17 minute read
CALENDAR
Thu 8/05
Wii Bowling- Active Adult Olympics
@ 3pm Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 East Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760
Relay Races- Active Adult Olympics
@ 5pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760
The Vivos Institute Grand Opening Event
@ 7pm / $495-$895 Aug 5th - Aug 7th The Vivos Institute, 7001 Tower Road, Denver
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The Beach Boys @ 7:30pm / $26-$75.50 Levitt Pavilion Denver, 1380 W. Florida Ave., Denver Fri 8/06
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2021 Complete Catchers Camp Interest List @ 12am / Free Aug 6th - Aug 8th Northern Lights Ball Fields, 13800 York Street, Thornton Closing Ceremony Celebration (8/6)
@ 5pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760
Phantom of the AOPERA
@ 5pm / $1,0-$800 Seawell Ballroom at the DCPA, 1350 Ara‐pahoe Street, Denver Kate Willet @ DCL
@ 6:45pm / $17-$20 The Denver Comedy Lounge, 3559 Larimer Street, Denver Dale Watson (with The Threadbarons)
Sat 8/07
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Standley Lake Bird Walks @ 7am Standley Lake Regional Park & Wildlife Refuge, Simms St & W 100th Ave, Westminster. standley lake@cityofwestminster.us, 303425-1097
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Get Out Get Fit at Orchard Town Center @ 9am The Orchard Town Center, 14697 Delaware Street, Westminster. meghan@meghandougherty.com, 720-560-0177 Olympic Field Day
@ 2pm Bison Ridge Recreation Center, 13905 E. 112th Avenue, Commerce City. 303-2893760
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The Petty-Nicks Experience at Orchard Town Center @ 6pm The Orchard Town Center, 14697 Delaware Street, Westminster. meghan@meghandougherty.com, 720-560-0177 Colorado Rapids
@ 7pm / $29-$998 DICK'S Sporting Goods Park, 6000 Victory Way, Commerce City
Sun 8/08
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Sunday @ NorthRock | August 8 @ 10am / Free NorthRock Church, 10100 Grant Street, Thornton Mon 8/09
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Family Camp - "Where Did All The Birds Go?" @ 9am / Free Aug 9th - Aug 13th Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learning Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-6594348 ext. 49 Mini Migration Camp
@ 9am / $126 Aug 9th - Aug 11th Bird Conservancy's Environmental Learn‐ing Center, 14500 Lark Bunting Lane, Brighton. 303-659-4348 ext. 49
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LESS IS MORE TOURColorado @ 10am / $500-$600 Carson & Co. Salon, 14697 Delaware Street, Westminster Jeff & Paige: Meadow Music @ the Bandshell
@ 5pm / Free Boulder Bandshell, 1212 Canyon Boule‐vard, Boulder
The Page Turners- Book Club
@ 10pm Aug 9th - Aug 30th Eagle Pointe Recreation Center, 6060 E. Parkway Dr., Commerce City. 303-2893760
Tue 8/10
powered by
Yoga for the Warrior Heart
@ 2pm / Free-$25 Panthers Gate Boulder, 1629 Canyon Boulevard, Boulder
Summer Stroll: Turnberry Park 8/10
@ 3pm Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
Little Kickers Soccer: CO-ED
@ 11pm Aug 10th - Sep 14th Fort Lupton Recreation & Parks De‐partment, 203 S Harrison, Fort Lupton. 303-857-4200
Wed 8/11
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TBRI® Connection Group: Northeast @ 5:30pm / Free Fort Lupton Recreation Depart‐ment, 203 South Harrison Avenue, Fort Lupton Women-only Level 1 MTB skills at Valmont Bike Park, Boulder CO
@ 5:30pm / $75 Valmont Bike Park, 3160 Airport Rd, This is the main parking lot, by the bathrooms., Boulder
Thu 8/12
Picnic In the Park- Pioneer Park (8/12)
@ 4pm Offsite, 6060 E Parkway Drive, Commerce City. 303-289-3760
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Music Bingo at Pour Tap House @ 7pm / Free Pour Tap House, 12433 East 104th Avenue, Commerce City Low�ve / The Honey Empire
@ 8pm / $13-$18 Lost Lake, 3602 E. Colfax Ave., Denver
Youth Soccer:1/2st Grade CO-ED
@ 11:15pm Aug 12th - Sep 16th Fort Lupton Community Center Park, 203 S Harrison Ave, Fort Lupton. 303-8574200
In Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, 95% of those recently hospitalized were not fully vaccinated
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With the new school year nearly here, Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties are seeing the signs of an upswing in rates of new COVID-19 cases, according to a news release from Tri-County Health Department.
