Life on Capitol Hill 100622

Town Hall Collaborative

Town Hall Collaborative, 525 Santa Fe Dr. in Denver, is celebrating its grand opening from 5 p.m. to midnight on Oct 7.

Town Hall Collaborative is the brainchild of Denver’s Lauren Beno and Lafayette’s Denise Day. The two have been good friends since they met in 2013 while working for the same organic food brand in Boulder.

In February, the two started a Kickstarter campaign to fulfill their vision of creating a space that would bring community together. It was fully funded about a month later.

“We believe in the positive social impact and economic benefits of empowering women and other marginalized groups to close the gender inequalities and create more diverse and inclusive spaces,” Beno said. “We dream about becoming a go-to, safe, inclusive and welcoming space in Denver that grows with the community in the way it needs.”

Town Hall Collaborative is an event and gathering space that features a bar, cafe, food trucks, a creative space for workshops, artist studios and a stage for performances and live music.

“Town Hall Collaborative is more than just a building, or a bar or a venue,” Day said. “I believe the true asset to the community will be the important conversations that happen around the coffee tables, the impactful organizations that meet and mobilize to create real change, the vulnerable stage performances that spark curiosity, and the laughter of friends old and new. If the last couple of years has taught us anything, it’s that we need each other, and Town Hall is a space for exactly that.”

To learn more about Town Hall Collaborative, visit townhallcollaborative. com.

The Preservery

The Preservery, a restaurant located at 3040 Blake St. in Denver, closed in early September. It operated for about seven years.

However, the owners, Whitney and Obe Ariss, will continue their mission of serving the community by starting a nonprofit that they have been envisioning for about a year. To be called The Preservery Foundation, it will work to provide hunger relief to people experiencing homelessness.

“My favorite piece of wisdom for dealing with times of struggle is to reach out and help someone,” Whitney and Obe Ariss wrote in a blog on their website. “We can’t dismantle racism, we can’t end the housing crisis, we can’t solve world hunger, but we can do our best to help make sure the most vulnerable, disenfranchised folks in our community get the chance to go to bed with a full belly, because that is what every human deserves.”

To stay up-to-date on The Preservery Foundation, follow it on Twitter.

Arc Thrift Scholars

Three Denver residents have been honored with an Arc Thrift Exceptional Scholars Award. This award was established in 2021 to support aspiring post-secondary students who have chosen a career path focused on advancing the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Along with the award, the scholars receive a $5,000 scholarship to go toward tuition and expenses.

The honorees are:

April Stewart, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in social work from Metro State University. She was inspired to become a social worker after she gave birth to a daughter with Down syndrome.

Giovanna Galloway, who is pursuing a bachelor’s in linguistics at Metro State University and plans to become a teacher who works with English language learners.

Abby Michel, who is pursuing a master’s degree in education at Regis University. She is currently a paraprofessional, a member of multiple disability rights organizations and travels the world in support of disability rights.

La Bouche

La Bouche, a French-American wine bar in Denver, celebrated its one-year anniversary in September.

La Bouche is located at 1100 E. 17th Ave., which borders Uptown and the City Park West neighborhood.

To learn more about La Bouche or to make a reservation, visit labouche.wine.

TheCultureBiz

TheCultureBiz, a local business that offers tools and engagement activities for meetings and gatherings, celebrated the one-year anniversary of the company in September.

Co-owners Katie Wall and Courtney Jacobson created TheCultureBiz to help build company culture. They believe that building culture through play is essential for increasing workplace happiness, reducing stress and retaining the best talent.

The in-person crates were piloted with various local businesses in February 2020. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, TheCultureBiz crates pivoted to virtual crates while people worked remotely.

Today, TheCultureBiz offers its signature CultureCrates, socialization coasters for networking and celebrations, and interactive workshops for team building.

To learn more about TheCultureBiz, visit theculturebiz.com.

A fourth award recipient is Madeline Metzger of Pagosa Springs, who is pursuing a degree in nursing science at the University of ColoradoColorado Springs.

“These four individuals are truly inspirational and embody what the Exceptional Scholarship Award is all about,” said Lloyd Lewis, president and CEO of Arc Thrift Stores, in a news release. “Each of them in their own way is setting out on a journey to better the lives of people with disabilities, whether that be here in Colorado or around the world. To support and encourage them is a great honor.”

Arc Thrift Stores operates 31 thrift stores throughout Colorado. It is one of the state’s largest employers of and advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more, visit arcthrift.org.

Westword

The Westword newspaper celebrated its 45th anniversary in September. It launched on Sept. 1, 1977.

The Westword is independent local newspaper that covers everything from politics and business to music and the arts. Its editor is Patricia Calhoun.

According to its website, the Westword is read by more than 278,000 monthly print readers throughout the Denver-metro area and Boulder. Its website attracts more than 1.5 million monthly active users.

To learn more about the Westword, visit westword.com.

Gorman & Company

Gorman & Company has been awarded the Novogradac 2022 Developments of Distinction award for Excellence in Affordable Housing for its Elisabetta and Stella projects in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood.

The Elisabetta, 5120 N. Broadway, is a new mixed-use development that includes 91 units of affordable housing serving residents and households earning 30%, 50% and 60% of the Area Median Income. Additionally, 25% of the units are reserved for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and it houses the Laradon Adult Day Program.

The interior of The Stella is pictured. This new mixed-use development is located next door to The Elisabetta at 5190 N. Broadway. It has 132 units and 6,000 square feet of its space is used for the Laradon Career Center.

Laradon is a Denver-based school that empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more, visit laradon.org.

To learn more about Gorman & Company, visit gormanusa.com.

Scholarship Award is all about,” said Lloyd

way is setting out on a journey to better the lives

Denise Day and Lauren Beno.

COURTESY OF ONDA PICTURES

CCM writers, sta net 19 newspaper awards

STAFF REPORT

Colorado Community Media reporters and staff received 19 awards in the Colorado Press Association’s annual Better Newspaper Contest, which honored the state’s best journalism work for 2021.

Leading the honorees named during a Sept. 17 ceremony at Coors Field was west metro reporter Rylee Dunn. Dunn, who primarily covers Arvada, received two fi rst-place honors. Dunn received the top prize in the Best Series or Sustained Coverage in the Class 4 division for the work on the Olde Town Arvada shooting and aftermath, and a fi rst-place award in the Best Business/News Feature category for her work on Namiko’s 30-year history spanning two generations.

Dunn also took second place for Best News Story for her investigative work on a former political candidate being charged with felony identity theft.

Douglas County reporter Elliott Wenzler also took home several awards, including fi rst place for Best Health/Enterprise Story for an interview with Dr. John Douglas, the head of Tri-County Health Department, after one year of the COVID pandemic.

Wenzler received two second-place honors for feature (H2O’Brien Pool) and news photography (Homeless issues in Douglas County); in addition, she and former reporter Jessica Gibbs were honored in the breaking news category for their coverage of the STEM school shooting trial.

Gibbs took second place for Best Education Story on school districts addressing racial equity issues.

West metro reporter Olivia Jewell Love was excited to receive

her fi rst professional award, taking home second-place honors in the health category for an article on Evergreen-area RNs tackling nurse burnout through healing groups, resources.

South Metro Editor Thelma Grimes took fi rst and second place in the Best Sustained Coverage or Series In the Class 6 division. She won fi rst place a series on the Douglas County mental health program that has set standards at the state and national levels. She took second place for a series on delayed medical care due to COVID.

Senior reporter Ellis Arnold took home a second-place honor in the news writring category for his coverage of Xcel Energy’s concerns for health, property values in south metro Denver.

Former reporter David Gilbert won two fi rst-place honors for his in-depth investigation on the Colorado Center for the Blind’s handling of sexual assault allegations.

In another fi rst-place honor, former Jeffco Transcript reporter Bob Wooley won for his feature story on the aftermath in the decades since the 1999 Columbine High School shootings.

Washington Park Profi le Editor Christy Steadman won second place for Best Health Enterprise story for her work on Denver Hospice.

