May 7, 2021
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DOUGLAS COUNTY, COLORADO
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INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 16 | SPORTS: PAGE 21
VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 23
RTD vows to listen to community Representatives say they will work to improve service BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The acquisition is the first for NTLN, a nascent nonprofit that seeks to leverage national foundation funding to buy and bolster local newspapers threatened by faltering business models and the encroachment of hedge funds and corporate conglomerates. The Colorado Sun, a statewide news outlet founded and run by former Denver Post journalists, will oversee daily operations at Colorado Community Media.
Parker Town Council members aired grievances in their first meeting with the town’s newly elected RTD director, who was joined by a colleague in promising to work on improving service to the town. Julien Bouquet, the director who represents Parker and the rest of District G on the RTD board, spoke to councilmembers in an April 26 work session about where RTD stands with the pandemic and what it is focusing on moving forward. Bouquet said there is a chance that Route P, a bus line taking residents from Parker to downtown Denver, will return in September. The route was suspended last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We don’t know how many people are often going to be actually going to the office, that’s why it has a delay of potentially resuming in September based on where the studies are and the data that they’re finding,” Bouquet said. Route 483, which runs between the Lincoln Light Rail station and the Nine Mile Light Rail Station in Aurora, via Lincoln Avenue and Parker Road, was approved to return in June. The next step for RTD in the town is to host listening sessions within the community, Bouquet said. “I believe that if demand is heard enough, that’s something I can fight for on the board,” Bouquet said. Fellow RTD board member Doug
SEE SOLD, P2
SEE RTD, P7
Ann Healey, former co-owner of Colorado Community Media, speaks during a meeting announcing the sale of the print and digital news company. At right, former publisher and co-owner Jerry Healey and reporter Thelma Grimes listen. PHOTO BY JOHN LEYBA/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN
‘Tell stories that matter:’ Colorado Community Media sold to news entity Colorado Sun, national foundation to take the reins of two dozen Denver-area newspapers BY DAVID GILBERT DGILBERT@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Colorado Community Media, the company that produces two dozen newspapers around the Denver-ar-
ea suburbs — including the Parker Chronicle — and two shoppers has been acquired by a local and national partnership with the goal of building a sustainable business model for local news, its ownership announced on May 3. Jerry and Ann Healey, the couple who built the company over the past decade, sold the network of papers that now spans eight counties and dozens of communities to a joint partnership between the National Trust for Local News, or NTLN, and The Colorado Sun.
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Apple cider lovers enjoy sampling season P14
PREP SPORTS IN ACTION Soccer, field hockey fill the fields P21
2 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
We were blessed with the opportunities to tell your stories New owners are committed to our brand of journalism
O
ur journey in journalism started in the early 1980s, as recent college graduates — me, as a reporter at The Miami Herald, then one of the country’s largest papers; Jerry in the newspaper’s advertising department. Back in those days, rarely did editorial and advertising departments cross paths. If it hadn’t been for a company softball team, we might Ann Macari never have met. Healey After we married, we moved to Rhode Island to work for the Providence Journal-Bulletin. After a few years there, we thought: Why not run our own paper? We seemed like an ideal partnership. I had editorial covered; Jerry Healey Jerry, the business end. So we moved to Chicago to run a community paper for a friend’s father — to learn, to see how it felt, to find out whether we could make the transition from larger publications to a hyperlocal endeavor. We decided we could. And after a year, in 1989, we rode a train to Denver, bought a small paper in Littleton and began a 22-year adventure that has defined much of our lives.
Today, our company publishes 26 newspapers and publications in metro Denver and beyond. Journalism in any place and at any level — large, medium, small — is exciting and purposeful for those of us who ply the profession. But for Jerry and me, it also has been about our bond to our readers and advertisers. It’s personal. We have cared deeply about the quality of your lives and success of your businesses. We were called to tell your stories with truth, accuracy, fairness and compassion. We still remember the excitement of longtime Littleton residents at having local ownership of their paper. They understood, better than us at that time, how important it is for those who run newspapers to know the communities they cover, to understand the historic, social and economic narratives that shape a place and its people. Between 2004 and 2020 in the United States, at least 1,800 communities lost their local newspapers, according to a recently published report. That leaves these communities without a voice, without government accountability — whether it be schools or city hall — or reliable means to connect with each other. The death of journalism in any community is a tragedy and a crumbling of our democratic foundation. That’s not happening here because the new owners of our company — a joint partnership between the nonprofit National Trust for Local News and The Colorado Sun — are committed to the same brand of journalism that we have brought you. (Please see accompanying story.) They are talented, innovative and
mission-driven. They will not only ensure the papers’ legacies in your communities continue, but also that community newspapers thrive in new and creative ways. And we ask you — our readers, businesses, advertisers and community leaders — to continue to support them as you’ve supported us. It is difficult to sum up this journey of ours in a few, good words. In the beginning, it was Jerry and me and a handful of passionate, part-time freelance reporters working out of a bookshop. When the opportunity arose to acquire the historic Littleton Independent and two other neighboring papers, we couldn’t find a bank to take a chance on us. Family stepped in and gave us a loan, like any bank, with interest and a strict, no-fudging repayment timeline. We stepped away for some years to explore other interests. But in 2011, the opportunity to help turn around a group of struggling community papers drew Jerry back. And little by little, more papers, some also struggling, were added. There were those who doubted the wisdom of investing financially and emotionally in an industry many have labeled as dying. And, certainly, some of the papers we acquired no longer had the reader and advertising support they once enjoyed. But they did have roots, deep roots, some going back more than 100 years —the Golden Transcript, for instance, is 153 years strong. How do you let such legacies go without a fight? The fight required perseverance, creativity, difficult decisions, a lot of energy for long days and — the key — a small army of editorial, advertising, production and busi-
SOLD FROM PAGE 1
With the Healeys looking toward retirement and hoping to leave the company in good hands, publisher Jerry Healey said the deal was the best he could have hoped for. “We were looking for new owners who understand the purpose of community newspapers,” Jerry said. “Someone who believed in our mission to tell stories that matter in our communities, not just in sending profits back East. They have the heart and vision for what could be a way to preserve and grow local papers everywhere, not just ours.” Ann said she has total confidence in the new owners. “They’re in it for the right reasons,” she said, “and they really care about journalism.” The acquisition charts a new path forward for family-owned legacy newspapers, said Larry Ryckman, the editor and co-founder of the Colorado Sun. “This is a cool opportunity to demonstrate to Colorado and the country that we can find a way to keep local journalism in local hands,” Ryckman said. “My expectation is we’ll hire additional people. Readers will keep seeing the journalism they trust and support, but we can
Jerry and Ann Healey, left, sold Colorado Community Media to a national and local partnership between the National Trust for Local News and the Colorado Sun designed PHOTO BY JOHN LEYBA/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN to bolster local journalism.
breathe some energy into both the print and digital operations.” The approach will be gradual and thoughtful, he said. “We don’t want to come in and say how to run the shop,” Ryckman said. “I want to be humble and listen to readers and employees and figure out the best way forward. Job one is to not break anything.” Newspapers for sale The Healeys began quietly hunt-
ing for a buyer around Thanksgiving 2020, Jerry Healey said. He approached Laura Frank, the executive director of the Colorado News Collaborative or COLab, a nonprofit statewide network that works to strengthen local journalism, asking if she knew of any potential buyers who would preserve and grow local news. Frank connected him to Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of NTLN.
ness staff who believed fervently in community newspapers. Colorado Community Media’s success belongs to its people. Our staff throughout the years has been incredibly talented. They have worked together through good times and bad to deliver the news to you every week. Jerry and I are profoundly grateful for their dedication, contributions — and friendships. We feel privileged to have helped local businesses achieve direct access to readers. We feel rewarded that we told the stories that otherwise would not have been heard. There are so many, but a few in recent years include the joyful drive-by pandemic celebration of a woman’s 100th birthday. Economic challenges of local shopping centers. Black students confronted by racism. Comprehensive local election guides. The quest of a man dying of cancer to complete his dream. A year-long look at the state of mental health in one county. Families’ struggles to pay the rent when jobs were lost. High school graduations. And all those triumphs and defeats in our community sports pages. Jerry and I are leaving for a few reasons: We are nearing retirement. We would like to spend more time with our children and granddaughter. We would like to see what else is in store for us. But we also felt it was time for new energy and vision for our papers and the communities they serve. We feel fortunate to have found new owners who can bring that. For Jerry and me, that means we can say goodbye, feeling secure about these papers’ future, and blessed for having had the opportunity to tell your stories.
The timing was serendipitous, Shapiro said. Just over a month earlier, NTLN had published its concept paper through Harvard University’s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. The situation in local news nationwide is dire, the concept paper says. Though many small familyrun operations remain profitable around the country, they face serious headwinds from declining advertising revenue and print subscriptions. Digital advertising struggles to make up the difference, especially as corporate behemoths like Facebook and Google have gobbled up much of the available online ad revenue. Waves of consolidation and acquisitions have left a third of America’s newspapers in the hands of 25 companies as of 2018, the paper says, with more than 1,800 newspapers shut down in the last 15 years. “The most powerful newspaper owners are now private capital holding companies whose expectations for profit and return have strongly influenced local newsrooms’ size, quality, and resource levels,” the paper reads in part. Corporate ownership entangles newspapers in a “downward spiral” that slashes newspapers’ legitimacy and capabilities, it says. SEE SOLD, P4
Parker Chronicle 3
May 7, 2021
Metro school districts ask state to end quarantine requirements Key piece of data superintendents cite doesn’t tell full story on virus spread BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
A coalition of Denver metroarea school districts sent a letter to the state public-health department, saying it’s “time to eliminate mandatory COVID quarantines in Colorado’s schools.” “Messaging from Colorado’s public health and elected officials has acknowledged, since before the new year, that rates of COVID transmission within our schools are low; that the mitigation measures we have in place are working; and that in-person schooling is critically important for many students in their social, emotional and academic development,” the April 26 letter from the school districts says. The letter was signed onto by the superintendents of the Adams 12 Five Star, Elizabeth, Mapleton, Jefferson County, Littleton, 27J (Brighton), Aurora, Englewood, Platte Canyon, Cherry Creek, Westminster and Douglas County school districts. Many of the district leaders had been advocating for an end to school quarantine rules since before spring break and had heard that a cancellation of the rules was premature because of concerns about COVID-19 variants, the letter says. School districts have generally been required to instruct people who come into contact with a person with COVID-19 or symptoms of the disease to quarantine. The district leaders also noted fears that spread of the virus in schools “would markedly increase” as older students moved from hybrid classes to more densely occupied classrooms as full-time in-person classes resumed, the letter adds.
More than a dozen Colorado school districts have been collecting data regarding in-school COVID-19 spread throughout this school year’s second semester, the letter says. The superintendents argue that the data shows that in-school spread “remains extremely low (despite) the presence of COVID variants in our state and even after the transition from hybrid schooling models in mid-March to early April,” the letter says. “Our most recent data compiled on April 23 shows that less than one half of one percent of students and staff placed into quarantine since January have subsequently tested positive for the virus — and the rates are not increasing over the past month,” the letter says. But the data the superintendents cite does not appear to account for the number of students and staff who chose to get tested for COVID-19 and those who chose not to undergo testing. Some may have asymptomatic cases, and some may have symptoms but choose not to get tested. The Cherry Creek School District has cited the same type of statistic in past months. A March 8 report to the Cherry Creek school board says that among the 4,066 individuals who were told to quarantine since the start of the third quarter in Cherry Creek, only 17, or 0.42%, became knowingly COVID-positive during quarantine. But the “knowingly” caveat is a nod to the limitation in the data: Not all students and staff decide to undergo testing. “As in every other sector of the country, we are not able to account for the possibility of asymptomatic positives,” a report for a previous Cherry Creek school board meeting said. ‘Choppy, inconsistent school experience’ In the April letter from the coalition of districts, superintendents say that frequent school quarantines have “caused constant disruption to classroom environments, stress for
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students preparing for end of year exams, and a lack of predictability and consistency in almost every facet of a student’s school experience.” “More than 3,000 students per week have been completing quarantines over the past two weeks across the 13 districts currently participating in the COVID data reporting effort,” the letter says. The superintendents’ data lists “semester two participating school districts” as 27J, Adams 12 Five Star, Aurora, Bennett, Cherry Creek, Denver, Englewood, Gilpin County, Mapleton, Ridgway, Sheridan, Westminster and Wiggins. If existing quarantine rules remain in place, the letter estimates that 10% to 20% of students in the superintendents’ districts could be told to quarantine before summer break. “Those quarantines would be on top of others that students and families have had to navigate throughout the school year. The most extreme case of which we’re aware concerns a student sent home on quarantine six times throughout the year,” the letter says. “But we have many students across our districts who have been out on quarantine two to three times this year and have had a choppy, inconsistent school experience.” The combination of indoor masking for students and staff members, home isolation of COVID-positive staff and students, and directives that symptomatic individuals stay home has proven effective elsewhere in maintaining low rates of inschool COVID transmission, the letter argues. Science says schools can be relatively safe John Douglas, head of TriCounty Health Department, in March pointed to recent findings by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reiterated that schools have low rates of COVID-19 transmission. Tri-County Health is the local public health agency for Adams, Arapahoe and Douglas
RECENT QUARANTINE RULES Under an update to state guidance in November, as long as school districts adhere to strict protocols, broad quarantines of classes or cohorts are no longer necessary regardless of the level of virus spread in a county. School districts can now generally use “targeted contact identification,” which means quarantining those within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 or symptoms of the disease for 15 minutes or more when both parties are masked. It also requires quarantines when someone was within 12 feet of the individual for 15 minutes or greater when either party was unmasked and indoors. Cherry Creek School District started using the targeted quarantines when students returned in January, said Abbe Smith, district spokeswoman. The implementation of targeted quarantines has generally resulted in smaller groups of students being quarantined, per each quarantine, compared to before, according to Smith. counties. The information “has continued to reinforce that notion” that schools are safe, under the circumstances, if they adhere to safety precautions, Douglas said at the time. A report on the CDC’s website, updated in March, says that increases in COVID-19 cases among school-aged children and school reopenings do not appear to pre-date increases in community spread of COVID-19. “When community transmission was low, there was no association between in-person learning and community spread,” the report says. It also says: “If community transmission is high, students and staff are more likely to come to school while infectious, and COVID-19 can spread more easily in schools.” “When a combination of effective prevention strategies is implemented and strictly adhered to in the K-12 in-person learning environment, the risk of transmission in the school setting appears to be lower than or equivalent to the transmission risk in other community settings,” the report says.
