Washington Park Profile October 2023

HALLOWEEN IS IN THE AIR

DRACULA AND GHOST WALKS ABOUND Page 14

BRO HUGS ALLOWED

MEN’S WORKOUT GROUP SHARES STRUGGLES, VICTORIES Page 18

Farm & Market

Farm & Market opened its doors on Sept. 16.

Located at 2401 Larimer St. in Denver, Farm & Market boasts a hydroponic farm, market and eatery.

e hydroponic farm grows about 50 varieties of plants and utilizes less than 10% of water used in traditional farming, states a news release. It is 100% wind-powered and chemical-free. e market sells these products directly to consumers and o ers a live harvest station for herbs and microgreens that are cut-to-order at time of purchase. e restaurant serves soups and salads made inhouse from ingredients grown on location.

Farm & Market was founded by Davis Breedlove, who serves as its CEO, and Austin Breedlove, who serves as its chef.

To learn more, visit thefarmandmarket. com.

Farm & Market boasts a hydroponic farm growing about 50 varieties of plants, a restaurant and market. It recently opened at 2401 Larimer St. in Denver.

Photo courtesy of a news release.

The Colorado Sun

e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet, celebrated its ve-year anniversary in September.

Launching its rst edition in September 2018,

e Colorado Sun is a digital newspaper based in Denver that covers statewide news — everything from politics to education. It publishes every day, as well as producing a number of newsletters. Its Colorado Sunday newsletter reached its 100th edition milestone in September.

e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

To learn more about e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

Logo courtesy of the Colorado Sun.

Z Cycle Shop

Z Cycle Shop celebrated its ve-year anniversary in September.

e Denver-based bike shop o ers repairs, tune-ups and inspections; and a monthly subscription for ongoing upkeep, use of various equipment such as stands, and other perks such as discounts and premier access to classes, events and promotions. Its sales component offers new, used and refurbished bikes, as well as custom builds.

Z Cycle Shop got its start on North Ogden Street in the northeast corner of the Capitol Hill neighborhood in September 2018. In 2021, the shop relocated to its current location at 1025 E. Ninth Ave., also in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. In July, Z Cycle opened a second location at 3217 E. Colfax Ave., which borders the City Park and Congress Park neighborhoods.

Z Cycle Shop’s owner Dmitri Rumschlag said he enjoys serving the Denver community.

“I never see a person on a bicycle frowning,” he said. “A bike is the best way to get around.”

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

undergo an extensive, comprehensive evaluation of its operations and programs by the AZA to ensure these standards are met. Accredited organizations are evaluated every ve years and the standards that must be met include animal welfare and care, ranging from living environments and social groupings, to health and nutrition. e evaluation also includes looking at a zoo’s wildlife conservation impact and research, and its guest services such as education programs.

e Denver Zoo is one of 238 institutions in the world to earn the AZA accreditation. Less than 10% of all the 2,800 wildlife exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture receive it, states a news release.

“AZA accreditation is the ultimate stamp of approval for our profession, and assures our guests and members that we’re providing the best possible care for our animals and creating a safe, enjoyable experience for our community,” said Bert Vescolani, president and CEO of the Denver Zoo, in a news release. “We’re beyond proud to be among the very few zoos and aquariums in the world that maintains such a high standard across our programs and operations.”

To learn more about the Denver Zoo, visit DenverZoo.org. To learn more about the AZA, visit aza.org.

Denver Zoo

e Denver Zoo in September announced it received accreditation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, maintaining its status as an AZAaccredited facility since 1976.

To earn the accreditation, a zoo must meet speci c standards and

Warren Village

On Aug. 30, Warren Village broke ground on its Warren Village at Alameda community, located at 1390 W. Alameda Ave., which borders Denver’s Valverde and Athmar Park neighborhoods.

Warren Village is a nonpro t that provides housing to single parents in need. It has a twogeneration approach to end the cycle of poverty and empower families to reach self-su ciency. Warren Village o ers a wide variety of resources that include transitional, private housing; parent services and advocacy; and early childhood education and childcare.

Warren Village at Alameda is the third Warren Village community.

MISCELLANEOUS ON THE COVER

FROM PAGE 2

It will have 89 apartment homes of 1, 2, and 3-bedroom units. Amenities will include an early learning center and adult education services.

“ e groundbreaking of Warren Village at Alameda underscores our steadfast commitment to advancing our community through accessible housing solutions,” said Ethan Hemming, CEO of Warren Village, in a news release. “ is new facility will empower single-parent families, fostering an environment where their potential can truly thrive.”

Learn more about Warren Village at WarrenVillage.org.

Photo courtesy of Warren Village.

Clothes To Kids of Denver

Clothes To Kids of Denver celebrated two milestones in September — its 15-year anniversary and its 100,000th school wardrobe donation.

Clothes To Kids of Denver is a nonpro t that provides free school wardrobes to youth ages 3-21 from low-income or in-crisis families throughout the entire Denver metro area. Each school wardrobe consists of ve out ts, a pair of shoes, ve pairs each of new underwear and socks, and a coat or jacket. School uniforms and a variety of extras - such as accessories and school supplies - also are available to students.

e nonpro t was founded in 2008 after Gail Cerny, a school volunteer, visited the Clothes to Kids in Florida, which was founded in 2002. Cerny joined forces with Joyce Meyers, Lesa Butler and Mary Overington to open one in Denver, which is located at 2890 S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver.

e 100,000th wardrobe went to a member of the Denver South High Newcomers, a group of recent immigrants and refugees from all over the world.

“Not having adequate school clothing can be a major barrier to school attendance and achievement,” said Valerie Lunka, Clothes To Kids executive director, in a news release. “Clothing that is badly worn or out-of-style can damage a child’s self-esteem and lead to bullying by other students. Our vision is that all students will have the clothing they need to

feel comfortable, con dent and prepared to thrive.”

To learn more about Clothes To Kids of Denver, including referral, donation and volunteer information, visit clothestokidsdenver.org.

A member of the Denver South High Newcomers recently took home the 100,000th school wardrobe provided free-of-charge by nonpro t Clothes To Kids of Denver. e Newcomers include recent immigrants and refugees from all over the world. Courtesy photo.

Pinnacol Assurance/various nonprofits

Pinnacol Assurance, a workers’ compensation insurer, has awarded 29 Colorado-based nonpro ts with grants to support workforce development, safety and economic vitality.

A total of $405,750 was distributed to the nonpro ts, which serve Coloradans in a variety of ways, ranging from education to healthcare to a ordable housing.

One of the larger grants totaled $50,000, which went to the University of Colorado’s Center for Health Work & Environment. e grant will be used to develop “annual community-based training sessions and resources for Spanishspeaking business owners and workers that address cited critical health and safety concerns such as mental health, stress, labor rights, disease prevention and emergency preparedness,” states a news release.

Call by September 30th to learn about our move-in specials! More choice. More comfort. More you.

30th to learn about our move-in specials! More choice. More comfort. More you. Contact us to schedule

Call

us to schedule a visit Five Star Residences

of

To learn more about Pinnacol Assurance, visit pinnacol.com.

BY

KYLE COOKE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

PBS

Editor’s note: Rocky Mountain PBS originally published this story on Sept. 6, which fell after the press deadline for Colorado Community Media’s September edition of Life on Capitol Hill and the Washington Park Pro le. CCM kept the original dates in the story to not disrupt its ow.

David Kolacny does not have

DEPENDABLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE agents seek customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIPS.

DEPENDABLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE agents seek customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIPS.

and KNOWLEDGEABLE agents

DEPENDABLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE agents seek customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIPS.

DEPENDABLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE agents seek customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIPS.

FATHER OF EIGHT lady. Must love kids, be fit and ready to jump in and join the fun. Military training would be helpful.

Look no further.

SINGLE, ARTSY LADY SEEKS SINGLE ARTSY GUY. If you love painting, decorating, baking and knitting, we are a match. Please be over 30 and willing to take art classes.

Look no further.

ADVENTUROUS CAT LOVER

adventurous cat owner. Please be employed and willing to relocate. Especially fond of black and white tuxedo cats. All responses will be answered. Looking for that Purrr-fect match.

GRANOLA EATING, CAMP LOVING, WORLD TRAVELER dreams.Must be fit and love spending days and nights outdoors in the middle of nowhere. If you know how to set up camp, pitch a tent and catch food, we need to meet immediately.

David Kolacny, co-owner of Kolacny Music, works on a harp for the Colorado Symphony. ROCKY MOUNTAIN PUBLIC MEDIA

Having one special person for your car, home and life insurance lets you get down to business with the rest of your life. We’re State Farm® – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, 365. GET TO A BETTER STATE™ CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY.

Look no further.

Look no further.

Having one special person for your car, home and life insurance lets you get down to business with the rest of your life. We’re State Farm® – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, 365. GET TO A BETTER STATE™. CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY.

Having one special person for your car, home and life insurance lets you get down to business with the rest of your life. We’re State Farm® – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, 365. GET TO A BETTER STATE™ CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY.

Having one special person for your car, home and life insurance lets you get down to business with the rest of your life. We’re State Farm® – it’s what we do, 24 / 7, 365. GET TO A BETTER STATE™. CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY.

DEPENDABLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE agents seek customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIPS. Barb Frank Insur Agcy Inc Barb Frank, Agent 261 S Downing St Bus: 303-777-4989 www.barbfrank.com

term DEPENDABLE and KNOWLEDGEABLE agents seek customers looking for real PROTECTION and long term RELATIONSHIPS. Barb Frank Insur Agcy Inc Barb Frank, Agent 261 S Downing St Bus: 303-777-4989 www.barbfrank.com

Barb Frank Insur Agcy Inc

Barb Frank, Agent 261 S Downing St Bus: 303-777-4989

www.barbfrank.com

Barb Frank Insur Agcy Inc

Barb Frank Insur Agcy Inc

Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc

Lori Rickert, Agent 714 South Pearl Street Bus: 303-757-7440

for real statefarm.com®

Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc Lori Rickert, Agent 714 South Pearl Street Bus: 303-757-7440 www.loririckert.net

www.loririckert.net

Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc Lori Rickert, Agent 714 South Pearl Street Bus: 303-757-7440 www.loririckert.net

Barb Frank, Agent 261 S Downing St Bus: 303-777-4989

Barb Frank Insur Agcy Inc

Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc

Lori Rickert Insur Agcy Inc

statefarm.com®

Barb Frank, Agent 261 S Downing St Bus: 303-777-4989 www.barbfrank.com

www.barbfrank.com

Barb Frank, Agent 261 S Downing St Bus: 303-777-4989

www.barbfrank.com

Lori Rickert, Agent 714 South Pearl Street Bus: 303-757-7440 www.loririckert.net

www.loririckert.net

Lori Rickert, Agent 714 South Pearl Street Bus: 303-757-7440

www.loririckert.net

seek Look no further. 1101202.1 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL

Look no further. 1101202.1 State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company, State Farm Indemnity Company State Farm Fire and Casualty Company, State Farm General Insurance Company, Bloomington, IL

IL

Kolacny Music on South Broadway is closing its doors to the public

COURTESY

September

30, 2023.

PUBLIC MEDIA

OF

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

CURTAIN

means he is too busy to feel verklempt, generations of musicians have made the time to reach out to him.

Sitting in the side room of his expansive store in the shadow of a harp he is repairing for the Colorado Symphony, David, 68, who lives in Englewood, read an email he recently received from a former customer.

Writing about a Spanish guitar purchased from Kolacny Music in 1963, the customer wrote, “it has been to California, Washington state, Iran, Scotland, all over England and currently lives with me in France. I play it every day and treasure every scar and mark it has acquired over 50 years. I’m so sorry to hear you are closing down. My mom passed away a long time ago, but we both thank you so much. South Denver will never be the same.”

“And I’m getting tons of this. People just show up,” David said. “ ey bring their parents in.”

Asked if that outpouring of support eased the pain of closing his doors, David said that it has always been this way. Many people, including local legends like Charlie Burrell, treated the store like a hangout over the years. David is accustomed to people coming by just to say hello, if not to shop.

“It’s how I grew up, from the time I was a kid,” he said. “You assumed everyone’s business was like that.”

David’s grandfather, William J. Kolacny, opened the store in 1930. Kolacny Music’s original location was in the Barth Building in downtown Denver. e family

moved the business to Englewood — the Barth Building was demolished years later — before eventually settling on the corner of South Broadway and East Jewell Avenue.

e store was passed down to David’s father, who then passed it down to David, who now co-owns the business with his wife and sister. Kolacny Music became the goto place in Denver for local school music programs to rent and repair instruments.

“Kolacny closing is just absolutely gut-wrenching,” said Keith Oxman, a saxophonist and bandleader who also works as a band teacher at Denver’s East High School. “When I heard about it, part of me just died. I’ve been going into that store [since] the 1960s.”

Despite the business’ longevity — they survived the Great Depression, World War II, and nearly a century’s worth of other nancial and global crises — the margins at Kolacny Music were always pretty thin.

“We never made a lot of money. My grandfather never had his house paid o ; he was always borrowing money to put back in the business,” David said. “If we made it through the month and had all the bills paid, we were pretty happy.

David explained that over time, participation in band and orchestra programs at local schools declined, meaning Kolacny’s clientele base did, too. e transition to online shopping was also bad for business. “People don’t come to a music store, necessarily, for every little thing anymore,” he said. “And the schools that have good programs are further out.”

“When we started, you could draw a circle around the store and that’s where all our custom-

ers were — the Denver Public Schools, the Englewood Public Schools,” David said. “But now you have to go look for the particular building in the particular district that’s got an administration that wants music and that hires a good teacher. So it’s spread out further and further. ere’s not that concentration of every school in the district [having] a great band.”

Oxman said that while enrollment is relatively steady in the East High School band program, “the instrumentation has gotten even worse than normal.”

“I don’t know what the future is going to bring as far as all of that goes. It’s not the heyday that it was in the 70s,” he said. “I have

a concert band at the end of the school day. I don’t have any trumpet players in there. at’s never happened.”

Edwina Lucero is the music instructional and curriculum specialist with Denver Public Schools. “ e emphasis on large ensembles isn’t entirely relevant to students anymore,” she said, noting that the pandemic also interrupted the musical development for many students. “In the district, we’re trying really hard to reimagine what our music education looks like.”

Combined with changing shopping habits and the evolution — and in some cases, devolution

SEE CURTAIN, P23

Dancers explore the depths of ‘Swan Lake’

Colorado Ballet commences its 2023-2024 season

BY KIRSTEN DAHL COLLINS SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

“I’m working on expressing more contempt and sarcasm,” said ballerina Jennifer Grace recently, as she prepared for the demanding dual role of Odette/Odile in Colorado Ballet’s October production of “Swan Lake.”

at is quite a leap for Grace, a willowy blond with a ready smile, who said she is “not an overly feisty person.” Never-the-less she expected the role of evil sorceress Odile to be “great fun.”

