Washington Park Profile June 2021

WashParkProfile.com

JUNE 2021

Digital and print community newspaper founded in 1978.

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‘ONE GIANT EXPERIMENT’ Gardening is a challenging but rewarding pastime

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MUSIC FOR ALL

CELEBRATING IDENTITY

Denver Municipal Band will provide free summer concerts

2021 Denver PrideFest offers in-person and virtual events

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A DESTINATION EXPERIENCE First Fridays Art and Shop Walk on South Pearl Street take place through October

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June 1, 2021

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

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

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

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

“This is a growing and exciting new frontier for restaurants and restaurant brands,” Briley added, “because it allows you to get up and running and

(open) a concept for a fraction of the cost of opening a new location.”

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

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

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

Clayton Members Club & Hotel The Clayton Members Club & Hotel opened at 233 Clayton St. in Cherry Creek North in early May. The Clayton serves the community as a multi-purpose destination venue.

It includes a 63-room boutique hotel; a private members club, which offers access to additional amenities including fitness facilities, coworking and social spaces, and a rooftop restaurant and pool; and a variety of event spaces that are available for special occasions or meetings.

Its two eateries — One of A Kind, a full-service restaurant offering California coast and Mediterraneaninspired cuisine; and OAK Market, an all-day counter serving light meals and snacks — are open to the general public; as will be Five Nines, a cocktail lounge, once it opens.

To learn more, visit https://claytondenver.com.

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

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

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

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

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

Getting his start in 2001, through the years, Cunningham has worked on several business models in the industry. He has overseen local gal-

leries; had a strategic alliance with a Colonial period furniture dealer; consigned with a Native American art dealer; and managed high-end art and antique shows, including shows in destination places such as Santa Fe, Aspen and Jackson Hole. Cunningham also had an online store and website, and opened a gallery in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

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

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

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

However, the gallery also carries French lithographs from the 1950s — the late French artist Henri Matisse in particular — and urban atmospheric motifs by a contemporary Denver artist.

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

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June 1, 2021

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4 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

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

MUSIC FOR ALL

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

COURTESY OF DENVER MUNICIPAL BAND

Community invited to attend concerts in the park this summer UPCOMING CONCERTS

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

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

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

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

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

“What we like about it (attending SEE MUSIC, P5

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

Jazz Band concert, sponsored by City Council District 6, Paul Kashmann

JUNE 19

5-6 p.m.

James H. Platt Park, 1523 S. Logan St. Show Band concert and neighborhood celebration, sponsored by Platt Park People’s Association, https://www.3pa.org/.

AUG. 21

11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

James A. Bible Park, 6802 E. Yale Ave. South by Southeast Festival featuring the Jazz Band to open the festival, sponsored by City Council District 4, Councilwoman Kendra Black

JULY 4

7-9 p.m.

Washington Park, 701 S. Franklin St. Concert Band’s annual Patriotic Concert, sponsored by City Council District 6, Councilman Paul Kashmann

JULY 18

AUG. 21

6-9 p.m.

Washington Park, 701 S. Franklin St. Neighborhood celebration and concert featuring the Colorado Honor Band at 6 p.m. and Concert Band at 7 p.m.

AUG. 8

7-8:30 p.m.

Washington Park, 701 S. Franklin St.

6:30-9 p.m.

James H. Platt Park, 1523 S. Logan St. Brass quintet concert to open Family Movie Night, sponsored by Platt Park People’s Association, www.3pa.org.

SEPT. 11

6:30-8 p.m.

Pulaski Park, 3300 E. Bayaud Ave. Jazz Band concert and neighborhood celebration, sponsored by Cherry Creek East Association, www.cherrycreekeast.org.

The Denver Municipal Band’s robust educational program

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

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

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

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

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

school or a student’s music education.

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

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Music FROM PAGE 4

Denver Municipal Band concerts) is that it’s a great way to build community within the city,” said Barb Shaklee. She and her husband, Bob Shaklee, have served on the Denver Municipal Band’s board since the mid-1980s.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

One can see the Denver Municipal Band at the Five Points Jazz Festival, Littleton’s Western Welcome Week, northeast Denver’s Taste of Ethiopia and the Westminster Latino Festival, to name a few.

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

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

Equity, and being able to share music with all, is important to the organiza-

tion, he added.

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

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

For example, small groups of musicians would perform — socially-distanced and unannounced to the general public — in parking lots of nursing homes, and the facility would air the music through its PA system for its residents.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Denver Municipal Band’s rich history

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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6 Washington Park Profile Another safe outdoor space for those experiencing homelessness is expected to open in June at Regis University in northwest Denver. PHOTO BY KEVIN J. BEATY/ DENVERITE

Regis University to host camp for homeless School partnering with city, Colorado Village Collaborative, St. Francis Center

By Esteban L. Hernandez Denverite

Regis University will host a safe outdoor space at its northwest Denver campus for people experiencing homelessness starting June 1, the school announced May 5.

The private Jesuit university will partner with the Colorado Village Collaborative, the St. Francis Center and the city to create a 19,000-square-foot space at a campus parking lot at 50th Avenue and Federal Boulevard. The site will provide 24-hour staffing and shelter for up to 60 people, who will be selected by the agencies involved. The site will be open for six months.

It’s the fourth safe outdoor space in

Denver.

The Denver Community Church in North Capitol Hill and First Baptist Church of Denver each host a site, and one is expected to open at Park Hill United Methodist Church in June, replacing Colorado Village Collaborative’s site at Denver Community Church.

In a statement May 5, the Rev. John P. Fitzgibbons, Regis’ president, said the mission of the sites aligns with that of the Catholic faith.

“Ours is a faith that does justice, a faith that calls on us to commit ourselves to combat indifference, walk with the poor and foster dignity among all peoples,” he said.

Safe outdoor spaces opened in Denver last year in response to the pandemic to provide shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness.

