Life on Capitol Hill September 2021

September 2021

Founded in 1975

LifeOnCapHill.com

FOR THE LOVE OF TREES Two-part series explores Denver’s lofty residents

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REMOVING BARRIERS FOR OPPORTUNITY

DENVER’S COOL, OLD PLACES

MAKING A GLOBAL CONNECTION

Emily Griffith Technical College celebrates 105 years

Historic Denver launches 50 Actions for 50 Places

International youth to work together on virtual competition

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2 Life on Capitol Hill

September 1, 2021

Business Matters Christy Steadman | csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com Business Matters is a monthly column featuring business news in the Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile coverage areas, which is roughly central and central-south Denver.

If you are a local business that would like to announce any updates to your operations, email Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

NEW OPENINGS The Glam House The Glam House salon opened a second location in Capitol Hill this August, which happened to be the five-year anniversary of the business.

“A salon goes beyond beauty,” said The Glam House’s owner and founder, Alexandria Grado. “It is an opportunity to touch people’s lives, one at a time.”

Grado started her business in the basement of her southeast Denver home in August 2016. In September 2018, The Glam House expanded to its own storefront location at 4085 E. Mississippi Ave. in Denver’s Belcaro neighborhood. The Glam House’s Capitol Hill salon is located at 1433 N. Ogden St. The Glam House performs all hair color, cutting, extension and barber services, specializing in balayage color services and various types of extensions to best suit a person’s hair type and goals.

“When I moved to Denver as a child, it was because there was more opportunity in Colorado,” Grado said. “Today, I love providing opportunities for every community because I believe we are stronger together.”

To learn more about The Glam House, visit www.theglamhouse.com.

Zaidy’s Deli & Bakery A deli with a 35-year history in the community has reopened in a new location with new owners.

Zaidy’s Deli & Bakery, now located at 600 S. Holly St. in Denver’s Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood, got its start by original owner Gerard Rudofsky. It became a local mainstay for matzo ball soup, potato latke sandwiches, pastrami and other New York-style Jewish comfort foods.

“After we closed, we got some beautiful notes from customers about how they felt about Zaidy’s and the food,” Rudofsky said in a news release. “It made me feel great because I wanted Zaidy’s to be something that the community would really appreciate.”

Max Appel, alongside his son Joel Appel and Beth Ginsberg, is the new ownership team of the deli.

“We wanted to bring the heritage of Zaidy’s forward in a fresh new way for the next 35 years,” Joel Appel said in a news release. “It’s important to our community, so we are giving it a new life in a new location. Zaidy’s will continue to be a treasure for everybody who loves delicious Jewish deli food.”

Zaidy’s will continue serving classic deli sandwiches such as Reubens, pastrami and Corned Beef on rye. A new feature to the restaurant is an in-house bakery, and new additions to the menu include a classic avocado toast on a homemade bagel, flights of mini bagels, a variety of

nutrition-packed salads, specialty cocktails and other unique new recipes.

“Thousands of people over the 35 years have made life memories at Zaidy’s,” Ginsberg said in a news release. “It was a part of the heritage of the whole city.”

To learn more about Zaidy’s Deli & Bakery, visit www.zaidysdeli.com.

MILESTONES The Bookies Bookstore The Bookies Bookstore celebrated its 50-year anniversary in August, but is up for sale after its founder and owner, Sue Lubeck, passed away in July, Denver 7 News reported.

The Bookies Bookstore is located at 4315 E. Mississippi Ave., which is near the four-corner area of Glendale and the Belcaro, Cory-Merrill and Virginia Village neighborhoods.

The independent bookstore carries a wide variety of books for all ages and reading levels, ranging from books on Colorado topics by local authors to rare books.

A message on the bookstore’s website states: “We (want) to assure you that Sue’s legacy will continue. Sue’s family has stepped in to help maintain her vision so long as it is possible. While the family will continue The Bookies, they are actively welcoming any inquiries by possible buyers who will continue the traditions of the store and the vision that Sue originally had.”

To learn more about The Bookies Book-

store, visit www.thebookies.com.

MISCELLANEOUS Z Cycle Shop A locally-owned bicycle shop recently moved from one location in Capitol Hill to another. Z Cycle Shop is now located at 1025 E. Ninth Ave. The grand opening of the new location took place on Aug. 1.

The bike shop got its start in its former location in September 2018.

Z Cycle Shop offers one-time repairs, tune-ups and inspections; and a monthly subscription for ongoing upkeep, use of various equipment such as stands, and other perks such as discounts and premier access to classes, events and promotions.

The sales component of the shop offers new, used and refurbished bikes, as well as custom builds.

“I started my own bike shop because I believe this is an industry that I can make more accessible and fun for people,” said Z Cycle Shop’s owner, Dmitri Rumschlag, in a previous interview. “I like to offer a way for people to become more confident … by always offering a smile, knowledge or a simple tool if it’s warranted or requested.”

To learn more about Z Cycle Shop, visit www.zcycleshop.com.

Editor’s note: Life on Capitol Hill interviewed with Z Cycle Shop for a feature story in the June 2019 edition. To read the story online, visit: www.lifeoncaphill.com/ stories/building-gears,281790?.

CORRECTION A photo that ran in the Business Matters column of the January 2021 edition of Life on Capitol Hill was improperly

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credited. The corrected photo credit is Shenandoah Place/Daughters of the Stars Photography.

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September 1, 2021

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4 Life on Capitol Hill

September 1, 2021

Beginning in the mid-18th century, Americans fell in love with the graceful V-shape of elms and planted them throughout New England and the Midwest. Here the branches of a magnificent elm on the eastern side of Washington Park surge upward, forming highways in the PHOTOS BY TIM COLLINS sky.

Denver forester Ben Rickenbacker pauses near one of his favorite trees, an 80-foot Northern Red Oak in the park’s northwestern sector. Oaks can live for hundreds of years and were revered by Native Americans, who ground the acorns into flour and used the bark and leaves to treat various ailments.

Meet Washington Park’s loftiest residents Denver trees and the people who dig them

By Kirsten Dahl Collins

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Special to Colorado Community Media

ntering Washington Park on a hot day, a sense of relief and well-being creeps over you, along with a thick canopy of shade.

That shade is provided by a collection of

about 2,000 trees of more than 100 different species — some more than a century old.

City Park has an even larger urban forest, with about 3,000 trees and even more varieties.

The trees of both parks tower over us, inspiring and intimidating. Once you start looking up, it’s hard to stop.

“Unlike flowers and grasses, to me, they’re just more impressive,” said arborist Neal Bamesberger, head of the Colorado Tree Coalition (CTC).

“You see a tree that’s 100-200 years old, and a

petunia can’t hold a candle to that.”

State Champions Each fall, the CTC, a volunteer group working to preserve community forests, confers the title of State Champion on the biggest and tallest trees in Colorado, selecting from among 750 species. Washington Park is home to a number of State Champions, including a 90-foot high SEE TREES, P5

Editor’s note:This story is Part 1 of a two-part series in which journalist Kirsten Dahl Collins explores the hidden stories of Denver’s trees. Part 2, which will focus on the trees in City Park, will run next month in Life on Capitol Hill and the Washington Park Profile.

g Denver tree organizations and events

By Kirsten Dahl Collins Special to Colorado Community Media

To be a well-informed volunteer — or just bring more enjoyment to a stroll through the park — download a free, tree-identifying app to your mobile phone. The PlantNet or iNaturalist apps will quickly identify most species you encounter.

Denver has many opportunities to get more involved with creating a greener city.

