Washington Park Profile May 2022

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MAY 2022

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FROM THE FARM TO YOUR TABLE FILL IT UP Local refill shops offer options to reduce waste

P16 DON’T GET LEFT IN THE DUST Denver Urban Skate Troop welcomes all

P6 HONING THOSE SOFT SKILLS Emily Griffith Technical College’s shops reopen

P17

Denver’s farmers market season returns

P13

2 Washington Park Profile

May 1, 2022

Business Matters Christy Steadman | csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Bayaud Enterprises’ new dual mobile laundry-shower trailer, which will serve adults COURTESY PHOTO and children experiencing homelessness across metro Denver.

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 Capitol Donuts A new donut shop has opened in Uptown.

Capitol Donuts, 329 E. Colfax Ave., had a soft opening April 1 and a grand opening on April 20.

The shop offers a variety of housemade donuts and muffins, which can be ordered individually or by the half dozen or dozen.

All product is made fresh daily. The donut shop’s hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.

To learn more about Capitol Donuts, visit capitol-donuts.business.site.

The Colfax Ave BID originally reported this story.

Grub Gremlin/Brutal Poodle The Brutal Poodle, a heavy-metal

inspired gastropub in Denver’s Overland neighborhood, launched its food truck, the Grub Gremlin, on April 15.

The Brutal Poodle is located at 1967 S. Broadway, and the Grub Gremlin travels across the metro area to a variety of venues including breweries and small-and-large concert venues.

The Grub Gremlin’s menu is not a replica of the brick-and-mortar — which features a varietal menu of bites, plates, burgers and deserts — though there are some similarities and shared items. Both the Brutal Poodle and Grub Gremlin offer some vegetarian and vegan options.

To learn more about the Brutal Poodle or to find the Grub Gremlin’s upcoming schedule, visit brutalpoodledenver.com.

CLOSINGS Broadway Market The Broadway Market, a food hall at 950 Broadway in the Golden Triangle/ Capitol Hill area, has permanently closed.

The food hall originally opened in February 2019. On March 14, 2020, it closed its doors because of the pandemic’s shutdowns, but started offering takeout and delivery of the hall’s eateries on June 12 that year.

Broadway Market resumed in-person dining on July 23, 2020, but that October, announced it would close for the winter months. It was expected that the food hall would reopen in 2021, but it never did.

Westword reported the permanent closure in early April.

Vert Kitchen Vert Kitchen, a brick-and-mortar restaurant at 704 S. Pearl St. in West Washington Park, has closed. The restaurant served the community for 13 years.

According to Westword, the reason for the closure was to focus on the owners’ Overt Grab & Go. This concept started out being available only in Colorado eight years ago, and has grown to now be available in 10 states, according to Overt’s website.

To learn more about Overt Grab & Go, visit eatovert.com.

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Phoenix Tattoo Company Phoenix Tattoo Company celebrated its one-year anniversary of opening shop on South Broadway in April.

Now located at 1872 S. Broadway in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood, owner Jillian Johnson originally opened Phoenix Tattoo Company in west Denver in February 2019. In the past year since its move, Phoenix Tattoo Company has expanded its staff of experienced tattoo artists and piercers, and launched a new website.

The tattoo shop specializes in custom tattoo work and can cater to any style of art.

To learn more about Phoenix Tattoo Company, visit phoenixtattooco.com.

Follow the shop on social media to learn about specials and deals.

The Table Urban Farm and The Table Public House This April, The Table Urban Farm celebrated its 10-year anniversary and

The Table Public House celebrated its one-year anniversary.

The Table Urban Farm, or more commonly known as simply The Table, was founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Craig Broek and Jeanine Kopaska Broek who currently co-direct the organization.

It is a nonprofit that grows organic produce in the south Denver area to distribute in the community through local partners or The Table’s Veggie Bike, which has been in operation for about seven years. The Table partners with private homeowners who allow The Table to grow vegetables on their property. This year, The Table has 16 garden plots primarily located in the Platt Park and University Hills neighborhoods.

The Table Public House, located at 2190 S. Platte River Dr., opened on April 2, 2021. It specializes in coffee and features Colorado craft beer on tap. It also offers small plates and is expanding its menu through a growing food program. The venue hosts local musicians who perform live and other small events such as seed giveaways and bike diagnostics.

The Table Public House is also looking to launch a training program this summer or fall that will be led by former Metropolitan State University professor Jeff Koch. The program will provide an opportunity for people who need a little help getting back into the workforce, such as those with a criminal record, experiencing homelessness or need some life coaching as they recover from substance abuse, Broek said.

The hands-on training will provide experience in both culinary and the front of the house operations.

It’s all about people and providing a place where people can gather and experience community, Broek said.

“Community is good for mental health and physical wellbeing,” Broek said. “So much more life is experienced when people do it together.”

To learn more about The Table Urban Farm, denvertable.org, and to learn more about The Table Public House, visit tablepublichouse.com.

MISCELLANEOUS

Meritage Homes/Arbor Day Foundation Meritage Homes, a U.S. public homebuilder, partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to distribute 58 trees at Sloan’s Lake Park in Denver.

The event took place on April 23.

The Denver event was one of 18 of Meritage Homes’ community planting and distribution campaigns taking place across the country. Combined, the 18 events will equal to the distribution of more than 1,300 trees nationwide.

“In Denver, Meritage Homes and the Arbor Day Foundation have teamed up with The Park People’s Denver Digs Trees program to distribute trees in an effort to combat several environmental issues, such as air quality, flood mitigation and the emerald ash borer infestation,” states a news release.

Celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, the Arbor Day Foundation SEE BRIEFS, P3

Washington Park Profile 3

May 1, 2022

Community invited to view blood moon with Denver Astronomical Society STAFF REPORT

The Denver Astronomical Society is inviting the community to two events in May that take place on the south lawn of the University of Denver’s Historic Chamberlin Observatory, 2930 E. Warren Ave. The first event takes place on May 7. This is one of the society’s monthly open houses, which take place each month, weather dependent. Open houses are scheduled to take place on the Saturday that falls closest to the first-quarter moon.

Attendees should plan on arriving at about dusk, so for the May 7 open house, that would be about 7:30-8 p.m.

Open houses are free and open to the public, and no RSVP is required.

Members set up their telescopes and allow people to look through them -

and ask questions. Those who have a telescope of their own are welcome to bring it, and members can assist with setting it up or help tutor on how to use it, if need be.

The Denver Astronomical Society’s open houses are opportunity to increase the knowledge and fun of astronomy, said Ron Hranac, a long-time member of the Denver Astronomical Society who serves as the organization’s media contact.

The second event takes place on May 15. This is a special open house to invite people to view the total lunar eclipse — often called a blood moon — that is happening that night.

Denver Astronomical Society members will be setting up telescopes and binoculars for the public’s use, but people are also welcome to bring their own if they

ON THE COVER

have them.

It is recommended to arrive at about 8-8:30 p.m. to see the beginning of the partial eclipse. People can stay as late as they would like, but should plan on staying until about 11 p.m. or so, which is about when the full eclipse will be ending.

Hranac provided the May 15 eclipse times in mountain time: • Partial eclipse begins at 8:27 p.m.

• Total eclipse begins at 9:29 p.m.

• Maximum eclipse at 10:11 p.m.

• Total eclipse ends at 10:53 p.m.

• Partial eclipse ends at 11:55 p.m.

Like the open houses, the May 15 event is free and open to the public, and a reservation is not required.

To learn more about the Denver Astronomical Society, visit denverastro.org. The website has a calendar that people can reference to learn about future open houses.

BRIEFS FROM PAGE 2

is a nonprofit conservation foundation that “through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees,” states the news release.

To learn more about the Arbor Day Foundation, visit arborday.org. To learn more about Meritage Homes, visit meritagehomes.com.

NONPROFIT NEWS

Bayaud Enterprises Bayaud Enterprises has launched a new dual mobile laundry-shower trailer that will help support adults and children experiencing homelessness in metro Denver.

The unveiling took place on April 28.

“This new dual mobile laundryshower trailer will allow Bayaud to support more than 3,000 individuals annually experiencing homeless throughout the Denver metro area with critical services,” said Tammy Bellofatto, executive director of Bayaud Enterprises, in a news release. “In addition, we will continue growing our work as an innovator in the community for social enterprises and supported employment.”

The new mobile laundry-shower trailer is thanks to contributions from businesses and donors totaling -more than $175,000.

Bayaud Enterprises is a Denverbased nonprofit that was founded in 1969. It exists to remove the “barriers to self-sufficiency for adults with disabilities, experiencing homelessness and other challenges to employment,” states a news release. Its offices are located at 333 W. Bayaud Ave. in Denver’s Baker neighborhood, but the organization serves the entire metro area.

To learn more about Bayaud Enterprises, visit bayaudenterprises.org.

Comeback Yoga As a way to honor veterans this

Veterans participate in a Comeback Yoga class.

Memorial Day, the nonprofit Comeback Yoga would like the community to consider making a donation to its organization.

Comeback Yoga is a Denverbased nonprofit that provides free, trauma-informed yoga to veterans, active-duty military and their support networks. “Comeback Yoga’s classes are taught by specially trained instructors who are versed in military culture, PTS, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Military Sexual Trauma (MST), trauma-informed yoga, accessible yoga and many other military specific topics,” states a news release.

Comeback Yoga’s classes are free and available to all members of the military community. Classes are also accessible to everyone regardless of age or physical ability. The organization offers more than 40 classes each week at military bases and offices in Colorado, Utah and Hawaii. Online virtual classes are also offered so that military personnel and vets anywhere can take a free class.

