Life on Capitol Hill June 2021

June 2021

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CELEBRATING IDENTITY 2021 Denver PrideFest offers in-person and virtual events

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MUSIC FOR ALL

EXPLORING DENVER

Denver Municipal Band will provide free summer concerts

Historic Denver puts on a city scavenger hunt

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RESILIENCY AND ‘EMPOWERMENT’ Community invited to student exhibit at RedLine Contemporary Art Center

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2 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2021

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

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

NEW OPENINGS Big Easy’s Crepe Kitchen A new Denver-based virtual creperie opened in May. Big Easy’s Crepe Kitchen is operating out of the Jamaican Grill, 709 W. Eighth Ave. in Denver’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, and offers pickup and delivery to all of Denver. Jamaican Grill also has a seating area for those who would like to enjoy their crepes onsite.

Virtual kitchens are a relatively new idea for the restaurant industry, said Nathan Briley, owner of Big Easy’s Crepe Kitchen. Some operate out of cloud kitchens alongside other virtual restaurants, and others, like Big Easy’s Crepe Kitchen, operate with a partnership out of an already-established brick-and-mortar, Briley said.

“This is a growing and exciting new frontier for restaurants and restaurant brands,” Briley added, “because it allows you to get up and running and (open) a concept for a fraction of the

cost of opening a new location.”

Big Easy’s Crepe Kitchen offers a variety of house specialties that include anytime-of-the-day crepes, savory or sweet options. The creperie also offers a selection of about 30 fillings and toppings for a create-your-own option.

“They are a fast, but quality, tasty twist on an old classic for when you don’t have time to sit down at your local French restaurant,” Briley said.

To learn more about Big Easy’s Crepe Kitchen or to order, visit www.bigeasyscrepes.com.

CLOSINGS Charcoal Bistro Westword reported that Charcoal Bistro split all April 22 sales evenly among staff for Employee Appreciation Day prior to the restaurant’s permanent closure two days later.

On April 23 and 24, it honored its commitment to Denver Restaurant Week and served a special menu.

Charcoal Bistro was at its Washington Park location at 1028 S. Gaylord St. since October 2016. This location was an offshoot of the restaurant’s original location at 43 W. Ninth Ave. in the Golden Triangle. Called Charcoal, it operated from 2011 to 2018, Westword reported.

Charcoal Bistro specialized in modern American cuisine and featured regular plant-based menu options and occasional multi-course vegan chef ’s dinners, Westword reported.

MILESTONES J.J. Cunningham’s Gallery John Cunningham celebrated 20 years of being in the art business this spring.

Getting his start in 2001, through the years, Cunningham has worked on several business models in the industry.

He has overseen local galleries; had a strategic alliance with a Colonial period furniture dealer; consigned with a Native American art dealer; and managed high-end art and antique shows, including shows in destination places such as Santa Fe, Aspen and Jackson Hole.

Cunningham also had an online store and website, and opened a gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Cunningham’s most recent endeavor is J.J.Cunningham’s Gallery, 1523 S. Pearl St. in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood, which he opened in September 2014.

“South Pearl Street is an ideal mix and match,” Cunningham said. The “street serves as a town square for neighbors who walk Pearl Street in the evenings and weekends.”

The gallery specializes in vintage European art, with works representative of the 1880s to 1920s; and Scandinavian modern art from the 1930s, `40s and `50s. Cunningham acquires much of his art from Denmark and Sweden at oldline auction houses — one of these was established in 1647.

However, the gallery also carries French lithographs from the 1950s — the late French artist Henri Matisse in

particular — and urban atmospheric motifs by a contemporary Denver artist.

To learn more about J.J.Cunningham’s Gallery and view some of its art for sale, visit http://jjcunninghamsgallery. com.

MISCELLANEOUS Steve Farber Scholarship The Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck law firm, which is headquartered in Denver, recognized its first scholarship recipient in May. The scholarship was started by the firm to honor one of its founding partners, Steve Farber, who died last year.

Farber was a North High School alumni and a 1968 graduate of the University of Colorado Law School, states a news release.

Denver’s North High School Alumni Foundation will award a graduating senior with a Steve Farber Scholarship each year.

The 2021, and first, recipient is Louisa Wilson.

Wilson worked “tirelessly throughout her high school career (and earned) not one grade below an A. She will attend the University of Tampa where she will work to earn her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Her long term goal is to earn her law degree and work for the FBI or practice as an attorney, states a news release.

To learn more about the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck law firm, visit www.bhfs.com.

BRING YOUR OWN BAG AND KEEP YOUR CHANGE. Starting July 1, 2021, remember to bring your own bag when you shop. All retail stores will charge $0.10 for each plastic or paper bag provided at checkout.

YOU CAN HELP:

Reduce Waste Prevent Litter Protect Rivers and Streams

DenverGov.org/BringYourOwnBag 311 (720-913-1311)

Louisa Wilson, right, a 2021 graduate of Denver North High School, is the first recipient of the Steve Farber Scholarship. The scholarship was created by the Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck law firm to honor its late founding member, Steve Farber. Wilson is pictured with Brad Farber, Steve Farber’s youngest son, who presented the scholarCOURTESY PHOTO ship award to Wilson.

Life on Capitol Hill 3

June 1, 2021

Colorado Community Media garners 27 awards Highlands Ranch Herald wins major General Excellence and Advertising categories Staff report The Highlands Ranch Herald took two top honors in its weekly newspaper division with General Excellence in Editorial and Advertising in the 2021 Colorado Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The paper was among numerous weekly and monthly Colorado Community Media publications in the annual statewide competition. Colorado Community Media — which prints 24 publications — also won 25 total awards in specific categories: 15 first place and 10 second place.

The Colorado Press Association teamed with the Kansas Press Association to provide numerous online seminars during the virtual convention May 20-21.

Advertising awards In Best Advertising Special Section, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place and the Golden Transcript’s “Golden Guide” visitors guide won second place. The first-place award was for “New Year, New You,” by Erin Franks, Stephanie Dyke and Tina Meltzer. The second-place award was for the “Golden Guide 2020” by Glenn Wallace, Erin Franks, Tina Meltzer, Shanna Maxcy and Ben Wiebesiek.

For Best Advertising Campaign, the

Littleton Independent won first place for “Vita Littleton invites you” by Tina Meltzer. For Best Classified Pages, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place.

For best print ad, the NorthglennThornton Sentinel won first place with “NerdToGo North” by Tina Meltzer.

The Arvada Press won second place for “Virtual Colorado” by Tina Meltzer.

For Best Classified Pages, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place under the direction of Erin Franks.

Editorial awards For Best Breaking News/Deadline Reporting, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place for “Shooter sentenced to life in prison, possible parole” by Jessica Gibbs: The Littleton Independent won second place for “Homeless sweep starts process over again” by David Gilbert.

In Best Business News/Feature Story, the Littleton Independent won second place for “Renters struggling amid pandemic” by David Gilbert.

For Best Editorial Collaboration, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place for “Under attack” by Jessica Gibbs (Colorado Community Media) and Jesse Paul (Colorado Sun).