In advertising and design, the CCM team took home four separate awards, with designer Tina Meltzer winning fi rst- and second-place awards for print ad design in the Class 4 division. In the Class 6 division, designer Tom Fildey placed second for best print ad.

Designer Ben Wiebesiek won second place in the Lone Tree Voice for Best Page Design.

ON THE

A REFRESHING SPIN ON SHAKESPEARE’S 400-YEAR-OLD CLASSIC

Members of the Colorado Community Media team attend the Colorado Press Association awards ceremony held at Coors Field on Sept. 17.

STAFF PHOTO

Shanna B. Shelby, chief curator of the McNichols Civic Center Building stands with the art of prolific Navajo artist, Melanie Yazzie. Story on Page 15.

PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

Brown Palace Hotel fascinates in-house historian

Room 840. More recently, the hotel has welcomed such pop luminaries as Taylor Swift, Bruce Springsteen and the Rolling Stones.

Phantoms flock there, too

BY KIRSTEN DAHL COLLINS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Under the eaves of the historic Brown Palace Hotel, historian Debra B. Faulkner works out of a cramped office with a rooftop view of the HVAC equipment.

She wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“It’s my dream job,” she said. “Super fun.”

Filing cabinets crowd the space, filled with yellowed guest registers dating back to the hotel’s opening in 1892. In that era, the guests were “checked in” with actual check marks. The signatures from 1908 include HRH Prince of Wales, the future George the Fifth. President Woodrow Wilson signed the book in 1911. In 1912, Margaret “Molly” Brown — no relation to the hotel’s founder, Henry Cordes Brown — requested a sixth-floor room, since she had just escaped the Titanic disaster in Lifeboat No. 6.

Faulkner said it’s unusual for a hotel to have a dedicated historian — but then, the Brown Palace is no ordinary hotel. Like a Denver version of the British Museum, the red sandstone edifice on 17th Street is stuffed with history. In 1937, Work Projects Administration-era artist William Tupper True created the murals in the elevator lobby, still stunning — though darkened with age. Glass cases lining the hotel’s eight-story atrium document the glamorous big band era, when Ellyngton’s restaurant served as a nightclub. The Palace Arms, the Brown’s formal restaurant, displays authentic items from Napoleon’s campaigns, including a plumed hat and period swords. In the restaurant’s private dining room, the exquisite French-made wallpaper dates from 1834. The Ship Tavern, which opened after Prohibition in 1934, celebrates maritime history with a collection of hand-carved models of 19th-century clipper ships.

A magnet for the famous Life at the Brown is rarely dull, in part because of all the celebrities who keep checking in. Multitudes of Hollywood stars have visited, from Zsa Zsa Gabor to George Clooney. When the Beatles spent a night there in 1964 before performing at Red Rocks, the hotel arranged for a decoy limousine to distract the crowds of fans waiting out front, while the Fab Four snuck in through the service entrance and up a freight elevator to

The Brown has also hosted numerous U.S. presidents and political dignitaries, including Teddy Roosevelt, Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower, Hillary and Bill Clinton and many Kennedys. When Ethel Kennedy visited the Brown during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, she confided to Faulkner that decades earlier, she and her husband, Bobby, had been turned away from the hotel. The young couple were on a cross-country road trip and arrived late for their reservation. Crestfallen, they were leaving when they bumped into an old college football buddy of Bobby’s. He owned a store in the hotel and offered to let them camp out. The young Kennedys happily spent the next four nights on the shop floor in sleeping bags.

Anecdotes like this are a never-ending source of delight for Faulkner, who has a front row seat to history’s more unusual byways.

A childhood spent exploring Colorado history

Unwittingly, Faulkner probably prepared for her dream job as a child. She grew up in Loveland, where her mother taught history in elementary school. Her mother often planned family camping trips to venerable sites like the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and the mining boomtown of Leadville.

“All the kids in the family would explore them and learn the background,” Faulkner said.

Digging into the past became a habit and then a passion. Faulkner went on to earn her master’s in history at University of Colorado. She joined the Brown Palace as hotel historian and archivist in 2008. There she manages the voluminous archives, gives historic tours and presentations, and curates historic displays. She has also managed to write nine books — some with Thomas Noel, aka Dr. Colorado — about Colorado history. One is the delightfully gossipy, “Ladies of the Brown,” an inside account of many notable women who worked, lived or stayed at the hotel. Her children’s book, “Henry’s Denver Palace,” inspired by a real canine visitor, is narrated by a golden retriever.

As hotel historian, Faulkner followed in the footsteps of Corinne Hunt, who created the position in 1977. In “Ladies of the Brown,” Faulkner wrote, “no hotel archives existed when Hunt came on board. Old guest registers, architectural blueprints, scrapbooks, menus, photos and ephemera were haphazardly stored in boxes, cabinets and dusty corners…” Hunt also initiated the hotel’s historic tours, which are open to the public by reservation only.

Hunt once told a reporter she might be “coming back as a ghost when I die.” Apparently, she’s not the only one. The Brown Palace seems especially popular with the spirit world — some because they died untimely deaths, others because they’re just fond of the place.

One notable ghost, Faulkner said, is Dr. James Mason who was accidentally killed in the Ship Tavern restaurant in 1946 by a drunken WWII veteran who embarked on a shooting rampage. According to Faulkner, Dr. Mason’s reflection — undoubtedly reproachful — sometimes appears in the mirror behind the bar.

Other phantoms seem less traumatized. A cheery quartet of vaporous musicians are said to play late at night in Ellyngton’s. Sometimes, guests and staff report childish laughter and running feet in the halls when there are no kids to be seen. In October, visitors can learn about these and other apparitions on Faulkner’s bi-weekly ghost tours. They can then adjourn to the atrium for a Witches Tea.

A mysterious fraternal order

Ectoplasm aside, Faulkner comments that the hotel has a mystical quality built into its very structure by original owner Henry C. Brown and architect Frank Edbrooke. She said both Brown and Edbrooke had deep roots in the Freemasons, a fraternal order known for its symbols and secret rituals. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Winston Churchill and Voltaire were all members.

“I seriously believe there are Masonic secrets hidden in the hotel,” Faulkner said.

She speculated that the Brown’s elegant triangular shape — it occupies a lot between Fremont Place, Broadway and 17th Street — is no accident. A right triangle enclosing an all-seeing eye is one of the best-known Masonic symbols, appearing on the dollar bill, among other places.

More Masonic symbols turned up recently when carpeting was replaced in the hotel’s Onyx Room, which is used for meetings. Underneath, Faulkner said, the mosaic floor was framed by a pattern of symbols associated with the Knights Templar, a medieval branch of Freemasonry.

Other secrets probably wait behind other alterations. Many different owners, including three generations of the Boettcher family, have made changes to the old hotel over the years.

In fact, the Brown Palace is a bit of a museum, guarding a trove of historic treasure within its fortress-like walls. Some of that treasure may still be undiscovered. One more reason for Faulkner to view her job as a historian’s dream come true.

The Brown Palace Hotel is located at 321 17th St. in Denver. To learn more about it or for more information on tours, visit brownpalace.com.

French wallpaper dating from 1834 lines the swanky private dining room in the Palace Arms, the Brown’s formal restaurant. Brown Palace historian Debra B. Faulkner, pictured, said that the space was sculpted from the hotel’s former grand entrance on Broadway, which closed in the 1930s due to increased auto tra c.

Debra B. Faulkner relishes her job at hotel packed with Colorado history, personalities and ghosts

Historic displays line the Brown’s eight-story atrium, which is crowned with a stained-glass ceiling 100 feet above. Here, visitors enjoy afternoon tea along with the music of Danny Showers, who has played at the hotel for more than 40 years.

PHOTOS BY TIM COLLINS

Denver Zoo’s conservation e orts reach near and far

BY ELICIA HESSELGRAVE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

In 2019, the United Nations published a report that there are about a million species of plants and animals at risk of extinction, many within a couple decades.

“Zoos are becoming increasingly important as nature becomes increasingly decimated by human action,” said Jake Kubié, director of communications for the Denver Zoo.

