heightens the risks of outliving your money and failing to keep pace with cost-of-living increases. Consider that even a modest annual inflation rate of 2.5% would erode the spending power of a dollar by 46% over a 25-year period, according to calculations by the CIO. Ask your advisor whether your current fixed income and dividend stock investments are sufficient to supply you with the income you will need, given the potential for inflation and market volatility. Will your current asset allocation provide enough potential growth to cover another 20 years or more? Finding the right balance for your personal situation is key.
2. Prioritize your immediate cash needs. If your noninvestment income (Social Security, a pension, income from a part-time job) covers all or most of your essential expenses — healthcare, housing and so on — you can take on more investing risk. If not, you may want to have more of your investments in lower-risk assets, such as U.S. Treasuries, high-grade corporate bonds or annuities. “You want a high level of certainty around the investments that are supporting your essential lifestyle,” Suri says. “Beyond that, you need to pursue more growth.” Keep in mind that you may end up spending more than you anticipated in retirement. Some 45% of retirees report spending more than they had expected, according to the 2025 Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefits Research Institute and Greenwald Research.1 3. Do not abandon stocks. While stocks are susceptible to shortterm price swings, they also give you the best chance of staying ahead of inflation and helping your money last. While you may have previously felt comfortable with an aggressive equity allocation, you and your advisor could now find that a more balanced allocation, say 50% to stocks and 50% to bonds, offers the greatest likelihood of providing you with the growth you need, according to the CIO. An all-cash portfolio leaves you at greater risk of running out of money. 4. Prepare for volatility, especially early in your retirement. Volatility can be especially damaging early in retirement. When you are investing for retirement, you are likely contributing regularly to your retirement plan. Once you retire, however, you are not only withdrawing funds, but you are also no longer making fresh contributions.
You need to guard against what is called sequence of returns risk. It is what happens when a steep market drop in the first few years of retirement forces you to draw down stocks at depressed prices. Withdrawing more than you had intended could have an outsized impact on your remaining wealth. Having cash and short-term bonds on hand can help you navigate down markets, says Nevenka Vrdoljak, a managing director in the CIO. “Adding more guaranteed income could also help minimize sequence of returns risk,” she adds. 5. Stick to your plan — and review it regularly. Creating a solid retirement investment strategy is one thing. Sticking to it is another, and our emotions can sometimes cause us to act too hastily when markets get volatile, particularly in retirement. In fact, because investors tend to buy and sell at inappropriate times, their actual returns often lag the overall market. An advisor can help you avoid emotional mistakes, and reviewing your plan regularly with your advisor can also help you feel more in control. “One of the greatest threats to a secure retirement is the failure to have a plan,” Vrdoljak says. Developing a retirement investing plan — and sticking to it — may be the most important rule there is. For more information, contact Merrill Financial Advisor Andrew Neal in the Greenwood Village, CO, office at 303.689.8043 or andrew.neal@ml.com.
1
EBRI and Greenwald Research, “2025 Retirement Confidence Survey,” 2025.
Investing involves risk. There is always the potential of losing money when you invest in securities. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Merrill, its affiliates, and financial advisors do not provide legal, tax or accounting advice. You should consult your legal and/or tax advisors before making any financial decisions. This information should not be construed as investment advice and is subject to change. It is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be either a specific offer by Bank of America, Merrill or any affiliate to sell or provide, or a specific invitation for a consumer to apply for, any particular retail financial product or service that may be available. The Chief Investment Office (CIO) provides thought leadership on wealth management, investment strategy and global markets; portfolio management solutions; due diligence; and solutions oversight and data analytics. CIO viewpoints are developed for Bank of America Private Bank, a division of Bank of America, N.A., (“Bank of America”) and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“MLPF&S” or “Merrill”), a registered brokerdealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC, and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). Investment products offered through MLPF&S, and insurance and annuity products offered through MLLA.:
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