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

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Denver school enrollment predicted to drop 6% by 2025 Home prices rise, birth rates fall, and district could see less money

By Melanie Asmar Chalkbeat

Enrollment in Denver Public Schools is expected to decrease 6% by 2025 — nearly double the rate of decline that district officials predicted before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new analysis presented to the school board May 17.

Elementary school enrollment, which has been falling for several years now, will continue to decline, the analysis says. But for the first time, officials are predicting declines at the middle school level as smaller cohorts of students move up through the grades.

Denver Public Schools is the largest school district in Colorado, serving about 90,000 students this year. That’s already down from more than 93,000 students last year — a higher than 3.5% year-over-year enrollment decrease driven by the pandemic.

Declining enrollment can have huge impacts on a district. Colorado school districts are funded per pupil. Fewer students means less state money to run the district. Enrollment declines can also lead to controversial decisions about whether to close or consolidate schools, a conversation that Denver school board members have said is coming.

The two major drivers of falling enrollment in Denver are declining birth rates and rising housing prices that push families out of the city and prevent new ones from moving in.

But the pandemic has exacerbated the losses, especially at the preschool and kindergarten levels. Many young children who left for homeschooling or private preschool haven’t come back asking for a seat in a public preschool or kindergarten classroom this fall.

“There is a chance, and I am hoping, that maybe all of a sudden tons of kids show up in October Count next year that we weren’t predicting,” said Sara Walsh, the district’s planning director, referencing Colorado’s annual student count that happens in

f This story is from Chalkbeat Colorado, a g nonprofit news site covering educational change in public schools. Used by permission. C i For more, and to support Chalkbeat, visit D co.chalkbeat.org. e

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October. “But I think right now, we think enrollment declines will be pretty significantc a over the next five years.”

The declines will be steepest in the northc west, southwest, and north-central parts of the city, the analysis says. All three areas c are traditionally working-class neighbor- s hoods that lost families as housing prices s increased, causing significant enrollment a s drops in schools.

So many elementary schools in southwest a Denver have seen declines that listing them took an entire page in the district’s analysis document. Grant Ranch ECE-8 in the w southern Marston neighborhood lost 57% o c of its students from 2016 to 2020, going P from 361 students to 157.

Schools are funded per student, and those with fewer than 300 students struggle c r to hire enough staff to maintain robust programming. Under-enrolled schools oftenc can’t afford to hire two teachers per grade, B which sometimes results in large class sizes p or combined classes.

Walsh said it’s particularly striking to see — enrollment declines at elementary schools t that not too long ago had waitlists of stu- i a dents clamoring to get in. f “These are really strong schools with amazing programs that families love, but M f the number of kids living in the area just i continues to decline,” she said.

There are indications that the enrollment e decline will also shift the demographics of the district. Denver Public Schools has f already become whiter and wealthier over r the past decade, and this year’s kindergarten w class is whiter and wealthier than this year’s a l ninth grade class.

This year’s ninth grade class is 22% white, t while this year’s kindergarten class is 32% white. The percentage of Black students has t t held steady over the years, but the percentage of Hispanic students has declined i while the percentage of white students has P o increased.

Similarly, 65% of this year’s ninth graders s qualify for subsidized school meals, an indi- m cator of low family income, while only 56% s p of this year’s kindergarteners qualify.

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Washington Park Profile 7

June 1, 2021

2021 Denver PrideFest to offer in-person and virtual events

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

T

his year, it’s all about uniting.

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

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

Denver PrideFest takes place June 26-27.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

It takes place June 26-27.

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

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

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

PHOTO BY ERIK HOLLADAY/ HOLLADAY PHOTOGRAPHY

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

Here are a couple suggestions.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PHOTO BY ERIK HOLLADAY/HOLLADAY PHOTOGRAPHY

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

MaryV, 23, is a Denver native who cur-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

All forms of photography and documentation is strictly prohibited.

8 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

Promoting jazz music across the U.S.

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

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

The first phase of Jazz Road is the Jazz

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

The second phase is called Jazz Road Creative Residencies, which allows jazz musicians to apply for grants to develop their own personalized residency and further explore their artform.

Musicians may request $5,000-$40,000 for their project and no matching funds

are required. Applicable projects must be one to three weeks in duration and occur between October 2021 and June 2022.

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

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

“We are so excited to expand our programs for jazz musicians across the United States,” said Sara Donnelly,

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

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

New CPR podcast explores police reform Staff report Colorado Public Radio has released a new podcast that takes an innovative look at people working to reform policing from inside and outside the system.

Called “Systemic,” it is hosted and reported by CPR podcast producer Jo Erickson.

“I wanted this series to reflect the struggles of a group of people who have put everything on the line to make real changes to policing,” Erickson said in a news release. “When it comes to storytelling, I believe it’s important to know who tells the story, as much as what the story is about. So I handed the mic to police officers and activists within the African

American community so that they could tell their unfiltered stories on the frontlines of this conflict of race and police culture.”

Produced in the wake of George Floyd’s death and 2020’s racial justice protests, “Systemic” follows Black Americans working in Colorado, Minneapolis and around the country to create change at an extraordinary time, states a news release.

Listeners will hear from activists, civil rights attorneys, lawmakers, the families of victims of police violence and several Black officers working to change policing from within the system.

Episodes of “Systemic” began on May 19 and are available every Wednesday. “Systemic” can be accessed through the CPR website: www.cpr.org/podcast/systemic.

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Sven Hillring will be representing the 1st Colorado Regiment of Volunteers at this year’s Four Mile Historic Park’s Independence Celebration. Along with historical reenactments, the event will feature food trucks, prairie games, live music and fireworks.

The Independence Celebration takes place from 5-9 p.m. July 2 at Four Mile Historic Park, 715 S. Forest St. which is located near the border of Glendale and Denver’s WashingtonVirginia Vale neighborhood. Tickets cost $6-$14. To learn more about Four Mile Historic Park — a nonprofit organization — or its Independence Celebration, including any COVID-19 safety guidelines that will be implemented during the event, visit www.

