Life On Capitol Hill 1219

Life On

December 2019 FREE

CAPITOL HILL

A GENERAL’S LEGACY Rose Medical Center celebrates 70 years

BECOMING A FAMILY Adoption Day brings people together

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P6 PEACE OF MIND COMMUNITY CAFE CHUN renovating historic home near Cheesman Park

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Nonprofit aims to expand childcare options

P22 KEEPING WITH TRADITION Holiday activities in Denver

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2 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

Business Matters

By Kailyn Lamb | klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com Business Matters is a monthly column on the changing landscape of business and development in north Denver. If there are any inquiries on new developments in your area, or if you are a local business wishing to highlight an upcoming milestone, email Kailyn Lamb at klamb@ coloradocommunitymedia.com.

DEVELOPMENT Denver Zoo The Denver Zoo closed its Bird World exhibit on Oct. 1. The building first opened in 1975. According to an article by 5280 Magazine, the zoo estimated that around 70% of the animals on exhibit in the building would stay here in Denver.

The zoo will be moving its penguin exhibit to the Predator Ridge area near the entrance. That exhibit is set to open this spring.

The Bird World building is set to be demolished. There are no plans for the space as of now, but zoo staff said it would likely be used for an immersive experience.

In February, the Denver Zoo broke ground on a new veterinary hospital space. That project is estimated to be completed by mid-2020. For more information on that project, read our article at

https://lifeoncaphill.com/stories/ denver-zoo-breaks-ground-onnew-hospital,277671.

BUSINESS OPENINGS Fox Run Cafe Fox Run Cafe will be taking the place of Humble Pie at 3550 E. Colfax Ave. It will be the first restaurant for owner Lucien Reichert, according to a news release. Fox Run is set to open in January.

“As someone that grew up in Denver, I’m excited to be creating a restaurant in my neighborhood that will bring together such a vibrant community,” Reichert said in the release. “I envision Fox Run as a place where you can pull up a chair and make yourself at home; I want everyone to feel like they’re an extended part of our team and family.”

Kelsie Berens, formerly of The Plimoth restaurant, will be crafting homemade pastries and bread that will be part of a rotating menu.

Fox Run will be open for breakfast and lunch.

Humble Pie closed on Colfax earlier this year.

SEE BUSINESS, P3

Fox Run Cafe, a new breakfast and lunch restaurant, is taking over the former Humble Pie space on East Colfax Avenue.

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activities, or in employment. For further information about this this policy contact Centura Health’s Office of the General Counsel at 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711). Copyright © Centura Health, 2019. ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: (TTY: 711). CHÚ Ý: Nếu bạn nói Tiếng Việt, có các dịch vụ hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho bạn. Gọi số 1-303-673-8166 (TTY: 711).

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Life On Capitol Hill 3

December 2019 An exterior photo of the North Building and the new Anna and John J. Sie Welcome Center at the Denver Art Museum.

The building has been renamed the Lanny and Sharon Martin Building.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE DENVER ART MUSEUM/JEFF WELLS

Denver Art Museum announces opening date after renovations Staff Report Renovations of the North Building of the Denver Art Museum are nearing completion. The museum announced last month that the newly renamed Lanny and Sharon Martin Building will begin reopening in phases starting in June.

Three floors of galleries and learning spaces will open on June 6, 2020, along with the new cafe in the Martin building.

The new Anna and John J. Sie Welcome Center will also open. The rest of the building will open in phases, but will open in full in time for the building’s 50th anniversary in 2021, said a news release from the Denver Art Museum.

Gio Ponti, an Italian architect, designed

the building. The new renovations to the building include 83,000 square feet of new space, the release said.

“Our hard construction is over,” said Christoph Heinrich, director of the museum, in the news release. “Now, we enter the museum-making phase, where our staff will turn these incredible new spaces into an engaging, welcoming and interactive art museum for all.”

The renovations were a $150 million project that broke ground in early 2018.

A portion of the funds came from the Denver Go Bond, which was approved by voters in November 2017. The Martin building will be the first completed project using funds from the Go Bond, the release said.

Business FROM PAGE 2

Native Roots The marijuana dispensary will be opening in the former Boston Market space at 500 Grant St. Native Roots has a total of 22 locations throughout Colorado. Some stores offer both medical and recreational marijuana, while others sell one or the other. The dispensary chain also launched CBD-specific stores, including a store inside Broadway Market in Denver, according to its website.

The Boston Market closed on Grant in 2018.

Postino Winecafe The Italian wine bar and restaurant opened its second location on Broadway at the end of October. Postino Winecafe, 145 Broadway, took the place of Compound Basix, a gay bar that closed last year.

The Broadway building was built in 1895.

Postino’s first Colorado location opened in the Lower Highlands. The restaurant is also set to open a third spot in the Ninth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard development that is under construction and set to open in next year.

The restaurant is based in Phoenix, Arizona, and also has locations in Texas.

CLOSINGS CO-Brew The brewery and home-brew shop combination will close by the end of the year. CO-Brew had a brewery inside that offered its own beers, and also sold materials and equipment for people interested in making their own beer.

The store opened at 1133 Broadway in 2015.

The store announced on Facebook that it would no longer offer homebrewing sessions or make any more of its own beer.

“Rising rent in Downtown Denver and a decline in the homebrewing industry makes it financially impossible for us to sign another lease,” the post read.

The Facebook post also said the store would close at the end of its lease on Dec. 31. The store’s remaining inventory and display furniture is for sale.

CHANGES Freshcraft The owners behind Stoney’s Bar and Grill have taken over Freshcraft, a bar and restaurant at 1530 Blake St. Erik Riggs, the former general manager of Stoney’s, will be in charge of the restaurant. It is his first time as an owner and operator, according to a story from BusinessDen. Freshcraft first opened in the Lower Downtown neighborhood in 2010.

Cap City Tavern In 2018, the building that houses Cap City Tavern was purchased by the nearby Clyfford Still Museum for $3 million, according to city records. The museum plans to use the building for expanded parking and office space, according to a news story from The Denver Post.

The building is located at 1247 Bannock St. The owner of Cap City told the Post that he recently signed a five-year lease with the museum, but that the terms allow him to leave as early as February 2021. The lease for Cap City ends in 2024. Owner Dino McTaggert told the Post he plans to move the bar and restaurant to a new location.

The museum does not have any plan for development at this time.

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4 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

Blending technology and health

Couple takes over gym and transitions to preventive care

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

I

Philippe Goix, left, and his wife Regina Brugh took over the Matrix Fitness and Spa in August. Since then, the couple has been transforming the gym into a preventive care space with new technology.

KAILYN LAMB

n some ways, Matrix Fitness and Spa is a gym like any other — there’s exercise equipment and yoga rooms. But new owners Philippe Goix and Regina Brugh have big plans for the 14,000-square-foot space, and it includes using technology to help people take better control of their health.

The couple took over the gym in August and held a reopening party last month. Once they came in, Goix said, they began adding new types of equipment that help measure fat and muscle levels and bone density. Both Goix and Brugh have backgrounds in health care and were “handpicking the best technology we could find,” Goix said.

Brugh said that no two people’s bodies are alike and by giving people personalized data, they can then take the right steps toward losing weight or eating better. Taking those steps is key to preventing major health issues down the road.

“You can’t rely on one methodology,” she said. “Tuning is easier than fixing.”

The data can be sent directly to an app that people can look at on their phones. It helps give Brugh an idea of what nutrition and exercises to recommend to clients as well. As a 20-year clinician, Brugh said she enjoys having the data on hand.

“I don’t believe in guessing,” she said.

Goix, who is originally from France,

moved to the United States in the late 1980s to do a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of California in Berkeley. From there, he began working in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley for different healthcare companies. On a visit to Austin, Texas, he met Brugh, who was a clinician working with nutrition.

After the couple got married, they wanted to get out of the healthcare space and move more into preventive care. They found the Matrix space in Denver, and closed on the property quickly, Brugh said.

Insurance is like any other business, Goix said, it’s there to make money. This can mean there’s not as much of an incentive for preventive care, he added.

Oftentimes, when people are at the gym, S Goix said, they do the same workout repeat- r edly and are surprised when they don’t see a results. Using technology and data more m specific to a person’s body can help them change that. t “People come in, they want to get fit, i they want to get better,” Goix said. “I think t people need to invest in their own health.” s Besides the equipment that measures t specific data in someone’s body, Matrix also o has equipment that uses infrared technol- p ogy. The infrared lasers penetrate directly p into cells, kickstarting chemical production that your body does naturally, but slows as it b a ages, Goix said.

When Goix and Brugh bought the Matrix w gym, they also got the workout equipment t inside, and kept Hayne Ellis on staff as the w director of operations. Ellis said that many m of the gym’s 750 members are excited about n w the changes the couple is making to the gym.