Here are some suggestions: American Forests Association Founded in 1875, American Forests is the oldest national nonprofit conservation organization in the United States. Currently they are focusing on building a reforestation movement in America — in response to large-scale, rapid destruction of our woodlands. Visit americanforests.org to learn about new findings in tree science, current

legislation affecting trees, tips on planting and to read the organization’s magazine, American Forests.

tional programs, nominating one of your local trees as a State Champion or locating Champions in your community.

Arbor Day, April 29, 2022 In April, many communities throughout the Denver metro area hold tree sales and planting events. With the assistance of local volunteers, Denver Parks and Recreation plants 150-500 trees to commemorate this national holiday.

Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park (FANS) FANS of Washington Park Inc. was organized in 2006 to give a public voice to the care, use and maintenance of the 165acre park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. FANS volunteers often fill in to help Denver Parks and Recreation with planting and other service projects.

City Park Friends and Neighbors (CPFAN) Send an email to info@cpfan.org for news of the latest projects undertaken by this neighborhood association dedicated to preserving and enhancing City Park. CPFAN was active in the ultimately unsuccessful 2017 effort to prevent the city from removing more than 200 mature trees from the City Park Golf Course.

Colorado Tree Coalition (CTC) A volunteer nonprofit administered by the Colorado State Forest Service, CTC seeks to preserve, renew and enhance community forests in Colorado. Visit coloradotrees.org for information about volunteering, educa-

The Park People For the past 35 years, The Park People’s Denver Digs Trees program has been providing Denver residents with free and low-cost trees for planting on both private and public property. More than 60,000 trees have been planted to date. Learn more at theparkpeople.org or send an email to info@theparkpeople.org to sign up to participate in free tree planting when the program gets underway again in 2022.

Tour des Trees The Tour des Trees cycling event, held

annually in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom, raises money for the Tree Fund, which supports tree science research and education programs that connect young people with environmental career opportunities. Participants can choose to cycle for up to 320 miles, planting trees, educating children and raising awareness of science-based tree care. Riders in this year’s Tour des Trees completed their long-distance cycling adventure through the greater Denver area on Sept. 3. It began Aug. 28. Visit treefund.org to learn about the next Tour des Trees.

Urban Forest Initiative The Downtown Denver Partnership, a nonprofit association of local businesses, has launched the Urban Forest Initiative (UFI) to increase Denver’s urban forest canopy through education, built infrastructure and good stewardship of trees.

UFI works directly with property owners to build vibrant, large planting areas to provide a supportive environment for downtown trees. For membership information, visit downtowndenver.com.

Life on Capitol Hill 5

September 1, 2021

TREES FROM PAGE 4

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black cherry, a 70-foot high Kentucky coffee tree and two honey locusts ranging from 76 to 84 feet tall.

These champions remind us how ingenious trees are: pumping water upwards to staggering heights through their xylem (vascular tissue) — and feeding themselves with sugar manufactured out of nothing but chlorophyl, carbon dioxide and sunshine.

Ancient trees Sonia John, curator of the Arboretum at Regis University, phased out her career as a professional artist to spend more time on trees. Nowadays, she nurtures a mini-forest of saplings destined for the arboretum in her Wash Park backyard. A former board member of the Friends and Neighbors of Washington Park (FANS), she also wrote and illustrated the eloquent “Washington Park Tree Guide,” a book that has nearly sold out at its brick-and-mortar location inside the Wash Perk coffee house.

Seven years ago, John partnered with the Denver Botanic Gardens to create the annual Tree Diversity Conference, with the mission of protecting urban forests from disease and climate change. To accomplish that, cities must plant more diverse species.

And if those species are going to survive in Denver’s harsh, high-desert climate, they’d better be tough. When Denver was first settled, there were no trees — except the cottonwoods lining rivers and creeks.

True to the vision of the Tree Diversity Conference, John is impressed by hardy trees — such as the Osage oranges in the southwest section of Washington Park.

“The ones that survived are looking great,” she said.

The Osage orange species ought to be tough. It’s been around since prehistoric times. When mammoths roamed the earth, they chomped on the tree’s distinctly weirdlooking, softball-sized, wrinkled, green fruit. The park’s honey locusts and Kentucky coffee trees are also ancient species dating back to the Pleistocene. They produce bizarre-looking oversized seed pods, which were popular snacks for giant sloths and other Ice Age behemoths.

The storybook elms John said her Wash Park favorites also include “the grand old elms.” A grove of these magnificent, V-shaped trees welcomes visitors into the park at the Mississippi Avenue and Franklin Street entrance.

Standing under these American elms is awe-inspiring. Their mighty branches darken as they surge upwards, crisscrossing and forming highways in the sky for squirrels and other small creatures. The only thing these storybook trees are missing is a small wooden door for a resident gnome.

After the ravages of Dutch elm disease (DED) of the 1950s, it’s surprising that elms are here at all. Only a few thousand remain in Denver. But Denver Forestry says the trees are carefully monitored and pruned, and happily, there have been very few outbreaks of DED in more than a decade’s time.

An insider’s view Ben Rickenbacker, Denver’s forestry operations supervisor, is another person who lives and breathes trees.

Rambling through Washington Park with Rickenbacker is a bit like hanging out with a small-town mayor. He knows everybody.

He has an insider’s view of his lofty green citizens, including their age, behavior and eccentricities.

Although Rickenbacker’s official beat is City Park and northeastern Denver, he greets each member of Washington Park’s

A nine-year-old Washington Park visitor examines a hatching cicada he discovered on the bark of a white willow bordering the eastern shore of Grasmere Lake. The willow is far older than the boy — it likely dates back to the lake’s construction in 1907. PHOTOS BY TIM COLLINS

urban forest like family. He knows all their habits — good and bad.

Passing a small hawthorn tree near the center of Wash Park, he warns: “Don’t plant one of these under your bedroom window.”

Hawthorns, Rickenbacker explains, produce pretty white flowers in June but their odor is akin to cat urine.

He plucks an elliptical leaf off a young hardy rubber tree and tears it in half.

“See these stretchy strands,” Rickenbacker asks. “That’s silica.”

Passing a honey locust with feathery, compound leaves, he points out vicious, two-inch-long thorns sprouting from a scar on the trunk.

“Thorns were bred out of them for ornamental purposes,” Rickenbacker said, “but sometimes when they lose a branch, they revert to their natural state.”

Like his great-grandfather, the World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker, the Denver forester has spent plenty of time aloft — but mostly in trees. As a child growing up in Kentucky, Rickenbacker avidly climbed around the woods in the local park and savored the views from his backyard tree house. More recently, he cycled in the annual Tour des Trees marathon to raise money for tree science research.

Wildlife flock to dead trees Periodically, elderly or storm-damaged trees in the park have to be cut down and hauled away.

But “only as a last resort,” Rickenbacker said, adding that trees are cut down only for public safety reasons.

And not all dead trees are removed from the parks.

“If they are not dangerous,” Rickenbacker said, “we usually try to leave them.”

This policy is in line with recent discoveries about the importance of preserving dead trees in forests — and not only for the nutrients they return to the soil. Wildlife love them. Why? Because those bleached tree skeletons attract insects and offer plenty of hollows for nesting.

Indeed, a dead willow on the southern shore of Grasmere Lake has become a virtual high-rise condo for park birds, complete with an ongoing bug buffet. Come fall, squirrels may use the holes as storage bins for acorns. Out in the middle of Grasmere, on Monkey Island, the whitened branches of

Washington Park is home to a number of State Champions, including this 70-foot tall Kentucky coffee tree. The tree, which is an ancient species dating back to the Pleistocene, produces large pods containing dark brown seeds that resemble coffee beans. Early settlers used them to brew a rather dangerous coffee substitute — unless the seeds are roasted first, they are toxic to humans.

another skeletal willow provide night herons and other fishing birds with unobstructed water views.

