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November 2021

Founded in 1975

LifeOnCapHill.com

A BAKED SURPRISE Bread Club offers delivery of baked goods

BLUE ANGELS AND LEAP FROGS Denver was one of 13 cities to host a 2021 Navy Week

P10 SAVING AFRICAN WILDLIFE Running Wild race takes place virtually through Dec. 1

P5 ‘LIFE ON THE GROCERY LINE’ Denver author pens debut novel

November 2021

Founded in 1975

LifeOnCapHill.com

A BAKED SURPRISE Bread Club offers delivery of baked goods

BLUE ANGELS AND LEAP FROGS Denver was one of 13 cities to host a 2021 Navy Week

P10 SAVING AFRICAN WILDLIFE Running Wild race takes place virtually through Dec. 1

P5 ‘LIFE ON THE GROCERY LINE’ Denver author pens debut novel

2 Life on Capitol Hill

November 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 La Bouche A new wine bar in Denver hosted its grand opening on Sept. 30. La Bouche is a French-American experience located at 1100 E. 17th Ave., which borders Uptown and the City Park West neighborhood. Along with an extensive wine list, the establishment features specialty cocktails, nonalcoholic specialty beverages and a food menu with a selection of salads, sandwiches, desserts and more. To learn more about La Bouche, visit https://labouche.wine/. TrashHawk Tavern TrashHawk Tavern opened on Oct. 18 at 1539 S. Broadway in Denver’s Overland neighborhood. The space was formerly occupied by Alternation Brewing Company, which, according to its Facebook page, closed in October 2020. The new drinking spot will serve the area as a neighborhood bar, with its beverage menu boasting beer and liquor shot combos and some specialty drinks. Though beer on draft is not available at the bar

quite yet, TrashHawk Tavern offers a selection of commercial beers, such as Pabst Blue Ribbon and Coors, and craft beer from Denver’s Ratio Beerworks and Station 26. Food will offered through various food trucks. To learn more about TrashHawk Tavern, visit www.trashhawktavern.com.

CLOSINGS TAG Burger Bar TAG Burger Bar, 1222 Madison St. in Denver’s Congress Park neighborhood, has closed. Owner Troy Guard made the announcement on the restaurant’s Facebook page: “Thank you for your friendship the past 11 years, it has been the most incredible ride!” Though TAG Burger has closed, Guard encouraged its patrons to visit any of the sister restaurants, which offer a variety of concepts and are located throughout the city: Tiny Giant Sushi in LoDo; Guard and Grace, a steakhouse downtown; HashTAG, a breakfast spot in Central Park; Los Chingones Mexican restaurant, which has multiple locations; FNG, a rock-and-roll themed neighborhood restaurant in West Highland; and Grange Hall in Greenwood Village, which has a few Troy Guard concepts included in its food stall options.

MILESTONES Adornments Adornments, a women’s clothing and accessory boutique located at 2826 E. Third Ave. in Cherry Creek North, celebrated its

25th anniversary in October. The shop offers a wide variety of colors and textures, and proudly represents a great selection of clothing and accessories by American women designers, as well as Canadian and European designers. Adornments’ current owner Consuelo Diaz bought the store in October 2019 when the former owner retired and moved out-of-state to be closer to family. To learn more about Adornments, visit www.adornmentsdenver.com. Pete’s University Park Café Pete’s University Park Café, 2345 E. Evans Ave., celebrated its 25th anniversary in October. The café is one of six local-and-familyowned restaurant concepts. Four of them have re-opened following 2020’s COVID-19 shutdowns. Pete’s Restaurants got their start by the late Pete Contos back in 1962 when he opened Pete’s Satire Lounge, 1920 E. Colfax Ave. in Cheesman Park. Next to come was Pete’s Kitchen, 1962 E. Colfax Ave., also in Cheesman Park, which opened December of 1988. Pete’s University Park Café opened in 1996, and Pete’s Central One, 300 S. Pearl St. in West Washington Park, opened February of 1998. To learn more about the restaurants, visit www.petesrestaurants.com. SAME Café SAME Café, 2023 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood, celebrated its 15-year anniversary in October. SAME — So Everybody May Eat — Café

is a nonprofit, “donation-based, fair exchange restaurant that serves healthy food to everyone, regardless of ability to pay,” states its website. The restaurant does not have a set menu, but its daily offerings will include two options of soup, salad and pizza, made inhouse with mostly-local, organic food. SAME Café does not have set prices for its menu items. Customers may either make a donation for their meal, or participate in the community — volunteering or giving produce, for example — in exchange for the meal. “Our philosophy is that everyone, regardless of economic status, deserves the chance to eat healthy food while being treated with dignity,” states the café’s website. SAME Café also offers its Cook to Work program free of charge to students to learn the basic culinary skills necessary for an entry-level position in a restaurant or commercial kitchen. SAME Café got its start by Brad and Libby Birky, who had experience in fighting hunger through volunteering at soup kitchens and food banks. To learn more about SAME Café or to learn about volunteering with the organization, visit www.soallmayeat.org. So Many Roads Museum and Brewery The So Many Roads Museum and Brewery celebrated its one-year anniversary in October. So Many Roads, 918 W. First Ave. in SEE BUSINESS, P3

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Life on Capitol Hill 3

November 1, 2021

Seasonal LeafDrop program underway Staff report Denver residents are invited to drop off their leaves for free through Denver Recycles’ seasonal LeafDrop program. The leaves dropped off are turned into compost, which is made available at a discounted price to Denver residents at the Mulch Giveaway & Compost Sale each May. Weekday drop sites are open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday until Dec. 3. Weekday drop site locations are: Central Platte Campus: 1271 W. Bayaud Ave., 80223, Valverde neighborhood Cherry Creek Transfer Station: 7301 E. Jewell Ave., 80231, Indian Creek neighborhood Havana Nursery: 10450 Smith Road, 80239, Central Park neighborhood Weekend drop sites are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Nov. 14. Weekend drop site locations are:

Bruce Randolph High School: 3955 Steele St., 80205, Clayton neighborhood Cherry Creek Transfer Station: 7301 E. Jewell Ave., 80231, Indian Creek neighborhood Kennedy High School: 2855 S. Lamar St., 80227, Bear Valley neighborhood Sloan’s Lake Park: 1700 N. Sheridan Blvd., 80212, Sloan Lake neighborhood Veterans Park: 2100 E. Iowa Ave., 80210, Washington Park neighborhood Leaves brought to the Havana and Central Platte Campus sites must be in bags. Residents are encouraged to use brown paper bags because they can be composted along with the leaves. These paper leaf bags can be purchased at local hardware stores, but it is suggested to call ahead to confirm they are in stock. Residents unable to get paper leaf bags, may bring their leaves in plastic bags. To learn more about Denver’s LeafDrop Program, visit denvergov.org/leafdrop.