“It’s an infusion of new energy,” he said. c p “They could have gone anywhere.”

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Life On Capitol Hill 5

December 2019

A place to gather near Cheesman CHUN joining with business to renovate, add community space to historic home

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods and City Street Investors have struck a partnership to renovate the Tears-McFarlane House and add a cafe, hoping to make the historic building more open to the public.

The deal includes CHUN selling 50% of the property equity to City Street, a real estate investment company. The proceeds will go toward a $1 million endowment for CHUN services. City Street will help renovate the historic home, which has around $250,000 worth of deferred maintenance projects. The company will also redo the annex portion of the property into a new cafe for the community.

Travis Leiker, the president of the CHUN board, said the RNO has been working toward a deal like this since 2016. At the time, CHUN was nearly bankrupt and needed to find a way to make money. Leiker said the board did not want to sell the house, since CHUN wanted to maintain a physical presence in the community and also wanted to make sure the house was used as a public space.

“Those values informed how we approached conversations with anybody that wanted to partner with us,” he said.

This rendering shows a new design for the annex building at the Tears-McFarlane House adjacent to Cheesman Park in Denver. Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods, which is headquartered at the house, will use the annex space as a new community cafe. COURTESY OF SEMPLE BROWN DESIGN The house — located at 1290 Williams St., just north of Cheesman Park — was gifted to CHUN by the city in 2005. In recent years, Tears-McFarlane has become not only a space for CHUN meetings, but a revenue stream for the Registered Neighborhood Organization, which rents out the house for office space and events.

City Street started doing focus groups in 2017 to learn more about what the community

wanted with the building, said Joe Vostrejs, a principal with the company. The company was also behind the development of Union Station.

Vostrejs said focus groups with local residents and people who use the space are the first piece of any project City Street does.

“They’re true focus groups. It’s not a community meeting where we just pitch ideas at you,” he said. “There was a very strong desire that (Tears-McFarlane) not just get sold off.”

The responses led City Street and CHUN to the cafe idea. The two organizations are also trying to find ways to make the main building more accessible to the public once it’s renovated.

Leiker said CHUN and City Street are aiming to turn in a rezoning proposal to the city this month. The house is currently zoned for residential use with an overlay that allows for office space and bed-and-breakfast uses.

Leiker said the organization will apply for a Planned Unit Development, which will be site specific to their needs.

Vostrejs said the footprint of the building will not change, except for the new cafe area which may alter slightly when they build a new space.

The patio at the house will also go away, as City Street and CHUN found out it sits on city property at Cheesman Park.

“We’ll be scaling that back as part of this due diligence process,” Leiker said, adding that there are other pieces of the property that could be used for outdoor space.

Once the zoning application is filed, the two organizations estimated it will take 6-8 months to be approved by the city. It will be another 6-8 months for design and another 6-8 months to build the new cafe.

While going through CHUN archives, staff found an old article referring to a cafe space run by the RNO in the 1980s. Since the organization was also fundamental in advocating for park space, Leiker said it feels right to be moving in that direction again with a community space.

“It really is,” he said, “just a powerful testament to what our predecessors envisioned for this spot.”

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6 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

Buddy Noel, left, poses for a picture with Terry Edwards at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Rose Medical Center. Noel’s father, Dr. Edmond Noel, was the first black man to be certified by a hospital to practice medicine in Colorado.

PHOTOS BY KAILYN LAMB

Starting off on the

‘right foot’

Denver hospital that was first to accredit a black doctor celebrates seven decades

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

D

on Kortz, a board member with Health One and the Rose Medical Center, has dedicated much of his adult life to the hospital. He has served on both the hospital’s board and the board of the Rose Community Foundation, but his history with Rose can be traced back to the very beginning.

Although he was only a baby at the time, Kortz says he can remember the day Dwight D. Eisenhower, then an Army general, came to Denver in August 1948 to dedicate the cornerstone to the General Rose Memorial Hospital.

More than 70 years ago, Eisenhower came to honor his friend who died in the closing days of World War II. Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose would be the namesake of the hospital, which was built in the Hale neighborhood community in 1948.

“I remember being in (my mother’s) arms,” Kortz said. “I’ll never forget that moment.”

Eisenhower served in World War II with Rose, who grew up in Denver and was the highest ranking Jewish officer at the time. Rose died in action at age 45 while serving in Germany.

During a 70th anniversary event for the hospital on Nov. 7, a new museum room was opened at Rose Medical Center, 4567 E. Ninth Ave., including the cornerstone dedicated by Eisenhower. The event also had a special unveiling of a newly restored portrait of Gen. Rose, which hangs in the lobby.

SEE ROSE, P7

James Barnard, center, claps during a speech at the Rose Medical Center’s 70th anniversary celebration. The hospital was first opened after World War II by a group of Jewish leaders in Denver who wanted a space that was free of discrimination and open to all.

Life On Capitol Hill 7

December 2019

Rose FROM PAGE 6

Before the unveiling of the portrait, Marshall Fogel, author of “Major General Maurice Rose: The Most Decorated Battletank Commander is U.S. Military History,” gave a speech on the character of the general. Fogel said that Rose was man who fought alongside his men, instead of leading from the back. He was a member of the 3D Armored Division, which also sent its framed insignia in honor of the occasion.

Since first opening its doors in 1949, the hospital has changed both name and ownership. But staff and board members still fight for the same principle that Rose was founded on: that medicine and good health is meant for all.

That “steadiness of mission” is part of what made Kortz want to be a board member in the first place. He added that although technology of how people are taken care of has changed, the idea of caring for people has not.

“That’s the tradition that carries this place on today,” he said. “People get sick, you take care of them.”

History of Rose Medical Center The idea for the hospital was first voiced in 1945 when several Jewish leaders came together in Denver wanting to create a more inclusive medical space. The city’s population was growing after the war, and these men wanted to open a hospital where Jewish physicians returning from Europe could have a place to work without fear of discrimination.

The hospital continued in its mission to serve all in the Denver community for more than 40 years before being acquired by Health One in 1995.

Prior to the sale, the hospital had been operating as a nonprofit. As part of the legal requirements of switching from a nonprofit to a for-profit institution, the hospital created the Rose Community Foundation from the proceeds of the sale. Kortz served as the first president and CEO. Lindy Eichenbaum Lent, the cur-

rent president and CEO, said Rose Community Foundation’s mission is very closely aligned with the hospital’s founding mission of equality and continues to be “infused by those values.”

The foundation works with organizations dedicated to Jewish life and education, as well as refugee communities and those particularly vulnerable to hate, she said. Eichenbaum Lent also said the foundation strives to honor the namesake of the hospital, Maurice Rose.

“Gen. Rose lead from the front, and we aspire to do that for greater Denver,” she said.

Fighting injustice As the hospital continued to grow, it continued to serve marginalized communities in Denver. Shortly after opening in 1949, the hospital accredited Edmond Noel to be the first black doctor able to work in a hospital space.

Gary Jackson, who serves as a judge on the Denver City Court, said that Noel was his family doctor. Because of discrimination and segregation in the

1950s and 1960s, Jackson said Noel still held his main practice in an office at 2800 Race St. But, if more severe medical issues arose, Noel would be able to take his patients to Rose and treat them there.

“He couldn’t go anywhere else,” Jackson said. “The diversity and inclusivity and what I call racial justice issues was so entwined with the Noel family and that’s why I had to be here.”

Noel’s wife, Rachel, was also instrumental to educational equality as the first black board member of the Denver Public Schools, Jackson said.

During the 70th anniversary celebration for the hospital, Noel’s son Buddy said his family was very proud to see his father’s legacy honored by Rose. He added that accrediting a black doctor during the peak of segregation could not have been easy for either his father or for hospital officials at Rose. But, he said it meant the hospital “started off on the right foot.”

“It’s just very special,” Buddy said.

“Seventy years later, it’s great to be smiling about it.”

Staff reveal the newly renovated portrait of Maj. Gen. Maurice Rose, the hospital’s namesake and the highest ranking Jewish man to serve in World War II. Rose was raised in Denver and lived there until his death while serving in Germany.

PHOTOS BY KAILYN LAMB A guest reads about photographs in the new museum space at Rose Medical Center. The museum was added for the anniversary of the hospital and includes the cornerstone dedicated by then Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1948.

Colorado Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera reads a proclamation during the anniversary celebration at Rose Medical Center.

Regina Jackson takes a photo of her husband, the Hon. Gary Jackson next to a banner of Dr. Edmond Noel. Gary Jackson said that Noel was his family doctor as a child.