According to the news release, the need for Comeback Yoga’s services skyrocketed during the pandemic but funding has dramatically decreased. Comeback Yoga accepts donations year-round, but the Memorial Day ask is so that the organization can meet the demands for more in-person classes this summer. It is hoping to raise several thousand dollars to fulfill that goal.

Memorial Day falls on May 30 this year.

All gifts are tax-deductible. To learn more about Comeback Yoga, find a class schedule or donate to the organization, visit comebackyoga. org.

COURTESY PHOTO

A two-year-old shopper picks out some fresh produce at the University Hills Farmers Market during last year’s season. Most Denver farmers markets open for the 2022 season in May. Story COURTESY PHOTO on page 13.

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Celebrating 58 Years

4 Washington Park Profile

May 1, 2022

Fundraiser will highlight women’s We Can Do It! program STAFF REPORT

The International Rescue Committee is hosting its Welcome Home fundraiser from 6-9 p.m.

June 1 at the pavilion at City Park, 2001 Steele St., in Denver.

IRC is a not-for-profit that is internationally headquartered in New York. Its Denver office is located in Denver’s Virginia Village neighborhood.

IRC’s mission is “to help people whose lives and livelihoods have been shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and regain control of their future,” states IRC’s website.

The Welcome Home event will benefit the organization’s Denver Psychosocial Support Services and its many programs, including the We Can Do It! program which will be highlighted at the event.

We Can Do It! focuses on “fe-

A performance by Oromo Dance Colorado is one of the highlights of the International Rescue Committee’s Welcome Home fundraiser event, which takes place on June 1 at COURTESY PHOTO City Park in Denver.

male clients who vocalized social isolation and lack of growth opportunities in their new communities in Colorado,” states a news release.

The Welcome Home event includes a buffet dinner catered

by R Bazaar, which is the nonprofit arm of Ruby’s Market, a multi-cultural artesian market on South Pearl Street in Denver.

Live entertainment will be provided by Oromo Dance Colorado.

Tickets cost $100 per person and registration closes May 30.

Attendees should expect to wear a mask at the event, though IRC will be assessing this closer to June 1.

For more information about IRC’s work in Denver, visit rescue.org/united-states/denverco. To register for the Welcome Home event or for more information on the event, visit tinyurl. com/IRC-WelcomeHome.

Nominations being accepted for endangered Colorado places STAFFREPORT

Colorado residents are encouraged to nominate a historic place in Colorado that is currently threatened to be considered for Colorado’s Most Endangered Places list.

Any individual or organization can

make a nomination. Nominations can be in response to threats to historic buildings and sites, including abandonment and neglect, development pressures, extreme weatherization and climate and other factors.

Deadline to submit a nomination is Aug. 22. Nominations can be submitted

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Colorado — rural or within a city. A rural example is the Iglesia de San Antonio-Tiffany Catholic Church in southeastern La Plata County. This building was constructed in 1928 and conveys the story of Hispano history in the area. It was listed in 2019 and its threat when listed was demolition by neglect, vandalism, lack of resources and weatherization.

An urban nomination example is Sullivan Gateway, which is located on the north side of Colfax Avenue near Denver East High School. This structure was built in 1917 to serve as a grand entry to the City Park Esplanade.

It was listed in 2012 with its threat being deterioration and vandalism.

Colorado’s Most Endangered Places list is a program of Colorado Preservation, Inc., a local nonprofit historic

local advocates to identify, preserve and interpret historic buildings, sites and resources that do so much to add variety and character to our cities, towns and rural areas,” states a news release.

Since 1997, Colorado Preservation, Inc., has worked with communities throughout the state to save more than 130 nominated sites. Of these, 54 have been considered saved, 47 are in progress and 22 are on alert status. According to the press release, “only seven sites have been lost in 23 years of soliciting nominations.”

To learn more about Colorado’s Most Endangered Places list or Colorado Preservation, Inc., visit coloradopreservation.org. Specific questions about a potential nomination can be directed to Kim Grant at 303-893-4260 ext.222 or kgrant@coloradopreservation.org.

Washington Park Profile 5

May 1, 2022

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6 Washington Park Profile

May 1, 2022

“When it fell out of the limelight, people started not doing it anymore, at least in the U.S.,” said Billy Arlew, a LoDo resident who rollerblades about four times a week, including skating with DUST. “The numbers of casual (inline) skaters diminished, and the only style that survived was trick (skating) at the skate parks.”

The Denver Urban Skate Troop gather for a group photo — a tradition for every Wednesday night skate. This photo was taken at Washington Park in Denver.

COURTESY PHOTO

Inline skating group offers group skates every Wednesday

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Luis Osorio has been inline skating for about 30 years.

He got interested in the sport when he was in his 20s living in New York, and through the years, he has built a community of skate friends who reside around the world.

When Osorio — now a resident of Commerce City — moved to Denver, he went into the Death and Glory Skate Shop to purchase a new pair of inline skates. While there, he inquired about local skate groups, and employees at the shop recommended he look into the Denver Urban Skate Troop.

And ever since then, “I’ve been skating with them every week,” Osorio said.

DUST forms The Denver Urban Skate Troop was founded by Sunnyside resident Rachel Norkin in June 2018. It started out as an informal gathering of about 12-15 people who got together to skate every Wednesday evening, Norkin said. Being one of its kind for inline skating in Denver — other major U.S. cities have robust skate groups — DUST quickly gained popularity through 2019, attracting people from across the Front Range who would come to Denver to skate.

Norkin, 42, a customer success manager for a Denver-based tech company, has been inline skating since she was a kid. She would mostly go to local skate parks — such as to execute tricks — but eventually noticed more and more

people using inline skating as a form of fitness.

“Once you get comfortable with wheels on your feet,” Norkin said, “you can do just about anything and go just about anywhere.”

Like other group activities, DUST went on hiatus during the COVID-19 shutdowns in 2020. But skating in general did not experience a descent during that time, Norkin said.

She added that is probably because skating is a relatively low-cost and low-impact form of exercise that can be done outdoors.

DUST restarted again in May 2021, and today, between 40-60 people attend each week — with the biggest turnout being last summer at Sloan’s Lake when about 100 people attended the skate.

DUST’s Wednesday skates are family-friendly and no pre-registration or membership is required to join a skate. All ages are welcome and there are opportunities for all skill levels and all wheel types — meaning, if they prefer, people can ride a skateboard, scooter or fourwheel, also known as quad, roller skates.

The weekly skates, or routes as DUST refers to them, take place across the metro-area with most of them taking place in Denver proper — Washington Park, City Park, RiNo, to name a few. However, DUST also will also offer routes outside of the metro area on some weekends, such as at Garden of the Gods near Colorado Springs, for example.

Because no registration is required, DUST announces its routes through social media. Each announcement will inform people of the route destination — which will be different each week — and what skill level the route is. Skill levels of the routes are defined like ski slope runs: green is beginner/easy, blue is medium and black is advanced.

DUST offers skates year-round. During the Colorado seasons that come with inclement weather, routes are announced on a weekly basis.

During the summer months, routes are announced monthly. Attendees meet at the route destination at 6:30 p.m., and the group departs for the skate at 7 p.m.

Friends on blades Rob Even of Arvada has been inline skating for more than 20 years, adding that he grew up during what he calls “the Golden Age of Rollerblading.”

Even, an engineer by trade, has been skating with DUST since its formation in 2018. While the sport is what drew him to skating with DUST, what he particularly enjoys is meeting new people.

DUST attendees run the gamut, Even said. There are some fellow engineers in the group, but there’s also teachers, musicians, chefs and many others, Even said.

“When you share an experience with other people, you inherently have something in common,” Even said. “Anybody who wants to have wheels on their feet are welcome.

(DUST) very much establishes itself as a friend community.”

History of inline skating According to rollerblade.com, “legend has it that the first inline skates date back to the 1700s when a Dutchman attempted to simulate ice skating by nailing wooden spools to strips of wood attached to his shoes.”

Roller skates came about in 1860s and by the 1930s, they “found a permanent place in society,” states rollerblade.com. Roller skates, which are still popular today, dominated skate culture through the 1970s.

“In 1980, two hockey-playing Minnesota brothers discovered an inline skate while rummaging through a sporting goods store and decided that this design would make an ideal off-season hockey-training tool,” states rollerblade.com.

These brothers developed the first trademarked Rollerblade skates.

Through the 1980s, the Rollerblade gained popularity, and by 1995, sports on Rollerblades were added to the X Games. However, inline skating sports were removed from the X Games one decade later in 2005.

An improvement of the fun from the past While the desire to get exercise outdoors during the pandemic can be attributed to some of the comeback of inline skating, Arlew believes the sport started to get people’s attention again about five years prior.

Between roughly 2015 to 2018, tech developments to inline skates began to progress more rapidly than they had ever before. This new tech includes everything from better boots, such as the liner and shell to make them more comfortable; to wheel sizes and even the number of wheels on an inline skate.

SEE DUST, P7

Billy Arlew of LoDo practices some tricks before the Wednesday night Denver Urban Skate Troop skate on April 13 at City Park.

Janele Harry of the Golden Triangle practices a new trick on her inline skates on April 13 before heading out on the Denver Urban Skate Troop’s group PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN skate at City Park.

Washington Park Profile 7

May 1, 2022

Rachel Norkin of Denver’s Sunnyside neighborhood formed the Denver Urban Skate Troop in June 2018, welcoming anyone who wants to have wheels on their feet.

Edmond Harvey of the Ballpark neighborhood does some solo skating prior to joining the rest of the Denver Urban Skate Troop for the Wednesday night skate at City Park.

