WEEK OF OCTOBER 3, 2024
VOLUME 35 | ISSUE 40
$2
12 leaf-peeping hikes to make the most of fall colors while you can
Where hikers find the best foliage in Colorado
Commerce City sustainability manager says she was fired for calling out Suncor
Old Dillon Reservoir Trail Dillon Reservoir Recreation Area near Silverthorne - Type: Loop - Length: 1.7 miles - Elevation: 213 feet - Time to complete: 0:40 - Drive from Denver: 72 miles
Former Commerce City sustainability manager Rosemarie Russo and her supporters say she was fired by city leaders after community protest notes she forwarded to the Suncor refinery’s Canadian headquarters angered oil company executives who then pressured the city to reprimand her. Russo said in interviews Wednesday she was given a choice at a Sept. 3 city human resources meeting: resign and agree not to file a lawsuit in order to retain benefits and vacation pay, or be fired. Russo, hired in 2022 and formerly a sustainability manager for Fort Collins and Moab, Utah, chose to be fired, she said. Suncor’s Calgary, Alberta executives were angry Russo had forwarded handwritten notes made by community members on paper posters set out in July during the city’s annual EcoFiesta, an event sponsored in part by Commerce City government. Community members’ notes directed anger at Suncor for repeated violations of state and federal air pollution laws with emissions that harm the health of residents, many of whom are minority and low-income residents of neighborhoods that are heavily impacted by big polluters. The EPA had announced another round of alleged Suncor violations just before EcoFiesta. The challenging notes angered Suncor’s Canadian executives, who then pressured their Commerce City executives to lean on Commerce City government,
SEE FALL LEAVES, P8
SEE FIRED, P7
• Page 9
• Vestas to lay off 200 employees
BY MICHAEL BOOTH THE COLORADO SUN
BUSINESS
Colorado provides endless beautiful areas for driving for those who don’t want to hike to get their fall colors. Here a road swerves PHOTO BY HALEY LENA through the Mount Evans Wilderness decorated with popping leaves.
BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
• Page 3
•27J Schools moves online-only Dec. 1
3 5 8 11
LOCAL OBITUARIES LEGALS CLASSIFIED
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
LOCAL
It is officially fall, and in Colorado, that’s when the state truly shows off its full array of mountain beauty. Hikers, drivers and mountain bikers can enjoy eye-popping fall foliage without trekking too far from the metro area, but others travel deep into the Centennial State for those fleeting red and golden leaves. Many meteorologists feared recent cold and rainy weather would knock off most of the colors, but scores of them survived and are just waiting to be ogled if you know where to go. That’s why we at Colorado Community Media put together a list of some of the most rewarding hiking
experiences for autumn sentimentalists. As weekend adventurers hit the mountains after the work week, traffic is sure to pile up. So if you can, try one of these stunning hikes during the week, or at least get up early to beat the morning weekend crowd. Here are 12 hikes to show off the state’s best autumn colors. Some may require a bit of a road trip, but most are easy day hikes not far from the metro area. Sometimes, you just have to get out there. AllTrails.com provides all trail stats listed below. Remember that terms like “easy,” “moderate” and “hard” are subjective and depend on your judgment, experience, stamina and more.
OBITUARIES: 5 | CLASSIFIEDS: 11
EASY
Raccoon Trail Golden Gate Canyon State Park near Rollinsville - Type: Loop - Length: 2.6 miles - Elevation: 462 feet - Time to complete: 1:14 - Drive from Denver: 35 miles
COMMERCECITYSENTINEL.COM • A PUBLICATION OF COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
NOTICIAS EN ESPAÑOL
La Ciudad, nuestro boletín bilingüe que se centra en temas importantes para nuestra comunidad de habla hispana. coloradocommunitymedia.com/la-ciudad