Youths are invited to enter Space Foundation’s art contest Staff report The Space Foundation is inviting art students to enter the 12th annual International Student Art Contest. Founded in 1983, the Space Foundation Headquarters and Discovery Center is a Colorado Springs based nonprofit that offers “a gateway to information, education and collaboration for space exploration and space-inspired industries that define the global space ecosystem,” states its website. The art contest encourages youth “to use their creative gifts and curiosity to explore the wonders of space and the exciting possibilities in science, technology, engineer-

Business FROM PAGE 2

Denver’s Baker neighborhood, is a local hangout for people to enjoy all things Grateful Dead — and some other iconic musicians and bands. The venue boasts a stage for live music, a bar and gaming room, a patio and various merchandise for purchase, such as vintage-and-reprint t-shirts and other collectables. The museum portion is one of the largest public displays of Grateful Dead art. Prior to opening last year, So Many

ing and mathematic fields. The contest provides a chance for students to showcase their talents, and presents an opportunity for parents, teachers and communities to spark a love of STEM in young people through the lens of space,” states a news release. “The moon has been a muse to Earth’s artists and scientists for thousands of years, but today’s students may have the chance to even walk on it,” said Dr. Max Polyakov in a news release. Polyakov is the founder of Noosphere Venture Partners, an international asset management firm that is cosponsoring the art contest. “We dedicate this year’s contest to all the opportunities provided by Moon exploration and hope

to inspire them (youth) to plant their own flags on the Earth’s only natural satellite.” There is no cost to enter the contest and any student between the ages of 3 and 18 are eligible. The 2022 International Student Art Contest theme is “Living, Working and Playing on the Moon.” Entries must be original, space-oriented artwork, and can be a drawing, painting, mixed media or digital work. There will be 25 winners — a first, second and third place for each of eight age categories. One artist will receive the Space Foundation Achievement Award. Winning artwork will be displayed and shared worldwide, through contest websites and various social media platforms, as

well as at the Space Foundation Headquarters and Discovery Center and at the 37th Space Symposium which will take place April 4-7, 2022, in Colorado Springs. Deadline to submit entries is noon, Universal Time, on Jan. 19, 2022. Artwork must be submitted online by the student’s teacher, parent or legal guardian who is age 18 or older. To learn more about the Space Foundation, visit www.spacefoundation.org. To learn more about its Discovery Center, visit www.discoverspace.org. For more information on the 2022 International Student Art Contest or to submit entries, visit https://art.spacefoundation. org/.

Roads’ owner Tyler Bishop recruited Jay Bianchi —known for opening many local venues including Sancho’s Broken Arrow, Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom and the former Quixote’s True Blue — to serve as So Many Roads’ curator. So Many Roads got its brewery component up-and-running in October, currently featuring its Garcia Celebration IPA and Sancho’s Broken Arrow Ale. To learn more about So Many Roads, visit www.somanyroadsbrewery.com.

RiNo in March of this year moved to Congress Park, inside the Goosetown Tavern at 3242 E. Colfax Ave., in early October. Open’s sandwiches are chef-inspired and named after the Denver chef who created it. The Lee, for example, is a Sichuan braised beef sandwich and named after restaurateur Tommy Lee, who is the chef/ owner of Uncle and Hop Alley. Though Open specializes in sandwiches, it also offers various appetizers, salads, sides and desserts. The sandwiches go for $15 each, and $1 of that goes to charity, according to Open’s Facebook page. To learn more about Open, visit www. opendenco.com.

The Amaranth Mile High CRE, an online commercial development news publication, reported that The Amaranth, a luxury apartment building that overlooks the Denver Botanic Gardens and Cheesman Park, has sold for $90.53 million. The multifamily property, which was built in July 2015 by MGL Partners, consists of 156-units and is located at 2190 E. 11th Ave. It was purchased by Griffis Residential, a multifamily real estate investment company that owns and manages properties in Colorado, Texas, California, Oregon and Washington, according to its website. To learn more about The Amaranth, visit www.amaranthdenver.com.

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4 Life on Capitol Hill

November 1, 2021

A delicious surprise delivered to your doorstep Bread Club helps connect consumers to locally made artisanal baked goods By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Zach Martinucci, owner and founder of Rebel Bread, holds up a boxed of just-packed pastries, ready for delivery to PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN Bread Club clients.

Lori Sabian of Denver’s Central Park neighborhood thinks it’s such a delight to get locally-made, fresh baked goods delivered right to her door. “Everybody in this house loves a delicious surprise,” Sabian said. And “I don’t have to suffer thorough winter without fresh bread.” Sabian is a baker herself, but getting her bread products delivered helps with meal planning and the time she spends cooking. Plus, she’s able to curate her delivery to meet her family’s needs while supporting local businesses. The service that Sabian receives her baked goods from is called Bread Club, offered through Rebel Bread. Rebel Bread is an artisanal bakery and bread school that got its start in October 2018. Its wholesale products can be found at a variety of locallyowned coffee shops, restaurants and bars in the metro area, but many people recognize the bakery from purchasing Rebel Bread products at local farmers markets. In March 2020, Rebel Bread launched its Bread Club as a response to the pandemic. Its success led

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LEARN MORE To learn more about Bread Club or to place an order, visit https:// getbreadclub.com. Rebel Bread owner and founder Zach Martinucci to expand Bread Club to include other local artisan bakeries. “There are so many unique bakeries in the city doing great work,” Martinucci said. “We want to offer people a new and convenient way to taste as many as possible, and support these small businesses once farmers market season ends.” The other local bakeries part of Bread Club are Moon Raccoon Baking Co., Sugar Bakeshop, Pandemic Donuts and Mile High Pie Co. No two offer the same product and each have their own style of baking, Martinucci said. “Each of their characteristics really shine through,” he added. Aside from Rebel Bread and Sugar Bakeshop, which was established in 2008, all the bakeries part of Bread Club got their start within the past year or so — with Moon Raccoon Baking Co. and Pandemic Donuts launching their small businesses after losing their former jobs as a result of service industry layoffs and restaurant closings during the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020. Knowing that the majority of sales for many local bakeries come from vending at farmers markets, Martinucci wanted to offer another

platform to help these newer local bakeries succeed, he said. “We all love the baking part and getting our product out to the community,” Martinucci said. “We (Rebel Bread) wanted to help them (the other bakeries) with the logistics of being a delivery bakery so they can focus on baking.” Bread Club makes it easy for consumers to explore the different bakeries’ menus, which change each month. Orders are completely customizable and can be placed as a one-time order or as a subscription, with the subscription frequency also customizable. The delivery option is available throughout the city and county of Denver, or consumers can choose the pick-up option, which is available from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Rebel Bread’s Production Lab at 675 S. Broadway in Denver’s Baker neighborhood. The demand for locally-made baked goods is out there, said Tanner Burgard, owner of Mile High Pie Co. which he founded in February of this year. The challenge, he said, is getting it to people. “Bread Club creates a symbiotic relationship,” Burgard said. “Small producers get to keep growing their businesses and members have access to some unbelievable talent in the Denver baking community.” These bakeries are run by people who put their heart and soul into their baking, Burgard said. “The more opportunities people have in a community to support each other,” Burgard said, “the better.”