He added that a growing number of wild animals are unable to survive due to habitat loss, pollution, poaching and climate change. Zoos, Kubié said, are becoming a Noah’s Ark of sorts in keeping species on the face of the earth by going out into the wild to conserve native habitats.

With a mission that states, “inspiring communities to save wildlife for future generations,” the Denver Zoo is talking the talk with action. A ticket to the zoo directly supports wildlife conservation efforts for species not only cared for at the zoo, but also local conservation programs around Colorado and even globally.

As one of 238 Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facilities, the Denver Zoo must adhere to strict guidelines for safety, care and man-

agement of animals to maintain this accreditation. Kubié estimates that between 120-150 species of animals living at the Denver Zoo are classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as threatened, endangered, critically endangered or extinct in the wild. As an AZA facility, Denver Zoo participates

in breeding programs called Species Survival Plans, collaborating with other AZA organizations to support declining numbers of various species that are vulnerable, threatened, endangered or extinct in the wild.

In some cases, animals reproduced from this type of programming are released into the wild. Recently, Den-

ver Zoo collaborated with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to successfully breed boreal toads, the only alpine toad found in Colorado. The boreal toad is considered an indicator species, meaning these animals are incredibly sensitive to changes in their environment and the population of an indicator species can help researchers have more insight into climate health. Currently, the boreal toad is listed as State Endangered and there are as few as 800 left in the wild in Colorado. Comparatively, there are about 300,000 wild elk in Colorado. Earlier this summer, Denver Zoo and CPW reintroduced nearly 500 tadpoles into high-altitude wetlands in Gunnison National Forest that officials hope could eventually host an established population of the rare amphibians.

The American pika is another indicator species in Colorado. While they are currently classified as Least Concern, their numbers are declining due to climate change, according to the website, Animalia. Denver Zoo has partnered with Rocky Mountain Wild to form the Colorado Pika Project as a way to monitor this species through data collected by local researchers and volunteer community scientists.

Volunteers with the Denver Zoo and Rocky Mountain Wild monitor the American pika for the Colorado Pika Project.

COURTESY PHOTO

Conservation department is busy conserving wildlife onsite, regionally, abroad

Swallow Hill Music starting to buzz again

Aengus Finnan assumes role as president and CEO of the nonprofit

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Aengus Finnan planned to relax for a while after eight years of serving as executive director of the Folk Alliance International, an organization based in Kansas City, Mo.

He was planning to take some time off for travel and to work on a book he has in mind.

Then along came Denver’s Swallow Hill Music, a nonprofit music organization founded in 1979 that hosts a variety of programs, including a music school, live music concerts and community outreach such as music therapy, enrichment and early childhood education.

“I was not planning to apply for anything after leaving Folk Alliance,” said Finnan, 50. But, “the mission of Swallow Hill, its legacy, its programs in place, and the passion and resilience of the staff - all of that - and the aspirations of the board, it really dovetailed with what I’m passionate about.”

Swallow Hill Music, 71 E. Yale Ave., recently hired Finnan to serve as president and CEO after a lengthy search to replace Paul Lhevine, who left in fall 2021.

Born in Ireland, Finnan arrives as Swallow Hill aims to make a big push forward — not just in the Denver metro area, but also beyond the city’s limits — hoping to attract more people to concerts, classes, etc.

producing three albums and, years

“I’ve had amazing opportunities to play in church basements, coffee he said. “It’s a hard way to make a working in the administrative side, Hill community as he met the staff and members.

storytelling place that goes beyond

Jean Excell, a participant of Swallow Hill’s Women of Folk, has been a Swallow Hill student for four years, taking classes in guitar, bass and harmonica. COURTESY PHOTOS

Casey Lea Cormier teaches guitar, bass and ukulele and has been on the Swallow Hill faculty for nine years.

“There was no question in my mind he would be our next leader,” said Jessy Clark, Swallow Hill’s COO. “When he walked into the building, you could feel Swallow Hill’s ethos dripping off of him. He’s very familiar with music communities all over the United States and beyond. Aengus gets Swallow Hill and understands its history.”

Swallow Hill board chair Walt DeHaven had similar thoughts.

“We looked far and wide — these people aren’t easy to come by,” DeHaven said. “Aengus just stood out. He knows what we do and that Swallow Hill wants to expand it in a big way. His background in music is extensive, coupled with his understanding (of) business.”

Starting to buzz again

Swallow Hill boasts the nation’s second-largest music school, behind Chicago. It offers lessons on many different instruments — ranging from conventional instruments such as guitar and piano, to some unorthodox instruments and styles like clawhammer banjo. Swallow Hill’s instructors teach a wide variety of genres, including Americana and roots, bluegrass, folk, world music, jazz, blues, rock, country and pop.

“Our classrooms are starting to buzz again and you see students and teachers in the hallways,” said Casey Lea Cormier, who teaches guitar, bass and ukulele and has been on the Swallow Hill faculty

for nine years. “The community aspect is really amazing. What Swallow Hill does is create an environment of musical instruction in a group setting for adults and kids.”

Overall, Swallow Hill draws more than 165,000 people annually through its school, programming and live music concerts. Just in the first quarter of this year, Swallow Hill made more than 20,000 musical connections through its Community Outreach Programs. One of these programs is Little Swallows, which brings music education to children ages 3 and 4 who may not have access to music programs in their schools.

Jarett Mason is one of Swallow Hill’s instructors, running group classes on guitars and mandolin, as well as guiding an ensemble group.

“The reward I get out of teaching (at Swallow Hill) is the sense of community that’s based in music,” Mason said. “I really enjoy seeing people come together and be united by music. Also, seeing people develop new skills later in life. The majority of my students are adults, most of them are retired. This keeps their minds sharp.”

Jen Hitt started teaching voice and folk ensemble at Swallow Hill in 2018. She also guides the Women of Folk group.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity

for me to connect with my community,” Hitt said. “Class numbers are getting bigger and bigger every session.”

Parker resident Jean Excell, a Women of Folk participant, has been a Swallow Hill student for four years, taking classes in guitar, bass and harmonica.

“It’s worth it,” Excell said of the commute from Parker to Swallow Hill. Swallow Hill has “really advanced my guitar playing and my understanding of music theory. I think it’s excellent — they did a really good job of navigating the pandemic and switching to online courses. Now that we’re back full time, it’s been really outstanding.”

Citywide composting is coming to Denver!

Starting in 2023, we can all help reduce what goes in the landfill. By using your compost cart to dispose of food scraps, yard debris, and non-recyclable paper, you can help limit the amount of trash we throw away by as much as 75%. The city will charge customers based on the size of their trash cart, so go small, start composting, and save more.

‘I was not planning to apply for anything after leaving Folk Alliance, the mission of Swallow Hill, its legacy, its programs in place, and the passion and resilience of the sta - all of that - and the aspirations of the board, it really dovetailed with what I’m passionate about’

Aengus Finnan, president and CEO of Swallow Hill Music

VOICES

Becoming a Colorado homeowner

In September, my partner and I closed on a condo as first-time homebuyers.

It was a long journey, and despite not knowing where anything is as I sit among boxes writing this column, it is well worth it.

FROM THE EDITOR

Christy Steadman

The journey began sometime mid-2019 when my then-landlord asked if my partner, Tommy, and I would be interested in purchasing his condo where we had been long-term tenants. We had been living there for about five years at the time. Though it wasn’t our “dream home” — the main thing it was missing for me is an inunit washer and dryer — it was a cozy place with a partial view of Golden’s Lookout Mountain from the balcony.

So we met with a lender who was recommended by our landlord. The lender gave us a list of tasks related to financials, such as building credit and saving for cash to close, and told us to come back in about a year to see where we stand.

Mid-2020 came around, and I contacted the lender to make another appointment, but he never returned calls or emails — still not sure what happened, but perhaps it was due to the pandemic.

From my time covering Golden, I remembered one of the Golden Lions Club members mentioning that she worked as a loan officer. Because I had assumed my role with Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile by this time — thus, no longer a conflict of interest — I reached out to her.