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May 7, 2021
SOLD FROM PAGE 2
Though some newspapers have been preserved by local “angel investors” or billionaires who take them on — as is the case at the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Colorado Springs Gazette — that model is not replicable on a large scale. NTLN draws inspiration from public radio, which in recent decades has built a diversified funding model built on grants, foundations, underwriting and listener support, while still retaining local control. “The new business model is ‘all of the above,’” Shapiro said. “It’s advertising, philanthropy and small-dollar giving. We’re pragmatists — let’s get the news funded as many different ways as we can. Multiple revenue streams preserve independence.” The CCM acquisition — the terms and price of which are confidential — brings together an array of funders. The deal was funded by FJC, a boutique public charity that specializes in nonprofit loans, Shapiro said. The loan is guaranteed by the American Journalism Project, a venture philanthropy organization; the Colorado Trust, a health equity organization; and the Gates Family Foundation, a philanthropic group with its roots in Denver’s Gates Rubber Company. A grant from the Colorado Media Project, a grant-funded initiative that advocates for journalistic innovation, supported a portion of the legal costs and connected NTLN to local funders. Operational support is being provided by the Knight Foundation, a national arts and journalism philanthropic group; the Google News Initiative, which partners with local news organizations; and the Democracy Fund, a nonpartisan foundation that seeks to strengthen civic engagement. None of the foundations will have any say over CCM’s content or editorial direction, she said. Acquiring CCM is an exciting chance to prove the NTLN concept, Shapiro said. “There has to be more to the story of American journalism in the 21st century than all the destruction we see,” she said. “This is setting up CCM for the long term. It’s not going to get sold to a conglomerate or hedge fund and shut down. We’re setting these papers up on strong footing, but it’s going to be up to the communities to keep them that way.” Here comes the Sun NTLN provided the funding for the acquisition and will provide consulting and business services, but the ultimate goal is to hand off control and ownership to The Colorado Sun, Shapiro said. The Sun was founded by former Denver Post journalists who left in 2018, following moves by Alden Global Capital, the newspaper’s hedge fund ownership, that slashed dozens of news staff and moved the newsroom from downtown Denver to the newspaper’s Adams County printing plant.
Jerry and Ann Healey, left, sold Colorado Community Media to a national and local partnership between the National Trust for Local News and the Colorado Sun designed to bolster local journalism. From left: Jerry Healey and Ann Healey, former CCM owners, Fraser Nelson and Marc Hand of the National Trust for Local News, Colorado Sun editors Dana Coffield and Larry Ryckman, National Trust CEO Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro, and Lillian Ruiz of the National Trust. PHOTO BY JOHN LEYBA/SPECIAL TO THE COLORADO SUN
Since its founding, the Sun has proven to be resilient and well-supported, said Ryckman, the editor and co-founder. “Our business model is so simple it sounds naive,” Ryckman said. “Treat readers with respect. Don’t scam them with clickbait, autoplay videos or pop-up ads. Give them journalism worthy of their support. We’ve seen tremendous growth in readership and paying membership.” The Sun is in a growth phase, he said. “We started with 10 full-timers, and we’ll have 16 next month, and we’re aiming for 20 by midsummer,” he said. “We do have statewide ambitions, and our goal is to fill the gaps and do the stories others aren’t doing.” CCM fits nicely into that goal, he said. Like the Sun, CCM will be operated as a public benefit corporation, meaning while it remains for-profit, it has no obligation to maximize shareholder profits. “Strictly for-profit means you do whatever you can to make as much money as you can,” Ryckman said. “If that means layoffs or selling real estate, so be it. In a public benefit corporation, you need to treat it like a business, but the first goal is to serve the public. Journalism is too important to be in the hands of strip-mining hedge funds.” Ryckman said he hopes to bolster CCM’s existing strengths and connections to the communities it serves. “CCM will remain independent, but we can find ways to help and collaborate on the business and news side,” he said. The two already have an established working relationship — CCM reporter Jessica Gibbs and Colorado Sun reporter Jesse Paul recently
took home an award from the Society for Professional Journalists for a series on how COVID affected public health workers. “We can be great resources,” Ryckman said. “We’re run by journalists. We’ve got Pulitzer Prize winners on staff. The Sun is the most collaborative place I’ve ever worked, and that’s the spirit I want to bring to this endeavor.” It’s too soon to say what staffing will look like going forward, but Ryckman said they have no plans to fire anyone, and a new digital editor is likely. The Sun will also begin a search for a new permanent publisher for CCM, though Jerry Healey will stay on for a time as a consultant. The Sun’s leadership plans to listen to readers to figure out a path forward, said Sun editor Dana Coffield. “These are changing times, and we need to listen to what news consumers are telling us,” she said. “There’s great journalism being produced, but it may not be presented in the ways readers want to receive it. We’re looking at web platforms that are more readerfriendly, email newsletters, more of a social media presence. We’ll start with the basics, and can get more excited and ambitious from there.” That doesn’t mean print editions are going away, she said. “We hope to do print for a very long time,” she said. “But a robust internet product is important too.” In good hands For the Healeys, the deal is a great outcome for the crowning achievement of their professional lives. “We’ve taken this company as far as we can take it, and it’s time for someone else to take it to the next
level,” Jerry said. The company wasn’t in danger of closing, he said, though the past year has been tough. Half the company’s advertisers either backed out or cut ads last spring, and reporters each took a week of furlough. Several salespeople who left weren’t replaced. CCM received $255,800 in Paycheck Protection Program loans last year, according to federal records. “I’m not afraid to say PPP money got us through last spring,” he said. “The government stepped up. We would have gone into our savings to keep it going, but we wouldn’t have closed the newspapers. It gave us the ability to focus on the company and pay the bills.” The company had strong showings in the third and fourth quarters of 2020, Jerry said. “Advertisers were coming back, and I’m most proud of my management during COVID,” he said. The company stayed bullish, with the Healeys buying seven newspapers from Landmark Community Newspapers in October. Ann said the acquisition is a win for the newspapers, some of which date back more than a century — or in the case of the Golden Transcript, to the Gold Rush. But it’s also a win for readers, she said. “These days people can get lost in the cacophony of social media and snap judgments, and it’s easy to lose sight of what’s important,” she said. “We’re making sure these communities still have their voices heard through active, high-quality journalism. We feel like we’re just a small part of the history of these papers and these communities, but we’re so excited for this opportunity to hand them off and make them better and stronger.”
Parker Chronicle 5
May 7, 2021
Commissioners agree to postpone leadership decision They will wait at least 30 days before making final decision on chair role BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
After about a week of tension among the Douglas County commissioners, the three-person board agreed to postpone the realignment of leadership for at least 30 days. The board had planned to publicly censure and formally remove Commissioner Lora Thomas from her position as the board’s chair in an April 27 meeting, but in a work session that morning, they agreed to wait on the decision. Then in a formal business meeting later that day, they formally approved the new resolution. “The public does not care about what we are fighting about,” Commissioner Abe Laydon said in the work session. “They want to see us govern with excellence.” Instead, the board agreed to share the chair position, with each co-chair holding those responsibilities on a rotating, one-week basis. They will maintain that agreement for at least 30 days. The board expressed interest in using that time to find
an outside party to mediate the situation. The disagreement between commissioners began when the New York Times requested an interview with the county on April 16, Thomas said in an April 24 radio interview with George Brauchler. The board agreed that Laydon would take the interview instead of Thomas, a move that was outof-step with their normal agreement to rotate on media interviews, she said in the interview. Thomas believed this was a breach in their written media protocol and went on to send emails to community members saying so, according to the public censure and resolution originally planned by Teal and Laydon. The media protocol, an unofficial document still in draft form, does not include that provision, according to a county spokesperson. In the original resolution they planned to vote on April 27, Teal and Laydon stated that the sending of emails to community members was an attempt to “willfully deceive county residents and members of the business community” and an “attempt to influence the board.” “Some of those emails were received by businesses with active land use applications before the board and were interpreted to be intimidation to compel those applicants to influence the board,”
according to the resolution. Thomas has since stated that she wasn’t lying but simply mistaken in thinking the practice of rotating interviews was part of the commissioners’ media protocol. “I have a real problem with you saying I’m not truthful,” Thomas said in the April 27 work session. “What I’m hearing is that I’m untruthful because I truly thought something that we have done for years was in writing and it isn’t. That’s a mistake, not a lie.” On April 19, Teal and Laydon voted to remove Thomas as chair. Laydon then became the new chair and Teal became vice chair. Though the initial resolution stated that Thomas had used her county email address to send the emails to community members, she had used her personal email address to do so, she said in the meeting. Work session In their work session, commissioners went through some of the details of what happened and what led to the conflict. While the commissioners didn’t come to agreement on what happened and why, they did agree that the situation was not close to being resolved and was embarrassing for the board. The board eventually agreed to the new resolution, postponing the leadership realignment to see
if they could sort the disagreement out internally. Teal and Laydon both made comments that they would need assurances from Thomas to consider reinstating her as board chair. “We need some really strong commitments from you going forward that we’re not going to end up in this mess again,” Laydon said.
Meeting comments During the formal business meeting, members of the public had an opportunity to speak to the commissioners. The vast majority of comments were supportive of reinstating Thomas as the board chair. In her comments to the media leading up to the meeting, Thomas requested that her supporters show up at the April 27 meeting to voice their disagreement with the decision to remove her. Several commenters said that the public squabbling was harmful to the board and could make their seats vulnerable in future elections. Many asked the commissioners to put their differences aside and work together. A few people spoke in support of Teal and Laydon’s initial decision to remove Thomas as chair. The meeting and all comments are available to watch at youtube. com by searching Douglas County Colorado.
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6 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
Memorial Day office closure Douglas County offices will be closed Monday, May 31, 2021. Many services are available at DoItOnlineDouglas.com
Need a COVID-19 vaccine or test? Vaccinations are being offered throughout Douglas County by various providers. Visit douglas.co.us/covidvaccination-information to find an appointment near you. Douglas County also has three FREE drive-thru testing locations. Visit douglas.co.us/covid19-testing/events for locations.
SCFD Free Days Want to learn more about history, spend time appreciating abstract or contemporary art or get in touch with nature? SCFD organizations have your entrance fee and cultural passions covered. For more information including specific dates and locations - visit scfd.org
Funds available to veterans Emergency assistance is available for veterans struggling with housing (mortgage/rent), transportation, employment, healthcare or other emergency needs. To apply for the veterans assistance funds visit douglasveterans.org or call 303-663-6200.
Slash-mulch site open The County’s main slash-mulch site, at 1400 Caprice Drive in Castle Rock is open Saturdays only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 30. For more information, directions and a list of acceptable items visit douglas. co.us and search for Slash Mulch.
What’s happening with your County government? Our commitment to open and transparent government includes online posting of information about public meetings at which the business of government is conducted. To view public meeting agendas, participate in-person or remotely, or watch select meetings via live stream visit douglas.co.us and search for Meetings and Agendas.