For Best Editorial Special Section, the Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “STEM School tragedy: One

year later” by Jessica Gibbs.

In Best Education Story, The Centennial Citizen won first place for “A united voice” by Ellis Arnold. The Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “Parents fight medical marijuana policy” by Jessica Gibbs.

In Best News Story, the Brighton Standard Blade won second place for “Adams County judge: Supporters find flaws in retention process” by Liam Adams and Michael Karlik.

For Best Investigative Package, the Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “A school’s nightmare” by Jessica Gibbs.

For Best Health Enterprise/Health Feature Story, the Highlands Ranch Herald won first place for “A ferocious fighter” by Elliott Wenzler.

“From the first time I heard Patrick’s story, I was blown away by his tenacity and passion. Telling stories like his is one of the greatest privileges of being a journalist and I’m so grateful that I was able to do that and that CPA recognized this story,” Wenzler said.

In Photo and Design, the NorthglennThornton Sentinel won second place for “Remembering Service” by Stefan Brodsky.

In Best Page Design, the Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “Community Service Groups” by Stephanie Dyke.

In Best Sports or Sports Event Story, the Highlands Ranch Herald won second place for “Cycling event survives” by Jessica Gibbs.

In Best Photography Portfolio, the Littleton Independent won first place for photos by David Gilbert. For Best Photo Slideshow, the Littleton Independent won first place for work by David Gilbert.

For Best Public Service Project in Class 3, the Canyon Courier won first place for “Teen Mental Health” by Deb Hurley Brobst. In Class 4, the Centennial Citizen won first place for “A united voice” by Ellis Arnold.

Monthly publication awards In Best Column Writing Award in monthlies, the Washington Park Profile won first place for “A reflection of the times” by Christy Steadman.

“I had never written a personal column before, so receiving the first-place win for my column on pandemic times was certainly a surprise, but one that I am proud of,” Steadman said.

In Best Education Story for monthlies, the Washington Park Profile won second place for “An unexpected new normal” by Christy Steadman.

For Best Feature Story, the Washington Park Profile won second place for “Grasmere Lake: murky no more” by Kirsten Dahl Collins.

For Best Series of Sustained Coverage, the Washington Park Profile won first place for “Rosedale Elementary” by Christy Steadman.

For Best Photo and Design, Life on Capitol Hill won first place for the February 2020 cover by Ben Wiebesiek.

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4 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2021

BAND AIMS TO L A P I C I N U M PROV R E V N ID E E D

MUSIC FOR ALL

The Denver Municipal Band performs at Mayfair Park in east Denver in a past year. The band recently announced that its free summer concerts in the park will take place in locations throughout the metro area this year.

COURTESY OF DENVER MUNICIPAL BAND

Community invited to attend concerts in the park this summer

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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he sun sets over a beautifully landscaped park in Denver on a warm summer night.

Families spread blankets on the grass and start unpacking picnicstyle dinners. Neighbors sit on lowback lawn chairs in small groups, chatting about local goings-on. A cyclist pauses for a few moments to listen to the sounds from the stage.

Children happily dance to the music of the Denver Municipal Band.

“These evenings in Denver turn into a wonderous time,” said Bob Shaklee, a longtime Denver resident. “It just becomes magical.”

The Denver Municipal Band recently announced it will be performing a regular concert series this summer, which includes a number of free concerts in city parks across Denver.

“What we like about it (attending Denver Municipal Band concerts) is that it’s a great way to build com-

munity within the city,” said Barb Shaklee. She and her husband, Bob Shaklee, have served on the Denver Municipal Band’s board since the mid-1980s.

The Denver Municipal Band has been part of the city’s fabric for about 160 years. It formed when people were coming to take “a shot at finding silver and gold in the mountains,” said Joseph Martin, the Denver Municipal Band’s conductor, executive director and artistic director. Martin, a trombone player and professor at the University of Denver, has been involved with the Denver Municipal Band for about 22 years.

Having earned the accolade of being the longest, continually performing band in the U.S., it got its start in 1861 as the Denver City Band to bring culture to the Wild West city of Denver. About 30 years later, the city of Denver guaranteed funding for the band to perform regularly at city ceremo-

UPCOMING CONCERTS The Denver Municipal Band recently announced its summer concerts. The list below are the dates for the concerts that take place in the Washington Park Profile’s coverage area. To find more concerts for areas outside of the Profile’s coverage area, visit https://denvermunicipalband.org.

JUNE 4

SEPT. 11

6-8 p.m.

City Park, 2001 Steele St. (pavilion) Ice cream social in the pavilion and Jazz Band concert in the band shell.

Sponsored by City Park Alliance, https://cityparkalliance.org.

JULY 9

7-9 p.m.

Cheesman Park, 1900 E. 11th Ave. Concert Band concert and neighborhood celebration.

6:30-8 p.m.

Pulaski Park, 3300 E. Bayaud Ave. Jazz Band concert and neighborhood celebration, sponsored

by Cherry Creek East Association, www.cherrycreekeast.org.

SEPT. 25

1-2:30 p.m.

Cheesman Park, 1900 E. 11th Ave. Jazz Band concert and neighborhood celebration.

SEE MUSIC, P5

The Denver Municipal Band’s robust educational program

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Along with entertaining crowds that attend city functions and staying busy with its summer concerts, the Denver Municipal Band also has a robust educational program.

It boasts a variety of free community outreach and development programming — including a series of free classes for community members that take place in small business venues such as a neighborhood brewery.

During the school year, the band’s musicians will frequent schools across the

metro area to perform or work with the students in the school’s music program.

During the COVID-19 pandemic when many students were attending classes remotely, the Denver Municipal Band launched its online content for students and teachers — but accessible to all for free on the band’s website — to supplement a

school or a student’s music education.

“I believe in the benefits of the joy of music,” said Shane Endsley, who plays trumpet and drums in the Denver Municipal Band, and serves as its director of education. One mission, he added, is to promote “participation in live music and the arts.”

Life on Capitol Hill 5

June 1, 2021

Music FROM PAGE 4

nies and summer park concerts, and the band changed its name to the Denver Municipal Band.

In the mid-1980s, the city faced a budget shortfall, so in 1985, the Denver Municipal Band became a nonprofit and formed its board, which consists of volunteers, the Shaklees said.

Barb Shaklee is a pianist, but using her background in law — she is a retired attorney — she helped with the legal filings for the nonprofit. Bob Shaklee “only plays the radio,” he said, but has always been a music fan and feels it’s important for all to be able to experience the joy of music.

Today, the Denver Municipal Band collectively consists of a number of bands — the 40-piece Concert Band, the 20-piece Jazz Band, the eightperson Show Band and a combination of smaller groups such as trios, quartets and quintets.

The band members are professional and include the Denver-metro’s top-ofthe-line musicians, Martin said. In fact, many also play with other well-known ensembles such as the Colorado Symphony, the Colorado Ballet Orchestra, Central City Opera, Denver Brass and the Queen City Jazz Band.

The Denver Municipal Band continues to be the cornerstone for major city celebrations, Martin said.