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Life on Capitol Hill 5

November 1, 2021

‘Running Wild’ throughout Denver Annual local race helps protect animals in Africa By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Thanks to technology by Wildlife Protection Solutions, Denver residents have served as first responders to prevent a crime against wildlife as it happens in real time, halfway across the globe. They “have directly contributed to saving the lives of animals,” said Eric Schmidt, executive director of Wildlife Protection Solutions. “With just a press of a button, the appropriate people get alerted.” Wildlife Protection Solutions is a Denverbased nonprofit that has field projects in sub-Saharan Africa and southeast Asia. A technology system called wpsWatch consists of cameras that can capture an image in real time and a wildlife monitoring app for a computer or mobile device. Together, the technology can alert rangers and managers of protected areas of possible threats and wildlife crimes — such as animal poaching — in real time. “Using technology before shots are fired is one way to keep animals in nature, where they belong,” Schmidt said. Denverites ‘Running Wild’ to help save animals from extinction Wildlife Protection Solutions is one of four beneficiaries of the Running Wild race, which takes place annually on the Regis University campus in northwest Denver. This year, the race is taking place virtually and participants have through Dec. 1 to complete ether a 5K, 10K or 1-mile run. “We’re watching some of these animals decline,” said Janet Rumfelt, a professor at Regis and Running Wild race director. But “we still have time to turn it around.” Running Wild is dedicated to raising awareness about endangered African wildlife and eco-systems, and funding African wildlife conservation and anti-poaching efforts. Since getting its start in 2015, Running Wild has raised more than $30,000 for wildlife conservation. “People feel very connected to these animals in Africa,” Rumfelt said, “and they don’t want them to go extinct.” How dogs are helping to save cheetahs Another one of running Wild’s beneficiaries is the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF), which has a multifaceted holistic conservation platform with an ultimate goal of keeping the cheetah in the wild from extinction. In the 1970s, Dr. Laurie Marker became the caretaker of a newborn cheetah cub named Khayam at the Wildlife Safari in Oregon. The two formed a bond, and in 1977, Marker and Khayam traveled to southwest Africa — now Namibia — for a re-wilding study. There, Marker learned that livestock farmers were catching hundreds of cheetahs in cage traps and killing them. “It’s not that the farmers were bad people,” said Dionne Stein, development manager for events and special projects with the CCF. “It’s that they assumed it was cheetahs killing off all their livestock.” Upon returning to the U.S., Khayam became an ambassador of cheetahs and travelled internationally to help people learn about the cheetah’s plight. Fast forward about 20 years, and in 1990, Marker found the CCF in Namibia to create a permanent place in the world for the cheetah, and in 1991, expanded the CCF to Somaliland. In 1994, the organization started its

Participants of the 2019 Running Wild race take off. The race, which beneﬁts various nonproﬁts dedicated to African wildlife and COURTESY OF DAVID GARRICK PHOTOGRAPHY ecosystem conservation and anti-poaching efforts, takes place virtually through Dec. 1.

HOW TO ‘RUN WILD’ The 2021 Running Wild race takes place virtually through Dec. 1. Participants can choose to run/ walk a 5K, 10K or 1-mile race. Those who do not wish to run may participate with a Run Wild in Your Dreams donation. To learn more or to register, visit https://runningwildrace.org.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BENEFICIARIES Africa Network for Animal Welfare-USA: www. anaw.org Big Life Foundation: https://biglife.org/ Cheetah Conservation Fund: https://cheetah. org/ Wildlife Protection Solutions: https://wildlifeprotectionsolutions.org/

Hammah, an ambassador for the Cheetah Conservation Fund’s Livestock Guarding Dog, is pictured with Ann Ambrose and Janet Rumfelt at a previous year’s Running Wild race. This year, the event takes place virtually, and participants have through Dec. 1 to complete their race.

Livestock Guarding Dog program to help Namibian farmers protect their livestock from predator attacks. How it works is the Cheetah Conservation Fund raises and trains a Turkish breed of dog — Anatolian shepherd and Kangal dogs — and provides them to African farmers. “Their big, brilliant bark can scare off a predator,” Stein said of the Livestock Guarding Dogs. The program has been “80-to100% effective in mitigating human-wildlife conflict.” Farmers are also embracing the program, and in fact, there are about 600 Namibian farmers on a waitlist to receive a Livestock Guarding Dog — despite the process they must go through to receive one. Before receiving a Livestock Guarding Dog, the farmer must apply, pay a fee and

COURTESY OF DIONNE STEIN/CHEETAH CONSERVATION FUND

pass a farm assessment to prove they are dedicated to the dog’s welfare, Stein said. They must also comply with CCF doing an onsite check-in every six-to-12 months to follow up on the dog’s medical care, and to ensure the dog is settling into its guardian role and is being utilized and properly cared for by the farmer. On track to lose about a million plant and animal species It was about five or six years ago when Running Wild’s race director Rumfelt starting hearing news that elephant poaching was on the rise. She started doing research and learned it’s not just elephants that are prime subjects of wildlife crimes. Rumfelt learned that the world is on track to lose about a million of its plant and ani-

mal species, and that present day is likely the sixth mass animal destruction of time. “Ecotourism is important to Africa as an economy — these animals are important to many peoples’ livelihood,” Rumfelt said. “When you help animals, you help people. And animals protect the ecosystem. We’re all interconnected.” Rumfelt said she’s not the type of person to sit on the sidelines and wanted to do something. Thus, the Running Wild race — which supports organizations on the ground protecting animals and ecosystems — came to be. Rumfelt believes those who participate in the race are people who want to also be a part of the solution. “We would love to see Coloradans show up and represent,” Rumfelt said, “and do their part to help African wildlife.”