Even more reasons to love trees As we learn more about trees, it seems there are even more reasons to love them.

According to Psychology Today magazine, “new research shows that the sight of trees allows the parasympathetic nervous system to gain an edge, calming the entire body.”

Trees, it appears, can also calm, cool and oxygenate an entire city.

In a recent story, The Colorado Sun described the findings of a study by the US Forest Service: “Urban trees can help reduce ground-level ozone levels — and in turn improve air quality by reducing air temperature and absorbing pollutants.”

Clearly, trees are emerging as an important way to mitigate climate change.

In 2021, Denver Parks and Recreation doubled its tree-planting budget in an effort to lower the increasing temperature of Denver’s many heat islands. These highly-paved urban areas run hotter than neighborhoods with more trees and grass. According to the

Environmental Protection Agency’s website, “buildings, roads and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes.”

Trees, or the lack thereof, are even revealing social injustices that were once ignored.

According to The Colorado Sun story, “A recent analysis by American Forests highlights Denver’s shady divide: neighborhoods of color and areas with higher poverty rates have fewer trees than those that are predominantly white and more affluent.”

On a larger scale, groundbreaking research by Canadian scientist Suzanne Simard has revealed the invisible but powerful connections between forest trees.

Simard found that in old, established forests, different species of trees and fungi communicate, pass nutrients back and forth and essentially depend on each other. Many tree lovers instinctively feel that clear-cutting old forests and replanting them with one or two species is wrong. Now we know why. And that knowledge holds out hope for preserving the “lungs” of our planet.

No wonder that shady old elm is taking on a new importance. Besides, where else would a gnome feel at home?

6 Life on Capitol Hill

September 1, 2021

WorldDenver connects Colorado to the world

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

In the past decade or so, Cheesman Park resident Laurie Hirschfeld Zeller has hosted members of Parliament from the United Kingdom, university presidents from Yemen, journalists from various African countries and women leaders from all over the world.

“These are the most interesting and rewarding interactions you can imagine,” Zeller said.

Sometimes these international guests stay in Zeller’s home for about a week and sometimes they come just for dinner.

“Breaking bread in one’s home is universally meaningful to all cultures,” Zeller said. “These opportunities have allowed me to show a personal side to the good experience these visitors have in Colorado, and helps them feel the goodwill that they take back to their home countries.”

Zeller is a founding member of WorldDenver and an Emeritus Board Member. The international visitors she has hosted are people chosen to participate in the International Visitors’ Leadership Program, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

“Denver has so much to share with the world,” said John Krieger, executive director of WorldDenver, “and we make those connections.”

WorldDenver is a membership-based nonprofit organization that connects Denver — and Colorado — to the world through international exchange, education, and personal interaction with international leaders, professionals and students, states its website.

“It matters that we feel connected to the greater world, here in land-locked Denver,” Zeller said. “WorldDenver is a community of members that supports the great programs and visiting delegations that help us understand the perspectives of our fellow humans — and helps those other humans understand us.”

WorldDenver is perhaps most known for facilitating the International Visitors’ Leadership Program, and for being Denver’s World Affairs Counsel. But, WorldDenver also has a Young Professional membership, and puts on a

LEARN MORE To learn more about WorldDenver, its programs or how to become a member, visit https://worlddenver.org/. variety of other programming, such as an annual International Women’s Day event.

“The biggest issues we face are borderless. They’ve got to be solved with global cooperation,” Krieger said.

“Members come to WorldDenver to get that global connection.”

WorldDenver put on some virtual programming during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, but also turned attention to incorporating more educational programs for youth — something that had been on a priority list for quite some time, Krieger said.

The organization started to put together a plan to connect U.S. students ages 14-17 with students of the same age in the Middle East and North Africa — Iraq and Morocco, specifically.

Called the World Affairs Challenge Virtual Exchange, the new program is being implemented by WorldDenver, and supported by the Stevens Initiative. The Stevens Initiative, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, “is an international effort to build global competence and career readiness skills for young people in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa by growing and enhancing the field of virtual exchange,” states a news release.

WorldDenver is one of 19 grantees to be named a 2021 Stevens Initiative grantee.

What the youth will do in the program is work in binational teams to identify a challenge in their community that is related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

They will work together to create a solution, and the program will culminate with the students presenting their challenge and solution plan in video format. Winners of the competition will get to implement their plan.

The youth will develop relationships and lifelong friendships with their peers abroad, while also building empathy, developing leadership skills and learning about

Youth participate in the World Affairs Challenge 2019 in Denver. WorldDenver recently received grant funding to implement a new youth program called World Affairs Challenge Virtual Exchange. This program will allow U.S. students to work with students in the Middle East and North Africa to solve a community challenge that is related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WORLD AFFAIRS CHALLENGE

new topics.

“When young people can turn their ideas into real action, especially while working cross-culturally, it is immensely powerful and transformative,” Krieger said in a news release, “setting them on a path toward meaningful global citizenship and community involvement.”

Kelly Jones-Wagy is one of the local World Affairs Challenge Virtual Exchange facilitators/mentors.

“Students generally have incredible ideas,” Jones-Wagy said. “As a facilitator, my goal is just to help them to focus those ideas as they work with their counterparts through the virtual exchange.”

Jones-Wagy said she hopes the students learn from each other.

“Not just about their project, but also about all of the things that they have in common,” Jones-Wagy said. “The more time we all spend getting to know people, the more we will be able to respect and care for others.”

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Life on Capitol Hill 7

September 1, 2021

Last month, the Washington Park Profile and Life on Capitol Hill asked for reader submissions of summer fun photos. Here are a couple that were submitted.

Mary Dreger of West Washington Park gets her photo taken with a donkey at the burro races on July 25 during the town of Fairplay’s annual Burro Days celebration. Dreger said it was “the sweetest donkey” and that she would have gotten its name had she known the COURTESY OF MARY DREGER photo would be selected for the newspaper.

Jonathan Charpentier covers himself in sand in a riverbed in Teapot Canyon in Canyonlands National Park in Utah on June 3. Charpentier is the grandson of Cheesman Park resident and small-business owner Martha Lucas. This is not the first time Charpentier has received media attention, Lucas said. He was recognized by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science a while back for discovering a COURTESY OF MARTHA LUCAS Tyrannosaurus rex tooth while hiking.

Warren Village now offers services, resources at Ivy Crossing apartments

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Warren Village has big goals to serve the community, said Ethan Hemming, president and CEO of Warren Village.

“We know that financial strain can have a detrimental impact on mental health, academic and job performance, and other

aspects of life,” Hemming said in a news release. “Both the economic and social factors related to housing insecurity and insufficient income have a trickle-down effect that negatively impacts individuals’ physical health, the community as a whole, and our local economy.”

Warren Village is a Denver-based nonprofit focused on helping low-income,

single-parent families make the journey from poverty to self-sufficiency.

With the goal of providing housing continuity and stability, Warren Village and BLDG Management, Inc. recently entered into a partnership to launch a pilot program at BLDG’s Ivy Crossing, which is SEE WARREN VILLAGE, P13

LEARN MORE Warren Village: https://warrenvillage. org Ivy Crossing: www.rentivycrossing.com BLDG Management: www.bldgmanagement.com BMC Investments: www.bmcinv.com

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8 Life on Capitol Hill

September 1, 2021

LOCAL

VOICES

Cyclists to ride the metro area for charity on Sept. 25

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s residents or frequent visitors of this great city, you undoubtably know that Denver hosts some truly wonderful events.

An acquaintance recently emailed me requesting a pledge for his participation in the Denver Animal Shelter’s Cycle for Strays. I had not heard of this event before and because I am a big advocate of pet adoption through shelters, so I decided to look into it a bit more. I learned that Cycle for Strays is Denver Animal Shelter’s team for the Denver Century Ride — and that piqued my interest even more.