8 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

Connecting through art Local church joins national art movement on impact of gunfire

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

I

n the halls of the First Baptist Church of Denver in Capitol Hill are stacks of small origami boxes. Church members and nearby residents alike came together to make more than 800 of the boxes, with each one representing a child under the age of 18 that was killed by gunfire in the United States so far in 2019.

The boxes are part of a national art movement out of Portland, Oregon called the Soul Box Project. The boxes are supposed to give people a more tangible representation of just how many lives are affected by gunfire, said Nanci Tangeman, the safe communities liaison and communications lead for Soul Box. “You can say 3,600 people died, and people will say ‘Wow that’s a lot of people,’” she said, adding “or you can say 36,000 people died and people will still say ‘Wow that’s a lot of people.”

Brian Henderson, a senior minister at First Baptist, said the display has created a “snowball effect” as soon as people began to understand what the church was doing. A few members of the church moved to Denver from Oregon. After the couple returned home from a visit to Oregon, they told the church about Soul Box, and the community wanted to be involved.

“It’s touching people in ways that we didn’t

expect them to be touched,” Henderson said.

Portland artist Leslie Lee first launched the Soul Box Project after the mass shooting in 2017 at a Las Vegas concert. She chose to make the boxes out of paper because it was an item accessible to everyone, Tangeman said.

Boxes can be made for people who were killed or injured by gunfire, as well as suicides by guns. She added that making the boxes can be therapeutic for friends and family impacted by gun violence.

Since 2017, the project has received more than 72,000 boxes from across the country.

On April 18, volunteers from First Baptist will bring Soul Boxes to the state Capitol building. The same year, the national project will take all of its collected Soul Boxes to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Tangeman said the goal of the project is not to lobby for gun control at a federal level. Instead, the goal is for each person who sees the project to take one personal action, whether that’s locking their personal guns away to keep them safer, speaking to local government about gun laws or reaching out to people in distress.

“Whatever that one personal action is, that’s what we want people to take,” she said.

Henderson said the project can help bridge the gap between some of the partisanship that comes with gun control. It personalizes the reality and gives people a place where they can connect in solidarity.

“At one level (Soul Box) is creating a community that is a safe place for one, people to be more aware and two, for people for feel more connected,” he said. “It’s connecting us with a heart of a country that’s struggling with what to do with this epidemic.”

Community residents and members of the First Baptist Church of Denver pose for a group photo in front of the Soul Boxes they made. Soul Box Project is an art movement based out of Portland, Oregon where people create small boxes which each represent a person who has been injured or killed by gun violence.

COURTESY OF JOHN BARBE

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Life On Capitol Hill 9

December 2019

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ith winter approaching, indoor plants are a great way to have some greenery in your life, even if the weather is bleak. Terrariums, glass containers with soil and plants, are an excellent GUEST way to have a garden COLUMN even in the tiniest, Nicholas Giaquinto overpriced apartments.

Terrariums can create a high-humidity environment that many tropical plants need to thrive. While they may seem intimidating to own and maintain, they are low-maintenance if you choose the right plants.

The terrarium and the plant material that you decide to use will be a large deciding factor for how to maintain it. Terrariums can either have a sealed or unsealed bottom as well as having an open or enclosed top. Unsealed bottoms will leak, so you will have to water your terrarium in a sink to prevent a mess on your table or desk. Sealed bottoms won’t leak, but you will have to be careful when watering as well to prevent flooding. With open top terrariums you won’t need to worry as much about plant height as in an enclosed one.

When deciding what plants to use, it’s best to choose plants that prefer similar conditions to ensure that everything thrives. Spike moss, ferns, begonias, and calatheas work great in low light. If you are planning to place your terrarium in a room with a lot of light, succulents

will work with a well-drained soil mix — just be aware that you will need to water much less than a tropical terrarium.

When planting, place about a half-inch of soil in the bottom of the container to ensure the plant roots have soil to grow into. Place your plants and then fill in with soil. You should fill less than half of the terrarium space so there is as much space for the plants as possible. You can place a top layer of gravel or moss for an aesthetically pleasing cover. I also enjoy using twigs, stones and figurines for a personal touch.

Maintenance can be tricky for those who continually like to do things with their plants.

Over-watering is one of the greatest killers of houseplants, so one must resist the temptation of watering constantly. It can take weeks before a terrarium dries out and requires watering.

An advantage of a terrarium is that you can see how wet the soil is. Always check the soil before watering. You can stick your finger about an inch into the soil and feel how moist it is. After watering keep the terrarium door open, to allow air circulation for one day. You can provide supplemental mist every couple of days if you have that burning desire to do something to your plants.

With many people living in Denver without a garden, a terrarium is a great way to foster a budding horticultural talent. Terrariums allow people to grow plants that don’t do well outside in Colorado and they are guaranteed to liven up any bland office or living space.

Nicholas Giaquinto is a conservatory horticulturist at the Denver Botanic Gardens. He can be reached at horticulture@denverbotanicgardens. org.

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Terrariums are one way to have a small garden in an indoor space. The glass helps create a humid environment for plants.

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10 Life On Capitol Hill

FROM THE EDITOR

Kailyn Lamb

LOCAL

A

December 2019

VOICES Reflections on a decade

nd just like that, it’s the end of 2019.

I wanted to take the time to reflect on what the ‘10s brought to my life, because I realized I did a lot in that time. I finished two degrees. I moved across the nation and traveled to three different countries. I became an aunt twice over within a couple months.

Ten years can bring a wave of change, both good and bad, to a life. As I’m closing out my 20s and getting ready to enter my 30s in the next couple years, I think this decade has been the first time I’ve had the maturity to look back and really understand just what that span of time means.

Coincidentally, I’ve also read a few books recently

with the concept of repeated timelines. Although the books are very different, they both reflect on how people change over time.

In “The Seven 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle” by Stuart Turton, the main character lives the same day on repeat as different people hoping to solving a murder.

Through twists and turns we learn more about the main character and why he is in this insane loop. In the end, he learns to forgive someone who wronged him because of the experience.

I just started “The Fifteen Lives of Harry August”

by Claire North, which deals with a man who lives the same life on repeat, until someone passes a message along to him that the world is ending.

Change can be raw and unsettling, but without it we cannot grow. The 2010s brought me heartbreak, reunions, friends and a world of perspective. I went on grand adventures by packing up and moving to new places. I came home again and learned a new respect for my native Colorado.

I am incredibly grateful for the past decade. Everything that happened lead me to where I am now: a person who loves her career and where she is in life.

Even the sad parts have dulled with time and helped guide me to the present.

I think I am most grateful for the newest additions to SEE LAMB, P11

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

As of this past September, Colorado currently leads the nation in fourday school weeks with over 61% of school districts having recently made this switch. Is this because we are the trendsetting, innovative trailblazers that the nation knows us to be? No, these four-day weeks were forced upon Colorado’s children due to funding cuts that have been the result of years of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights chipping away at necessary funding.

The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, more commonly referred to as TABOR, has three main concepts: a clause that mandates both state and local governing bodies to have taxpayer approval before raising taxes, a flat tax rate, and a spending cap on revenue that cannot grow faster than the rate of inflation plus population growth. Any revenue above the TABOR limit in a given year, often called a “TABOR surplus,” must be refunded to taxpayers.

Colorado has seen a massive influx of people in recent years — an estimated 700,000 people have moved into the state since 2010. The result has been resources being spread thin as the spending cap has not increased with the population growth accordingly. Schools are under-funded and rank in the bottom fifth for lowest public school spending in the nation, CDOT has over $9 billion in backlogged projects, and vital public services within the state have suffered.

Colorado’s children are the next generation of leaders in our great state.

It is our responsibility to ensure they have everything they might need to succeed.

Lindsey Rasmussen Washington Park resident

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budget, which will allow the hiring of 19 new employees, including 10 inspectors focused on compliance to improve air quality. For those who haven’t been following along, the Front Range may be headed into Serious Nonattainment status with the Environmental Protection Agency for ground level ozone. Ozone is particularly harmful for youths, the elderly and those with respiratory issues. Public hearings were held in September and the community is

always knew that representing the most bustling, population-rich core of the city would come with unique challenges.

Capitol Hill is the densest neighborhood in the city. Eight of the 15 D10 neighborhood GUEST tracts surveyed in the COLUMN 2010 census have a population density that exceeds 15,000 residents per square mile.

Moreover, District 10 is a commercial and employment hub for the entire city. With the Museum Campus, Civic Center, Botanic Gardens, Colfax busiCouncilmember nesses, Cherry Creek Chris Hinds shopping area, and many other destinations, the district also attracts people from all over the city and country. On any given day, the number of people on our streets is significantly higher than the 71,000 residents who live here. That’s why I call the district “Perfect 10,” because we’re the heart of Denver.

