‘Correction’ didn’t address misprinted cost
Editor:
The Canyon Courier on Nov. 7 printed a “correction” to an Oct. 31 Community Voices op-ed piece by the Peter Lindquist Family concerning the Evergreen Park & Recreation District bond issue and mill levy proposal. The correction noted the bond and mill levy proposals would cost a property owner $33 annually per $100,000 of property value.
What the correction did not state was that their misprint in the Lindquist piece seen by Courier readers incorrectly stated the cost would be $300 annually per $100,000 of property value — nine time what actually would have been the case.
That is a pretty big, attention-commanding mistake. A homeowner whose property is valued at $600,000, according to what was printed, would have faced a whopping $1,800-per-year tax increase, not $198 as what in truth would have been the impact.
How significant an impact did this error have? It is impossible to know for sure. Many Evergreen residents had already mailed their ballots by Oct. 31. However, having the first vice president of the EPRD board positioned as saying the cost to taxpayers would be nine times more than actually was true — in the final Courier printed commentary on the ballot questions before the Nov. 6 election date — may have been sobering and influential.
What we can say for sure is that the Evergreen community is closely divided on proposed EPRD expansion: the negative vote is prevailing 51 percent to 49 percent. At this writing, out of 14,665 votes on Ballot Issue 6D, had 195 “no” votes switched to “yes,” 6D would have passed. Ballot Issue 6C would have needed even fewer votes to flip.
It seems possible the Courier mistake altered the community’s verdict. If so, bonds would likely have been sold yet this calendar year. Beyond issuing an apology, at a minimum a Courier commitment to self-examine quality-control policies, especially in regards to politically consequential subject matter, seems in order.
Bob Benson
Evergreen

Thanks to everyone for making the CN&N Holiday Boutique great
Editor:
Thank you Canyon Courier and Deb Hurley Brobst for your excellent coverage of the Conifer Newcomers & Neighbors Holiday Boutique in the story “Festive spirit comes early: Holiday Boutique has something for everyone” on Nov. 7. 
Along with the photo spread, the story truly captured the character of our foothills community with everyone chipping in to help each other. From our local grocery stores — King Soopers, Natural Grocers and Safeway — that donated to the effort to the many student volunteers and CN&N volunteers, and, of course, to the artisan vendors who offered great craft items — all coming together to raise funds that will be reinvested in the form of grants to local causes and nonprofits. Now that’s something to celebrate.
Kathryn Althage
Co-chair, CN&N Holiday Boutique

Area lost a gem in Mike Fahy
Editor:
Late last month, Evergreen and frankly all of Colorado lost the smartest guy in the room: Mike Fahy. He was a geologist and water resource specialist who for 30-plus years was the go-to guy for answers to questions of water in the foothills and mountains.
He always had a smile on his face while he explained in laymen’s terms what the current and future issues were and are surrounding water availability in our foothill and mountain homes.
The sheer amount of knowledge he held on these topics cannot be matched by anyone else I know. He was a friend who never said “No” to any request for help with projects and information on groundwater and the geology that make up our area.
He will be missed for many reasons, and his ability to provide analysis to all of us on topics of rocks and water will leave a huge hole in our community.
Rhea Slowik
Evergreen

School board should prioritize schools with low FCI scores
Editor:
Jeffco schools presented a lot of information on what upgrades schools would receive if this $567 million bond passed. Board members talked a lot about having “equitable schools” and making “equitable investments.”
I hope this translates into the prioritization of updating schools with the lowest Facility Condition Index numbers such as Alameda, Jefferson and Green Mountain high schools, and investing in schools in our lower-income neighborhoods.  
Of the $567 million bond tax increase ask, only 30 percent of the bond was allocated to schools with low FCI, and many schools would not be moved up to “good” category rating after renovations.
For example, Vivian Elementary has a 63 percent FCI and after renovations, it will only have a 44 percent FCI rating, meaning it will still be in poor condition. I ask that the school board prioritize schools with low FCI scores and renovate them so all schools move up at least one rating.
This seems to be a much better decision than using debt for new landscaping and fake grass.
Please contact the Jeffco School board at board@jeffco.k12.co.us and ask it to make “equitable” investments in Jeffco schools.
Leonor Lucero
Littleton

Comments distorted by columnist
Editor:
John Riddell, in his Not Politics As Usual column, has, as usual, allowed his profound biases to distort his understanding of comments made by one from a different political bent than himself.
The context of Don Lemon’s facetious musings about a “white guy ban” was the immediate aftermath of the slaughter of two black people outside a Kroger grocery store in Kentucky. This hate crime was immediately preceded by the sending of 13 explosive devices to critics of President Trump and the heinous murder of 11 in a Pittsburgh synagogue.
Each of these terrorist acts was carried out by a white male. Contrary to what Mr. Riddell said, Lemon was neither racist nor claiming a sense of victimhood in his comments. More than anything else, as is quite clear when watching the video, Mr. Lemon is asking a question.
President Trump has taken clear and aggressive steps to prevent terrorist acts by those he perceives as the greatest threats, Muslims and Mexicans. However, the vast majority of terrorist acts carried out in this country are by radicalized, right-wing, white males. What are we doing, and what can we do to lessen these acts of terror?
This is a completely legitimate question we should all be asking ourselves and our legislators — a question that both law enforcement and politicians have largely ignored for much too long.
Gary Riskin
Evergreen