The Denver Century Ride got its start in 2010, according to its website, and its primary beneficiary is Bicycle Colorado.

Bicycle Colorado is a Denver-based nonprofit that uses “advocacy, education and passion to make Colorado one of the most bicycle-friendly states in the nation,” states its website.

To learn more about Bicycle Colorado, visit www.bicyclecolorado.org.

One of the cool aspects of the Denver

FROM THE EDITOR

Century Ride is that Bicycle Colorado is not the only organization that benefits — the event welcomes other nonprofit organizations to use the ride as a fundraising platform.

Called a Charity Affiliate of the Denver Century Ride, these ts get to keep Christy Steadman nonprofi 100 percent of the pledges or funds it raises.

Denver Century Ride’s website lists four Charity Affiliates: Denver Animal Shelter, Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado & Wyoming, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Rotary Clubs of Colorado. All of these nonprofits are great community assets, so in my opinion, it’s worth spending some time browsing their websites to learn more about their missions.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation/CF Cycle for

Life: www.cff.org Denver Animal Shelter/Cycle for Strays: www.mightycause.com/event/Cycleforstrays2021 Epilepsy Foundation of Colorado & Wyoming: www.epilepsycolorado.org Woohoomanity Challenge (Rotary Clubs of Colorado): www.woohoomanity.org If you are a cyclist who would like to participate in the Denver Century Ride, here are the basic details: The Coldwell Banker Denver Century Ride takes place on Sept. 25. Headquarters for the event is at The Shops at Northfield, 8340 Northfield Blvd., which is located in the Central Park neighborhood.

There are four route options to choose from — a 100-mile, 85-mile, 50-mile or 25-mile ride. Each will allow cyclists to explore the city’s bike routes and cycling roadways, with each offering a unique experience. The 25-mile route boasts a ride through Denver’s beautiful cityscapes, the 50-mile and 85-mile routes take cyclists to picturesque spots throughout the metro

Denver parks have mountains, too

O

ne doesn’t need to go very far from the city to get the experience of being in the Colorado mountains. In fact, did you know that the city of Denver has more than GUEST 14,000 acres of COLUMN parklands in the mountains and foothills of Jefferson, Clear Creek and Douglas counties?

With Denver being an early leader in land Happy Haynes conservation, these vast mountain parklands are part of Denver Parks and Recreation’s 100-year-old park system.

These acres are home to 46 mountain properties and attractions, including everything from yurts and challenge courses to roaming bison herds and hiking trails. While some of the mountain lands are deemed conservation areas and have limited public access, there are many that are easily accessible for Denver-area residents to explore and enjoy. (And) the time is right to explore some of what Denver’s Mountain Parks System has to offer. But remember, given the COVID-19 pandemic, if you venture out, be sure to adhere to social distancing guidelines, be respectful

A publication of

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of all park rules and consider visiting the more popular areas during non-peak visiting times.

Most of the mountain parklands are easily accessible and within a half hour drive from Denver.

Some are accessible by multimodal transportation options from Denver. Genesee Mountain Park, for example, has a bus route that drops off at the Genesee Park-n-Ride off I-70 at Exit 254.

Genesee Park is the largest park in the Denver Mountain Parks System, with a total of 2,413 acres.

It offers diverse experiences — picnicking options, bison-watching from the Patrick House Trailhead, backcountry hiking on the historic Beaver Brook Trail and camping at Chief Hosa Campground. In addition, park visitors can enjoy a panoramic view that spans from the Continental Divide to the city and plains at the 8,284-foot Genesee Mountain Summit.

For the more adventuresome, Genesee Park also offers a challenge course set in a beautiful area of Ponderosa Pines overlooking the continental divide. With roughly 60 low-and-high ropes elements, it offers varying degrees of challenges to meet a broad range of visitor preferences. The course is programmed by the Denver Parks and Recreation outdoor recreation team and available to groups of 8-100 people.

Other mountain park areas offer the opportunity for wildlife sightings, beautiful views of the moun-

tains and access to some of the best hiking trails that Colorado offers.

These include, but are not limited to: Echo Lake Park — Denver’s only mountain park within the subalpine zone. It includes a 24-acre natural lake at the base of Goliath Peak, which is popular for fishing and offers wonderful views of Mount Evans. Visitors to this park are requested to stay on trails, as a 10,000-year-old wetland at the east end of the lake provides important wildlife habitat.

Summit Lake Park — Also on Mount Evans, at an elevation of 12,840 feet, Summit Lake Park is at the highest altitude of all of Denver’s Mountain Parks and considered the highest city-owned park in the nation. A road to the top of Mount Evans is typically accessible from Memorial Day to Labor Day and provides stunning views of Colorado’s highest peaks. There is an accessible trail that offers a short hike to the Chicago Lakes Overlook where park visitors can enjoy spectacular mountain views. The Summit Lake parking area provides access to climb Mount Evans or fish in the high alpine lake. Mountain goats and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep may also be spotted throughout the park.

Lookout Mountain Park — This park boasts a panoramic view stretching from the Continental SEE HAYNES, P9

area, and the 100-mile route offers Golden’s iconic Lookout Mountain climb.

Registration fee ranges from $75 to $99 depending on the selected route, and $50 for youth for the 25-mile route. To learn more about the Denver Century Ride or to register, visit http://denvercenturyride.com.

Note that Denver Century Ride registration fees do not benefit the Charity Affiliates, which benefit from the cyclists’ pledges and donations. If you’re wanting to participate in the ride to fundraise for any of the Charity Affiliates, visit your chosen Charity Affiliates’ website first for instructions on how to do so.

For those who are not interested in cycling in the Denver Century Ride but would still like to support one or more of the Charity Affiliates, visit their websites to learn how to pledge a participant or donate.

Or, keep an eye on your emails and social media accounts. You might also get an email from someone you know who is asking for your pledge, as I did.

Residents to vote on five bond packages

D

enver City Council recently approved referring five General Obligation Bond packages to the voters. The proposals ask voters to invest in economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The packages are estimated to create GUEST 7,500 good-paying jobs, $483 million in worker wages and benefits, and $11 COLUMN billion in economic benefits for the city. The packages fund more than 80 projects across the city.

The five measures are: • $190 million for the National Western Center campus for a new mid-sized arena to support year-round events and year-round jobs. It also will renovate the historic 1909 Stadium Arena building for use as a public Councilmember market to provide food access in the Deborah Ortega neighborhood and create space for neighborhood businesses.

• $104 million to create new community assets and preserve beloved existing community assets. This includes making critical improvements to ensure community assets are accessible to all residents, building two new libraries and expanding an existing library in unserved and underserved neighborhoods, and creating a new youth empowerment center.

• $63 million for 46 projects to address transportation safety in neighborhoods, address six miles of sidewalk gaps, design and construct the first part of The 5280 Trail and create 16 miles of new bike lanes.

SEE ORTEGA, P9

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Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of Life in Cap Hill.

We welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and the best number to reach you by telephone.

September 1, 2021

N

ative to East Asia, Miscanthus sinensis, or maiden grass, produces silvery tussle-like flower crusts in late August, which gives us a hint that the end of summer is coming, soon to be GUEST followed by the arrival COLUMN of fall.

Ebi Akiyoshi Growing up in Japan, I remember seeing Kondo them everywhere, forming a field of grassland. When the strong fall wind blew over them in open spaces, it looked like the continuous waves of the ocean.