6 Life on Capitol Hill

November 1, 2021

In 1993, Colorado lost a Black pioneer in medicine. Now it has lost his Denver home Dr. Charles Blackwood’s Gaylord Street bungalow was a marker of Denver’s history and it was worth preserving

Dr. Charles J. Blackwood Jr. practiced medicine for decades in the Denver area. COURTESY OF THE BLACKWOOD FAMILY

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ot many in Denver have heard about Dr. Charles J. Blackwood Jr., one of the city’s most accomplished residents. Now seems like an especially opportune time to share his story, with the unfortunate and untimely demolition of his former home at 2436 Gaylord St. in Denver’s Whittier neighborhood. His home was an important historic marker for Denver, but it can no longer serve as such. Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, one of Denver’s oldest and largest neighborhood-advocacy organizations, is committed both to the preservation of our city and to the diverse stories of its residents. We, along with community partners at the Colorado Black Health Collaborative and other groups, want to share Blackwood’s story. His home was not unique, as the city has many Craftsman bungalows of about this 1927 vintage. This understated, one-story brick home, where the doctor and his wife, Vivian, lived and raised their family, had a small front porch, overhanging eaves, minimal landscaping, and other elements common with this expression of architecture. Nor was the home’s demise all that remarkable. Sold at auction in 2020, it was erased from the 0.1-acre site. Fortunately, even though his modest home is gone forever, Blackwood’s legacy will live on through an endowed scholarship for University of Colorado medical students in his name and at the landmarked American Woodmen Building, where he practiced medicine for decades. More than six decades passed between the founding of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and 1947 — when Charles Blackwood, the school’s first Black graduate, walked with his diploma in the top 10 of his class. He was born almost exactly a century ago, on Sept. 25, 1921, in Trinidad, to parents who brought their children up as members of Grace Chapel A.M.E Church. His mother was a homemaker. His dad was a diesel technician for the Burlington Railroad, among the first African Americans to hold such a job in the U.S. A young Charles was encouraged to attend college instead of running off with his band. He graduated from Trinidad State Junior College with honors and then received a scholarship to CU Boulder, where he graduated with a degree in chemistry. His family always knew their son would become a doctor and he entered medical school in 1943 while a private in the U.S. Army. In those segregated times, Blackwood was relegated to experiencing campus life separated from his classmates, in lecture halls and places to live. After a two-year internship at Harlem Hospital in New York City — where he met his wife Vivian Eldridge, a nurse — Blackwood returned to Colorado. Here he finished residency training at Colorado General (now the University of Colorado Hospital) and Denver General (now known as Denver Health) and served as the first African American in the role of police surgeon for the Denver Police. He broke the race barrier at every step of his studies and his professional life. After his residency, he started a private practice and was the supreme physician for the American Woodmen, an African American fraternal organization that was founded in Denver

GUEST COLUMN Dr. Terri Richardson, Travis Leiker, Bruce Caughey and Kevin Kelly

and focused on community service, scholarship, employment opportunities and insurance for African American Denverites. He was an instructor in the medical clinic of Colorado General Hospital and on the staff of General Rose

Memorial Hospital. From 1952-1955, he served on the United States Air Force and started the Radiology Department at Hamilton Air Force Base in California. After being honorably discharged, he was the first African American physician at St. Luke’s Hospital and was the first African American clinical professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. His son remembers a focused and attentive dad. Blackwood was a member of the Kappa Psi Fraternity, the International AIDS Project, Sertoma Club and the Colorado Epilepsy Association. Beyond his mission to serve, he loved to fish, play golf and listen to jazz, among other interests. After retiring from his clinical practice, he founded the Blackwood Institute, focused on HIV/AIDS response and treatment. Blackwood died on Aug. 11, 1993. He was returned home, buried in Trinidad alongside other members of his family. It is the historic places and the stories that go with them that define our beloved city. And we are losing them each day. Let us commit ourselves to preserving these notable places to better understand our past in a way that makes clear the sacrifices and achievements that came before us. Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods remains unequivocal in its support for diversity, equity and inclusivity throughout Denver. We call on other neighborhood organizations to do the same. All too often, the stories of historically marginalized populations go untold and unrecognized. With all the growth and change around us, community-focused organizations should ensure Denver does not lose its rich history. Honoring the past and smart urban planning can go hand-in-hand. If stories and places from Denver’s past are important to you, we hope you will consider joining Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods at chundenver.org. CHUN is dedicated to preserving the past, improving the present and planning for the future. If you are committed to improving health and wellness in Colorado’s Black, African and African American communities, visit coloradoblackhealth.org. Finally, gifts in Dr. Blackwood’s honor can be made at giving.cu.edu/cjblackwood. Proceeds benefit underrepresented minorities pursuing a degree in medicine. Dr. Terri Richardson, M.D. of Aurora is vicechair of the Colorado Black Health Collaborative. Travis Leiker of Denver is president and executive director of Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods. Bruce Caughey and Kevin Kelly of Denver are co-chairs of CHUN’s History Matters Committee. This guest column originally ran in The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. Used by permission. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

Life on Capitol Hill 7

November 1, 2021

Helping us understand what we went through Local author tells story of being a frontline cashier during pandemic By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

In 2019, Denver blogger Adam Kaat left his corporate job to focus on his writing. At the time, he had the first draft of a novel completed. Kaat sought a job that was active, but not mentally draining so he could continue work on his debut novel. Kaat, 36, of the Capitol Hill neighborhood, secured a job in January 2020 as a cashier at a busy, high-end grocery store in Cherry Creek. He enjoyed being a point person for customer service, and especially, the social aspect of the job. But shortly after settling in, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. By March 15, there were mask orders in place, workers had to sanitize their registers between every customer and shoppers began to hoard groceries and toiletries, Kaat said. He added there was a lot of general panic at that time. “Everyone’s working overtime (and) being called a hero,” Kaat said. “We had no other choice than to go with the flow.” Kaat then decided to set the novel he had been working on aside, and began to blog about being a frontline worker during an unprecedented time. The blog gained a following, and prompted to Kaat to write what would become his first published novel: “Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic.” The book was published in April this

To learn more about “Life on the Grocery Line: A Frontline Experience in a Global Pandemic,” by local author Adam Kaat, visit www.lifeonthegroceryline. com. The blog can also be found on that website. Kaat is also available to connect on social media: • Instagram: @kaatadam • Facebook: @lifeonthegroceryline • Twitter: lifeonthegroce1 A signed copy of the book can be purchased by ordering the book through the website above. It is also available on Amazon.com. Locally, the Tattered Cover and Mutiny Information Café have some copies of the book available for purchase. year. It is a work of fiction, but mirrors a lot of Kaat’s experiences as a grocery store employee. “Life on the Grocery Line” tells the story through the eyes of the character, David, a cashier at the fictional Dream Grocers store during the pandemic. “The book shows the human side of everyday interactions that people might not think about,” Kaat said. “Hopefully, it makes you laugh, (and) think about the future and to be good to each other.” Did anything in particular inspire you to become a writer? I think I have always been a writer. I just needed to find the focus to sit down and write. It’s the best way for me to work through the things — both happy and sad — that happen in my life. I did not discover my love of writing until my last year in college when I began reading