“Two connected factors are responsible for the increase in new cases: individuals who remain unvaccinated and the highly contagious Delta variant,” the health agency wrote in the news release.
In parallel with trends across the U.S. and Colorado, new cases of COVID-19 have increased in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties in the past month, according to TriCounty, which is the local public health agency for the three counties.
“While the overall rates are much lower than they were in April thanks to those who have been fully vaccinated against the virus, this recent increase in cases is concerning especially with school beginning in the next few weeks,” the agency added.
Schools may return with little to no social distancing or mask requirements in August. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released new P-12 school COVID-19 guidelines on July 20, but the new guidance “does not constitute statewide requirements,” a state news release said. Instead, the guidance outlines “best practices” for local governments and school districts.
Tri-County Health will “strongly encourage” mask-wearing in indoor settings for those not fully vaccinated, but the agency is not planning to require it at this point, John Douglas, executive director of Tri-County Health, said on July 23.
Regardless of the new state guidance, state law gives local and state public health offi cials the authority to implement isolation and quarantines to slow or stop the spread of disease, according to the Colorado State Joint Information Center, which takes questions for the state public-health department.
“Public health offi cials will work with schools to ensure that these measures are used as needed to protect the health of the employees and students in these settings, which also provides broader protection to the community at large,” the center said in a statement.
Local health agencies, school districts to choose what COVID-19 restrictions to implement
BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With the upcoming school year fast approaching, Tri-County Health Department — the local public health agency for Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties — said it plans not to require masks for unvaccinated individuals in schools.
Then, in light of new data on the Delta coronavirus variant, the federal Centers for Disease Control in late July updated its guidance for fully vaccinated people. The CDC now recommends “universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status,” according to its website.
Tri-County Health was closely following the release of the updated CDC guidance and was waiting for subsequent comments from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment before offering any additional guidance for the counties in its jurisdiction, Douglas said.
“We have been working with our school districts to achieve optimal in-person learning and prevent transmission of COVID-19 and will continue to do so to help them understand how best to apply this new guidance,” Douglas said.
Schools may return with little to no social distancing or mask requirements in August. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released new P-12 school COVID-19 guidelines on July 20, but the new guidance “does not constitute statewide requirements,” a state news release said. Instead, the guidance outlines “best practices” for local governments and school districts.
Tri-County Health will continue to require quarantining of close contacts — those within 6 feet for 15 minutes or more — for anyone exposed to a person with COVID-19 in a non-classroom setting, Douglas said.
But this year, contact tracing is not required in the classroom setting, in order to prioritize in-person learning, Douglas said. Contact tracing is a term for when public health workers notify people that they may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
In Tri-County’s jurisdiction, students who are exposed to COVID-19 in the classroom will not be required to quarantine from school except in instances that are high risk: unmasked direct contact in sports, choir or with medically fragile students, Douglas said.
“All students and staff that are exposed should still monitor closely for symptoms and are not permitted to attend school if they develop symptoms. Testing, isolation and symptom-screening are still required before symptomatic staff and students can return back to school,” Douglas said.
Individual cases and potential outbreaks of COVID-19 — and all reportable medical conditions — are still required to be reported to public health offi cials, Douglas said.
Tri-County Health “will monitor cases and work with schools to implement additional mitigation measures such as masking, social distancing, contact-tracing and quarantine in the setting of an outbreak,” Douglas said. “These recommendations will only be required if the outbreak is high risk (or) severe or the school is not participating in the investigation and mitigation.”
For schools, a confi rmed outbreak is defi ned as fi ve or more cases of COVID-19, of which at least one case has had a positive molecular amplifi cation test or antigen test, among students, teachers or staff from separate households with onset within 14 days in a single classroom or activity or other close contact in the school setting — including transportation to or from school and affi liated events, according to the state’s defi nition.
See more information on Colorado’s updated defi nition of COVID-19 outbreaks at tinyurl.com/ ColoradoCOVIDoutbreak on page 6.