“It pushes you to expand your facial expressions,” Grace said during a rehearsal break at Colorado Ballet’s headquarters in the Art District on Santa Fe.

Grace is also depicting the far gentler Odette, an enchanted princess doomed to spend her days as a swan gliding on a lake –until true love breaks the spell.

e classical ballet, a dark fairytale set to Pyotr IlyichTchaikovsky’s celebrated score, runs Oct. 6-15 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver. Colorado Ballet’s 2023-24 season also includes the company’s awardwinning “Nutcracker,” the Gothic horror tale of “Jekyll & Hyde;” “Coppélia,” a comedy about a seductive mechanical doll; and the contemporary showcase, “Ballet Masterworks.”

“Swan Lake” famously opped at its premiere at the Bolshoi eatre in Moscow in 1877. Critics savaged the story, choreography and high drama of Tchaikovsky’s music. at early version was very di erent from the “Swan Lake” audiences see today. In 1895, choreographers Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov rescued the ballet, equipping it with new steps and a revised story. Today, “Swan Lake” is one of the most popular ballets of all time. Although Colorado Ballet’s classical production is based on Petipa’s, pop versions abound, including the Muppets’ “Swine Lake” and a lm version starring Barbie.

The joy of morphing into somebody else Grace has her own connection to “Swan Lake.” e ballerina, who hails from Bozeman, Montana, journeyed to Russia at age 13 to study at “Swan Lake’s” birthplace: the renowned Bolshoi Ballet. Now a principal dancer with the Colorado Ballet, she cited a deep love of performing, especially in portraying emotion.

Demi-soloist Ariel McCarty likes to stretch and sketch during rehearsal breaks at the Colorado Ballet studios. McCarty, who came up through the ranks of the Colorado Ballet’s pre-professional program, fell in love with dance at age 3 and dreams of doing “passionate, very human roles, like Juliet,” she said.

Principal dancer Jennifer Grace darns a new pair of pointe shoes during downtime between rehearsals for Colorado Ballet’s “Swan Lake.” Darning strengthens the delicate satin shoes and creates a more stable platform while the dancer is on her toes. PHOTOS BY TIM COLLINS

FROM

PAGE

“ e connection you have with the audience is truly fantastic,” Grace said. “When you’re on stage, you can’t see the audience but you can feel them. At heartbreaking moments, you can feel a catch of breath.”

Like Grace, principal dancer Jonnathan Ramirez relishes acting a part. In “Swan Lake,” he will portray Odette’s ill-fated lover, Prince Siegfreid.

e most joyful part of ballet, said the tall, athletic danseur (male dancer), is “to become somebody else for a couple of hours.”

In the story, Prince Siegfried is hunting by a lake one evening when he sights a ock of swans. As he aims his arrow, the swans transform into young women,

including the beautiful Odette.

e two dance together in the moonlight, and begin to fall in love – but that love is threatened when Odette’s evil double Odile turns up.

“He has this pressure about nding the right woman,” said Ramirez, of Prince Siegfried. “He nally opens his heart, and it leads to tragedy.”

e Colombian-born dancer left home at age 8 to attend El Instituto Colombiano de Ballet Clásico (the Colombian Institute of Ballet).

“It was di cult at rst because the ballet school was next to a military school, divided only by a tiny creek,” he said. “ e military kids would jump over the creek and call us names, try to pick ghts.”

After Ramirez graduated, he accepted a scholarship at American Ballet eatre and moved to New York City alone, at age 16. Luckily, he found a host family who took

him in. Now they regularly travel to Denver to attend all his performances.

“ ey became like my family,” said Ramirez.

Demi-soloist Ariel McCarty, who grew up in Allen, Texas, also has a passion for depicting character through dance. McCarty will appear in “Swan Lake,” although like many in the company, she had not been cast in a speci c role by press time.

In last season’s hit, “Lady of the Camellias,” McCarty cherished her role as the young Parisienne, Nichette.

“She was kind but strong,” she said of her character. “ at’s something I’ve always wanted to grow into personally.”

A beloved classic that’s tough to dance

Audiences may marvel that dancers can invest this kind of emotion in their roles, while ex-

ecuting pirouettes (spins on one foot), tour jeté (a turning leap) and cabrioles (beating both legs together in mid-air). Ballet is a demanding art form, and “Swan Lake” ranks as one of the most difcult of all.

Odile’s infamous 32 fouettés (a whipping turn performed on one leg) in Act III — have tested many a ballerina throughout the ballet’s 150-year history. Cold, manipulative Odile and her infatuated prince dance an intricate pas de deux (a ve-part dance for two) that borders on an Olympic feat. On stage, it looks e ortless, but behind the scenes lie many grueling hours of practice and sweat.

SEE DANCERS, P16

MAZING DENVER WITH WARREN STOKES

Mailing Address:

750 W. Hampden Ave., Suite 225 Englewood, CO 80110

Phone: 303-566-4100

To subscribe call 303-566-4100 or visit washparkprofile.com/subscribe

LINDA SHAPLEY

Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA

Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

CHRISTY STEADMAN

Editor csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

LINDSAY NICOLETTI

Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN ADDENBROOKE

Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

AUDREY BROOKS

Business Manager abrooks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

ERIN FRANKS

Production Manager efranks@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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.

Warren Stokes’ Halloween mask represents native Coloradans when they attempt to rent or buy a home. To solve this mazetorial, start at the ‘S’ for start in the lower left, and maze-out to the ‘W’ for win at the top of the stem.

I will be visiting my dad this Día de los Muertos

Ihave to begin this column with some sad news. But hopefully by the end of it, my words will bring some solace to those feeling the pain of losing someone dear to them.

On Aug. 17, my father succumbed to his more-than-a-decade long battle with Parkinson’s disease. I am still grieving and think I will be for a long time, but there is something that’s helping to alleviate my sorrow: Día de los Muertos is almost here.

And on this day, I will get to visit with my dad.

Día de los Muertos is a long-standing tradition in Mexico that dates back to the Aztec empire — and quite

FROM THE EDITOR

possibly before. Postconquest, the Spaniards introduced the Christian belief of All Souls Day and today, we have kind of a mesh of Indigenous traditions with the modern-day celebrations.

our ancestors. I read somewhere once that it’s a family reunion, only the spirits of our deceased ancestors are the guests of honor.

Traditionally celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2, it is not uncommon for families to begin the holiday’s preparations weeks in advance.

Christy Steadman

Even though it translates to “Day of the Dead,” Día de los Muertos is not a morbid holiday. Neither is it necessarily a day for mourning. Rather, it is a celebration of life and time to honor

ere are many ways to celebrate, and, nowadays, there are many community events that provide everyone opportunities to learn about the holiday, as well as participate in its traditions.

One way to celebrate is to build an

“Faces of the housing market”

Denver Botanic Gardens

Chatfield Farms Veteran Farm Program

When you hear the word “veteran,” what do you think of? For most people, it conjures feelings of gratitude, pride and respect. ey appreciate the sacri ces veterans have made in service to their country and hold them in high regard. Veterans are seen as representing the nation’s commitment to defending its values and freedoms. What is often not considered are the challenges and di culties that military veterans may face after they have completed their service in the armed forces and are transitioning back to civilian life. Some veterans may have physical disabilities or injuries resulting from combat or training. Many veterans experience post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions because of their experience in combat or

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The Clean Car Standard would help clean up some of our air pollution

As we all know, Denver has a serious air pollution problem.

e American Lung Association lists the Denver/Aurora metro area as the seventh worst in the entire country. We receive regular warnings from state health professionals that the air quality is so bad that our children should not play outside. We had 37 such high ozone days just this summer, when kids who would rather be outside running around were kept indoors.