Adam Kaat

COURTESY PHOTO

more for fun and finding a wider variety of writers. I started dabbling with blogs then and I fell in love. I enjoy meeting people and hearing their stories. My book has brought me closer to people I wouldn’t have otherwise met. It’s a fun journey. What did you enjoy most about writing Life on the Grocery Line? It was therapeutic to sit down and sort through the craziness of the early pandemic. There was a heavy burden put on grocery workers and other essential employees. With all of the uncertainty of the times, I was grateful to have a project to work on. What can your fans expect from you next? I am working on the sequel to “Life on the Grocery Line,” where we meet back up with Daniel a year later as he is going through his

year review at work. I hope to have it out in spring of 2022. In what ways do you think people will be able to relate to “Life on the Grocery Line”? Daniel is a normal guy thrust into unforeseen circumstances and he has to grapple with many of the problems we all went through during the first few months of the pandemic. Hopefully, it helps us all understand what we went through. As the pandemic wears on and we move back toward “normalcy,” I think it can help remind us how fragile everything is. I think doing that can help ground us and give a better perspective on the future.

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8 Life on Capitol Hill

FROM THE EDITOR

Christy Steadman

November 1, 2021

LOCAL

VOICES

Time for giving

t is that time of year to start thinking about thanks, and giving.

Colorado Gives Day Colorado Gives Day takes place on Dec. 7 this year. If you’re not familiar with what this is, Colorado Gives Day is an annual “statewide movement to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Colorado through online giving,” states its website. I love it because it’s a hyperlocal, modern way to support our communities. The greatest thing about Colorado Gives Day — versus donating on any other day of the year, which is good, too — is that every nonprofit that receives a donation of any amount before midnight on Dec. 7 also receives a portion of the Community First Foundation’s $1 million Incentive Fund. This

means that the total amount of the donation that the nonprofit receives is increased. The catch for the incentive fund is that the donation has to be made specifically on Dec. 7. But, worry not — beginning on Nov. 1 and through Dec. 6, you are able to schedule a donation to go through on Dec. 7, Colorado Gives Day. Every registered nonprofit is eligible to receive Colorado Gives Day donations. To me, it is so much fun to browse and learn about all of the nonprofits we have here in our great state. You can browse by location, cause and keyword, or, you can type in a specific name of a nonprofit if you already know which one you want to donate to. The hard part is trying to determine which one to give to, because there are so many that do amazing work for the betterment of our communities. So whatever your passion is, there is a nonprofit out

Sustainable fall garden cleanup

utumn is in the air! Fall marks a transition period in our gardens and most perennials, trees and shrubs enter dormancy for the winter, with flower shows giving way to textural and skeletal plant arrangements. Among gardeners, there is often GUEST the urge to tidy up after the first COLUMN frost by immediately cutting back Michael Guidi perennials and removing plant debris, but this can be counterproductive to both the aesthetic and ecological value of your garden. Here are a few tips to maximize the ecological utility of your garden this winter while maintaining a beautiful yard: Leave as much standing plant material as possible. Many species of invertebrates, including beneficial insects and pollinators, use plant stems to nest or overwinter. By removing standing plant material from our gardens in the fall, we don’t allow these species to complete their life cycles. Birds and mammals also rely on upright dried plant material for food or shelter. In the spring, once temperatures have warmed, cut back grasses and flower stems. Even better, cut back flower stalks at varying heights, leaving some vertical stems in place as this helps native bees and other insects emerge from their winter slumber. There is an aesthetic upshot as well: dormant plants in the winter are beautiful and allow you to see contrasting botanical shapes and forms in stark relief. Ornamental grasses, in particular, juxtapose beautifully with bold seed heads like echinacea or stiff upright forms of liatris and silphium. Of course, some plants hold up better than others in dormancy, so consider cutting back unsightly soft plant material while leaving more rigid plants. You might be surprised how beautiful your garden is in the low, oblique light of autumn and winter. Allow some leaves, stems, and other organic material to remain on the ground. This additional habitat will be appreciated by a wide array of organisms. For example, nearly three quarters of Colorado’s native bee species nest underground, so a covering of plant litter can help protect their nests during the winter and in the early spring when they become active. SEE GUIDI, P9

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there for you! To participate in Colorado Gives Day, or to learn more about it and browse the many, many nonprofits, visit www.coloradogives.org/COGIVESDAY. Readers Care I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Colorado Community Media’s Readers Care Voluntary Contribution Program. We here at the newspaper love providing you with reliable, trustworthy hyperlocal news, including, but not limited to, things-to-do that build community and interesting human-interest stories. Through the Readers Care program, you can help support the Washington Park Profile/Life on Capitol Hill directly with a one-time contribution by visiting https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/ readerscare.

Defining YOUR Denver

f your community had a soundtrack, what songs would be on it? This was the question I posed as our icebreaker during the recent Redistricting Town Halls I held in September and October, focusing on different neighborhoods throughout City Council District 9. Music is the perfect entry point for expressing what GUEST we understand and feel about our communities. Everyone’s responses to the COLUMN question felt so personal: “Aire.” “We the People.” “On a Sunday Afternoon.” “Mi Gente.” We collected all of the suggestions, plus more from other community members, into an #EastsideForever playlist that you can listen to here: bit.ly/ eastsideforever. Redistricting happens once every 10 years after the release of the U.S. Councilmember Census data, and we are in the thick of Congressional and state legislative Candi CdeBaca the processes right now. Locally, the new maps for our city council districts won’t be drawn until 2022, but the process for getting resident input is already underway. So I want to hear from you! Too often, redistricting is an insider’s game, but it has big consequences for our everyday lives in Denver: These new maps will play a big role in determining your community’s representation at each level of government for the next 10 years. Every week, city council makes decisions that affect your life — land use and zoning, local roads and sidewalks, public safety, air quality and water pollution, housing and F homelessness policy, the city budget and so much more. That’s why I’m inviting all of you to get involved with each step of Denver’s redistricting process, starting now until next spring when city council votes on the new maps. The first step starts with you — defining YOUR Denver by mapping your communities of interest. My favorite definition for the phrase, “community of interest,” is: a way for a community to tell its own story about what neighbors share in common, and what makes it unique when compared to surrounding communities. Here’s how you can tell that story and submit your com-

Echinacea pallida seedheads.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL GUIDI

SEE CDEBACA, P9 Columnists & Guest Commentaries

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

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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November 1, 2021

An overview of what’s happening in District 6

ver the past month or so, city council has been briefed on, and proposed amendments to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s proposed budget GUEST for 2022. By charter, council must adopt COLUMN a budget by Nov. 8. I was pleased to have garnered support from my colleagues for a trio of amendments resulting in a majority of the dollars council requested to which the mayor has agreed. Councilmember