But there is a downside to all the activity in the district. We have more arterial commuter through-traffic in our neighborhoods than other districts, even with so many people out walking about, cycling, and shopping. District 10 contains a disproportionately large number of the city’s High Injury Network

SEE ENVIRONMENT, P11

SEE HINDS, P11

Things to watch in Denver’s environmental scene ENVIRONMENT WITH EAN

Ean Thomas Tafoya

W

elcome to my second edition of Environment with Ean. For those just joining us, the intent of this column is to highlight policies or planning processes that you can engage with in a timely manner.

Let’s start with some updates: The Jared Polis administration released the governor’s 2020 budget requests, and they include more staff for the Air Pollution Control Division. According to the Colorado Independent, the proposal adds $2.4 million to the current $24 million

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Life On Capitol Hill 11

December 2019

Environment FROM PAGE 10

still awaiting the decision.

The Denver Climate Stakeholders application is closed, and the word on the street is that many applied. Gratitude to all those who are willing to join the policy work weekly for the next six months. The Denver City Council passed CB19-1177, which officially creates a cabinet-level Office of Climate Change and Resiliency. Advocates wanted a new office created because they believe that having the office a few layers into the Department of Public Health and Environment didn’t give it the autonomy and resources that we collectively need to lead globally to curb and prepare for the climate emergency.

Both the stakeholders group and the office are part of compromise between city council and the mayor regarding a pollution excise tax being delayed from the most recent election.

Things that you can engage with today: As I said last month, this is an emergency and it will require an unprecedented effort to to take action on it. Climate Mobilization, a national group with local chapters here in Colorado, is working to get all levels of government to declare a climate emergency, in an effort to access the capital needed to make the rapid change. Here in Colorado, Fort Collins

Hinds FROM PAGE 10

(HIN) locations. On average, 59 people are killed or seriously injured on district roads every three years. Our crash rate on HIN streets is higher than the citywide crash rate on HIN streets, especially involving pedestrians and cyclists.

I promised my constituents the freedom to navigate the city safely and securely. It is a core value of mine and guides my decisionmaking processes and priorities. With so much construction in the district, many of the sidewalks are entirely impassable. Neighbors who have been walking and rolling their families and pets around the block for years suddenly can’t move about unencumbered. It’s frustrating to everyone who uses our streets and results in severe safety lapses. People go out into busy roads and intersections rather than having to continuously backtrack to secure crossing locations. My constituents deserve greater access to their own neighborhoods than this.

I feel the same way about safe bikeways. I’m very encouraged by the miles of dedicated bikeways forecast for the district’s future. I strongly advocate for even more and varied

has already declared an emergency and U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette and Joe Neguse have signed onto a declaration for Congress. There is a local effort here in Denver and they are asking for residents to contact the mayor and city council asking for them to declare a climate emergency. For more information, visit https:// climateemergency.us/ Traffic emissions play a huge role in our greenhouse emissions and in our degraded air quality. Many thousands of vehicle trips flow through Denver each day, and many of those do not originate nor end in Denver, yet their emissions pollute just the same. Interstate 25 is currently undergoing a Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) Study, and your input is being taken by the Colorado Department of Transportation now. The PEL study is a precursor study to identify environmental impacts of projects before entering into the federal required analysis known as the Environmental Impact Statement of a proposed project under the National Environmental Policy Act. On the table: a new alignment, double decking, improved transit, new bridges and interchanges.

Not on the table: the removal of the highway in favor of a boulevard or a parkway.

Vehicle emissions account for a significant part of air quality pollution in the region. According to CDOT counts, the section of I-25 from Santa Fe Drive to 20th Avenue has the highest daily average traffic counts in the state

ways of navigating the district comfortably.

One example I am excited about: I’ve been working to recruit support and finances for the 5280 Trail project. For all of you in D10 who don’t know what the 5280 Trail is, it’s a five-mile, placemaking, recreational bike and pedestrian loop in the heart of the downtown.

Ultimately, I’d like to be responsible for helping Denver break its dependency on single occupancy vehicle commuting. We will never be able to substantively address public safety or climate change if we can’t lead boldly with a new vision for how our residents interact with their city streets. Personally, I feel you will all love not being stuck in traffic, as well as the benefits of cleaner air, water, and neighborhoods. We can get there. It just necessitates our community coming together as a unified force around this common objective of positive change.

I’m building our outreach. Everyone should be heard. I want everyone to know that if you go to bit.ly/accessperfect10 you can sign up for my newsletter and learn about what I have been working on.

Denver Councilmember Chris Hinds represents District 10. The district covers north central Denver, including Capitol Hill, Congress Park, Cherry Creek and more. He can be reached at chris.hinds@denvergov.org.

at 272,000 vehicles per day. CDOT has hosted four stakeholders focus group meetings and one public open house. This open house had about 55 attendees according to the meeting summary, including many members of the focus group. At the time of the open house, CDOT reported receiving roughly 700 comments and survey completions. According to the CDOT summary, a majority of respondents at the open house rejected highway widening as a preferred solution. The recently approved Mile High Stadium and Auraria plans by the city council call for many more residents to be added smack dab in the middle of this corridor.

With the price tags of billions for large urban highway widening, this is no small matter.

I am left with many questions. What is an adequate level of community engagement for advancing a project of this size? Is it a percentage of the surrounding area or of the vehicle trips taken there each day? What are the climate impacts of widening? Think of all that concrete, plus the diesel fuel it will take to construct.

What are the short- and long-term air quality impacts of construction and finished highway traffic counts? Think about the children playing on the new playground at the Denver Children’s Museum, that close to the highest traffic counts in state. Can urban highway corridors and density coexist given the current science on the impacts of pollution on the health of nearby residents? Let your opinions be heard.

Lamb FROM PAGE 10

my life, a beautiful niece and nephew that I can watch grow and make their own decisions for their future.

Have you heard of PFAS? PFAS are known as per- and polyfluoralkyl substances. Since the 1940s, more than 5,000 chemicals have been created and are in a wide variety of products including food packaging, carpet and firefighting foams. These chemicals contaminate groundwater and accumulate in organisms, including you and me. PFAS have been identified at the federal and state level as an emerging public health threat. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has detected PFAS in the water in the towns of Security, Widefield, Fountain, Commerce City and two fire districts near Boulder. In response, CPDHE has created a PFAS Narrative Policy Work Group to examine new policy to protect the public health of Colorado residents. To date, they have met twice and have released a draft policy for review by the public.

I touched on a few things that you can engage with in between holiday shopping. But what I really want to know is if you are you ready for the Colorado legislative session? Last year 22 bills related to the environment were passed by the Legislature. In the new year, I will be profiling some of the introduced legislation that you can engage with early in the 2020 legislative session.

Ean Thomas Tafoya is a climate and government activist. he can be reached at @BelieveEan on Twitter.

There are big changes coming up in my life that will start in the 2020s. Although the ’10s had their ups and downs, I can’t help but look forward to this new phase of my life. I’m ready to set new goals and take steps forward into the future.

What are the things you are most grateful for this decade?

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12 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

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Life On Capitol Hill 13

December 2019

Colfax D I B e v A 0 3 s n tur

Denver Police Officer Teresa Gillian hands out stuffed animals to Aiden, left, and Wes Kuechenmeister. Gillian is the community liaison officer for District 6 of the police department.

PHOTOS BY KAILYN LAMB Andy Baldyga, left, stands with winners of the Characters of Colfax awards for 2019: members of the FeherPeiker family, and Dave Walstom, second from the right. The Colfax Ave Business Improvement District gives out the awards annually.

T Paul Iwancio takes a sip of his drink at the Colfax Ave Business Improvement District’s 30th anniversary party. Nonprofits and organizations from the BID’s boundaries participated in the event with food and information booths.

Frank Locantore speaks during the Colfax BID 30th anniversary event.

Michael William Prince writes poetry at the Colfax BID 30th anniversary event. Prince said he writes poems on the spot for events and at the Santa Fe Arts District.

14 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

H O L I D AY

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Join Us For Christmas Worship Services: Tuesday, December 24th 4:00 PM • 7:00 PM • 11:00 PM

UNIVERSITY PARK UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 2180 S. UNIVERSITY BLVD. • 303-722-5736 www.uparkumc.org

Life On Capitol Hill 15

December 2019

H O L I D AY

We Invite You for Christmas Jazz Vespers Sunday. Dec. 15, 7pm

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Christmas liturgy and activity schedule First Sunday of Advent: 10:30am What Are We Waiting For? An Advent talk and reflection First Monday of Advent: 6:30pm December 2nd Advent Penance Service Second Sunday of Advent: 10:30am Story Time with St. Nick and his helpers (children of all ages welcome) Advent Liturgies: 9am Sundays December 1, 8, 15, and 22 Christmas Eve: 3:45pm Carols & Pageant Christmas Eve: 4:00pm Christmas Eve Family Mass Christmas Day: 9:00am Christmas Mass

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Christmas at Augustana Festival Christmas Concert Sunday, December 15, 7:30 p.m.