Alternatives for indoor activities or school events may be recommended or required depending on the severity of an outbreak, Douglas said. counties have experienced increases of 70% and 65% over the same period, Tri-County said.
The majority of new cases are among individuals who are not fully vaccinated, according to Tri-County. And since March, “95% of individuals hospitalized in our counties had not been fully vaccinated, similar to the pattern being seen across the state and nation,” Tri-County said in the release.
The Delta variant, which is more contagious than the strain circulating last winter and could cause more severe illness according to recent studies, is responsible for approximately 90% of all cases in Colorado, according to Tri-County.
“It is understandable that some people may still have concerns about getting vaccinated after hearing a lot of misinformation on the internet and social media,” Douglas, the health chief, said in the release. “However, the threat from the Delta variant to unvaccinated persons is real, serious and growing, so each day of delay can increase your risk of getting sick from COVID-19. If you’re unsure, talk with your health care provider to help answer questions in the context of your personal health.”
Where to get vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccinations are available at many locations nearly every day in Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas counties.
Tri-County Health’s COVID-19 vaccines webpage lists clinics by day of the week in a calendar format as well as by location in a map. That’s located at tchd.org/866/COVID19-Vaccine. You can also call TriCounty at 303-220-9200.
Anyone looking for a specifi c vaccine can sort by product at vaccines. gov, or text their ZIP code to 438829.
There are also additional opportunities listed on the state’s webpage at covid19.colorado.gov/vaccine/ where-you-can-get-vaccinated.
Individuals can also check with their own doctor, a local clinic, grocery or big-box store, or pharmacy nearby at vaccinespotter.org/CO.
Until a person’s vaccination is complete, Tri-County Health says to wear a mask indoors when around people who are from another household and to stay 6 feet apart from others when out in public, especially indoors.
While more than 70% of adults age 18 and up who are eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Colorado have been vaccinated, those who have not been vaccinated remain vulnerable to illness, hospitalization and even death, Tri-County noted.
“Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is the most effective way to protect yourself against this virus, especially with the more contagious Delta variant circulating,” Douglas said in the release. “Each of the vaccines available are very effective. Everyone 12 and older who can get vaccinated should do so now — for themselves and their families and friends. Vaccinated people also protect those who cannot get vaccinated, such as children under 12 years of age, or those with weaker immune systems for whom vaccine protection may be reduced.”
Flicks and Kicks
Brighton’s outdoor movie/concert program, Flix and Kicks, returns this summer at Carmichael Park, 650 E. Southern St.
This year’s lineup includes: * Thursday, Aug. 12. “Aladdin” (1992 version). * Thursday, Aug. 19. Derek Hall & the Possibilities, 7 p.m.; and * Thursday, Aug. 26. “Wonder Woman”
Movies begin at dusk. Admission is free; seating is fi rst-come, fi rstserved.
New Eye for Art exhibit ‘Return to Summer’
More than 50 artists and 160 pieces of art are now featured in the newest Eye For Art “Return to Summer” exhibit at City Hall. The artwork ranges from oils and acrylics to watercolors and computer paintings, graphite drawings, photography, fused glass, pottery, mixed media, jewelry and various sculptures.
Artists featured include: Olivia Andruss, Frank Carrillo, Mary Chan, Ron Cupps, Kim Davis, Randy Davis, David DeHoyos, Sheri Farabaugh, Leo Fautsch, Mona Fransher, Richard Gallagher and many others.
The exhibit is open to the public through Nov. 23 at Brighton City Hall, 500 S. 4th Ave. Most artwork is available for purchase. Pieces that are not are labeled ”NFS”.
The Offi ce of Arts and Culture will also host Brighton’s pARTy bus on Friday, July 30. The ride will be from 6 - 9 p.m., taking passengers to three different art receptions happening all in one night. Details here.
To learn more about the exhibit and/or Eye for Art program, visit the Eye for Art page or contact David Gallegos, Arts and Culture Coordinator, at dgallegos@brightonco.gov or 303-655-2176.
Walk with a doc
Platte Valley Medical Center’s cardiac rehab team and Walk With A Doc will host monthly walks with Dr. Christopher Cannon, interventional cardiologist at Brighton Heart and Vascular Institute.