Paul Kashmann

Denver Municipal Band The Denver Municipal Band has been performing free shows for Denverites since the early days of Denver’s founding, beginning its staggering run in 1861 as the Denver City Band. To balance a complex budget, Denver Parks & Recreation had nixed its usual Denver Municipal Band support of $24,000$25,000. In a time of lingering pandemic, what better use of city funds than to offer up free outdoor concerts in local parks? District 5 Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer and I proposed, and the mayor accepted, a $35,000 budget amendment to make up for the Denver Parks & Recreation shortfall and add an extra bump for some extraordinary staging needs faced by the Denver Municipal Band. Engaging residents I believe Denver needs do a better job in engaging its residents in the business of the city. This goes past simply informing folks of government goings-on, and dives into the important task of mining the populace for its opinions and ideas as to city programs, policies and processes. Virtually every American city I’ve examined: Los Angeles (Empower LA), Seattle (Department of Neighborhoods), Portland (Office of Community and Civic Life), Boston (Office of Neighborhood Services), Nashville (Mayor’s Office of Neighborhoods

Guidi

FROM PAGE 8

Allowing plant material to decompose in place can also improve soil health and provide nutrients to your plants, but keep in mind that this will depend on the type of garden that you have — xeric or dryland gardens may resent too much organic matter while more traditional perennial or shade gardens will appreciate the additional detritus. Vegetable gardens are an exception — it’s best to remove

CdeBaca

FROM PAGE 8

munity maps to city council. First, take a moment to think about these questions: • What are some examples of goals or values that members of your community have in common? • Does your neighborhood or community share certain celebrations or traditions, such

and Community Engagement), New Orleans (Neighborhood Engagement Office), and others have realized the importance of, and complexity of, involving a cohort representative of all sectors of the community. This challenging job requires new engagement tools that reach populations not traditionally involved in civic discussions — be they renters, refugee/immigrant communities, people of color, etc. Denver departments and agencies are separately standing up community engagement staff frequently operating in silos, and duplicating work that should be done by a central office. As other cities have done, we need to assist our Registered Neighborhood Organizations and smaller nonprofits with training on city operations, how to run an effective nonprofit, offer grants for beneficial community-building projects and more. The mayor agreed to put $40,000 in the 2022 budget to investigate the best way to better engage our citizens. In discussions with consultants doing business with the city, I found that amount to not be sufficient for a full look at important options and brought forth a second $35,000 amendment to boost that study amount to $75,000. Council and the mayor accepted that proposal. Safe Routes to Schools Finally, and perhaps most importantly, I was able to get agreement from my council colleagues and Hancock to boost the budget amount for our Safe Routes to School program from $500,000 to $2 million. I have long urged Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) to create more consistency in safety protocols around our school campuses. A study recently completed confirms that we are not up to national standards in that area. The mayor’s agreement to focus additional dollars is an important commitment to our children, families and school staff. This money will allow us to address, perhaps, a handful of Denver schools with appropriate sidewalks, intersection improvements, signage and lighting and the like. It’s a drop in the bucket when looking at the total need, but over time, increased investment

Life on Capitol Hill 9

in this area will move the needle in a safer direction. Lower motor vehicle speeds I also got final approval from city agencies to put forth an amendment to our Denver Revised Municipal Code to lower speeds on neighborhood streets from 25 mph to 20 mph, and to lower speeds in Denver parks from 20 mph to 15 mph. I had secured $350,000 in the 2021 budget for a study of speed limits in our city. That multi-pronged study looked at neighborhood streets, arterials and collectors, school zones and slow zones, and other high-pedestrian traffic locations such as rec centers, for example. While much of our dollars and engineering will focus on our high-injury network of streets where most serious injuries and fatalities occur, slowing neighborhood traffic is an important first step in changing the mentality of Denver drivers. Since taking office in 2015, I have printed and distributed more than 1,000 “DRIVE 25!” yard signs. We are preparing our first order of “20 IS PLENTY” placards. Bicycle registration Keep your eye out in coming months for a new bicycle registration program that will make it much easier for you to register your bicycle, and much easier for the police to get it back to you if it is stolen and recovered. 529 Garage is a software program developed by Jay Allard, a long-time Microsoft guru who also invented the X-Box. It’s implementation in Vancouver, B.C., a few years back has led to a 44% decrease in bicycle theft. Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen and his team have agreed to secure the new program and my office, along with District 7 Councilman Jolon Clark and his team, will lead council involvement in bringing this important tool to the public. Kudos to my aide, Brent Fahrberger, and local cycling advocate, Brad Evans, for bringing 529 Garage to the attention of the Denver Police Department.

KID CONTEST

Paul Kashmann represents District 6 on Denver City Council. To get on the district’s email newsletter list, send an email to paul. kashmann@denvergov.org.

Witches, Zombies, Princesses...Oh my! Show off your costumes in this fun Halloween costume contest! Top three winners will receive prizes from our generous sponsors!

as much plant debris from your crops as possible to mitigate pressure from pests and pathogens. Consider starting a home compost pile with your yard waste rather than throwing in it the trash. Alternatively, Denver residents can make use of the city’s LeafDrop Program by obtaining free paper lawn bags and drop off leaves at designated sites this fall. In the spring, pick up discounted compost made from community collections. To learn more, visit denvergov.org/leafdrop. For a fee, you can also sign up for weekly compost collection if you live in

the city of Denver. Any of these options help to keep organic material out of landfills. Organic matter, including food scraps and yard waste, is the single largest input to landfills in the United States and substantially contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane. Composting organic material, or sending it to designated compost facilities, can drastically reduce your environmental impact while providing a useful garden resource.

VOTE NOW!

Michael Guidi is the horticulture coordinator with the Denver Botanic Gardens

VOTE ONLINE FROM OCT. 13 - 31, 2021

as street festivals, parades or block parties? • What is the history of how your community came together? • What are some of the city-level policy issues facing your community? Next, go online to Representable.org (a direct link for YOUR Denver is bit. ly/d9redistricting) and create your login name and password. Once you’ve registered, you’ll be walked through a series of prompts that will further help you think about how you define your community and neighborhood. After you complete

those steps, you’ll be ready to draw your map on that platform! All the Representable.org maps that get submitted by December will inform the first drafts of our new city council district maps. So it’s time to get started — put on YOUR favorite tunes about YOUR community, and get started drawing your Representable map! Candi CdeBaca represents District 9 on Denver City Council. She can be reached at district9@denvergov.org or 720-337-7709.