As a mom, it’s terrifying to think about the impacts that air pollution has on everyone’s health, but our kids are even more susceptible to the harm it does. Families living along highways and high pollution areas su er from the toxic e ects even more than most.

Fortunately, the state is currently considering new safeguards such as the Clean Car Standard that would help clean up some of our air pollution by increasing the number of electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles on the road. I certainly hope they take meaningful action and use every opportunity

GUEST COLUMN

Royce Hale

working in lifethreatening situations. Returning to civilian life can lead to a sense of isolation and di culty reintegrating into their community. ese factors lead to veterans having an average rate of 16 suicides per day, 57% higher than non-veterans in the United States, according to the National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report. Fortunately, there are e ective ways to address these issues.

For the past 10 years, Denver Botanic Gardens and Veterans

To Farmers have collaborated to provide unique opportunities for veterans that address the challenges they face through three programs: Market Farming, Controlled Environment Agriculture and a Business Planning Course for entrepreneurs. Veterans learn new

skills and become connected with a community of other veterans who are involved in farming and feeding their respective communities. Veterans get hands-on experience working in agricultural settings as they learn the complex details of growing and selling vegetables. Farming requires a wide range of skills and knowledge, including crop cultivation, pest management, soil health, irrigation and business management. Learning and mastering these skills takes time and experience, but veterans tap into

skills they developed in the military, such as hard work, attention to detail and service before self. Another aspect of agriculture that is not so obvious is self-care. We often say, “If you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of your crops.” e therapeutic bene ts of farming help address conditions like PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. e veteran programs facilitate wellness practices that are as simple as taking a deep breath, or

to clean our air. We in Colorado love our electric vehicles and increasing infrastructure means it’s even easier to nd places to charge them.

Bad air means more asthma attacks, more emergency room visits, and more medical bills. It also means long-term health impacts and missed school and work days. Because those same emissions are also worsening the climate crisis, it means we’re not only harming our health but leaving a mess to clean up. Increased federal and state incentives means electric vehicles are more a ordable, and the lower fueling and maintenance costs of electric vehicles means more money in the family budget.

I sincerely hope the state will put the strongest safeguards possible in place to maximize the number of electric vehicles on the road. it’s a win/win/win. Colorado gets the electric vehicles that we want, our air is cleaner, and our kids are healthier. We cannot a ord to miss this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Jen Clanahan Denver

SEE HALE, P17

JAAMM returns for 16th season

JCC Denver’s annual arts and entertainment series boasts a robust lineup

BY BRUCE GOLDBERG SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

It seems appropriate that Adam Goldstein and his band, Avourneen – which specializes in Irish and Klezmer music – will close out the 16th season of the Neustadt Jewish Arts, Authors, Movies and Music Series (JAAMM).

After all, his family has long ties to the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center, commonly known as the JCC Denver. It was a 15-minute walk from Adam’s father’s childhood home, and the indoor pool is named after Jerry Goldstein, whose brother is Adam’s grandfather.

“On my paternal side, the Goldsteins go back seven generations in Denver,” said Goldstein, 44, who plays the guitar, bouzouki, Irish banjo, tin whistle and harmonica.

Goldstein formed Avourneen – which is an Irish Gaelic term of a ection - about 10 years ago, and the band has a busy performance schedule. His bandmates are Cieran Mordon on ddle and Alice Alister on bass.

eir repertoire includes Klezmer music, Irish music, ballads, folk instruments, contra dancing and Bob Dylan songs. Avourneen’s May 2 gig is dubbed the JCC Denver Backyard Summer Kicko .

is year’s JAAMM will present a provocative and interesting mix of book authors, lms, a comedy show, concerts and more.

Among the JAAMM appearances that JCC Denver CEO Mike Sophir touts are cooking author Dini Klein of Prep + Rally, “An Hour of Prep, A Week of Delicious Meals,” on Oct. 9; author Tom Shanker, “Age of Danger: Keeping America Safe in an Era of New Superpowers,” on Oct. 11; and e Braid presenting “True

Colors,” on Oct. 25.

“I’m really intrigued by Dina Kline, because I’m a great example of someone (who’s) so tired that at night, I don’t have time to make dinner,” Sophir said.

ere’s also the Jewish Book Sale from Oct. 9-13, which is in partnership with the Jewish Book Council and the Tattered Cover Book Store. Sophir is a big fan.

“(We’re) in a fast-paced world and everybody wants to jump online,”

Sophir said. “ e opportunity to settle down with a good book, sit back and read for a while” is a happy alternative.

Building JAAMM is “a process of discovery,” Sophir said.

“You want to show variety every year and try not to repeat things too often,” Sophir said. “It takes many months to move through the possibilities (and) make sure we have a balance so not everything seems the

Sophir stressed that JAAMM wouldn’t be possible without the strong backing of Kathleen Neustadt, who in 2014 established an endowment to provide general operating support for JAAMM in perpetuity. She is a strong supporter of the JCC Denver.

“We feel really lucky that we have a program and a series that has longevity,” Sophir said. “It says a lot about the interest level of the community, and the signi cance of the model, arts, authors and music under one umbrella.”

The 16th season of the Neustadt Jewish Arts, Authors, Movies and Music Series (JAAMM) began on Sept. 27 and runs through May 2. Most events take place at the Mizel Arts and Culture Center at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center (JCC Denver), 350 S. Dahlia St. in Denver. Tickets range from $18 to $84. A full performance schedule can be found at jccdenver.org/jaamm. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Mizel Arts and Culture Center Box O ce at 303-316-6360.

Avourneen is performing on May 2 as part of the JCC Denver’s Neustadt Jewish Arts, Authors, Movies and Music Series.

PHOTO BY MARLA KEOWN

Sept.

Curious Theatre Company: The Minutes

Time: Various showtimes available.

Location: Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma St., Denver.

Cost: Varies.

Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks

Time: Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily with additional hours until 9 p.m. on Tuesdays.

Location: Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy.

Cost: Museum admission ranges from free for youth and members to $15 for adult Colorado residents.

“Amoako Boafo: Soul of Black Folks” is a solo exhibition tour that brings the work of Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo — one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation — to Denver. is exhibit features more than 30 of Boafo’s works created between 2016 and 2022, highlighting the artist’s unique approach to portraiture. Making use of vibrant color and thick gestures, Boafo’s work centers on Black subjectivity, Black joy and the Black gaze. In addition to Boafo’s artwork on display, exhibition visitors can

Oct. 8-Feb. 11 Oct. 7 and Oct. 14 Oct. 13

enjoy supplemental experiences such as a video featuring Boafo’s artistic creative process, audio clips of the artist’s voice and a music playlist developed by the artist to accompany the exhibition. More information/reservations: denverartmuseum.org

Amoako Boafo, “Green Clutch,” 2021. Courtesy of Private Collection and Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, Chicago and Paris.

Ballet Ariel: Aurora’s Wedding

Time: 3 p.m. (both performances)

Location: Oct. 7: Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, 119 Park Ave. W.. Denver; Oct. 14: Elaine Wolf Theatre at the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center (JCC Denver), 350 S. Dahlia St., Denver.