Alanna Carnevale of Denver’s RiNo neighborhood grew up figure skating. It was about two years ago when she started inline skating, and today, enjoys skating with the Denver Urban Skate Troop.

DUST

Skate Shop, 935 W. 11th Ave., in Denver’s Lincoln Park neighborhood.

“People say, `(rollerblading) was super fun back in the day. Why did I quit that?’ So (the skates of today) are an improvement of the fun that people used to have in the past.”

When the pandemic hit, people started seeing this new tech on social media — and some of the videos went viral.

“Millions of people saw a rollerblading video,” Arlew said, “something they hadn’t seen for 20-some years.”

Arlew, 35, participated in roller hockey and rollerblading all through high school. In college, he got into mountain biking and BMX bik-

ing. He moved to Colorado in 2016 and discovered all the skate parks around and started skateboarding.

Eventually, he wanted to get into something new and rediscovered the fun he used to have on inline skates.

“There is an element of nostalgia, but what really comes out is you’re reminded of the freedom you get when skating,” Arlew said. He added that on skates, you’re not strapped in like on a snowboard or propped up like on a bike. “We had that feeling when we were kids, whether we knew it or not.”

FROM PAGE 6

“For the longest time,” Arlew said, “all you could get was the fitness skate or the trick skate.”

Calling it the “big wheel movement,” this is about the time that the tri-skate — three-wheel inline skate — came about, Arlew said. A bigger wheel, he added, can roll over more types of surfaces better, and can provide more speed.

“Skates are just better now.

They’re more fun (and) they’re easier to skate on,” said Jesse Heilmann, owner of Death and Glory

Everyone’s welcome DUST remains true to its beginnings — it is still an informal gather-

Rob Even of Arvada has been inline skating for more than 20 years and enjoys the friendships he has made from skating with others at the Denver Urban Skate Troop’s Wednesday night skates.

PHOTOS BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

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She is looking forward to “being amazed at how many people will show up” and possibly adding more skates to the calendar.

“We love meeting new people,” Norkin said. “I (especially) enjoy watching people come together to skate, and then they establish friendships.”

Denver Urban Skate Troop is active on Facebook: Denver Urban Skate Troop – DUST and Instagram: denverurbanskate. Questions can also be emailed to DenverUrbanSkateTroop@ gmail.com.

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8 Washington Park Profile

May 1, 2022

Street signs carry little-known history in metro Denver counties

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If you’ve ever sat at a red light in rush-hour traffic in the Denver metro area, you may have wondered about the meaning behind the different logos and colors on nearby street signs.

In the City of Denver, the signs are simple enough — the logo of mountains and the sky sit above the name “Denver.” But some signs have a different logo even though they’re also in Denver.

In the southeast suburbs, drivers might think they’re in Aurora until the green signs on side streets start to look a bit different.

And in Adams County, the signs sometimes feature an American flag image to discourage people from firing gunshots at the signs.

Street signs can clear up confusion about what jurisdiction someone is in, but they also can reveal deeper stories about a particular area. Here’s a look at some of the eye-catching signs across metro Denver counties and

what you might not know about the history behind some of them.

Denver mansions In east Denver, there are many normal-sounding street names: Elm Street. Birch Street. Cedar Avenue.

And then, there’s Shangri La Drive.

A tiny, tucked-away road that almost forms a half loop off of Leetsdale Drive near Colorado Boulevard, Shangri La Drive was apparently named by Harry Huffman, a movie-theater and liquor-distribution magnate who had a mansion built on the hill.

The road was named to honor the impressive home, which was modeled after the Shangri-La lamasery — a monastery of lamas — featured in the popular 1930s movie “Lost Horizon.”

That’s according to the book, “Denver Streets,” by local historian Phil Goodstein, as cited by Denver city staff.

And that’s not the only mansion in that area. More difficult to see from the street is the mansion known as “Cableland” on Shangri La Drive. It’s the former home of Bill Daniels, the wealthy cable-television businessman and philanthropist.

Before he died, Daniels donated Cableland to the City of Denver in 1998, partly to serve as the official Denver mayor’s residence. No mayor has ever chosen to live there, but

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the mansion is used for official city events and city meetings and is made available for other events, including fundraisers and other gatherings held by nonprofits and qualified charitable organizations.

Denver’s dual logos The use of Denver’s newer logo for certain street signs — the “D” logo with a building, the sun and mountains within the D — doesn’t carry any particular meaning that’s different from the old logo, which is two red mountains outlined in white, with a blue sky and yellow sun, all above the word “Denver.”

Denver began using signs with the “D” in 2010, according to Vanessa Lacayo, a city spokesperson. The city still has some signs with the older logo on it.

“We try to be good stewards with city dollars, so we don’t replace things that don’t need to be replaced and try to honor the life cycle of the material and replace things as they fail,” Lacayo said.

Don’t mistake Adams County A large chunk of the map directly north of Denver — roughly north of 52nd Avenue — contains buildings that may have addresses that are listed as being in Denver even though they’re in unincorporated Adams County.

“Unincorporated” means an area is not within a city or town and is generally overseen by a county government.

The addresses are marked as “Denver” because the city listed with a property’s mailing address is based on zip codes that are used by post offices rather than being based on city boundaries, said Christa Bruning, Adams County spokesperson.

In those unincorporated areas north of Denver, you’ll see street signs with the A-shaped Adams County logo.

In some parts of Adams County, street signs bear images of the American flag to deter people from shooting signs with bullets.

“American flags are placed on signs in some areas as a mitigation measure where we have experienced issues with signs being shot,” the county said in a statement. “The flags have been successful as many residents seem disinclined to shoot signs displaying

The sign for Shangri La Drive in Denver, pictured on March 10, sits off Leetsdale Drive near Colorado Boulevard.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

the American flag.”

A previous Adams County logo was established in 1985 and was the logo used on street signs until the current logo was designed and implemented in August 2009, according to the county.

A community with gates in Littleton If you drive far enough northwest in the City of Littleton, you’ll run into an area called Bow Mar South, near the small Town of Bow Mar. But Bow Mar South is a neighborhood, not a municipality, even though it has its own logo on street signs.

For example, the logo of a bird at Bell Flower Drive and Bowles Avenue denotes the area is within the Bow Mar South Homeowners Association, according to Tim Weaver, traffic analyst for Littleton.

“We used to put different items on signs when a neighborhood asked for them,” a statement from Littleton city staff said.

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in Bow Mar South, meaning it brought it into the Littleton city boundaries.

Littleton annexed the area that is managed by the Bow Mar South homeowners’ association in 1973, according to Littleton city staff. A small part of the association area is outside of Littleton, including a few lots in the northwest part of the subdivision, Weaver said.

The area isn’t just another neighborhood. It includes gates on Blue Sage Drive that close to block traffic.

Construction of the traffic gates was partly funded by the City of Littleton, and the city and HOA operate the gates together, according to city staff.

Other gates that restrict or block traffic to or within neighborhoods in Littleton sit in Coventry and The Greens, according to city staff.

Some areas in Littleton have street signs that are white and include the City of Littleton logo. Littleton first began installing the white street signs with the logo in 2015, according to staff.

The city decided to install the white street signs with the logo in an effort to help people tell which areas are in the city and which are not, Weaver said.

The new signs were also rolled out in an effort to “show our new branding,” Weaver said.

Similar to the case of Denver addresses popping up in Adams County, it can be confusing to tell what is and isn’t in Littleton because many properties’ mailing addresses in south Jefferson County are listed as being in “Littleton” even though Littleton is mostly contained within Arapahoe County.

Asked whether Jefferson County has considered putting its county logo on street signs in unincorporated areas to help clear up that confusion, the county said in a statement: “The county has the capability of putting logos on street name signs; however, there is a significant cost in terms of material and labor to this effort. Each of the cities within Jefferson County utilize logos on their street-name signs, helping a traveler to know when they are within a municipality within the county or within an unincorporated area within the county.”

Arapahoe County distinguishes land It can also be difficult to tell when you’re in Centennial and when you

aren’t. Centennial’s boundaries twist and weave throughout much of the city to create a complex map.

Parts of east Centennial are sandwiched between parts of Aurora, and some portions of unincorporated Arapahoe County sit in that area too.

Some streets that sit outside of city boundaries have been getting marked with the county’s logo, generally in recent years, said Luc Hatlestad, county spokesperson.

“There may have been logos on signs here and there prior to 2012, but putting logos on street signs wasn’t county procedure until around 2012,” Hatlestad said.

‘Identity’ in Englewood Englewood updated its official city logo in recent years from the green circular symbol to the new symbol with leaves — a change that led to some street signs in the city having the new logo and some still having the old one.

“The current logo was adopted in late 2015 following input from the 2014 citizens survey and from citizen input received through the Englewood Forward process,” said Christopher Harguth, city spokesperson.

Englewood Forward is the city’s 2016 comprehensive plan. In general, a comprehensive plan can affect a city’s priorities for housing, parks and open space, and transportation.

“Results indicated many residents were looking for an updated community identity,” Harguth said.

Updating the city logo on overhead street signs, such as those on traffic signals, will be complete in 2022, and the updating of all the ground-mounted streets signs was completed in 2021, according to Harguth.

One of the notable areas with street signs that don’t bear a local government’s logo is the Arapahoe Acres neighborhood in Englewood, which has wooden street signs that are unique to that neighborhood.

A small exception in Centennial Drivers in the east Centennial area may notice another area that could add to confusion about boundaries — the Greenfield neighborhood along Smoky Hill Road.

The neighborhood has its own logo on street signs even within Centennial’s city boundaries.