Visit douglas.co.us
Colorado Community Media staffers win 19 SPJ awards Top of the Rockies contest picks winners from four states in Mountain West BY STAFF REPORT
Colorado Community Media staff members won 19 awards in the 2021 Top of the Rockies contest, a regional contest that includes journalists in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The contest is sponsored by the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. CCM writers and designers tallied five first-place awards and five second-place awards in the batch. Colorado Community Media reaches more than 300,000 local community members each week with newspapers and digital channels. The company publishes 26 community newspapers and websites in the Denver metro area. CCM staffers won for work that appeared in the Littleton Independent, Highlands Ranch Herald, Canyon Courier, Clear Creek Courant and Arvada Press. “These are fantastic awards,” CCM President Jerry Healey said. “Three things come to mind, first, the always high quality of the writing; second, the skill to frame the content with excellent design; and, third, the ability to provide compelling story angles for our readers. Congratulations to our news and design teams.” Top awards First place: “Homeless sweep starts over again” in News Reporting — Single Story by David Gilbert of the Littleton Independent. Judge’s comments: Good use of people to create
a connection to the homeless in this fact-laden story. “Pipe organs speak with majesty” in Short Form Features by David Gilbert of the Littleton Independent. Judge’s comments: An exemplar of a fascinating trend story that is elevated by great writing. Well done. “Holding on to the Past” in Feature Page Design by Michael Hicks and Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier. Judge’s comments: A beautifully designed page, and what a great idea to highlight senior citizens in your coverage area. “Family, friends remember soccer coach,” for Obit Reporting by Michael Hicks of the Canyon Courier. Judge’s comments: A sensitivelytold story about a coach revered in the community. “Season ends in state quarterfinal” in Sports News by Michael Hicks of the Canyon Courier. Judge’s comments: This game story is written the way game stories should be written — with color, context and a sense of what this game meant for the players and coach. Second place: “Renters struggling amid pandemic” for News Reporting — Single Story by David Gilbert of the Littleton Independent. “A ferocious fighter” for Health Feature by Elliott Wenzler of the Highlands Ranch Herald. “Classroom in the Cloud” for Education Feature by Deb Hurley Brobst, Corinne Westeman and Sara Hertwig of the Clear Creek Courant. “Motorcycle Relief Project” for Features — Short Form by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “Stretching his own limits” for Sports Feature by Alissa Noe of the Canyon Courier SEE AWARDS, P7
County appoints new board of health member BY ELLIOTT WENZLER EWENZLER@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Douglas County has a new representative on Tri-County Health Department’s board of health after commissioners unanimously approved the appointment of Kim Muramoto in an April 27 business meeting. Muramoto, a registered nurse and the trauma system director for Centura Health, has a master’s degree in nursing and a background in trauma, injury prevention and mental health programs. Muramoto, a Lone Tree resident, attended the meeting where she was appointed and spoke to commissioners. “Right now … you can see a lot of consequences of the pandemic,” she said in the meeting. “There’s a lot of stress, mental illness, a lot of intoxicant use, and that’s kind of areas that I’ve really worked on.” Muramoto added that she sees
her role as looking at evidencebased approaches and using “accurate, valid data” to serve the community. “I’m really looking forward to this opportunity just to be able to serve and really seeking that collaboration and collegiality so that we can be as effective as possible,” she said. Muramoto originally applied for an open position on the voluntary board in February, but that post was filled by Dr. Linda Fielding. When another position became available recently, the commissioners reviewed the same group of applicants and selected Muramoto. The positions now held by Fielding and Muramoto were previously held by Marsha Jaroch and Paulette Joswick, who left the board amid their disagreements with the commissioners on issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. SEE COUNTY, P7
Parker Chronicle 7
May 7, 2021
AWARDS FROM PAGE 6
Third place: “Blue wave continues” for Politics — News Reporting by Ellis Arnold of the Littleton Independent “Arvada Section 8 series” for General Reporting — Series or Package by Casey Van Divier of the Arvada Press “Everything in life is different” in Feature — Long Form by Jessica Gibbs of the Highlands Ranch Herald “Peggy Fleming Sculpture” in A&E and Food — News or Feature by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “One owner: four businesses” in Business Feature by Deb Hurley
COUNTY FROM PAGE 6
In October 2020, Jaroch and Joswick co-signed a Colorado Community Media letter to the editor urging the community to voice opposition to the commissioner’s then plan to split from the health department. Joswick resigned in February and Jaroch was terminated due to that letter to the editor, according to her termination letter. In the April 27 meeting where Muramoto was selected, Commissioner Lora Thomas recalled meeting Muramoto when she was a
RTD FROM PAGE 1
Tisdale, who represents parts of Douglas County in District H, also attended the meeting. “(Fostering) partnerships, that’s what we’re all about, that’s what we’ve pledged, and that’s what we will in fact provide,” Tisdale said. Tisdale added that he agrees that the amount of service given to Douglas County is not equitable. “I agree with that observation, I support that observation,” he said. “It is not fair, it has to be adjusted.” Tisdale said he and Bouquet are pledged to address that issue. “We’ve already done it with Route 483, we hope to do that in September with Route P and to keep vibrant service in Parker and to expand where we can,” he said. ‘Done messing around’ State Rep. Kim Ransom recently put to rest a bill that, if approved in the state Legislature, would have allowed Parker residents to vote on whether they would leave the district. After hearing assurances from RTD in a committee meeting for the bill that they would work to improve service to the town, she said she would temporarily shelve the bill. “I will be here next year and this bill will come back if RTD doesn’t pull through with the promises that we all heard them make today,” Ransom said in the April 20 committee meeting. Toborg said during the April 26 work session that he would hold Ransom to that plan.
Brobst of the Canyon Courier “Family raising funds to build a field in their son’s honor” in Education Feature by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “100 years of melodies” in Features — Short Form by Deb Hurley Brobst of the Canyon Courier “Golden boy” in Sports Feature by Alissa Noe of the Canyon Courier “Fire on the Mountain” in General Reporting — Series or Package by Michael Hicks, Deb Hurley Brobst, Deborah Swearingen and Corinne Westeman of the Canyon Courier For more than 100 years SPJ has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior and perpetuating a free press. For more information about SPJ, visit www.spj.org board member for the State Emergency Medical and Trauma Services Advisory Council. “I thought ‘my gosh, this woman is a leader,’” Thomas said in the meeting. “This woman is going to be an excellent representative for us on the Tri-County Board of Health.” Commissioner Abe Laydon said Muramoto’s willingness to serve, background, education and her interview “just blew my doors off.” “The level of confidence that the board has in you to go to Tri-County health board and represent all of us in Douglas County, not just the (commissioners), is tremendous,” Commissioner George Teal said. “We are done messing around with RTD,” Toborg said. Other council members had the opportunity to voice their frustrations with the transportation district. “You have so many times said you were going to increase service,” Councilmember Cheryl Poage said. “This has been going on for years. Nothing has happened.” Councilmember Todd Hendreks spoke about the disappointment of many town residents and said while he hopes to see Route P return, he’s not sure it will be enough. “People … don’t understand why we’re still in this partnership,” he said. “It’s frustrating to people.” Councilmember Laura Hefta, who said she used to ride the P bus, emphasized the importance of bringing that service back. “Many people ride that P bus,” she said. “That’s a really important bus for a lot of folks going downtown.” Poage said to get the town to engage with RTD, they would have to come up with something new. Councilmember John Diak also said he hopes to see some out-of-the-box thinking. “Instead of mass transit, the focus should be on mobility,” Diak said. During his presentation, Bouquet said that RTD is exploring collaborations with rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft. In response to the questions and comments, Bouquet said RTD is dedicated to improving its relationship with the town. The Ransom bill “is a big wakeup call — the Town of Parker is serious,” he said. “Now we have started listening. We’re continuing to listen.”
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8 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
Castle Rock groups work together for businesses During the pandemic, local businesses get support from EDC, town and chamber BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
With restrictions and various levels of shutdowns in 2020, businesses nationwide struggled. In Castle Rock, several organizations recognized the hardships and came together to do what was needed to pull through the pandemic. Castle Rock Mayor Jason Gray said, “The EDC (Economic Development Council), chamber of commerce and the Town of Castle Rock with other partnerships got out in front and led the way for our small businesses and provided a roadmap for many communities on the front range. It was a tough year. Without (the town, the county, and the EDC) and the amazing local support from our citizens, it would have been catastrophic. It was a big lift and the EDC led the way.” Pointing to a strong support system already in place before the pandemic, Frank Gray, director of the EDC, said they were able to work with the town and the cham-
ber to mobilize and react quickly. “Castle Rock economic development partnerships were ready because we all work collaboratively,” he said. “We have always held meetings to make sure we are all on the same page. When this crisis hit, it was not a huge change for us to collaborate. We already had the relationships in place. It was not hard to come together and create a plan when the community really needed it most.” To help businesses going through economic hardships, the EDC worked with the Castle Rock Town Council and banks to create two 0% loan programs. With the town providing financial assistance, the EDC was able to offer local businesses $2 million in loan services. In an April 6 council meeting, Frank Gray said businesses are getting back on track, offering the council a $25,000 payment from business owners that have been paying back loans. Of the more than $400,000 in funds offered by the town, he said about $168,000 has been repaid. “The town council really stepped up,” Frank Gray said. “Castle Rock businesses were able to weather the storm well. We lost some businesses. Some of them were small and just starting, others were already struggling before the pandemic.” Frank Gray said Castle Rock has
a good mix of downtown businesses. While restaurants struggled a lot, he said local support and take-out programs helped them get through 2020. The EDC offered businesses two loan options. One was through the crowdsourced Kiva loan program. The second option was a 0% percent loan up to $15,0000 through a bank. Frank Gray said the good news is that Castle Rock businesses managed well in the pandemic. While there was $2 million available, businesses used just over $1 million. Even if there is a light at the end of the tunnel for the pandemic, Frank Gray said businesses still have a lengthy road to full recovery. “While we say they have weathered the storm, some will take some time in coming back,” he said. “Some may have accrued more debt. They may have had a terrible year. All of them took varying levels of hits. It will take time to recover.” While the EDC worked on the financial front, the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce jumped in to help businesses understand what various rules and regulations meant. As federal, state and county restrictions fluctuated, Chamber President Pam Ridler said they worked to break the situation
down and communicate with local businesses on what they needed to do to comply with mandates and stay open. The effective planning Castle Rock had in addressing the challenges of the pandemic head on were due to 15 years of continued partnerships, Ridler said. “We focus on anything regarding economic development in the community,” she said. “It was really about expanding those partnerships because we all knew we couldn’t get through this alone.” Ridler said there were times where the news would report the county or state saying one thing about loosened restrictions, but then the health department would be saying something different. It was important that the chamber become a reliable resource to get a clear, up-to-date picture of what all the reports, restrictions and rules really meant. “There were moments where restaurants didn’t know what to do,” Ridler said. “We had moments of tears. This is (business owners’) livelihood. It is their staff. It made us really work to figure it all out.” Ridler said Castle Rock’s strength was also shown through how businesses pulled together to help each other. Competitors helped each other, and all did what was needed to keep the community on track, she said.
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10 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
Leaders seek change in school COVID rules Community debates continue as students finish the year BY JESSICA GIBBS JGIBBS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
First one secondary school closed its doors. Then four. Within days, six Douglas County middle and high schools had shuttered to in-person learning, sending those students back online for two weeks amid COVID-19 outbreaks. Incidence rates continued to climb through late April, likely spurred in part by new, more transmissible variants. What had been a long-anticipated, and for many a long-pleaded-for, return to 100% in-person learning at Douglas County School District secondary schools seemed for a moment to hang in the balance. Interim Superintendent Corey Wise responded with a promise that in-person learning was “here to stay.” But thousands of people were being placed in quarantine, in addition to the string of schools moving to remote. Wise recently joined several area superintendents in calling for an end to mandatory quarantines. A letter from roughly a dozen superintendents to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan dated April 26 pointed
‘We are continuing to monitor disease transmission and hospital capacity, and the state’s response teams will pivot as necessary to best protect public health.’ Brian Spencer, Spokesman with the Colorado State Joint Information Center to low transmission in schools, although data supporting that is restrictive, as it does not capture possible spread among quarantined individuals who do not test for COVID. “The frequent school quarantines have caused constant disruption to classroom environments, stress for students preparing for end of year exams, and a lack of predictability and consistency in almost every facet of a student’s school experience,” the letter read. The rocky start to in-person learning, which launched March 22 at secondary schools, capped an already fraught year of community debate. Local elected leaders openly scrutinized the school district. Some community members routinely chastised district leaders for not sending older students back full-time sooner, while others had begged the district to continue
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hybrid learning for fear of the mass quarantines that later unfolded. DCSD officials attempted to assure the public they were advocating for a less tumultuous school experience, balanced with public health safety measures. Wise in recent weeks laid out several changes he thought the state could make to COVID protocols for schools to make in-person learning more stable. “We want you to know we are advocating hard,” he said April 20. Finding a balance On April 19, Wise told Colorado Community Media he was eagerly awaiting updated school requirements from the state health department, which he’d expected the previous week. He hoped CDPHE would make changes to its cases and outbreak guidance. Come the board’s April 20 school
board meeting, Wise told directors the district was still waiting to see if updates were coming. At the time, Wise suggested lowering the distance requirement designating who must quarantine, down from six feet to three feet. He also thought the state could consider adjusting its criteria for temporarily stopping in-person learning at a school. The six Douglas County schools transitioned into remote learning after reaching at least five outbreaks in each building, a threshold set by CDPHE. An outbreak is defined by state guidance as two or more cases within a classroom or cohort in a two-week span. Wise suggested waiting to make schools remote until 10% of people test positive, although for some DCSD high schools that could be upwards of 200 students. Another option could be requiring only a person who is ill or displaying symptoms to quarantine if they and everyone they had close contact with was wearing masks, he said. A spokeswoman said Wise was in talks with the Colorado Department of Education, Tri-County Health and CDPHE, along with other school districts, regarding school requirements. District board members have pushed back against claims the district can decide what state guidance to follow, or how broadly they can interpret it. SEE SCHOOLS, P11
Parker Chronicle 11
May 7, 2021
SCHOOLS FROM PAGE 10
Tri-County Health Executive Director John Douglas released a letter on April 16, saying the state’s cases and outbreaks “guidance,” including quarantine protocols, are mandatory for schools. That includes criteria for when schools can use targeted quarantining, he wrote. In past public meetings, Douglas has repeatedly said schools are safe places with COVID-19 mitigation strategies in place. A spokesman for the Tri-County Health Department said staff would not comment on potential updates to CDPHE school guidance until those requirements are issued. Public health officials also warned of a fourth wave as variants spread and incidence rates rose during much of April. Vaccines are not available to Coloradans under the age of 16. Incidence rates among school-age children, particularly those at the middle and high school level, spiked in Douglas County during March and into April to levels not seen since November and December. On April 29, state epidemeologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy defended school quarantines, The Denver Post reported, saying there has been increased transmission among youths and that quarantines help slow the virus’ spread. Late that day, the state issued some updates to school requirements. Spokesman Brian Spencer with the Colorado State Joint Information Center said changes to how contact tracing is conducted in schools were
aimed at getting students back to in-person learning sooner if they became exposed to COVID-19 or experiencing symptoms. Fully vaccinated people and people who tested positive for COVID-19 would not have to quarantine if asymptomatic. Spencer also provided a statement in response to several emailed questions prior to the April 29 update. The governor’s “Roadmap to InPerson Learning” issued in December was informed by a work group of parents, educators, school leaders and public health experts, he said. The plan stresses PCR testing and the state is committed to “expanding testing capacity as necessary.” It aims to boost rapid testing in schools for use when students or staff show symptoms, and CDPHE provides home test kits to reduce pressures on schools, he said. Spencer said the state is engaging local health agencies and leaders in education to “provide the most comprehensive and up-to-date guidance.” The state’s “north star has always been protecting hospital capacity and saving lives,” he said. “We understand the unique circumstances that parents of schoolchildren have faced over more than a year of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “We are continuing to monitor disease transmission and hospital capacity, and the state’s response teams will pivot as necessary to best protect public health.” Wise provided a statement chastising the April 29 school requiremnts update, and said DCSD is continuing to work with other districts toward “greater leniency in quarantine
restrictions.” “It is disappointing that after 12 Colorado school districts collectively shared concerns with CDPHE, the updated guidance hasn’t dramatically changed. The new guidance is also contradictory in places, which leads to confusion,” Wise said. Call to keep schools open In the past year frustration with schools at times spilled over into other local government bodies’ meetings, in municipal and county officials’ inboxes and in pushback from elected leaders as well. Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon said while the county does not have jurisdiction over schools, commissioners do represent young residents. At the pandemic’s onset, he understood keeping students out of school as an effort to prevent young people from asymptomatically transmitting the virus to vulnerable populations. As of April 29, 85% of Douglas County residents ages 70 and older were fully vaccinated, according to Tri-County Health data. Roughly 67% of people aged 60 to 69 were fully vaccinated. Overall, 57% of county residents 16 and older had received at least one dose and 38% were fully inoculated as of April 29. Laydon’s concern today is with youth mental health, and the stressors school-age residents face without access to consistent, in-person learning, he said. “We would hope that decisionmakers rely on public health data that reflects the high vaccination rate of the vulnerable,” he said.