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Washington Park Profile 9

June 1, 2021

Black Love Mural Festival will return to Civic Center Park

By Maggie Donahue Denverite

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

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

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

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

This year, the team behind BLMF will partner with Denver Parks and Rec and the digital arts nonprofit Unique.One. Artists will begin painting their murals on May 28 and display them through Aug. 1. On Sundays during the festival, the group will host live paintings, workshops and activations in the park from 2 to 10 p.m. BLMF will break down the murals the morning of Aug. 2.

This story is from Denverite, a nonprofit Denver news source affiliated with CPR News. Used by permission.

For more, and to support Denverite, visit denverite.com.

-Beer, Agent uisiana 80210 22-2777 u5@statefarm.com m to 5:00pm -1 for Lunch ends by appt.

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

PHOTO BY HART VAN DENBURG/CPR NEWS

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10 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

LOCAL

VOICES

Keeping the community in Colorado Community Media

A

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

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

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

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

Tips and tricks for pruning your trees

W GUEST COLUMN

Paul Cancik

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

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

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

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

Why should you prune your trees?

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

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

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

Removing deadwood from your tree helps prevent insect infestation.

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

What should you prune from your trees?

Follow the “3 D’s” of pruning: only remove Dead, Damaged and Diseased wood, especially if the tree is not estabSEE TREES, P11

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ABOUT THE COLORADO NEWS CONSERVANCY

Larry Ryckman Colorado Sun editorin-chief

Elizabeth Hansen Shapiro Co-founder of NTLN

The Colorado News Conservancy is a public benefit corporation formed to preserve Colorado Community Media and ensure that its 24 weekly and monthly newspapers remain locally owned. The Conservancy is a joint venture by the National Trust for Local News and The Colorado Sun. The Trust is a new, national nonprofit organization formed to provide the financing, new ownership structures and expertise needed for established news

staff and others who bring the news to you.

For starters, we are seeking to fill the big shoes of Jerry Healey in the role of publisher. We are looking for someone who is as passionate about community and local service as Jerry has been. We are so grateful that he agreed to stay on in May to help ensure we have a smooth transition.

We do not plan the staff cutbacks, cost-cutting or layoffs that have become far too common in the news business these days. In fact, we are looking to bolster the fine work already being done to serve you, the readers and supporters of this paper. Our job is to keep your local media strong and growing.

The Colorado Community Media name will stay the

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organizations around the country to become sustainable and deeply grounded in their communities. The Sun is a journalistowned, award-winning digital news outlet that strives to cover all of Colorado, bring understanding to important issues and contribute to a more vibrant, informed and whole Colorado.

To contact us, call 303-566-4100 or email CNC@ColoradoCommunityMedia. com.

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

We purchased Colorado Community Media because we are committed to serving our readers, our local businesses and our communities and to sustaining the important community role played by these papers.

We want to thank Ann and Jerry once again for their hard work and dedication over the years to providing community media to your town and others.

We promise them — and you — that we will work hard to serve you and make you proud.

‘Let’s keep working together’

re we moving too quickly? De-masking and gathering in ever-larger groups too soon? Too soon for comfort for many. Too soon for science? Only time will tell.

But without question, the times are definitely changing. In Denver, and GUEST across the country, folks — vaccinated COLUMN or not — are stepping out into the sunshine for better or for worse.

As City and County of Denver employees, including the mayor and members of the city council, start looking at beginning the return to a closer-to-normal, in-person style of doing business, the work that lies ahead is certainly daunting.

We’ll be getting some $308 million Councilmember from the federal American Rescue Paul Kashmann Plan Act to help with restoring city services and mitigating COVID-19’s impact on our economy. In addition, Mayor Michael Hancock is proposing a $400 million bond issue to further stimulate economic revitalization, put people back to work and whittle down the list of needed city improvements leftover from our last bond issue in 2017. To offer your thoughts on how the money should be spent, visit www.risetogetherdenever.org.

The Department of Parks and Recreation alone is pushing ahead with on-boarding more than 1,000 employees who were laid off during the pandemic, and are now truly essential to getting our 30 recreation centers, 15 indoor and 16 outdoor swimming pools up and running, and our parks maintenance teams up to full strength. That is just a snippet of the work that must be accomplished to get our city back to full operation.

How to house all who would make Denver home has risen from a huge problem at the beginning of 2020 to a full-blown, ever-growing crisis today. The price of Denver real estate — with homes selling for much more than the

asking price that even optimistic home sellers were posting — continues to defy rational explanation, making it increasingly pie-in-the-sky-esque for middle class families to find a Denver home they can afford, whether to buy or rent.

At the low end of the economic spectrum, we continue to move forward — though at a frustrating pace — with a variety of transitional shelters and more-permanent housing options to lift up the 1,000 (give or take) individuals who daily populate the tents and vehicles that have become their homes on Denver’s sidewalks, waterways and streets. We don’t yet have adequate inventory of either housing or services to get them into a secure residence with a reasonable path forward to independence — whether their main struggle is mental health, drug addiction or simply a temporary setback that took from them their home.

It appears there is help coming from our friends hard at work under the Colorado Capitol’s golden dome. As HB1117 winds its way through final negotiations and edits, housing advocates are optimistic it will eventually pass with provisions that broaden the ability of jurisdictions to demand more affordable housing from new rental developments. Non-profit land trusts, and other programs, are gaining traction to provide new ways to facilitate families moving from rent-to-purchase so they can begin accumulating generational wealth previously not available.

Crime rates have risen considerably in the past year, especially property crimes and violent crimes. Hancock convened a Youth Violence Prevention Action Table more than a year ago — of which I serve on the executive committee — to address the growing tsunami of violence to and by our city’s youth. A number of initiatives have come out of that group which should bear fruit and set at-risk youth on a more positive path away from negative behaviors and toward future success.

SEE KASHMANN, P11

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June 1, 2021

S

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

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

Kashmann FROM PAGE 10

By the time you read this, the mayor will have released news of a new program focused on violence in five specific areas of our city — amounting to less than 2% of Denver’s land mass — that account for about half of the gun violence and deaths citywide.