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10 Life on Capitol Hill

November 1, 2021

The Navy Band Northwest performs on Oct. 14 at Thomas Jefferson High School in southeast Denver during 2021 Navy Week, which took place Oct. 11-17. PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

A parachutist with the Navy’s Leap Frogs heads toward a football to attempt a field goal as he lands on Thomas Jefferson High School’s field.

The U.S. Navy’s Ceremonial Guard performs at Thomas Jefferson High School during 2021 Navy Week.

By Christy Steadman

M A parachutist with the Navy’s Leap Frogs lands on Thomas Jefferson High School’s football field.

csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

embers of the U.S. Navy spent some time in the Denver area Oct. 11-17 for the 2021 Navy Week. Navy Weeks are the organization’s flagship outreach effort and consist of a series of events during which the men and women of the U.S. Navy engage with the community. Navy Week events are “designed to give Americans an opportunity to learn about the Navy, its people and its importance to national security and prosperity,” states a news release. Navy Weeks have been taking place in various cities across the country since 2005, but it has been more than 10 years since the Denver metro area has hosted a Navy Week, according to the news SEE NAVY WEEK, P11

Life on Capitol Hill 11

November 1, 2021

Navy Week FROM PAGE 10

release. This year, Denver was one of 13 cities to host a 2021 Navy Week. “Colorado has a rich naval history, with 32 ships having been named for the state, its cities and people, including the nuclear-powered submarine USS Colorado (SSN 788) and the amphibious transport ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19),” said the Navy’s senior executive host Vice Adm. John Mustin, Chief of Navy Reserve, and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, in a news release. “The Front Range embodies adventure, self-reliance and service. Those qualities are consistent with the Navy’s service ethos and have attracted more than 6,000 active and reserve force sailors to join our ranks. Those qualities also continue to connect the citizens of the area to our nation’s maritime services, specifically our Navy.” While in the metro area, members of various Navy organizations — the Navy Band Northwest, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 1, USS Constitution, United States Ceremonial Guard, Navy Talent Acquisition Group (NTAG) Rocky Mountain, and Navy History and Heritage Command, for example — made their way across the city, participating in a variety of community events. These events included

performing live music and drills multiple times at the Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, volunteering with the Denver Urban Gardens in Lakewood, making an appearance at a Colorado Avalanche hockey game, a swearingin ceremony for 15 Coloradans at Red Rocks, a Denver Navy Week proclamation presentation with Denver Deputy Mayor Murphy Robinson, guest speaking at the Navy Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Colorado-Boulder, participating in the Colfax Marathon Fitness Expo and performing for residents of the Veterans Community Living Center at Fitzsimons in Aurora. Denver Navy Week concluded on Oct. 16 and 17 at the Great Colorado Air Show in Loveland, which featured the Blue Angels — the Navy’s aviation demonstration team t— and the U.S Navy Parachute Team, The Leap Frogs. The Navy visited with students at Thomas Jefferson High School, 3950 S. Holly St., in southeast Denver on Oct. 14. The youths got to see the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard perform drills, hear live music by the Navy Band Northwest and witness The Leap Frogs jump from a C-130 plane over their school’s football field.

To learn more about Denver Navy Week, visit outreach. navy.mil/NavyWeeks-2021/ Denver. To see posts from Denver Navy Week, follow the Navy Ofﬁce of Community Outreach on Facebook: facebook.com/ NavyOutreach.

The U.S Navy Parachute Team, The Leap Frogs, jumps over Thomas Jefferson High School on Oct. 14 as part of 2021 Denver Navy Week events.

Lt. Matt Carter with the U.S. Navy’s Parachute Team, The Leap Frogs, engages with Thomas Jefferson High School ninth-graders Ethan Bell, left, and Brennan England on Oct. 14 during a Navy Week event at the PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN school.

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12 Life on Capitol Hill

November 1, 2021

Support reliable, local news

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To say that our last year was eventful is more than a bit of an understatement. After surviving the economic upheaval brought on by COVID-19, we were excited to get back to our core job of delivering your local news. And then in May, we were purchased by the Colorado News Conservancy, made up of groups dedicated to keeping local news thriving. In August, I came on as Publisher with a mission to strengthen our commitment to each of our local communities, including for those of you reading Life on Capitol Hill.

Linda Shapley Publisher

Quality journalism is not free, and there was a reason why, during the height of the pandemic, the work that we did was deemed essential. But we still face peril – more than 60% of all advertising buys in Colorado are spent with Facebook or Google. You might wonder how Life on Capitol Hill survives, and we have you, our readers, to thank for that. There’s a trend in the newspaper industry to emphasize “reader-driven revenue,” where readers pay more of the share of the cost, through subscriptions, contributions and memberships, to offset the decline in advertising.

So we ask you, our readers, to contribute to support the cost of reporters, staff and printing/delivery, in our campaign to Support Reliable, Local News. When you contribute to our voluntary pay program, you are supporting our journalists and the vital work they do to keep you informed about your community: news about your children’s and neighbors’ accomplishments and endeavors, how government decisions affect you – including local election information – fun things to do in your community and metro area. The Capitol Hill area has a great community newspaper because of your hometown journalists. You can contribute whatever you wish. This year, as a bonus, any contribution of $40 or more will allow you unlimited access to the Life on Capitol Hill website for a year.

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November 1, 2021

Denver Film Festival aims for the best of both worlds Audiences can watch films in person and at home By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

The latter half of the 2010s saw increased involvement in national and local elections, with more women running - and winning - than ever before. While national figures drew a lot of eyes, filmmaker Rebekah Henderson turned her eye - and camera - to campaigns happening right here in Denver. “The film is really a love letter to the activist community and my friends,” Henderson said. “People do not know how hard local races are, and I wanted to tell a local story that is universal.” The resulting film, “Running With My Girls,” follows the 2018 races of Shontel Lewis and a cohort of candidates who ran as a group - Dr. Lisa Calderón, Candi CdeBaca, Shayla Richard and Veronica Barela. It showcases their triumphs, struggles and what it means that more activists from underrepresented groups are getting involved in the government. “If you live in any city in America and are a Black or brown person who is paying attention, you’ll see yourself in this film,” Henderson said. “It’s very much a reflection of my experience. I never stopped rolling because I didn’t want to miss anything.” The film is part of the 44th annual Denver Film Festival, which runs in person and online from Nov. 3 through Nov. 14. All films will be screened in various theater settings — the SIE FilmCenter, AMC 9 + CO 10, the Denver Botanic Gardens’ Sturm Auditorium and Ellie Caulkins Opera