Staying true to its original mission of providing free access to live music for all, the Denver Municipal Band performs all over Denver, and its suburb cities, at all sorts of events.

One can see the Denver Municipal Band at the Five Points Jazz Festival,

The Denver Municipal Band has been part of the city’s fabric for about 160 years. With a focus on equity, the band makes its way PHOTOS COURTESY OF DENVER MUNICIPAL BAND around the metro area for all to be able to enjoy its free concerts.

Littleton’s Western Welcome Week, northeast Denver’s Taste of Ethiopia and the Westminster Latino Festival, to name a few.

These are not to mention the hundreds, if not thousands, of free concertin-the-park events that have taken place through the years.

“We’re here for the people of Denver,” Martin said. “This music, of the highest quality, is here for everybody. It’s who we are as Denverites.”

Equity, and being able to share music with all, is important to the organization, he added.

“Music has the power to bring in issues of social justice,” Martin said, “and be a vehicle to open up those conversations of moving forward as a community.”

The Denver Municipal Band did not have the large-gathering concert in the park events in 2020, but it continued provide music to local communities.

For example, small groups of musicians would perform — socially-distanced

and unannounced to the general public — in parking lots of nursing homes, and the facility would air the music through its PA system for its residents.

Though all the Denver Municipal Bands make their way around the city for free concerts, the mainstay band is probably the Concert Band.

The Concert Band performs a variety of music that appeals to a broad audience — Broadway tunes, jazz/swing, patriotic music and marches, and movie themes, for example. This year, the Concert Band has something special in store for concert-goers, said Dan Leavitt, the principal trumpet player for the Concert Band who also serves as the Denver Municipal Band’s manager, and director of the Jazz Band, Show Band and brass quintet.

New this summer, Leavitt said, the Concert Band will feature the music of James Reese Europe, who helped form the Clef Club — a union of African American musicians — and was the first African American to conduct at

Carnegie Hall in New York City with the Clef Club orchestra, Leavitt said.

Europe, who lived from 1881 to 1919, is “extremely important to the history of American music transitioning from ragtime to swing and jazz,” Leavitt said.

But his music has been lost for about 100 years, Leavitt said, adding that arranging Europe’s music is a project that he had been wanting to do for a long time. Leavitt was finally able to dedicate more time to it during the COVID-19 shutdowns, he said.

Music brings people together, enriches peoples’ lives and has the ability to engage people in culture — that of their own, and introduce them to other cultures that exist nearby, Leavitt said.

“We’ve been doing this for over 150 years. It’s a strong tradition long supported by the (Denver) mayor and parks and rec,” Leavitt said. “Music, and art in general, can define a culture. The more people who participate in music, the richer the whole culture is.”

The Denver Municipal Band performs at the Denver Botanic Gardens in a past year. The band will again be making its way around the city this summer to perform its free concerts in the park.

The Denver Municipal Band’s rich history

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

The Denver Municipal band has been entertaining attendees of city functions since the mid-1860s.

Looking back, it performed at the University of Denver’s 150th anniversary,

and for many of the grand openings and dedications of Denver’s major venues, including the Pepsi Center (now the Ball Arena), Coors Field and the worldrenowned Red Rocks Amphitheater. The Denver Municipal Band performed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention for former President Barack Obama, and

continues to entertain attendees of the Denver Mayor’s State of the City address each year.

As much as the band’s focus is on catering to the local communities, the Denver Municipal Band has received some fanfare beyond Colorado. It performed at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and for the

Allied Forces during WWII. Between roughly 1930 and 1950, the Denver Municipal Band participated in nationwide radio broadcasts. More recently, the jazz quintet was set to go to Japan to honor Denver’s sister city, Takayama, in October 2020, but that was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

6 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2021

Congrats, Class of 2021 The graduating class of 2021 overcame a lot of obstacles throughout their senior year, including a switch from remote learning to in-person and a hybrid of the two. All made the best of their senior year, but here is a spotlight on a few of them.

T

c a

Samuel Geovany Hunsinger Denver East High School Future plans: Employed at the YMCA this summer.

“I made many interesting friends throughout my high school experience and I learned that we could stay in touch even through a pandemic.”

Elise Rebecca Meara Cherry Creek High School (resident of Denver’s University neighborhood) Future plans: Enter into the Human Development and Family Studies program at Colorado State University.

“I will take the importance of all the friendships that were built in high school and bring that with me to learn how to make and keep new friendships in the future.”

Arielle Montoya DSST: Cole Future plans: A trip to Germany and attend the Colorado School of Mines in the fall as the first in her family to go to college on a scholarship covering full tuition.

“I have learned that I am very independent — I worked and did school full-time. As difficult as this was, I always completed my work on time without any extensions. I will take this dedication with me in my future because it has pushed me to move forward and know that I am capable of balancing my time management to successfully accomplish my goals.”

Kevin Jareth Muruato Venegas DSST: Cole Future plans: Study sports medicine at Colorado State University and obtain a job to help his mom pay bills.

“No matter what circumstances you face, you have to continue.

Sometimes life is going to be hard, but you have to use those obstacles as motivation to continue and not let those obstacles stop you from meeting your goals and purpose in life.”

c c s s a s a

Quintin Yates Denver South High School Future plans: Attend Loyola Marymount University in Califor- w nia this fall and double major in o c physics and philosophy.

P “No matter the environment you wind up in, a little compassion c and understanding goes a long way for getting what you need.” r c B p

— t i a f M f i e

f r w a l t

We’ve got a shot to reunite as families.

GET THE COVID-19 VACCINE. APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE. If we all get vaccinated, we can soon return to the life we love. We’ve got a shot—if you get one.

Appointments are available now, and you can schedule your COVID-19 vaccine at one of our vaccine sites by visiting centura.org/vaccine.

Centura Health does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, religion, creed, ancestry, sexual orientation, and marital status in admission, treatment, or participation in its programs, services and activities, or in employment. For further information about this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2021. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-719-776-5370 (TTY: 711).

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f g C i D e

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Life on Capitol Hill 7

June 1, 2021

2021 Denver PrideFest to offer in-person and virtual events

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

T

his year, it’s all about uniting.

And so that everyone can do so safely, The Center on Colfax is hosting a hybrid Denver PrideFest celebration this year with both in-person and virtual events.

“We believe it’s crucial to provide the community with a range of options to safely connect and celebrate PrideFest this year,” said The Center’s CEO Rex Fuller. “While some people might feel comfortable interacting in small gatherings, others may feel safer staying at home. We hope our hybrid approach offers something for everyone.”

Denver PrideFest takes place June 26-27.

It will feature a virtual parade — which will be broadcasted at 9:30 a.m. on June 27 on Denver7’s and The Center’s social media channels — a virtual marketplace, a 5K and Pride Hubs.

Those who wish to participate in the 5K can do so in their own neighborhood by registering to participate virtually, or they can participate in-person at Cheesman Park.

Both the virtual and in-person 5K will take place on June 26.