Castle Rock Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Bracken echoed Laydon. Bracken participates in weekly calls that Tri-County Health holds with Douglas County officials regarding pandemic updates. Through those he’s watched how school closures, contact tracing and quarantining is managed, he said. He emerged early in the pandemic as a vocal critic of not only restaurant and school requirements but Tri-County Health, which he said did not push back enough against CDPHE guidance. “They are not standing up or standing behind their own data,” he said. Bracken’s son is a junior at Castle View High School and spent more than 50 days in quarantine this school year, he said. The day his son was released from his most recent quarantine, Castle View became one of the six Douglas County schools ordered into remote education. The school has since resumed in-person learning. When most school-age children experience mild COVID-19 symptoms, and many high-risk residents are vaccinated, he asked why schools should quarantine entire classrooms or stop in-person learning, including temporarily amid outbreaks. Since Douglas County Schools launched full, in-person learning at secondary schools on March 22, Tri-County Health has recorded four COVID-19 deaths in Douglas County, according to online data as of April 29. “Look at the death rate, look at the hospitalizations and look at the severity. Stop going with positive tests,” Bracken said.
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12 Parker Chronicle
LOCAL
May 7, 2021
VOICES
Don’t allow concealment of records, oppose House Bill 1214
W
e understand the intent behind House Bill 1214 to provide a fresh start to those with lower-level criminal records — such as arrest records in which no criminal charges have been filed. Further, it allows some offenders — and those who have received full pardons — to petition to have their records sealed. We do not oppose the idea of offering a clean slate to many who have blemishes on their records. We appreciate that a clean record better paves the way to housing and employment opportunities.
OUR VIEW Even so, we strongly oppose HB 1214 because the loss of complete information would be too severe. Passage of the bill would compromise the system because the cumulative value of the records is paramount. In our journalistic work to serve the public, we find revealing trends in complete arrest records. For example, we can analyze patterns that can lead to questions to ensure law enforcement agencies are accountable. The information can tell us how agencies do their jobs, where they
ABOUT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Colorado Community Media welcomes letters to the editor. Please keep in mind the following rules:
• Email your letter to letters@coloradocommunitymedia. com. Do not send via postal mail. Put the words “letter to the editor” in the email subject line. • Submit your letter in a Word document or in the body of an email. No PDFs, please. • Submit your letter by 5 p.m. on Wednesday in order to have it considered for publication in the following week’s newspaper. • Include your full name, address and phone number. We will publish only your name and city or town of residence, but all of the information requested is needed for us to verify you are who you say you are. • Letters will be considered only from people living in Colorado Community Media’s circulation area in Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Elbert and Jefferson counties. • We reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, grammar, punctuation and length. • Not all letters are published at our discretion. Letters are published as space is available. • Letters must be no longer than 250 words. • Do not use all caps, italics or bold text. • Keep it polite: No name calling or “mudslinging.” • Include a source — and a link to that source — for any information that is not common knowledge. We will not publish information, including quotes, that cannot easily be verified. • Letters advocating for a political candidate should focus on that candidate’s qualifications for office. We cannot publish letters that contain unverified negative information about a candidate’s opponent. • Letters advocating for or against a political candidate will not be published within 30 days of an election. • Only submit ideas and opinions that are your own — and in your own words. We will not publish any letter that appears to be part of a letter-writing campaign or that copies text from an outside source, such as a website. • Letters will not be published from the same writer on consecutive weeks. • Generally we will not publish multiple letters that make the same point in a given week. • Letters should be exclusively submitted to Colorado Community Media and not submitted to other outlets or previously posted on social media.
NORTON NOTE Columnist Michael Norton will be back in print next week. This week’s column titled “Find consistency in a world of inconsistency” appears on the Colorado Community Media website.
A publication of
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spend their time and with whom they interact in these patterns. The records can point to patterns of misconduct, racism and other issues. The patterns can play into whether to elect candidates to law enforcement positions, such as sheriff, and whether to vote to retain judges. We understand that having lower-level infractions on a criminal record provides challenges for many, but criminal arrest records should be maintained in full to ensure the public’s right to know and provide the whole picture for the media’s queries.
Oppose HB 1214 for its unintended consequences. Urge your lawmakers to oppose this bill. Please join us in opposition along with the Colorado Press Association, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition and The Colorado News Collaborative (COLab). For more perspective about this bill, visit the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition at https://coloradofoic.org/ journalists-testimony-considerthe-impact-of-sealing-criminalrecords-on-public-service-newsreporting.
This knock-knock stuff is no joke
O
ccasionally, this is an opinion column. Here comes one now. Advertisements taped or left hanging on front doors should be against the law. The mischiefQUIET makers of advertisements DESPERATION taped or left hanging on front doors where there is a “No Solicitors” sign posted nearby should be subject to a six-month sentence. Craig Marshall The mischiefSmith makers of advertisements taped or left hanging on front doors where there are four “No Solicitors” signs posted nearby like mine should be subject to life without parole. Littering is against the law. Advertisements left on front doors is littering. One of my signs, in red, says “No Ads, No Coupons, No Junk.” Guess what? It happened again today. This is, in a world of death and destruction, small potatoes. However, this is not the forum for large potatoes. Sometimes I wish it were, albeit knowing I’d be in for passionate disagreements. I mentioned littering. Have you noticed any masks on the ground? Where I live, Harry and I see masks and dog poop. Where is your mother when
you need her? The hampton.gov web site states, “More than 51 billion pieces of litter are released on American roadways each year,” adding that littering costs the United States more than $11 billion to clean up annually. My front doorknob is forty inches above a woven mat. If the taped ad falls off the door, it’s litter and I’m calling the cops. There’s nothing like spending time in the old stoney lonesome when it comes to learning a few lessons about unlawful behavior. Some of you may remember when men and women went door to door with household products and vacuum cleaners “Avon calling.” Representatives for Watkins Incorporated offered “home remedies, baking products, and other household items.” In 2021, it’s a little hard to imagine inviting someone into your home to peddle a floor wax or dessert topping. Ads left on my front door against my wishes might be considered “small stuff.” I think that’s what the moderators of my anger management classes would have claimed. Over and over we were told, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Or maybe it was, “Don’t pet the sweaty stuff.” All I know is that it bothers me. While I’m at it, there’s one more thing that is even more annoying than ads left on my house. Unwanted phone calls.
My phone allows me to block thirty phone numbers. My file is full. “Why don’t you get an unlisted number?” I have an unlisted number. “Why don’t you add your name and number to the National Do Not Call Registry?” I added my name to the National Do Not Call Registry years ago. These people are like weeds: They grow where nothing else can. Sometimes I have engaged in animated discussions with the callers. You don’t want to know. I don’t feel good about it, but there’s only so much a kind and sensitive individual can take. Some of my comments and suggestions are very colorful. It is one benefit of knowing a wide range of creative expressions. Most of the callers hang up on me. If a call is especially egregious, I contact the Federal Communications Commission whose chairperson is Jessica Rosenworcel (a name straight out of Dickens). What happens next? Absolutely nothing. But at least I’ve done all I can. One door-to-door salesperson asked if I would make a small donation towards the local swimming pool. I gave him a glass of water.
Craig Marshall Smith is an artist, educator and Highlands Ranch resident. He can be reached at craigmarshallsmith@ comcast.net.
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Parker Chronicle 13
May 7, 2021
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Government should back off Our state government should not be putting restrictions on us. The role of our government is to work for us and to protect our inalienable rights as citizens of the United States. Therefore they should not take control of our lives and tell us what we can and cannot do. In the past year, our government has been telling us that we have to stay home, we have to wear masks, and we can have limited people at gatherings. They do not have the right to do that. While putting these unlawful restrictions on us, they take control of our lives and try to tell us what we can do and what we can’t do. This reduces us down to subjects of the government who can’t make decisions about our own lives or what the appropriate amount of safety precautions are for us and our families. We need to take back control of our own lives so that we don’t eventually become sheeple that can’t think for ourselves or make decisions. If we ever come to that point we will just become slaves to the government, which will totally reverse one of the key ideas of America, that the government works for the citizens. James Hirsch Centennial
Denver metro counties (KDVR Denver). And this was before the commissioners opted to lift all restrictions. The decision to opt out of TriCounty Health Department’s gradual turning of the COVID dial will make senior citizens (those with the most disposable income) reluctant to participate in the local economy. Until the commissioners demonstrate their belief in science and their willingness to show policy deference to scientists in matters of health, businesses in Douglas County will not fully recover. The more recent decision to fire Douglas County’s representative to the Tri-County Health board, Marsha Jaroch, just reaffirms my view that the decisions of the Douglas County commissioners are political and not based on the health and well-being of residents. This is what Ms. Jaroch got fired for suggesting, but she was right on target (reported by Elliott Wenzler of the Castle Rock News Press). Well, commissioners, I don’t work for you so you can’t fire me. You work for me and all residents of Douglas County. Start doing your job. Kathy McKittrick Castle Rock
Let experts make health decisions Per your article, “County opts out of Tri-County dial extension,” Abe Laydon’s quote “I want ... Douglas County to be the first county in the state to say the pandemic is over” is totally irresponsible. I do not see an MD or PhD after his name. Is he a doctor, a public health, research, or infectious disease specialist? If not, to make uninformed political comments about the health and wellbeing of Douglas County residents is not befitting an elected official who was elected to represent all of us and not just his right-wing constituency, What Laydon and the rest of the Republican commissioners do not understand is that by putting their political beliefs and call for personal freedom above the rest of the population, they are making members of the entire county less free and unsafe. Until Laydon and his colleagues have the credentials to speak and vote on public health issues, they should abstain and let the experts determine policy. Only then will the pandemic be lessened and hopefully over. Barbara Morton Highlands Ranch
Corrupt or dishonest? On 23 April, the Board of County Commissioners issued a public letter to Commissioner Thomas stating she: “...continued to misrepresent the truth and leverage your name, title and apparent authority as Chair of the Board of County Commissioners for personal gain politically AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR CAMPAIGN.” (Capitalization added). Was this letter vetted by the county attorney? It essentially accuses Thomas of criminal conduct in using her office to benefit supporters. Yet the other commissioners failed to provide any specifics. Instead, after closed door negotiations, the commissioners agreed to sweep the issue under the rug and share the BoCC Chair over the next 30 days until a permanent accommodation could be reached. How does this benefit anyone but the commissioners? It is not fair to Douglas County citizens or to Commissioner Thomas to leave such incendiary allegations unresolved. If they are true, Ms. Thomas should be censured or forced to resign. If they are not, then the other two commissioners should resign for making such inflammatory false allegations without factual support. Either one commissioner is corrupt (Thomas). Or the other two are dishonest (Laydon, Teal). So which is it? Corrupt or dishonest? Neither is good. But one has to be true. Perhaps this is an opportunity for the county to consider expanding the commissioners to five members who represent individual districts in the county, rather than three elected at-large, which might focus the commission on serving the interests of their constituents rather than indulging their own. Robert C. Marshall Highlands Ranch
Commissioners drop ball on health Reading County Commissioner Abe Laydon’s declaration that “this pandemic is over” (Castle Rock New Press, April 22) just reaffirmed my decision not to frequent restaurants and other indoor venues in Douglas County. As much as I would like to support my neighborhood businesses, the commissioners have convinced me over the course of the last year that I can’t trust them to do what’s best for Douglas County residents ... or business owners. In fact, as of April 14th, Douglas County’s incidence rate was 234.1 cases per 100,000. This is the sixth highest in the state and highest in the ten
Greeley Stampede plans to return this summer BY HANNAH METZGER THE DENVER GAZETTE
One of Colorado’s foremost Western summer celebrations is returning this year with the annual Greeley Stampede festival set to be held. This summer’s celebration is scheduled for June 24 to July 4 at Island Grove Park. The festival was forced to close in 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions. “We are thrilled to finally say we are officially having a Stampede in 2021,” said Justin Watada, Greeley Stampede general manager, “but we still have a lot of work to do.” The Greeley Stampede tradition dates back to the late 1800s as a community celebration started to honor local potato farmers. Now, it’s an internationally acclaimed festival that attracts more than 250,000 people each year. The festival as it’s known today began in 1922 as the Greeley Spud
Rodeo and became the Greeley Independence Stampede in 1972. It features rodeos, concerts, a carnival, a Western art show, food and a Fourth of July parade. Officials don’t know what the festival will look like this year, saying they’re making modifications to meet current COVID-19 event guidelines. “The Greeley Stampede has been working hard making plans and collaborating with the city and state,” said Greeley Mayor John Gates. “We are confident that the Stampede is creating an event that will be safe and entertaining for our community.” Additional information on this year’s festival events will be available soon, officials said. Updated information about the Greeley Stampede will be posted on its social media accounts and website at greeleystampede.org. For more stories like this, subscribe at denvergazette.com.