Cost: $25 adult, $23 seniors and students, $20 children. Tickets include the performance and tea party. Ballet Ariel is opening its 25th season with a performance of “Aurora’s Wedding,” the third act of “Sleeping Beauty.” e ballet is set to music composed by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and is performed in one act and without intermission. is family-friendly production provides a rare opportunity for people of all ages to see beloved fairy tale characters together in one place. e event also includes a tea party following the per-

formance, during which audience members have the opportunity for a meet-and-greet and to take pictures with the costumed performers.

More information/reservations: balletariel.org

Photo by David Andrews.

Candlelight concert: Friday the 13th Special featuring Aerialists

Time: 6:30 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.

Location: Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, 7711 E. Academy Blvd., Denver.

Cost: $48-$66

Candlelight concerts are a multi-sensory live music experience. This one will feature music from Halloween movie favorites performed by musicians with Range Ensemble and will feature performances by aerialists. The event is for ages 8 and older, and attendees younger than 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Ride Revolution Spin-A-Thon

Time: Begins at 8 a.m.

Location: Ride Revolution, 1519 S. Pearl St., Denver.

Cost: $25 minimum donation is requested per rider.

Tuvayhun: Voices in Unity

Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave., Denver.

Cost: $25 general admission, $20 senior, free for child/student.

e Colorado Chorale and the Augustana Lutheran Church Chancel Choir are collaborating to present Kim Andre Arnesen’s “Tuvayhun.” e Aramaic word, “tuvayhoon,” translates to “blessed.” “`Tuvayhun’ is more than a concertit’s a celebration of the human spirit, expressed through the unifying power of music,” states a news release.

Ride Revolution, an indoor cycling studio located on South Pearl Street, is teaming up with TIEM athletic shoes to host a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. e four 45-minute donation-based rides will be o ered at 8 am, 9 am, 10 am and 11 am. All of the proceeds from these rides will go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. To learn more about

the foundation, visit bcrf.org. To learn more about Ride Revolution, visit goriderev.com. More information/reservations: To register for any of the four donation-based rides bene ting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, download the Ride Revolution app. Any questions can be directed to Ride Revolution by sending an email to info@goriderev.com.

Oct.

More information/reservations: coloradochorale.org

Image courtesy of a news release.

Stories on Stage: Message in a Bottle

Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Dr., Denver.

Cost: $26

Stories on Stage is a nonpro t theater and literary organization that presents dynamic and entertaining short stories performed by renowned local actors. “Message in a Bottle” will entail the actors portraying “comical and moving letters written by entirely ctional characters,” states a news release.

More information/ reservations: storiesonstage.org or 303-4940523.

History Colorado’s Tours and Treks: 7th Avenue Historic District Walking Tour

Time: 10 a.m. to noon

Location: 7th Avenue Historic District in Denver.

Cost: $40 nonmembers, $30 for members.

is tour will explore Denver’s largest historic district and its architectural styles. is is a moderate walking tour that includes about two miles on streets, easy trails and climbing stairs.

is tour includes coach transportation and lunch.

More information/ reservations: historycolorado.org/tours-andtreks

Historic Denver’s 53rd annual Awards ner &Gala

Time: 5 p.m. cocktail reception, 7 p.m. awards dinner and gala

Location: The Brown Palace Hotel, 321 17th St., Denver.

Cost: Event Ticket: $195, Patron Ticket: $250.

is fundraiser event for Historic Denver includes a networking cocktail hour, a three-course dinner, a short lm about the eight 2023 honorees and their projects, an awards presentation and an auction and paddle raise to support Historic Denver’s year-round work.

More information/reservations: historicdenver.org/tours-events/annualdinner-2023 Courtesy image.

The Bookies:

Author Event with Stephan Pastis

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Teller Elementary School, 1150 Garfield St., Denver.

Cost: Free. The Bookies will have copies of “Looking Up” by Stephan Pastis available for purchase. e Bookies bookstore is hosting Californiabased author and comic artist Stephan Pastis for an author event and book signing for his latest book, “Looking Up.” “Looking Up” is a novel for middle-schoolers “about a girl struggling with loneliness and the curveballs of life,” states a news release. To learn more about the book, visit tinyurl.com/LookingUpPastis. “Looking Up” will be released on Oct. 10, but pre-orders are available through e Bookies: thebookies.com.

More information/reservations: thebookies.com/events/29742

Image of the “Looking Up” book cover courtesy of a news release.

SEASONAL FUN

Halloween is in the air

13TH FLOOR HAUNTED HOUSE

e 13th Floor Haunted House, 3400 E. 52nd Ave. in Denver, has opened for the season on select nights through Nov. 11. is year’s haunted house features three attractions: Fairytale Nightmare, Repossessed and e Deadlands. In addition to the haunted house, 13th Floor features many additional onsite attractions and add-on experiences. ere is no minimum age requirement for the 13th Floor, though the event is graphic and meant to be scary. It is not recommended for children age 12 and younger. A Monster-Free Hour is o ered on Sundays in October. Ticket prices begin at $19.99 per person, with Fast Pass, Skip the Line, Behind-the-Scenes tours and VIP ticketing options available. 13th oorhauntedhouse.com.

BROADWAY HALLOWEEN PARADE

An annual favorite, the Broadway Halloween Parade takes place at 6 p.m. Oct. 21 on Broadway between Fifth and Alameda avenues. Put on by the Broadway Merchants Association and City Council District 7, it features Halloween-themed oats, bands and marchers. Attendees are encouraged to dress in costume. Free to attend. facebook.com/BroadwayHalloweenParade.

“DRACULA”

Firehouse eater Company, 7653 E. First Place in Denver, is presenting “Dracula” on select dates from Sept. 30 to Oct. 28. is adaptation by Steven Dietz and directed by Julie Kaye Wolf brings the original suspense and seduction of Bram Stoker’s classic novel to the stage with both horror and humor. Tickets cost $27 with group discounts available. rehousetheatercompany.com.

GHOST WALK WITH PHIL GOODSTEIN

Local author and Denver native Phil Goodstein is o ering his Denver Ghost Walk tours from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28; and from 6-8 p.m. on Oct.31. Attendees should meet in front of the statue of the Indian on the east lawn of the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver, which is along Grant Street between 14th and Colfax avenues. Cost is $25. For more information or to make a reservation, contact Goodstein at philgoodstein@gmail.com.

GHOSTS IN THE GARDENS

is event allows visitors to stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens’ paths after dark as storytellers share real sta encounters, security guard accounts and the intriguing history of the place that was formerly known as “ e Boneyard.” Guests can also go inside the Waring House for an exclusive visit of the Beaux-Arts style mansion. Families with children age 12 and older are welcome — this event is not recommended for younger children. Halloween masks and costumes are not permitted at this event. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance. Ghosts in the Gardens is o ered from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 13-15 and 26-29. Cost is $34 or $29 for members. is event takes place at the York Street Location, 1007 York St., in Denver. botanicgardens.org.