The signs are connected to the local metro district, according to Anna Bunce, Centennial traffic engineer.

“The original street signs installed with the construction of this neighborhood (or) metro district, which included the kites (logo), predate the

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city’s incorporation. Our best guess is that the signage was installed around 1996 (to) 1998,” Bunce said.

Centennial was legally established as a city, or “incorporated,” in 2001.

In general the city of Centennial started installing Centennial-logo street signs that are blue rather than green in 2013, according to Bunce.

When asked why the city made that change, Bunce said, “This predates existing (city) staff, but our best guess is related to more effective branding and differentiation for Centennial. With the nature of Centennial’s boundaries, this is an effective way to communicate and reinforce where someone may be in terms of jurisdiction.”

Douglas County adds logo Douglas County had no logo on street-name signs prior to an in-house competition for a new Douglas County logo that occurred in the early to mid1990s, according to Wendy Holmes, county spokesperson. The winning logo was the early “DC” and “ribbons” design seen in the county’s logo today.

“We place logos on most of the street-name signs in unincorporated streets and roads maintained by Douglas County,” Holmes said. “Logos on street-name signs are also useful as they indicate ownership of the roads for law enforcement personnel and road maintenance crews throughout the metro area and Douglas County.”

Different in Weld Weld County doesn’t typically put a logo on road-number signs in unincorporated Weld County, according to Jennifer Finch, spokesperson for the county.

“However, some of the signs — older

A sign near traffic signals, pictured March 14, says “Blue Sage closed when flashing.” The Bow Mar South area includes gates that close in order to block traffic.

PHOTO BY ELLIS ARNOLD

signs — are a particular shape and will say ‘WCR’” and a number, Finch said. “There are county logos, specific to the project, found on some Highway 85 signs — also called the Centennial Highway in Weld County — and there are signs with the Weld County Road 49 logo along that road as well to commemorate that special project.”

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LOCAL

May 1, 2022

VOICES What it means to be a CCMer

M

ay 3, 2021, started off as any other day would.

It was a Monday following the week we sent the May 2021 editions of Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile to press, so my tasks FROM THE for the day were web updating EDITOR and getting a start on planning the June editions.

There was an announcement that came the week prior that there would be an all-company meeting that day, and everyone was required to attend — either in person or virtually. But as a staff, we were quite used to those. the time, it was a year of Christy Steadman At COVID-related ups-and-downs — shift to work-from-home, optional return to the office, mask requirements, etc., etc. So I figured this big meeting would be yet another one to inform us about our internal COVID policies.

So my colleagues and I gather — with masks on and chairs socially distanced — at 9 a.m. that day.

And then the big announcement came: Jerry and Ann Healey had sold Colorado Community Media to the Colorado News Conservancy. This public benefit corporation — a joint venture of the National Trust for Local News and The Colorado Sun — formed specifically to preserve Colorado Community Media and ensure that our 26 publications and websites remain locally owned.

Though most of our day-to-day work has been business as usual creating awesome papers

each week (for my readers, each month), lots of behind-the-scenes action has happened in the newsroom since then. CCM hired Linda Shapley as our publisher. And we have two new newsroom positions — Lisa Schlichtman as our editor-in-chief and a soon-to-be-announced senior reporter.

I am proud of the work we CCMers produce.

It takes a village, as they say, and the team is not limited to us who report and write the stories.

Without my team members in sales, circulation, accounting, the newspapers’ designers and our receptionist — who we’ve dubbed as “the glue that keeps us together” — I wouldn’t be here writing this column today.

April 9 of this year was a particularly special evening. It was the 2022 Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism Awards reception, the culminating event of the Society of Professional Journalists’ regional conference. It took place at the historic Denver Press Club.

My plus-one was freelancer Kirsten Dahl Collins, but there were also a handful of us CCMers in attendance — Shapley; Schlichtman; Thelma Grimes, editor of our south-metro weeklies; Belen Ward, reporter for the Fort Lupton Press and Weld County; and Mark Harden. OK, Harden is not currently on staff, but I consider him a CCMer — he is one of our former editors, and as a seasoned journalist, he played a big role as a mentor to me — a newbie editor — prior to Schlichtman joining CCM. Top of the Rockies is a regional, multi-platform contest that honors the work of reporters and news organizations in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. So it is quite a big deal that

From left, Thelma Grimes, CCM editor of the southmetro weeklies; Belen Ward, reporter for the Fort Lupton Press and Weld County; CCM publisher Linda Shapley; me; and Life on Capitol Hill and Washington Park Profile freelancer Kirsten Dahl Collins gather for a selfie at the Society of Professional Journalists’ 2022 Top of the Rockies Excellence in Journalism Awards COURTESY OF THELMA GRIMES reception on April 9.

CCM garnered eight awards.

I must mention that while proud of our awards, we as journalists do not do this for the accolades.

We do it because we love journalism, which at its fundamental core involves engaging and informing the community, and for the love of storytelling.

But I will admit that when I got home that evening, I made a post on my personal Facebook about the award I had won. All sorts of people came out of the woodwork to wish me “congratuSEE EDITOR, P11

Parks, art and a green event

D

o you know that a very special park exists in District 4 that honors the 200,000 Jews and Ukrainians who were massacred by Nazis in World War II? Babi Yar Park is a Denver park located near East Yale Avenue and Havana Street in the GUEST Hampden neighborhood. It was COLUMN created in 1982 by community members as a Holocaust memorial and is a reminder to us all to come together in opposition to oppression and violence. Denver’s Babi Yar Park honors the lives lost and teaches a universal principal: when one group of people is harmed as others remain silent and indifferent, all Councilmember humankind suffers.

Kendra Black When the Russians attacked Ukraine in February, community members asked to come together in support of Ukraine in Babi Yar Park. On March 27, hundreds of people came to the park for an Interfaith Gathering for Peace in Support of the Ukrainian People. We were joined by representatives of the Ukrainians of Colorado organization who shared a prayer with us. Native American Rick Williams of the Ogalala Lakota and Northern Cheyenne tribes performed a blessing, and Rabbis Ray Zwerin, Emily Hyatt and Aharon Sirota all led

A publication of

Mailing Address: 750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110 Phone: 303-566-4100 To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or visit www.washparkprofile.com/subscribe

prayers and shared inspirational words. It was a very special event and so meaningful to our Ukrainian friends who live in Denver. People were — and still are — encouraged to donate to Ukrainians of Colorado and Project Cure to fund much-needed medical supplies for Ukraine. I was honored to help coordinate this important event in solidarity with Ukraine.

If you’ve never been to Babi Yar Park, you should visit it. It is a very special and meaningful park.

According to The Cultural Landscape Foundation, the memorial is laid out around a centralized pathway configured as a Star of David. The park is entered through a narrow passage between two inscribed black granite monoliths. A path ascends a berm plated with cottonwood and willow, before descending into a bowl-shaped amphitheater which has a circular platform at its center. The Grove of Remembrance consists of 100 lindens planted in a grid, representing the 200,000 people killed at Babi Yar during WWII. A ravine reminiscent of the location where victims were buried in Kyiv runs along the western edge of the site. It is crossed by a narrow bridge with high wood walls, which evoke train cars used by Nazis to transport prisoners. The edges of the site are planted as a prairie with native grasses, yucca and prickly pear.

On a lighter note, my team and I are working hard with community members to advocate for a future southeast Denver skate park and BMX

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track. We are hoping that it could be somehow incorporated into the existing abandoned drainage infrastructure adjacent to Kennedy Golf Course, which is located at 10500 E. Hampden Ave. There’s much to do before this becomes a reality, but we are hopeful that Denver Parks and Recreation’s Outdoor Adventure and Alternative Sports Master Plan will recommend a skate park and recreation hub, and conduct a feasibility study to determine if the site is realistic or not. In the meantime, we are planning a one-day pop-up skate park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 5. Everyone is welcome to join us and learn about the sport from professional instructors. We’ll have some loaner equipment as well as music and a food truck.

I am thrilled to be hosting our fifth annual South

by Southeast festival on Aug. 20 in Bible Park, 6802 E. Yale Ave. As always, we will have live music, food trucks, games, a beer garden, local vendors and more. The festival is free, for all ages, and a certifiably green event, so plan on walking or biking and bringing your own refillable water bottle.

Parks and sustainability remain top priorities for the District 4 team. I am proud to have sponsored the Bring Your Own Bag ordinance as well as the Opt-In for Cutlery and Condiments bill.

This legislation won’t reverse climate change but will reduce the use of single-use plastics and SEE BLACK, P11

Columnists & Guest Commentaries Columnist opinions are not necessarily those of the Profile.

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.

Washington Park Profile 11

May 1, 2022

Three basic principles of propagating with cuttings

A

beloved plant is showing signs that they have reached the end of their life span. You check your local nursery and can’t find an adequate replacement, nor GUEST any seed pods for COLUMN your plant. What do Emily McAuley you do?

This is where vegetative cuttings come in handy.

Vegetative cuttings are a type of clonal propagation where a piece of the original plant is removed and rooted to create a new plant identical to the original. There are three main factors to consider when propagating with vegetative cuttings that are critical to your success: health, heat and hydration.

When considering health, choose a

branch that is free from disease and that has healthy new growth. If you are taking cuttings from perennials, it is best to take them when the new growth has just matured, and the leaves have fully expanded. A general rule of thumb for herbaceous plants is to take the cutting from the end of a branch and to cut where the stem bends. Cutting where the growth is still soft will speed along the rooting.

If you are propagating a woody plant, take the cuttings in the spring when the new growth has emerged, but not hardened off. Look at the color of the growth — if the first several inches are lighter or greener than the rest of the branch, you have fresh growth.

