by Mark Smiley | Jul 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
by Mark Smiley
Solid Choice: Lypertek Pureplay C3 earbuds is a great pick for those looking for reliable earbuds that sound good and are comfortable in the ears.
Wireless earbuds are abundant in the market today with Apple’s Airpods having a significant corner on the market. There are plenty of products to consider and one to give a hard look to is the Lypertek PurePlay C3 earbuds has a premium design featuring handcrafted resin earbuds with a luxury aluminum charging case.
These earbuds are compact and comfortable, with multiple silicone and foam ear tip sizes for a secure fit. These are rated IPX6 for splash and sweat resistance, good for workouts, mowing the lawn, walking the dog, but caution with heavy water exposure.
Charging Case: The charging case for Lypertek Pureplay C3 earbuds adds one month to the charge making this one of the best earbuds for battery life on the market.
The best feature of these buds is the solid 8 hours per earbud per charge. The charging case claims to add up to one month but in our tests, it lasts even longer. But, how does it sound? They are powered by Qualcomm QCC3040 chipset and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive, ensuring stable, low-latency audio. It has a rich sound and acceptable for the common user.
They are also good for phone calls with dual ENC mics with cVc 8.0 aim for clean calls. The touch controls are also responsive and reliable allowing for pausing by the simple touch of one of the buds.
If you are in the market for wireless earbuds, you can’t go wrong with this pair. The Lypertek PurePlay C3 stands out with its luxurious design, hybrid audio drivers, and impressive battery endurance. It’s ideal if you’re after robust bass, no-fuss connectivity, and unique looks.
At time of press, the Lypertek Pureplay C3 earbuds retail for $99. More information can be found at www.lypertek.com/prod ucts/c3.
by Mark Smiley | Jul 24, 2025 | Uncategorized
by Mark Smiley
Easy To Use: The NAMA J3 Cold Press Juicer features a hands-off operation. It allows one to load the hopper and walk away.
The Nama J3 Cold Press Juicer is a relatively new model that’s gained attention for its compact design, ease of use, and slow cold press technology. The Nama J3 is a compact, hands‑off cold press (masticating) juicer, delivering premium juice quality, ideal for small kitchens, travel, or single‑serve batches.
It’s dimensions are 8.9” × 6.5” × 15.4” and weighs 9.7 pounds. It is equipped with a 130 W motor and an auger that spins at 50 RPM. It has a 8–16 oz per hopper load depending on produce. It comes complete with a hopper, fine and coarse strainers, auger, juice and pulp containers, cleaning brush, and a recipe booklet. And it all arrives in sustainable, well-designed packaging and BPA-free materials.
Portable: Weighing in at less than 10 pounds, the NAMA J3 Cold Press Juicer is easy to transport and has a small profile on the kitchen counter.
One of the key features is the hands-off operation. You can literally load the hopper and walk away. It processes all ingredients without constant supervision and when the lid is opened, it pauses and resumes automatically. It is quiet and has a versatile output. The two strainers offer control over pulp levels. The NAMA J3 is a compact machine but packs a powerful punch and is effective with leafy greens, ginger, nuts, and even nut milk.
The machine is easy to clean with only light rinsing required. Although parts rinse well, none are dishwasher‑safe. The warranty is 15 years and is priced at $450 at time of press. NAMA does not sell their products at any physical retailers. To ensure you’re buying safely, always buy directly through their website or an authorized retailer: Discount Juicers or Amazon (sold by Namawell). For more information visit www.namawell.com/products/nama-j3-cold-press-juicer.
by Jeff Shultz | Jul 24, 2025 | Travel
by Jeff Shultz
South Metro firefighters prepare to battle a Parker Road vegetation fire on July 7, 2025. Emergency calls such as this one to SMFR have grown, placing a heavier demand on SMFR as funding for the large south Denver area fire and rescue department is in dire straits.
The organization dedicated to providing fire and rescue services to a three-county area south of Denver is sounding the alarm that a funding crisis is imminent, threatening the emergency services offered by the group. South Metro Fire Rescue (South Metro) provides a full-service firefighting and medical emergency service to portions of Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson counties.
Recently the organization announced on its website that unless a new source of revenue is found by 2026 the department “will not be able to maintain the high level of fire and emergency services our residents expect and rely on.” According to South Metro, a Colorado House bill passed in 2024 signaled the beginning of South Metro’s funding woes.