OBITUARIES CPL. DAVID MICHAEL SONKA, U.S.M.C. Multi-Purpose Canine Handler 11/28/89 -05/04/13 KIA-Farah, Afghanistan Canine: FLEX Dave, We love you and ntiss you every day. God has you in His keeping, We have you in our hearts. Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, Love leaves a nte01ory no one can steal. Mother and Stepfather: Glenn & Donna Francis Beine Brother: Matt Sonka Grand01other: Nancy Francis Uncle: Dennis Francis. O’GRADY
Kim Marie O’Grady 1/25/1964 - 12/30/2020
Kim Marie O’Grady was called home December 30, 2020, greeted by all her grandparents. Born in Bremerton, WA, on January 25, 1964, Kim moved to San Jose, CA as an infant and lived there until moving to Parker 19 years ago. An outdoor memorial will be held at 2 pm on Saturday May 15, 2021, at Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 9030 Miller Road Parker, CO. In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made in her name to Cat Care Society or Canine Companions for Independence.
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14 Parker Chronicle
LOCAL
LIFE
May 7, 2021
N
Cider makers keep creative juices flowing as popularity grows BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
I
magine it’s a hot Colorado day and adults are looking for alcoholic beverages to help beat the heat. Many seek out beer, seltzers and cocktails. But, for Sam Al-Jassim and many others, the answer is cider. This fruit wine has grown in popularity in the United States and Colorado over the last 10 years, and cideries, taprooms and tasterooms have recently opened across the Denver metro area. Unfortunately, the sugary national brands have given cider a bit of a bad reputation, but locals are working to correct that, saying there’s something for everyone. “We have seen people who don’t like cider try it and come back,” Al-Jassim, a manager at Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery in Idaho Springs, said. “I feel like there’s a cider for everybody.” Like wine, the drink has a range of dryness and sweetness, with some falling at either end and some in the middle. The industry also offers a variety of flavors — anything from Locust Cider’s mojito to Colorado + 49 Cidery & Pub’s blueberry lavender. Luke Furey, operations manager at Golden-based Colorado + 49, described how he thinks of cider as a happy medium between beer and hard seltzer, saying it’s the perfect crisp and cool drink to enjoy on a hot day. Of course, there’s no reason why drinks have to be mutually exclusive as there’s plenty of local craftsmanship to go around. Brad Page, owner of Denver-based Colorado Cider Company, pointed out that the British — the world’s biggest cider drinkers — often drink beer and cider in the same sitting. And some local cideries, like Clear Creek and Colorado + 49, keep beer on tap, offer flights of beer and/or cider, and can make beer-cider mixes. And, for those who don’t drink, local cideries also offer a variety of food options. So, whether people are diehard fans, casual drinkers or uninitiated, Page and his colleagues only ask
CIDER SAMPLES Want to sample local cider? Here are the sweet details on some Denver-area cideries. Clear Creek Cidery & Eatery Location: 1446 Miner St., Idaho Springs Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day Offers: Nine Colorado ciders on tap, 14 in cans; full bar and full kitchen Founded: Restaurant and bar opened Feb. 22, 2019; in-house fermentation is forthcoming Clear Fork Cider (tasting room) Location: 4965 Iris St., Wheat Ridge Hours: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays Offers: Exclusive small-batch Clear Fork ciders along with others; snacks Founded: Initial location in downtown Denver opened about five years ago; moved to current location in July 2019 and opened tasting room that September Distribution: Some local restaurants and liquor stores Events: May 1 was launch day for new ciders; participating in Lakewood’s Cider Days Oct. 2-3 at Belmar Park Colorado + 49 Cidery & Pub Location: 1100 Arapahoe St., Golden Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day Offers: In-house dry-mediums to semisweet ciders; 29 taps with about half ciders and half non-Colorado beers; full kitchen with all gluten-free menu items Founded: June 25, 2018 Distribution: Growlers to-go at Golden location only that they keep an open mind and explore the world of flavor local cideries have to offer. A blooming industry Cider is made from fermented fruit — primarily apples — and is most popular in Britain and other parts of Europe. Page, a Colorado Cider Guild board member, said it used to be a common drink in the United States but fell out of favor shortly before Prohibition. However, as the craft beverage movement began in earnest, Page said it was only a matter of time until ciders saw a revival. When Colorado Cider Company opened in 2011, it was the first commercial cidery in the area. Now, there are probably 18 across Colorado, Page estimated. Cider’s gluten-free profile is one reason it’s become so popular. It also has less sugar than beer, in most cases, and is lower in alcohol content than liquor. Thus, it’s healthier
Events: Anniversary celebration on June 25 with staff members’ “tap takeover” to introduce new ciders Colorado Cider Company (tasting room) Location: 2650 W. 2nd Ave. No. 10, Denver Hours: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays Offers: Variety of in-house ciders Founded: 2011 Distribution: Wide-ranging at Denverarea restaurants and liquor stores Events: Participating in Lakewood’s Cider Days Oct. 2-3 at Belmar Park Locust Cider (Belmar taproom) Location: 7260 W. Alaska Drive, Unit A, Lakewood Hours: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 8 p.m. Sundays Offers: 16 Locust Ciders on tap and others in cans; wines; small-plate food menu and snacks Founded: Seattle-based Locust Cider opened its first Colorado location in Boulder in 2019; taprooms in Fort Collins and Belmar opened fall 2020 Distribution: Wide-ranging at restaurants and liquor stores; taproom locations also offer ciders to-go Events: Participating in Lakewood’s Cider Days Oct. 2-3 at Belmar Park overall than other alcoholic drinks, industry members posited. While the industry’s growth seemingly exploded between 2013 and 2018, Page said two things have hindered it recently. The first is the pandemic, which restricted capacities and forced many cideries to survive on to-go orders. The other is the rise of hard seltzer, which breweries can massproduce much cheaper than cideries can make their products. However, the overall movement toward craft beverages in general is helping, Page said, as many Coloradans want to support smaller producers and enjoy better quality drinks. Is there an untapped market? While Page was unsure whether the metro area will see more cideries in the near future, he said the existing ones are definitely growing. Furey was more optimistic, believing that more cideries will pop up over the next five years and that
p t w d a h b a t t C n s s t l t they could eventually be on par withT breweries as they gain more nation- o s al popularity. t The success of Seattle-based Locust Cider’s new Belmar taproom d a also seems to indicate the cidery market is relatively untapped. Despite opening last fall — among m increasing COVID-19 restrictions ando poor weather — business has far ex- s ceeded expectations, manager Sarah C Mutch stated. She and Eric Smith, vice president of Locust Cider-Rocky Mountains, said they can’t keg the place fast enough sometimes. “It’s a good problem to have,” Mutch said. Unlike breweries, local cideries don’t have as much geographic competition. Both Furey and Mutch pointed out that their locations are the only cideries in Golden and Lakewood, respectively. Additionally, while some cideries like Wheat Ridge’s Clear Fork Cider distribute to local restaurants and liquor stores, others like Colorado + 49 only offer theirs on-site. Although the market is growing, it’s still relatively small so everyone knows and helps each other, Smith said. The better the industry does as a whole, the better for each cidery. Keeping history fresh For Rob Bayless, Clear Fork’s director of operations, the industry is as much about the drink itself as it is about the people who enjoy it. Bayless described how he takes pride in crafting cider, explaining everything from visiting local orchards to hand-pressing the apples to letting the juice ferment for several months. “When you go to make it, it always feels like alchemy,” he said. “You start with a sweet juice, and six months later, it can end up as a completely changed product. … It’s magical to see that transformation.” Along with the taste, people can also connect with the story behind the ciders, Bayless continued. Cidermaking is very much tied to Colorado’s agricultural and orchardindustry roots. Whether people have similarly deep ties or are relatively new to Colorado, he said, “I think people can relate to that history and that story … There’s a lot of (Colorado) pride around that.”
Contact reporter Corinne Westeman at 303-567-4491 or cwesteman@coloradocommunitymedia.com, and follow her on Twitter @cwesteman.
Parker Chronicle 15
May 7, 2021
Fulfilling lifelong dreams
N
ow more than ever before, people around the world can relate to feeling isolated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Isolation, something that increasingly affects our well-being as we age, is incredibly dangerous and puts individuals at higher risk for heart disease, high LIVING & AGING WELL blood pressure, and even dementia. According to the National Council on Aging nearly one in three socially isolated seniors expect their quality of life to get worse in the next decade. Elija Valdez hThis number will only continue to grow as the senior population is anticipated to double by 2050. So, what can be done to make sure individuals are aging well? Communities that produce the most centenarians share traits dof social integration, community support, and family involvement. Culture matters — seniors who
n
live in cultures that value, respect, and integrate them into the community live longer and have a better quality of life. Together, we can build this culture. Wish of a Lifetime from AARP is a Denver-based nonprofit organization that grants life enriching and experiential wishes to adults 65-plus across the United States. They grant wishes that reconnect loved ones, renew and celebrate passions, commemorate service, and fulfill lifelong dreams! Wish of a Lifetime grants wishes to combat senior isolation and shift the way society views and values aging. By granting wishes and sharing the stories of our eldest generations, Wish of a Lifetime hopes to create a more inclusive society. Wish of a Lifetime was founded by NFL quarterback and Olympic gold medalist Jeremy Bloom in 2008 in loving memory of his grandmother Donna Wheeler. He was inspired by his travels throughout the world, seeing the countless acts of kindness and respect for elders across Europe and Asia, wanting to bring that sense of respect to the United states.
Since 2008, Wish of a Lifetime has granted more than 2,000 wishes to deserving seniors. Wishes connect seniors to people, purpose and passions to eliminate feelings of isolation and help them live vibrant, purposeful lives. Helping an older adult achieve a long-held or deeply meaningful dream can have tremendous positive outcomes on their health, purpose, and sense of value. Wish recipients report that they are happier, healthier, and feel more involved in the world after having a wish granted. One of the organization’s favorite wishes is that of Elvira Gomes. In October 2019 Wish of a Lifetime sent Elvira, 94, and her daughter Rachel, 72, to New York City to visit Ellis Island and see the Statue of Liberty in person. Elvira’s parents had originally immigrated to the U.S. from Azore Islands off the coast of Portugal and she had always been very connected to her immigrant Portuguese roots and always dreamed of visiting the Statue of Liberty, which continues to serve as a beacon of hope for Americans of
What’s going on in my hometown?
all backgrounds. With the help of Wish of a Lifetime, a long-awaited wish that seemingly felt out of reach was granted for Elvira and her daughter Rachel. “I had tears in my eyes. It was beautiful, all the people that came into that island … so much thinking and planning and working together … it was a miracle.” — Elvira Individuals can nominate themselves or a loved one for a Wish of a Lifetime by submitting an application at https://wishofalifetime. org/submit-a-wish/. Elija Valdez is the Wish Lead at Wish of a Lifetime. To learn more contact elija@wishofalifetime.org, or call 720-647-9740. This column is hosted by the Seniors’ Council of Douglas County. Please join us for our next virtual online presentation June 3 at 10 a.m. Elija Valdez will be our presenter and provide an overview about Wish of a Lifetime. For more information, please visit www. MyDougCoSeniorLife.com, email DCSeniorLife@douglas.co.us or call 303-663-7681.
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May 7, 2021
Finding consistency in a world of inconsistency WINNING WORDS
Michael Norton
“I
pray to be like the ocean, with soft currents, maybe waves at times. More and more, I want the consistency rather than the highs and lows.” Drew Barrymore There have been some very famous people who have provided us with quotes about consistency. Some will argue that consistency will compromise creativity, while others believe that consistency plays a vital role in the achievement of success for individuals and teams alike. For those seeking a little more peace and normalcy, it would be nice to experience the soft currents of the ocean. This is in direct opposition to the desire for constant turbulent seas and thunderous crashing of the waves. And with the ever-present tumult of life coming at us from every direction, like Drew Barrymore, I believe more and more of us are in search of consistency as opposed to the extreme and often volatile highs and lows. Trying to keep pace in an oftenchaotic race can be exhausting as we often hear contradictory statements and see inconsistent actions from those in a leadership role or position of trust. As we try and make sense of what hear and see, what to do and how to do it, or what we can do and what we can’t do, it all leaves us longing for some level of consistency in the messaging we receive. Although we cannot control the consistency of anyone else, we do
have complete control over our own ability to be consistent in all that we do, say, and share. We can and should make new decisions and take different courses of action based on receiving new and accurate information. If we are consistent in our diligence and in seeking the truth, changing our mind after thoroughly understanding the facts, we can confidently change our mind or form a new opinion. One of the things that made Zig Ziglar such a motivational icon and inspirational influencer was what he referred to as, “Persistent Consistency.” Before Mr. Ziglar would share anything in a book, from the stage, or on a recording, he would validate the information historically, physiologically, psychologically and theologically so that he would be more than reasonably assured that the information that he was about to share with others was accurate. Zig Ziglar was absolutely resolute when it came to persistent consistency, so much so that it became part of his signature, brand, character and reputation. Even if we enjoy watching a stormy ocean filled with crashing waves from time to time, most of us would not be able to swim in such a strong current or undertow. And we certainly wouldn’t encourage our children or friends to jump into such a dangerous situation. If this is true, why would we be encouraged ourselves or encourage others to jump into, or react to, discussions that are inconsistent or
formed by the opinions and the everchanging thoughts of those trying to feed the undertow and create more chaos? When we do that, we are seeking consistency from inconsistent sources. The good news is that regardless of the lens that we read or see things through, or the ears we use to hear what is being shared, is that we can be consistent ourselves in the way we respond instead of reacting to any and all information we receive. If not, we increase the likelihood of furthering the spread of inconsistent and potentially wrong or even harmful information. We can be consistent and filter everything we see, read, or hear through our own belief system, not through the words, thoughts or actions of others. Do you have your trusted sources of information and are you persistently consistent in seeking and validating the truth before reacting or responding? Have you realized that trying to keep the pace in a chaotic race leads to exhaustion? I would love to hear your story of persistent consistency at mnorton@tramazing.com, and when we can be consistent in a world that seems so inconsistent, it really will be a better than good year. Michael Norton is the grateful CEO of Tramazing.com, a personal and professional coach, and a consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator to businesses of all sizes.