In native habitat in Japan, Miscanthus sinensis can grow in poor soil — such as the rocky soil of Japanese mountains — as they can uptake silicic acid from poor soil, which makes the plant’s leaves and stems strong and hard. That is why maiden grass is very flexible and can be used to lay the traditional thatched roofs of Japanese farmhouses. However, it is dangerous to work with this grass without wearing thick gardening gloves, as it can cut your skin with its razor-sharp edge of leaves and stems.

During the traditional Tsukimi — fall moon viewing — in Japan, maiden grass plays a quintessential role. On the night of the full moon during Jugoya — the fifteenth night — people offer a bouquet of maiden grass to the full moon, which shows their appreciation of a good harvest year.

Because of their toughness and availability in the market, maiden grass is a very popular ornamental grass that we can also see everywhere in U.S. landscapes, such as in gardens, parking lots and even in the median of busy streets.

At the Denver Botanic Gardens, you can see the popular cultivar, morning light. It

Ortega FROM PAGE 8

• $54 million to improve existing, and build new, playgrounds, athletic fields, a public pool and public restrooms.

• $39 million for housing and sheltering facilities serving people experiencing homelessness.

I supported placing all five measures on the ballot.

The funding to complete the National Western Center campus was, perhaps, the most controversial. In 2016, Denver voters approved funding for Phase I of a new campus at the site of the National Western Stock Show. The vision, supported by the voters, called for a new arena to host year-round events and rehabilitation of the 1909 Stadium Arena. Unfortunately, funding for these projects fell through when the COVID-19 pandemic hit our economy.

I believe it is imperative that these facilities be completed so we can fulfill the vision endorsed by voters and the commitments made to the Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods.

Haynes FROM PAGE 8

Divide to downtown Denver and beyond. It is also home of the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave, which has exhibits that chronicle the life of one of the great figures of the American West. This area also has great access to hiking trails, including the Beaver Brook Trail in Genesee Park.

Life on Capitol Hill 9

Japan’s maiden grass

Morning light is a cultivar of miscanthus sinensis, also known as maiden grass.

has a fine texture of foliage and an early blooming habit. It is an ideal companion to chrysanthemums, asters and other fall flowering garden plants.

The Denver Botanic Gardens’ Grass Garden includes zebrinus, also called zebra grass. This is another popular cultivar that has large leaves and spotted silver variegation which resembles some tropical foliage.

I planted a group of Japanese cultivars called Yaku Jima — which has delicate

and thin variegated foliage — around the moon-viewing deck in the Japanese Garden at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Most maiden grass cultivars are easy to grow in the garden. They prefer a sunny spot with average garden soil and less than one inch per week of water after established. Because they usually grow 5-to-6 feet tall in the short time from spring to summer, it is a great way to add height in your garden beds or hide something

PHOTO BY EBI AKIYOSHI KONDO

undesirable, such as an ugly shed. Even after their vegetative parts are dead in late fall, maiden grass can be left in the garden during winter — or until it begins to look shabby — as they sustain an attractive tawny color and stand up strong.

Ebi Akiyoshi Kondo is an associate director of horticulture at the Denver Botanic Gardens and curator of the gardens’ Japanese Garden

to find solutions to water challenges. The Stockyard Event Center will open this summer to host lectures, seminars, live music, conventions and other gatherings when it opens in January.

While this is exciting and important, leaving the campus incomplete will break the promise to the neighbors that this campus would serve them. Frankly, I was concerned when the first phase of the campus did not include funding for the 1909 Stadium Arena. My vote in support of placing this issue before the voters was a vote to meet our obligation to this community.

Prior to voting for the package, I asked Mayor Michael Hancock and City Council President Stacie Gilmore to sign a document that explicitly outlines the commitments made to the community during the past five years as we worked to bring the campus to life. The resulting document — the Joint Executive Summary and Legislative Report on Equity Components of the 2021 RISE GO Bond — incorporates the commitments made by the National Western Authority and the city to Globeville and Elyria-Swansea residents. The commitments are based on resident input from numerous sources such as neighborhood organizations, neighborhood plan meetings, city meetings to receive input on the campus design/programming, parent meetings, input from people representing organizations working in the communities, and the results of a 2019 series of meetings that specifically discussed the Community Investment Fund. The 2019 meetings involved more than 65 residents and local businesses.

The final document incorporates longdiscussed items, as well as more recent asks from the community such as the robust, community-based planning process

for The Triangle area. The Triangle area is a large piece of land located adjacent to the campus that is slated for redevelopment.

The first step towards fulfilling our commitment to Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods is to complete the vision of the campus by constructing the new arena and rehabilitating the 1909 Stadium Arena. The arena will provide revenue to the Community Investment Fund. Without an arena to host events year-round, funding for the Community Investment Fund will be meager, primarily based on a once-a-year stock sow.

The Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhoods are a food desert. Access to fresh affordable food is a long-standing community goal. The rehabilitation of the 1909 Stadium Arena into a public market will fulfill this goal. It will also provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

Many of the improvements envisioned by the planning processes have become reality. Colorado State University will open the first of its three buildings on the campus in January. The hydra building, being built in partnership with Denver Water, will provide a new, expanded water quality lab and be a research and education center

O’Fallon Mountain Park — A favored spot for fishing and picnicking along Bear Creek, O’Fallon Mountain Park also has an extensive system of hiking trails, including access to the Bear Creek Trail, which connects to Pence Mountain Park, Corwina Mountain Park and Little Mountain Park.

There are many options to explore as you get outside to enjoy these incredible spaces. To view the many other options that the Denver Mountain Park System has to offer, visit the Denver Parks and

Recreation Mountain Parks website.

The Denver Mountain Parks Foundation works in partnership with Denver Parks and Recreation to ensure continued stewardship and enjoyment of this unique mountain park system for generations to come. For more information about the educational programming and fundraising efforts offered, visit the foundation’s website.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that an amendment to the 2021 budget of the District may also be considered at the above-referenced meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District.

Allegra “Happy” Haynes is the executive director of Denver Parks and Recreation

First Publication: September 2021 Last Publication: September 2021 Publish In: Life on Capitol Hill

Deborah “Debbie” Ortega is an at-large member of Denver City Council. She can be reached at ortegaatlarge@denvergov.org. www.ColoradoCommunityMedia.com/Notices

PUBLIC NOTICES

Public Notices call Sheree 303.566.4088

legals@coloradocommunitymedia.com

PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE AS TO PROPOSED BUDGET AND NOTICE CONCERNING BUDGET AMENDMENT NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the proposed budget for the ensuing year of 2022 has been submitted to the Colfax Business Improvement District (“District”). Such proposed budget will be considered at a special meeting and public hearing of the Board of Directors of the District to be held at Bruz Off Fax, 1495 York Street, Suite 101, Denver, Colorado 80206, at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 14, 2021.

A copy of the proposed 2022 budget and the amended 2021 budget, if required, are available for public inspection at the offices of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, 8390 E. Crescent Pkwy., Suite 300, Greenwood Village, Colorado. Any interested elector within the District may, at any time prior to final adoption of the 2022 budget and the amended 2019 budget, file or register any objections thereto.

Dated: August 16, 2021 COLFAX BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT By: /s/ Anna Jones District Manager

10 Life on Capitol Hill

September 1, 2021

‘The engine that powers Colorado’ Emily Griffith Technical College celebrates 105 years

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

As they walk through the halls of Emily Griffith Technical College, students are reminded that their future awaits them with one catchphrase: “Our mission is to prepare our students for today’s workforce and tomorrow’s opportunities.”

“I chose Emily Griffith because I believe so deeply in the school,” said Katie Broz of Denver, who will be graduating from the college’s web development program in November. “It is truly an amazing legacy.”

Emily Griffith opened her Opportunity School on Sept. 9, 1916. Her vision was simple — it was to be a school for anyone who wished to learn — but the impact her school has had is much greater.