Among other things, the new initiative will include community member partnerships with police in efforts to rebuild these communities, as well as their relationship with law enforcement.

Looking once again to Denver’s Capitol, Sen. Chris Hansen (D-Denver) is co-sponsoring a bill to create an Office of Gun Violence Prevention to help stem the tide. The state has

Trees FROM PAGE 10

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

Be deliberate about what you prune from a tree.

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

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

When should you prune your trees?

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

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

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

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

Colorado has a very short growing

Success with succulents

Washington Park Profile 11

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

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

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

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

Succulents would much rather have lean, SEE SUCCULENTS, P12

passed, and is considering, additional legislation to give municipalities more flexibility in drafting gun laws appropriate for their residents, and keep guns safely stored and out of the hands of those with violent misdemeanors on their records.

Also working to increase safety in our city, the community-driven Task Force to Reimagine Policing and Public Safety — which was created in response to Denver’s handling of demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis — has just released a list of 112 recommendations it wants the city to implement to make our Denver safe for all residents. I look forward to absorbing the report and engaging in conversation with my colleagues and the community on how to move forward toward that goal of public safety for all. To view the plan, visit www.denvertaskforce.org.

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

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

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

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

Want to learn more?

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

Happy pruning!

Paul Cancik is the urban forestry operations assistant for Denver Forestry

Echinofossulocactus

We need to increase our commitment to multi-modal transportation options that will provide people with non-auto options to moving around our community, and finally get us headed in the right direction to eliminate vehicle-related deaths.

We also need to continue to up our game in addressing the potentially-catastrophic effects of climate change.

PHOTO BY SCOTT PREUSSER

Let’s keep working together to get Denver not just back on track, but on a new track where all Denverites have a chance to thrive and enjoy the things that have always made Denver a great place to live.

Paul Kashmann represents District 6 on the Denver City Council. He can be reached at paul. kashmann@denvergov.org or 720-337-6666.

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12 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

Ovarian Cancer Survivors gather for a group photo at the 2019 Jodi’s Race for Awareness. The event last year took place virtually, and the 2021 Jodi’s Race for Awareness, which is the 12th anniversary of the run/walk, offers both a virtual and in-person event. The in-person event takes place on June 12 at Denver’s City Park. The virtual event allows participants to do the race anywhere, then live-stream the Jodi’s Race Virtual Bash celebration, which will be emceed by Denver7’s Jaclyn Allen, at 10 a.m. June 13. Jodi’s Race is an educational event and fundraiser for the Colorado Ovarian Cancer Alliance. To learn more about the alliance’s programming, visit www.colo-ovariancancer.org. To register for the 2021 Jodi’s Race for Awareness, visit www.

COURTESY OF COLORADO OVARIAN CANCER ALLIANCE jodisrace.org.

Succulents FROM PAGE 11

fast-draining soil than that rich chocolate cake you grow your other plants in. There is no one good mix for everything. I take regular bagged topsoil (about 50%) and add ingredients like charcoal, perlite, sand and

gravel (the other 50%) to “chunkify” it to my liking.

Watering: The best advice I can give is, when in doubt, do without. This is the hardest thing I struggle not to do — 18 years into collecting. I love succulent plants and I still tie a ribbon around my finger to not love them to death. For plants grown outside, I water thoroughly one time per

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week. The cycle of soil moisture should look something like this: totally wet for one day, medium moisture for three-to-four days and almost totally dry for two-to-three days.

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

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

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

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

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

Scott Preusser is a horticulturist with the Denver Botanic Gardens

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Washington Park Profile 13

June 1, 2021

Spring water flow arrives at historic Smith Ditch

By Kirsten Dahl Collins Special to Colorado Community Media

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

Near the southern end of Washington Park, a small diversion dam funnels water from Smith Ditch into Grasmere Lake. The lake’s bass can often be seen clustering enthusiastically around the outlet, and anglers will often use crawdads for bait for the bass.

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

It is easy to develop a crush on this little stream. If you pause on one of the footbridges, you may discover there is something gently hypnotic about flowing water.

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

It was brought to us by John W. Smith, the same 19th century entrepreneur who created Smith Lake by diverting his irrigation canal into a buffalo hollow on the arid scrublands.

Hand-dug by shovel and horse-drawn plow in the 1860s, the canal diverted water from the Platte River, ran for 25 miles and transformed a city in desperate need of water. Colorado ranks as the seventh driest state in the nation, according to the Colorado Encyclopedia website, with a mere 15 inches of average annual rainfall.

In the panorama of history, Smith Ditch is only a recent example of the ancient art of irrigation, introduced to the American west by Native Americans a thousand years ago. Worldwide, irrigation dates back to at least 6,000 B.C. and gave rise to many great civilizations.

Today the ditch that gave rise to Denver is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, thanks to local preservationists who managed to save the old canal after it was threatened by highway expansion in the 1970s. The only remaining open section ripples through Washington Park. This generous little stream fills all the lakes in the park — Grasmere, Smith and the Lily Pond — before it plunges underground and travels north to water the Denver Country Club and top up the lake in City Park.

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

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

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

Soon waterweeds sprout from the stream’s sandy bottom and dried sedge along the banks turn green. Blue and emerald dragonflies flit among the reeds and water striders scoot across the surface.

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

Some parents worry about water quality in the ditch, particularly because the city switched to using recycled wastewater in 2004. But that water is purified to a high standard, according to Ty Schmittel, a facility manager with Denver Water. First treated at the utility’s York Street plant, the recycled water is further purified at the `Dechlor Plant’ to one notch below drinking water.

Since crawdads will not tolerate polluted water, their presence in Smith Ditch is a reassuring sign. Scientists view them as a sentinel species and study them to monitor environmental health.