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Parker Chronicle 19
May 7, 2021
American Museum of Western Art reopening
T
he American Museum of Western Art, 1727 Tremont Place, Denver, will be open Wednesdays and Fridays, with a timed entry ticket. (Only one party or household, with a maximum of five SONYA’S visitors per time slot.) 303-293-2000 or SAMPLER anschutzcollection. org. Works by Taos artists and others of various periods — in the historic Navarre building. Arapahoe Libraries Two authors in conversation with Sonya Ellingboe each other: Chris Bohjalian and Alice Hoffman at 6 p.m. May 6. Each has a new historical fiction work that features women and witchcraft. Hoffman’s “Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic” is about a woman accused of witchcraft in 1600s Salem. Bohjalian will discuss “Hour of the Witch,” a novel about a Puritan woman trying to escape her violent marriage. Books will be for sale by Book Bar. Register at Arapahoe Libraries and get information about Zoom. 303-542-7279, 303-LIBRARY. Town Hall Arts Center “Shout! The Mod Musical” opens May 21 at Town Hall Arts Center, 2450 W. Main St., Littleton. Plays Through June 20. (Streaming online June 11-13 and 18-20.) Tickets: in-person, $37-$52; streaming, $26. Townhallartscenter.org, 303-7942787. A new art exhibit, “Flights of Fancy,” is open in the Stanton Gallery, during box office hours and performances. Cherry Creek Theatre “Out of the Dark,” with Tracy Kearn and pianist David Nehls, is streaming through May 9. Set to open live in August: 6-29: “Tenderly: the Rosemary Clooney Musical.” “Jest a Second,” Oct. 29-Nov. 21. Suggested donation: $20. With $50 or more, you receive a bottle of Beaujolais. See: cherrycreektheatre. org. At home events: “The Headliners,” a reading of play by local
“Bend in the River,” a painting by Ernest Leonard Blumenschein, is included in the collection of the American Museum of Western COURTESY PHOTO Art in Denver, which is reopening.
playwright Jeffrey Neuman, June 4-13; “Ever, Tennessee,” a six-week literary and theatrical subscription of the personal letters of Tennessee Williams mailed to patrons’ homes over the summer. Season tickets available April 30. Performances will be in the Wolf Theatre at the JCC Mizel Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver.
a.m. to 4 p.m. The new exhibit is a “Member Appreciation Show,” not juried, but members’ choice. The Depot has new lighting, paint and hanging system, installed while closed due to COVID-19. 2069 W. Powers Ave., Littleton, 303-795-0781, depotartgallery.org.
Culture Pass Bemis Library, 6014 S. Datura St., Littleton, has teamed up with Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Ask at the circulation desk for a Culture Pass for a same day visit. Free admission for up to four people. You will check out the pass, then visit museo.org to set a timed visit due to capacity limits.
Pat Aaron Encaustic painter Pat Aaron, of Greenwood Village, has a new show, “Mile Markers,” open at Space Gallery, 400 S. Santa Fe Drive, Denver. Call for hours; 303-993-3321, spacegallery.org. (She calls her selfimposed time in her home studio her “Colorado Residency!”) Her International 2020 residency was postponed. She has been working with faraway clients via Zoom.
Littleton Fine Arts Guild The Depot Art Gallery is open Fridays through Sundays from 11
Bataan presentation During World War II, after the April 9, 1942 U.S. surrender of the
Bataan Peninsula on the main Philippine island of Luzon to the Japanese, approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops on Bataan were forced to make the arduous 65-mile march to prison camps. Columbine Genealogical and Historical Society’s speaker, Frank Francone, was in the U.S. Army serving in the Philippines in 1946-1947 as a second lieutenant, assigned to the Philippines Scouts at Camp O’Donnell. Although not actually part of the march, he served at the receiving end of those who were in the Bataan Death March. For his work in the Philippines, Frank was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that U. S. Congress bestows upon civilians. Francone’s May 11 program will be presented on Zoom. For meeting details or additional information, email CGHS at ColumbineGenealogy@gmail.com. See columbinegenealogy.com.
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20 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
C R O S SWO R D P U Z Z L E
Students prepare to present work in virtual show Douglas County School District to provide digital platform STAFF REPORT
A pandemic will not stop students from letting their creativity shine. The Douglas County School District is preparing to host a virtual art show, keeping with an annual tradition to present student artwork. To discuss the upcoming show, Lorri Hodges, an art advocate at Lone Tree Elementary School, provided details and information on how much work went into the 2021 show. What can you tell us about this year’s show? Even though this school year has been hard, our K-12 students have persevered through COVID and have been exercising their imaginations and creativity. We are incredibly proud of our art students. As a committee, it was difficult to envision a different kind of art show, but a virtual show will meet the needs of our students and community by digitally showcasing student work. This year’s show will still be fantastic, and the show will be virtually online on Douglas County School District website from May 3 through next school year. The virtual art show is a K-12 show that will be judged by judges that are professors, art teachers, or professional artists in Colorado. How many schools will participate? Every school in the Douglas County School District has been invited to participate. Depending on the number of students they teach, art teachers can use up to six slides if they are elementary level, middle school can get up to five slides per medium and high-school teachers get up to six slides per medium. Artwork can be submitted in the following categories: Design/Com-
puter Art, Drawing/ Printmaking, Jewelry, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography and Sculpture How can the public view the show? To view the district show, visit dcsdk12.org/artshow, starting at 8 a.m. Monday, May 3. This show will live online through the 2021-2022 school year. Unlike physical shows in the past, there are not any items to take down and store away, so we can enjoy these beautiful pieces for longer. How did you get involved with the art show? I have been a classroom teacher within the Douglas County School District for about 19 years with a flair for the eccentric and the creative. Just this year, with my amazing supportive administrators and Lone Tree Elementary School, I made the decision to focus on the creative side of teaching students and transitioned into an art teacher role. I have to say this has been a most unusual year to try something new. I decided to join the art show committee because I wanted to fully immerse myself in the art world. What better way to embrace student art than to be part of the committee for the art show? My art colleagues have been fully supportive of a newcomer and are an amazing group of open-minded creative thinkers. I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of a group that could offer extraordinary ideas and solutions to the barriers we have faced as a group of teachers this year. I feel very fortunate that I have had many art teachers to collaborate with this year from this committee. We hope that this year’s Virtual Art Show not only does a stellar job to lift our young artists, while celebrating their uniqueness and artistic abilities, but also does a great job to enhance our bond with our isolated community members, through the enjoyment of beautiful student artwork.
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Parker Chronicle 21
Cherry Creek boys soccer team almost had it all Ranked as No. 16 seed Creek advanced to face Fairview, but fell 2-0 BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNTYMEDIA.COM
State tournament pairings are often debated and criticized when they are revealed by the Colorado High School Activities Association. That was the case for this season’s boys state tournament bracket when Cherry Creek was the last team selected for the state tournament and was the No. 16 seed. However, the Bruins beat top-seed Regis Jesuit, No. 9 Boulder and fourth-seeded Grandview to advance to the state championship game, which was played May 1 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Second-seeded Fairview ended Creek’s magical playoff run with a 2-0 victory as the Knights claimed their first boys state soccer title. “Things just came together for us,” said Creek’s junior team captain Cyrus Gulati. “We had one practice just before playoffs that coach put us through that kind of brought us together. He made us run for two hours straight. That just helped us click for the playoffs. “A lot of people weren’t expecting us to be in the finals. We shocked everyone by being the 16thseed and made it to the finals. We beat Regis which was the first seed in the first round and that woke a lot of people up.” After the loss to Fairview (13-01), Creek finished the abbreviated COVID-shortened season with a 9-5 record. “The team played hard but first let me congratulate Fairview,” said Creek coach Wilmer Barrera. “Fairview was such a great team and they deserve it. We were the 16th seed and everyone said, ‘oh they’re gone in the first round.’ There was a group that criticized us saying ‘oh why are they in the playoffs?’ We proved why. I cannot be more proud of those boys and to be at Creek. At the end of the day it is all about the journey.” Creek goalie Knox Quarles and the defenders in front of him were sharp in the scoreless first half. The Bruins had a chance to take the lead when Cyrus Gulati was tripped in the penalty area in the 46thminute. Carter Koui took the penalty kick for the Bruins but his attempt sailed high over the goal. Six minutes later Fairview’s Sebastein Mazur booted a high shot from 30 yards away that Quarles leaped for but the ball deflected into the net. Cherry Creek kept offense pressure on the Knights but Tristan Hird scored for Fairview in the 79thminute to seal the win which denied the Bruins a chance to win their seventh state boys soccer title. “I can’t say anything that our defense did wrong,” added Barrera. “Look at Fairview’s first goal,
Cherry Creek’s Carsten Jones heads up field with the ball during the May 1 boys state soccer game against Fairview. The Knights PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON won, 2-0.
Louis Kehoe (11) of Fairview ties up Cherry Creek’s Cyrus Gulati in the corner during the second half of the boys state championship game on May 1. The Knights captured the school’s first boys state soccer title with a 2-0 victory.
Cherry Creek’s Cyrus Gulati takes the ball into the corner during the second half of the state boys soccer championship game on May 1 at Weidner Field in Colorado Springs. Fairview defeated the Bruins, 2-0.
a 30-yard shot. It was a great shot. Soccer is about momentum. We we had momentum, we got the PK and we missed it. It would have been a different game at that point. Two or three minutes after that, they scored. “It’s part of the game. That’s what I love about this game, you never know.” During the semifinals, there was a sign taped to the railing in front of the Cherry Creek fans and students that read: Bracket Busters. And ,Creek kept its hot postseason run going with a 2-0 semifinal
win over Centennial League rival Grandview on April 28 at Englewood High School. Carsten Jones launched a high free kick from the left side of the pitch and the ball went into the top right corner of the goal to give Creek a 1-0 lead in the 22ndminute. Macklin Riley pushed the Bruins ahead 2-0 on a deflected shot 30 minutes into the game and then the Creek defense withstood heavy second half Grandview pressure to secure the win. “The first goal was the key,” said Barrera. “We knew that if we scored
first that we are going to have the mindset that we are here.” Grandview coach Brian Wood felt his team was tentative early and it was hard to comeback after Creek went ahead. “That first goal was huge,” he said. “We knew the first goal was probably going to be the difference in the game because both teams defend real well and once they got one, it was really hard to break them down. “We played a little tentative in the beginning and I tried to loosen them up before the game but they were still a little tentative. That hurt us but Cherry Creek did a great job.” Grandview finished the season with an 11-2 record and both setbacks were dealt by Cherry Creek which beat the Wolves, 3-1, on March 23.
22 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
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Grandview boys soccer coach Brian Wood was obviously frustrated to watch the season end. However, he wasn’t disappointed with his team. Cherry Creek, the 16thand final seed in the Colorado boys soccer tournament, notched a 2-0 win over the fourth-seeded Wolves in a semifinal contest on April 28 at Englewood High School. Grandview ended the COVIDshortened season with an 11-2 record and Cherry Creek handed the Wolves both its losses. The Bruins also downed the Wolves, 3-1, on March 23. “It was a fantastic season,” said Wood. “I’m proud of these guys. They worked real hard. Our success was because of the work they put in, not just during the season but before the season too. There was not part of the (Cherry Creek) game that I was disappointed in them. “We were league champions (Centennial) and won the league tournament. I’m disappointed we didn’t continue on but I’m not disappointed with the season.” Cherry Creek, which advanced to play Fairview in the state championship game, scored in the 22ndminute when Carsten Jones booted a high free kick
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from 30 yards away on the left side of the pitch which landed high in the top right corner of the goal. “That first goal was huge,” added Wood. “In this game we knew the first goal was probably going to be the difference in the game because both teams defend real well and once they got one it was really hard to break them down.” Macklin Riley pushed Creek ahead 2-0 on a goal that was deflected into the net with 30 minutes gone in the first half and then the Bruins’ defense staved off a flurry ofGrandviewpressure in the second half. “We played a little tentative in the beginning and I tried to loosen them up before the game but they were still a little tentative,” said Wood. “That hurt us but Cherry Creek did a great job.” Bruins coach Wilmer Barrera also said the first goal was a key to the outcome and praised the defense played by his team. “From the beginning I had a mindset that defense wins championships,” said Barrera. “We had to fight until the end. Nobody thought we could go too far but I personally believe in this team. The first goal was the key. We knew that if we scored first that we were going to have the mindset that we are here.”