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5000 E Alameda Ave 303-388-4678 Denver CO 80246 www.augustanadenver.org

16 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

FAMILIES BY CHOICE

Twenty-three children adopted in Denver during national celebration

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

O

n the second floor of the LindseyFlanigan Courthouse in Denver, the sounds of laughter and running feet filled the hall in front of the courtrooms. Mascots from Denver’s sports teams hugged children, while other people posed in front of a camera for a family portrait. For 14-year-old Jassir, dressed in a suit and tie, it was a special time.

For many in Denver, Nov. 8 was a normal day. But for 23 children and their now official families, it was adoption day.

Jassir said that as soon as he entered the building, he could feel the “vibe” of the other families — a feeling of happiness, and even relief. Now, Jassir could join Morgan and Jeff Richards in their home with a sense of normalcy, no more meetings or paperwork. In the eyes of the law, he was now their son.

“We’re a family of four when we leave the courthouse today,” Morgan said.

Dozens of people came to support the Richards family at the courthouse. Members of Jassir’s biological family joined in as well.

Jeff said that the day meant they were not only accepting Jassir into their lives, but his family too.

Although the adoption process can have its ups and downs, Jassir said he was always “focusing on the big picture” and getting to the final stage. Jassir first began living with the Morgans last summer. But he knew the Morgans were the right fit when he first matched with the family through the Denver Human Services program.

“I could feel it,” he said of their bond.

Denver has been celebrating National Adoption Day for the last 15 years. In that time, 753 kids have been adopted during the one-day event in Colorado.

According to a news release from the city, Denver Human Services offers the only public adoption option in Colorado.

Families like the Richardses, who are willing to foster and adopt teens, are a rare thing.

The family has one other child, an adopted daughter, 16-year-old Teagan, and Jeff said they knew they wanted to adopt a child close in age. Morgan added that there’s a greater need for teens to find a family that will take them.

The need for a happy and healthy home for these children, was something that all the families could agree on. A news release from the city said that there are 433 children in need of adoptive homes in Colorado.

Many of the families adopting children at the event are also foster parents, such as the Hoags “(Today is) all about the joy and celebration,” said Julie Hoag, who was at the courthouse finalizing the adoption for 2-year-old Lukas.

Julie and her husband Nathan became licensed foster parents seven years ago when the couple were both 28 years old. Since then, they have fostered 15 children and adopted two, including Lukas. “Children need a safe and loving home,” she said of their decision to foster. The couple also has a biological daughter.

Although fostering can come with its own set of challenges — such as saying goodbye to children who are adopted or reunified with their biological families — Julie said that helping provide the kids what they need can make all the difference.

Jassir Richards talks with one of his siblings before his adoption at the Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse in Denver. Jeff Richards said that adopting Jassir into their family also meant accepting all his biological siblings and other family members.

Jenn Lundin hugs Jassir Richards after the court finalized his adoption by the Richardses. Lundin has worked with Jassir as his assigned lawyer since he was a young boy. During the proceedings she spoke about his growth over the years.

PHOTOS BY KAILYN LAMB

A child waits for a balloon animal during the Denver Adoption Day celebration. The city has put the event on annually for the last 15 years.

This year, 23 children were adopted to families in Colorado.

Jeff Richards wears a purple ribbon for Denver Adoption Day. The Richardses wanted to adopt Jassir to be a sibling to their other adopted child, 16-year-old Teagan. There is a high need for families like the Richardses who are willing to adopt teens.

Morgan Richards, left, hugs Jassir, 14, during the court proceedings to finalize his adoption, with Jeff Richards. The Richardses first matched with Jassir for adoption several years ago, but he first moved in the summer of 2018.

For many of the families, finalizing the adoption is a legal formality. They have accepted each other as family long before stepping foot in the courtroom. One family brought a small decorated sign for their family adoption that read “We are his village.”

In the courtroom, the judge asked Morgan Richards why she wanted to adopt Jassir. She tearfully spoke of the strengths he brings in

to their home. “Every child deserves a family,” Morgan added.

After they finalized the adoption, Morgan and Jeff Richards stood at the front of the courtroom along with the judge and their two children, Teagan and Jassir, for photos of the occasion.

“We have a lot of love behind us,” Morgan said, smiling.

A sign reading “We are his village” sits on a bench in the halls of the LindseyFlanigan Courthouse. Including the 23 children adopted last month, 753 children have had their adoptions finalized on Denver Adoption Day since 2004.

Life On Capitol Hill 17

December 2019

Denver releases draft REFUSE & REUSE of East Central Plan YOU CAN STOP WASTE BEFORE IT STARTS. Staff Report The city of Denver is seeking comment on its newly released draft of the East Central Plan, which will help determine growth in the area.

Neighbors can either comment directly on the draft or through a general feedback form. More information can be found at colfaxareaplans. konveio.com/east-central-area-plan-draft-planreview. In the draft online, people can also view other comments from their neighbors.

The city has been working on the East Central plan for the last two years. It includes the Capitol Hill, Uptown, Cheesman Park, City Park West, City Park and Congress Park neighborhoods. As part of the Neighborhood Planning Initiative, Denver staff will create similar plans for neighborhood clusters throughout the city.

The plans will look at individual neighborhoods and where density can be added through zoning changes, and looking at where things such as walkability can be improved.

Bring us with you !

City accepting applications for energy assistance program Staff Report Last month the city of Denver opened applications for its annual Low-Income Energy Assistance Program through the Office of Human Services. Applications will be accepted until April 30.

The program is run statewide and more than 7,100 households were able to get assistance in the 2018-2019 season. The program can help homeowners and renters save money on their heating costs, according to a news release from the city.

For more information, or to apply, go to www.

denvergov.org/LEAP. The release also included other tips on how to save money and energy during the cold months: • Replace your furnace filter every two months during winter.

• Keep curtains, shutters and blinds closed at night and when it is cloudy.

• Turn down your heat; each degree you turn it down will save about 3% on your heating bill.

• Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.

• Set water heater temperatures at 120 degrees or lower.

Refuse disposables and bring your own.

DITCH DISPOSABLES | SAVE MONEY | PREVENT LITTER Take the Refuse & Reuse pledge at DenverGov.org/Refuse-Reuse.

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18 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

Nonprofit seeking volunteers, donations for annual holiday shop Staff Report Warren Village will be hosting its 32nd annual Holiday Shop on Dec. 14.

The nonprofit, which provides housing and services to low-income single parents, is seeking volunteers to run the event, as well as seeking new and unwrapped gifts for adults and children. Resident lists are available at https://warrenvillage.org/holiday-shop/.

The event, which is not open to the public, provides meals, music, kids’ crafts and gifts to families in Warren Village housing, according to a news release from the nonprofit.

“The Holiday Shop is a treasured War-

please join us for the

ren Village tradition,” said Ethan Hemming, president and CEO of the nonprofit in the release. “This is an opportunity for our residents and alumna to share a meal with one another, enjoy the season, and shop for holiday gifts donated by the community. The event celebrates our local community and giving back, a reminder of what the season is all about.”

Donated gifts can be delivered to the Ray Cushman Family Center, 1300 Gilpin St., during these times: Monday, Dec. 2 from noon to 6 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Because you want to know...

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DECEMBER

J A N U A R Y

FAMILY

Drums of the World DEC 1 SUN 2:30

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Harry Potter and the MOVIE AT THE SYMPHONY Deathly Hallows™ Part 1 in Concert JAN 3-5 FRI-SAT 7:30 SUN 1:00 ■

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DEC 6 FRI 7:30

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Barber Piano Concerto performed by Olga Kern

John Denver Holiday Celebration with the Colorado Symphony

JAN 10-12 FRI-SAT 7:30 SUN 1:00 ■

DEC 7 SAT 7:30

FREE CONCERT

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute

Celtic Woman: The Best of Christmas Tour

JAN 14 TUE 7:30

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A Colorado Christmas

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DEC 13-15 FRI 7:30 SAT 2:30 & 6:00 SUN 1:00 ■

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Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 3

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Gilbert & Sullivan: The Pirates of Penzance

DEC 31 TUE 6:30

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Life On Capitol Hill 19

December 2019

Things to Do Submit calendar listings on our website, coloradocommunitymedia.com, go to the Calendar tab and click “Submit an Event.”

Priority is given to non-profits, low- or no-cost events and locations within our distribution map.

Next Issue Deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 18.