She ran our numbers and found that we qualified for an FHA loan to purchase the condo, so we proceeded. Tommy and I completed the first-time homebuyer’s class, dropped off the earnest money, had the home inspection. All was going well until our lender called with some bad news: the condo did not qualify for an FHA loan because of stipulations not met by the HOA.

Instead of giving up, however, Tommy and I decided we still wanted to purchase. Our lender introduced us to Sarah, a real estate agent who she had worked with previously.

This was August 2020, when the journey actually begins.

Sarah got us on the MLS search and we started going to showings. I remember the first one we went to — it was a cute little condo in southeast Denver. Ultimately, the place was a bit too small for our needs, but had I known then what I know now, we probably would’ve put an offer in on it.

As you probably know, the housing market went crazy. And our biggest setback was the fact that we could only purchase a condo that met the stipulations for an FHA loan. Still, by summer 2021, Tommy and I had seen countless condos and we put in I-don’t-know-how-many offers. Each one was beat out by investors or higher offers with cash or conventional lending. We were doing everything we could do “sweeten” our offer — waiving inspection except health and safety, offering well over listing, etc.

Still, places were getting snatched up almost as immediately as they were listed. Sometimes we didn’t even get to go to our scheduled showing because an offer had been accepted hours after it had been listed. There were other times that as Sarah was writing up our offer, the listing agent contacted her to let her know that an offer had already been accepted.

By winter 2021-2022, it seemed hopeless. I’ll admit that I lost motivation and began looking into rentals — we were still living in the condo that our landlord wanted to sell.

But then in late August, our soon-to-be future condo was listed. Tommy and I knew it was “the one.”

Sarah put in our offer and the listing agent informed her that there were two other “spoken” offers at the time, but nothing in writing. A day or so later, those other offers did come in, and the listing agent informed Sarah that ours was not the highest offer. So, our lender gets involved — she checked with us to make sure we’d be willing, in her words, to “go all in,” and ran all our numbers again to get us to the highest amount we’d be able to competitively offer.

That did it — after two years of searching and being let down, offer after offer — we finally put in an offer that was accepted. It seems everyone was rooting for us to get the place, even the seller. After our offer was accepted and everything was

going smoothly in the process, the listing agent informed Sarah that a fourth offer had come in on the place. It was higher than ours, but the seller chose us because that fourth offer was an investor with conventional lending, and the seller wanted the condo to go to first-time buyers with an FHA loan because that is how they purchased it. And it served them well for a number of years, until they were ready to sell it and purchase a larger place.

I’m not sure if I can call it luck — though certainly it was — or if it was just a case of being the right time, but I am so grateful for the experience. Yes, it was trying. But I had a wonderful team by my side, with Sarah, our lender and even the seller. And now I’m fortunate enough to have 740 square-feet to call my very own, complete with a gorgeous window that my cats can watch the birds from and an in-unit washer and dryer.

Coloradans facing an avalanche of fees

In June, we embraced the Colorado Avalanche bringing Lord Stanley back to our state. Denver now truly is

Hockey Town U.S.A. with the Stanley Cup, the University of Denver is the NCAA Champion, Denver East hockey won the high school national championship and the PeeWee Jr. Avs won The Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament this year.

As much as we cheer these accomplishments, Coloradans are facing a growing avalanche of new and increased fees that local governments and utilities are using to slowly but surely pick our pockets.

Every month, these fees chip away

LINDA SHAPLEY

Publisher

especially hard on the working poor and senior citizens on fi xed incomes who barely can survive. These fees, along with higher food and gas prices, impact the middle class as well.

Let me give you just a few examples.

Denver City Council recently approved fees on trash collection for the fi rst time in the city’s history. Denver voters also will see a new proposed fee for sidewalk repairs on the fall ballot.

So, Denver residents in 2023 will pay $9 a month for a small garbage bin (35 gallons), $13 for a medium bin (65 gallons) and $21 a month for a large bin (95 gallons). For someone on a fi xed income,

lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

CHRISTY STEADMAN

Editor csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI

Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE

Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS

Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

$108 a year for trash removal is a big hit. I’m not impressed with the city pushing the fee dressed up as a way to increase recycling.

If this trash fee was on the ballot, it surely would have failed.

The sidewalk fee proposal on the ballot would cost the average single family home on a local street, with a 50-foot property frontage, about $107.50 a year.

I’m pleased the library district idea to replace the Denver Public Library was dropped, because there has been enough actions and attempts to take power away

Columnists & Guest Commentaries

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.

Email letters to csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Deadline 5 p.m. on the 20th of each month for the following month’s paper.

Wellington Webb

Rebel Bread launches online Camp Bread courses

BY LISA SCHLICHTMAN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Artisanal bread maker Zach Martinucci describes himself as a culinary anthropologist, which in his words, means he loves telling stories about food over food and through food.

“Anthropology is the study of humanity,” he said. “We look at our politics or economics or culture as a way of understanding our societies, so why couldn’t we learn something important from food, which is some thing we make and consume mul tiple times a day? Couldn’t that tell us something about who we are?”

And it’s that focus on the culture surrounding food — and in his case, bread and pastries — that fuels the growth of Rebel Bread, the Denver bakery Martinucci founded in Octo ber 2018.

Most recently, the company has launched Camp Bread, a newly imagined series of virtual baking classes hosted by Martinucci, which began last month with Sourdough at Home.

Brigitte Hulbert, who lives in the Chaffee Park area outside of the Highlands in Denver, participated in one of Rebel Bread’s earlier sour dough baking classes, which served as the catalyst for Camp Bread.

“I had always wanted to learn how to do sourdough starter, but it was intimidating,” Hulbert said. “I learned from a friend that Rebel Bread offered a class, and I signed up two days before it started.”

The five-day class was offered on weekday nights and over the week end and fit with Hulbert’s work schedule, which has her working late most days. And if Hulbert was unable to participate in the live class, she could tune in to the recorded version.

“They made it available for anyone to participate regardless of their schedules,” Hulbert said. “Zach made the class really fun. He made sense of the science part (of making sourdough), which I loved, but he also made it simple and relatable. It was something I looked forward to after work every night.”

Martinucci said Camp Bread was born from Rebel Bread’s experience with shifting from in-person to vir tual classes during the pandemic.

“This course was originally a six-hour, in-person course to guide people to make sourdough,” he said. “It’s designed for people to do in their home kitchen and follow along with us to fit around their own schedule.”

He said the initial response to the first Camp Bread class, which launched Sept. 1, has been exciting, and as long as people keep respond ing to it, Rebel Bread will add more classes.

“Probably just a few a year to start,” Martinucci said.

The bread master hasn’t an nounced the next class he’ll be offer ing but he did reveal he gets asked about bagels a lot.

“So the next course I’m working on could focus on two Jewish breads

in one course — challah and bagels,” Martinucci said. “Challah is a sweet ened, enriched bread that is cer emonial and it takes a little bit more labor to make. And in contrast, the bagel is an everyday, hearty bread. I’d like to show how both are really versatile and easy to make at home.”

He said current and future Camp Bread courses follow recipes made at the bakery, and those recipes are provided to student bakers.

Since taking the initial sourdough class, Hulbert said she’s made about 20 loaves of bread and still has one of two sourdough starters still going. She has also become a Rebel Bread super fan. Her current favorite is a croissant that tastes like a jalapeño popper, and she also loves the mouth-watering cherry tart turnovers.

“And you can’t beat their sour dough bread,” Hulbert said. “It’s so much better than mine.”

What sets Rebel Bread apart from other bakeries, Martinucci said, is the company’s commitment to a set of core values that empowers em ployees to be creative and provides space for them to be who they truly are. Rebel Bread employs about 12 full-time bakers or production staff plus about 14 part-time team mem bers who make bread deliveries and staff the retail location and work the farmers markets.

Martinucci is proud that the com pany pays its employees competitive ly and offers them opportunities to grow with the company and engage with customers and vendors to be a

For more information about Rebel Bread and its new Camp Bread courses, visit rebelbreadco.com.

positive force in the community.

“The name Rebel came from want ing to do things a little differently,” Martinucci said. “Our bakers are allowed to create specials — week to week and month to month — to really encourage that creativity and ever-changing menu.”