Often called “crawfish,” they are officially known as “crayfish,” which derives from their French name, “ecrevisse.” But it is more fun to call them `crawdaddies’ and `mudbugs,’ as affectionate Cajuns do just before popping their

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

COURTESY DRAWING BY KIRSTEN DAHL COLLINS

local red variety into the gumbo pot. Closely related to lobsters and crabs, these freshwater crustaceans have been crawling around on the bottom of lakes, swamps and streams since the Paleozoic era, well before the dinosaurs appeared.

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

They are equipped with armored exoskeletons, eyes on moveable stalks, ten segmented legs and big front pincers. But in reality, most crayfish are too small to menace anybody — except minnows, snails and other male crayfish during courtship season. American species average only three-to-six inches long. While handy for tearing off a piece of waterweed, their lobsterlike front claws are no threat to humans.

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

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

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

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

Crawdads are not native to Colorado. In the 1950s, Northern Crayfish from the Great Lakes region — which is a thousand miles away — started turning up in Colorado rivers. No matter how they got here, crawdads certainly make ditch-gazing a lot more fun.

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

They seem to sense what’s coming.

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

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

14 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

Denver student wins Arbor Day poster contests Staff report Selby Dolan, a fifth grader who attends the Creativity Challenge Community (C3) school in Denver’s Cory-Merrill neighborhood, recently won both the Denver Arbor Day Poster Contest and the 2021 Colorado Arbor Day Poster Contest.

The theme for the 2021 Colorado Arbor Day Poster Contest was Celebrate Trees in Our Community. Dolan’s poster depicts the importance of trees and how they benefit communities.

For the statewide contest, 28 participating Colorado schools submitted one poster created by a fifth-grade student. In early May, a panel of judges from the Colorado Tree Coalition selected Dolan’s poster from the five finalists after “two close rounds of virtual judging,” states a news release.

As the statewide contest winner, Dolan received a variety of prizes from the Colorado Tree Coalition — which is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, renewing and enhancing community forests in Colorado, states a news release — and a framed copy of her poster. Her art teacher, BJ Kittleson, received a free online professional development training from Colorado Project Learning Tree.

As the winner of the Denver Arbor Day Poster Contest, Dolan and Kittleson won gift cards to a local art supply store, and the city will be planting a tree in Dolan’s honor — during which her parents, Jeff and Kim Dolan, and Kittleson are invited to attend.

To learn more about the Colorado Tree Coalition and its various programs, visit www.coloradotrees.org. To learn more about Denver’s Office of the City Forester, visit https://bit.ly/3w4Y2Se, which is a shortened direct link to the office.

Denver fifth grader Selby Dolan’s poster recently won both the Denver Arbor Day Poster Contest and the 2021 Colorado Arbor Day Poster Contest.

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Washington Park Profile 15

June 1, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Quintin Yates Denver South High School Future plans: Attend Loyola Marymount University in California this fall and double major in physics and philosophy.

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General: Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. System remains property of ADT. Local permit fees may be required. Prices and offers subject to change and may vary by market. Additional taxes and fees may apply. Satisfactory credit required. A security deposit may be required. Simulated screen images and photos are for illustrative purposes only. ©2021 ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services. All rights reserved. ADT, the ADT logo, 800.ADT.ASAP and the product/service names listed in this document are marks and/or registered marks. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Third-party marks are the property of their respective owners. License information available at www.ADT.com/legal or by calling 800.ADT.ASAP. CA ACO7155, 974443, PPO120288; FL EF0001121; LA F1639, F1640, F1643, F1654, F1655; MA 172C; NC Licensed by the Alarm Systems Licensing Board of the State of North Carolina, 7535P2, 7561P2, 7562P10, 7563P7, 7565P1, 7566P9, 7564P4; NY 12000305615; PA 09079, MS 15019511.

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16 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

Historic Denver hosts scavenger hunt to explore the city

By Christy Steadman

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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

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

Capitol Crossroads takes place June 1720.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, the first 50 people to complete

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

New podcast gets listeners investigating Denver

By Clarke Reader Special to Colorado Community Media

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

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE EXAMPLES OF ACCEPTED ITEMS • Automotive Fluids • Batteries • Caulk and Grout • Cleaners and Polishes • Fertilizers • Fluorescent Lights • Glue Adhesives • Insecticides and Poisons • Mercury Thermometers • Paint • Pool Chemicals • Solvents and Thinners • Stains and Varnishes

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

A program of Solid Waste Management and Wastewater Management.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Among the requirements for this year’s

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

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

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

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

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

Washington Park Profile 17

June 1, 2021

Highlighting student resiliency, empowerment Staff report

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enrollment open for 2020/21 Private Kindergarten and 2020 School-Age Summer Camp Celebrating 56 Years Shiki Dreams, an immersive art experience by the Denver-based creative group Prismajic, was named the fourth best in the country by USA Today. Shiki Dreams is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays and is located in Denver’s City Park West neighborhood.

PHOTO BY SHANNA FORTIER MAXCY

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

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

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

18 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

Gardening always yields something to be proud of Plum Creek Garden Markets offer flowers, vegetables and herbs for the home-grower

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Gardening is a challenge, yet it is such a satisfying pastime.

“Gardening is one giant experiment. But that’s part of the fun of it,” said Keri Luster, manager of Plum Creek Garden Market’s Denver location. “There will be failures and OK, because you’ll learn from those. The key is just to have fun.”

During Plum Creek’s off-season, Luster serves as a gardening consultant.

“I really like helping people make the world a beautiful place,” Luster said. But not only that, Luster added, “gardening can help you grow as a person. It’s the pride of creating something.”

Luster grew up in the gardening industry.

Her father owned Groundcovers, which operated for about 40 years in the north University Hills neighborhood. Luster started going to work with her father when she was Matt Niemann discusses the uniqueness of the flowers that bloom on the fuchsia plant.

12. In 2019, the city of Denver purchased Niemann oversees the operations of all five Plum Creek Garden Markets and the pictured the Groundcovers property and will eventufuchsia is just one of many plants available at this year’s seasonal pop up markets. ally turn it into a public neighborhood park, PHOTO BY CHRISTY STEADMAN Luster said.