Micro-events — being called Pride Hubs — will take place at a variety of venues throughout the city. Just a few examples include a Saturday night pool party a with a deejay at the Jewish Community Center, family-friendly activities at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and a mini festival in The Center’s parking lot featuring food trucks, exhibitors and rooftop entertainment.

Admission to most Pride Hubs events are free, but there will be capacity limits. Some require pre-registration and some venues will be using a ticketing system to manage attendance. Denver PrideFest’s website has links to each Pride Hub for people to register for the events.

“Pride events are an important opportunity for community members to come together and speak out on issues that are important to the LGBTQ+ community.

Pride is also an opportunity to celebrate one’s identity without fear or shame,” Fuller said. “I’m so proud of our PrideFest committee members and staff who have been so creative in finding safe ways to celebrate pride.”

Denver PrideFest is The Center’s largest fundraiser that supports the nonprofit’s programming for LGBTQ+ youth, seniors and Colorado’s transgender community. Getting its start as a march, and now in its 44th year, Denver PrideFest is the largest pride celebration in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Last year, Denver PrideFest took place as an all-virtual event, and reached about 3 million people, said John White, events director for The Center.

Whether virtual or in-person, the Denver PrideFest celebration always offers something to forward to, White added.

But “pride is not just one weekend, or one month,” White said. “It’s all year long.”

IF YOU GO The Center on Colfax is hosting a hybrid Denver PrideFest celebration this year.

It takes place June 26-27.

For more information on any of this year’s virtual or in-person Denver PrideFest events, visit https://denverpride.org/.

To learn more about The Center on Colfax, 1301 E. Colfax Ave., visit www. lgbtqcolorado.org.

Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp addresses the crowd of a previous year’s Denver PrideFest. This year’s Denver PrideFest takes place June 26-27 and features a hybrid celebration with both in-person and virtual events.

PHOTO BY ERIK HOLLADAY/ HOLLADAY PHOTOGRAPHY

There are many Pride events taking place throughout the metro area in June.

Here are a couple suggestions.

Loud & Proud: A Celebration of Pride Bands from Coast to Coast This live-stream concert will feature 13 LGBTQIA+ bands part of the international Pride Bands Alliance, including Colorado’s own Mile High Freedom Bands — MHFB Winds, MHFB Swing and MHFB Corps & Guard.

Performances for Loud & Proud will range in musical genres including pop, symphonic, classical, modern, soundtrack and more.

Loud & Proud will be broadcasted twice on June 26. In mountain time, the times are 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

It is free to live-stream view the concert, but donations are appreciated. All proceeds will be split evenly among the 13 bands to support their missions of building pride and inclusivity through music.

Loud & Proud is being coordinated by the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. Registration is required, and can be done by visiting www.sflgfb.org and clicking on the registration link from the home page, or by visiting https://loudandproudconcert.sflgfb.org/.

To learn more about the Mile High Freedom Bands, visit https://mhfb.org/.

Bands participating in the Loud & Proud concert: Blazing River Freedom Band (Ohio) Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard (Florida) DC’s Different Drummers (Washington DC) Desert Winds Freedom Band (California)

DJ Blaque Gurl performs at a previous year’s Denver PrideFest. This year, The Center on Colfax is offering both virtual and in-person events for Denver PrideFest, which takes place June 26-27.

PHOTO BY ERIK HOLLADAY/HOLLADAY PHOTOGRAPHY

ENCANTADA - The Band of Enchantment (New Mexico) Gay Freedom Band of Los Angeles (California) Mid America Freedom Band (Missouri) Mile High Freedom Bands (Colorado) Queen City Freedom Band (Ohio) San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (California) South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble (Florida) The Lesbian & Gay Big Apple Corps (New York) Triangle Pride Band (North Carolina) Loving You: Documenting Kia Lopez and Chella Man This solo exhibit inside Union Hall in Denver features the photography of MaryV Benoit — known as MaryV — who is a queer femme photographer and performance artist.

MaryV, 23, is a Denver native who cur-

rently resides in Brooklyn, and the Loving You exhibit is her first solo exhibit outside of New York. Her work “focuses on the documentation of self-identity, bodies, intimacy, compassion, relationships, sexuality and self-love,” states a news release.

The Loving You exhibit documents the lives and transitions of Kia Lopez (she/her), who is MaryV’s childhood friend; and Chella Man (he/him), who is MaryV’s partner.

MaryV hopes that viewers of the exhibit “find within themselves a new connection with their mind, their heart or their bodies,” she said, “or the people they see in the images.”

She also wants to remind people that vulnerability is OK, and hopes that the exhibit might inspire people to “find their power within their vulnerability,” MaryV said.

Loving You opened on May 14 and will run through July 10. Union Hall is open from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

It is free to attend the Loving You exhibit and its coinciding programming.

However, reservations are required. To make a reservation or learn more about coinciding programs, visit https://unionhalldenver.org/.

Union Hall is a non-profit arts exhibition space located inside The Coloradan at 1750 Wewatta St., Suite 144, in Denver.

Proceeds from the sales of Loving You prints, t-shirts and stickers will benefit Union Hall and a to-be-determined Denver-based queer organization.

The Loving You exhibit contains sensitive images, mature content and nudity.

All forms of photography and documentation is strictly prohibited.

8 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2021

LOCAL

VOICES

Keeping the community in Colorado Community Media

A

s the new owners and operators of this newspaper, we want to give you an opportunity to hear directly from us and learn about our plans.

With an eye toward retirement, grandkids and new adventures, Ann and Jerry Healey sold their collection of 24 community newspapers — Colorado Community Media — to the newly formed Colorado News Conservancy. The Conservancy is a partnership between the National Trust for Local News and The Colorado Sun, a local digital news organization that some of you may already know.

We were aided by a network of Colorado organizations who share our commitment to keeping newspapers in local hands and to ensuring that you continue to benefit from the unique, hyperlocal coverage that you have come to expect from this newspaper and the others in the CCM family. One of the Colorado Community Media newspapers has been serving its community for more than 150 years, and others have decades of history. We feel a deep responsibility to continue that legacy and ensure your paper is still providing quality news and information for decades to come, as well as bringing the businesses that provide the core financial support for these publications together with readers in the local communities they serve.

So what will change, and what won’t? We’ve already heard those questions from readers and local business owners who feel strong ties to the reporters, editors, sales

Tips and tricks for pruning your trees

W GUEST COLUMN

Paul Cancik

ith spring upon us, many residents are eagerly planning their gardens and starting to spruce up their yards. Pruning helps trees live longer, which allows them to grow taller and contribute to Denver’s urban canopy.

With this in mind, Denver’s Office of the City Forester is offering helpful tips for pruning.

It’s important to keep in mind that if you cannot safely prune your tree from the ground, it’s best to hire a licensed tree care professional since they use specialized equipment and have the necessary field knowledge.

When you prune a tree, you are planning for the future, and with patience, you will ultimately have results that benefit generations to come.

Why should you prune your trees?

Pruning helps ensure that your tree develops a strong form/structure and prevents breakage in the future.

Thinning your tree makes the crown (top) healthier by allowing more air and sunlight to pass through it.