Cut where the color changes from green or light brown to the color of the rest of the branch.

For heat, the soil needs to stay between 65 and 75 degrees and the air temperature needs to remain in a similar range. To achieve this in your home, find a bright window space in a room that stays warm and not a cold, drafty window as this will slow down rooting. If your cuttings are in a pot, you can place a clear plastic bag over the pot to trap heat around the cutting. If the cuttings are in a plastic tray, you can purchase clear plastic domes that fit over the tray to create a greenhouse effect.

When handling hydration, keep the plant hydrated until it can grow roots.

Cuttings can take in water from the air through pores in the leaves, called stomata. To trap humidity, plant your cuttings in wet soil, use a spray bottle to mist the leaves and cover them with

clear plastic as described above. Then, place your cuttings in a warm spot.

The heat will evaporate water in the soil and trap it within the plastic covering, creating a warm, humid microclimate perfect for rooting cuttings.

If you notice your cuttings wilting, use the spray bottle to mist the leaves.

After a few days, they should not need to be misted anymore.

By following the three principals of health, heat and hydration, and experimenting with different plants, you will be on your way to successfully propagating your own cuttings at home.

Emily McAuley is a horticulturist in the Denver Botanic Gardens’ greenhouse production at Chatfield Farms

17th annual Lit Fest returns with in-person and virtual events STAFFREPORT

The 17th annual Lit Fest takes place June 10-19 this year, offering both virtual and in-person events.

Lit Fest is an annual event put on Lighthouse Writers Workshop that celebrates the literary arts. Lighthouse Writers Workshop is a nonprofit literary center located at 1515 Race St. in Denver’s City Park neighborhood.

Lighthouse’s mission is to support and elevate the literary arts through various outreach and youth programs, along

EDITOR FROM PAGE 10

lations.” These “likes” came from family and friends across my social circles, including former colleagues I’ve met along the way on my journalism journey.

But I think two stood out the most.

One from Shaun Schafer, my former journalism professor at Metro State University. It’s always nice to know that the time and patience he

BLACK FROM PAGE 10

bring awareness to people about the incredible amounts of single-use plastic waste that not only litters our waterways, natural areas and cities, but also generates dangerous greenhouse gasses in our landfills.

So many of us don’t think about the tremendous amount of waste that is dumped at the landfill or know that landfills are a major contributor of methane, which is 25 times more potent than CO2. To reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill and increase recycling and composting, Denver City Council will be voting on a proposal in June that will provide free weekly composting and recycling for residents and charge a fee for the black bin that is destined for the landfill. You can learn more about the proposal here: https://bit. ly/3O3gODt. Bringing more public art to south-

with a wide variety of in-house writing workshops.

This year’s Lit Fest will offer weeklong and weekend workshops for advanced writers of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, hybrid forms and dramatic writing; additional weekend workshops for writers of various levels and genres; one-time seminars on particular topics; readings; salons; and parties. Seminars will be presented by a world-class roster of 16 visiting authors as well as Lighthouse faculty. Additional festival events include daily business panels featur-

ing agents, writers, screenwriters and authors; nightly readings and conversations with professional writers; and a pop-up bookstore.

Registration can be done by purchasing a pass — available at different price points — or for individual workshops.

Lighthouse Writers Workshop was founded in 1997, so it is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a gala event called Illumination: A Literary Soiree. This event takes place at 6 p.m. June 16 at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

The event includes a cocktail recep-

tion, seated dinner, silent auction, a musical performance by Los Mocochetes and the opportunity to meet renowned local and national authors.

Tickets range in cost for individuals and sponsorships. RSVPs can be made online and must be done by June 3.

To learn more about Lighthouse Writers Workshop, or for more information about the 2022 Lit Fest including registration, visit lighthousewriters.org.

Information about the 25th anniversary gala can also be found under the Lit Fest tab from the homepage.

and my other my college journalism professors invested in me has paid off.

And the second came from one of my high school teachers. Not to date myself, but I graduated high school in the late ‘90s so this is a very special “like.” I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career back then, much less that I would go into journalism. Ruth Barth taught a speech/public speaking class — a course that I took as a freshman. I didn’t particularly want to take the class, but it was a required course,

so I had to.

I’ve got to hand it to teachers.

Even when the student themself is not too invested in their future, the

teacher is. And it is now proven, that 25 years later, they will still care and share in the glory of their students’ successes.

east Denver is another top priority.

Have you seen the colorful art featuring animals on intersection electrical boxes? If so, that’s when you know you are in District 4. We are delighted that artist Andrew Woodward, who is a Denver native and lives in the Wellshire neighborhood, has been sharing his 50 State Animal collection with all of us. They bring a smile to everyone as does the new mural that was recently unveiled at the Hampden Branch Library. “Four Harmonious Friends of Denver” was created by Tsogo Mijid, Eriko Tsogo and Mongolian students who live in southeast Denver. If you haven’t seen it, be sure to check it out. We are also anticipating a new sculpture near the Shoemaker School and Cherry Creek trail this summer, as well as some new public art in Bible Park in the next year or so.

Kendra Black represents District 4 on Denver City Council. She can be reached at kendra.black@denvergov. org or 720-337-4444.

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12 Washington Park Profile

May 1, 2022

Production company seeking homeowners for TV show STAFF REPORT

Watt Pictures, an independent production company based in New York, is casting in the Denver area for the first season of a new TV series on home renovation.

The show will aim to “resolve conflict between homeowners and contractors who have found themselves living a construction nightmare.

We will help resolve any conflicts, deescalate the situation and help pay to rescue their renovation, as well as providing labor, services and materials to ensure families

get the dream homes they always wanted,” states a news release.

Filming will take place sometime between JuneSeptember with the show expected to air next year.

Applicants must own their home or have written permission from the homeowners to participate in the series.

To apply, or to nominate a family, homeowners should email a brief description of their situation to SaveOurSpace303@gmail.com.

To learn more about Watt Pictures, visit wattpictures. com.

TURN TO THE COLORADO SUN FOR NEWS ACROSS THE STATE The Colorado Sun is a journalist-owned, award-winning news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado so that our state — our community — can better understand itself.

In this way, The Sun contributes to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

The Sun, launched in 2018, is committed to fact-based, in-depth and non-partisan journalism. It covers everything from politics and culture to the outdoor industry and education.

Now, The Colorado Sun co-owns this and other Colorado Community Media newspapers as a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy. The Sun is CCM’s partner for statewide news.

For Colorado Sun stories, opinions and more, and to support The Sun’s misssion as a member or subscriber, visit coloradosun.com.

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Washington Park Profile 13

May 1, 2022

Denver musician Kurt Jones is looking forward to performing his “sunshine music” at the farmers markets this year. His performance can be caught at the University Hills Farmers Market on most weekends, but Jones will also be at other markets this season. Pictured is him performing at the Cherry Creek Colorado PHOTO BY BRUCE KELLEY Fresh Markets in 2016 or 2017.

Farmers market season has arrived in metro area

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

P

eople love the little treasures they can find at farmers markets.

Shopping at farmers markets allows “the customer to stumble across these products that they can’t get anywhere else,” said Chris Burke of Colorado Fresh Markets. “You can always find something new.”

25 years at Cherry Creek Burke and his wife, Michele, run the Colorado Fresh Markets, which offer markets in a number of metro-area communities.

Founded in 1997, the Cherry Creek location, at First Avenue and University Boulevard, was the couple’s first Colorado Fresh Market to open. This summer it is celebrating 25 years of serving the community.

“We love supporting everything local,” Burke said.

“It’s in our DNA.” Specializing in localonly fare, the Cherry Creek Fresh Market offers shoppers a wide array of fresh produce at the Cherry Creek Fresh Market. The Burkes work with about 30 farms across the state.

A crop calendar is available on the Colorado Fresh Markets’ website so people can check what is in season before they shop. People can also sign up to receive the Colorado Fresh Markets newsletter, which will provide market updates on product availability and highlight different favorites found at the market.

Other items to be discovered include a mix of artisanal crafts, home and

garden, boutique and vintage finds. Amenities of the market include free parking during both the Saturday and Wednesday markets, food trucks, a café area and live music. Each Saturday market will feature two or three local musicians with genres ranging from singersongwriter to rock ‘n’ roll and hip hop to country to provide some examples.

When the market is in town, that big parking lot transforms into a fun, vibrant atmosphere, Burke said. Between the farmers, vendors and shoppers, Burke said, everyone “enjoys that sense of community.”

‘The smile stays on’ Kurt Jones of Denver’s Rosedale neighborhood has been part of Denver’s music scene since roughly 1985, when he moved to the area.

He will be performing at a few farmers markets this year, including the Cherry Creek Fresh Market and the South Pearl Street Farmers Market, but his main farmers market gig this year is the University Hills Farmers Market, which is located at the University Hills Plaza Shopping Center, 2500 S. Colorado Blvd. There, he will be performing nearly every weekend during the farmers market’s season.

While Jones has a project of original music with west Denver resident Jerry Lee McGuire called Racefans, his gigs at the farmers markets will be Jones performing as a one-man band.

He describes the sound as “sunshine music” that will provide a “happy, outgoing vibe.”

“I enjoy the happy, melo-

dy-driven stuff,” Jones said.

“I love seeing the little kids dancing, and the parents taking their pictures. I’m looking forward to putting some smiles on faces.”

He may even show up in some fun performance attire at the University Hills Farmers Market, he said. A gold blazer, a gold hat and spray-painted gold shoes are in the works for this year.

The blazer might have to come off if it gets too hot during a performance, Jones said. “But the smile will stay on.”