Gardening can provide you with someABOUT PLUM CREEK GARDENING MARKET thing to be proud of, Luster said.

“It’s hard work, but at the end of the day, Plum Creek Garden Market got its start in and south Denver. Plum Creek Denver is located you will be satisfied with what you did,” she Castle Rock in 2013. Today, the garden market’s at 2150 S. Monaco Pkwy. added. pop up locations serve five Front Range comTo learn more about Plum Creek Garden MarAll five of Plum Creek Garden Market’s munities: Castle Rock, Littleton, Erie, Golden kets, visit https://plumcreekgardenmarket.com seasonal pop-up markets opened on April 30 and are open seven days a week through June. Plum Creek Denver is located at FATHER OF 2150 EIGHT S. Monaco Pkwy., which is in north lady. Must love kids, be fit and Goldsmith. markets more than 700 varietready to jump Th ineand join boast the fun. ies ofwould plants be including perennials, annuals, Military training helpful. vegetables, some fruits, herbs and some shrubs; as well as plants in hanging baskets; some accessories such as pots; and bagged ADVENTUROUS goodsCAT suchLOVER as soils, compost and fertilizers. adventurous cat be gardeners start“Thowner. ere were Please a lot of new employed and to relocate. ingwilling to get into it last year because everyone was of stuck at home, said Matt Niemann, Especially fond black and ”white tuxedo who oversees theanswered. operations of all five Plum cats. All responses will be Creek Garden Markets. “People wanted to Looking for that Purrr-fect match. make their home as beautiful as possible.”

An industry goal this year, Niemann

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GROUNDCOVERS GARDENING CONSULTING Keri Luster’s Groundcovers Gardening Consulting can help people with their gardening in a variety of ways, including providing any type of plant advice, lessons on fertilizer, have discussions on different types of soils and can even repair garden features such as a concrete fountain.

Groundcovers Gardening Consulting serves the metro-area and can be reached at groundcovers@outlook.com or 720-5501272.

added, is to keep all those new gardeners interested in their new-found passion.

“And one way to do that is to them be successful,” Niemann said.

There’s always something new to learn — whether beginner or expert — and the more time a person spends around plants, the more knowledge that person will absorb, Niemann said.

“The enjoyment of gardening is in our human nature,” Niemann said. “There is enjoyment in planting something, caring for it and watching it grow.”

People love color, so flowers tend to be popular for gardeners, and others enjoy plants that yield something they can eat, such as herbs or vegetables, Niemann said.

Every situation is different, he added, but there is always a solution to any problem someone might be having in their gardening endeavor. It’s helpful for many people to visit a gardening center and talk with the experts who can provide all sorts of advice and knowledge, Niemann said.

Coupar Lester of Denver’s Cory-Merrill neighborhood has been gardening as a homeowner for about 20 years but starting helping his grandmother with her garden when he was a teenager.

Lester finds gardening therapeutic and relaxing, and enjoys flowers because of the color they add to his yard. But he and his wife enjoy cooking, and especially so with fresh ingredients, so Lester’s garden includes a variety of vegetables ranging from tomatoes and cucumbers to squash and peppers, as well as an assortment of herbs such as rosemary, basil, thyme and cilantro.

The Lesters even have a peach tree they can harvest.

“Gardening will give you a creative outlet to do something outdoors,” Lester said.

After all, he added, “Colorado has a lot of wonderful days to be spent outside.”

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Keri Luster, right, manager of Plum Creek Garden Market’s Denver location, and fellow manager Mary Jane Romero get plants ready for customers to purchase. Luster and Romero have been working together for years ‚Äî Romero serving as the greenhouse manager for the former Groundcovers gardening market which was opened by Luster’s father and served the community for about 40 years. Luster now has a gardening COURTESY PHOTO consulting business with the Groundcovers name.

Washington Park Profile 19

June 1, 2021

South Pearl Street hopping during First Fridays Art and Shop walk features local merchants, artists, dining and entertainment

By Christy Steadman csteadman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

South Pearl Street in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood is lined with one-of-a-kind small businesses that offer unique shopping and services, interesting art galleries and a variety of dining options.

Add some live entertainment and you get “not just an amazingly uplifting experience,” said Katherine Spahr, owner of Gallery 1505, which is located at 1505 S. Pearl St., but a “destination experience.”

The 2021 First Friday Art and Shop Walk on South Pearl Street began April 2 and will continue to Oct. 1. It takes place between the 1200 and 1800 blocks of South Pearl Street.

During First Fridays, merchants stay open late and most offer something additional in their shops for First Friday attendees, such as special sales or discounted merchandise.

Others host live music, have family-friendly activities, offer free refreshments and/or have artist meet-and-greets.

Entertainment along the street includes live music and other performance acts, and live art demonstrations.

“If last month was any indication, everyone is ready to socialize again,” said John Cunningham, owner of J.J.Cunningham’s Gallery, 1523 S. Pearl St. “With the musical groups and pop-up artists on the street, along with the warm nights, I expect we’ll see people coming out specifically for First Friday, and many people staying (on South Pearl Street) after dining out.”

Jody Fidler, who opened her boutique gift shop called Wheelhouse Gifts, 1525 South Pearl St., on July 1 last year, agrees.

“The merchants of South Pearl Street are working hard to make First Fridays special,” Fidler said. “As someone who lived in the neighborhood prior to opening Wheelhouse Gifts, I always looked forward to the independent artists demonstrating and selling their crafts along the sidewalks of South Pearl, as well as the ability to shop the galleries and boutiques either before or after dining at one of the fabulous restaurants.”

Like Fidler, Laura Cruz has been attending the First Fridays for a number of years, and they were often the place she and her husband would choose for a date night.

Today, Cruz — a local musician who has been performing and songwriting for about 15 years — is one of the live entertainers at

LEARN MORE The First Fridays Art and Shop Walk on South Pearl Street take place from 4-9 p.m. until Oct. 1 in the 1200 to 1800 blocks of South Pearl Street in Denver’s Platt Park neighborhood. Learn more about South Pearl Street by visiting www.southpearlstreet.com.

some of the First Fridays.