Pruning, much like watering, helps give your tree longevity — future generations will be able to enjoy it.

Removing deadwood from your tree helps prevent insect infestation.

If pruning is neglected, a tree can become susceptible to breakage, making the tree potentially dangerous.

What should you prune from your trees?

Follow the “3 D’s” of pruning: only remove Dead, Damaged and Diseased wood, especially if the tree is not estabSEE TREES, P9

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same, as will the name of the newspaper you know and trust. The same goes for the phone numbers, email addresses and the website of your paper. You can reach out to the hard-working people here at the paper in the same ways you always have.

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Mitigating climate change locally

A

s Coloradans live through summers that climate experts confirm are indeed hotter and drier than the past, we are reminded of the urgency of mitigating climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause it.

While it is a relief to see national leadGUEST ers re-engage on climate protection, COLUMN Denver is hard at work implementing local action.

Here is an overview of what is happening locally:

for energy by improving efficiency in buildings. I served on the stakeholder committee that led to the passage of a 2016 policy that requires large commercial and multifamily building owners to measure and publicly report their building’s energy performance. Energy use has already been reduced by an average of .4% annually, just by raising owner awareness. The next critical phase is now underway — developing higher standards for buildings with low energy-efficiency scores to take actions to reduce their climate impacts. To learn more about the work of the current task force, please visit bit.ly/EnergizeDEN.

Climate Protection Fund In November 2020, Denverites voted in favor of Ballot Initiative 2A, which raised the local sales and use tax by 0.25% to create the Climate Councilmember Protection Fund (CPF). Thanks to Robin Kniech you, the voters, the CPF is expected to raise an average of $40 million per year to help eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution in Denver, support climate adaptation and create new jobs. The measure is centered in equity and prioritizes the communities most harmed by climate change — low-income households, communities of color and Indigenous people, babies, children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities and people with chronic health conditions. The CPF is managed by Denver’s office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency (CASR), which is in the early stages of developing the required spending plan with community input from a Sustainability Advisory Council. For specific questions or inquiries about the Climate Protection Fund, visit bit.ly/ DENCASR.

Disposable bags Denver residents use more than 100 million disposable bags per year, but fewer than 5% are recycled. In order to cut down on the use of non-recyclable, pollution-prone plastic bags, Denver City Council passed a disposable bag fee to incentivize use of reusable bags. Implementation was delayed last year due to the pandemic, and it will now go into effect this year on July 1. Most retail stores in Denver will charge 10 cents for each disposable carryout bag provided at checkout. The mandatory fee will apply to paper, plastic and even compostable bags. Shoppers can avoid the charge by bringing their own bags. Cities who have adopted similar policies have seen an increase in use of reusable bags and sharp reductions in disposable bags and the litter and waste they cause. The bag fee will be charged at places like grocery, convenience, hardware, liquor and department stores, but does not apply to restaurants, beauty salons and other businesses where retail sales are not the primary business activity. The fee will not apply to bags used to package bulk grocery items, produce or meat.

Participants in state and federal food assistance programs will not be charged for carryout bags. More information is available online at www.DenverGov.org/BagFees and at 311 (720-913-1311).

Energize Denver Task Force Buildings and homes are responsible for 63% of the greenhouse gas emissions in Denver. Renewable energy is important, but we must also reduce overall demand

SEE KNIECH, P9

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Life on Capitol Hill 9

June 1, 2021

Ovarian Cancer Survivors gather for a group photo at the 2019 Jodi’s Race for Awareness.

The event last year took place virtually, and the 2021 Jodi’s Race for Awareness, which is the 12th anniversary of the run/ walk, offers both a virtual and in-person event. The in-person event takes place on June 12 at Denver’s City Park. The virtual event allows participants to do the race anywhere, then livestream the Jodi’s Race Virtual Bash celebration, which will be emceed by Denver7’s Jaclyn Allen, at 10 a.m. June 13. Jodi’s Race is an educational event and fundraiser for the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance. To learn more about the alliance’s programming, visit www.coloovariancancer.org. To register for the 2021 Jodi’s Race for Awareness, visit www.jodisrace. org. COURTESY OF COLORADO OVARIAN

CANCER ALLIANCE

S

ucculent plants have fascinated gardeners for many decades and this trend shows no sign of slowing. There are many attributes that make them a great choice for Denver, and although GUEST into growing them COLUMN delving can be frightening, I’m Scott Preusser here to give you the 411 on making them thrive as you impress your friends and neighbors.

Let’s first go over a few definitions and ground rules. Technically speaking, a succulent plant is any plant that has the ability to store water for later use. Generally, they want a lot of light and a little water. I know, easier said than done. For me, keeping the Denver Botanic Gardens’ indoor collection of succulent plants from around the world requires diligence, attention to detail and, of course, my trusty old crystal ball.

Kniech FROM PAGE 8

Improving Denver’s waste diversion rate Improving Denver’s waste diversion rate by increasing recycling and composting use throughout the city remains one of my major priorities. About 75% of Denver’s waste is recyclable or compostable (25% recycling, 50% compostable), yet the city’s recy-

Trees FROM PAGE 8

lished. You can also prune branches that impact the structural integrity of the tree.

Be deliberate about what you prune from a tree.

It’s important to prune around stop signs and to ensure sidewalks are clear to prevent accidents on or near your property.

Stop signs should be clearly visible and sidewalks free of obstructions. The clearance requirements in Denver are 8 feet above sidewalks and 13.5 feet above streets and alleys.

When should you prune your trees?

While you may prune your tree yearround, ideally the best time to prune is

Success with succulents Now some tips to keep your plants healthy and happy. Keep in mind these are generalizations and are not to take the place of looking up individual plants for specific details.

The general timeline that frost-sensitive plants can be grown outside in Colorado is from Mother’s Day to early October. When it’s time for the plants to fledge your nest, they must be carefully acclimated to brighter light or they will scar, burn or worse. One good trick is to put them in partial shade under a tree or under a shade cloth. Try to increase the light steadily for about a week.

Containers: Keep it tight and pack it full of plants — it will be easier and prettier. I like pots that are more wide than deep.

Soil: Bottom line is to just make it drain good without too much organic matter.

Succulents would much rather have lean, fast-draining soil than that rich chocolate cake you grow your other plants in. There

is no one good mix for everything. I take regular bagged topsoil (about 50%) and add ingredients like charcoal, perlite, sand and gravel (the other 50%) to “chunkify” it to my liking.

Watering: The best advice I can give is, when in doubt, do without. This is the hardest thing I struggle not to do — 18 years into collecting. I love succulent plants and I still tie a ribbon around my finger to not love them to death. For plants grown outside, I water thoroughly one time per week. The cycle of soil moisture should look something like this: totally wet for one day, medium moisture for three-to-four days and almost totally dry for two-to-three days.

Times of Trouble: Things to look for that will require immediate action are things like stretching or discoloration. If your once nice, tight red plant is stretching in every direction and turning green, it needs more light and possibly less water.