BATTLE AT THE NET
Valor Christian’s Hailey Bowman (13) tries to block out the spike attempt from Cherry Creek’s Courtney Wisneski (12). Wisneski led all with 18 kills and her Bruins ended up on top 3-1 in the 5A regional May 1 and will advance to the state quarterfinals in Colorado Springs on PHOTO BY PAUL DISALVO May 12.
Parker Chronicle 23
May 7, 2021
Coach proud of girls’ state field hockey championship 7-on-7 overtime played to speed strength of the team BY JIM BENTON JBENTON@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Regis Jesuit coach Spencer Wagner was probably one of the few people who relaxed a little when the state field hockey championship game went into double overtime. He knew his team might have an advantage since the game went from 11-on11 into a 7-on-7 situation in the second OT, and the Raiders could use their speed. Cherry Creek controlled play for most of regulation time but the Raiders dominated in the overtimes and pulled out a 2-1 double overtime win in the April 29 match played at the Stutler Bowl. It was the second state title for Regis (9-1) in the past three years and was the second win over Creek this season as the teams split two earlier games. It took just 38 seconds into the second overtime period for Ellie Johnson to
Ella Pratt (4) scored Cherry Creek’s only goal of the game during the state hockey field championship game on April 29 at the Stutler Bowl.
charge into the middle on a penalty corner and get the ball to Cate Lord who tipped in the game-winner. “This is what we’ve been working for and this is an amazing,” said Johnson. “We have a lot of speed and that translates into our game. So 7-on-7 really helps us.” Lord didn’t have much
Regis Jesuit players were all smiles after a 2-1 double overtime win over Cherry Creek in the state championship girls field hockey game played April 29 at the PHOTOS BY JIM BENTON Stutler Bowl. Regis coach Spencer Wagner is in the background.
time before joining a group of Regis students that fans that started celebrating on the field. “We practiced 7-on-7 a few days before just in case it gets to that,” added Lord. “We just have really good connections moving down field so I think that was to our advantage.” Lily Castiglione put
Regis ahead 1-0 with with 8:13 left in the second period but Creek’s Ella Pratt tied the game on a penalty stroke in the third period and the teams went into overtime. “I was excited to see what we could do 7-on-7 because we practice it,” said Wagner. “We looked good. We have a core of
very strong players and they practice together. We put those same six players together over and over. I think that’s one of the reasons that 7-on-7 went in our favor.” Wagner admitted the game was “a little draining.” SEE FIELD HOCKEY, P24
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24 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
Centennial soccer first team players named STAFF REPORT
Tanner Scarth, a senior defender at Regis Jesuit, was named the Continental League’s Player of the Year while Legend’s Michael Agostinho was selected as Coach of the Year as the team published its All-League team on April 28. League champion Regis had five players named to the first team. The first team selections:
FIELD HOCKEY FROM PAGE 23
“This is more relief for me than celebration,” he continued. “It took a lot to get here. We’ve been quarantined, masked, canceled and snowed out. It’s been a lot. “I thought the game was phenomenal, and I thought Creek played phenomenal. Last time we scored four goals against them but they shut us down and kept us to one goal for 70 minutes until the second overtime. But we trained and prepared for it and got ready for overtime. I couldn’t be prouder.” Cherry Creek finished the COVID shortened season with a 10-2 record. “The hardest thing is watching this team progress and be the best team in the state and lose the last game,” said Creek coach Clara Detrick-Yee. “I told them there was
Regis – Tanner Scarth, Sr., defense; Alejandro Herrera, senior, defense; Josh Dermer, Jr., midfield; Trey Tomlin, Sr., goalie. Castle View – Issac Bohrer, Sr., midfield; Jack Pucciano, Jr., midfield; Bailey Voit, Jr., midfield; Jack Blair, Sr., defense. Legend – Perry McCord, Sr., defense; Nash Mullen, Sr., midfield; Brody Bassett, Sr., midfield; Jaden Robertson, Jr., goalie.
Rock Canyon – David Pousma, Sr., defense; Mason McGaffin, Jr., defense; Cameron Spires,Jr., midfield. Ponderosa – Brandon Wobshaw, Sr., defense; Chase Ripley, Jr., defense; Braden Buttchen, Jr., defense. Mountain Vista – Aiden Mott, Jr., defense; Tristen Laresen, Jr., midfield; Shane Baker, Soph., defense. Highlands Ranch – Kyle Finley, Sr., defense; Nolan Schroeder, Sr.,
defense. Chaparral – Jagger Hooper, Jr., midfield; Justin Lintonsmith, Sr., midfield. ThunderRidge – Matthew Schultz, Sr., defense; Brody Bassett, Sr., midfield. Douglas County – Joseph Susser, Jr., forward; Maddox Tinjum, Sr., midfield. Heritage – Kole Villescas, Sr., goalie
nothing more they could have done except put one more in and they were definitely the dominating team in the game. “The first overtime we had 10 really strong players. In 7-on-7 we just lose strength and definitely speed and quickness,” Regis, which won the 2018 state trophy with a 2-1 overtime win over Creek and was seeded fourth in this season’s state bracket, ushered out top-seeded Colorado Academy in one of the April 24 semifinals. Castiglione had two goals in the Raiders’ semifinal win while Lord scored the other goal for Regis. Creek, the No. 2 seed, got a 2-1 semifinal win over third-seeded Palmer Ridge. Alexandra Michelotti and Emily Sands had the Bruins’ goals as Creek advanced into the state finals for the eighth time. It was the school’s first title appearance since a 2007 state championship victory over Colorado Academy.
Got a taste of virtual learning and liked it?
Regis Jesuit’s Cate Lord scored the game winning goal in double overtime in a 2-1 victory over Cherry Creek in the state field hockey title game held April 29 at the Stutler PHOTO BY JIM BENTON Bowl. The Raiders have won two of the past three state titles.
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Junior Embedded Engineer Finna Group, Inc. Centennial, CO. Req: Master’s in Elec Eng; Soft Eng; Compu Science or rltd + (6) mths of exp in the use of prog lang. Send resume: susan.agema@finnasensors. com
Operations Analysts Visa Technology and Operations, LLC, a Visa Inc. company, currently has openings in our Highlands Ranch, CO location for: Operations Analysts (Job# REF33349J) to Utilize knowledge of IT processes and frameworks (SDLC, ITIL, COBIT etc.), as well as Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen or equivalent process improvement methodologies. Utilize understanding of the IT infrastructure components (servers, network, storage, middleware/database, application software and data center facilities) and processes followed in software development and IT operations, as well as the tools used to implement and manage them. 5% domestic travel to various unanticipated locations throughout the U.S. Systems Administrators (REF32996P) Work on and support Unix Systems across all tiers. Operation in complex, highly secure, highly available, operations-centric datacenter environments and interact with other technology domains. To apply, please reference Job#s above when mailing resume to: LJ, Visa Inc., MS: M1-12 SW, 900 Metro Center Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404. EOE SENIOR MANAGER ARRIS Global Services, Inc. seeks qualified professionals in Englewood, CO for the following position: Senior Manager, Engineering-Bld/ trnfrm eng dlvry teams, hlp clnts undrstnd sw dfnd sltns prctics/apprchs, mngd sw dvlp, test autmn, devops, ntwrk orchstrn. Advs on sw/testng/ system trnsfrmtn agnda. Meet trgts/ stndrs. Dvlp/coach team. Job IDBS+5 (60256) Comp Sci, Eng or rltd. To apply send resume to CSjobs@commscope.com and reference job ID # in subject line. Foreign equiv. degree accepted. EEO/ fully supports affirmative action practices. Parts Runner Kelley Trucking Inc. is looking for a parts runner to pick up and deliver parts to various jobsites, and keep shop in a clean and orderly fashion. Pays $18-25/hr. EOE. Call 303.279.4150
Senior Software Test Engineers Visa USA, Inc., a Visa Inc. company, currently has openings in our Highlands Ranch, CO location for: Senior Software Test Engineers (REF31979N) Provide support for Digital Card Account Services, Enhanced Visa Services, Visa Transaction Controls, and Cooperative Authorization Processing Service. Develop representational state transfer based in application programming interface solutions that enable issuers to leverage each of these applications. Design and implement automated test solutions using an agile methodology. Staff SW Test Engineers (REF33050B) Design and develop QA automation tools and test frameworks. Collaborate with developers and QA leads to improve testability, automation, and tools. Some travel, up to 10% travel required to various, unanticipated worksites in the United States. To apply, please reference the Job#s above when mailing resume to: LJ, Visa Inc., MS: M1-12 SW, 900 Metro Center Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404. EOE
Help Wanted
kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com Help Wanted
23691 County Rd. 60 1/2 Greeley, CO 80631
NOW HIRING!!! Development Solutions company of Northern Colorado is hiring: - Hydrovac Operators - Hydrovac Swampers - Civil Operations Manager - Project Manager - Water Haul - Frac Sand Box Hauler Class A - Nights - Belly & Side Dump Class A (Greeley & Keenesburg - Tandem Class B (Greeley & Keenesburg) - Heavy Haul (Keenesburg)
Apply online at www.fortressds.com/careers or by phone: 970-353-6666
To Advertise, Call Us At:
303-566-4100 Colorado Community
NW Engin 3, Data Center NWs Comcast Cable Comm, LLC, Centennial, CO. Config & deploy of NW device in supprt of CO’s apps & server. Reqs: Bach in CS, Engin, or rltd & 2 yrs exp config NW Gear w/ EOS, IOS/IOS-XR & JUNOS; dvlp automated service use Python, Perl, Ansible, PHP, Javascript or Ruby; & assess budget needs & purchase hardware to supprt NW expand & maintain. $88,275 - $110,000/yr, https://jobs.comcast.com/life-atcomcast/ benefits. Apply to: John_Moran2@ comcast.com. Ref Job ID # 3484.
Media, in Englewood, CO is a full service media company looking to add to our team.
Help Wanted
Join the arc thrift Store Team!
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Colorado Community Media, publishers of 24 weekly and 3 monthly publications is currently seeking to hire an Multi-Media Advertising Account Executive. If you aren’t familiar with us, maybe you know one of our publications such as the Arvada Press, Golden Transcript, Westminster Window, Littleton Independent, the Parker Chronicle, the Castle Rock NewsPress or the Washington Park Profile. But we are a lot more than local newspapers. We also can help businesses through our full suite of digital marketing tools. Such as programmatic online advertising, email marketing and our own newspaper websites. If you have a desire to help businesses succeed by being a marketing advisor with many solutions at your disposal, this is your opportunity. Plus, as the local newspaper, we are trusted and well MULTI Colorado Community known.
Media, Englewood, Colorado C Candidate must be a multi-tasker, be outgoing andin a fast learner. Like anyCO sales position, seeking to is a full service media candidate must like the challenge of calling on prospects as well as established customers us, maybe looking add and earning commission on every sale.company Newspaper sales experienceto a plus but not required. Westminst Position is full time and offers a base salary plus commission PressWe or th to our team. and full benefits available. can help b offer a nice working environment.
online adv
What we do as an organization matters. Sales revenues supports our newsroom. Ourto help bus disposal, t reporters are out there everyday holding the powerful accountable, telling good stories known. about good people, keeping readers informed about things to do and yes, the occasional breaking news story that is not always positive. If you are mission driven, we have aCandidate strong candidate mission and a 150+ year history in Colorado doing what we do.
and earnin Position is offer a nic
Please send resume to:
Job Type: Full-time • Pay: $40,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year
eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com
COVID-19 considerations:
Come join CCM to be a part of helping local businesses be successful and our community newspapers thrive.
Sales sits in tall cubicles, properly socially distanced from others. Everyone wears a reporters mask a about good when not at their desks. Currently, it is rare that sales meets with anyone in person. Almost breaking n all work is being done via zoom, phone or email at this time. mission an
All Retail positions join our team! Enjoy a New and Rewarding Career No Experience Needed! We Train! Starting @ $15.25 per hour Visiting Angels-Littleton Contact us Today! 720-981-0804 visitingangels.com/littleton/employment
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What we d
Please send resume to:
Job Type:
eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com
COVID-19
Come join CCM to be a part of helping local businesses be successful and our community newspapers thrive.
Sales sits when not a all work is
Merchandising & retail is a plus! Hiring for Production, Cashiers and Supervisors!
H RING?