“It’s nice to get to play and sing, and meet new people,” Cruz said. First Fridays are “a great time to get out and enjoy the local shops, and a fun way to experience South Pearl Street.”

Since taking over the existing frame shop and gallery at 1588 S. Pearl St. — now called RPO Framing and Gallery — in September last year, husband-and-wife team Bob Platz and Julie Lizak are “so excited to be a part of First Friday on South Pearl Street along with the other participating businesses,” they said.

The two started featuring some sort of special event — artist meet and greets and socially-distanced gallery opening receptions, for example — at their shop on the first Friday of each month since the beginning of the year.

“We have had our door open and featured live music outside of the shop to help entertain the bustling foot traffic,” Platz said. “It’s been wonderful to feature local artists to show at the gallery on a monthly basis, and the shows have been successfully vibrant with a lot of new and positive energy.”

Platz has about 30 years of custom framing experience, and is a Formula 1-inspired abstract artist, meaning he specializes in capturing the abstract characteristics of the motor racing circuits with special attention on the Formula 1. Lizak is a nature-inspired abstract photographer. Their artwork, and the work of other local artists, is regularly represented in the gallery, and RPO’s next First Friday event is a gallery opening for Platz’ original work called Monaco: Full Circuit.

“In just a few short months, we have felt part of this incredibly special and unique community,” Lizak said, “and look forward to the many more First Fridays ahead.”

South Pearl Street’s First Fridays got its start about 20 years ago as an art walk with only five destinations. Susan Bell, who formerly owned a studio gallery on South Pearl Street that operated for about 15 years before closing, is credited for starting the art walk. Today, Bell has a studio in Sedalia and sells her work through her www.susanbellfineart.com website, galleries and national shows.

“I was a little shocked at first of how intimidated people seemed to be about

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A few people check out the art in a gallery during a past year’s First Fridays Art and Shop COURTESY OF KATHERINE SPAHR Walk on South Pearl Street.

art and art galleries,” Bell said. But “I was determined to make my business thrive and thought that an art walk would be more inviting to the people frequenting Pearl Street.”

Eventually, additional art galleries started participating and the boutique shops started sponsoring local artists to host at their store.

Restaurants started supplying appetizers to art walk attendees, and even the non-retail local businesses — namely, a dental practice and a mortgage broker — on South Pearl Street wanted to get involved, so they converted their spaces into an art gallery for the evening, Bell said.

“We started to draw regular crowds,” Bell said. And “we were then also featured as part of Denver’s arts districts.”

After Bell closed her business on South Pearl Street, she handed the reins for First Fridays to Spahr, who has taken the lead in organizing the event for roughly the past seven years.

“I felt honored, terrified and a sense of duty flood through my veins,” Spahr said of the time when Bell asked her to take over organizing First Fridays. “I had to think about how to carry on, and honor, Susan Bell’s work and yet navigate through the changes ahead to engage this newer generation of art appreciators.”

But, Spahr was not completely alone — more people and businesses wanted to carry on what Bell started and they began to contribute to the success of the First Fridays.

“At our greatest capacity, we had over 35

Laura Cruz, a local guitarist and songwriter, is one of the many entertainment acts performing during this year’s South Pearl Street First Fridays Art and Shop Walk. COURTESY OF EVELINE VERNIERS

artists on the street doing live art demonstrations for the community,” Spahr said.

“Being able to sell their artwork and keep all the profits of their labors of love was definitely a big win for them.”

Through the years, First Fridays began to progress “at an alarming rate,” Spahr said.

“We are excited to be expanding the art walk into an art-and-shop walk, which enhances the experience by involving more businesses on the street,” Spahr said. “Bringing together more people to help create a vibrant experience will hopefully keep people wanting to come back each month for more.”

20 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

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Washington Park Profile 21

June 1, 2021

Mount Evans to reopen with timed-entry reservations Online system will be similar to process used for Rocky Mountain National Park

By Corinne Westeman cwesteman@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Those wanting to visit Mount Evans this summer will need to make reservations first.

The U.S. Forest Service and other stakeholders are implementing a timed-entry reservation system, similar to the one used at Rocky Mountain National Park.

Visitors can buy passes online, enter during a two-hour window, and stay as long as they desire.

Clear Creek District Ranger Scott Haas said the intent is threefold: protect the public and USFS personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic, improve visitor experiences, and preserve the health of the mountain’s flora and fauna.

He also believes the new system will alleviate the summertime traffic jam around Echo Lake Lodge.

The highway to the summit is scheduled to open for vehicle traffic June 4, depending on weather.

While prices remain the same based on vehicle type, there will now be an additional $2 reservation fee. Those entering the highway on bikes and on foot do not need reservations, USFS spokeswoman Reid Armstrong said.

Once the online reservation system goes live, which was scheduled for this week, Armstrong said visitors will be able to

purchase various tours based on which area or areas around Mount Evans they intend to visit.

Entry before 8 a.m. and after 6:30 p.m. will remain free, however if someone is taking up a parking spot during the day, they need to have a reservation, Armstrong clarified. Likewise, if visitors only want to drive the highway without stopping, they can get a free hang tag at the welcome station.

“Our estimations are that most people are going to want to get a reservation,” Armstrong continued.

Even with the reservation system, there is a possibility that trailheads will still be full for those arriving later in the day.

Thus, the USFS will be monitoring and adjusting the system as needed as part of its adaptive management, Armstrong said.

“We’re basing it on data we’ve collected about use patterns and available parking spots,” she said.

Haas told the Clear Creek County commissioners during a May 18 meeting that there will be signs along the major thoroughfares to inform visitors of the change, and there might be some day-of passes available at the welcome station.

To make a reservation, visit recreation. gov.

‘Know before you go’ With land managers across the state anticipating incredibly high levels of use this summer, the USFS and its partners are encouraging visitors to research their recreation areas and be aware of any new rules before visiting.