Rot is another problem you need to act on right away. Pull the rotting plant out of the soil, cut off the rotted portion at least a half inch past the rot. Put rooting hormone on the wound and expose to sunlight for a couple days. Once the wound has sealed, place the plant carefully back into soil.

Some stems may need to be braced until they grow roots again.

Lastly, buy plants from reputable nurseries and garden centers who employ a trained horticulture staff. I guarantee you will get better plants and advice, and the plant will have a name tag.

Spend time with your plants and pay attention to changes — they will tell you everything you need to know. Don’t give up even if you kill a few. I sure have and that’s how I’ve learned to do it right.

cling and composting rate hovers around 23% — far below the national average of 34%. Volume-based pricing for trash is a national best practice that incentivizes more recycling and composting. Residents are provided with free recycling and composting services and are then charged according to how much trash they throw away. Nearly 40% of residents in the United States use volume-based pricing. Locally, nine Front Range cities have successful volume-based pricing programs to provide fair, costeffective trash services, and those cities

have much higher recycling rates. Increasing Denver’s waste diversion rate through volume-based pricing would result in lower greenhouse gas emissions, conservation of natural resources, less need for landfills, reduction of air and water pollution, and the creation of private sector jobs to process the materials. I am actively working with our partners across the city to imagine what a volume-based pricing program could look like in Denver, and to engage our community in how we can all be a part of the change our planet needs to thrive.

By improving building efficiency, reducing waste and investing in necessary climate infrastructure, the City of Denver is helping protect our climate, quality of life and our economy.

We welcome your ideas on how we can continue and improve our response to climate change. Please email my office at kniechatlarge@denvergov.org or call 720337-7712 with your thoughts.

late in the dormant season or early spring, before leaves form. This is typically a good time to remove excess or undesired branches because the tree is not putting forth energy to create foliage.

Certain trees, including American elm (Dutch elm disease) and fruit trees in the rose family (fire blight) should only be pruned while dormant to reduce the spread of disease.

Only prune a young tree two years after it has been planted and just focus on dead, broken, crossing and interfering branches.

Colorado has a very short growing season compared to other regions. A shorter growing season means the tree has a shorter period of time to create and store energy, which ultimately affects how quickly a tree can recover from pruning. A young established tree can tolerate removal of 0ne-third of its foliage in a growing season. A mature tree should never have more than 25% of its live foliage removed in one growing season.

If you are pruning something off your tree that you can’t reach from the ground, it’s advised that you hire a tree care professional since they use specialized equipment such as an aerial lift truck/bucket truck and they have the needed field knowledge and expertise. In the City of Denver, tree contractors are required to be licensed and insured. A list of Denver’s licensed tree contractors can be found by visiting

https://www.denvergov.org/forestry.

If you suspect an insect problem, contact a tree care professional to develop the most effective and environmentally conscious solution.

Covering a wound or using wound dressings is not recommended and may be detrimental to tree health.

Tips for pruning Make sure that every pruning cut you make is clean and smooth. The best tool to use for pruning is a pair of sharp bypass hand pruners for one-inch branches because they make smaller cuts that the tree can recover from faster.

Scott Preusser is a horticulturist with the Denver Botanic Gardens

Robin Kniech serves as an at-large member of the Denver City Council

Want to learn more?

Our friends at The Park People offer a community forester program with classes that cover a variety of topics, including pruning and tree planting basics. You can sign up online at https://theparkpeople. org/What-We-Do/Community-ForesterProgram.

Happy pruning!

Paul Cancik is the urban forestry operations assistant for Denver Forestry

10 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2021

Historic Denver hosts scavenger hunt to explore the city

By Christy Steadman

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, Historic Denver, Inc. is offering a new program to further explore the city.

Called the Capitol Crossroads Hunt!: A City-Wide Scavenger Hunt, the event challenges participants to follow a series of clues to learn more about Denver’s key downtown historic places.

Capitol Crossroads takes place June 1720.

“The story of Denver is an interesting one,” said Alison Salutz, director of community programming for Historic Denver.

“Capitol Crossroads is an innovative way to get people out exploring the city.”

Each clue in the scavenger hunt leads to another location for a total of 10 destinations. The hunt is done digitally, with participants checking in on their mobile device to receive the next clue.

Though the name of the scavenger hunt says city-wide, the hunt itself takes place in central Denver — all locations can be accessed by foot or bike from each other.

The first clue will provide suggested parking instructions within the general area of the first destination.

It is recommended to assemble a team of four-to-six people for the scavenger hunt, but it can be done as a pair or individually.

The estimated time it will take to complete the scavenger hunt ranges between about two-and-a-half to four hours, but participants can also do it throughout the four days if they prefer, Salutz said.

However, the first 50 people to complete

Historic Denver’s Capitol Crossroads: A City-Wide Scavenger Hunt takes place June 17-20.

Registration is required to participate in the scavenger hunt. Cost is $18 for adults and $12 for children. Member discounts apply. Additionally, anyone who registers by June 10 will receive 10% off when they enter the coupon code FINDHISTORY at checkout.

Proceeds benefit Historic Denver. To learn more about Historic Denver, or to register online, visit www.historicdenver.org.

Registration for the scavenger hunt can also be done via phone by calling 303-832-4092 ext. 16.

The Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., is Historic Denver, Inc.’s flagship property that led to the nonprofit’s organization in 1971. One of the ways that Historic Denver is celebrating its 50th anniversary is by putting on Capitol Crossroads: A CityCOURTESY OF HISTORIC DENVER Wide Scavenger Hunt in June.

the scavenger hunt will receive a finisher medal. Prizes will also be awarded to the teams with the fastest completion time, best team spirit photo and outstanding history buffs.

People do not need to be an expert on Denver or its history to have fun on the scavenger hunt, Salutz said. Most people, no matter their expertise on Denver, will likely learn something new, or at least experience a Denver location a little differently.

“All the clues highlight a places and buildings with an interesting past,” Salutz said.

“The goal is to engage the people who know a lot about Denver, as well as those who want to learn more.”

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The clues will be able to be solved in a variety of ways — some may need to be Googled, others can be solved by simply observing your surroundings, and still others may require an educated guess, Salutz said.

Complementary to Capitol Crossroads is a new podcast called The Bright Lights of Denver, which is presented by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts Off-Center in partnership with Historic Denver. The podcast is a work of fiction, but its characters will interact with some of the sites highlighted in the Capitol Crossroads scavenger hunt.

Historic Denver got its start 50 years ago with an effort to save the Molly Brown

House from demolition. The Molly Brown House was built in 1889 and is known for being the home of Titanic survivor Margaret “Molly” Brown. The effort was a success, and the Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St. in the Capitol Hill neighborhood, opened in March 1971. That fall, Historic Denver, which is a nonprofit, formally organized to continue serving the city as an urban historic preservation organization.

“Historic Denver’s success over 50 years, fueled in large part by the Molly Brown House Museum, has uplifted the stories of our city and made this a community with a distinctive identity,” Salutz said. “In this spirit, we will continue to engage with our communities as they tell us which places, from their experiences and neighborhoods, should be stewarded for future generations.”