PUMPKIN HARVEST FESTIVAL AT FOUR MILE HISTORIC PARK

is fall festival includes a pumpkin patch, a marketplace, live music and performances, seasonal food, face painting, a Western-themed scavenger hunt, gold panning, prairie games and more. A build-your-own scarecrow activity is o ered as an add-on experience for $25. e festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 and 15. Tickets cost $16-$35 (children 3 and younger do not require a ticket). VIP tickets available. Ticket prices increase on Oct. 13. Four Mile Historic Park is located at 715 S. Forest St. in Denver. fourmilepark.org/pumpkin-harvest-festival/

WILD FALL

e Denver Zoo is again o ering its Wild Fall through the month of October. Guests will have the opportunity to discover the creatures that inhabit their imaginations, such as beasts of lore like Bigfoot, dragons, sea monsters and more. Roaming costumed characters, creature-carved pumpkins, festive food and drink and special animal demos enhance the experience. Wild Fall is included with a regular ticket to the zoo. On select evenings in October, the zoo will be opening up for its Trick-or-Treat Trail. A separate ticket is required. It costs $20 and includes a reusable bag for trick-or-treating at various candy stations, a silent disco party, photo ops with festive characters and other seasonal surprises to discover throughout the zoo’s 84 acres. To learn more or purchase tickets to either event, visit denverzoo.org.

VICTORIAN HORRORS

Celebrating its 30th annual year, Victorian Horrors is a mainstay for Denver Halloween events. Acclaimed local actors give theatrical readings of terrifying tales written by well-known, but long-gone, authors throughout the Molly Brown House Museum. Age recommendation for this event is 10 and older. Victorian Horrors is o ered on Oct. 13-15, 19-21 and 26-28. Admission times are every 15 minutes from 6-9 p.m. An accessibility-friendly and signlanguage assistance in-person performance takes place at 5 p.m. on Oct. 28. Cost is $30 general admission and $25 Historic Denver members. A special opening night Friday the 13th Seance After-Party takes place at 8:45 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Oct. 13. Age recommendation for this event is 21+. It costs $75 general admission and $65 Historic Denver members, and includes Victorian Horrors admission as well as 21+ beverages, snacks and a Victorian-style seance hosted by Otherworld Paranormal. mollybrown.org/victorian-horrors/

STEADMAN

altar in the home, also known as an ofrenda. ese serve as a portal — of sorts — for your deceased loved ones to come and visit the land of the living.

I’ve celebrated Día de los Muertos at a variety of community events through the years — I assure you they are a lot of fun — but this will be the rst year my family and I will be building our own ofrenda. And luckily, here in the Denver area, I have plenty of resources to help me.

e Latino Cultural Arts Center is in its fourth year of o ering its Ofrendas program, which takes place at di erent venues throughout Denver in October. It includes a variety of free and family-friendly workshops during which attendees get to learn about some of the di erent elements of an altar as well craft them. ese include sugar skulls and candle decorating. Visit lcac-denver.org/ ofrendas to nd a full list of the workshops.

e CHAC (Chicano Humanities and Arts Council) Gallery also has an interesting exhibit coinciding with Día de los Muertos. It’s called “Life, Death and Rebirth: Vida, Muerte y Renacimiento” and features the work of local artist Shay Guerrero. e exhibit runs through Nov. 17, and CHAC settled into its new Denver location at 834 Santa Fe Dr. in the arts district there in September. Visit chacgallery.org to learn more.

Día de los Muertos is a wonderful holiday, and I hope you and yours are able to celebrate it and/or learn more about its rich traditions this year.

I know my dad is always with me. Little signs prove this, like the vibrant double rainbow perfectly arched over my condo as I was leaving to run errands the other day. And the shooting star I saw while sitting on my balcony enjoying a nighttime decaf.

But Día de los Muertos is di erent. It’s a special time for us to re ect on the love we have for our departed and to celebrate their life. I know my dad will be here with us this Día de los Muertos, and I am so looking forward to his visit.

An old photo of my nieces while we were out celebrating Día de los Muertos, probably about 10 years ago — Cassie, left, is now 16 and Morgan, right, is now 20 . PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN

DANCERS

Although “Swan Lake” presents a high hurdle, Artistic Director Gil Boggs clearly believes his dancers are up to the task. e 62-year-old company, which now employs 36 artists from around the world, has upped its game with increasing technical nesse, stunning sets and costumes, and a live orchestra at every performance. Denver was recently ranked one of the top U.S. cities for dance attendance by the National Endowments for the Arts. Not bad for a Western cow town known for multiple sports stadiums.

Boggs said he is especially pleased by the growing diversity of Colorado Ballet audiences.

“I love the gentlemen that come in their cowboy hats and cowboy boots,” he said, with a grin.

A gentler, kinder approach

Boggs took the reins as artistic director in 2006, and runs the company with his wife, Sandra Brown, who serves as his assistant and one of two ballet masters. Previously, the couple were principal

dancers with American Ballet eatre in New York.

Boggs said his company is in uenced by classical Russian technique but with a caveat.

“We use a gentler, kinder approach. I’m not a dictator. I allow freedom,” he said. “It’s so important to me that we create a nourishing atmosphere, a place

Washington Park Veterinary Clinic

where people wake up and want to come do this every day.”

As a Black ballerina, Ariel McCarty appreciates this approach. McCarty fell in

love with dance at age 3 but felt isolated in many of her classes. Although ballet has a rich history of Black ballerinas, it remains a notoriously White art form. Still, she said she feels welcome at Colorado Ballet.

“Gil has cultivated an atmosphere that’s very supportive. He’s one of the most open people I’ve encountered,” McCarty said.

With this nurturing atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Colorado Ballet dancers are soaring to new heights.

Is that why so many Denverites are going to the ballet? If mind-boggling athleticism, haunting stories and emotional depth aren’t enough, there may be another reason.

Perhaps the song “At the Ballet” from the Broadway musical, “A Chorus Line,” puts it best:

“Everything was beautiful at the ballet.

Graceful men lift lovely girls in white.

Yes, everything was beautiful at the ballet. Hey! I was happy... at the ballet.”

Principal dancer Jonnathan Ramirez rehearses his role as Prince Siegfried in “Swan Lake.” Ramirez, who grew up in Cali, Colombia, and studied at the American Ballet Theatre in New York, counts himself lucky to be living in Denver. Among the attractions: five Colombian restaurants serving his favorite empanadas and arepas.

PHOTO BY TIM COLLINS

To learn more about the Colorado Ballet or to purchase tickets, visit coloradoballet. org.

recognizing when you need to stop and drink some water. Although the programs do not provide therapy, it is important to be sensitive, patient and have a deep understanding of traumainformed approaches. In order to foster a positive and transformative experience for veterans, the focus is on creating a supportive environment that respects a veteran’s experiences and promotes opportunities for healing and their overall well-being.

Graduates from these veteran programs have gone on to start their own businesses, pursue degrees in agriculture, and even become executive directors of food focused nonpro ts. Despite these successes, the impact is limited to a handful of participants each year. e interest level is high, with a waitlist of hundreds of veterans, but participation is limited by funding. Each veteran participating in the market farming and Controlled Environment Agriculture programs is paid an hourly stipend. Veterans in the business planning class participate in a pitch competition to earn grant money, generously donated by American Ag Credit, to support their new business.

Royce Hale is the farm education coordinator for the Denver Botanic Gardens.

A couple of veterans work with crops at the Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms.

PHOTO BY ROYCE HALE

Bring your a-game, not your ego

Local men’s workout group encourages leadership and vulnerability

BY CASSIS TINGLEY SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

It’s 7 a.m. e grass in Washington Park is still dripping with overnight dew. A cross country team huddles a few paces away, shaking o their sleepiness to prepare for the day’s meet. In the eld at the corner of Mississippi Avenue and Franklin Street, some 15 men, all F3 members, gather for their morning workout.

During the next hour, these men will sprint, sweat and laugh as they move through one grueling exercise after another. e only rule? Leave no man behind and leave no man where you found him. And, added Jason “Donor” Dodson, “don’t be a jerk.”

