TRIMBLE

but hardly progress.

In 2002, e New York Times ran a Pulitzer Prize-winning series that included the story of Randolph Maddix, living in a private home for the mentally ill in Brooklyn. Maddix died during a seizure and wasn’t found for many hours. “His back, curled and sti with rigor mortis, had to be broken to t him into a body bag.” ese stories of outrageous neglect keep recurring, always about people overwhelmed by their mental disorders and neglected by their caregivers.

In 2006, the Milwaukee JournalSentinel ran a series on the horrors of board-and-care homes, including the tale of a resident who died and wasn’t found for three days.

Why does Dr. Kuhn’s “great societal problem” persist?

As we steadily eliminated more than 500,000 beds in state psychiatric hospitals starting in the mid1950s, according to a study by the American Psychiatric Association, the number of people with severe mental illness was growing with the U.S. population. Stigma and shame often silenced their families. E ective treatment disappeared into the

Coming Attractions

Any chance to play among our friends and family always feel like a celebration. I’ve been listening to Lucero for more than 20 years, getting to share a stage with them is a huge privilege.

We pride ourselves on touching every genre within our lane that we can. As musicians, we make memories for folks and we aim to do our job each night.

Clarke Reader e band came together naturally as we were already buddies. e rst couple years were us getting our foothold musically and playing around Denver/ Colorado. Touring escalated after we released “Horseshoe Lounge” in Feb. of 2021 and we’ve been full steam since. fog of competing agencies, with no coordinated plan for people with chronic mental illness. en add today’s epidemic of homelessness and prisons crammed with people who need psychiatric treatment more than incarceration.

What’s it like being part of the Denver music scene?

Denver and Colorado are small, tight knit scenes. It’s always reasonable to assume we’ll run in to folks we know within production, promotion or other artists when we’re playing inside state lines.

We proudly wave the #coloradocountry ag and always tell folks we’re from Arvada. is is where we were raised, where we’re raising our children, and have built our lives here. We couldn’t be prouder to play country music from a place that’s less conventional than others.

What does it mean to be playing at the Arvada Center and opening for Lucero?

We’ve all driven by the Arvada Center a million times, so when the opportunity came up to play there we were elated. It’s home.

While researching my book, I spoke with a Colorado psychologist who summed up our failure to care for our mothers and fathers, our brothers and sisters, our children and friends: “ e mentally ill don’t have a strong lobby.” e recent Tribune editorial proposes incentives for decently run care homes and appropriate punishments for neglect. But what we really need is a transformative system of care for the vulnerable and voiceless, and housing for those without homes. We know what to do. So far, we have chosen not to act. is problem remains with us, just as it did in 1976 when I lost my brother. Please don’t let us read these same plaintive stories and unanswered calls for action when another 50 years have passed.

Utah writer Stephen Trimble is a contributor to Writers on the Range, writersontherange.org, an independent nonpro t dedicated to spurring lively conversation about the West. His latest book is “ e Mike File: A Story of Grief and Hope.”

Find more information at www. thebarlowband.com/ and get tickets at https://arvadacenter.org/events/ lucero.

Mountains of fun at 4th ConiferFest

What better way is there to appreciate late summer in Colorado than by getting a little elevation and attending the Rotary Club of Conifer’s 4th annual ConiferFest?

Held from 11 a.m. until about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 12, at the open space adjacent to Our Lady of the Pines Church, 9444 EagleCli Drive in Conifer, the fundraiser features live music from Who’s omas, Captain Quirk, Magoo the Band and Sam Gyllenhall Band. Attendees will be able to enjoy various beverage options (including margaritas), food trucks and more. All you need to know can be found at https://coniferfest.com/.

Celebrate 15 years of CinemaQ Film Festival

Sharing the stories of the LGBTQIA+ community has rarely been as crucial as it is right now, with the community’s rights under constant assault. is makes the annual Denver Film CinemaQ

Clear in mind and spirit, Norm passed peacefully as he slept in his home the afternoon of April 22nd. Norm and Esther are dearly missed by family and friends. ank you for being part of our lives. We are all better people having been graced by your love and friendship.

Memorial service April 19th, 2:00pm Golden Elks Lodge 2740.

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For those who haven’t stopped by their local library in recent years, it’s not just a place to pick up and drop o books anymore.

In the post-pandemic era, libraries have become meeting places, remote work spaces, play areas and more. Rather than the repositories of books and other print media they once were, libraries are taking on more of a community center role, sta members at Denverarea library districts explained.

“ ey’ve always had that role,” said Holly Grant of the Clear Creek County Library District. “But now, it’s about … not just seeing (a library) as a storehouse of knowledge and scholarship.”

To that end, libraries have diversi ed the items and programs they o er to address community needs. Depending on the district, patrons can check out everything from camping equipment to virtual reality headsets. Additionally, patrons can access video- and audiobook-streaming services for free with their library cards.

Plus, along with children’s storytime and book clubs, library events and programs can range from puppy yoga to snowshoe hikes.

“It’s a very di erent library than what many of us grew up with,” Holly Whelan of Arapahoe Libraries said. “ … We have everything, everything, everything.”

Items and resources aplenty

Whelan’s words aren’t an exaggeration, as sta members from multiple districts said their libraries o er so much it’s hard for them to remember everything. So, before buying, renting or downloading something, check the library rst.

Along with books, movies and comics, districts have nontraditional items for check-out. Many o er laptops, iPads, Kindles, mobile WiFi hotspots, passes to local museums, cookware, GoPro cameras and science kits.

Mark Fink, executive director of Anythink Libraries — which has branches from ornton to Bennett — said his district’s TryIts collection includes musical instruments for various experience levels; lawn games; outdoor gear like snowshoes and backpacks; 3-D printers; sewing machines and crafting kits; and microscopes.

People have borrowed them for weekend barbecues, camping trips, one-o projects, or to see whether they’d want to buy their own. Fink said the TryIts collection has been so popular, Anythink Libraries has “expanded the level of items we provide.”

O ering items like these saves patrons money and helps the environment too, Grant pointed out, as people aren’t buying things they might only use once.

Along with physical items, districts have several online resources patrons can access with their library cards. rough these apps and online services, patrons can download e-books and audiobooks, stream movies and TV shows, and access tutoring services and online classes — all for free.

Lizzie Gall of Je erson County Public Library said patrons who used to spend money on Audible and Net ix have saved money by nding their items through the library instead.

In-person services are also crucial, whether it’s answering technological questions or notarizing documents. Grant said Clear Creek patrons have asked for help setting up their Kindles and reviewing their emails, and tourists often stop into the Idaho Springs and Georgetown branches to ask questions about local sites and museums.

As Whelan summarized it: “If you think the library isn’t for you, or we don’t have anything to o er, think again. … We have something for everybody.”

Unique programs, events

Beyond summer reading and book clubs, libraries have expanded the type of events and programs they o er — ranging from outdoor and out-of-library adventures, to arts and culture, to physical and mental health.

Almost all are free and open to everyone, including out-of-district attendees. Some may require preregistration and/or tickets to cover event costs.

Clear Creek has hosted everything from snowshoe hikes to American Sign Language classes. It also has free present-wrapping stations in December, which are immensely popular, Grant said.

Both Je erson County and Arapahoe libraries have hosted after-hours laser tag for teens, which are well-attended and sometimes have fun themes like “Star Wars.” Gall highlighted other teen events, like this August’s Teen Iron Chef and the ongoing Coding Camp, which has expanded to include preteens.

Summertime outdoor concert series are a seed library at one of its