New podcast gets listeners investigating Denver

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

In many cases listening to a podcast is a passive activity — something people listen to while exercising, sitting in the car or doing chores around the house.

But “The Bright Lights of Denver,” a new podcast sponsored by the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ Powered By OffCenter program, is a show that gets the listener involved.

“The Bright Lights of Denver” tells the fictional story of aspiring novelist-turnedjournalist Ryan Streeter, who starts out studying the history of the Mile-High City and suddenly finds himself investigating the sudden disappearance of a friend.

Created by Kenny Moten and Jessica Hindsley, the four-episode series will make its fully-produced world premiere in June.

The project is one of two selected out of 39 entries by the Powered By Off-Center program. The other is “Don Quixote de Auraria,” created by James Lopez, Jenny Filipetti, James Brunt and Thomas Vincent in collaboration with Gregorio Alcaro. It has been optioned for future development.

Launched in 2018, Powered By Off-Center is a residency program for local artists that culminated in two fully-supported workshops at the DCPA, said Charlie Miller, Off-Center’s curator. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was adapted to propose safe theatrical experiences that could be fully produced at the DCPA in June.

“The goal has been to inspire new ideas, build new creative partnerships and contribute to Colorado’s local artistic ecology,” Miller added.

Among the requirements for this year’s

LEARN MORE To get more information on “The Bright Lights of Denver” podcast, visit www.denvercenter.org.

entries into the program were to be theatrical at its core, put the audience at the center of the story and be able to run for at least a month and accommodate at least 1,000 audience members through the run.

“Of all the projects proposed, ‘The Bright Lights of Denver’ best met all our selection criteria,” Miller said. “It tells a compelling story and explores issues very relevant to Denver today. And it provides exciting opportunities for the audience to get out into the world and engage with the characters and the story.”

Audiences don’t just listen — they can interact with the characters through their Instagram accounts and connect with other fans of the show on the Bright Lights Facebook group. There will also be two Zoom question and answer sessions with the main characters, and QR codes will be placed around the city on the ground outside every key location that the characters visit in the podcast. Scanning these QR codes with your phone unlocks additional parts of the story that help solve the mystery, according to Miller. “`The Bright Lights of Denver’ is a great story and an intriguing mystery. But it is also much more than that,” said Miller.

“Real interviews with city officials and local experts are woven through the episodes as the main character explores serious issues confronting Denver — the growth of the city, the lack of affordable housing and gentrification.”

Life on Capitol Hill 11

June 1, 2021

Highlighting student resiliency, empowerment Staff report

Two students from Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, which is located in southwest Denver, work on their art installation which is part of RedLine Contemporary Art Center’s latest exhibit called Empowerment: Featuring EPIC Arts & ArtCorps COURTESY OF JC FUTRELL/REDLINE CONTEMPORARY ART CENTER Mentoring Artists.

Shiki Dreams named No. 4 immersive art experience in the country Staff report A pop-up immersive art experience located in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood has recently been named the fourth best in the country by USA Today.

The art installation is Shiki Dreams by the Denver-based creative group, Prismajic.

Shiki Dreams creates an imaginative step into the world of Shiki, the spiritual yeti guide and leader of the Spirits of the Forest from Natura Obscura, which was a 2019 collaborative installation between Prismajic and the Museum of Outdoor Arts in Englewood.

Each room in the approximate 1,200-square-foot installation represents a different dream sequence featuring a multisensory experience with a variety of art mediums created by more than 20 Colorado artists.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized as one of the best immersive experiences in the country,” said Eric Jaenike, co-founder of Prismajic with Jennifer Mosquera. “Given that we’re truly a David among Goliaths in the competition, it’s an honor and a testament to the creative community and patrons of the arts in Denver.”

A news release states that “nominees for the Best Immersive Art Experience were chosen by a panel of relevant experts that includes a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors from 10Best.com, relevant

The community is invited to visit RedLine Contemporary Art Center to view the organization’s latest exhibit called Empowerment: Featuring EPIC Arts & ArtCorps Mentoring Artists.

Empowerment is a collaborative exhibition that celebrates student work through the pandemic and movements towards social justice.

“This exhibition is a celebration of the students,” said JC Futrell, RedLine’s director of education, “and their resiliency around the idea of empowerment.”

RedLine is a nonprofit organization that exists to foster education and engagement between artists and communities to create positive social change, states its website. Its EPIC Arts is a semester-long program that pairs resident and community artists with students and educators to provide an opportunity for K-12 youth to explore social issues through contemporary art, states RedLine’s website.

ArtCorps Mentoring pairs a youth with a professional artist to serve as a trusted adult for one-on-one mentoring to create an artistic project that investigates and approaches social justice issues in a practical way.

The Empowerment exhibit includes the artwork of about 250 students — second to 12th grade — from 15 local Title 1 schools in the Denver and Aurora public schools districts.

The Empowerment exhibit is “student-led and studentart activated,” Futrell said. And these students “continue to express themselves through artwork.

RedLine Contemporary Art Center is located at 2350 Arapahoe St. in Denver’s Five Points neighborhood.

The Empowerment exhibit is on view during RedLine’s regular open gallery hours, which are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Admission is free, but a suggested donation of $5 for adults and $3 for students and youth supports RedLine’s various programs. Additionally, the youth involved with the Empowerment exhibit is having a canned food drive to benefit the St. Francis Center, so exhibit attendees are asked to bring a canned good if they are able.

To learn more about RedLine or the Empowerment exhibit, visit www.redlineart.org.

S A FELY D I S P O S E O F YO U R

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTED ITEMS

Shiki Dreams, an immersive art experience by the Denver-based creative group Prismajic, was named the fourth best in the country by USA Today. Shiki Dreams is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays and is located in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood.

PHOTO BY SHANNA FORTIER MAXCY

expert contributors, and sources for both these media and other Gannett properties.”

Shiki Dreams is located at 2219 E. 21st Ave. in Denver. It is open from noon to 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and offers a limited-attendance experience at 10 guests per 30-minute time slot. Tickets cost $19.99 for adults and $14 for children age 10 and younger.

To learn more about Prismajic or to purchase tickets to Shiki Dreams, visit www. prismajic.com.

• Automotive Fluids • Batteries • Caulk and Grout • Cleaners and Polishes • Fertilizers • Fluorescent Lights • Glue Adhesives • Insecticides and Poisons • Mercury Thermometers • Paint • Pool Chemicals • Solvents and Thinners • Stains and Varnishes

SCHEDULE A COLLECTION • Call 1-800-449-7587 or visit www.wmatyourdoor.com • Minimum of three different item types or 25 pounds of one item required for a collection • Paint and alkaline batteries accepted but not included in the three item minimum • One collection permitted per calendar year • $15 copayment due at time of collection

A program of Solid Waste Management and Wastewater Management.

To learn more, call 311 (720-913-1311) or visit DenverGov.org/HHW.

12 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2021

Spring water flow arrives at historic Smith Ditch

By Kirsten Dahl Collins Special to Colorado Community Media

Smith Ditch makes its final appearance east of Washington Park’s boathouse before diving underground to fill the park’s Smith Lake, provide water for the COURTESY PHOTO BY TIM COLLINS Denver Country Club and fill the lake in City Park.