EVENTS Japan 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Jewish Community Center, 350 S. Dahlia St. From imperialist empire to economic power, Japan has a complicated and fascinating history. Join Active Minds as we trace the evolution of the modern Japanese state from its ancient roots to the present. We will cover the impact of Japan’s involvement in World War II as well as their economic recession in the 1990s. For info, call Lil Shaw: 303-3166359.

Kavod on the Road: So This is Love featuring Central City Opera Singers 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Hebrew Educational Alliance 3600 S. Ivanhoe St. Composers and lyricists have waxed poetic on the subject of love since the beginning of time. So This Is Love tells the story of a romantic relationship through opera and music theater. Tickets: $10. Visit kavodseniorlife.org for more information.

The History of Colorado 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Brookdale Parkplace, 111 Emerson St. Come discover the stories of Colorado History.

You will learn about the competing claims to Colorado dating back to the Native Americans who originally lived here. We will cover the 15 year struggle to become the 38th state as well as the role of mining and oil in the evolution of the state.

Bring your favorite Colorado stories to share. For more information, contact 303-744-1950 or dday@brookdale.com.

Zimbabwe 5 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Tattered Cover, 2526 E. Colfax Ave. Join Active Minds as we review Zimbabwe’s history as a former British Colony, the nominally independent country of Rhodesia, and a 15 year civil war involving complicated race relations. We will also cover where the country may be heading as it seeks to find its path after nearly four decades under the dictatorial rule of Mugabe. Call 303-322-7727.

Hearth & Dram Pappy Repeal Dinner Bundle up and head to Punch Bowl Social Stapleton (3120 N. Uinta St.) Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 11/29 – 12/31, from 5 – 9 p.m ., for holiday themed outdoor mini golf at Nick’s Holiday Putt Club.

The outdoor golf course will be decorated with dazzling lights, giant snow globes, life size candy canes, and more, offering plenty of holiday photo opportunities.

Enjoy the snack shack in Nick’s Village with adult seasonal beverages including Jingle Bell Rock ‘N’ Rye, Pink Bunny Suit and Golden Age of Garland. Plus, plenty of kid-friendly cozy beverage options like hot chocolate, hot buttered tea and warm tasty snacks.

Steuben’s Uptown Toy Drive The Steuben’s Uptown 12th Annual Toy Drive (523 E. 17th Ave.) is on Thursday, Dec. 5. Dress as your favorite Quentin Tarantino film character. The entire night benefits the children living in Denver Housing Authority housing. Bring a toy, valued $10 or more, and receive your first cocktail free. After the first cocktail, drinks are just $5. Enjoy guest bartenders, special guest DJ, snacks, and much more.

First Friday in Denver Art District on Santa Fe 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6 at D’art Gallery, 900 Santa Fe Drive. The International Show features artwork expressed through painting, drawing, mixed media, sculpture, fiber, and photography. Visit dartgallery.org.

Christmas with The Colorado Choir 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6 and 7 at Augustana Lutheran Church, 5000 E. Alameda Ave. The Colorado Choir’s 43rd annual Christmas Concert featuring “A Ceremony of Carols”

by Benjamin Britten. $20 adults; $15 seniors, military, students. Information at thecoloradochoir.org or 303-892-5922.

Family Workshop: Chocolate Treats Saturday, Dec. 7, 10-11:30 a.m., 2-3:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 8, 10-11:30 a.m. $17 child, $15 member child, $12 adult, $10 member adult. Explore the chocolate tree and its celebrated history.

This workshop is designed for families with children ages 5-10. Workshops offer families a hands-on guided opportunity to learn about the science and enchantment behind the plants in our everyday lives. Visit botanicgardens.org for more information.

Christy Wessler’s Holiday Sing-Along Concert 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Swallow Hill, 71 E. Yale Ave. Christy Wessler is emcee and soloist for this family-friendly Holiday show which includes an audience sing-along of traditional carols and special guests. $14 Adult/ $10 Children 12 and under in advance; $16 and $12 on day of show. Visit swallowhillmusic.org.

Denver SantaCon Crawl Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7 at Blake Street Tavern + Various Venues, 2301 Blake St. The annual SantaCon Pub Crawl is coming to Denver. Celebrate holiday cheer with hundreds of Santas roaming the streets spreading holiday cheer and supporting the local community in LoDo. Visit go.evvnt.com/550987-2?pid=4951.

Music in the Galleries, featuring the Spektral Quartet 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8 at Clyfford Still Museum, 1250 Bannock St. The quartet performs “captivating” (New York Times) composer Tonia Ko’s work “Plain, Air” for string quartet and electronics, presented in dialogue with Still: Elemental, an exploration of Clyfford Still’s work in relation to the Classical Greek elements of the universe: earth, water, air, fire, and aether. Music is free with Museum admission.

Visit friendsofchambermusic.com/archives/concerts/music-in-the-galleriesspektral-quartet-dec-8 for more information.

Opening Artists Reception for “Changes” - a Juried Art Exhibition Through Sunday, Dec. 8 at D’art Gallery, 900 Santa Fe Drive. D’art Gallery hosts the gallery’s first exhibition of work by International and National Artists. Visit dartgallery.org for more information.

Pathways to Transitions 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10 at University of Denver, Craig Hall, 2148 S. High St. This event will offer strategies, local resources, and practical advice to support transition-age teens with autism. Event is free. Visit This event will offer strategies, local resources, and practical advice to support transition-age teens with autism.

Visit act.AutismSpeaks.org/PathwaystoTransitionDenver for more information.

Community Awareness Program 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11 at CELL Exhibit, 99 W. 12th Ave. The Community Awareness Program® (CAP®) empowers citizens to help play a role in enhancing our community’s safety. If you have additional questions regarding the CAP, please email CAP@thecell.org or call 303.844.4000 ext. 6.

D’art Gallery hosts “Simply Small” Exhibition by Gallery Members Located at 900 Santa Fe Drive, D’art Gallery hosts a December Gallery Members Exhibition, “Simply Small”, from Thursday, Dec. 12 through Sunday, Dec. 22.

The gallery will be open for the last Artist Reception of the year during “Collectors Night” in Denver Art District on Santa Fe on Friday, Dec. 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. Visit dartgallery.org for more information.

Inside the Orchestra’s Christmas Tiny Tots Concerts 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Dec. 14 at PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur St. Kids get truly inside the orchestra as they are seated on the floor and surrounded by musicians. This Christmas, kids and their families can enjoy all

their holiday favorites! $12.50 suggested ticket price. Visit insidetheorchestra.org/ tiny-tots-events.

Advent Jazz Vespers 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 at Saint Paul Lutheran and Catholic Community of Faith, 1600 Grant St. The Barry Sames Ensemble returns to St. Paul Lutheran and Catholic Community of Faith in downtown Denver. We will share fellowship with a reception afterwards, with a free-will donation. Open to the community and we truly welcome everyone.

Our congregation is made up of the Lutherans and Catholics who are open and affirming of our LGBTQ+ neighbors.

Contact: Pastor Barbara Berry-Bailey at 303-839-1432, or pastorbarbara@ stpauldenver.org.

Ninth Annual Klezfest On Saturday, Dec. 21, the Mizel Museum will host two Klezfest concerts at the Mercury Café in Denver, at 6 p.m. and at 9 p.m. The 6 p.m. show features Rabbi Joe Black, Steve Brodsky and Cantor Elizabeth Sacks, followed by Hal Aqua and the Lost Tribe. The 9 p.m. show features Hal Aqua and the Lost Tribe and Hadgaba. Tickets: $25. Visit mizelmuseum.org/event/ninth-annual-klezfest.

Denver Brass: ‘Twas the Brass Before Christmas 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 at Newman Center for the Performing Arts, 2344 E. Iliff Ave. Cozy up with the Denver Brass, Steven Taylor and Aubrey Jacobs for an evening of inspiring seasonal favorites, warmth, and good cheer. Tickets starting at $23. Call 303-832-4676.

Jim Brickman - A Christmas Celebration 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 27 at Paramount Theatre, 1621 Glenarm Place. The bestselling piano artist of our time, Jim Brickman and his special guests, will dazzle audiences with holiday favorites, #1 hits, vibrant vocals, laughter & joy, in this bright, festive winter’s night celebration.

PRICES: $40, $50, $70. Visit go.evvnt. com/504088-5?pid=4951 for more information.

SEE THINGS TO DO, P20

20 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

Things to Do

Home for the Heart AL-ANON Mondays - Group Al-Anon Adult Children of Alcoholics. Tuesday through Thursday - Group Al-Anon. Fridays - Group Al-Anon (Meditation the first 10 minutes).

Room 114, In lower level. Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway. Visit al-anon-co.org for more information.