A to Z shopping There are a number of reasons why people love shopping at farmers markets, said Robin SingerStarbuck, the market manager for the University Hills Farmers Market.

“Farmers markets are destinations — somewhere to go and something to do.

And it’s social,” SingerStarbuck said. “Plus, people appreciate supporting small businesses and finding something unique.”

Singer-Starbuck grew up in the University Hills area so one of the joys she gets from running the market is giving back to a community she is deeply rooted in, she said.

At the University Hills Farmers Market, shoppers will have access to an “A to Z shopping experience,” Singer-Starbuck said. There will be a variety of food products ranging from fruits and vegetables to honey and granola. There will also be a chocolatier and ranchers selling their products.

Non-food items include health and wellness products such as CBD products, apothecary and skincare; artesian crafts such as embroidery, woodworking,

IF YOU GO There are many farmers markets across the metro area. Each will have a unique vibe and experience. Here are some suggestions to check out in Denver: Central Park Farmers Market Located at Founders Green, 7601 29th Ave. Sundays, June 5 – Oct. 9 hobnobevents.com/central-park-farmers-market City Park Farmers Market Located at East High School Esplanade, 1600 City Park Esplanade Saturdays, May 14 – Oct. 29 cityparkfarmersmarket.com Colorado Fresh Markets - Cherry Creek Located at the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, First Avenue and University Boulevard Saturdays, May 7 – Nov. 5 and Wednesdays, June 15 – Sept. 28 coloradofreshmarkets.com Highland Square Farmers Market Located at 32nd Avenue and Lowell Boulevard Sundays, May 22 – Oct. 16 hobnobevents.com/highlands-farmers-market SOL Farmers Market Located at SOL Lingerie in Denver, 3010 E. Sixth Ave. Sundays, May 15 – Oct. 16 realfarmersmarketco.com/sol-farmers-market South Pearl Street Farmers Market Located on the 1400 and 1500 blocks of South Pearl Street, between Iowa and Arkansas avenues.

Sundays, May 1 – Nov. 13 southpearlstreet.com/farmers-market Union Station Farmers Market Located at Union Station in Denver Saturdays, June 4 – Sept. 10 hobnobevents.com/farmers-market-union-station

Editor’s note: Colorado Community Media is one of the University Hills Farmers Market’s sponsors. jewelry and pottery; and home and garden, such as fresh flowers, seedlings and plants.

Additional amenities include Jones’ live music, free parking, food trucks

and other ready-to-eat items such as bakery products, coffee and tamales.

“People can find a great selection, each (item) with SEE MARKETS, P14

14 Washington Park Profile

MARKETS FROM PAGE 13

an authentic story,” Singer-Starbuck said. “Whether it be a food artisan or a craft artisan, they love to take that story home with them and share it with friends and family.”

The main thing is flavor Being a fourth-generation farmer is a lot to live up to.

“Back in my great-grandfather’s time, everyone was a farmer,” said Debora Palizzi of Brighton’s Palizzi Farm, which got its start in 1929.

“Those who are native to Colorado are familiar with the farms.”

Known for its sweet corn — but also offering a variety of products such as baby carrots, spinach, okra and much more — Palizzi Farm will be at a number of metro-area farmers markets this year.

The family also runs a seasonal farm stand, which opened in April and will operate until mid-October.

The farm stand offers a range of products in addition to what the family sells at the farmers markets — pies, cider, farm fresh eggs, pickled vegetables and much more.

Though offering farm tours is not part of the family’s business model, they are always happy to provide a tour of the farm or let people go out and pick their own vegetables or fruit, Palizzi said.

The items that are sold at the farmers markets are always going to be fresh, Palizzi said. Everything is picked the day before — or the day of, in the case of herbs — it is

May 1, 2022 brought to the market.

People love having access to produce that was grown here in Colorado, Palizzi said.

“The main thing for people is flavor,” she added. “It’s incredible how fresh flavors taste.” `We don’t miss a week’ Potager Restaurant & Wine Bar’s staff shops at local farmers markets every weekend to purchase to items for the restaurant’s farm-totable concept.

“We don’t miss a week,” said Chef Paul Warthen, the chef/owner of Potager, which is located at 1109 Ogden St. in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. “The food we buy that day, we serve in the restaurant that night.”

Farmers markets provide so much to the community, Warthen said, adding that shopping at farmers markets is an enriching experience.

“It’s a nice way to spend a morning,” he said.

Warthen is one of many professional chefs who will be giving a chef demo at the City Park Farmers Market this year. His day is Oct. 8.

The chef demos “will further their (shoppers’) knowledge and capabilities,” Warthen said.

Not only will they inspire people to cook with items they can find at the farmers market, providing people with these additional kitchen skills is one way to help everyone create less food waste, Warthen said. Although exactly what Warthen’s demonstration will be is still in planning, an example

he provided of using kitchen skills to reduce food waste would be educating people on four different ways to use broccoli leaves, rather than discarding them, Warthen said.

Planting seeds The City Park Farmers Market, located at City Park Esplanade at East Colfax Avenue and Columbine Street, has so much in store for its visitors this year.

In addition to the monthly chef demos, the market will feature live music, a weekly run club with Go Forever Racing and a donationbased yoga class with Big Power Yoga. Additional amenities include food trucks and food tents with ready-to-eat items and the grassy esplanade with a central fountain where people are welcome to hang out or picnic.

The City Park Farmers Market is a food-focused, local-only farmers market. Product to be found at the market includes meats, eggs, bread, vegetables, fruit, sauces, jams and much more.

“Colorado has a seasonality to it.

It’s difficult to be a farmer here,” said Peter Wanberg, who along with his wife, Margo, launched the City Park Farmers Market last year.

“But these farmers (and vendors) are top-notch.”

It is important to the Wanbergs that smaller farms have “an opportunity to grow in a scalable way and connect directly with members of the community,” states a news release.

“We want to make market entry accessible, regardless of a produc-

er’s acreage, team size or output,” Margo Wanberg said in the news release. “Colorado’s climate and economy means there are a lot of inherent risks and challenges for farmers. Participating in a farmers market shouldn’t be one of those.”

This also pertains to shoppers — the City Park Farmers Market accepts Colorado’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and this year is accepting the program’s Double Up Food Bucks; as well as partnering with the local chapter of Colorado WIC, which is a supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children.

Farmers markets are a great place to build community, but people also particularly enjoy shopping at them because farmers markets provide access to a lot of local products all in one place, Peter Wanberg said.

“There is a ton of desire to interact with local farmers and producers,” he said.

The City Park Farmers Market will provide the same community feel as it did last year, but it will feature an expanded vendor lineup.

Last year, it offered about 60 Colorado-based food producers, farmers and agriculture-based brands.

Many of them will be returning this year to make up the approximate 90 vendors this year will offer.

The Wanbergs are excited for their second farmers market season.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the seeds we planted last year grow and flourish,” Peter Wanberg said.

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Washington Park Profile 15

May 1, 2022

New Little Free Library now housed outside of Denver Woman’s Press Club DIANNE BLOMBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

A lot of people walk by the small house at 1325 Logan St. in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood and wonder what goes on in there.

Now, there are two houses at that location that look exactly alike. One is the historic landmark home of The Denver Woman’s Press Club, and the other a tiny replica perched on a pole in the front yard.

Part of the Little Free Library network, the tiny house recently opened to the public. Inside, passersby will discover books left by neighborhood visitors and some donated by female Colorado authors, all members of the DWPC. All members are current or retired published professional writers. Among the collection are children’s picture books, magical tales, poetry, historical fiction, mysteries, local guidebooks and more.

They’re all free.

The DWPC sits on a mostly non-residential or mixed-use city block.

“We are part of a neighborhood filled with people who pass by on their way to and from work or errands,” said Mindy Sink, president of the DWPC. When asked what gave her the idea to place a library at the DWPC, she said, “it’s an opportunity to let neighbors know who we are and show them this is what we do inside this house.”

Books go fast. Sink often fills the library on Thursdays and by Monday, it is nearly empty.

Visitors to the library can leave a book, take a book, or both.

LFL is a nonprofit organization based in Hudson, Wisconsin. Their long-time mission is “to be a catalyst for building community, inspiring readers and expanding book access for all through a global network of volunteer-led Little Free Libraries.”

The charming replica is a gift from Gail Beaton, archivist for the DWPC, and two artists from Loveland — Beaton’s brother, Mark, and his wife, Paula Weiss.

“We loved doing it and we work well together,” Weiss said. “We created it from photos. Mark constructed the library and we painted it. The structure has approximately 6,000 bricks. A few adjustments were made to the placement of doors and windows, so the whole front of the structure could open to reveal the books.”

The DWPC is one of the oldest women’s press clubs in the United States and believed to be the only one that owns its clubhouse. The club purchased the home in 1924 from artist George Elbert Burr. Several programs that focus on all types of writing are open to the public. Since reopening after the pandemic, the board of directors has been implementing plans to extend community involvement.

The tiny replica LFL is part of that focus.

“You’ll find several of our members’ books inside the LFL. We represent multiple fields of writing, literature, journalism, business and the arts,” Beaton said. “The little library is a way for the community to know about the fabulous work we do and have been doing since 1898.”

To learn more about the Little Free Library, visit littlefreelibrary.org/about. To learn more about the Denver Woman’s Press Club, visit dwpconline.org.

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Maggie Carabello, 11, reads a book she found inside the new Little Free Library outside of the Denver Woman’s Press Club at 1325 Logan St. in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Carabello and her grandfather were on their commute home to Virginia Village from the Denver Center of Performing Arts when Carabello saw the Little Free Library and asked her grandfather to stop so she could get a book PHOTO BY DIANNE BLOMBERG for herself.