Rebel Bread prides itself on being a community bakery, which can be a challenge for a company that largely serves wholesale customers.

“Because we don’t have a tradi tional retail space you can walk into day to day, we have to work hard to show people that there are real people behind the bread — to show them they’re members of your com munity, they’re being paid a living wage to do what they love and make great, delicious bread,” Martinucci said.

That’s why Rebel Bread has a booth at both the South Pearl Street and City Park farmers markets, and offers its Camp Bread classes, a Bread Club delivery service and tours of its bakery at 675 S. Broad way.

Looking to the future, Martinucci is poised to grow and capitalize on what Rebel Bread is already doing so well.

“I love the culture we’ve built and the community we’ve become a part of, and I would love to just keep do ing that on a larger scale,” he said.

FROM PAGE 8

from Mayor Michael Hancock and the institution of mayor. I would support a mill levy increase that helps the libraries but keeps the mayor’s power intact.

Meanwhile, Coloradans are deal ing with increased fees already showing up on electric and water bills. The average electric bill for Xcel Energy’s residential custom ers increased $5.24 a month. This 6.4% increase was approved in April by the Colorado Public Utili ties Commission.

Then, the PUC gave Xcel approv al to collect a half billion dollars from its customers to cover the spiraling costs of natural gas dur ing a winter cold snap in 2021.

Late last year, the Denver Water Board also approved a rate in crease. Most single-family resi dential customers, depending on where they live, have seen an increase in their monthly bill by a range of about 47 cents to $1.34.

Another item that may include future tax dollars is a possible new Denver Broncos stadium. With a new owner for the Broncos, discussions immediately start about if the team needs a new stadium.

The new Mile High Stadium opened in 2001 and was funded by a six-county tax.

Let’s start with some sports his tory. The Avalanche and Denver Nuggets first played in the former

McNichols Arena, which was near the former Mile High Stadium. The city owned and operated both venues at the time. Both teams needed city approval to get out of their city contracts before new facilities could move forward.

In 1997, Charlie Lyons and Ascent Entertainment owned the Nuggets and Avalanche and began planning for a new arena, which they would own and operate.

I worked closely with Lyons and later with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen to assure our sports teams stayed in downtown for at least 25 years. I only supported the Pepsi Center and new football stadium tax district with this caveat.

I will only support a new Bron cos stadium if the owners agree to stay downtown and the new facility has a retractable roof to attract such events as a Super Bowl and World Cup.

But getting back to the fees and taxes in 2022. An increase of $100 here and $100 there, and the finan cial hole gets deeper and deeper for our most vulnerable residents, along with many middle-class households.

Instead of burying our residents with an avalanche of new and in creased fees, sharpen your pencils and find a way to get these needs done in the general budgets.

Wellington Webb, president of Webb Group International, served as Denver’s first Black mayor from 1991-2003. He also served in the Colorado State Legislature and as Denver’s auditor.

Mile High Happenings is a new monthly column featuring community events throughout Denver, highlighting events that take place in the central and central-south neighborhoods covered by the Washington Park Profile and Life on Capitol Hill newspapers.

Event submissions from community members and organizations are welcome. Submissions should include brief details about the event and a photo

Sept. 26-Oct. 16

Oct. 8

or event logo.

Deadline is the 20th of each month for the event to be listed the following month. Cycle for the column’s listings will begin on the 10th of the month and run through the 10th of the following month.

Submissions can be emailed to Christy Steadman at csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com.

Oct.

Colfax Ave Movie Night: “Remember the Titans”

Time: 6:30 p.m. street party, 7:30 p.m. movie.

Location: The park at the corner of 16th Avenue and Humboldt Street, City Park West neighborhood.

Cost: Free, RSVP encouraged.

The University of Denver, including the university’s Ritchie Center, pictured, is one of the inperson tours o ered during the Denver Architecture Foundation’s Doors Open Denver.

Doors Open Denver

Time: Various.

Location: Multiple for in-person tours, virtual experience available 24/7.

Cost: $25 for Denver Architecture Foundation members and $30 for non-members. Proceeds benefit the Denver Architecture Foundation.

The Denver Architecture Foundation’s annual Doors Open Denver event features 24 in-person tours on Saturdays and Sundays and 24 additional virtual tours. A full schedule of this year’s in-person tours is available online. The annual Y/OUR Denver photography competition is also returning for its fifth year. Deadline for online entries is Oct. 28. An exhibition of top entries will run virtually from Dec. 12 to Feb. 28.

More information/reservations: denverarchitecture.org.

Oct.

Family Fishing Day

Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Overland Pond Park, 955 W. Florida Ave., Overland neighborhood.

Cost: Free, but advance registration is required. Space is limited, and there will be a waitlist once the event reaches capacity.

This event is hosted by the Greenway Foundation in partnership with Denver’s Stormwater Education and Outreach Program and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. It is designed for children ages 3-12, but children of all ages are invited. Attendees will learn fishing etiquette, fishing safety, fish anatomy and fishing techniques. Fishing rods and supplies will be provided.

More information/reservations: thegreenwayfoundation.org/event/family-fishing-day/.

Capitol Hill Concerts: Meadow Mountain

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: First Unitarian Society of Denver, 1400 N. Lafayette St., Cheesman Park neighborhood.

Cost: $20 for advanced general admission, $25 for day-of-show general admission, $10 for students age 13 and older with a valid student ID and children 12 and younger are free. A season pass for all four concerts costs $70. Sponsorships also available. The concerts will be livestreamed on YouTube for free but a donation is suggested.

The Capitol Hill Concert series’ 2022-23 season kicks off on Oct. 8 with a performance by Meadow Mountain, a progressive bluegrass band. This is the first of four concerts in the series. Capitol Hill Concerts has a mission to offer high-caliber, musically-diverse, family-friendly concerts, while also supporting local nonprofits. The nonprofit on Oct. 8 is Mile High 360.

More information/reservations: capitolhillconcerts.com.

Oct. 15

World Singing Day

Time: 10 a.m. to noon.

Location: Denver Performing Arts Complex, 14th and Curtis streets

Cost: Free, registration encouraged.

Denver Arts & Venues is hosting Denver’s version of World Singing Day for the first time in the event’s 11-year history. This event is a global sing-along, and Denver will join Boulder and Colorado Springs as part of more than 30 events happening worldwide.

More information/reservations: worldsingingdaydenver.eventbrite.com, artsandvenues.com/singtogether.

Oct. 16

Stories on Stage: Stone Animals

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Dr., Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Cost: $24.

This production features “Kelly Link’s weird and wonderful fantasy about a typical American couple moving into a not-so-typical suburb,” states a news release. A virtual performance for anytime viewing will be available beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 20.

More information/reservations: storiesonstage.org, 303-494-0523.

The Colfax Ave Business Improvement District’s final Colfax Ave Movie Night for the season was rescheduled because of weather. “Remember the Titans” will now be showing on Oct. 19. Colfax Ave Movie Night is a free, family-friendly, outdoor event. Food and drinks will be available for purchase until 9 p.m. Picnic dinners are welcome.

More information/reservations: colfaxave.com, info@colfaxave.com.

Oct. 21

Return of the Corn Mothers

Time: 5:30-9 p.m.

Location: History Colorado Center, 200 Broadway, Speer neighborhood.

Cost: Free, RSVP is required.

This event is the opening reception for the Return of the Corn Mothers: Inspiring Women of the Southwest exhibit and will include the induction of 22 women to the Corn Mothers family. The Corn Mothers exhibit is part of a larger series of Corn Mothers exhibitions that documents the stories and portraits of 70 multi-cultural women from the Southwest and their cultural roots. These women exemplify the essence of Corn Mother and have been chosen by their communities for their selfless contributions and creative endeavors to better the lives of others.

More information/reservations: historycolorado.org/exhibit/return-corn-mothers.

Meadow Mountain kicks o the Capitol Hill Concert series with a performance on Oct. 8. COURTESY PHOTO

DENVER

Fall has arrived in Denver

City o ers a variety of events for all ages

Autumn in Denver is a wonderful time of the year. Whether you’re looking for tricks or treats, haunting entertainment, family fun time, Día de los Muertos celebrations or simply somewhere to go decked out in your favorite Halloween costume, Denver has something for everybody. Here are a few suggestions.