One major change for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests is a food storage order at all sites, which should

A view from the Mount Evans summit.

PHOTO BY MIKKEL KELLY

minimize bear encounters. Haas and Armstrong said bear encounters in the ARNF numbered in the hundreds last year, and thankfully, no one was hurt.

Another major change in Clear Creek County is that Maxwell Falls near Evergreen will now serve as a day-hike area only. Camping, overnight parking and campfires are now prohibited.

“For the U.S. Forest Service, it’s pretty unusual to go to only day use,” Haas said,

adding that the agency has been working with residents to address various issues since 2016.

As for the fire season’s outlook, Haas said the Front Range is currently expecting a normal season. While conditions can change very quickly, the forests are not nearly as dry as they were at this time last year, he said.

“We’re not out of the woods,” Haas continued, “but we’re looking much better.”

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June 1, 2021

Service Directory

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CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SALES ASSOCIATE Colorado Community Media seeks to hire a Classified Advertising Sales Associate to join our team.

Position requires data entry, working with clients to renew ads, collect payments and will make outbound calls to new customers.

Candidate must be proficient with all Microsoft products and have excellent customer service skills. Must be detail oriented and organized.

Previous experience working with deadlines is highly desirable but not required. Must be able to work with multiple projects at one time, ensuring there are no errors.

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MULTI-MEDIA ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Colorado Community Media, publishers of 24 weekly and 3 monthly publications is currently seeking to hire an Multi-Media Advertising Account Executive. If you aren’t familiar with us, maybe you know one of our publications such as the Arvada Press, Golden Transcript, Westminster Window, Littleton Independent, the Parker Chronicle, the Castle Rock NewsPress or the Washington Park Profile. But we are a lot more than local newspapers. We also can help businesses through our full suite of digital marketing tools. Such as programmatic online advertising, email marketing and our own newspaper websites. If you have a desire to help businesses succeed by being a marketing advisor with many solutions at your disposal, this is your opportunity. Plus, as the local newspaper, we are trusted and well known.

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Sales sits in tall cubicles, properly socially distanced from others. Everyone wears a mask when not at their desks. Currently, it is rare that sales meets with anyone in person. Almost all work is being done via zoom, phone or email at this time.

Washington Park Profile 23

June 1, 2021

Polis signs $34 billion state budget into law Plan sets aside historic reserves

By Jesse Paul The Colorado Sun

Gov. Jared Polis signed Colorado’s $34.1 billion fiscal year 2021-22 budget into law on May 17, restoring cuts made as the coronavirus crisis descended on the state last year while also saving a historic amount for future economic downturns.

The Joint Budget Committee, the Legislature’s budget-writing panel, had to contend with constantly changing tax-revenue projections that were made uncertain by the pandemic.

“This is the culmination of a yearlong process — and it’s always hard. But this is the hardest it’s ever been because of the changing numbers,” Polis said just before signing Senate Bill 205 at the Capitol.

The budget takes effect in July, when the next fiscal year begins. It sets aside more than $1.5 billion for Colorado’s reserve fund that can be tapped by future Legislatures. It also includes 3% raises for state employees, $480 million to reduce Colorado’s annual K-12 school funding shortfall and a $20 million line item to create hundreds of new aroundthe-clock care slots for people with developmental disabilities.

Also in the budget is $800 million for a state coronavirus stimulus package, the largest slice of which is being dedicated to infrastructure projects. Bills that are part of the package were still being debated in the Legislature.

The governor called the budget “an investment in our children, an investment in our future.”

State Sen. Dominick Moreno, a Commerce City Democrat who leads the Joint Budget Committee, marveled at the difference a year has made in the state’s budget situation.

His panel went from having to make tearful cuts to having enough money to pay for new programs and initiatives.

“There is so much good in this budget that will help Colorado recover,” Moreno said.

State Rep. Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat who is vice chair of the panel, highlighted spending in the budget around wildfire preparedness and response.

“We are going to make sure that we are ready for this year’s wildfire season,” she said.

State lawmakers had far more money to spend next year than expected because the pandemic’s toll on Colorado’s economy wasn’t as bad as the state’s fiscal analysts feared. The budget represents $3.8 billion more in spending over the current fiscal year. Much of the windfall represents unspent tax revenue, not future revenue.

Gov. Jared Polis speaks before signing Colorado’s 2021-22 fiscal year budget into law.

As the budget was debated in the Legislature, lawmakers made a number of changes to the document first drafted by the Joint Budget Committee. The ones that made it into the final version include: • $1 million more for body camera expenses for local law enforcement agencies, bringing the total to $4 million • $1 million for the School Bullying Prevention and Education Cash Fund • $250,000 for the Suicide Prevention Program • $1.1 million in general fund dollars for reintroduction of gray wolves • $125,000 to hire a chief educational equity officer in the Colorado Department of Human Services The changes resulted in a smaller amount — 13.41% of the budget instead of 13.5% — being set aside in the reserve fund. The Joint Budget Committee initially wanted $1.75 billion to be put in the savings account, but that number was reduced to about $1.5 billion

to balance out the changes requested by other lawmakers.

The budget does not include $3.8 billion in federal coronavirus stimulus money heading to Colorado as part of the American Rescue Plan. That money will be distributed by the Legislature separately. Lawmakers and nonpartisan staff are still working to determine the rules around how that money can be used.

Sen. Bob Rankin, one of two Republicans on the budget committee, praised Moreno for how he ran the budget process. But he noted that the panel’s work isn’t done.

“The task ahead of us is almost as hard,” said Rankin, who lives in Carbondale. “We literally have $4 billion (to determine how to spend). So the work is not over.”

This story is from The Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. Used by permission. For more, and to support The Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com.

PHOTO BY JESSE PAUL/THE COLORADO SUN

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24 Washington Park Profile

June 1, 2021

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

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

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

For Best Advertising Campaign, the

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

year later” by Jessica Gibbs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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