FROM PAGE 19

Resolution NYE 2020 - Denver New Year’s Eve Party 2019 | 2020 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 to 2:00 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 1 at McNichols Civic Center Building, 144 W. Colfax Ave. For 11 years running, our guests experience a truly interactive, high class, all-inclusive 21+ PREMIUM OPEN BAR New Year’s Eve celebration unlike anything else Denver has to offer! Open Bar Tier 1: $99.00, Early Entry Tier 1: $119.00, VIP Experience Tier 1: $149.00. Visiti go.evvnt. com/545481-0?pid=4951 for more information.

New Year’s Eve Black Tie Party 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 to 2 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Mile High Station, 2027 W. Colfax Ave. The Denver New Year’s Eve Black Party features the longest OPEN BAR in Denver with 5 ½ hours of unlimited drinks. This year there is a limited amount of 1,000 tickets available making this one of the most exclusive New Year’s Eve 2019-2020 events in Denver. Tickets: $95.

Visit newyearsevenight.com/ for more information.

New Year’s Eve On Tap 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 to 1:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 1 at The Rackhouse Pub, 2875 Blake St. Experience a Denver New Years Eve 2019 - 2020 party like no other from unlimited cocktails to 2,000 balloons dropping from the ceiling with a toast at midnight. Tickets: $85. VIP tickets are on

sale now at the official website: eventism. com/denver-new-years-eve-party/ NYE in the City at Four Seasons Hotel New Years Eve 2020 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31 to 1:00 a.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 1 at Four Seasons Hotel Denver, 1111 14th St. Celebrate New Year’s in Elegance with Cirque Theme! Denver’s Top Shelf New Year’s Eve Ball! Stay and play, ride the elevator to the party! General Admission Early Discount: $86.40, General Admission: $107.50, Table for 4: $107.50. Visit go.evvnt.com/5532710?pid=4951 for more information.

OUTREACH Nicotine Anonymous Sundays 12:30 p.m.

A fellowship of men and women helping each other to live our lives free of nicotine.

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 915 E. Ninth Ave. http://nicotine-anonymous.

Nar-Anon Sundays 6:45 p.m.

A 12-step support group for families and friends of addicts to help themselves cope.

First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette St. nar-anon.org Grant Street Reach Mondays 8 a.m.

Providing meals at no cost to its clients and it is sustained by committed and compassionate volunteers. 303-839-1432 St. Paul Lutheran and Roman Catholic Community of Faith, 1600 Grant St. grantstreetreach.org Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Mondays 7 p.m.

Through shared experience and mutual support, join a meeting to help each other to recover from the disease of food addiction.

303-775-8062 Trinity United Methodist Church, 1820 Broadway foodaddicts.org

History Matters Committee Meeting Mondays 7 p.m. This Historic Preservation Committee is responsible for numerous historic districts as well as individually designated homes and buildings. Join us each month to learn what is happening in your neighborhood and to add to your voice. www.chundenver.org Moderation Management Tuesdays 6:30 p.m. Weekly meetings for problem (vs. chronic) drinkers who want to reduce their intake of alcohol. Email: denver@moderation.org. First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette St. moderation.org Joy AL-ANON Tuesdays 8 p.m. Al-Anon’s Purpose is to help friends and families of alcoholics recover from the effects of living with the problem drinking of a relative or friend.

In the Roberts Building, Room 103. Saint John’s Cathedral, 1350 Washington St. al-anon-co.org LifeRing Secular Recovery Meeting Wednesdays 6 p.m. A network of people who support one another in living free of alcohol and other non-medically indicated addictive drugs. 303-875-5088 First Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette St. liferingcolorado.org

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Life On Capitol Hill 21

December 2019

No place like

Denver for the holidays

As the holidays approach, Denverites, organizations talk about tradition

MORE INFORMATION

By Bruce Goldberg Special to Colorado Community Media

The holidays are fast approaching, and that means some of Denver’s most popular traditions once again will offer fun, wholesome entertainment for the family.

The 9News Parade of Lights goes through downtown on the nights of Friday, Dec. 6 and Saturday, Dec. 7.

“The event itself kicks off the holidays in Denver. People talk about how they grew up with the Parade of Lights, going with their parents,” said Kaylin Klaren, senior manager of public events for Downtown Denver, which manages the parade. “For many families, this might be the only holiday tradition they can participate in because of expenses.”

The parade will have 12 floats this year, having added “Home for the Holidays,” which is sponsored by American Furniture Warehouse.

Founder Jake Jabs, with a stuffed tiger, will ride the float.

Once again, the Secret Society of the Clown Brigade, now in its 11th year, will join the parade and feature a roster of Denver business leaders who dress up as clowns and perform.

Their identities are a closely guarded secret.

The 9News team of Tom Green and Kim Christensen will broadcast the parade, which

Dancers from Colorado Ballet perform in “The Nutcracker,” which is celebrating its 59th year in the city. Denver has several holiday traditions including the ballet, as well as the 9News Parade of Lights and holiday meals.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL WATSON will draw a combined 500,000 people for the two nights.

And, this is year 59 for the Colorado Ballet’s “The Nutcracker,” which will put on more than two dozen performances between Nov. 30 and Dec. 29 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House.

The Nutcracker performances usually sell out and will draw a total of about 55,000 people during its run.

“It’s a family tradition,” said Gil Boggs, artistic director. “People have been bringing their kids, then they grow up and have children and they continue to come. One of the draws is

The 9News Parade of Lights will be happening on Dec. 6 and 7. The event is free to attend.

For more information, go to https://www.downtowndenver. com/9news-parade-of-lights.

Colorado Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” runs from Nov. 30 through Dec. 29 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, 1385 Curtis St. For more information and to buy tickets, go to https://www.coloradoballet. org/performances/thenutcracker.

For more information on the Jewish Community Center and its events, go to www. jccdenver.org.

that we have a full orchestra playing the music live.”

Don’t be surprised to see a few modern popular culture references. The 2018 show included moves from the Fortnight video game as well as the Floss and Sprinkler dances. “The audience was howling,” Boggs said.

Elsewhere, the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center has holiday-related events, which honor traditions of helping one’s neighbor on the calendar: • Working with High Point Creamery, the Jewish Community Center will create a Ha-

nukkah ice cream favor named “Bob’s babka.”

It’s named for Robert E. Loup, namesake of the center building and a donor to the nonprofit.

The ice cream is an olive oil ice cream base with homemade chocolate babka mixed in.

Ice cream pint sales are scheduled for Dec. 9-23 in the lobby, and proceeds will support the Jewish Community Center’s programs and scholarships.

• The center will host a canned food drive from Dec. 2 to 18, and asks people to bring nonperishable items and toiletries to its location at 350 S. Dahlia St. The Isabella Bird Community School will distribute the items through its Backpack Food Program and Pantry, which helps kids and families.

• The nonprofit will host a Menorah Making Chanukah Party from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Dec. 22. Guests will be able to make their own menorahs with items found around the Jewish Community Center, plus play dreidel and eat chocolate gelt. it’s free for adults, and a $5 donation is suggested for each child.

We asked Denver Facebook members to tell us about their favorite holiday traditions.

Here’s a sampling: • “Cousin party on Christmas Eve — it’s been going on since before I was born. I have three first cousins and their families (and their families’ families!) and we rotate houses, and have a big potluck dinner and small gift exchange.” — Lisa Cutter • “At Thanksgiving dinner we always bow our heads and give thanks for the poor unfortunate bird that sacrificed so much just so we could have something to go with our mashed potatoes.” — Gary Neher

Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season.

22 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

Nonprofit aims to eliminate barriers for parents Volunteers help build new childcare space at Metro Caring

MORE INFORMATION Metro Caring is a nonprofit that offers a food bank and nutritional classes to people in need. It is located at 1100 E. 18th Ave. The building has a large food bank for constituents to shop as they would at a grocery store.

For more information, go to www.metrocaring.org. To volunteer, fill out an application under the “Volunteer” tab of Metro Caring’s website.

By Kailyn Lamb klamb@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Through one day of work, a small group of volunteers has helped Metro Caring reopen its childcare space in its Uptown location. Now, the nonprofit is working to staff the area with volunteers to watch children, giving constituents some peace of mind as they shop for groceries in the food bank or take cooking classes.

Denver Community Credit Union volunteers came in to Metro Caring in October to paint the room and bring in new toys and books for different age groups. Helen Gibson, vice president of strategic outreach at Denver Community, said staff applied for a $1,000 grant through the credit union’s foundation for the project.

Prior to the project, people could leave their children in that space while they went the food bank in the same building, but there was no direct supervision. For Regina James, a single mom who volunteers at the nonprofit, childcare is often one of the largest roadblocks to being able to volunteer or participate at Metro

A volunteer group from the Denver Community Credit Union stands for a group photo after working to renovate the childcare area at Metro Caring in Uptown. The credit union organizes volunteer days where staff can work with nonprofits in the Denver community. COURTESY OF DENVER COMMUNITY CREDIT UNION Caring.