13TH FLOOR HAUNTED HOUSE

The 13th Floor Haunted House has opened for the season and will be open on select nights through Nov. 12.

This year’s haunted house features three attractions: Primal Fear, which explores the legend of Sasquatch; Midnight Mania, a slasher-themed haunt taking place in a condemned college frat house; and All Hallows Eve, which features a cursed group of undead trick or treaters.

BROADWAY HALLOWEEN PARADE

The Broadway Halloween Parade will take place beginning at 6 p.m. Oct. 22 on Broadway between Fifth and Alameda avenues.

BRONCOS TRICK OR TREAT

The annual Broncos Trick or Treat takes place this year on Oct. 29 at Empower Field at Mile High, 1701 Bryant St. in Denver. There are three time slots available: 9:30-11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1:30-3 p.m. Each

DAY OF THE DEAD 5K/10K

The 2022 Day of the Dead 5K/10K takes place on Oct. 23 at City Park, 2001 Colorado Blvd., in Denver. Both races begin at 9 a.m.

DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL

The Denver Botanic Gardens is celebrating Día de los Muertos on Nov. 5 with numerous time slots for admission available throughout the day.

FALL FLANNEL FEST

The fifth annual Fall Flannel Fest takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 23 at Denver Milk Market, 1800 Wazee St., in the Dairy Block.

GHOST WALK WITH PHIL GOODSTEIN

Local author and Denver native Phil Goodstein is offering his Denver Ghost Walk tours from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29; and from 6-8 p.m. on

HALLOWEEN WITH MEOW WOLF

Meow Wolf Denver is hosting two Halloween events at its Convergence Station, 1338 1st St. in Denver

Monster Mash Bash Adulti-Verse: 5-10 p.m. Oct. 26. This

PARANORMAL PALACE

The Paranormal Palace takes place Oct. 29 at McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave. in Denver. Doors for general admission open at 7 p.m.

The Paranormal Palace is a dress-to-impress Halloween

SPOOKY XII: THE DIRECTOR STRIKES BACK

Mile High Freedom Bands’ Spooky XII: The Director Strikes Back concert takes place on Oct. 15 at Historic Grant Avenue, 216 S. Grant St., in Denver’s Speer neighborhood.

The performance will be offered at two time slots: a matinee performance from 2-4 p.m. that is rated PG, and

VICTORIAN HORRORS

Victorian Horrors at the Molly Brown House Museum offers attendees the opportunity to hear Gothic horror tales portrayed by acclaimed local actors and explore the historic Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St. in Denver, which will be decorated by The Learned Lemur and Atomic Folk Art with spooky curiosities. Fortune tellers will be reading tarot for tips.

Additional on-site attractions include Class Axe Throwing and the Shriekeasy Bar for patrons age 21 and older. Add-on options for additional cost include Mini Escape Games, the Sensory Overload maze and, for guests 21 and older, Big Foot’s Big Shot, which is a secret bar hidden within the haunted house.

There is no minimum age requirement for the 13th Floor, though the event is graphic and meant to be

This annual parade features Halloween-themed floats, bands and marchers. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costume.

Getting its start in 2017, the Broadway Halloween Parade

has limited space, so it is recommended to register early.

The stadium will be festively decorated, and the event will include trick or treating and interacting with Miles the Mascot.

Beginning Oct. 1, cost is $35 for the 5K and $40 for 10K for adults, and $30 for the 5K and $35 for the 10K for participants age 17 and younger. Registration on race day increases by $5. A virtual option is also available.

This event will feature of artistic performances, altars, a costume contest an artisan mercado and more. Día de los Muertos costumes are encouraged.

Tickets range in price from $10 for members to $15 for

This family-friendly free community event will feature live music, trick or treating, a caramel apple station, fall pastries and cocktails, a live pumpkin carver and kids’ craft stations.

Oct.31.

Attendees should meet in front of the statue of the Indian on the east lawn of the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver, which is along Grant Street be-

adults-only exhibit is for guests 21 and older with a valid photo ID required. Costumes are encouraged for this event but masks covering the entire face are not allowed.

SpooKiKi Ball featuring House of Flora: 8 p.m. on Oct. 29.

gala and charity event, benefiting the Humankindness Project. The event features a costume contest, dance floor, open bar, full art installations, food trucks, performers and deejays. This year is themed Western World Halloween Party, but any Halloween costume is welcome.

an evening performance from 7-9 p.m. that is rated R. The matinee will feature a Bizarre Bazaar designed for children and youth that includes games, costumes and a snack bar. The evening performance will feature a Spooky Snack Shop which includes special spooky libations.

Tickets cost $15 with discounted tickets for students

Victorian Horrors in-person will be offered Oct. 14-16, 20-22, and 27-29. On these dates, admission is offered every 15 minutes from 6-9 p.m. An accessibility-friendly, in-person performance will take place at 4 p.m. on Oct. 16. During this performance, guests will stay in one mobility accessible room and the actors and ASL interpreters will come to them to perform five chilling tales.

scary. It is not recommended for children age 12 and younger.

Ticket prices begin at $19.99per person, with Fast Pass, Skip the Line and VIP ticketing options available.

13th Floor is located at 3400 East 52nd Ave. in Denver’s Elyria Swansea neighborhood. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit 13thfloorhauntedhouse. com.

is hosted by the Broadway Merchants Association and City Council Lucky District 7. The event is family-friendly and free to attend. Learn more at thebroadwayhalloweenparade.com.

This family-friendly event is recommended for children ages 4-12. Tickets cost $10 each, and every person must have a ticket, including accompanying adults.

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit empowerfieldatmilehigh.com/events/detail/broncos-trick-or-treat.

The race will feature a race logo shirt, finishers medal, a finish line expo and free photo downloads after the event. To learn more or to register, visit coloradorunnerevents. com/DDLM.

nonmembers. Youth age 15 and younger are free but still require a ticket. Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not available onsite.

To learn more or to purchase tickets, visit botanicgardens.org.

Halloween costumes and flannel attire are encouraged. To learn more, visit denvermilkmarket.com and select the date on the calendar.

tween 14th and Colfax avenues.

Cost is $25. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Goodstein at philgoodstein@ gmail.com.

This event is for guests age 18 and older.

To learn more about these event or to purchase tickets, visit meowwolf.com/visit/Denver and select `ticketed events.’

This event is for attendees age 21+. A valid ID must be presented for entry.

Tickets begin at $99. This event is expected to sell out. Visit denverhalloween.org to learn more about the event or to link to the event on Eventbrite to purchase tickets.

and seniors available. Tickets are expected to sell out. It is recommended to purchase tickets early. The Bizarre Bazaar and Spooky Snack Shop are free, but a donation is suggested.

To learn more about Mile High Freedom Bands or to purchase tickets, visit mhfb.org.

A virtual Victorian Horrors featuring the same 2022 stories and actors will be offered for $20 per family.

Tickets for in-person Victorian Horrors start at $19 per person. Victorian Horrors is advised for ages 12 and older, per parental discretion. Masks will be required for all participants.

To purchase tickets or to learn more about the event, visit mollybrown.org.

FROM PAGE

In addition to the four core conservation programs in Colorado, Mongolia, Peru and Vietnam, the Denver Zoo has participated in more than 600 different conservation, rehabilitation and wildlife rescue programs in the past 20 years, including conservation trips presented by zoo staff.

Travis Garrett has worked in animal care for more than 24 years and has spent 23 years of his career at the Denver Zoo working with birds. Like boreal toads and American pika, birds also indicate their environment — specifically related to water, but disease, temperature and other environmental impacts are also reflected in bird populations.

“Severe drought affects plants, which then changes the natural range of birds that eat berries of those plants,” Garrett said.

Garrett has an affinity for penguins because of their adapted camouflage, spiculeladen tongues and unique personalities, he said.