Griffith, a former educator with Denver Public Schools, was inspired by the parents of the children she taught and came to believe that education offered a pathway out of poverty.

And she believed that education should be accessible to all.

“The vision of Emily Griffith has stayed strong,” said Randy Johnson, executive director of Emily Griffith Technical College.

“It’s just who we are.”

A light for its students The heart of Emily Griffith Technical College is making education accessible, Johnson said. The college prides itself on being able to offer some of the lowest tuition rates in

LEARN MORE To learn more about Emily Griffith Technical College, visit www.emilygriffith.edu.

Colorado, as well as scholarships and financial aid awards to qualifying students.

This year, Emily Griffith Technical College is celebrating its 105th anniversary and is recapping the ways the school has supported its students, including what it calls the “104 requests” — an initiative that started last September in partnership with the Emily Griffith Foundation.

In a news release that was issued last year about the initiative, Lulu Lantzy, director of innovation and partnerships at Emily Griffith Technical College, said, “we’ve made a commitment to provide above and beyond support to 104 students and alumni over the next year as a way to give back to our community, like Emily (Griffith) herself would have done.”

How it worked was students and alumni submitted a request — big or small — and the school and the foundation worked to fulfill 104 of them.

However, even after the 104 requests are completed, the Emily Griffith Foundation has a 360 Fund that will continue to provide resources for students who need support.

Emily Griffith Technical College is “acting on our vision of removing barriers for opportunity,” Lantzy said.

Some of the barriers people may face range from being food-insecure or unable to afford daycare or transportation, to needing financial aid assistance or the education to obtain a licensure to enter a specific employment field, Lantzy said. The school also

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A group of Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) students work together in a classroom at PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN Emily Griffith Technical college.

anticipated additional challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the need for a personal laptop.

“We saw what was happening,” Lantzy said, “and we wanted to be a light.”

Providing a talent pipeline Griffith’s Opportunity School was one of the first trade schools in the nation, and today, it is a nationally accredited public college. A name change from Opportunity School to Technical College happened in 2010, to further align the college with higher education.

Emily Griffith Technical College has always been affiliated with Denver Public Schools, though it welcomes students from well beyond the district’s boundaries.

The college has served more than 2 million students — roughly 8,000 students annually — in its career and technical education, apprenticeships, English language classes, GED preparation and customized workforce training programs.

In addition, the school boasts a great track record of success. Numbers from 2019 reveal that Emily Griffith sits at 86% for program completion and 81% for job placement, Johnson said.

Johnson attributes some of the school’s accomplishments to its partnerships and collaborations with industry employers.

Emily Griffith is “deeply rooted in the center of Denver,” Johnson said, adding that employers look to Emily Griffith for their talent pipeline.

Innovation for the 21st century According to Emily Griffith Technical College’s website, word about Griffith’s dream of opening her Opportunity School spread throughout Denver after she mentioned it to a Denver Post reporter, who published a feature story on it. Eventually, the Denver Board of Education provided Griffith with the condemned Longfellow School located downtown near 13th and Welton streets.

Today, Emily Griffith Technical College boasts three state-of-the-art facilities — the main campus, located at 1860 Lincoln St. in Uptown; the trades campus, located at 1205 Osage St. in Lincoln Park; and the video campus, located at 200 E. Ninth Ave. in Capitol Hill.

Emily Griffith Technical College is constantly innovating to best meet the needs of its students. For example, a new component of the school’s partnership with Denver Health provides graduates of the college’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program the opportunity for employment at Denver Health’s new Outpatient Medical Center (OMC). Additionally, students and graduates of the college’s Culinary Arts and Culinary Quick Start programs have the opportunity to operate the new Denver Health OMC Café Powered by Emily Griffith.

The CNA and culinary arts programs are not the only two that offer students handson experience in the trade — some students gain work experience serving the public at the school’s student-run businesses, which include Emily’s Salon & Barbershop, Emily’s Café, Emily’s Massage and Emily’s Spa. Griffith’s Opportunity School of the early 1900s was designed so that students could attend their classes when they were able, whether it be day or night. That model is still in place today. In fact, Emily Griffith Technical College began offering hybrid classes well before the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Opportunity School got its start with class offerings such as telegraphy, industrial millinery, typing, academic subjects and English language classes, states the college’s website. “During World War I, the school trained soldiers in radio communications and civilians for special mathematics, drafting, tractor and ambulance driving, and gas engine work,” states Emily Griffith Technical College’s website. Additional departments were added during World War II, which included war production training, food conservation and victory gardening.

Now in the 21st century, Emily Griffith Technical College is meeting the needs of today’s technology-driven demands in industry, such as offering programs in web development and cybersecurity, among others.

A new program focused on the construction industry will be offered next year. The Virtual Design Construction Academy program will allow students to gain essential skills to achieve gainful employment with top construction, engineering and architectural companies across Colorado, states a news release.

Going above and beyond Students tend to choose Emily Griffith for its community and reputation of staff “going above and beyond,” Lantzy said.

“The Practical Nursing Program at Emily Griffith Technical College has provided me with the possibility to reach my goal of becoming a nurse. The instructors are always rooting for my success in the program,” said Ana Sotelo of Parker. “I have built strong friendships and bonds that will last a lifetime.”

Each student who walks through Emily Griffith’s doors has a vision of hope, Johnson said. The school’s graduates range from becoming highly desired skilled professionals to entrepreneurs who start their own businesses, Johnson added.

“We have the ability to immediately affect the economy,” Johnson said, adding that Emily Griffith Technical College is a huge resource to the community.

And that includes its students and alum, Johnson said. “We’re the engine that powers Colorado.”

Life on Capitol Hill 11

September 1, 2021

Fall stewardship days return to South Platte Staff report There are two upcoming opportunities for people who would like to volunteer to tend to the South Platte River.

Both events take place on Sept. 25 at Globeville Landing Park. Parking for the events will be available at the Denver Coliseum, 4600 Humboldt St., with the entrance gate located at 46th Avenue under I-70.

The Greenway Foundation’s Fall Family

Stewardship Day takes place from 9-11 a.m. This event is designed for families with children ages 12 and younger. Volunteers will start the day with a trash pick-up led by South Platte River Environmental Education (SPREE) staff, and will finish with crafts and activities that can be taken home or completed in the park with physical distancing measures.

The Pacifico Preserves Fall South Platte Stewardship Day presented by The Nature Conservancy takes place from 8-11:15 a.m.

This event is for adult volunteers or families with children age 12 and older.

Breakfast will be provided at both events.

Visit the Greenway Foundation’s website for more information on what to bring.

Both events are free, but both require advance registration. Both events have limited space, so early registration is highly recommended.

The Greenway Foundation is a Denverbased nonprofit that was founded in 1974 to protect the South Platte River. Today,

the organization “protects and revitalizes watersheds, promotes water stewardship, champions environmental education, stimulates innovative policies and practices while also celebrating the historic, recreational and environmental roles involving water that flows through our communities,” states its website.

To learn more about The Greenway Foundation or to register for one of the Fall stewardship day events, visit www.thegreenwayfoundation.org.

Gymnastic Olympians to visit Denver on Gold Over America Tour Staff report The Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour will be making a stop in Denver on Oct. 3 at the Ball Arena, 1000 Chopper Circle.

A news release describes the show as “a high-energy, gymnastics-meets-popconcert spectacular.” It features a crew of gymnastic dancers under eye-popping LED video screens.

Headlining the show are some of the best U.S. gymnasts, including Simone Biles, who is the most decorated gymnast

of all time. She holds 25 medals — 19 of those gold — and is a five-time Olympic medalist, with four of those being gold.