This is a walking program for everyone interested in taking steps for a healthier lifestyle. After a few minutes to learn about a current health topic from the doctor, spend the rest of the hour enjoying a healthy walk and fun conversation. It’s a great way to get out, get active and enjoy all the benefi ts that come from walking.
City campout
Families that want to experience the outdoors can come Saturday, Aug. 7, starting at 2 p.m.
Brighton Park (555 N. 11th Ave,) will be the scene. The agenda includes an afternoon of outdoor/nature-themed vendors and activities, a movie under the stars, s’mores by the campfi re and settling down in the tents for the night (loaner tents are available).
The fee is $10 per family. Call Valerie Rodriguez at 303-655-2221 or email vrodriguez@brightonco.gov.
Gummball rally
The fourth annual Gummball Rally is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at Riverdale Regional Park, East 124th Avenue and Brighton Road.
The 5K run is in memory of Adams County sheriff’s deputy Heath Gumm, who died in the line of duty in January 2018.
The fee is $30 for racers 13 years of age and older. (T-shirt guaranteed with a paid entry by Sunday, Aug. 6), and older, $10 for those 12 and under with a T-shirt guaranteed with a paid entry by Aug. 6 and free for racers 12 and under (no T-shirt).
Visithttps://gummball5k.itsyourrace.com/event.aspx?id=11277.
Indulge for CASA
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Adams and Broomfi eld counties will host “CASA: A Night on Braodway” from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 14 at Ballistreri Vineyards, 1946 E. 66th Ave.
This year’s event celebrates the return of Broadway theater, featuring musical performances from Boulder Dinner Theatre Stage.
Buy tickets at https:// casa17th.wixsite.com/ indulgeforcasa2021?blm_ aid=18554916. Questions? Email
barbara@casa17th.com.
Call for Art in Park artists
The city of Brighton put out a call for artists to submit works for the city’s fourth annual Art In the Park festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Carmichael Park, 650 Southern St.
Visit www.brightonartinthkepark. com for details and applkication forms. The deadline is Wednesdsay, Sept. 1. The one-day festival includes chances to meet the awrtist market, visit with the artists, enjoy food trucks, mkusic and demonstrations. Call 303-655-2176 or email dgallegos@brightonco.gov.
Trash Bash
The city of Brighton’s annual Trash Bash is set for two weekends. The second is the weekend of Friday, Sept. 24. In both instances, the dropoff point will be at the wastewater treatment plant, 325 N. Kuner Road.
Acceptable items for trash bash include furniture, cabinets, appliances (not freezers or refrigerators), bicycles, cut-up carpet and doors. Small items have to be in containers. Total weight has to be relative to the type of container.
Present a city of Brighton water bill or something that indicates your place of residence. A suggested donation of $10 will be accepted to help defray the cost. Car and light pick-up tires will be accepted for $7 each. Oversized tires are $10 each, and semi-tractor trailer tires cost $20.
ECO event
Brighton’s electronic disposal and shredding event is set for 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25, at City Hall, 500 S. Fourth Ave. Acceptable items include game consoles, electrical equipment and cords, keyboards, computer towers, laptops and cell phones.
Image Summit
Brighton’s Image Summit, a twoday conference for youngsters 10 to 19 years of age, is set for Oct. 27. It’s a chance for youngsters to biuld their confi dence, gain leadership skills and to feel as though they can use their voice to infl uence communities and policyi governance.
Visit www.brightonimagesummit. org.
Common Solar Scams
#1
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#3
Colorado Law Requires Rooftop Solar Installations
False. Homebuilders must offer rooftop solar options or makeready wiring for solar on newly constructed homes only.
United Power Contracts with Solar Installers
United Power does NOT contract with any rooftop solar installers. It is a RED FLAG if a solar representative claims to be working with or on behalf of the cooperative.
You will no Longer Receive a Bill if you Install Rooftop Solar
You will still receive a bill for electricity you consume when the sun isn’t shining and your home is using services from the grid. In addition, any financing forecasts from salespeople with future rate increases from the co-op may be misleading.
There’s no place like hope.
BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER.
Children in foster care who have a CASA volunteer are more likely to succeed in school and adjust to change. And they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system later. As a volunteer, you can make all the di erence for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect in your community. Get involved, and change a child’s story.