“Working with penguins is like working with a bunch of two-year-olds,” Garrett said. “They have short attention spans and get mad or

excited like kids.”

Through support of the Denver Zoo’s conservation programming, Garrett has had the unique opportunity to volunteer three times with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds in Cape Town.

This organization works with the African government, specializing in the conservation of African penguins, which are currently classified as endangered with largely decreasing numbers, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature assessment in 2021. From October to January, SANCCOB puts out a call for volunteers to help during chick season when it may care for upwards of 900 penguin chicks.

During his volunteer experiences, Garrett has helped with the entire process from food preparation, rehabilitation work, hand-rearing baby penguins, raising juveniles and releasing them back into the wild when they are recovered and healthy. Garrett’s favorite memory is standing on the beach and watching as crates were opened for rehabilitated, healthy penguins to join the colony.

“You see what they look like when they first arrive

at the facility, and then see them recover,” Garrett said. “There wasn’t a dry eye in the house. This is your mic drop moment.”

The opportunity to aid in conservation work abroad inspires Garrett to tell others how the zoo’s conservation work extends far beyond property lines. By engaging with guests, Garrett is able to use the African penguins in his care as ambassadors to share what the Denver Zoo is doing to help conserve this species’ wild brothers and sisters.

In addition to visiting the zoo, there are many other ways the public can support its conservation missions. For example, overfishing is a problem that endangers wildlife, Garrett said, adding that consumers can directly impact the market by using the Seafood Watch guide to purchase sustainably sourced seafood. Recycling and refusing plastics and Styrofoam will also reduce the amount of inedible material that ends up in the water, eventually consumed by wildlife with the potential to end up eaten by humans.

“None of us would pick up a Styrofoam cup and eat it,” Garrett said. “So why would you want that to end up in the environment and on your plate?”

WILD FALL

Through the month of October, the Denver Zoo’s Wild Fall o ers a unique, festive zoo experience that is included with a regular ticket to the zoo. Guests will discover the creatures that inhabit their imaginations, such as beasts of lore like Bigfoot, dragons, sea monsters and more. The experience continues with roaming costumed characters, creaturecarved pumpkins, festive food and drink and special animal demos that connect these supernatural beings to the real-life natural world.

Select evenings — Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28-31 — also o er a Trick-or-Treat Trail, for which a separate ticket is required. Tickets for Trick-or-Treat Trail are timed and limited. For the trick or treating event, the zoo is sourcing and handing out candy from companies that are committed to being palm oil-free or making their products with sustainable palm oil. There will be an option to recycle candy wrappers on-site.

To learn more or purchase tickets, visit denverzoo.org.

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Life on Capitol Hill 13October 1, 2022 A couple of volunteers with the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds examine rehabilitated penguins to get them ready for release in the wild. The Denver Zoo’s Travis Garrett is able to be involved with SANCCOB through the support of the Denver Zoo’s conservation programming. COURTESY PHOTO

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute woos older adults back to class

BY CANDY PETROFSKY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Curiosity never retires. And that’s why so many older adults are now back in class — decades after graduating — thanks to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver.

“OLLI has been around now for 25 years in the Denver metro,” said Jacqueline Wyant, executive director of OLLI at DU. “Not only are we the best kept secret in town, offering the most affordable continuing education on seven convenient campuses, our senior students, or OLLI members, don’t do homework, there are no pop quizzes and the only grades they get are As for effort.”

A CliffsNotes rundown of OLLI

OLLI at DU is an adult learning membership program designed for inquiring adults, age 50 and better, who wish to pursue life long learning in a relaxed, noncompetitive atmosphere, states OLLI’s website. Thanks to the generosity of The Bernard Osher Foundation and many community grants, the classes are affordable. OLLI at DU joins a network of more than 120 institutes nation wide that are helping mature learners find personal fulfill ment.

“Basically, OLLI at DU offers members more than 170 dif ferent classes to choose from, spread out over three, eight-week

terms - fall, winter and spring. OLLI members may elect to learn online or in-person. And our teachers are just as fascinating as the array of subjects we offer,” Wyant said.

Think peers teaching peers. The teachers, also known as facilitators, may be former school faculty members, community and civic leaders, independent schol ars and even retired professionals such as doctors or lawyers. Es sentially anyone who has a deep passion and knowledge about a hobby, skill or topic is welcome to teach a class, provided that OLLI standards are met.

OLLI members come from all walks of life, but everyone has the same common three goals: to stay engaged, stay active and make positive connections.

“I’m a retired lawyer and I was looking for something to keep the synapses clicking,” said OLLI member Larry Bass. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I have to tell you the teachers were very well-prepared and it’s been a worthwhile experience.”

The cornucopia of classes OLLI offers is ample - history, music, political science, writing, litera

ture, philosophy, science, sports, religion, global issues, public af fairs, film classes, nuclear power and bridge classes. There are even courses on sex and intimacy.

“I think anybody, and I mean anybody, can find a class at OLLI they’ll enjoy,” said OLLI member Suzy McKeever.

OLLI students may choose from four different memberships. The annual membership - only avail able in the fall - costs $400 per year and offers unlimited inperson and online courses during the fall, winter and spring terms, provided space is available. A one-term membership costs $140 for unlimited courses online and in-person, with the same space caveat. There may be additional costs for required class materials.

“We also offer an introductory membership for first time stu dents (at) $50 per class,” Wyant said. “Lastly, we offer a facilitator membership. OLLI Facilitators are unpaid volunteers who are given access to the complete cata log of courses and webinars, and pay no term membership fee.”

Wyant highly recommends the individual workshops and we binars - which cost $15 each - to

supplement an education or stay active between terms. She added there is an upcoming webinar on influential women that features wonderful speakers.

‘Do the math’

McKeever said anyone who still needs convincing should “do the math.”

“The price is fantastic,” McK eever said. “I sign up for the term membership and usually take three or four classes at a time. I mean, how can you beat it?”

OLLI memberships also include opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities, such as trips to museums, wine and cheese socials and theater nights.

OLLI also offers a slew of clubs — hiking and photography, for example — to encourage deeper connections outside of class.

“OLLI did an amazing job pivot ing during the pandemic by tran sitioning to all online classes,” said OLLI facilitator Paul Simon.

Today, however, more and more people are attending in person, he added.

“Just to be able to keep learning and expand your mind is just so rewarding,” Simon said.

OLLI members are also reward ed with discounts at DU and area restaurants.

“My favorite part? I love OLLI just for the joy of learning and being with people my own age,” Wyant said.

And — there’s no homework.

Help Wanted

We continue to invest in innovation and people, developing new businesses and state-of-the art tools that support new products that produce superior ROIs for clients. We believe that a creative, learning environment staffed with talented people who want to grow and utilize the newest and best tools will result in a dynamic and successful culture that has a positive impact on our clients business and our community. Our brand is one of the most trusted in our community. We’ve built this reputation by providing award-winning news coverage and by being engaged in our community at all levels. As a true marketer, we want you to bring your experience and expertise to develop the best advertising and audience programs for local advertisers needing to engage with the community to grow their business. We value teamwork. We embrace opinions, perspectives, cultures and backgrounds that energizes the company and fuels our passion to do what’s right for our readers, our advertisers and our employees. If you’ve got the drive and the passion, together we can take your career farther than you’ve ever imagined. We are building a sales team that will be the face of the changing media landscape. We are looking for people who are excited to represent our emerging brands and our trusted, traditional ones too. Join our team, working from our Englewood offices and remote. If you’re as passionate as we are about our mission to grow and engage our community, please apply. This position offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life, and paid holiday, vacation, sick and personal time. As an added bonus, you’ll office less than 60 minutes from the best Colorado has to offer in outdoor recreation.

To apply send your letter of interest and resume to Erin Addenbrooke eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Painting

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Denver is located in Ruffatto Hall at the University of Denver, 1999 E. Evans Ave.

OLLI’s winter term begins on Jan. 9. The course catalog will be posted on Nov. 14, which is when registration opens.

To learn more about OLLI at DU or to enroll to become an OLLI member, visit universitycollege.du.edu/olli.