Biles is a silver medalist for the Women’s Artistic Team All-Around and bronze medalist in the Women’s Balance Beam in Tokyo 2021.

Joining Biles in the show are Tokyo 2021 medalists MyKayla Skinner, who won silver in vault; Jade Carey, who won gold in floor exercise; and Jordan Chiles and Grace McCallum, who won silver for team competition. Other all-star gymnasts participating in the show include

Peng-Peng Lee, Laurie Hernandez, Katelyn Ohashi, Morgan Hurd, Melanie De Jesus dos Santos, Shilese Jones and Chellsie Memmel.

The show emerges from the athletes’ “personal values of empowerment, friendship, positive body image, mental health awareness and self-confidence,” states the news release.

“The Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour will match athleticism and entertainment,” Biles said in the news release. “The show embodies the themes of empowerment and togetherness which

was on display in Tokyo. Together, all the gymnasts on this tour want to inspire the next generation of women and athletes.”

The tour will include 35 U.S. cities, kicking off on Sept. 21 in Tucson and concluding on Nov. 7 in Boston.

Tickets for the Oct. 3 Denver show range in price beginning at $26.50 each for standard admission to $325 each for a Diamond VIP Package. Tickets can be purchased online at www.BallArena.com.

To learn more about the Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour, visit www.

GoldOverAmericaTour.com.

Sundown Colorado, a sober music festival with a focus on radical wellness and an emphasis on mindfulness and connecting through music, takes place from 5-10 p.m. Sept. 11 at RiNo’s Festival Grounds at 3715 Chestnut Pl. The all-ages event will feature electronic music performances by N2N, DoubleCrush and Ishe, with headlining performances by Yolanda Be Cool and Autograf. Other activities part of the outdoor festival includes art installations by local artists, a nonalcoholic cocktail bar, a local vendor village and a healing tent with guided meditations. Tickets cost $24.99 per person and can be purchased online at www.sundowncolorado.com.

PHOTO BY SEAN LARA PHOTOGRAPHY

The 32nd Annual Denver Art Museum Friendship Pow Wow and American Indian Cultural Celebration will be held Sept. 12 at the Denver Indian Center on Morrison COURTESY PHOTO Road.

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By Sonya Ellingboe sellingboe@coloradocommunitymedia.com

The 32nd Annual Denver Art Museum Friendship Pow Wow and American Indian Cultural Celebration will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the Denver Indian Center, 4407 Morrison Road. A por-

tion of the proceeds will support the Denver Indian Center.

There will be Indian dance competitions and hands-on activities for the whole family. Food will be provided by Tocabe: An American Indian Eatery. Masks are required indoors and for all attendees at the Pow Wow. Information: 720-865-5000 or visit denverartmuseum.org.

1017 E. 9th Avenue | Denver, CO 80218 303-837-8846 | denver.thegreatframeup.com

12 Life on Capitol Hill

September 1, 2021

The residence of Judge Raymond Jones, which is located at 780 Steel St. in the Congress Park neighborhood, is one of the sites included in Historic Denver’s 50 Actions for 50 Places campaign. Jones was the first African American appellate judge in Colorado, and his home is being recognized as a remarkable residence.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HISTORIC DENVER

Residents encouraged to visit sites, in-person or virtually

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

M

ost people in the metro area are at least a little familiar with historic sites like the Molly Brown House in Capitol Hill and the Brown Palace in downtown Denver.

But there’s undoubtedly some who will not recognize the Rosedale House or the Wellshire Inn. The Wellshire Inn — located in the Wellshire neighborhood — was built in the 1920s as a golf club house. The Tudor building has since become an event center.

“The size and architectural style are uncommon in Denver. The building is distinctive and a landmark, sitting up high above the golf course,” said Kendra Black, Denver councilmember for District 4. “The story should be told and the building and course should be preserved.”

Historic Denver wants people to know more stories like these, and that’s the aim of the new 50 Actions for 50 Places campaign.

The project was launched to mark the 50th anniversary of the organization.

“We wanted to try to recapture the original grassroots spirit that led us to preserve places that are important,” said Annie Levinsky, Historic Denver’s executive director. “At the time, we had one of the largest memberships in the country and we want to get back to that. People often think preservation is something older people do, but it really is multi-generational.”

The list of 50 places was gathered through a months-long campaign that solicited the Denver community for places and spaces that deserve to have their story told and memorialized in the coming years. Historic Denver received more than 100 nominations and selected options that recognize the full diversity of the city. The resulting list includes arts and entertainment sites, civic assets, cultural landmarks and homes.

One such home is located at 780 Steel St. in the Congress Park neighborhood, which was the residence of Judge Raymond SEE 50 PLACES, P13

CROSS-OVER APPEAL LEGACY BUSINESS

Aztlan Theater, 976 Santa Fe Drive Sakura Square, 1255 19th St.

Lake Steam Baths, 3540 W. Colfax Ave.

Julia Greeley Boarding House, 2911 Walnut St

Bail Bond Corner, West 13th Avenue and Delaware Street

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Bob Ragland Home of the Non-Starving Artist, 1723 E. 25th Ave. Old Elitch Gardens Carousel House, 3775 Tennyson St. Bear Mountain and Monkey House at the Denver Zoo, 2300 Steele St. Street Clock by E. Howard & Co., 770 S. Broadway REMARKABLE RESIDENCE

Lakeside Amusement Park, 4601 Sheridan Blvd.

El Chapultepec, 1962 Market St. The Shops at East Colfax & Quebec, 7232 E. Colfax Ave. My Brother’s Bar, 2376 15th St. Mercury Café, 2199 California St. Ben’s Market, 2301 E. 28th Ave. La Casa de Manuel, 3158 Larimer St.

Irving P. Andrews House, 2241 York St.

Robinson House, 3435 Albion St.

Barney Ford House, 1569 N. High St.

Frank Edbrooke House, 1825 E. 25th Ave.

George Morrison Sr. residence and Whittier Homes, 2558 Gilpin St.

McDonough Residence, 3939 W.

Welton St. Café, 2736 Welton St. Legacy Business/Iconic Architecture Bastien’s Restaurant, 3503 E. Colfax Ave.

46th Ave.

Judge Raymond Jones House, 780

Former Gender Identity Center,

Steele St.

3715 W. 32nd Ave.

Albert Whitaker House, 3656 Bryant St.

Rosedale House, 2199 S. Bannock St

CIVIC ASSET Stedman Elementary School, 2940 Dexter St. National Human Alliance Watering Trough, Tremont Place and West Colfax Avenue

ICONIC ARCHITECTURE

Benedict Fountain, 475 E. 20th Ave.

Cliff May Homes in Harvey Park

Shangri-La, 150 S. Bellaire St.

Big Top Auto Mart buildings, various locations

Firehouse 13, 600 S. Broadway

Halprin Fountains at Skyline Park, 1110 17th St.

Art modern building, 2101 Champa St.

Wellshire Inn, 3333 S. Colorado Blvd.

Moorish Revival House by Gonzalez Brothers, 1585 Glencoe St. Whatley Chapel, 1800 Pontiac St.

Ford Motor Company, 900 S. Broadway

Brooklyn’s (J. Solf Building/ Schachet Mercantile), 2644 W. Colfax Ave.

Denver’s row of Painted Ladies, 2250 W. 34th Ave.

Garden Place School, 4425 Lincoln St.

Eisenhower Park Picnic Pavilion, 4300 E. Dartmouth Ave.

To learn more about any of these places, visit https://50actions.historicdenver.org/places.

Life on Capitol Hill 13

September 1, 2021

50 Places

tors, while others are great for walk by to appreciate the design and its history, like the Rosedale House, 2199 S. Bannock St. The Rosedale House is one of the few remaining homes that were part of the town of Rosedale, which is now part of the Overland neighborhood — not to be confused with the neighboring Rosedale neighborhood, which is just east of Overland. The modest Queen Anne home was part of the first development built by George Timerman in 1887.