“If I wasn’t able to bring in my children, I wouldn’t be able to volunteer,” she said.

She added that for many of the families she’s spoken with who use the services at Metro Caring, there are the same barriers. Having childcare in the building will allow the parents to be more active. “I’m sure it’s just a huge relief for a lot of people there,” James said.

Staff at Metro Caring are looking to have volunteers in the space full-time to watch children. Through the grant, Metro Caring was also able to get a pager system to alert parents if their child is hurt or needs

something.

Judith Ackerman, the corporate engagement and marketing officer at Metro Caring, said that having volunteers specifically dedicated to childcare will help “eliminate the barriers for people to participate fully in the community.”

The staff at Denver Community Credit Union has been doing volunteers days like this for the last three years, Gibson said. This year, 89 staff members participated in projects across Denver. A team of 10 helped with the childcare space at Metro Caring.

Because they had a group, the volunteers were able to finish the

project in four to five hours, said Joe Tassano, the vice president of operations at Denver Community.

Within five minutes of completing the space, children were there using it, he added.

“I thought they did a really good job on the items they purchased,” Tassano said of the ethnic cookbooks, toys, and furniture that Metro Caring purchased for the area using the grant money.

When selecting nonprofits, Gibson said the credit union likes to look for organizations that connect people to financial resources. Metro Caring offers cooking classes to help teach people about nutrition, offers gardening plots for people to plant their own foods, and brings in city resources for utilities, taxes and public benefits enrollment. The goal of the organization, according to its website, is to break the cycle of

poverty.

“We try to work with nonprofits that in some way fit in our vision in advancing financial opportunity,” Gibson said. “They’re more than just a food bank, they really do strive to support the whole family in their financial stability.”

Another item of importance for the bank, Gibson said, was making sure it was a win-win both for the volunteers, and the organization.

She wants the make sure “the nonprofit is actually getting value from us being there.”

For Metro Caring, this can mean a lot more than just having volunteers fill in time slots in the food bank.

Ackerman said that by helping the nonprofit redo the children’s area, the volunteers have now enabled Metro Caring to use that space in a more meaningful way for its constituents.

During the week, Metro Caring has around 400 volunteers working on the day-to-day needs of the nonprofit, such as working in the food bank. Having a group come in to do a dedicated project can be a huge relief to an organization that relies on volunteers. “(The Denver community) not only helped to fund the project, but they also helped to provide the volunteer resources to get it done,” Ackerman said. “They can really help us accomplish things that we wouldn’t normally be able to get done.”

Life On Capitol Hill

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Life On Capitol Hill 23

December 2019

Small Business Saturday rallies consumers around fellow locals Hubs like Cherry Creek North, Larimer Square build community of businesses

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

In recent years, Black Friday has become a massive, practically month-long endeavor where some of the country’s largest retailers offer all kinds of deals and promotions. But for the more than 600,000 small businesses across Colorado, Small Business Saturday is the day truly worth celebrating.

“Small Business Saturday is incredibly important for small bookstores, because it tends to be one of the biggest days of our year,” said Mariana Calderon, store manager at Second Star to the Right books and gifts, located on South Pearl Street. “Especially in the last four years, people seem to need to go back to roots of community building, and bookstores are a pretty important part of any community.”

Created by American Express in 2010, this year’s Small Business Saturday fell on Nov. 30, and businesses all over the city will celebrated with special activities, sales and more. Both Larimer Square and Cherry Creek North promoted participating businesses to increase visitors.

“We try to encourage as many businesses as possible to participate with discounts, celebrations and promotions. When they

Shoppers at the 2018 Small Business Saturday event in Cherry Creek North smile with their bags. In the Cherry Creek North area, around 170 stores participated in the Small Business Saturday event.

COURTESY OF JOYCE KEUM decide to participate, they get listed in our marketing materials, so we can get the word out about them,” said Jenny Starkey, senior director of marketing and community relations with Cherry Creek North. “What’s so wonderful about Cherry Creek North is the amount of partnerships that we see form around our small businesses, and that community goes a long way to explain why small businesses want to open here.”

Abram Sloss, executive director of the Denver Metro Small Business Develop-

ment Center, said that Small Business Saturday is special not only because it incentivizes people to support local and independent businesses, but because it celebrates the people who have taken a risk by starting their own business and are helping to power the economy.

“Seeing the number of small businesses in Colorado really brings out why they are the backbone of the economy,” he said.

“This is a way to celebrate the individuals who want to start a business. And given the time of year, it is valuable for the community, business owners, and for consumers to be reminded how important it is to shop at local stores.”

Every business that participated marked the day in their own way. Second Star featured a special, space-themed story time with local authors, while shoppers in Cherry Creek North had the chance to win Cherry Creek North Gift Cards, accepted at nearly 170 businesses. And new businesses like Cherry Creek’s Blank Barbers, owned by Zackery Jarmon, used discounts to invite people to check out their shop.

“I love the community and people more than anything, and barbershops are great because they reflect their neighborhood very well,” Jarmon said. “When I heard about the Small Business Saturday program, I thought we’d participate because it brings people together.”

For the people who take a lot of pride in their community, Calderon explained, the day is a chance to get out of their houses and support the businesses that make their neighborhoods unique in the first place,

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With such a diversity of businesses all over the city celebrating Small Business Saturday, including 175 in Cherry Creek North alone, shoppers were likely able to seek out whatever they need for the season.

No matter what kind of services the business offers, there is one thing that unites them — they’re owned and operated by people directly in the community.

“What’s great about these small businesses is you’re not just supporting the economy, but your community,” Starkey said. “You’re supporting your friends, family, neighbors and loved ones who are employed at these businesses.”

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24 Life On Capitol Hill

December 2019

‘Science Behind Pixar’ is trip to infinity and beyond Interactive exhibit highlights STEM and creative partnership

IF YOU GO WHAT: The Science Behind Pixar WHERE: Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver WHEN: Through April 5; open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

TICKETS: Timed tickets will be required and advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Call 303-370-600 or visit dmns. org/pixar for information.

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

Even the most cursory look at Disney Pixar Animation Studios’ creative output makes one thing abundantly clear — the studio is responsible for the most astounding creative output of this century. In terms of technical achievement and creative storytelling, nothing comes close.

It’s the partnership between the technical and creative that gets explored in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s new exhibit “The Science Behind Pixar.”

“The exhibit follows the entire process of how these films and stories are created,” said Greg Koronowicz, the museum’s senior producer of digital media. “It covers everything, from what it takes to animate the 3D characters to lighting and beyond.”

The exhibit runs at the museum, 2001 Colorado Blvd., through April 5. Timed tickets will be required and advance reservations are strongly encouraged.

The heavily interactive exhibit is the perfect introduction and expansion of the science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) focus that has been gaining ground in the education world.

“What’s great about the exhibit is it shows how artists and animators rely on scientists

The interactive “The Science Behind Pixar” exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science provides visitors the chance to learn how characters are made and moved in the studio’s films.

COURTESY OF THE DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE and programmers to help create the movies,” said Dr. Ka Chun Yu, curator of space sciences at the museum. “People can learn about how the creative and scientific work together.”

Each section in the exhibit focuses on a step in the filmmaking process — modeling, rigging, surfaces, sets and cameras, animation, simulation, lighting, and rendering — with more than 50 interactive elements along the way. Visitors can build robots like those in “WALL•E,” create a virtual 3D shape and play it in a 360-degree view and make their own stop-motion animations.

Some of the most fascinating parts of the

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exhibit pull back the layers on elements of filmmaking that audiences may not even consider, like lighting. Visitors can see the lengths to which animators went to get light just right underwater for “Finding Nemo” and “Finding Dory,” the challenges of capturing the way light reflects off of shiny surface for the “Cars” trilogy, and the emotional lifting lighting choices can do in “Up.” As with every temporary exhibit, museum educators worked hard to add a touch of the museum’s style and expertise to the proceedings. This includes an exhibit guide specifically created for young children, with highlights

that will appeal to them, and a sound cart where visitors can get a taste of how sound effects are made, explained Keelin MacCarthy, one of the program specialists with the museum.

“Setting up these temporary exhibits and adding our own elements is something we take very seriously and do very well,” added Jennifer Moss Logan, content specialist at the museum. “We try to pinpoint what will be meaningful and special to our guests and add that.”

If you’ve been moved by the stories Pixar brings to the screen and want to know how they do it, or want to get a taste of the careers available to those who study STEM fields, there is truly something everyone can learn at the exhibit.

“The exhibit expands everyone’s horizons, especially kids who will be coming out of high school and college having studied science, technology, engineering and math,” said Koronowicz. “I wish I knew this stuff was available when I was in school.”

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