“We try to instill the idea of, ‘I’m not in competition with you as a man,’” he said. “I’m in competition with myself — that might mean, today, I’m going to run slower because that’s what I need for me.”

All F3 members receive an F3 name from the group after their second workout. Dodson, who joined in 2018 after donating a kidney to his wife, was quickly dubbed “Donor.”

Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith – or F3 – was founded in 2011 by David “Dredd” Redding in Charlotte, North Carolina. Established to “plant, grow and serve small workout groups for men for the invigoration of male community leadership,” the peer-led workout group has since expanded to include more than 3,400 individual workout groups across 46 states and several countries.

One of F3’s de ning characteristics is that it is only for men. Some may be skeptical of such a “boys club,” but F3 members stressed that this was not to exclude women, but rather to build the male relationships that many men struggle with, especially later in life.

“At the surface level it sounds kind of sexist, but the fact that it’s just guys and you can talk about the ‘guy stu ’ helps a lot,” said Damon “Tackle” Vinciguerra, who joined

the group in 2020.

Dr. Jarrod Call, a graduate of the University of Denver’s Graduate School of Social Work who is a current faculty member at the University of Washington, reiterated that rigid gender roles cause many men to face “social pushback” on forging close relationships with their counterparts.

“Speci cally around men and masculinity, there’s a very focused message around independence, self-reliance and emotional stoicism,” Call said. “At times, that strict independence can be isolating.”

To Todd “Double D” Miekle, head of F3 in Colorado, breaking away from this individualistic mindset is one of the most important parts of F3.

“A really powerful thing that I’ve seen is watching guys connect,” he said. “Seeing guys have a couple of brief discussions and then a bro hug after, I think there’s power in that.”

All F3 workouts are free to attend, open to all men, peer-led, take place outside and end in a circle of trust during which participants can share struggles or thoughts on whatever is going on in their life. While F3 recruitment videos boast American ags and crowds of men doing push-ups on a football eld, participants of the Wash Park group emphasized that vulnerability is both key to strong leadership and expected at every workout. at’s why the circle of trust is so important to Vinciguerra: it allows and encourages members to share their struggles, not just their victories.

“ ere’s stu that society throws on us, just like they throw on women – being ‘like a man,’ and all the stu you see in Hollywood,” said Vinciguerra. “Here, it’s like, ‘I got frustrated with my son yesterday and I’m not sure how to handle it and could use some help.’”

Vinciguerra added that at a circle of trust several weeks ago, one member had shared that they had recently contemplated suicide. Accounting for nearly 80% of suicides in the U.S. in 2022, men face high rates of suicide and mental health issues, and they are also far more likely to commit serious acts of public and domestic violence.

Men with the Washington Park Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith – or F3 – group form a huddle during a workout. The group emphasizes that vulnerability is key to strong leadership.

PHOTO BY CASSIS TINGLEY

According to the Violence Project’s database on gun violence in the U.S., 97% of public mass shootings are committed by cisgender men; and 34% of female murder victims in 2021 were killed by an intimate partner, compared to 6% of male victims.

Call underlined that men are not the only ones impacted by issues of masculinity.

“Historically, traditional, or hegemonic, masculine traits are about power and dominance,” Call said. “Sometimes there’s a pressure for men to prove that (dominance) by oppressing voices and perspectives and identities outside of traditionally masculine people in our society.”

To Dodson, these trends show a disconnect in community, something he hopes to counter through

F3.

“If I had to guess, a lot of those guys that are doing terrible things, they’re lonely,” he said. “ ey don’t have any male community leaders around them that are giving them good guidance and keeping them from doing bad things.”

Call went on to point out that patriarchal norms and lack of healthy role models in American culture can also push men to strive for the wrong ideals.

“We’ve created a society that values wealth and power above all else, so when we look to the models of masculinity – the rich, business elite, or politically powerful men – there’s not great healthy models in those communities,” Call said.

“ ere’s a mismatch between what we’ve elevated … as being an ideal representation of masculinity, and what’s going be an actually helpful and useful model for men.”

F3 seeks to approach masculinity in a healthier way. When asked

what positive masculinity looked like to them, members’ answers all shared a common thread: getting in touch with their emotions.

“Manhood is the ability to express yourself clearly, the ability to show emotions when needed and handle those emotions like an adult. It is to support your family, to be a steward, to support your community and your friends,” said Bishara “Einstein” Zinaty. “ e ability to put that ego aside.”

Mike “Honey Bucket” Riniker also emphasized leadership.

“I think a good example of a man who is well-balanced with his masculinity would be somebody who is not afraid to be a leader, and sometimes being a leader is, as this group has taught me, being vulnerable,” he said.

Vinciguerra summed it up with “honesty and vulnerability.”

“You can be strong,” he said, “but you gotta be open and say, ‘yeah, sometimes it’s a struggle.’”

A men’s workout group called F3 helps men build the male relationships that many men struggle to find, especially later in life.

Fitness, Fellowship, and Faith – or F3 – meets in Washington Park at 7 a.m. on Saturdays and at Central Park at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. To learn more about the group, visit f3nation.com.

IS EFFORTLESS

Let’s talk steaks. Steaks that are tender, juicy, and full of flavor. Perfectly aged, hand-trimmed, one-of-a-kind steaks that are GUARANTEED to be perfect, every single time. These aren’t just steaks. These are Omaha Steaks.

THE BEST STEAKS OF YOUR LIFE OR YOUR MONEY BACK

Classic Cookout Collection

PHOTO BY CASSIS TINGLEY

‘Building the world that we work in’

New Resource Sharing Initiative coming to Denver is a win-win for local theaters

BY ELICIA HESSELGRAVE SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

In a theater production, each object that an actor picks up or uses is a prop. e fountain pen.

e handkerchief. Even the picture frames and books on a co ee table are part of the set dressing.

e more elaborate a show, the more props that are required, and a properties master is responsible for nding each piece. It takes a lot of time to visit antique shops and thrift stores, or search online, to build a collection needed for each show. en once the show closes, that prop may never get used again, sitting forgotten in storage or even thrown away.

“Props are important because they add realism to theater on a level that other pieces don’t quite reach,” said Selena Naumo , a local properties master who works at Denver-area theaters.

When producing a show, theaters need various props, costumes, set pieces, lighting equipment and more. Generally, each theater company works independently to nd,

pay for and store these materials.

Aurora’s Megan Davis seeks to make the art of creating theater an easier process by revitalizing a concept she is calling the Resource Sharing Initiative.

“As theater companies, we spend a lot of time creating worlds that we share with other people,” Davis said. “I think the Resource Sharing Initiative would really help us to focus on building the world that we work in.”

e Resource Sharing Initiative would serve theaters by housing and keeping track of materials available for communal use such as props, lighting equipment, set pieces, costumes and more.

e end goal is to have a membership program for participating organizations and central warehouse locations for storage. ose that opt into the program would be able to store their items while also participating in the rental of others’ items. Davis would keep records of everything stored, and work with a team of people to organize conversations among theaters for scheduling and pick up of items. is would allow theater production teams to worry less about logistics and more about the creative process.

“By streamlining the process, we can take the weight o of small organizations who maybe only have a core group of people doing all the

Local theater artist Megan Davis paints the set of “Dracula” at Firehouse Theater Company in Aurora. Davis has more than 20 years of theater experience and is hoping to launch the Resource Sharing Initiative in the near future.