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26 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
P L A C E A D S O N L I N E 2 4 / 7 AT
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Miscellaneous kearhart@coloradocommunitymedia.com Watch Your Business
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Wanted to Buy Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201
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To Advertise call Karen 303.566.4091 Landscaping
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Parker Chronicle 29
May 7, 2021
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Small Mouth Sounds, big heart feelings 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. According to provided information, this makes the center the first theater in the region to receive approval by the Actors’ Equity Association to produce indoor theatre with an in-person audiClarke Reader ence. Featuring Josh Robinson, Jessica Austgen, Kate Gleason, Geoffrey Kent, Jake Mendes, Kevin Rich and Annie Barbour, the show takes place in a silent yoga retreat where six strangers try to find some sense of peace — and themselves. Collins reckons the show is about 80% to 90% silent — a feature that invites audiences to pay attention to really get to know the characters. “What you learn about these people and their journeys is based entirely on their actions and interactions. It requires a detective’s mind,” Collins said. “Audiences can’t just wait for someone to tell them what’s going on. They have to lean forward
ack in early March of last year, I had a piece all written about “Small Mouth Sounds,” the final play of the Arvada Center’s 2019/2021 season. I had spoken to director Lynne Collins about the show, why it would connect with audiences and what any who see it should come away with. And then the theater — and theaters all over the country — went dark. So, there was more than a little déjà vu when, nearly 14 months later, I had Collins on the horn to talk about the show … again, this time as the center’s first foray into in-person theater since the pandemic properly kicked off. “It was very sad we never got to open the show, especially because it really ended up speaking to what we’ve all been through,” Collins said. “Looking at it after the last year, it felt so of the moment, and so healing, it made sense to bring it back.” Bess Wohl’s “Small Mouth Sounds” runs at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd., through Saturday, May 30. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday through Saturday, 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and
COMING ATTRACTIONS
in a way to catch what’s happening.” After so long performing mainly via screens, it was an emotional experience for practically everyone involved to be back in the theater. And being in front of an actual audience again? Forget it about it. But it won’t be exactly the same as before. The show has been moved from the Black Box to the larger Main Stage to accommodate social distancing guidelines and limited ticket sales. What remains the same, however, is what the show says about the power of connection and its importance for each of us. “All of the characters are somewhat lost, lonely and looking for meaning in their lives in a very complicated world. Everybody felt that this last year,” Collins said. “We also all felt how much we need other people with us on our journeys. That’s the key theme of the play, and we feel it so intensely at this time.” For more information and tickets, visit https://arvadacenter.org/ events/small-mouth-sounds. ‘Road Work’ ahead at K Contemporary Denver’s K Contemporary art gallery, 1412 Wazee St., is welcom-
ing the warm weather with its new solo exhibition by Denver-based artist Andrew Jensdotter, called “Road Work.” The exhibition begins on Saturday, May 15, and runs through Saturday, June 26. According to provided information, the show - Jensdotter’s first regional solo exhibition following his 2019 show at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Denver - “features new work by the artist, including sculpture, drawing and painting, on both the first and second floors of the gallery.” The gallery is limiting the number of guests at any one time and requiring advanced reservations, which can be made at https://calendly. com/kcontemporary/andrew-jensdotter-road-work. Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Van Morrison from Real World Studios Van Morrison is responsible for some of my favorite music of all time — he has at least one perfect album (“Astral Weeks,” but I’d gladly listen to arguments that he has multiple), numerous songs that SEE READER, P32
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30 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
Bouhall named executive director at Life Care Center of Stonegate STAFF REPORT
Life Care Center of Stonegate in Parker, Colorado, recently named Mary Beth Bouhall as its executive director. Before coming to Life Care Center of Stonegate, Bouhall was director of operations for CHI Living Communities, for a year. Prior to that appointment, she was a regional administrator for CHI for three years for the Denver area. She has 28
years of experience in senior care, starting in admissions. Bouhall’s interest in senior care was sparked by her close relationship with her grandparents. “My grandparents came to live with us when I was 15,” said Bouhall Bouhall. “We took care of them before they eventually had to go to a nursing FEBRUARY 28, 2020
I read two newspapers, the Sunday NYT and Parker Chronicle. I feel its equally important to know what is taking place in my local community as well as the world. Parker Chronicle does an excellent and thorough job of reporting and gives me information that I trust. Thank you! –Kerry W.
home. We have so much to learn from our seniors, and I love to be able to serve them.” Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Bouhall earned a bachelor’s degree in history and humanities with a minor in business from Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. She moved to Colorado in 2015 and currently lives in Parker with her husband, Chris. They have three children. Life Care Center of Stonegate,
located at 15720 Garden Plaza Drive, is one of the 22 skilled nursing and rehab facilities in Colorado managed by Life Care Centers of America. Founded in 1976, Life care is a nationwide health care company. With headquarters in Cleveland, Tennessee, Life Care manages more than 200 nursing, post-acute and Alzheimer’s centers in 28 states. For more information about Life Care, visit lcca.com.
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Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088 Legals Bids and Settlements Public Notice REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) NO. 015-21 DOUGLAS COUNTY COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (DCCMP) FACILITATOR & ADMINISTRATIVE AID
The Department of Human Services of Douglas County Government, hereinafter referred to as the County, respectfully requests Applications from responsible and qualified candidates for a Facilitator/ Administrative Aid position for the Douglas County Collaborative Management Program (DCCMP) that will support the DCCMP Coordinator with the facilitation of DCCMP Facilitated Meetings, Family and Child Engagement Services (FACES)
meetings, Strategic Planning Family Meetings (SPFMs), Alternatives to Detention (A2D) Family Meetings, and Pre-Filing Professional Staffing, data entry for DCCMP Programs and administrative tasks related to the management of the DCCMP. The DCCMP is housed at the Douglas County Department of Human Services. The RFA document may be reviewed and/or printed from the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System website at www.rockymountainbidsystem.com. While the RFA documents are available electronically, Douglas County cannot accept electronic RFA responses. RFA responses will be received until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 by Douglas County Government, Finance Department, 100 Third Street, Suite 130, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104. RFA responses shall be submitted in a sealed envelope, plainly marked “RFA No. 015-21, DCCMP”. Electronic and/or faxed application responses will not be accepted. Responses will not be considered which are received after the time stated and any responses so received will
legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com
be returned unopened. Douglas County Government reserves the right to reject any and all RFA responses, to waive formalities, informalities, or irregularities contained in a said RFA and furthermore, to award a contract for items herein, either in whole or in part, if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the County to do so. Additionally, we reserve the right to negotiate optional items and/or services with the respondents. Please direct any questions concerning this RFA to Carolyn Riggs, Purchasing Supervisor at 303-6607434 or criggs@douglas.co.us, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Legal Notice No. 939085 First Publication: May 6, 2021 Last Publication: May 6, 2021 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press Public Notice REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) #014-21
HONEYWELL AUTHORIZED CONTROLS INTEGRATOR (ACI) CONTRACTORS The Facilities, Fleet and Emergency Support Services Department of Douglas County Government, hereinafter referred to as the County, respectfully requests qualifications and pricing from responsible and qualified contractors to provide Honeywell ACI services. The RFQ documents may be reviewed and/or printed from the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System website at www.rockymountainbidsystem.com. The RFQ documents are not available for purchase from Douglas County Government and can only be accessed from the above-mentioned website. RFQ responses shall be submitted in a sealed envelope plainly marked “RFQ #014-21, Honeywell ACI Services” prior to the due date and time. Electronic and/or faxed responses will not be accepted. RFQ responses will be received until 3:00 p.m., on Tuesday, May 25, 2021 by the Douglas County Finance Department, Purchasing Division,
100 Third Street, Suite 130, Castle Rock, Colorado 80104. Responses will not be considered which are received after the time stated, and any responses so received will be returned unopened. Douglas County Government reserves the right to reject any and all responses, to waive formalities, informalities, or irregularities contained in a said response and furthermore, to award a contract for items herein, either in whole or in part, if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the County to do so. Additionally, we reserve the right to negotiate optional items and/or services with the successful firm. Please direct any questions concerning this RFQ to Carolyn Riggs, Purchasing Supervisor at 303660-7434 or criggs@douglas.co.us, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Legal Notice No. 939083 First Publication: May 6, 2021 Last Publication: May 6, 2021 Publisher: Douglas County News-Press
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Parker Legals 5.7.21 * 1
Parker Chronicle 31
May 7, 2021
Park reaches 25-year anniversary of land acquisition Southdowns added greatly to area protected as Roxborough State Park BY SONYA ELLINGBOE SELLINGBOE@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
On May 31, Roxborough State Park staff and volunteers will celebrate the acquisition of the area called Southdowns near the park entrance. The acquisition was a process that developed numbers of devotees along the way — accumulating the 3,339 acres that are now included in the spectacularly beautiful Roxborough State Park in Douglas County ... Striking red rock formations, the Fountain Formation, grassland expanses and Willow Creek combine to make a place of absolute beauty, which became Roxborough State Park. (The late Littleton Independent editor, Houstoun Waring, was an early park supporter, as was well-known Littleton artist rita derjue, who died in the past year.) Twenty five years ago, a critical piece was the addition of “Southdowns,” a 625acre parcel that had been platted for development, until a Friends of Roxbor-
ough organization formed to preserve the area where one now enters. “Twenty-five years ago, on May 31, 1996, conservationists, state and county government leaders and a developer came together to celebrate the protection of the platted 625-acre development known as `Southdowns’ and its addition to Roxborough State Park. The dedication ceremony was the culmination of nearly three years of grassroots awareness-building, intense real estate negotiations and multifaceted fundraising,” wrote Susan Trumble, who was senior ranger/park manager from 1980 to 2003. “Southdowns, part of the original Woodmoor development at Roxborough, was platted in the 1970s, with over 1,100 housing units. At the time of the Woodmoor bankruptcy in 1975, most of the lots had been sold to individual owners. In the early 1990s, US Home consolidated a majority of these lots with plans to construct over 700 homes. “Final approvals for con-
The ceremony dedicating the Southdowns land to Roxborough State Park concluded with a Native American Friendship Dance on May 31, PHOTO BY SUSAN TRUMBLE 1996.
struction were in process when a group of concerned citizens came together in November, 1993 to found the Friends of Roxborough State Park. They saw this intense development on the front doorstep of the park as a death threat to the park’s existence as a nationally recognized Natural Landmark and its designation as a Colorado Natural Area. The Friends of Roxborough State Park vowed that day to bring public awareness to the park’s plight, raise funds
and seek an alternative to the housing development.” Readers who tend towards grassroots involvements can imagine the scene! The Friends wrote letters to Gov. Roy Romer, state legislators and Douglas County commissioners, distributed `Save Roxborough State Park’ bumper stickers and collected almost 15,000 petition signatures. Romer visited and his concern “caused momentum to change,” Trumble said. A change in the county’s
comprehensive plan met resistance from citizens in an alternative location the developer found. Tom Macy of the Conservation Fund was brought in to negotiate with US Home to find a solution. (Macy likened the Southdowns dilemma of attempting to `reverse development’ to `trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube.’ ) US Home agreed to sell their interest in Southdowns and the Conservation Fund agreed to purchase and hold the property until Colorado State Parks could come up with the cash. ($2.35 million.) The May 31, 1996 dedication ceremony was blessed with a cedar ceremony by Northern Cheyenne Richard Tall Bull. The ceremony concluded with participants joining hands in a Native American Friendship Dance led by Sicangu Lakota Jessica Bordeaux Vigil and Miss Junior Indian Colorado, Ogallala Lakota, Randi Rae Blakesly,” Trumble concluded. Trumble cited Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
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32 Parker Chronicle
May 7, 2021
Project tries to deter mass shootings BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Wanting to stop her age group from being known as the generation of “mass shootings,” Shreya Nallapati said she has continued to listen, learn and work to find solutions and answers. Nallapati, a graduate of Rock Canyon High School, has been featured by Forbes and NPR for her work to use analytics and artificial intelligence to decrease gun Nallapati violence and prevent future mass shootings. In 2018, Nallapati started the #NeverAgainTech project. The tipping point came her senior year of high school when 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. She wanted to find answers, create change and rewrite
READER FROM PAGE 29
have been ingrained in our collective psyche (looking at you “Brown Eyed Girl” and “Into the Mystic”) and generally has made the world better with his writing. Morrison has a new album out and is celebrating with his first-ever vir-
the narrative that mass shootings were a new “normal.” “We started the project to see if mass shootings are predictable,” she said. “We wanted to see if we can pinpoint the exact time a shooting or violence will occur. What we have found over the years is that mass shootings are very random.” That does not mean her project was for nothing, Nallapati said she and more than 200 members working with #NeverAgainTech are still working to understand why mass shootings and violence in the U.S. have continued. “We have pedaled back a bit,” said 20-year-old Nallapati. “Now we are focused on the ideology aspect. We are shifting to a lot more fruitful method to understand mass violence.” Looking at the U.S. Capitol riot, Nallapati said there is a lot to learn. With the #NeverAgainTech team spread across the U.S., Nallapati said they have focused efforts on
what extremist groups are saying and doing, especially through social media. With an abundance of misinformation and conspiracy theories spreading freely through social media platforms such as Facebook, Nallapati said #NeverAgainTech is looking at when conversations turn from simple banter and venting to threats of violence and trigger behavior. “On a temporal level, we are looking at what the tipping point is,” she said. “We watch these discussions where the language changes from what appears to be joking to a more serious tone where they are actively wishing and pushing for violence.” With the recent shooting in Boulder where 10 people died and the killings of Asian Americans in the Atlanta area, Nallapati said it continues to be “painful” as many of her studies and research over the years have pointed to an increase in
violence, especially toward Asians. Besides watching the online discussions turn more violent, Nallapati said another aspect of #NeverAgainTech is to research gun sales and purchases state by state. “At the start of the pandemic, people were buying guns like it was toilet paper,” she said. “Pair that with the economic instability, job layoffs — you have a bad situation.” As she moves forward, Nallapati said #NeverAgainTech will continue to evolve as it needs to. At the beginning, efforts were aimed at predicting future mass shootings. Now she will continue to research and pinpoint the causes and how to change society to prevent them. “At the beginning of all of this, I was truly disillusioned with this country,” she said. “... How could we normalize this after Sandy Hook? I will always work to listen and work towards an answer.”
tual performance. The livestream will be broadcast from the famous Real World Studios in England at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 8. Tickets are just $15, and trust me, that’s the cheapest price you will ever find for a live performance from the man. Visit www.nugs.net to get a spot.
sance woman - it seems there’s practically nothing she can’t make absolutely hilarious, and the best proof of this so far is “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” which is finally airing its second season. In addition to Thede, the show features Ashley Nicole Black, Gabrielle Dennis, Laci Mosley and Skye Townsend, and all the women (as well as some expertly selected famous faces) are throwing noth-
ing but heaters. You’ll laugh until it hurts, while simultaneously being aghast at the fact that it’s taken so long for talent of this caliber to be given a spotlight. Catch up on the first season and see new episodes Friday nights on HBO.
Streaming style — ‘A Black Lady Sketch Show’ Robin Thede is a comedic renais-
Clarke Reader’s column on culture apears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.
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