Editor’s Note: Dianne Blomberg is the president elect of the Denver Woman’s Press Club.

16 Washington Park Profile

May 1, 2022

Combating climate change one refill at a time Denver-based refill shops provide a local solution to a global issue ELICIA HESSELGRAVE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

David Rouse notices that the city is changing. He is a Denver native and has seen a trend that has come alongside the city’s growing population: an accumulation of landfill waste.

“Trash is becoming more apparent and there’s pollution in the streets,” said Rouse, co-owner of Off the Bottle refill shop located in Capitol Hill.

Refill shops provide a solution to landfill waste Single-use plastic waste is a growing problem in the United States. Research using a variety of online sources reveal that an estimated 700 million plastic laundry detergent jugs, 550 million shampoo bottles, 2 billion disposable razors and one billion spray cleaning bottles are thrown away annually. Because of recycling accessibility gaps — combined with a lack of understanding of how to recycle and confusion about acceptable recycling materials — many of these plastics end up in landfills and pollute the environment, including waterways.

Some Denver businesses have come up with a solution: refill shops. These stores provide customers an opportunity to bring their own containers and

David Rouse and Daniel Landes wanted to be a part of the solution to the amount of waste sent to the landfill and opened Off the Bottle Refill Shop, 220 E. 13th Ave. in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborCOURTESY PHOTO hood in June 2021.

refill household goods such as liquid laundry detergent, shampoos and conditioners, and more. Refill products are sold by weight and customers are asked to bring their own containers or, depending on the store, may purchase refillable containers onsite.

In addition to refillable products, customers can also find environmentally-friendly alternatives to typical home goods, like bamboo-handled toothbrushes, stainless steel razors, beeswax food wrap and cosmetics packaged in cardboard or bamboo, for a few examples.

More people equals more waste With Denver’s growing population, business partners Rouse and Daniel Landes wanted to be a part of the solution to the amount of waste sent to the landfill. They have supported sustainable living and earth-conscious lifestyles for more than 20 years, so opening Off the Bottle in June 2021 fell right in line with their beliefs. A refill shop was an opportunity to share their passion with the community and educate Denver residents on how to reduce landfill waste through alternative options for daily living, Rouse said.

Along with the refill portion of the store, Off the Bottle provides a Freecycle program that allows customers to donate containers for others to use.

This provides opportunities for individuals who might be passing by and want to participate in the refill program, but do not have a container handy.

Rouse and Landes try to keep their carbon footprint low by purchasing their stock locally, thus offering many Colorado-based products in their store.

All products are plant-based, vegan and palm-oil free.

Rouse researches every product and examines all the ingredients in every product to ensure that everything sold at Off the Bottle aligns with his and Landes’ beliefs.

“The earth is in such a state of turmoil,” Rouse said. “It is better to do what we can to offer products that are of high quality (and) provide something that doesn’t wreak havoc on the environment.”

Rouse added that the location of the shop, 220 E. 13th Ave., provides a unique opportunity to cater to the neighborhood. Capitol Hill is a densely populated area filled with apartment buildings that often do not provide recycling, he said.

“Our store brings accessibility to the community for eco-friendly alternatives,” Rouse said, including “those who do not have the option to recycle … where it isn’t provided.”

‘People just want to make a difference’ Like Rouse and Landes, Brittany Iseli’s passion for the environment led to the opening of Joyfill, 4340 W. 35th Ave. in Denver, in spring of 2018.

Iseli wanted to bring something novel to the area that would allow people to cut down on their plastic waste.

She believes Joyfill has had success in Denver because “people just want to make a difference on a personal level,

in terms of lowering carbon footprint and plastic use.”

Joyfill sells local products and clientfavorite brands, and Iseli recently launched Joyfill-branded products that include laundry and dish detergent, hand soap and bubble bath. Iseli hopes to expand the brand to include more personal care products such as body wash and lotion.

The advantage of selling a store brand allows for keen oversight on how products are made, as well as being able to offer them at a lower price, Iseli said.

But Joyfill’s expansion doesn’t stop there — launching in the near future will be an expanded delivery subscription program.

A customer’s perspective Melissa Colonno, of Denver’s City Park West neighborhood, has been practicing a focused, intentional interest in zero waste for about seven years.

It started when her first child was born — Colonno began to question her actual need of things that her family, other parents and society were telling her that she needed to raise her child.

This sparked a curiosity in using cloth diapers, which is where the journey began.

Colonno is now a regular refill customer at Joyfill. This lifestyle allows her to focus on buying what she truly needs, rather than allowing others to influence her purchasing power, she said.

By patronizing refill stores, Denver residents can help conserve the local landscape while also making practical purchases and buying only the quantity that is needed.

“In addition to the environmental impacts, it is practical because you can buy the amount you need, rather than a full bottle,” Colonno said. And, she said, “it’s a great way to try out new products in small quantities.”

Refill shops: the answer to the climate crisis Carrie Martin-Haley joined the refill shop community as a business owner in fall of 2020 with Summit Sustainable Goods, a virtual refill shop with the opportunity for purchasing in person at pop-ups, farmers markets and the collective at Made to Last in Lakewood.

“I see the climate crisis as being the most dangerous thing we need to address as a society,” said Martin-Haley.

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Washington Park Profile 17

May 1, 2022

Emily Griffith Technical College’s café and salon, barber services are back

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

A men’s haircut for as little as $10.

A stuffed omelet for about one-half the cost of what a diner charges. A $20 massage.

These are among the many bargains to be had at the Emily Griffith Technical College now that the school has reopened Emily’s Café as well as Emily’s Salon and Barbershop after the pandemic caused a two-year absence.

Not only will you save money, you also will help a student learn their craft. Worried about a bad haircut?

Certified instructors are in the room, supervising the students.

“It provides students authentic opportunities to run the businesses and

CHANGE FROM PAGE 16

While weighing the options of how to make a difference in the community, she decided a refill store would give her the opportunity to educate the

have that experience with the public,” said Sara Holzberlein, dean of the College of Creative Arts and Design at Emily Griffith Technical College.

“You get the jitters, (but) you have an instructor with you.”

Emily’s Salon and Barbershop offers such services as coloring for $25 to $40, texture services, skin care and nail work. Cosmetology and barbering students deliver all of the services under close supervision.

The school’s salon and barbershop has been servicing clients for a whopping 75 years — Emily Griffith opened her school in 1916. The facilities are open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 5-7 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome and constitute about 20% of customers. However, Holzberlein recommends calling ahead for an appointment.

“We’re very happy to be back, to have the ability to work with the public,” Holzberlein said. “We now have that chance to really hone those soft skills, communication and service, community about things people can do individually to make a more sustainable environment.

Martin-Haley believes the Denver market has an appreciation and responsibility for the environment — particularly because of its access to the mountains and outdoor adventures.

dent Kyle Lawson, 22, who has worked in restaurants since he was 15. “We make everything fresh. Come in and for just a few bucks, try great food. It’s a great atmosphere and we love to see new faces.”

Lawson is considering buying a food truck and selling tapas from it.

Tim Onzano is in his 24th year as a culinary instructor in the College of Creative Arts and Design. He said that during the time that the café was closed, students adjusted by focusing more on academics and being innovative.

“You’ve got to be creative,” he said.

“We wanted people to come in and try out stuff, so we came up with a delivery program. And we learned how to take orders on the phone.”

Meanwhile, activity has picked up and everybody’s back in the classrooms, whether it be to cut hair or slice vegetables. And come June, the school will reopen its massage service, charging just $20 for one hour.

Emily Griffith Technical College instructor Chef Tim Inzano, front, works with a culinary arts student in Emily’s Café.

COURTESY OF EMILY GRIFFITH TECHNICAL COLLEGE

dealing with the public face to face.”

Emily’s Cafe serves breakfast from 8:30-9:30 a.m. and lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 1860 Lincoln St. Culinary arts students cook to order. The breakfast menu includes breakfast burritos for $3.50, pancakes, French toast, made-to-order omelets and more. The lunch menu offers sandwiches, pizza at $4.50 for an 8-inch, a burger combo for $7, a salad bar, soups and daily specials.

“The food here is great,” said stu-

To learn more about Emily’s Café or Emily’s Salon and Barbershop, visit www. emilygriffith.edu and click on `Campus Shops’ at the top of the page.

To make an appointment for Emily’s Salon and Barbershop, call 720-423-4798.

“Being able to support that through everyday endeavors can make a difference in something that we love so much as a community,” Martin-Haley said. She recommends making one product switch at a time. “Start with something you are passionate about.

This excitement will branch out to other products and practices.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOPS Off the Bottle: offthebottlerefills. com Joyfill: joyfill.co Summit Sustainable Goods: summitsustainablegoods.eco

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May 1, 2022

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•Flow ad files onto pages for insertion into weekly publications using design software (will train in InDesign) •Proof pages to ensure accuracy •Act as customer service representative for both AR and legal notice publishing process Preferred skills: •Experience in accounts receivable preferable •Superior attention to detail •Ability to build and maintain solid customer relationships with professionalism and speed •Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs Once the candidate is fully trained this job can be performed part in-office (in Englewood) and part remote. Starting pay $14.50-$16.50/hour.

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Washington Park Profile 19

May 1, 2022

Hobby takes hold across Denver metro area and beyond BYBOBWOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Beekeeping has seen its popularity grow in many places across the country in recent years, and the Denver metro area is no exception.

From community gardens to backyard hives, more and more people are keeping honey bees and often selling the luscious, golden liquid reward that comes from this hip hobby.