House — and about 50 films will be available for streaming at home on Denver Film’s virtual platform. The festival features about 233 films, which includes 140 feature-length films, shorts, music videos and episodic content, according to provided information. Some major highlights — and award-season contenders — include “Spencer,” featuring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, Will Smith’s “King Richard,” and “Jockey,” which stars Clifton Collins Jr., who will be in attendance to receive the 2021 John Cassavetes Award. “We really planned to do this as a hybrid because we wanted to return to what we’re known for - the in-theater experience,” said Matthew Campbell, artistic director of Denver Film. “The best of both worlds is really ideal, especially because we already made the investment in virtual. We’re really excited to get back (to) the excitement of the environment of places like Ellie Caulkins.” One silver lining from the COVID-19 pandemic is that embracing streaming has expanded the reach of the Denver Film Festival. Campbell said doing the 2020 festival entirely virtually proved this fact - historically, about 90% of attendees are from the Denver/Boulder area, but last year, only about 60% of viewers were from the metro area, while the rest came from all over Colorado. Attendees can also put themselves in the world of film, thanks a range of virtual reality and immersive experiences taking place at the Festival Annex at the historic McNichols Civic Center Building. There’s even an immersive experience called “Fire Season” that will be set up at Lakewood’s Bear Creek Lake Park. “It feels like it’s been so long since we’ve been around our audience and can welcome

IF YOU GO WHAT: 44th annual Denver Film Festival

employees and volunteers entering venues or host sites to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 with an FDA or WHO-approved vaccine. • Some films will also be available for streaming online at Denver Film’s virtual platform.

WHEN: Nov. 3-Nov. 14 WHERE: • In person films will be shown at SIE FilmCenter, AMC 9 + CO 10, the Denver Botanic Gardens Sturm Auditorium and Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Denver Film will require all festival patrons, guests,

TICKETS/INFORMATION: www.denverfilm.org/denverfilmfestival/dff44/ as it applies to filmmaking, but as it applies to improving the lives and future of those around you. “The film is really community-made, and shows that when we band together, we have this power,” she said. “I want people to see it. I want people to get inspired by it.”

them back in person,” Campbell said. “We’re looking forward to it going off without a hitch and it being a safe, enjoyable festival something we take as seriously as possible.” For local filmmakers like Henderson, being part of the home film festival reflects the importance of community - not only

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16 Life on Capitol Hill

November 1, 2021

Getting Denver to 100% renewable energy New pilot program to help with solar equity By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

According to Jonathan Rogers, a renewable energy specialist in Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability & Resiliency, distributed solar makes up only about 1.5% of electricity use in Denver. “We are going to need a lot more to reach our goals,” Rogers said. In 2018, Denver released its 80x50 Climate Action Plan that calls to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050, including a goal for the city to be powered by 100% renewable electricity by 2030, Rogers said. “We are fortunate that our utility, Xcel Energy, has released a plan to bring Colorado to 80% renewable electricity by 2030,” Rogers said. “This is exciting, but there is still that gap we need to fill to get Denver to 100% renewable electricity.” Then, last year, Denver’s Climate Action Task Force “encouraged Denver to go even further, faster, by calling for a 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040,” Rogers said. And the task force is encour-

aging Denver to also concentrate on equity and environmental justice in its energy transition. The city now is partnering with Solar United Neighbors’ third co-op to launch a new pilot program called the Solar Equity Rebate Program, which will help every homeowner and small business in Denver that wants to go solar. Solar United Neighbors (SUN) is a nonprofit organization that works nationwide, with its Colorado office based in Denver. SUN launched in Colorado in 2019, and the first two Denver co-ops have helped 62 households and businesses in Denver build 341 kilowatts of solar, Rogers said. SUN is now offering its third co-op. It launched on Sept. 15 and anybody who would like to join has until Nov. 20 to sign up. SUN serves as an advocate for its co-op members, said Bryce Carter, SUN’s Colorado program director. “We’re here to help people find out if going solar is right for them,” he said. The goal is to get 150 members to join the third co-op, but that is not a cap, Carter said. As of late October, about 60 people have joined. Joining a co-op is free, and there is no obligation for members to purchase solar.

“If, for whatever reason, a person or small business decides not to go solar, they can walk away,” Carter said. The purpose of the co-op is to provide people with an opportunity to learn more about going solar, including providing any necessary education and information about equipment. SUN streamlines the process of researching installers for quality control and other important factors while remaining vendor-neutral. Co-op members get a group rate on solar installation. Still, “we have found that the upfront cost of solar can be a major barrier for many families,” Rogers said. “The Solar Equity Rebate Program will help extend accessibility of rooftop solar to our low-tomoderate income communities.” The Solar Equity Rebate Program provides $3,000 toward the cost of solar and $2,000 toward the cost of battery storage for income-qualifying SUN coop members. A hardship fund will also be available to support unforeseen circumstances, such as the need for roof repairs or electrical service upgrades, Rogers said. Additionally, the Denver Office of Nonprofit Engagement will assist co-op members interested in additional bill savings by connecting them

to nonprofits administering income-qualified energy efficiency programs. “Climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying. Distributed energy resources, like solar, are needed to meet Denver’s climate goals, while supporting affordability and resiliency in our energy transition,” Rogers said. “Hopefully, we’ll see more installations across the city.” The 2021 co-op is hoping to expand its reach to Denver’s Neighborhood Equity & Stabilization (NEST) neighborhoods, Carter said. NEST neighborhoods are the city’s neighborhoods that are experiencing, or have experienced, gentrification and significant-and-fast change, states the city’s website. Often, residents of these neighborhoods “are faced with a rising cost of living, while locally owned businesses struggle with increased rent costs and the need to diversify their businesses to attract new customers from the evolving community,” states the city’s website. Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval, who represents District 1 which includes northwest Denver, said in a news release that she is thrilled to see the co-op continue to expand its reach and “extend the benefits of solar energy to all through Solar Equity rebates to our lowto-moderate income commu-

To learn more about Solar United Neighbors, visit www. solarunitedneighbors.org/ denver. A co-op orientation video is available for view on the website. There are also two upcoming information sessions, which take place virtually: 6 p.m. Nov. 10 and noon on Nov. 12. To RSVP, click on the session with the time and date that works best for you. To find more information on solar, visit the city’s website at https://denvergov.org/solar. nity members.” “There is a place for every one of us to participate in, and enjoy, the benefits of Colorado’s transition to a clean energy future,” Sandoval added in the news release. SUN would like to offer the opportunity for anyone to get involved with helping the organization get the word out about its third co-op to NEST neighborhoods, Carter said. There are many opportunities, including outreach volunteering, he added. People who are bilingual are especially needed. “Denver residents and business owners understand the benefits of taking care of their community,” Carter said. “We want to make solar available and more equitable to everyone.”

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November 1, 2021

A delicious surprise delivered to your doorstep Bread Club helps connect consumers to locally made artisanal baked goods By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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‘Running Wild’ throughout Denver Annual local race helps protect animals in Africa By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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November 1, 2021

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