Here’s a pleasant spring activity: staring into a ditch. Smith Ditch in Washington Park, to be exact.

Not only is it soothing to stare at, this prosaically named 154-year-old irrigation canal played a vitally important role in Denver’s history. Without it, we would have no trees, grass or flowers, and Denver would bear a strong resemblance to the surface of Mars.

Entrepreneur John W. Smith led the construction of the canal in the 1860s. Hand-dug by shovel and horse-drawn plow, it diverted water from the Platte River, ran for 25 miles and transformed a city in desperate need of water.

Today the ditch that gave rise to Denver is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to local preservationists who managed to save the old canal after it was threatened by highway expansion in the 1970s.

The only remaining open section ripples through Washington Park. This generous little stream fills all three lakes in Washington Park before it plunges underground and travels north to water the Denver Country Club and top up the lake in City Park.

Another nice thing about the ditch: it ushers in spring. The canal is empty of water from November through March, its sandy bottom bare and exposed. All that changes at 8 a.m. on April 1 each year, when automated butterfly gates flip open at the small brick de-chlorination plant behind the playing fields at South High School.

Water gushes from the pipes and finds its way under the park’s southernmost footbridge.

And just like that, a small and charming aquatic environment comes back to life.

As any 5-year-old will attest, June brings the most exciting development of all — the arrival of the crawdads. Once the water temperature in the ditch warms up to 60 degrees, it entices those little freshwater lobsters out of their burrows. And that’s the signal for the kids to wade in. Netting crawdads and watching them crawl around in your bucket is a time-honored tradition.

Often called “crawfish,” they are officially known as “crayfish,” which derives from their French name, “ecrevisse.” Closely related to lobsters and crabs, these freshwater crustaceans have been crawling around on the bottom of lakes, swamps and streams since the Paleozoic era, well before the dinosaurs appeared.

If they were enlarged to a gigantic size, crawdads would make great sci-fi movie monsters.

They are equipped with armored exoskeletons, eyes on moveable stalks, ten segmented legs and big front pincers. But in reality, most crayfish are too small to menace anybody — except minnows, snails and other male crayfish during courtship season. American species average only three-to-six inches long. While handy for tearing off a piece of waterweed, their lobster-

Enlarged to a gigantic size, crawdads would make great sci fi movie monsters. But in reality, most crayfish are too small to menace anybody — except minnows, snails and other male crayfish during courtship season.

COURTESY DRAWING BY KIRSTEN DAHL COLLINS

like front claws are no threat to humans.

In fact, these nocturnal creatures spend much of the day hiding, since everything from hungry racoons to Cajuns seems to find them delicious. Bass love them — and so do bass fishermen, who use them for bait.

When threatened, the hapless crawdad does have a couple of tricks up its carapace. It can jet backwards by quickly curling and uncurling its fanlike tail. And if something big and hungry grabs one of its legs, the crawdad will bid that leg a fast goodbye and self-amputate.

How do they do it? Close inspection of their legs reveals thin horizontal grooves known as fracture planes, which are designed to snap off without any serious injury. A membrane quickly closes the wound and eventually a new leg grows in.

Another sci-fi thing about crawdads — they eat their own shells. Like growing kids, their outerwear frequently gets too tight. After molting — shedding the old shell — they need a big dose of calcium to grow a new one. And, of course, there just happens to be a large crunchy helping of calcium-rich exoskeleton nearby.

As the water cools in October, crawdads begin burrowing into the banks of the ditch. Since they are aquatic animals who breath through gills, they need to dig down two-to-three feet, far enough to reach the water table.

They seem to sense what’s coming.

On Oct. 31, Denver Water turns off the tap and Smith Ditch goes dry for the winter — a precautionary move which prevents ice bridges from forming and causing the ditch to overflow.

That makes winter a quiet time for crawdads and a sad time for ditch-gazers. All we can do is transfer our affections to Washington Park’s three beguiling lakes — until water begins flowing through the ditch again next spring.

Promoting jazz music across the U.S. Jazz Road Creative Residencies allows musicians to explore their art with grant funding

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

South Arts is now accepting applications for the second phase of its national jazz initiative called Jazz Road.

Jazz Road is a national program led by South Arts — a regional nonprofit arts organization — in partnership with the five other U.S. Regional Arts Organizations, including the Western States Arts Federation of which Colorado is a member.

The first phase of Jazz Road is the Jazz Road Tour grants. This was created to bring jazz music to rural, isolated and underserved parts of the country. It allows jazz artists the opportunity to request up to $15,000 to support a multi-city tour that connects new audiences across the country to jazz music.

The second phase is called Jazz Road Creative Residencies, which allows jazz

musicians to apply for grants to develop their own personalized residency and further explore their artform.

Musicians may request $5,000-$40,000 for their project and no matching funds are required. Applicable projects must be one to three weeks in duration and occur between October 2021 and June 2022.

Deadline to apply for Jazz Road Creative Residencies is July 1.

Jazz Road Creative Residencies grants will give jazz artists the financial bridge necessary to close the gap between their plans for creativity and securing the resources to make it happen, states a news release.

“We are so excited to expand our programs for jazz musicians across the United States,” said Sara Donnelly, program director with South Arts, in a news release.

“With a Jazz Road Creative Residencies grant, artists will have the flexibility to design and propose their own project, which can be anything from dedicated time writing new work to immersive engagement in a community or completing a new recording. We are putting the direction and power directly in the hands of the artists.”

To learn more about Jazz Road or begin an application for the Jazz Road Creative Residencies, visit www.southarts.org or call 404-874-7244.

Life on Capitol Hill 13

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14 Life on Capitol Hill

June 1, 2021

Black Love Mural Festival will return to Civic Center Park

By Maggie Donahue Denverite

Denver’s all-Black mural festival will return to Civic Center Park this summer.

Black Love Mural Festival, which last year helped promote the message of the BLM movement and provided paid opportunities to Black muralists, kicks off May 30 with a celebration of life for George Floyd and will run through Aug. 2. The group will also host a live music event on June 20 to celebrate the completed murals.

Born out of last summer’s social justice movement, BLMF took over Civic Center Park for a weekend last year, leaving behind a series of colorful monuments to Black identity in the form of temporary murals. Curated by Rob The Art Museum

and IRL Art, the event displayed the murals on wood structures at the very park that was the center of last summer’s protests.

This year, the team behind BLMF will partner with Denver Parks and Rec and the digital arts nonprofit Unique.One. Artists will begin painting their murals on May 28 and display them through Aug. 1.

On Sundays during the festival, the group will host live paintings, workshops and activations in the park from 2 to 10 p.m.

BLMF will break down the murals the morning of Aug. 2.

Artist Kierre Dawkins works on a mural depicting the experience of young Black men in the United States, in Civic Center Park in 2020.

This story is from Denverite, a nonprofit Denver news source affiliated with CPR News. Used by permission. For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.

PHOTO BY HART VAN DENBURG/ CPR NEWS

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