People need to know that street names and towns change over the course of 100 years, said Karen Jackson, owner of the

home and nominator.

“The original Rosedale is now Overland and was probably beautiful for decades.

Over the years, many homes fell in disrepair, but I always knew it was a diamond in the rough,” Jackson said. “I feel like the home picked me and I’m the caretaker chosen to save the home and its history.”

The actions that will be embarked upon are as varied as the sites themselves, Levinsky said. Some will require research about their history; others, technical assistance; and some, recognition through state or national programs.

“We’ll be working with the property owners and community members who nominated the sites to develop a plan,” Levinsky said.

“We’ve raised $50,000 for the campaign, and residents can get involved by donating to our organization or a specific project.”

Even if you’re not comfortable going out and about to see the sites in person, Historic

Denver has you covered — on its website, you can virtually visit all the locations and learn something about them.

“Preservation has a reputation for being reactive, but we want to get ahead of things and support these places and the people who take care of them,” Levinsky said. “Seeing these places is a great way to get to know the city.”

Bringing these spaces and places more attention is what the campaign is really about, and if people can become more appreciative of what is around them, so much the better.

“The home of Dr. Charles Blackwood, the first Black graduate of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, was recently demolished,” Leiker said. The home was located in Denver’s Whittier neighborhood.

“This is a reminder that unless we focus our efforts on preserving the buildings and the stories that go with them, our city will lose out on its unique heritage.”

These resources include a variety of free, onsite and remote supportive services, such as assisting residents seeking help in the areas of financial coaching, life skills, mental health and resource referrals.

Families will also be able to participate in community-building experiences such as barbecue events, and there will be afterschool programming available for resident children, as well additional resources for parents to address children’s developmental, behavioral and mental health issues.

Warren Village will also implement a Rent Reporting Pilot Program for the families participating in the pilot program.

Working with the Credit Builders Alliance (CBA) and Esusu, the rent reporting program will provide residents with an opportunity to raise their credit scores by allowing Warren Village to report rent payments to credit bureaus.

Warren Village has two communities in

Denver — one in north Denver, and one in the Cheesman Park neighborhood. The partnership with BLDG is the first time for Warren Village to expand its services to a fair market rate rental property. However, the concept that roots the newly-formed partnership with BLDG had been in the works for about two years, Hemming said.

“We have long been looking for opportunities that allow us to expand our services beyond the four walls of our resident buildings,” Hemming said. “This partnership provides a significant step toward advancing our strategic goal of growing our services to positively impact more families in need.”

The Warren Village at Ivy Crossing pilot program is initially funded through grants from the Colorado Health Foundation and the Carmel Classic Charity Golf Tournament, with additional support from Warren Village and BLDG Management.

The partners are seeking a long-term, sustainable funding source/grant to sustain and grow the program.

BMC Investments — a Denver-based real estate investment company — owns Ivy Crossing and BLDG manages it. These two affiliated companies both contributed to making the partnership with Warren Village, and thus the pilot program at Ivy Crossing, happen.

“We have long admired the successful program that Warren Village has created, and are thrilled that through this partnership, we can finally offer similar services to our residents at Ivy Crossing,” said Darren Everett, president of BLDG Management. “With parents being more financially stable, and their children being more successful in school, the property will benefit from higher resident retention, which creates a win-win for everyone involved.”

LEARN MORE

FROM PAGE 12

Jones, who was the first African American appellate judge in Colorado. According to information provided by Travis Leiker, president and executive director of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, Jones attended Harvard, was a judge for 32 years and is a member of the Colorado Black Hall of Fame.

“All too often, the stories of historically marginalized populations go untold and unrecognized. We discovered the same was true for Judge Raymond Jones,” Leiker said. “This property, and the story of Judge Jones, represent one’s perseverance, defiance against all odds, and should be a fixture in our community today and for our posterity.”

Some of the places readily welcome visi-

Warren Village FROM PAGE 7

a community of 1,023 apartment homes located on South Quebec Street, just east of Denver’s Goldsmith neighborhood.

The pilot launched in June and will initially serve 15-20 families.

A focus of the pilot program is to help ensure that those who have housing are able to keep it, Hemming said. Warren Village staff will work closely with BLDG staff to ensure that residents who might be on the cusp of losing housing have access to stabilizing and empowering resources.

Families living under the 80 percent of Area Median Income are the target group, but Warren Village at will also provide resource referrals to any other Ivy Crossing families in need.

To learn more about any of the 50 places, visit https://50actions.historicdenver.org/places.

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September 1, 2021

Processing the pandemic through art Museo de las Americas to host COVID-19 memorial exhibit

IF YOU GO

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Colorado artist Ana María Hernando hopes that her piece in the “Americas COVID-19 Memorial” helps people feel that they are not alone.

“The pandemic has been an enormous event for all of us,” Hernando said.

Hernando is one of 21 commissioned artists for the exhibit. In their work, the artists focused on how the artistic imagination conceives a memorial to a contemporary tragedy that transcends national borders.

Hernando’s piece, “In the Night, In the Day, At Every Hour,” includes black dots to represent the movement that the pandemic “is happening, and still happening,” Hernando said. White dots in the work are holes — or cutouts — that represent “all of the pieces that are not there because of the pandemic,” Hernando said. The missing pieces can be people, or the future for many, Hernando added.

The “Americas COVID-19 Memorial” is “an artist-driven project to acknowledge the grave impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Americas,” states a news release.

It was a multi-month project of the Denverbased Biennial of the Americas, which is a nonprofit that exists to “enhance, celebrate and discover the cultural and economic connections between” the Americas, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean, states its website.

FloraJane DiRienzo, executive director of the Biennial of the Americas, pulls out a piece by artist Kezna Dalz called “To See You, To Ache To Feel You, To Feel For You” in preparation for the Biennial of the Americas’ “Americas COVID-19 Memorial.” PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

The culmination of the project is an exhibit of the 21 commissioned artists at Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Dr. in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. The exhibit opened on Sept. 3 and closes on Sept. 25.

The project was announced in March, and along with the commissioned artists, the Biennial of the Americas had an open call for

members of the public to submit artwork.

About 185 works were submitted, created by people from 15 countries and 22 states.

The public submissions are part of a virtual exhibit on the Biennial of the Americas’ website.

Claudia Moran, executive director of Museo de las Americas, believes the exhibit will be a benefit for the community. She

The Biennial of the Americas’ “Americas COVID-19 Memorial” will be on exhibit Sept. 3-25 at Museo de las Americas, 861 Santa Fe Dr. in Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. A special event, ConnectArte: Biennial of the Americas, will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 in person at the museum. Commissioned artists Suchitra Mattai and Ana María Hernando will join Derrick Velasquez, curatorial advisor for the “Americas COVID-19 Memorial” exhibition for a discussion on the arts’ role in communicating and processing grief, as well as their personal contribution to the collective memorial project.

It is free to attend ConnectArte: Biennial of the Americas, but an RSVP is recommended.

Admission to the “Americas COVID-19 Memorial” is free, though donations will be accepted.

To learn more about Museo de las Americas or to RSVP for the ConnectArte: Biennial of the Americas, visit https://museo.org/.

To learn more about the Biennial of the Americas or the Americas COVID-19 Memorial project, visit www.biennialoftheamericas.org. believes it may create a global perspective on processing the pandemic, while also creating connectivity, healing and a sense of belonging and understanding.

“People are more resilient when there’s understanding,” Moran said. “Through art, we can create a different approach to these difficult issues.”

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