Experience the beauty of culture through art

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

“I’ve heard it said that the power of art is like a beating drum; you can feel it in your chest. That’s why people spontaneously cry when seeing certain artworks. It moves you and changes you and you can’t stop it.”

These are the words of Shanna B. Shelby, the chief curator at the McNichols Civic Center Building in Denver. Responsible for bringing artists’ visions to life, Shelby organizes and manipulates the space to help tell an in-depth story.

This season, Shelby has worked diligently with artists to shine light on the beauty and diversity of the human experience, highlighting Native American, Italian and Japanese American artists.

Now through Dec. 18, Denver Arts & Venues will present three new fall exhibitions at the McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave., and a companion exhibit at Buell Theatre, 1350 Curtis St. in Denver. Several exhibition-related events include the fourth event in the Cultural Fashion Runway Series, which celebrates Native American art and fashion.

“I am always looking for diversity in themes, media, artists’ backgrounds and approaches. I believe very strongly in the power that original artwork has to educate, inspire and change people,” said Shelby. “More recently, I have been drawn to some international artists that are doing some really incredible work and pairing them with either national or local artists.”

The historic McNichols Civic Center Building opened in 1909 and serves as the Greek Revival architectural background for contemporary artists to showcase their work. The structure also serves as an entertainment space for various events.

“What’s special about the McNichols Civic Center Building is we are not a museum,” Shelby said. “We are an active community space and when people come here for a workshop, meeting, wedding or gala, they may not be expecting to see such powerful and interesting work, and they are completely surprised and delighted.”

Native American representation is at the forefront of the fall exhibits, highlighting Navajo and Sioux artists and photographical depictions of Native American life. Danielle SeeWalker, member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota, is one of the featured artists. She is a Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota artist, writer and mother based in Denver.

SeeWalker’s writing is displayed alongside photographer Carlotta Cardana as a part of the Red Road Project. According to the project’s

website, it formed in 2013 and aims to document, through words and visuals, the inspiring and resilient stories of native America. The stories, not often told, highlight the people and communities that are taking positive actions and demonstrating resilience.

“I want people to know that we are still here. We are thriving, contributing members of society, and doing brilliant work to combat several attempts of genocide and keeping our cultures alive,”

SeeWalker said. “Through The Red Road Project, we are able to exemplify this with real life people and highlight the work that is being done. I want people to be challenged by the stereotypes they may have grown up with or heard about regarding American Indian people and see a different perspective — a much more accurate, resilient and beautiful perspective.”

SeeWalker and Cardana’s exhibition at the McNichols Civic Center Building is a small sampling of an almost decades-long project. SeeWalker is currently working on a tangential project highlighting “urban Natives,” especially in the Denver area as it relates to the Indian Relocation Act of the 1950s and `60s.

“Most people don’t know that the majority (more than 70%) of Native American people live in urban areas,” said SeeWalker. “I am currently interviewing many folks that came to Denver from the reservation during the relocation period. I’m really excited for Carlotta and I to share that work and uncover a history that has been buried for so long.”

In addition to the art exhibitions, Denver Arts & Venues will be hosting an event as a part of their Cultural Runway Series. The show will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the McNichols Civic Center Building. Prior to the event, there will be a culturally inspired vendor fair for attendees to peruse.

The show features Native designers from tribes with historic ties to Colorado and nearby states.

Native fashion designers featured on the runway will include Sky Eagle Collection, Sage Mountain Flower, Red Berry Woman and Choke Cherry Creek. This immersive evening will include a special performance by Supaman and a skateboarding interlude.

“I had been thinking for some time that fine art exhibitions are not always approachable or accessible to general audiences. But fashion is immediately accessible — we all wear clothing and the fashion we choose is a way through which express ourselves,” said Shelby. “Fashion design is an expression of art, just like putting paint on a canvas. So, I thought, why don’t we thematically tie the art on the walls to fashion art, and present a runway show? Thus, the Cultural Runway Series was born.”

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The photograph, “Sarah Ortegon,” by Carlotta Cardana, can be seen on the third floor of the McNichols Civic Center Building as a part of the Red Road Project.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CARLOTTA CARDANA/THE RED ROAD PROJECT

Current McNichols Civic Center Building exhibits run through Dec. 18

For more information on the three exhibits and exhibition-related events, visit mcnicholsbuilding.com.

Keeping Hispanic culture and traditions alive

Mexican Cultural Center celebrates its 30th anniversary

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Hispanic traditions have helped shape the tapestry of Colorado and the United States.

It is organizations like Denver’s Mexican Cultural Center that helps keep these traditions alive through arts and culture.

“The Mexican Cultural Center promotes and maintains the richness of our beautiful and vibrant culture,” said Lisandra Gonzales, who sits on the Mexican Cultural Center’s board. “We have to put these at the forefront to ensure they survive.”

The Mexican Cultural Center, 5350 Leetsdale Dr. in Denver’s Washington Virginia Vale neighborhood, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. It formed at a time when there were only 23 cultural centers across the U.S. — some were specific Hispanic culture, but not all, said Jesse Martinez, the executive director of the

The Mexican Cultural Center is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a gala on Nov. 10 at The Cable Center, 2000 Buchtel Blvd. S, on the University of Denver campus.

The evening will include a multi-course dinner created by award-winning chefs paired

Mexican Cultural Center.

“When the Mexican Cultural Center began, the community wanted to invest in arts and culture,” Martinez said.

He added that when the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District — a sales tax that collects one penny on every $10 to support cultural organizations in the sevencounty metro area — was passed, there was a “synergy” among the community for arts and culture. This synergy could have amounted because of the recession in the early 1980s that put a strain on arts and culture, Martinez said.

Forming in the early 1990s, the Mexican Cultural Center was “a pioneer in investing in arts and culture,” Martinez said.

The Mexican Cultural Center’s mission, he added, is to expose people in Denver and across Colorado to

curated beverages and a variety of entertainment. Marcela de la Mar, a notable community leader, will be honored.

To learn more about the Mexican Cultural Center or for more information on the 30th anniversary gala, visit mccdenver.org.

Mexican and Latin American arts and culture. It does this by this by highlighting Latin American cuisine, music, customs and traditions.

“Experiencing culture — whether other peoples or your own — creates a societal understanding of community,” Martinez said. “It creates a common sense of a collective community.”

Today, the Mexican Cultural Center is known for its three signature programs: Día del Niño: Celebrating All Children; Latin Beats: Sonidos de las Americas, which is a free, annual concert; and its Día de los Muertos events.

“The cool thing about our programming is that it’s always free,” Martinez said. “It’s inclusive and representative of the community.”

Another goal of the Mexican Cultural Center is to promote and work with other community nonprofits

and organizations to form a bridge to the Latinx community. With these partnerships in place, the Mexican Cultural Center can also collaborate on the other organizations’ programming to help make it more culturally relevant, Martinez said. The Mexican Cultural Center collaborates on more than 30 programs and events throughout the year.

One such partnership is with the Colorado Symphony, which formed more than 20 years ago.

Anthony Pierce, the chief

artistic officer for the Colorado Symphony, described the partnership as “fruitful,” pointing to collaborations on dozens of concerts including Latin Beats performances, Cinco de Mayo celebrations, Mexico en el Corazón and the Music of Selena.

“Every year, we are thrilled to partner with the Mexican Cultural Center to highlight the sounds of the Americas, celebrate Hispanic heritage and share the power of music and with the community,” Pierce said.

Traditions can get lost with time, Gonzales said.

“The Mexican Cultural Center helps keep these traditions alive,” she said, “and provides education to the community so it can celebrate (Hispanic traditions) with us.”

There has been a Hispanic presence in Colorado going all the way back to the beginning of statehood, Martinez said.

The Mexican Cultural Center will “continue to celebrate different aspects of our community,” Martinez said. “Latin American culture (and) showcasing different perspectives allows for a deeper understanding of our community for greater unity.”

Denver’s Mexican Cultural Center helped bring artist Oscar Becerra-Mora’s giant alebrije, “Xolotl: Dios Perro” to Denver.

COURTESY OF THE MEXICAN CULTURAL CENTER