PHOTO BY ELICIA HESSELGRAVE

SEE BUILDING, P21

BUILDING

work,” Davis said. Many organizations already work together to share resources, Davis said, but nothing like her vision for the Resource Sharing Initiative currently exists in a whole form.

e initiative is still in its formative stages. Davis rst came up with the idea for the concept about a year ago, then she had her rst roundtable discussion, hosted by the Colorado Community eatre Coalition, in January. en, a small committee supported by the coalition presented initial ideas at a summit that took place in September. An outline with sample database items, membership ideas and a project plan were presented. e next step is to expand the committee and get more voices involved, Davis said.

Davis has more than 20 years of theater experience and knows what is required to put together a successful production. Her journey began as a youth in middle school. She started working the technical side of theater in college, and eventually got into stage managing. rough the years, she has gained experience in carpentry/set building, set painting, graphic and program design, ticket systems and installation, and nonpro t consulting.

Since moving to Colorado in 2018, Davis has worked in various roles with numerous theater organizations across the state. Today, Davis splits her time between Vintage eatre, 1468 Dayton St. in Aurora, as the set painter and assistant carpenter; and Firehouse eater Company, 7653 E. First Place in Denver, as the resident stage manager.

Megan Davis, a local theater artist, demonstrates the need for more prop storage at Firehouse Theater Company in Aurora. The Resource Sharing Initiative could potentially help participating theaters save money, time, storage space and stress by joining forces.

PHOTO BY ELICIA HESSELGRAVE

SEE BUILDING, P23

Drywall

THE WALL REBUILDER Cracks? Holes? Ugly texture? We fix any kind of damage in any age home. Plaster (and Drywall) Repair/ Remodel www.wallrebuilder. com Laura and Dan Pino 303698-1057 Free Estimates.

Lawn/Garden Services

CLEAN-UPS/ YARD MAINTENANCE/ SNOW REMOVAL

Hauling and yard cleanup. Longtime Baker neighborhood resident; 30 yrs. exp. Insured, references. Free estimates. Call Lou R. Varlaro, 303-868-1539.

SOUTH DENVER LAWN SERVICE

Mowing, Trimming, Edging, Aeration. Landscaping, Trees & Shrubs, Gutter Cleaning, Yard Clean-Up. Call Jasper, 720-296-1141 (cell), or email sdls1169@gmail.com.

Painting

BAUER PRO-PAINTING

EST. 1996

We use only the highest quality materials from prep to paint. Drywall, plaster repair, replace damaged wood. A+ rating with BBB. Insured. 303-733-2870 or bauerpropainting@gmail. com.

BUILDING

“I was constantly part of conversations where we were like, ‘we need this set piece or costume piece,’ and someone would say, ‘such and such theater has it,’” Davis said.

So she began towonder: “Why can’t we just have a database to have these conversations all together?”

Additionally, because Davis worked at theaters with varying budgets, she noticed that the cost of props was also sometimes an issue – smaller theaters with less funding had to preclude certain plays due to budget.

Davis then discovered a great interest in resource sharing, but a lack of time for anyone to organize it and make it a possibility.

“So many of us (working in theater) are lling multiple positions (and) working other jobs,” Davis said.

Davis believes the Resource Sharing Initiative might be the solution for many – if not all – of these setbacks because it could potentially help participating organizations save money, time, waste and stress by joining forces.

“It’s about sharing in the moment

FROM PAGE 5

— of local music programs, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated Kolacny’s timeline.

“We got into a big hole with the COVID thing,” David said. “We took a pretty good-sized loan with the SBA and our bookkeeper was telling us, ‘you’re never going to make enough money to pay this loan o and it’s secured by your house.’”

David and the other owners tried to sell the business, but as David put it, “nobody in the music business has the money to buy another music business.” So when a company called Alchemy o ered a fair price to buy the building and turn it into an event space, the Kolacny family accepted.

e sale and impending closure has been surprisingly hard on

when creation isn’t an option,” said Davis.

from the initiative, as any nancial savings gained from participating can support other budget line items like hiring more technicians and crew members needed to support a show.

Naumo , the local properties

David’s mother, who is 97. “She just couldn’t imagine,” David said. “She worked here too, for a while.” David is not bitter or dejected about the closure. For about 40 years, he has spent six days a week at the store. He has hardly ever taken a vacation that wasn’t related to work in some way. While he’s looking forward to some much-deserved leisure, he’s not going to stop working just yet. He built up quite the rolodex of harpists who rely on him for repairs and tune-ups, and he’ll continue his services from his home in Englewood.

Lucero said Kolacny’s closure should be a “wake up call” for the music education community in Denver.

“How are we going to maintain building up the future of musicmaking?” she wondered.

“It would be so nice to live in a place where we have strong music programs and strong music

nication and cooperation between theater companies.

“ is initiative can serve everyone,” she said. “If we could share

props, we could save money, time and storage, and also expand our networks and build cooperation.”

Je Jesmer, a set builder at Vintage and Firehouse theaters, agrees. Jesmer added that the initiative has the potential to unite theaters so that “no theater company feels alone.”

“With the Resource Sharing Initiative, everybody’s needs can be seen,” Jesmer said. “Help is out there, and everybody wants to be a part of it.”

Davis’ goal is to ensure that participation in the Resource Sharing Initiative is a ordable and accessible to everyone, regardless of the size of the theater organization.

“To me, theater means community, freedom and education,” Davis said. “Freedom to be a part of a community, to feel safe in your environment and to get to be not only yourself but a number of characters and parts of worlds that reach people that you would never get to interact with in day-to-day life.”

For Davis, the sky’s the limit on how big the Resource Sharing Initiative could get, but she hopes to start with a warehouse that would serve the Denver-metro area, then expand to Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.

“I see this growing into something that we can only dream of right now,” Davis said.

stores,” Oxman concluded. “I don’t know if that’s coming back or not, but God it would be so great if it did.”

Local theater artist Megan Davis adds texture to door entrances on the set of “A Shayna Maidel at Firehouse Theater Company” in the spring last year. Davis is hoping to bring the Resource Sharing Initiative to fruition, which would help participating theaters save money, time, storage space and stress by joining forces.

PHOTO BY ELICIA HESSELGRAVE

Colorado Community Media wins 29 awards in statewide contest

BY THELMA GRIMES TGRIMES@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Colorado Community Media, a digital and print news operation with 23 newspapers along the Front Range, won 29 awards during the annual Colorado Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

In the awards presentation at Denver’s Curtis Hotel on Sept. 23, CCM won awards in editorial, advertising and special sections across its regions in the north, east, west and south.

e CCM team won 19 rst-place honors altogether, and the Editorial “sweepstakes” award in its

classi cation among similar-sized newsrooms across the state.

In her third year as publisher of CCM, Linda Shapley said: “Our journalists work hard to make sure they are doing right by their communities, holding o cials accountable and telling the stories of their neighbors. ese awards serve as a little bit of proof that we are doing that job, and we’ll continue to do what’s best for our communities.”

e CCM team had several rstplace honors in the South Metro region, which includes coverage areas in Douglas and Arapahoe counties, and the East Metro

region, which includes Parker and Elbert County.

In the West Metro region, which includes coverage areas in Arvada, Golden, Evergreen, other areas of Je erson County and Clear Creek County, several reporters had a big night with many rst-and-second place honors.

e North Metro region, which includes coverage in Adams and Weld counties, took home a total of three awards.

CCM also swept the special sections category, winning rst and second place for the company’s annual health and wellness guide and spring home and garden section.

e sections combine editorial, advertising and design.