Honey bees have become the main beneficiaries of the “save the bees” movement. According to researchers, there are around 25,000 different types of bees, but for obvious reasons, the honey bee is the most beneficial for hobbyists to raise. Not native to North America, honey bees came to the continent with the earliest European immigrants.

In recent years, a cottage industry has sprung up around honey bees, with several full-service shops in the Denver area offering nascent beekeepers with all of the supplies and advice they would need to start managing their own hives.

But first, new beekeepers might want to consult one of the many educational organizations that exist locally.

The Denver Bee and the Mile High Bee clubs provide support and education to the Front Range beekeeping community, and the Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster offers a Beekeeping Bootcamp, a program with sessions running throughout the year. People can sign up for the whole series or attend individual classes.

Biologist Lorna McCallister manages the Butterfly Pavilion’s hives and serves as the Beekeeping Bootcamp instructor. She said spreading out the course over five sessions allows her to guide students through the entire beekeeping process.

She said the pavilion also has five apiaries — collections of beehives — in community gardens across the metro area. They serve as great educational tools while also helping pollination around the Denver area. Beekeeping Bootcamp is certified through the Colorado Beekeepers Association, which McCallister said allows

students who complete the course to become an apprentice beekeeper if they wish to take their hobby to the next level.

Those interested in the program still have time to join.

McCallister said the first class was archived, so catching up via video would be easy and the live bees used in upcoming courses won’t actually be delivered until the end of April.

“Beekeeping is really big in Colorado — especially around Denver,” McCallister said.

In fact, beekeeping has become so popular that some cities have gotten involved.

Susan Bennett is an environmental interpreter for the City of Wheat Ridge and resident bee expert at Happiness Gardens, a community resource that allows gardening enthusiasts to register for full- or half-sized plots to grow fruits, vegetables and flowers. As a “science nerd,” Bennett said she loves practically everything about the buzzing insects.

Some conservationists have recently begun questioning whether the proliferation of honey bees might in fact be harmful to native bee populations that have to compete for resources with an ever-increasing honey bee population.

Bennett said there are many scientific papers on the subject, and she’s keeping an eye on them to see what is ultimately discovered. But for now, she thinks adhering to best practices can go a long way to benefitting all pollinators. She

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area as well as more than a dozen other cities across the U.S. The company employs more than 50 professional beekeepers who manage hives for corporate and residential clients.

Wilson-Rich said the colony collapse phenomenon that occurred around 2006 raised awareness about the plight of bees.

“By having this beekeeping service that’s connected to research, we’re able to make maps of people’s home gardens, beehives and rooftop beehives in downtown Denver and Boulder and say ‘OK, where are hot spots for bee health?

Where are bees doing really well?’”

Wilson-Rich said. “And then ask, ‘why?

Why is that? What flowers are around there? What’s the pesticide use? What diseases are we seeing?’ So, it’s been a really fun approach. We call it citizen science.”

Wilson-Rich said the data his company collects is helpful in several ways.

One is connected to NASA’s Earth observation program that utilizes satellites aimed at Earth to collect information about things like weather patterns and land use. The partnership allows Best Bees to use that data to create maps that factor in things like climate change in relation to the health of their clients’ hive health.

Best Bees also recently launched The Urban Beekeeping Lab, a nonprofit that uses genomics — think 23andMe — to further its mission to improve bee health.

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said if people are interested in bees, the best thing they can do is plant a native garden that includes plant varieties that will flower through as much of the season as possible.

“If you do something to support the honey bees, it’s probably going to support the native bees too,” Bennett said.

“Because the things that you’re going to be doing for honey bees — planting more plants that have a variety of blooming times, reducing your use of pesticides — those things are going to help all of the pollinators.”

She advises people to be aware of pests, such as the varroa destructor mite, which can have a devastating effect on the honey bee population.

Another way to be a good steward of the ecosystem is to make sure diseases don’t transfer over to the native bee population.

For those who want to participate in the process of contributing to pollination and getting their own supply of honey without the work, fear not.

There’s a way to get in on the experience of owning a hive without risking the stings or undertaking the learning curve.

Best Bees is a company with professional beekeepers who will come to a person’s home or office, do the work for them to set up a hive and let them keep the honey. Noah Wilson-Rich founded the company while pursuing his doctorate in honey bee immunology, and Best Bees now operates in the Denver metro

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20 Washington Park Profile

May 1, 2022

Locals can order 3D printable model to benefit Ukrainian military

BY CHRISTY STEADMAN CSTEADMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

The war in Ukraine started on the night before J.P. Medved’s birthday.

“I realized early on that I wanted to do something,” the Washington Park resident said.

As a professional, Medved is employed in content marketing in the health and wellness sector. But his hobby — tabletop gaming and war gaming — is what provided him with the avenue to help Ukraine.

Medved has a 3D printer, and on social media, he follows a number of artists from around the world.

After the war started, he searched on the Fiverr website — an online marketplace for freelancers — to find a Ukrainian sculptor who could create a model to honor the Ukrainian military.

Through a search by location, he found a few Ukrainian artists and reached out to them, but they were unable to participate — some of the reasons being that they were serving in the Ukrainian military or their home had been destroyed, Medved said.

But 19-year-old Nikita Klimenko was available. Klimenko is an art student attending the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Fine Arts.

When Medved reached out, Klimenko had just evacuated his home in Kharkiv and had fled to Lviv.

Medved said that in a social media conversation between them, Klimenko said he wakes up to cruise missiles flying over the roof and has “long ceased to be afraid of shelling.” He added that the reason he left Kharkiv was because there were problems with food and the

Washington Park resident J.P. Medved has partnered with Ukrainian artist Nikita Klimenko for a fundraising effort to help Ukraine. Pictured is the 3D model of a Ukrainian soldier that people can download and print on a 3D printer. Cost for the download is a suggested $10 and all proceeds go to the National Bank of Ukraine’s special fundraising COURTESY PHOTO account for Ukraine’s armed forces.

internet, Medved said.

“It has been quite an incredible experience connecting with someone who has had a very different life experience than I had when I was that age,” Medved said. “To see his courage is very heartening and impressive.”

The two started working together on the design of the figure. It needed to represent Ukraine defending itself along with the help it is receiving from Western nations, Medved said. The model depicts a Ukrainian special operations soldier with a British-manufactured Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapon, which the UK shipped to Ukraine for defense.

In a statement from Klimenko that Medved provided to Colorado Community Media exclusively, Klimenko said: “I am directly interested in this fundraising since the war directly affected me personally. I have friends who serve in the Ukrainian army. All the property of my family was destroyed already two times, first eight years ago, (and) now again. My younger brother

and mother are now in forced immigration to Germany and my father is now undergoing a medical examination and may go to war.

All my life I spoke Russian, since the city in which I lived was on the border with Russia. I’m probably more Russian than Ukrainian, I’m exactly the person whom the Russians would ‘save’ from the ‘terrible Nazis’ but the Russians bring destruction and poverty, pain and suffering and nothing more.”

Once Klimenko finished with the design, Medved moved forward with finding a platform through which Americans could participate in the fundraising effort. He put the model on Gumroad.com, which is an e-commerce website that allows for a pay-what-you-can price.

Using this method, people can receive a 3D printable file that can be sent to their email or downloaded directly from the Gumroad website.

Medved has tested 3D printing the model from between 20mm, which is about 1 inch, to 60mm, which is just larger than 2 inches.

For those who do not have a 3D printer, the Denver Public Library

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To learn more about Nikita Klimenko and his art, visit artstation.com/gwin or instagram.com/gwinpaket.

To download the 3D printable file via Gumroad, visit digitalarmies.gumroad. com/l/ukrnlaw. To order the model from Speira Miniatures, visit speira.net/ product/figures/ukrainian-special-operations-soldier.

A link for more information on the National Bank of Ukraine’s special fundraising account for Ukraine’s armed forces can be found on the fundraiser’s Gumroad page. Detailed images of the model are available on the Speira Miniatures site.

For more information on 3D printing at the Denver Public Library, visit denverlibrary.org/idealab3D. For more information on 3D printing at the University of Denver, visit ritchieschool.du.edu/innovationlabs.

Any questions about the fundraiser or the figure can be directed to J.P. Medved through his Twitter account: twitter. com/rizzleJPizzle.

has 3D printers available in its ideaLABs, and the University of Denver has 3D printers available for public use in its Maker Space at the Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Another option for those who do not own a 3D printer is to order a model. Medved has arranged with a Swedish company called Speira Miniatures to host the fundraiser.

Speira Miniatures can print the 3D files and ship the models. Shipping cost is about $13 and is not included in the amount people donate for the model to go toward the fundraiser.

Using the Speira Miniatures option, the models can be printed to be about 6 inches tall.

Medved is currently working on reaching out to local tabletop gaming and hobby stores to see if they are interested in carrying the models for the fundraiser. It’s in the works, Medved said, but nothing had been finalized by the newspapers’ press date.

With either option currently available — download the file and print locally or order through Speira Miniatures — the suggested donation is $10. All donations go directly to the National Bank of Ukraine’s special fundraising account for Ukraine’s armed forces.

The bank reports its spending of this money, Medved said. He added that at the time he read the reports, money from this fund was used to purchase body armor and protective supplies, in addition to medical supplies.

“A lot of people have been following the news and are horrified with what Putin’s army is doing, but they don’t know how to help,” Medved said. “This is one way I thought I could help in a way that I’m familiar with. It’s a small thing but a direct way to help.”

Klimenko is also glad to be involved in the fundraising effort.

“I believe in our victory,” Klimenko said via the above-mentioned conversation with Medved. “And because of this project, you will become part of that victory. Thank you!”