House Bill 24B-1001 lowered property taxes throughout Colorado, crucially diminishing funding for fire protection districts such as South Metro. South Metro is predicting a $16 million shortfall next year and close to $270 million in revenue losses over the next 10 years.
Meanwhile, the demand for emergency resources in the South Metro service area are rising higher since 2019, the South Metro website states.
“Demand for our services has grown 20%, and it’s not slowing down,” the website alleges.
Some of the more notable past service calls include:
A revenue shortfall could mean severe reductions for fire and medical response times and a slash in staffing and capital investments such as vehicles, stations, and equipment. Other cuts could be in health prevention programs and wildfire preparedness and response times.
These cuts would affect the 571,000 residents South Metro serves, including 12 municipalities, Centennial Airport, Highlands Ranch, and the Pinery.
South Metro is eyeing three possible solutions to ward off predicted funding shortfalls.
- Cuts to Essential Services
Currently South Metro touts a world class fire and EMS service with a patient transport, 4-firefighter staffing for maximum response times, the ability to respond to all hazard emergencies, and a constant expansion of public health programs.
South Metro states the organization prioritizes public safety from the time a call comes into the dispatch center to the reply given by highly trained responders. If South Metro doesn’t find additional revenues the organization will be forced to cut important services.
“Response times for fires, medical emergencies, and accidents could be impacted,” their website says. Slower response times would be the tip of the iceberg if South Metro is forced to make budget cuts, South Metro alleges. Budget cuts would also mean a reduction in firefighting crews, compromising public safety, and patient care during emergencies.
Additionally, budget cuts would mean a reduction in wildfire, water rescue and hazardous materials responses. Funding shortfalls would also threaten airport firefighting units.
“In extreme budget scenarios, fire station closures and delays in adding new stations that would serve our growing community are possible,” South Metro alleges on their website.
- Increase in Property Taxes
South Metro is considering a ballot measure that would increase property taxes district wide by three mills. Voters, according to South Metro, haven’t been asked to approve a property tax increase in 20 years, except when some districts increased their mill levy to merge with South Metro.
South Metro says an average homeowner with a $750,000 home would have to pay $11.72 more a month if the ballot measure passes. A district wide property tax would generate approximately $50 million a year for South Metro.
- Passage of a Dedicated Sales Tax
A second possible ballot measure would be a proposed district wide half-cent sales tax to fund emergency services. Noting that for the first time state law allows fire districts to collect sales taxes to fund emergency services, a half-cent sales tax would provide approximately $50 million annually for South Metro.
SMFR Water Rescuers conduct a search of the lake at Chatfield State Park on July 7, 2025. SMFR were called to the park after a paddle-boarder had fallen off his paddleboard. The call came in just after 4 p.m. and after an extensive grid search, divers were able to recover the victim shortly after 7 p.m. Photo courtesy of SMFR
A dedicated sales tax for firefighting services is gaining popularity in other states as a funding mechanism for fire departments. In Garvin County, Oklahoma, voters in 2012 passed a county wide quarter-cent sales tax earmarked for firefighting services.
Twelve fire departments in the county receive an equal portion of the tax funds, after 4 percent of the money generated goes to the county 911 center. While Garvin County is much smaller than South Metro’s service area (26,656 population verses 571,000) the small Oklahoma county can understand South Metro’s dilemma, according to Garvin County Clerk Lori Fulks.
Prior to the passage of the sales tax all 12 fire departments were in dire straits due to funding shortfalls caused by declining city sales tax collections.
“They couldn’t purchase proper equipment and gear. A couple of fire departments were worried their trucks would break down on them on the way to a fire or, worse yet, while they were fighting a fire,” said Fulks. Since passage of the sales tax, Fulks said all 12 fire departments have purchased new fire trucks and essential gear.
According to Fulks, the quarter-cent sales tax generated over $1.2 million in 2024.
Fulks said the dedicated sales tax was the fairest solution to the funding shortfalls.
“Not only do the county residents pay the tax when they purchase goods and services in the county but also travelers when they stop to eat, get gas, or stay the night,” she added.
South Metro’s Board of Directors will decide soon whether or not to place a property tax increase or sales tax question on the November ballot.
Before then they are seeking the public’s input on the three proposals. Residents in South Metro’s service area can seek information by visiting the website Engagesouth metro.org.
Information on South Metro’s funding needs, a FAQ fact sheet, and information on public hearings being held in the district can be found on the website.
According to South Metro, representatives from the organization have presented or met with 1,820 individuals at 40-plus events or meetings since April 1.
